What?
While Elijah was doubting her ears, Keisha shouted towards her.
“What are you doing unaware?
Hurry up and gather with the team members and line up.”
As soon as the order was issued, Axion approached her.
From his face, it was clear that he did not welcome this situation either.
Of all the many members of the unit, why Axion in particular?!
But now that they are on a team, they must try to work together somehow.
Elijah thought like this and spoke to him.
“Since things have come to this, let's try to be good...”
“Let's work individually.”
He interrupted her in a cold voice.
"What?"
“When we enter the water, let's move separately.”
His blue eyes, looking at her, sparkled sharply.
To show the spirit of competition even in such a situation.
He's really stubborn.
'But maybe this was better?'
In any case, moving separately was much better to implement her plan.
Someone as inflexible and annoying as Axion would just be a hindrance.
“Okay, let's do this.”
Even if Axion found the stone first, since they were on the same team anyway, she would also get a one-day pass.
When Elijah agreed, Keisha, who had called out all the teams, announced his order.
“Before training, there is something we should prepare.
Tregen and Ruppelt, step forward in order.”
Illya and Axion immediately stepped forward.
“Stand close together.”
As they stood side by side as he ordered, Keisha bent down and secured large restraints around their touching legs.
Click!
The shackles tightened tightly around their legs and gave off a soft light.
The scene looked like they were preparing for a three-legged running race.
'Just a minute!' This means I'm stuck moving in with him!'
Illya looked at Axion in confusion.
His blue eyes were trembling violently as well.
Keisha stood up and continued talking.
“I repeat, this is a team exercise.
It cannot be removed by physical force, so do not even think about trying to remove it by force.
Now, next team!”
They moved aside with sullen faces.
Elijah's body swayed due to Axion's large step.
“Go a little slower.”
She said, but Axion showed no interest in what she said, whether she did or not.
After Keisha fixed the magical restrictions on all twenty-five teams, he shouted.
“Are you all ready?”
“Ready!”
The unit members, who usually groaned with almost dead faces before training began, answered loudly and excitedly, probably because of the one-day pass.
“Then, let's start training!”
At Keisha's scream, the boys all ran towards the lake covered in thin ice.
But since it was a three-legged race, it was not easy to run quickly with coordination.
Everyone was swaying and cautiously moving forward.
'First, I have to get to the lake quickly.'
To carry out the plan, she first had to enter the lake.
Elia suggested to Axion.
"Let's coordinate our steps first.
One, two... ugh!"
Elijah's body swayed and she fell.
Axion's stride was too great for her to keep up with him.
“Try slowing down a little!”
“I underestimated it.”
Elijah's face contorted upon hearing his response.
What did you reduce?
It's a level I couldn't keep up with even if I tore my leg!
She wanted to punch him, but she was patient, dusted off her training uniform, and called the count again.
"Take it down a little more.
One, two... ugh!"
Once again, her body swayed.
His step didn't slow down at all.
He really doesn't understand!
It seemed that Axion had no intention of cooperating with her.
'Why did I end up on the same team with that bastard!'
While she was secretly cursing, the other members of the unit began to overtake them.
“Huh, at this rate we'll be the last.”
What's the point of having a plan if you can't even get into the lake!
When she muttered angrily, Axion's face distorted.
Illya had snatched first place in training from him several times, but he had never fallen behind any of the others.
His pride would not allow such a situation.
He must surpass them at all costs.
“What are you doing?
Step forward properly again...”
I see you-
Axion hugged Elijah's body clinging to his side tightly with both arms.
His strong body touched her back.
“You, what are you doing...?”
She was confused, but his arms tightened their grip around her body tighter.
“Stay still.”
Axion's ragged breath reached her ear, and she felt her face unintentionally heat up.
He picked her up while she was flustered, his arms wrapping around her.
Her feet rose off the ground.
In that case, he started rushing towards the lake.
Tattaaat!
Even though he was carrying it, his speed was amazing.
In an instant, he overtook the other unit members who were running towards the lake and reached the lake first.
'Is he really human?'
Illya was startled by the sight.
Axion reached the lake and jumped hard.
Taaat!
He and she dived together into the lake.
crack-
Suddenly!
The thin ice cracked, and the ice-cold lake water penetrated her body.
“Agh!”
She felt like her face would freeze.
But even though her body was cold, it didn't feel like it would freeze as much as her face.
This was because Axion was still hugging her tightly.
He felt his violent heartbeat from their bodies touching under the water.
Axion's face appeared as he floated right next to her.
His blonde hair was wet and stuck to his face.
Elijah raised her head above the surface of the lake and struggled out of his arms.
“Let me go!”
He replied coldly.
"no."
"What?"
“It is better for me in this situation than to fall behind because of you.”
“Why would it be because of me?!”
She protested, but his arms gripped her body tighter.
She could barely breathe.
More than that, I would stick with this bastard throughout the training.
This is something I categorically reject.
Elijah hurriedly shouted.
“Listen, I have a way, can you let me go first…?”
“No need.
Are you trying to trick me and attack me like you did before?
Like in those bushes.”
His blue eyes sparkled with hostility.
He seemed to be talking about the incident where he was trapped in a magic trap and fainted before he was recruited.
“Who deceived whom?!
It is you who…”
“Just hold your breath.
If you get tired, drink water and pass out.”
He interrupted her coldly.
His tone was like he wouldn't care at all even if she drowned instead of fainting.
“Let me go for a moment!”
“I said no, didn't I?”
"That's because I need to prepare something.
After that, you can hug me again or not.
Do you want to spoil the training?"
At those words, Axion relaxed his arms slightly, and she took something out of the pocket of her training uniform.
It was slime that I used as a pillow during the walk and saved for later.
I brought it in case there might be underwater training.
She held out the slime with both hands.
It stretched out like a transparent rubber film, and I stuck it over her nose and mouth like a mask.
When Axion looked at her with questioning eyes, she explained.
“This way, I can breathe underwater.
Drowning and losing consciousness is something I refuse.”
Thanks to the oxygen inside the slime, she could breathe a little even underwater.
This was a method she learned when she was playing diving on the beach of the Baron's fiefdom in her childhood.
Of course, the maximum was about 30 minutes.
“If you need, you can also here...”
“I don't need this.”
She tried to share the slime with him, but he immediately refused.
'Does that mean helping me hurts his pride?'
'Okay, do as you wish.'
Gosh!
Axion dived into the water of the lake, hugging her.
With every movement of his legs, their bodies quickly advanced towards the bottom of the lake.
'drive mad.
Is he a fish and not a human?'
If they had swam together, she would never have been able to catch up with him so quickly.
In this case, his swimming alone while holding her was much more efficient.
Of course, staying in this stuck position was extremely uncomfortable, but…
'Most importantly, in this case, I can't carry out my plan!'
He held her tightly and never let go.
They soon reached the bottom of the lake.
The place was so dark that no light could penetrate.
It was so dark that she couldn't see Axion clinging to her very well.
Elia only felt his presence through his body touching hers.
Even in the freezing cold and dark water, his body was warm.
Bear bear.
His heartbeat was transmitted to her without hindrance from their touching bodies.
When she felt those pulses, she had a strange feeling.
'This is no time for such feelings.'
Elia was worried because she didn't know what might appear in this darkness.
At that moment, his body touching her suddenly stopped.