45. Touch Little Eli and You're Fucked

Stars burst, thoughts cut off, and when I opened my eyes.

I was lying down, and in one corner of my vision, Leona was massaging my legs.

"Oh, you're awake!"

"What do you mean, 'you're awake.' That last punch had some real feeling behind it..."

"As your teacher, when my disciple is about to do something reckless, shouldn't I obviously stop her?"

"...What?"

I whipped my aching body upright.

I was starving like crazy.

My body felt hollow after Mana drained out of it in chunks.

Even my underwear was soaked with sweat, and my whole body was clammy and gross.

Still, the absorption of that Elixir I'd unknowingly swallowed earlier seemed to have gone pretty well.

I absorbed roughly seventy percent of it.

This body's performance was insane.

"So, my disciple, did you properly grasp the lesson this teacher imparted today?"

"Disciple? Me?"

"Yep!"

"Why would I be your disciple, Vice Dean?"

In an instant, the lion tail that had been swaying pleasantly stopped, and her ears shot straight up.

"...Huh?"

"I asked why I'd be your disciple, Vice Dean."

"W-well, that's... didn't you receive my teaching...?"

Her speech suddenly changed too.

So the bubbly way of talking was just an act?

"Nah. I don't go under people who just smack their disciple's jaw and knock them out like that."

"O-oh...?"

"What kind of teacher in this world beats the shit out of their disciple like this? And I was even on the verge of realizing something important, but you pulled your punch and it all flew away."

At the sound of my tongue clicking, Leona's tail and ears wilted dejectedly.

"Th-that couldn't be helped..."

"Why?"

"If you had manifested a Roundhouse Kick in your current physical state, your Mana would have gone berserk and you'd have been sick for a week..."

"So that means you hit me in the jaw?"

"...Ugh, that's... I'm sorry..."

"Hmph..."

I stared quietly at Leona, who was hanging her head pitifully while massaging my legs.

After I watched her for a long while, Leona slowly wagged her twitching tail and asked,

"B-but still, didn't you soak up what I taught you pretty well...?"

"You mean the Footwork?"

Leona sucked in a sharp breath.

"Nyahahaha... I expected it, but now that you've actually grasped it, it feels strange."

"There's no way I wouldn't figure it out. But anyway, that act of yours seems broken now. Do you normally talk like that?"

"Hm?! W-well, ahem, ahem. Ah... anyway! How was the Footwork I taught you? Good, right?"

"...Yeah, well. It wasn't bad."

What Leona had taught me was Footwork.

Of course, she'd only thrown punches and kicks at me, but I figured it out while dodging them.

A fixed rhythm and stride length.

Rules and flow that seemed slightly off but were set.

Once I adapted to it, I could mix counters in while dodging Leona's punches. By the final exchange, I could even weave it into my attacks.

That was how I became certain.

Leona's teacher really was Arisa.

Arisa's form, lingering in my memories.

The punches she threw, the legs she swung.

The breaths she exhaled, the irregular Footwork.

All of it began to connect slowly.

When I'd recalled it hazily and imitated the outward appearance, it had felt choppy and disconnected, but now it flowed like water.

Of course, adapting those movements to my body would take time and require raising my Tier, but it was still an incredible achievement.

I hated to admit it, but.

Among the chimpanzees I knew, the strongest was Arisa.

If only I could reproduce her movements.

No, if I could alter those movements and reshape them to suit me, my growth would accelerate tremendously.

Of course, if I'd spent enough time alone, I could have solved it somehow. But I couldn't have expected growth this explosively fast.

And Leona was connected to Arisa.

Of course, she might not have learned directly from Arisa—it could have been passed down from disciple to disciple.

But what mattered was that I'd found a definite trace.

Because that nasty little wench didn't just leave behind my techniques—she left behind her own techniques, ones that couldn't be found even in Eustetia.

Even so.

"I'm still not becoming your disciple."

I turned my head away with a snap.

You think you can just swing me around?

Not a chance.

"Wh-why...!"

"I don't like violent teachers like you, Vice Dean."

"...I-I even gave you an Elixir..."

"What kind of Elixir was that?"

"That's... I can't tell you right now..."

"Hmm..."

Leona subtly averted her gaze.

I let out a small sigh and got up from my spot.

Then, recalling the sensation from earlier.

Whoosh—!

I executed that Roundhouse Kick or whatever it was—a spinning back kick—and stopped it right in front of Leona's nose.

"Then teach me this properly."

"Huh...?"

Leona stared at me with a startled expression.

It looked less like she was surprised that I'd kicked at her, and more like she was surprised that I'd executed a Roundhouse Kick.

"If you teach me, I'll become your disciple, Vice Dean."

"Ah, ahaha... I was underestimating you, wasn't I."

"Will you teach me?"

"...Fine. I'll teach you. But not today."

"Why? I've got the feel for it, so we could just wrap it up right now. Besides, tomorrow's the weekend, so there won't be any lectures."

I frowned and lowered my extended leg.

"Well, you probably can't even stand right now?"

"What do you mean, huh? Huh...?"

Plop.

I collapsed.

"...Ugh."

I couldn't put any strength into my legs.

Not just my legs—I couldn't put any strength into my waist or abs either.

I was this wrecked just from a little sparring...?

No, seriously, had that Roundhouse Kick thing done this to me?

That was ridiculous.

Denying it in my head, I staggered and moved my body to stand back up.

Plop.

I collapsed again.

"...Fuck."

After that, I thrashed around trying to get up, but my pathetic body flopped over without mercy.

"I told you. If that Roundhouse Kick had been completed, it would've been worse than this."

Seeing me like that, Leona giggled and massaged my legs.

At the same time, she trickled out Mana bit by bit, untangling my twisted Mana Veins and helping my circulation.

"Still, it's impressive that you only broke down this much. Normally, you'd be bedridden for a week and limping for a month."

"Guh... h-hah, is that, h-hic... h-hah, from personal experience?"

The sensation climbed up my calves to my lower belly, and my whole body twitched and spasmed.

"I-it's not from personal experience! I was always outstanding, so that never happened to me."

So it was from personal experience.

"Anyway, my disciple overworks her body too much. Why do you push yourself that far? You could just take it slow. You're still so young."

Leona's gentle touch climbed up my calves and pressed firmly into my inner thighs, massaging them.

Each time, my back arched and I felt like electricity was shooting through my lower belly.

"H-hah, h-hic...! H-hah... h-hah... It wasn't even overwork."

"Yahahaha! You've got guts, I'll give you that. But what you're doing is definitely overwork. I'm a Beastkin and you're an ordinary human. Does it even make sense for you to imitate my movements?"

Now her hands moved past my thighs and kneaded my butt and groin with slow pressure. If it had been a tingling sensation before, now a burning heat began spreading through my whole body.

I desperately held ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠back the strange sounds that kept trying to burst from my mouth and answered with difficulty.

"H-hah... h-hah, mm... g-gently... please, h-hah... I'm flexible, so I'm fine."

As Leona said, a human couldn't imitate a Beastkin's movements.

They were a different race from birth.

You could even say Beastkin bodies were born for combat—they were sturdy and tough.

Human bodies, on the other hand, were easily injured and frail.

You could force yourself to copy the movements, but with an ordinary human body, the strain would be severe and there'd be a high risk of injury.

But I was fine.

Even though I was short and squishy.

My body's flexibility and elasticity were exceptionally good, and I was constantly tuning it by channeling Mana through every joint.

That said, at my current level I couldn't fully imitate a Beastkin's movements yet, but I was certain I'd catch up soon.

"Don't rush. Take it slow, slow. I want my disciple to live a long, full life."

"...You don't have to say that, h-hah, h-hah... h-hic, I'm going to live a long time."

"Nyahahahaha! Good. Now! Let's go!"

Leona's massage ended roughly, and I got up again. I definitely felt looser than before.

But I still couldn't put any strength into my legs.

"...Wh-why is this happening."

When I tapped or pinched them, I felt pain, but strangely, my legs felt off, like I was walking through water.

"I told you, you can't walk today!"

Seeing me like that, Leona.

"Heave-ho."

Picked me up.

Not on her back—she picked me up in her arms.

In other words, the princess-carry position.

"Wh-wha... what, what, what are you doing?"

"You can't walk, right?"

"No, no? I can walk?"

"Hmm? Really? Go on, try walking."

Giggling, Leona set me down on the ground.

At the same time, I pulled up Mana and wrapped it around my legs.

Then the Mana scattered, and my body began to tilt.

"H-hah...! Ah, sh... shit...!"

"See. I told you it wouldn't work."

Just before I completely fell over.

Leona picked me up again.

"Now, be quiet and let's go!"

"No, ugh, what, what is..."

"Anyway, for a Martial Artist, why is your body so light? My disciple, are you eating properly?"

"Ugh, ah, ahh... eek..."

I can't answer. Words won't come out.

It's humiliating. It's embarrassing. I want to die.

What the hell kind of situation is this?

Heat rises to my face.

I'm, I'm, I'm, right now, in what kind of position am I being held? Why?

"Good grief. With skin this soft, how are you going to do martial arts?"

"H-hah...! Eek! S-stop squeezing me!"

"Oh? What's this. Is my disciple feeling shy?"

Leona's eyes widened as if in surprise, and she peered at my face.

"Hmm... I thought my disciple was all rough and gruff, but she's got quite a girlish side, doesn't she? Hehehe. I like it."

Soon, that surprise spread into a smirk, and she wore a mocking grin.

"No!! Ugh... s-stop...! Stop it and just, just put me down."

"Give it up. You won't be able to move until tomorrow morning. It would've been at least five days, but I massaged you, so it'll be over in one day. Hmph!"

"...Is it really because of that Roundhouse Kick?"

"Yep. Partly that, and partly because of the Elixir I fed you earlier."

"...The Elixir?"

The Elixir? Does it make sense that my legs won't move just because I took an Elixir?

Is it not an ordinary Elixir?

"What the hell is it? No, shit. And anyway, I already swallowed it, so would it kill you to just tell me?"

"Nyahaha! Trade secret. Anyway, you won't be able to move until tomorrow morning, so just give up!"

"...No, I don't want to. I'll just crawl with my arms and get there myself, so just... just put me down."

"My disciple's got too much shame, that's the problem. It's fine, it's fine! Curfew's already passed, so no one will see you!"

Ignoring Leona's words, I thrashed around, using only my arms and waist since I couldn't put any strength into my legs.

Naturally, it was useless.

Leona didn't budge an inch.

And so, carried like a princess, I exited the training hall.

"...Ah, my lady?"

I ran into Eurasia.

Instinctively, I raised both hands and covered my face.

"...Eurasia. Close your eyes."

"Y-yes, ma'am."

"And hit me hard on the head."

"...Excuse me?"

"If you can't do it, hit me hard on the head."

"I didn't expect there'd be a student still wandering around at this hour!"

Leona laughed nonchalantly and walked toward Eurasia. I thrashed again this time too, but it was useless.

Fuck.

"Ah, um... yes. I returned a little late because I was sending a letter to the main house. I have a pass...!"

"Sure, sure. Eurasia doesn't have the face of someone who'd do bad things, so I trust you!"

"Um... but, why is my lady being carried like that?"

"Hm? Ahaha! We sparred pretty hard today, and she threw a fit saying she couldn't walk. So I, her teacher! Personally carried my disciple here!"

"A-a fit...?"

Eurasia, thoroughly flustered, looked at me cautiously. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I, who had been chewing on my lips, glared and said,

"I never threw a fit, and this isn't because of sparring. And I said I'd crawl back to the dormitory myself, but the Vice Dean... forcibly carried me here. I had no say in it. Got it? Do you understand?"

"...Yes."

"Heheheh. Then, Eurasia, could you take my disciple to her room? I think it'd be more comfortable if you took her."

Gulp—whether she swallowed dryly or swallowed drool.

An enormous sound came from Eurasia's throat.

"Um, well... then I'll do that."

"No. Don't. I'll crawl there myself."

"Huh...? U-uh, but I'll escort you..."

"No. I can go."

I glared at Eurasia with wide eyes.

"So just leave me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alone."

"Eek... uh, um..."

"Hmm. My disciple. You really are a handful!"

Then Leona let out a sigh, giggled, and stroked my head.

"Sleep well! Rest up over the weekend! Monday... hmm, I'll be busy then, so let's meet again on Tuesday!"

"What? Sleep well?"

At the same time.

Poke—

Leona's finger stabbed into my Acupoint.

"H-hak..."

My consciousness cut out.

*****

After handing Eliarnes over to Eurasia's arms, Leona immediately moved.

Light steps. A fixed stride and an unobstructed gait carried her all the way outside the academy.

The moment she stepped out of the academy's main gate.

Boom—!

Not the clumsy Roundhouse Kick Eliarnes had executed, but a completed Roundhouse Kick kicked through the empty air.

And then.

"As expected, I can't deceive your eyes."

From 'behind' the space where Leona's leg had extended, a figure in a pitch-black hood walked out.

A man's figure.

But not a human.

A wooden puppet. A wooden puppet with more joints than a human body clomped, clomped, out.

"But isn't that a rather violent greeting for a junior you haven't seen in a long time?"

"Ha."

Crackle—Leona's vertically slit golden eyes gleamed menacingly.

"If you spout that 'junior' nonsense one more time, I will find your real body within two days and tear you apart."

"...Haha. Right. It's been so long that I forgot. Please forget the slip of the tongue I just made."

It was only a verbal warning, but the man facing Leona bowed his head, feeling cold sweat running down his spine.

"Anyway, Leona. You, taking a disciple. What got into you?"

"I personally plucked out one of your eyeballs, yet you still haven't fixed your habit of peeping. Do I need to pluck out the one remaining eye for you to learn?"

"I wasn't peeping. I merely heard it."

"Heard it? Then I'll have to tear out your eardrums."

Leona's gaze turned toward the academy.

"Your ears must be inside there. So. Must I personally take action?"

"You sit in the position of the academy's vice dean, yet you can speak so easily of killing a student?"

"My disciple is more precious than your disciple, so there's nothing I can't do."

"The Sword Emperor said you'd become docile after taking a teaching post, but it was all lies."

The wooden puppet chuckled.

"Indeed, it's a relief that the name of the Empire's first Pillar, the 'Fist Demon,' hasn't faded."

At the same time.

Leona's fist moved.

———.

Noise compressed to its limit.

With a sound so faint it could have been the wind passing by.

The wooden puppet facing Leona crumbled powerlessly. Immediately after, crunch. Leona stomped on the wooden puppet's chest and growled.

"Did those precious Pillars not tell you what happens when you attach 'Demon' to my name?"

"...I didn't expect you to get so heated."

"Then I'll just have to teach you anew."

Crack—sharp claws grew from Leona's open hand. Fangs rose between her tightly clenched teeth, and an ominous light settled in her gleaming golden eyes.

And so, the killing intent she had suppressed until now burst out.

The menacing Mana she had forcibly held back poured out, and the overwhelming Tier she had deliberately restrained came to dominate the area.

"The White Palace in the north. Your real body must be there. Wait quietly. I will personally come and pluck out your tongue and your one remaining eye."

In less than a second.

At Leona's feat of locating his real body in that instant, the owner of the wooden puppet.

The Empire's third Pillar, the Puppeteer, the Puppet Emperor, fell silent.

"The Sword Emperor, the Dark Venerable, and the Ghost Spear are there too. Four of the Empire's Six Pillars. Do you intend to welcome me?"

"...Have you risen to a higher Realm than before?"

"I did not grant you permission to speak."

Crunch—strength entered the foot Leona had planted on the wooden puppet. The earth cracked and space warped.

"Do not forget that the only reason you lot are still alive is the 'Covenant.' The moment it breaks, the first to die will surely be you."

The Puppet Emperor could not refute Leona's words.

Those words were neither bluff nor sophistry.

It was something that could actually happen. It was a fact.

The Empire's Six Pillars.

There were only six in all, yet even they were divided into factions.

The faction that sought to maintain the Demon King's Seal.

The faction that sought to break the Demon King's Seal.

And neutrality.

The former consisted of four of the Empire's Six Pillars: the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sword Emperor, the Dark Venerable, the Ghost Spear, and the Puppet Emperor, whom Leona had mentioned.

The latter is just one.

The Empire's first Pillar. Leona.

And yet, the balance still didn't hold.

Even if the neutral Flame Emperor joined them, they still wouldn't be able to defeat Leona.

Therefore, the Puppet Emperor could not refute Leona's words and could only keep his mouth shut.

"If you have nothing more to say, get lost."

"...Understood."

Watching the Puppet Emperor sever the puppet's connection, Leona let out a short sigh and turned her back.

"And, just in case. If anyone dares to touch my disciple."

But she did not move her feet, leaving behind a small murmur.

"I will personally take up the name of the Fist Demon."