Heretic Trainer: The Gym Is My Cultivation Method

Garion stood there, still trying to process what had just happened.

His eyes stayed fixed on the baby in Mersha’s hands, as if looking away might make it all disappear.

It had happened too fast. One moment Rachel was in pain, and the next... the baby was already there.

It didn’t feel real. It was as if the child had simply slipped out of her, quick and effortless.

He blinked, then looked at Mersha. "What the hell was that? How did it just... come out like that?"

Mersha turned to him with a calm smile, as if nothing unusual had occurred.

"That would be my elixir. It helped her body relax enough for the birth to go smoothly."

Garion frowned and stepped closer, glancing between her and the baby. "That doesn’t explain anything. How does that even work?"

Mersha gave a small shrug, her grin widening just a little. "You don’t need to worry about the details right now."

She shifted the baby in her arms, then carefully wrapped her in a clean cloth, tucking it snugly around her tiny body.

"Congratulations on your first child, Master," Mersha said gently. "It’s a girl."

Before Garion could respond or even think of a way to refuse, Mersha stepped forward and placed the baby in his arms.

He stiffened at once. "Wait."

Too late. The baby was already against him.

Garion froze, holding her awkwardly at first, as though she might break if he moved the wrong way.

Then, slowly, his grip adjusted. He looked down at her, really looked this time.

He had never, not even once, imagined himself holding a child, his child.

Yet here she was, quietly breathing in his arms, as if she had always belonged there.

Garion didn’t speak. He just stood there, staring at her, trying to understand how his world had changed in a single moment.

A moment later, Rachel stirred and slowly woke from her faint.

Her head felt light, but as her vision cleared, she turned to the side.

The first thing she saw was Garion standing nearby, carefully holding a baby. The sight struck her all at once, and her breath caught.

"Garion..." Her voice came out soft and unsure. "Is that... our baby?"

Garion met her gaze and nodded once. "Yeah. It is."

He stepped closer to the bed, moving with quiet care, and lowered his arms slightly so she could see better.

"This is our baby," he said gently. "And she’s a girl."

Rachel leaned forward, her hands trembling just a little. "Let me see her."

Garion nodded again and carefully placed the baby into Rachel’s arms, making sure she was steady before letting go.

Rachel held the baby close, staring down in quiet awe. The tiny fingers, the soft breaths... everything felt unreal.

"I never thought I could have a child..." she whispered.

Garion watched her, a small, almost disbelieving smile forming on his face. "Yeah... me too. It feels... kind of magical, doesn’t it?"

Rachel didn’t answer right away.

She was still focused on the baby, her expression softening with each passing second.

Then, as if remembering something, she glanced up and to the side. "...You’re still here?"

Mersha stood nearby with her hands on her hips, feigning offense. "Of course I am. I’m the one who delivered her in the first place."

She raised an eyebrow and grinned. "So, how did it feel? It wasn’t painful at all, right?"

Rachel paused, thinking back. Her brow furrowed slightly in confusion. "Now that you mention it... I didn’t feel anything. Not even when she was born."

Garion let out a quiet chuckle. "Yeah. In fact, she just... slid out. Like it was a slide."

Rachel snapped her head toward him, eyes widening. "What the hell are you saying?"

But when neither Garion nor Mersha laughed or corrected themselves, her expression slowly shifted from disbelief to shock.

"...You’re serious?"

Mersha burst into laughter. "Of course! I told you, I’m the best alchemist around. My elixirs work wonders."

Still smiling, she turned her attention to a small set of tools on a nearby table.

With practiced ease, she transferred some of the remaining liquid from the delivery into a glass tube and sealed it.

Rachel frowned, watching her. "What the hell are you doing with that?"

Mersha smirked without looking up. "Research, of course. I’m curious how you managed to get pregnant and give birth in just a week."

She held the tube up to the light, examining it closely. "This is far too unusual to ignore. It might lead to something... very interesting."

Rachel’s grip tightened slightly around the baby, her expression hardening.

"If you’re done, then leave. Please. And don’t disturb our happy time as a family."

Mersha glanced at her, then gave a small, amused smile. "Alright, alright. I know when I’m not wanted."

She straightened up, brushing off her clothes. "Goodbye, Miss Rachel."

With that, she turned and walked out, leaving the room quieter than before.

---

Outside the room, the moment Mersha stepped out, she found a crowd already waiting for her.

Dahlia stood at the front with several disciples. Even Elder Aveline and Elder Raviel were there, their expressions tense as they watched the door.

As soon as they saw Mersha, Elder Raviel moved straight toward her, faster than the others. His hands were clenched, his voice tight with worry.

"Mersha, how is it?" he asked quickly. "Is my sister safe? Is the baby safe?"

A few disciples held their breath. Dahlia glanced between them, her fingers curling slightly at her sides.

Mersha looked at all of them, then broke into a wide grin. She let the silence stretch for a second, clearly enjoying the tension.

"Oh, come on," she said lightly. "Who do you think I am?"

A few people blinked, caught off guard.

"Everything went perfectly," she added, her tone full of confidence.

The crowd stirred, but no one relaxed just yet.

Mersha raised her hand, as if presenting the result of her work.

"Not only is Elder Rachel fine and healthy," she continued, "the baby was born healthy too, no complications at all."

A collective breath escaped the group. Shoulders loosened. Someone in the back quietly muttered in relief.

Dahlia let out a small sigh, her posture easing. Elder Aveline closed her eyes for a brief moment, clearly thankful.

Mersha then hooked her thumb over her shoulder, pointing back toward the room.

"For now, just relax and wait," she said. "Master will introduce your new junior sister soon."

The words had barely settled when the group froze.

A beat passed.

Then it hit them.

"Junior... sister?"