Chapter 17: Do the Heroes Dream of Them? Part 2
However… no matter how severe the punishment, whether it be in studies, sports, or hobbies, it was still impossible for Ryuguin, who had never once experienced effort and lacked the tenacity of someone like Yamada, to keep up with the same level of training.
Gilbert, having resigned from his position as Cardinal following that incident, remained in the Royal Capital as the High Priest to monitor Ryuguin and keep an eye on his movements.
This was around the time when Ryuguin’s training was down to just two weeks left. Once again, discussions regarding Ryuguin’s treatment were held with several church officials and Madison. Thanks to Gilbert’s smooth facilitation, the talks concluded swiftly. In short, it was decided that he would take responsibility once more and was granted permission to use the items he had prepared.
The next day, a Black Collar was prepared right in front of Ryuguin. This collar was a one-off item custom-made for him by Gilbert and the others. It featured three embedded stones, each possessing different effects. One stone completely removed fear, another eliminated the sensation of fatigue, and the last one induced an intense feeling of euphoria.
Every time training commenced, Ryuguin was forced to wear the Black Collar crafted by Gilbert. Initially, he felt exhilarated, but after experiencing the collar’s effects a couple of times, he quickly realized its abnormality. However, the option to refuse wearing it was no longer available. No matter how much he resisted, the men with forced smiles showed him the collar—
“Stop! I don’t want it! I don’t want it! I don’t want it! I don’t want it!”
As the collar was brought closer to his neck, Ryuguin screamed, tears and snot streaming down his face, completely covered in his own mess. The sensation of adrenaline, dopamine, and endorphins flooding his brain felt overwhelming… it was as if he was no longer himself, and he experienced sheer terror, shaking his head repeatedly.
Yet, the strong men restrained him, forcing the collar onto him, and in an instant, Ryuguin transformed into a completely different person, filled with courage.
He truly seemed like someone else, and when someone shouted, “Go! Ryuguin!” he leaped into a horde of monsters with a mighty roar of “Uooooo!!” showcasing his bravery.
However, while Gilbert’s collar was incredibly effective, the removal of fear and the surge of euphoria it provided gradually brought misfortune to Ryuguin and those who dealt with him.
With the collar’s effects, Ryuguin became a reckless whirlwind of energy, spouting unbearable insults that hurt those around him, driven solely by his emotions.
As a result—he was subjected to yet another curse, the Curse of Diligence (Slothphobia).
However, unbeknownst to Ryuguin, the Black Collar that had plunged him into the depths of fear was not even the main item. Among the various items he wore, the true main item was one with incredibly powerful effects, but its usage was limited. This was because using it carelessly would—
Thus, Ryuguin finally completed six weeks of training, including the additional two weeks that had been added. He left the castle for the Labyrinth with lifeless eyes, devoid of any joy, ready to face the challenges ahead.