Rena was quite excited about eating together; thankfully, all the meals were free, and we only needed to pay for extras.
So spend 10 copper for some bread rolls and a chilled tankard of juice.
The meal was a Western-style monster boar steak with mash and beef gravy on the side with some vegetables. Rice and other products we asked about were more popular in the south or east and cost too much to import.
"This food is pretty good; I never expected monsters to be delicious."
"Mmmm. Do you want to try my fish pasta with butter sauce?"
Rena smiled at me gently; since we came back, I could feel the increase in her affection and comfort around me, even accepting the slight differences due to my change.
Quietly, we enjoyed our meal, but sadly, when we almost finished, a group of Heroes came in with their bodies equipped with fancy outfits like nobles.
While we were still in the basic outfit with hard wool and a trace of cotton, Rena was in her blazer, school uniform, and black jean shorts.
"Do you want to return to the dungeon after our meal or rest until training?" I asked Rena, ignoring their stares.
These people were not important, neither Aki's group nor anyone special. I believe the front member was a Rank-C Hero. What was his name again? It seems vague...
Shinsuke Nakamura?
For some reason, I recalled his class was [Lancer], and he used a spear like me.
I was so interested because they were coming up to us.
The man smiled towards Rena while completely ignoring me.
"Hello there, beautiful; you look delicious. Let me tell you that you are in luck. You see, I'm one of the top ten Heroes, a Rank-C, and you..."
His face was smashed with a bowl full of half-eaten pasta; Rena didn't even look at him; instead, she smiled at me and then sent a powerful elbow into his chest, sending Shinsuke flying back into the middle of the cafeteria.
He didn't even land upright but was knocked to the ground and landed on two tables.
In the next instant, all the knights eating looked our way, with the four members of his group, one of them being Ando Shiori, at the back, who looked shocked that a Rank-E Rena had taken out her future meal ticket.
The cafeteria was stunned silent until Rena stood and smiled at everyone.
"I know you may be interested, and my boyfriend here is only Rank-D, but even if you all were ranked SSS, I would still choose him, so please, get out of my sight, you damned eyesores."
Everyone heard Rena's calm, clear voice, which caused some knights to laugh or just grin and many girls were shocked at her announcement.
The Hero got up from the tables, "You filthy 10-dollar slut! Ugh!?"
A small wooden stick flew through the air, sticking in his throat. I had used my nimble fingers to flick the small cocktail stick used to hold my steak together, and it entered his throat, making him choke while cutting his filthy throat.
With a smirk, I spoke, "Oh, forgive me, my fingers are so fast and skilled that you are now choking; don't die. That would make Rena sad because I would never forgive you for upsetting such a beautiful girl."
The other Heroes tried to rush me while some knights just enjoyed the show, but at that moment, I had no reason not to kill these people. After all, Rena isn't my girlfriend but my pet.
Why would I kill someone so easily and ruin my current life?
However, that is a fool's errand since Shinsuke insulted my pet... Let's give him a little punishment.
Grasping my fork, I swaggered forward; the increase in attributes seemed to affect my movement as closer to 20, everything was more fluid.
I stepped towards the Hero, dodging Shiori's hand and smashing Shinsuke's nose with my fork; I grasped his hair and slammed his head against a knight's table.
At that moment, I ignored everything as I started beating him up until his teammates used their abilities, only to be stopped by a barrier as the defence knights entered the room fully armed, seeing my hand grabbing Shinsuke's head, with his blood everywhere and a nose hanging off due to the fork they winced.
But they soon stepped forward to remedy the situation.
"Heroes, you must calm down; Rank-D Hero, release Rank-C Shinsuke Nakamura, please!"
The knight asked me politely, to which I smirked at him but ignored, only for a moment, as I made sure to carve an everlasting scar into his face, out of their sight, his warm blood pumping over my hands.
It should have been a delicious dessert, but it was disgusting, like overcooked steak.
My heart did remember one thing as I walked away with Rena holding my arm.
"Those knights didn't even call my name..."
***
Training Area - B - 5:10 p.m.
"Rank-D, Yuki Tanaka, Rank-E Ami Uehara, Rank-E Rena Hoshikawa, Rank-D, Akira Tendo."
I was standing in the training area with my mind focused because my status was low now; I needed to squeeze every ounce of worth from every point.
Therefore, I would go all out in this practice! Rena was ordered to do the same to develop her body as abs were already forming on her lovely caramel stomach with a velvety smooth surface.
Our instructor was a Rank-B Knight, Brian Laslo, a slim young man with glasses and long brown hair in a braid.
He stood at 5 foot 11 with a muscular build, wearing dull leather armour with a sheathed longsword.
I felt something odd in his sword, like a faint aura; it caused me to feel the premonition of death. But for now, I ignored it as I would see how far I could progress my skill with effort.
Brian looked at us, his eyes showing no favouritism; perhaps he believed this would be helpless.
If the Heroes showed off or treated it like a game, we could die in the dungeon.
Brian's blue eyes scanned our group, his face cold like an iron bar, "All of you grab one of those backpacks and run around the training yard for 20 laps!"
"Huh!?"
I was a little confused but stepped forward while getting Rena to follow as we both grabbed the bags... "shit... It's like 40kg..."
Unlike me, Rena picked it up with one arm without struggling.
"Well! Are you idiots deaf? If you want to get stronger, then train your body and stamina to the point of exhaustion. You! Brown girl with huge tits, carry two as you're so strong!"
Rena gave him sharp eyes before grabbing another, "What is that look? Silly woman." Brian said, turning around and looking at the other students.
I began to jog slowly, feeling the burning pain already as my muscles could barely hold the bag, let alone jog... Rena was struggling with two also, "It probably needs 25 strength to carry one effortlessly.." I estimated.
"Mmm..." Rena didn't speak.
Instead, she looked at me with a smile, her face starting to look like me with a thick, sticky sweat as we made our laps together.
Although I didn't say it.
The fact she slowed her own pace to match mine made me happy.
1 Lap
3 Lap
5 Laps
10 Laps
By this time, I could barely stay in line.
My legs were like the slime we killed the day before, but I bit my tongue, forcing the warm blood to seep into my gullet and pushed forward.
I wasn't tired, but sore! So I could push through.
18 Laps
20 Laps!!!
Finally, as I lay on the ground, my sweat created a dirty pool under my back while Rena collapsed on her soft buttocks beside me,
Her ass made a wet groove was amusing as she seemed self-conscious of her sweat.
"Don't look... Pervert.... hmph..."
"Haha, it looks cute when squished so small."
⟪Through your hard work and dedication, you have improved!⟫
⟪VIT+1⟫
⟪AGI+1⟫
⟪DEX+1⟫
"Eh?"
I checked when I heard that announcement, and sure as hell! My attributes increased.
Before Brian returned for the second part, I looked at Rena, her warm skin steamy and filled with alluring beads of sweat. "Rena, tonight, stay in my room."
"Hueh!? Why...!?"
"That bastard's lackeys will probably try something, and I feel more at ease if I can see you sleeping safely."
Forgive me for using your affection.
I need to use you for my protection until I am strong enough to fight back.
With a calm heart, I watched as she looked troubled, smiling at the warming scene before Brian returned.