The Compressed World

Only after my entire body was compressed did I realize that I probably hadn't truly understood the situation I was in.

Of course, I knew I was in an extremely dangerous situation... but knowing something intellectually and experiencing it firsthand were worlds apart.

Honestly... I'm a little scared.

Realizing that the world could suddenly shrink and crush me without any warning, I found myself flinching even while walking normally.

It was a terrible experience. Yet, at the same time, it was a beneficial one, as it proved advantageous to have gone through it.

Thanks to it, I could clearly set the direction I needed to take.

In the dark of night, I activated Luminescence Magic in the Shed and examined my clothes.

Of course, fabric isn't damaged by pressure. A person would be crushed under a cart laden with stone, but their clothes would remain intact.

However, the stitching was different.

Since it was made for a janitor, there were traces of thicker fabrics forcibly sewn together, and these connecting points would burst with even a little pressure.

But my clothes were fine. What this meant was clear.

So, it only messes with me.

It seemed the Deep Sea Pressure ignored clothes and crushed only my body.

If it ignores clothes, it would naturally ignore armor too.

My plan to create a diving suit to withstand it was shattered.

It was the easiest path... I licked my lips and tightly secured the last rope tying together the wood and scrap metal.

My handiwork wasn't particularly good, so the balance wasn't perfect—but for a beginner, this should be fine.

I picked up and put down a rather convincing-looking weight, feeling its weight.

It was a bit heavy, but not impossible to lift.

I hummed a tune as I lifted and lowered the weight.

The reason for exercising under the moonlight?

Since I couldn't rely on armor, the goal was to build my body to withstand the Deep Sea Pressure.

If you just heard it, it would sound utterly idiotic. Even the greatest strongman in Earth's history would be crushed in the Deep Sea, no different from anyone else.

Ultimately, the human body is made of flesh and bone, and there's a limit to its density. That's not something training can overcome.

-On Earth, that is.

Here, it's different. Knights learn the Body Strengthening Technique, which literally allows them to unleash power beyond human limits, gaining muscles strong enough to break swords.

Of course, a Knight acquires the Body Strengthening Technique to learn swordsmanship with that power.

Without the Knight's Talent for swordsmanship, learning the Body Strengthening Technique would only lead to being cut down by another Knight who has learned it. You'd just be a strong punching bag.

It doesn't matter to me, since I have no intention of fighting knights.

Now, there was just one thing left. I needed to get my hands on a Body Strengthening Technique Training Manual, which cost tens of thousands of gold and wasn't even available in the Library.

And that problem was solved today at lunch.

More precisely, I could choose this method because it was proven.

Jereun, can you perhaps learn this?

...

Today at lunch.

Still nursing my aching body, I returned to the Orphanage and silently gasped when the Orphanage Director handed me a book.

That book wasn't just any Body Strengthening Technique; it was the Knight's Body Strengthening Technique.

Even though the Princess sponsored the entire Orphanage, I knew how much money went into feeding dozens of children, so I couldn't help but ask the Orphanage Director, who lived frugally every day.

Where did you steal this from?

W-what are you talking about! I received it.

No, from whom?

...Come here for a moment.

The Orphanage Director called me to the Open Ground behind the building and quietly explained the situation as if sharing a secret.

You know, that, um... the Knight who visited last time?

Yes. I heard he came and gave a lecture to the Knight Aspirants when I wasn't here.

The Orphanage gets a lot of professionals coming for volunteer work.

I'm not sure why they come. From seeing them casually state obvious facts with bored expressions and offer insincere well-wishes, it's clear that their coming is not voluntary; it seems like they're earning points or perhaps it's a form of punishment.

Still, the Orphanage Students go crazy for them, because every time these guys come, they bring expensive snacks that can't be bought with pocket money. I'm not particularly interested, though.

Well, that... Knight was initially giving well-wishes without much enthusiasm, as usual—but then Linmel was swinging a wooden sword behind him.

And?

He watched Linmel intently... then his eyes suddenly widened, and he couldn't take his gaze off her for a long time—a full thirty minutes. If Linmel hadn't gotten bored and left midway, he might have watched her even longer...

...

I had a rough idea of how the story was going.

The Orphanage Director, with a serious expression, held up the Body Strengthening Technique book.

Then he gave me this book and said, <F1>'Give this to that child. If she catches my eye when I return next time, I will provide support.'</F1>

Support? What kind of support?

I think it means he'll give her full support to become a Knight. The other Teachers are also enthusiastic and are diligently teaching Linmel.

Ah, I saw Linmel get up early this morning and practice with a sword. Was that why?

Yes, I coaxed her with food to get up a little early. We couldn't miss such an opportunity, could we? It's still hard to believe that Linmel, that small, young child, was born with the Knight's Talent...

The Orphanage Director seemed incredibly surprised that a 10-year-old girl, not even one of the larger Orphanage Students, had been chosen by a Knight.

I wasn't that surprised. I'd seen it several times before.

Linmel has talent. She understands the Essence of Swordsmanship.

She's a true genius, unlike the *Chosen Mages* who are more like anomalies.

It's not strange for a Knight to take notice. In fact, if she only started to stand out at 10, it might even be considered late.

I was nodding, wondering if I should try to get on her good side early, when an obvious question popped into my head.

But why are you giving this to me? You should give it to Linmel.

...I gave it to her. I did.

The Orphanage Director's expression turned gloomy.

Hmm, let me guess. She said it was too boring and she didn't want to do it, right?

I wish that were the case...

I tilted my head, watching the Orphanage Director sigh in resignation.

Huh? If not that, then what?

Well, Linmel... she doesn't read very well.

?

It's not that she can't read at all, but there are too many difficult words and sentences for her to understand. She said...

...No way.

She's 10. How can that be?

Wondering if she was perhaps *dense*, I quickly flipped through the Body Strengthening Technique book I'd been handed and realized it wasn't so strange after all.

It was filled with words like 'femur' and “gastrocnemius rupture,” terms difficult for a child of her years to understand. She probably couldn't make sense of it.

When we tried to teach her, she said she didn't want to study in addition to learning the sword, so what could we do? Linmel listens to you well, so I wondered if you could teach her... Are you busy, by any chance?

...No.

After a moment of thought, I collected myself and gave the Orphanage Director, whose eyes were sparkling, a kind smile.

Don't worry. I'll learn it well and teach her.

Jereun...!

That was what happened—my receiving the Orphanage Director's touched gaze today at lunch.

Having acquired the Body Strengthening Technique, I decided to use it to overcome Water Pressure. It was now the middle of the night.

Is this enough, I wonder?

I pumped my muscles as much as possible and looked at my reflection in the Well.

I was a human made of toothpicks. My body was not just slender, but thin. Was this the price for skipping most of my physical education classes?

It won't matter once I learn a Body Strengthening Technique, I thought. I sighed and was about to follow the posture described in the book when I stopped dead.

...What is this?

The posture in the manual was utterly bizarre.

Joints were bent in impossible directions, and the main instruction was to perform strength training in those positions.

The premise was that even the most minute muscles in the human body needed to be developed to avoid injury while learning the Body Strengthening Technique described later—

It was an acrobatic pose that made me wonder, *Is this even possible?*

After a brief hesitation, I shrugged my shoulders and put my hands between my legs.

I should just do as it says. Surely I won't get hurt, right?

*CRACK!*

***

The next morning.

Hey, are you sick?

Yes.

My Senior looked at me with a bewildered expression.

I was leaning on a broom like a crutch, limping along, so he must have wondered what was going on.

Normally I'd say I'm fine, but this was beyond the point where a lie about being okay would work.

But I'm okay.

This, too, wasn't a lie.

My legs... hurt, but other parts of my body felt surprisingly energetic.

The Fundamentals of Body Strengthening Technique were primarily a process of awakening all the muscles in the body.

Even now, walking felt strange. Only now did I realize I had so many tiny muscles in my body.

It wasn't bad. In fact, using parts I didn't even know existed made my body feel much lighter. It was worth sacrificing my legs for.

Hey...

My Senior—instead of nagging as usual—covered his eyes and looked up at the sky.

*What's up with him?*

Are you... having a really hard time?

"Huh?"

It's a bit much to say after only two weeks of cleaning together, but if it's really hard, tell me. As for that Orphanage Director, I'll take responsibility and...

Sensing danger, I frantically waved my hands.

No! No, no, no, the Orphanage Director didn't hit me; I fell on my own. Really!

...Oh, really?

Yes! I'm fine, so please don't do anything like that. I beg you.

I almost made the Orphanage Director, my savior, into a criminal.

Watching my bewildered Senior, I decided I needed to be more careful in the future. Because I was young, my excuses worked *too* well.

I'll work hard cleaning today too, don't worry!

What are you talking about? How can I make a kid with injured legs clean?

I'm fine!

I'm not fine. Come with me.

With a stern expression full of duty, my Senior led me to a building in a corner of the Academy, specifically to a place resembling an Infirmary, and then laid down the law.

This is the Staff Infirmary, okay? Rest well today. There are medicine and bandages, so if you have any problems with your legs, just say so. I'll be cleaning in front of the building, so don't even think about running off to clean!

Despite his tone, the content was incredibly kind.

But...

Tsk, tsk, taking care of a *Junior* is also a *Senior*'s job. Got it?

He really likes that, doesn't he?

My Senior, having crushed my last bit of resistance, wiped his nose proudly and carefully closed the door as he left.

I was left alone in the room.

Since my Senior said he'd be cleaning in front of this building, escape was impossible.

Sigh...

I have so many classes to eavesdrop on today.

I decided to just study on my own, thinking this was punishment for shamelessly using the Orphanage Director's name.

Coincidentally, there were plenty of usable bandages. Their weight was just right, perfect for practice. I held a handful in each hand and dropped them one by one.

A countermeasure for when they float in the air due to the current.

Harnessing wind, I would slowly lower them.

It's difficult...

However, I couldn't easily intervene, perhaps due to my lack of proficiency. The bandages that fell from my hands simply rolled across the floor.

It seemed like it would be much easier to manipulate them using Current, but that wouldn't be meaningful. I was practicing Magic of the Current Realm.

I furrowed my brow and began to concentrate.

On the twelfth drop, I caught it.

*Boing*. Just before hitting the floor, the bandage stopped dead and bounced back into my hand.

It looked like a rubber ball. Was this my first success?

Oh...!

As I pleasantly reflected on the sensation from just a moment ago, I heard a small sound.

...

I turned my head and saw a person.

No, why? What? I didn't hear the door open?

A girl my age, with short silver hair, large eyes, and wearing expensive children's clothes that were clearly worlds apart from mine, was staring at me with an expression mixed equally with confusion and surprise.

Of course, I was the most flustered. A tense silence hung between us for about ten seconds as our gazes met.

Uh, excuse me...

*Who are you?*

Before I could utter those words—she beat me to it.

The young brat pointed a finger at me, covering her mouth, and shouted.

You, *m-magic*, used magic? A Janitor??

Seeing her incredulous expression, I calmly assessed the situation.

Hmm.

My life is ruined.