Returned to the Past, the Hero is Protected by the Villain?

Chapter 7: It Wasn't Unpleasant

Moving his arms around and stretching, Hiiro smiled as he was finally completely recovered and active.

'But most of my recovering was just exercising because my muscles became bored while I was laying in bed...'

Deus still had a serious look on his face as he was deep in thought with his hand over his mouth.

"Are you sure you're alright? Shouldn't you rest a little more?"

"Oi... If I rest any more, I think my body will forget how to move."

Letting off a joke, he seemed to have gotten used to Deus's presence.

Deus sighed.

"Alright. Now strip."

"Eh."

Hiiro had a dumbfounded look on his face. Who wouldn't in his situation? A man told him, another man, to strip in the former's bedroom...

Hiiro quickly covered his chest with a look of 'oh god please spare me' as he took a step backward.

'I know most people, even if they were a guy, would be attracted to him just from his face alone, but I don't think I would be able to! I'm a bonafide straight guy!'

"What are you doing?"

"... please, sir. Consent is a big deal and I think you should reconsider. With your looks, I'm sure you can find someone better."

Deus sighed.

"Fine. We'll have to do this clothed, but it'd be more troublesome."

"Eh!"

Hiiro's ears grew red at the suggestion of that. What was he saying?! What type of person was this man?! What happened to the apathetic villain of the original novel that spared no one a glance!

Deus moved closer to Hiiro and...

...

Did a 360 inspection of him, leaving Hiiro dumbfounded.

"Um... what was this for?"

"I plan on training you and I had to tell what type of build you have to come up with a training schedule. What else would I be doing."

"Well..."

Quickly, Hiiro realized what a big error in judgment he had made and wanted to punch himself in the face. What did he think this was?! A bl novel?!

However, he suddenly realized what this new implication meant...

'Wait... training?'

The color drained from his face after he realized that Deus... the Villain of the story... was trying to train him...

He could only think that the situation was too messed up! However, how could he tell a man that could kill him in an instant that he didn't want to train?!

"Until you are able to use your full ability, I will protect you. So, work hard to become more powerful, and you'll be able to have the whole world in your hands."

"Eh."

Hiiro could only draw backward as he saw the villain truly make a villainous face. Why did it seem like he was part of the antagonist's side?! He's supposed to be the hero! Wait! No! He wants to just be a side character!

As he continued having a conflicted expression on his face, it seemed as Deus had no intentions of compromising.

...

With an exhausted and tired face, Hiiro collapsed onto the ground. His breaths became short and erratic as his face flushed red, sweat-drops rolling down his chin with each breath.

"I-I can't... go on anymore..."

Deus knit his eyebrows as he looked down at him. His voice an ever-soothing and alluring lull that could just as excite or relax a person.

"Just endure it a little longer."

"But... it hurts!"

"It'll feel better soon, just breath in with every push and it'll be done."

"Ah!... I can't anymore!"

Deus sighed as he looked down at the man, who had once defeated an army of thousands with a single swing, laying face down on the ground, exhausted after doing twenty-five pushups.

"You just had to complete fifty and you would've been done with today's schedule."

The black-haired man on the ground cried as he felt his body ache and his back hurt.

"What are you expecting from a patient who only considered walking as exercise!"

Deus exhaled with a glare that quickly shut Hiiro up.

"Before any proper training, we have to strengthen your body. Learning your ability is taxing on the body and your no way fit enough to withstand it currently. The only way to build up body strength quickly is by over-exerting it."

Although his explanation was a little rushed, he was not lying. Muscles are basically made up of small fibers, and when you work out, those fibers begin to snap. However, your body then repairs the fibers and replaces them with some more fibers to make the muscle stronger. Working out is essentially harming your body so it becomes stronger as a result. As the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

However, even if Hiiro knew about that, there was no way he could stand doing anything more! Even though he didn't want to, he had to turn towards his last resort, at the cost of his dignity!

He was going to beg!

"Please Lord Manachi, I really can only do twenty-five for today. Please let me rest, I'll do anything, even grovel on the floor."

"The moment you grovel on the floor is the moment I sever your head from your body, Seraphim."

Hiiro grew pale at Deus's quick and sharp answer he made with a straight face. Ahhh... was he doomed? Pleasing a villain just seems too difficult...

Deus, on the other hand, scoffed in his mind at even the thought of the man he admired groveling on the filthy floor. There was in no way someone who had always stood tall and proud should even do that sort of thing. Maybe he should increase Hiiro's training, so he can become more disciplined.

However, just as he was thinking about that, he looked over at Hiiro, who had a depressed look on his face while sat on the ground. Looking at him and his facial expressions that would change often, being able to read him like a book was a strange occurrence. It was so strange that Deus had not even noticed himself letting out a laugh at his foolishness until it happened.

Surprised, he covered his mouth that had turned into a smile. It was strange. Although the current Hiiro was nothing like who he was in the past, more like the opposite, it wasn't unpleasant seeing him react or anything.

Looking back up to the direction of Hiiro, Deus paid attention to his messy hair and disheveled appearance. Although he didn't like seeing the appearance of someone he knew as dignified in such a manner, it seemed to fit him and even looked quite cute.

After thinking deeply about a few things, he let out a sigh of defeat as he walked over to Hiiro, who was debating on how to finish the rest of his training. He naturally outstretched his hand and pat the latter on the head, messing up his hair even more.

"You can rest for today. I'll make some adjustments to your training schedule. We'll just take this slow, I guess."

Hearing this, Hiiro's face lit up as he smiled cheerfully. If he didn't know that Deus was the villain of the story, he would've given him a huge hug!

"Thank you! You're the best!"

Deus sighed as he covered the smile he instinctively put on. Although it isn't going exactly to plan, something like this isn't that bad once in a while.