[Yes, Lady Alice.
How may I assist you?]
It was Azure’s low, deep baritone voice.
However, Alice frowned.
No, not you.
I meant the other Azure.
[How unexpected.
So you can tell?]
It was the same voice, but Alice knew it was different now.
Alice was a little speechless.
Don’t you realize how different you are from that AI?
[But that AI was reconstructed from my consciousness, though?]
Alice: …
An AI reconstructed from a person’s consciousness.
This guy had casually dropped another bombshell, not caring at all how much it added to the mountain of questions already filling her mind.
Alice calmly organized her turbulent thoughts and replied flatly,
No.
It may have your ingredients, but it lacks your flavor, so the final result is still different.
The AI Azure felt like a polite gentleman from the princess cartoons, while the real Azure was noticeably more playful.
[…Considering that you’re a foodie, I’ll take that as a compliment.
But yes, ding, you got it right!
The AI is a failed copy, but it’s still very useful and has a distinct personality compared to lifeless robots.]
A failed copy.
Another piece of information noted down.
Alice was silent for a moment before finally asking,
Are you doing this on purpose?
A low, deep chuckle filled every corner of her mind, as though someone were standing right beside her, his rich laughter rumbling from deep within his chest.
[My apologies.
It seems I may have overdone it.
I was just a little happy to finally be able to talk normally with someone of similar origins.
I couldn’t help teasing you a little.]
Having no experience dealing with this kind of banter, Alice did not know what to say, so she simply relented.
I’ll forgive you for now, as long as you answer my questions.
I hope we can have a more serious conversation, she said sincerely.
Holding back a smile, Azure finally stopped teasing the simple and straightforward little girl.
[Alright, as you wish, Lady Alice.
I believe you called me because you wanted to ask some questions?]
No, not right now.
I’m still busy, Alice answered.
Isn’t training very important?
I’m currently doing my best to get my body into the best condition possible by completing the training quests assigned to me.
[Do you wish to talk later tonight?]
No.
I also want to apologize for last night.
I was too tired and forgot that I was supposed to talk to you.
And later, I might still be exhausted.
Can we talk tomorrow night instead?
[Are you sure you won’t just fall asleep from exhaustion tomorrow as well?] Azure asked curiously. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Alice hesitated.
No, it shouldn’t be that bad.
[Alright.
Then just call for me tomorrow.
I also have a few things to take care of on my end, so the timing works perfectly.]
Alice sighed in relief.
That’s good, then.
Before she could say goodbye, the neuro-medical pod had already opened, and Alice could hear the healers calling for her.
“Apprentice Hero, your breakfast is ready!
Come and wash up.”
Alice hastily bid farewell to Azure before beginning her day with a hearty breakfast.
[Run one lap around the training ground.]
The moment Alice began today’s training quests, she immediately noticed the changes in her body.
Her feet were no longer unsteady.
They landed firmly on the ground with each step, and whenever she pushed herself forward, Alice no longer felt as though she might topple to one side.
She was steadily propelling herself forward, the locks of her black hair swaying with the wind, and her vivid blue eyes were glowing.
Each step felt springy, and her body was light and full of energy.
Only when turning corners did she need to slow down and carefully shift her center of gravity.
My mobility is 7 and my balance is 6.
I guess it’s pretty accurate.
The little girl quickly finished a full lap with only a faint sheen of sweat, and her breathing remained steady.
The instructors, who had decided to give it their all, exchanged glances, nodded decisively, and began to “torture” the determined Apprentice Hero.
By ten in the morning, Alice was panting like a dog with its tongue hanging out, but she still managed to complete everything without issue.
Ding!
[Vitality +1]
[Mobility +1]
[Balance +1]
[Endurance +1]
[Coordination +1]
Alice pulled up her status window and checked her attributes while soaking in the medicinal solution inside the neuro-medical pod.
Her fair skin seemed to become a little whiter and tenderer with each visit to the neuro-medical pod, her hair also were being nourished in every strand.
But Alice never paid attention to these changes.
She was busy looking at the numbers on the status window.
[Vitality: 9 “How healthy your body is”]
[Mobility: 8 “How well you can travel”]
[Balance: 7 “How well you can stay on your feet”]
[Endurance: 8 “How long you can keep going”]
[Coordination: 5 “How smoothly you move”]
She blinked, her blue eyes sparkling.
Just a little more.
This feeling of watching her stats increase and leveling up felt really nice!
Alice resumed training at half past eleven.
However, this session with the instructors was very different from the usual walking and running practice.
The little girl could already run quite well, but she still needed to improve her balance and coordination, which lagged behind her other physical stats.
The instructors explained the importance of targeted training.
Coordination doesn’t just mean moving your feet in rhythm.
It involves your entire body.”
“When you take a step forward, the rest of your body follows.
Your upper body must remain stable as your legs drive you forward, which means your core needs to be strong.
Otherwise, if you try to run quickly with your legs stretched out, your upper body will tilt due to momentum.”
“As a result, your balance will immediately shift, causing you to become unstable and fall.”
“What we need to do now is strengthen your core.
By improving your core stability, both your balance and coordination stats will improve.”
Alice nodded obediently and faithfully followed their instructions.
She performed several rounds of core stability exercises specifically tailored for running, according to the instructors, since the immediate priority was completing the main quest.
Inside the training ground, the harnesses, bars, and other equipment used yesterday had already been cleared away.
Aside from the padded tracks laid across the floor, a large exercise mat had been placed in the center.
A black-haired little girl performed various exercises atop it, her blue eyes sharp and focused, her cheeks flushed red from exertion.
Damp strands of black hair clung to her face and neck.
Bicycle crunches.
Knee tucks.
Planks.
Glute bridges.
Plank walk-ups.
Another door had opened before Alice.
Such strange positions and movements performed in the same spot, yet they exhausted her more than walking or running ever had.
As a veteran fighter, Alice immediately recognized the value of these exercises.
Each movement was highly targeted, focusing on specific muscle groups and reflexes, allowing people to compensate for weaknesses in their bodies and movements.
Her small body was experiencing such targeted core training for the first time, and the burning sensation in her muscles was even more pronounced.
It felt as though every fiber of those muscles was on fire.
Yet precisely because she could feel those specific muscles working, Alice felt even more motivated to complete every single set.
[Warning: The host’s blood sugar and fluid levels are dropping.]
[Please take a break, Lady Alice.
I have already informed the healers and instructors.]
Alice felt a little dizzy.
Her clothes were completely soaked through, and the mat beneath her had already accumulated small puddles of sweat.
So this is why it’s called difficult mode, Alice thought hazily as the healers helped her to her feet.
This time, before sending her into the neuro-medical pod, they covered her body with long, thin needles, making Alice feel like a porcupine.
She wasn’t sure whether it was an illusion, but she thought she could see murky wisps rising from the tip of each needle.
Alice spent a much longer time recuperating inside the neuro-medical pod.
She stayed for two whole hours.
When the little girl finally emerged, it was already long past lunch.
She was starving, and her stomach growled loudly.
The little girl devoured her meal like a ravenous beast that had not eaten for days, making Vitto feel somewhat conflicted.
He was disheartened that his carefully prepared luxurious full-course meal had been consumed like ordinary pig feed, yet he also pitied the little girl, who had clearly suffered through an intense training session.
When the little girl finally returned to the training ground at three in the afternoon, brimming with energy once more, Alice immediately called up her status window.
Because she had been so focused on training, Alice had ignored the notifications that had appeared earlier, but she was certain that her physical stats had increased.
It helps me a lot.
m(_ _)m
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