Once I got out of the mansion and entered the garden I started my training. First exercise was something relatively easy, so-called plank. I walked towards the soft grass and lied down on the stomach with my feet together and the forearms on the ground with elbows under the shoulders.
I drew in my belly button to the best of my ability, braced myself and squeezed the glute muscles. Then I lifted my body off of the ground and formed a straight line from head to heels. I held the position for as long as I could, what was not very long since this body was in very bad shape. Once I could no longer hold, I returned to starting position and relaxed for several seconds. After that I lifted myself once again. I did ten repetitions every time holding for as long as I could.
After this I lied down on my back, relaxing a little and catching some breath. While I was doing that, I started to think about ways of getting an edge using the knowledge of the game. Anything that would help me get stronger, get in shape and survive the academy. That was when I realized that I don't know how much time I have before enrolling there. I quickly spoke a word that was used in the game to check status, time and everything.
"Status!"
I had very little hope but despite that a window appeared in-front of me.
-//-
Name: Victor Balzac
Age: 14
Class: Classless
Level: 0
Stamina: 10
Mana: N/A
Affinities: N/A
Skills: N/A
Titles: Fatso!; Reincarnated (hidden)!
-//-
Good news was that I had a massive head start. Since upon becoming 18 years old every noble in this kingdom is required to attend an academy based on the noble rank. I, as a son of the duke, am expected to attend the highest-grade and most prestigious academy here in the Agera kingdom, the so-called Royal academy of fencing and mystical arts. It would be huge shame for my family if I was not able to pass the entrance exam and attend the school. In game Victor had to stoop to bribery and blackmailing in order to pass the entrance exam, but not this time. This time I plan on passing with flying colors.
Another piece of good news was my hidden title, hidden meant that it would not be revealed to anybody during any status check only to me, as for what it did. It was awesome, it made me advance in my training faster. That was exactly what I needed now.
But that was where good news stopped. My second title Fatso! gave me huge penalty to stamina and prevented me from using mana. Explanation for the mana was that the fat was clogging my mana veins so I was not able to use them. So, first thing I needed to do was to get into shape, since I needed to be able to use mana in order to level up. And I needed to level up in order to gain a class and reveal my affinities.
After knowing all this I turned to lie on my belly and started to do some pushups. I followed them up with squats and pullups. I made ten of each for now. I was not able to do full-fledged pullups for now but I did the best I could.
Once I was done with all that I stood up and went running. Calling it running would be overstatement, for now it was more of a faster paced walking than running, but it was best that this body could do.
As I was running around the garden sweating like a pig, I noticed Sebastian watching from distance disbelief visible in his eyes. After watching me for some time he walked up to me and brought me a towel and a water. I thanked him and kept on going after I gladly accepted both the towel and the water.
It was once I was absolutely done for, I was barely able to stand and felt like I am going to pass out any moment, when I decided that I had enough for one day. I went straight into bath where I washed off my sweat and changed into new clothes.
From there I went to have something to eat and I was surprised to find Sebastian standing alone in the dining room with my food already on the table. It was simple dish with some grilled meat veggies and fruits accompanied with water.
"Is the food to your liking, Young Lord Balzac?" Sebastian asked as he bowed.
I nodded and spoke. "Perfect, thanks!"
I ate everything and went to relax a bit. I sat down in the sofa, making plans ahead. Entrance exam in four years consists of four tests. First three decide if you are allowed to attend the royal academy and last decides your initial class placement.
First test is written theoretical exam that tests one's ability to read, write, to do math and his knowledge in regards to history, magic and monsters. I know that this body is capable of reading and writing and I know it has knowledge of the most required topics. Plus, I know a lot from the game so I was not worried about this one.
Second and third tests are swordsmanship and magic tests, the academy requires everybody to excel in at least one of them and still achieve passable result in the other. These two are the ones I will need to do a lot of training for. Since as I am right now I can't even train swordsmanship or magic since I am barely able to walk.
Last one is a one-on-one tournament that decides your placement among new students. All the newly accepted students are gathered in one place and fight in a series of battles for their placement among the classes.
I absolutely flunked this one in the game. I fought the main character in a first round, that mock battle is a first tutorial battle of the game. You can imagine the humiliation Victor received when he lost to a commoner in a first round of a placement tournament. As a result, he ended being placed as bottom most student, the last of the last.
This is another thing I would like to dodge. The main character with all his talent and help will soar to the top anyway, so being able to get myself a nice spot and evade humiliation would be awesome.
With all this in mind I knew I needed to get in shape as fast as possible. After that I needed to get both a swordsmanship trainer and a magic trainer so that I can get myself to the point I am able to pass the entrance exam and avoid the humiliation. I nodded to myself and steeled my resolve. This is going to be hard.
As I was thinking about all this, Sebastian arrived in the room with a doctor in tow, both bowed to me and Sebastian spoke.
"Greetings Young Lord Balzac. May I have a moment of your time?"
I nodded and responded. "Sure, go ahead Sebastian!"
"Firstly, I released all the slaves and paid them off. I also paid all the outstanding wages to the rest of the personal that were working here as a free man."
I nodded. "Perfect! Did anybody remained working here?"
Man sighed. "Just a family doctor, gardeners, cooks and coachman that takes care of horses! They decided to stay after receiving all the owed wages. As long as they are going to be paid normally from now on!"
I sighed and nodded. "Please make sure they are! How many maids we need to run the mansion? Do we need any other personal?"
Sebastian shook his head. "About six to eight maids should do it and no more personal is needed to run the mansion."
"Fine I will go see work agency personally! I am going to need to put in requests for swordsmanship and magic instructor anyway! Is there anything else?"
I asked looking at the doctor standing silently next to Sebastian.
"Please excuse my boldness. I brought doctor Leonard to check up on you since you collapsed twice in short time. Would you mind him diagnosing you? Just to make sure you are alright!"
Sebastian together with doctor visibly braced themselves for my outburst. I sighed once again not even wanting to remember how much of a brat Victor must have been before I arrived, seeing the two in front of me.
"Sure! Thank you, Sebastian!" I responded turning to the doctor. He was man about thirty years old, average build and height, with a well-kept mustache and dark hair. "Do you need me to do something specific?"
Doctor shook his head as he spoke, voice filled with shock and surprise. "No, my Lord. I will just cast a diagnostic magic on you if you don't mind!"
"Go ahead!" I spoke and the doc went to work. Shortly after that I was enveloped in gentle blue light that circled around me for about a minute, once it disappeared the doctor bowed once again and spoke.
"You seem to be fine now my Lord! I didn't find any issues that need to be addressed."
"You mean outside of everything related to me being overweight?" I spoke as I chuckled. "If that is all, you can go. Sebastian could you please ready a carriage for me, I would love to go to the work agency right away!"
"As you wish, Young Lord Balzac!" Spoke Sebastian and both him and the doctor left the room in a hurry.