Mana Lessons and Unbearable Urges
Two days had passed since the night Karen had declared she would teach me mana.
BOOM!!
"Hoo..."
After finishing today's sword training, I stripped off my clothes again and sat in a proper seiza position before Karen, absorbing her mana. I etched the path her mana took through my body into my mind, pouring all my effort into sensing my own mana reacting to it.
Squirm!!
'Stay put.'
Of course, the replication power dwelling inside me wriggled in complaint as usual, but since I'd deliberately used my replication ability before training to exhaust it as much as possible, it didn't react as violently as the first day. Thanks to that, I could focus a bit more on the flow of mana Karen was sending into me. In that way, I spent nearly an hour with my eyes closed, contemplating my inner self.
'I feel like I'm getting something...'
But even with the replication power suppressed by exhausting it, nothing like awakening mana right away happened. Every time Karen infused mana into me, I just got this weird, ticklish sensation. I couldn't capture its essence or control it at will.
"Hoo... That's enough for today."
In the end, I still hadn't sensed mana, and Karen declared the session over. I clung desperately to that vague sensation out of regret, but the moment she withdrew her mana, even that faint itch vanished.
'Maybe I just don't have the talent for mana...'
Recalling Gula's effect that had gifted me exceptional physical talent, I smacked my lips in disappointment. It would've been nice if the body evolved by Gula had shown genius-level talent for mana too, just like it did for physical prowess.
"Don't be so impatient. Forcing mana to awaken doesn't make it a good power. The best way is always to awaken it naturally."
Was my anxiety showing on my face? Even as sweat poured off her, Karen comforted me not to worry. It was incredibly warm—a master's concern for her disciple.
But...
'Ugh.'
I turned around and quickly whipped my head back at the dizzying sight. Apparently, sending mana gently into someone else without harming them was more difficult and delicate than it seemed, because Karen was drenched in sweat every time we finished these sessions.
And...
"Hoo...!!"
'Why am I the one being touched, but she's the one looking like that?'
Karen's face was flushed red as sweat rained down, even as she tried to offer me words of comfort. Sweat pooled slightly in the deep valley of her ample breasts, damp strands of hair clung to her cheeks, and her eyes looked strangely moist. It almost looked like the aftermath of a woman who'd just been ravished, making me swallow dryly and hunch my back a little.
Clearly, I was the one being touched. So why did Karen end up like that every time? I had my guesses, but... it was honestly troublesome seeing her like this after every mana session.
'And during training, her breath keeps hitting my neck...'
That wasn't all. Our position during mana practice had me sitting seiza with Karen pressed as close as possible against my back. And Karen... well, let's be frank—her breasts were huge.
With her pressed like that against my back...
'Her tits keep brushing against me.'
Even trying to clear my mind of stray thoughts during practice, every time that soft sensation grazed my back, my focus shattered. Just today, in the middle of peak concentration, something warm and pillowy pressed against me, and poof—gone. And every time, her startled moan right on my nape made it insanely hard to keep my sanity.
"W-well, go rest then. I'll head inside first."
After awkwardly eyeing me avoiding her gaze, Karen hurried into the house. Staring at the spot she'd left, still slightly hunched, I squeezed my eyes shut and made a vow.
'...I can't hold back anymore.'
Tonight... it's Karen.
...
Since returning from Palos, I hadn't done a thing to relieve my sexual urges. Partly because that unforgettable experience there had sated me for a while...
Roll...
"Hm."
Before blindly acting on lust like usual, there was one essential thing to check first.
'Replication.'
With the item I'd bought right after yesterday's training rolling in my hand—fully memorized in shape and texture—I activated my replication ability.
Flash!!
Yesterday, my understanding was lacking and it hadn't worked properly, but thankfully, after fiddling with it until bedtime, it succeeded this time.
"A bit pricey, though."
What I'd bought was a highly transparent glass bead. There weren't many places selling them, so it cost a premium, but it was necessary.
Staring at the successfully replicated glass bead...
Crunch!!
Without hesitation, I stomped the fresh replicate to pieces.
"Hm."
After grinding it to powder, I slowly lifted the original, carefully stroking and inspecting its surface.
'...Still perfectly smooth.'
The newly bought glass bead remained flawlessly sleek to the touch, just as when I'd purchased it. Even enhancing my vision and scrutinizing it closely, I found no cracks inside.
"Again... replicate."
I set it down, dismissed the shattered copy, and repeated: replicate, destroy. After about three trials, I picked up the bead—still pristine—and let out a sigh mixed with relief and disappointment.
"...As expected."
My hypothesis that damage to the replicate would affect the original was wrong. No matter how many times I replicated and smashed them, this fragile glass bead stayed intact. If even a fraction of that shattering impact had transferred, there'd be at least a hairline fracture.
'Then why did the hand axe break?'
One question resolved, another arose... but at least I'd confirmed what I needed for now. I carefully placed the glass bead on the inn room table and pulled out what I'd gathered today: long strands of black hair.
What else? Karen's hair, collected after training.
'Lately, she heads inside first a lot, making it easy.'
Without worrying about her eyes, I could scour the training ground and snag a few strands. She didn't have any hair loss issues, so even after days of searching, it wasn't much... but enough to replicate Karen.
"Now that I've confirmed damage to the replicate doesn't affect the original..."
The glass bead was just easy to verify visually. Last night, I'd already replicated all my possessions en masse to test if damage transferred. Every item held up fine, no matter how roughly I handled the copies.
'Should be safe, right?'
I'd avoided replicating people due to the hand axe incident, but... this should be okay? It wasn't fully proven yet. My replication had plenty of unsolved mysteries. Maybe another condition existed, and meeting it would make damage transfer.
But nitpicking like that had no end, and honestly, hadn't I come too far to worry now? Besides...
'It's getting hard to hold back.'
Until now, that dreamlike Palos experience had kept my lust at bay, but days later, it was building again. Especially these past few days learning mana from Karen—increased contact had made it worse.
"Should I look for lust suppressants...?"
Gula's evolved body gave me talent in handling it and heightened feral senses, but as a side effect, stronger urges. Not enough to lose control and rampage, just intensely pent-up... still tough to endure. And beyond lust, curiosity burned too.
'It was rushed in the heat of the moment, but... I definitely took Laila's virginity myself.'
Even now, closing my eyes brought it vividly: that day overlapping with Laila lost to the succubus's lust. My cock had pierced her hymen.
So...
'Now, maybe.'
Could I replicate what I couldn't back then?
"Hooo..."
That thought crushed the lingering hesitation with surging desire. Recalling the intense urges from days of close-contact mana practice with Karen, I reached out and activated my power.
"Replication."
...
At that moment, in Karen's house.
"Hoo..."
After washing slowly to avoid skin irritation, Karen sat naked on the bed. Even careful scrubbing was necessary for this body that reacted intensely to the slightest stimulus.
"......"
As her body cooled, her mind replayed today's training. She'd tried minimizing contact while infusing mana into Yuseong, but inevitably, her large breasts had pressed against his firm back.
'...So firm.'
Recalling that instant, she unconsciously imagined his body felt through her thin clothes. After her body changed, she'd avoided touch like the plague, so it had been ages since she'd felt another's warmth. Especially a man's solid flesh, one she'd never touched even before...
Thump♥ Thump♥
Her breasts began pounding wildly. Next, she pictured Yuseong hastily turning away upon seeing her disheveled state—sweaty from fine mana control, flushed from accidental nipple grazes.
'...Did he look at me that way?'
He'd averted naturally, but a powerhouse like Karen wouldn't miss where his gaze flicked. Recalling it, she ducked her head.
'...No, probably not. Who'd want this scarred mess...'
Even denying it, she couldn't shake the possibility. Before the change, she'd focused solely on swordsmanship, minimizing interactions. After, even more so. She had no idea how others saw her body now.
Squeeze♥ Squeeze♥
"Ngh...♥"
Replaying the day, Karen felt her lower belly heat up and frantically grabbed a vial, swallowing a pill. Special anesthetic made for her. It dulled the rising heat, numbing her nipple sensitivity.
Normally, that'd be it. Take the pill, sensations fade, sleep. Her routine.
But...
'Lady Karen, any other changes lately?'
'Yeah. Some new symptom?'
'Hm... No changes in your yin gate from holy power scan, but... Lady Karen, with that, your urges must be immense. How do you relieve them?'
'Just... exercise.'
'As a priestess, it's improper, but... releasing a bit might help. Bottling it up could cause phantom pains...'
'Release? You know my condition.'
'You take the prescribed meds? They dull senses—use that to act like normal women...'
Not long ago, resting as usual, she'd felt a sharp, unusual twinge in her lower belly. Subtle enough a normal person might miss it, but not her hypersensitive body. Next day, she'd consulted the temple priestess who knew her condition.
No major issues, thankfully, but the priestess advised one thing. And now, fantasizing about Yuseong, it resurfaced.
"......"
Since the change, years of unsatisfied urges had piled up. Superhuman patience and meds kept them suppressed...
Squeeze♥ Squeeze♥
That recent unfamiliar lower-body sensation, recent male contact, and worries if Yuseong desired her—all colliding now.
"...J-just a little?"
Recalling the priestess's advice, gazing at her medicated, naked body, Karen swallowed dryly and began stroking her bare skin with her hand.