Chapter 7: Future Renowned Hero
The loud noise of the collision spread across the training room, and everyone turned their heads toward Klaus.
Almost instantly, a sharp feminine voice cut through his confusion, "What the hell are you doing?"
Klaus, who had been dumbfounded by his own strength, turned his gaze toward the voice.
She was lean and muscular, her sun-tanned skin contrasting with the black jacket worn over a form-fitting sports bra and shorts. Her short, brown hair was cut into a sharp bob that brushed just above her shoulders.
She strode toward Klaus with her hands in the pockets of her jacket and her sharp eyes fixed on him.
As she neared, Klaus glanced at others and saw all of them look away from her like she was some kind of monster.
’Who is that tomboy?’ He wondered.
[Scanning the target.]
’Oh? That’s something new.’
[Data found. The person before you is Trina Frost. A renowned hero who had saved hundreds during the apocalypse. It is speculated that she has a Gold trait. Though for some reason I do not feel any mana in her.]
’Of course you don’t.’
[Host, this is your chance.]
’Chance for what?’
[Chance to stop being maidenless.]
Before he could respond to the system, a shadow fell on him.
His gaze landed squarely on Trina’s defined abs, and he whispered involuntarily, "...Damn."
Muscle mo— What am I thinking?!
She looked at the machine and thought, ’How did someone like him even do that?’
Although Klaus had become stronger by leveling up, he still had the body of an average man. He didn’t have any refined muscles or athletic presence.
Feeling his gaze digging into her abdomen, she lowered her eyes to him and spoke with a hint of quiet pride, "Looked enough?"
Shit! Was I looking too intensely?
[Yes, you were.]
’A renowned hero, huh... It would be better for me to get on good terms with her.’
He met her eyes, and his lips parted to apologize. After all, he had been the one to disturb everyone.
But before he could even say a word, she cut him off, "If you don’t know how to use the equipment, then wouldn’t it be sensible to ask someone instead of making everyone around you uncomfortable?"
Why is she staring at me like that?
He was left speechless. Although he was ready to accept his fault, the way she was looking down at him didn’t sit well with him for some reason.
However, he knew better than to cause any further trouble.
"Sorry. I honestly didn’t expect that," he said in an apologetic tone.
She eyed him for a long while and then turned around.
"My name is Trina Frost, the appointed gym leader."
’She is in charge of the equipment... no wonder she is mad.’
"Follow me," Trina said as she strolled toward the gym’s door.
Klaus’s expression grimmed.
’Is she kicking me out?’ Even though he had the VVIP card, he didn’t know how powerful it actually was.
A blue holographic screen materialized before his face.
[She is ruthless. A perfect match for you.]
"Stop trying to get me laid. I just want to be on friendly terms with her," he groaned and stood up from the machine.
Trina stopped by the gym’s door and asked with an irritated expression, "What are you standing there for?"
"Coming."
He trudged toward her, his jaw clenched.
’I can’t get kicked; I must form connections with future heroes.’
Both of them left the training room, and Trina walked deeper into the hallway.
"Aren’t you kicking me out?" He asked with a tilted head, visibly confused.
Trina glanced at him and answered, "I am not kicking you out. It’s normal for rookies to make such mistakes."
He blinked a few times; the harsh woman from before now seemed like a stern yet kind big sister, which felt weird because she was probably younger than him.
[She is considerate. A perfect match for you.]
He glared at the system and clenched his fist.
Why was this system trying so hard to make me get under skirts... or shorts for this one?
It seemed like the system was really built for some bum who wanted an excuse to build a harem.
[According to the data, I was designed specifically for you.]
’There’s no way that there is any data for this! You are just making shit up.’
[I am not designed to help with delusions.]
’Tch.’ He inwardly clicked his tongue and then stepped into a room with Trina.
Just like the first training room, this room also had the gym machines and equipment, but the ones here seemed to be made for top athletes and professionals.
"Why are we here?" He asked while looking around.
Trina took off her jacket, revealing her toned arms and defined back. Then she threw it on a nearby rack and answered flatly, "Others don’t feel comfortable around me, so I train here."
"I see," he mumbled and then pointed at himself. "But why am I here?"
For the first time, she offered him a faint smile and answered, "I’ll teach you how to use all of the equipment of the gym."
"Ah-huh," Klaus nodded. He couldn’t understand why she was going to such lengths for a stranger, but he wasn’t one to deny such grace.
Trina stopped beside a chest fly machine. "Let’s get started."
"You had used maximum weight, right?" She asked flatly as she set the weight.
"Yeah." He sat on the machine and gripped the handles.
"Straighten your back and push your shoulders out."
"Thanks." He followed her instructions.
"Give it a try," she stated with her hands on her waist.
Klaus exhaled deeply and remarked inwardly, ’I should hold back a little.’
He spread his arms apart and pushed the handlebars away from himself, but unlike the last time, this one showed resistance that was far greater than what it should’ve been.
’Huh?’
He pushed them with all his strength, and only then did the handlebars reach the end.
"Why is it so different than the last one?" Klaus asked curiously.
The weight of both was the same, but this one was moderately heavy to use.
"The machines here are rigged that way. They are for athletes after all," Trina explained and pointed to a different machine, "Let’s move to another one."
’He is much better than I had thought.’
Despite trying her best to hide it, Klaus still managed to take a glimpse at her arching lips.
Chills crawled up his body as he felt a bad premonition.
But he wasn’t the one to give up. He hardened his will and stood up from the machine.
"Okay."
About two hours passed as she taught him how to use the machines one by one, and once they were done, Klaus was drenched in sweat.
His body was slightly sore, but he still felt refreshed.
"Thanks," Klaus said gladly.
"Don’t worry about it," Trina responded, her voice much softer than before
’She is too kind,’ Klaus remarked inwardly.
Trina picked up her jacket and wore it. "I’ll meet you tomorrow."
"Huh?" Confusion filled his face. "What do you mean?"
She turned her head toward him and replied in a bitter tone, "Most athletes train with their own teams. The few who come here either quit after one session or avoid me."
She smiled. "But now I can have you as my workout partner. So? Would you like to join me?"
[So, Host planned to get close to her from the start? I am surprised by your insight.]
To be honest, I am just as surprised as you.