"Ugh... mm..."
Ariane was an early riser. She typically woke at five o'clock and immediately began her morning preparations.
"There. That should do it."
After changing into light athletic wear, she tied her beautiful platinum hair into a ponytail and headed downstairs.
There had been a noble gala the previous night, so even though it was a weekday, Ariane was staying at her family’s local estate. She was scheduled to return to the Diom Magic Academy dormitories later that day.
However, there was something she had to do every morning before leaving.
"Good morning, Father."
"Oh! Ariane! Good morning! Huff... huff... hmph!"
In a spacious room on the first floor of House Algren’s royal capital villa, Ariane's father, Volkhard Algren, was in the middle of a set of squats. He gripped heavy dumbbells in both hands to maximize the strain.
Sweat sprayed from his brow.
Despite being in his fifties, he maintained a gargantuan frame. While his size was partly a gift of birth, in Volkhard’s case, it was further reinforced by an overwhelming armor of muscle.
It was a known phenomenon that the aging process slowed for high-ranking Sorcerers. While this wasn't true for everyone, Volkhard was a textbook example. Consequently, he possessed a level of muscle mass that seemed impossible for a man in his fifties.
"If you'll excuse me, Father... I shall join you."
"Umu! Devote yourself to the grind today as well! Gahaha!"
House Algren is overrun by muscle.
Apparently, there were some nobles who whispered such mockery behind their backs. However, the observation was entirely accurate.
Ariane had loved physical activity for as long as she could remember. She still had fond memories of the footraces she used to have with Amelia Rose when they were children.
She had wanted to start weight training from a young age, but Volkhard had forbidden it, telling her to wait until her body was ready. Ariane had patiently endured the wait.
But now, things were different.
With her body fully matured, she devoted herself to weight training every single day.
Sincerity and Fortitude.
Following the family motto to the letter, Ariane pushed herself until she was drenched in sweat.
"Huff... huff... hmph...!"
Ariane worked out stoically beside her father. Since she had trained her back the day before, today was leg day. Gripping the dumbbells Volkhard had prepared, she began her squats.
Lactic acid built up in her thighs, and her muscles began to scream. Still, Ariane did not falter. These days of self-improvement were often grueling. There was nothing easy about them.
But now, she had a goal.
"This time... huff... I won't... huff... lose...!"
She wouldn't lose again.
She was thinking of the finals of the Magics Chevalier Newcomers' Tournament. She was genuinely happy that Amelia had won. Her friend had spent so long wandering, lost in doubt and searching for herself... and she had finally found her place.
Even so, a loss was a loss. They had fought with everything they had, and the fact that she had been defeated would never change. That loss was permanently etched into her heart.
On the night after the match, Ariane had soaked her pillow with tears. But by the next morning, she had already refocused.
—It’s simply my turn to be the one chasing now. So, I will just continue my daily training as I always have. That is enough.
Ariane was tough. That was true physically, but she was just as strong mentally.
And so, today as well, she devoted herself to her routine. Change didn't happen overnight. She understood that small, daily accumulations were what would eventually take her to new heights.
A sound mind dwells in sound muscles.
Adhering to her father’s teachings, she continued her workout.
"Whew..."
"Ariane. Good work today."
"Father."
"Hmph... even for my own daughter, you show impressive dedication."
"I, too, have a summit I wish to reach."
Ariane and Volkhard were close. Their mother often voiced her complaints about the two of them being obsessed with training, but she had eventually resigned herself to it as an unavoidable quirk of the family.
Normally, adolescent daughters tended to loathe their fathers, but Ariane felt no such thing. She simply admired the man who had amassed such an overwhelming physique.
Before other girls her age had developed an interest in fashion, Ariane had developed an interest in muscles. Naturally, as a member of the Three Great Noble Families, she possessed the skills to maintain proper grooming and kept up with her studies. Even so, she simply preferred physical activity.
"So, Ariane."
"Yes?"
"Do you know of a boy named Ray White?"
"Ray? Of course. We are friends. Why do you ask?"
"What?! You're friends?!"
"Yes."
Ariane found it unusual for her father to bring up this kind of topic. He rarely asked about her school life, and they had never discussed her friendships before.
"Ahem. I see... Well, invite him over sometime."
"To the mansion, you mean?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Ah... er... well... hmmm..."
Volkhard crossed his burly arms over his massive chest and fell into thought.
Sincerity and Fortitude. Straightforward to a fault, he was terrible at lying. While he desperately wanted to see Ray for himself, he hadn't actually thought of a logical reason to invite him.
Suddenly, Ariane let out a small "Oh."
"Could it be, Father..."
"W-what?"
Volkhard was visibly acting suspicious, but Ariane didn't seem to notice. Her face lit up with realization.
"You heard about Ray's muscles, didn't you!"
"Eh?"
"I heard it from Amelia. She said that Ray is incredible when he takes his shirt off... that beneath that slender frame lies an overwhelming amount of muscle. But come to think of it, he is a member of Arnold Magic Academy's Environmental Research Club. It would be impossible to participate in their activities with half-hearted muscles. But Ray is a regular. That's why you want me to bring him here, isn't it? To see for yourself?"
Ariane spoke with a triumphant look on her face.
It was as if she were saying, "I know exactly what you're thinking, Father."
Volkhard, of course, was not about to let such a perfect opportunity pass.
"Ah! As expected of my daughter! Y-yes. I'm quite curious about this Ray White's muscles... so, are they really that impressive?"
Volkhard was genuinely intrigued now. He hadn't heard anything about the physical condition of the youngest-ever Seven Grand Sorcerer during the council meetings.
While he already thought the current Ice Sword Sorcerer sounded like an interesting character, his curiosity regarding Ray was now piqued for entirely different reasons.
"Yes. According to Amelia, his muscle density is physically impossible..."
"What? Physically impossible mass? Mmm... I must see this..."
"Understood, Father. I will speak to Ray. He is quite a gentleman, so I believe he will accept the invitation."
"Oh! I'm counting on you, my daughter!"
"Yes. Leave it to me."
And so, through a strange misunderstanding, the two reached an agreement to invite Ray to the estate.
"Now, how should I go about this...?"
On her way back to Diom Magic Academy, Ariane pondered when she should invite Ray. As she thought, a recent conversation with Amelia came to mind.
"We're hosting a Maid Cafe!"
"A... a Maid Cafe?"
"Yes! Hehe... everyone is going to be super cute, so you definitely have to come visit, Ariane!"
"Y-yes."
Amelia's eyes had been sparkling with an intense light, and she had gripped Ariane's hands, shaking them up and down with terrifying energy. Ariane was happy that Amelia had become so bright and cheerful, but she had also felt a lingering sense of bewilderment.
"But... I really wanted to see you in a maid outfit too, Ariane..."
—Shudder.
A chill had run down Ariane’s spine.
She had found herself flinching under Amelia's gaze. It was the look of a predator locking onto its prey. Ariane rarely felt fear, but in that moment, she had been genuinely intimidated.
"Oh, right. Actually, we're planning to make Ray crossdress too, so make sure to come! I haven't told him yet, but I've already finished his maid outfit... Hehe... I can't let that beauty go to waste. Ufufu..."
The memory of Amelia’s expression—a look hardly fitting for a noble lady—was still fresh in Ariane's mind.
"I know. I'll just go there myself."
Thinking back, her first meeting with Ray had occurred when he came to Diom Magic Academy for an investigation. In that case, she decided she should just take the direct approach and visit his school.
That’s what Ariane decided.
Besides, she was curious to see how the Maid Cafe preparations were progressing. Perhaps she could find some inspiration for her own academy's Cultural Festival.
And so, after school that day, she set out for Arnold Magic Academy alone.