Chapter 586: A Master

“…So you’re Mama’s husband?” I look curiously at this man; he has a really wild aura. I was heading to the castle to try and talk to Mama Zephyra when I ended up bumping into him by accident because I was distracted.

“Something like that. Pandora still isn’t back, is she, brat?”

“I’m not a brat! I’m already a teenager! For humans, I’d be 21 years old! Even if I’m only a little over a year old!!! And my name is Lycoris!” I say rebelliously to this man who’s kind of suspicious! He disappears out of nowhere, appears out of nowhere, and it seems like he doesn’t care about anything.

“…”

“My mother still isn’t back!” I answer his question when he falls into complete silence.

“I see…then I’ve got nothing to do here. Guess I’ll head out.” I look at Mikael’s sword; it’s kind of curious because humans have become rare, and Mikael is human.

“Don’t you want to become a demon?” I ask, confused about this. All the humans I’ve seen so far are demons who were human and turned into demons through a potion. Evangeline was the only human who was truly human that I’ve ever seen.

And of course there’s that weird girl named Amiya, but even though she’s “human,” she doesn’t give off a human aura, and she has a strange smell.

“Not in the mood. Why would I risk my body on a roulette wheel?”

“Roulette wheel?”

“Of course, girl. The race you turn into is random. I wouldn’t even know what kind of demon I’d supposedly become, and my body is the result of centuries of training. I’m not going to ruin that by turning into some random demon race.”

“Besides, becoming a demon would probably make me lose some of the passives I have, you get it?”

“I see…that sword of yours is really cool.” When I say this, Mikael looks back, confused.

“You can see it?”

“Uh-huh. It’s really well hidden, but it’s inside your body. It’s a really cool sword! It reminds me of Mama’s sword. Mama’s was hidden in her wrist.”

“Hahaha. Seems like coming here wasn’t a waste of time. So your eyes can see a hidden special-grade weapon. That’s truly incredible. I didn’t even know that was possible.” Mikael kneels down to be at my height.

“You also seem pretty strong for someone so young…in about 20 or 30 years, I think you’d give me a good fight. Actually, maybe less if you get strong fast like your mother.” Mikael stares into my eyes for a few seconds.

“Hey, girl. Do you have a master?”

’Master?’

“Do you mean someone who trains me, or someone who owns me?!” I have Aqua, who’s really clingy and possessive of me, so I’m hers.

“A master who trains you.”

“Then I don’t have one!!…That’s…kind of lame. My other sisters have masters…” From what I heard, Eclipsya trains with the same master who trained Mama Pandora in the past, and Azazel trains with her mother and two of Mama Pandora’s servants.

And Aqua recently started training with Elena, Freya, Calypso, and Aokitsu, trying to learn multiple different things from each one. As for me, I don’t have anyone, and Mama Zephyra doesn’t even care enough to try and help me.

“Then, brat, today’s your lucky day. Want me to be your master? Unlike your sisters, you seem to have a power style similar to mine.”

“Really?” I stare at his body with distrust. How do I seem to have a fighting style like this man who uses a sword? I don’t even use a sword; I use magic.

“You look confused. Let me explain it to you, then. I created my own method for evaluating living beings. There are four classifications: Raw Power, Versatility, Reliance, and Counter-Attack.”

“Counter-Attack is how I classify beings that have great magical power or martial arts focused almost completely on counter-attacking, finding openings, or taking advantage of an enemy’s mistakes in a fight.”

“Reliance is how I classify beings that are too dependent on their powers, thus being weak, because without their specific power, they can’t do anything.”

“Versatility is how I classify those who are good at everything. Pandora, for example, is this. She’s a powerful mage, an incredible martial artist, a truly skilled swordswoman, and many other things.”

“And there’s Raw Power, which is how I classify those who have so much explosive power that it’s difficult to have precise or refined techniques, because refining them weakens them.”

“These classifications normally mix with each other, and I break it down into percentages. My strength, for example, is 70% Raw Power, 30% Versatility, because I’m good at magic, hand-to-hand combat, and with weapons.”

“Pandora is 100% Versatility. As for you, girl, you’re almost like me. I’d say you’re 65% Raw Power and 35% Versatility, because you seem to have great physical capabilities and magical power.” He says these things so simply that it’s easy to understand.

“Oh, that sounds interesting! And really, seeing it that way, we are similar…but are you a good teacher?” I don’t know much about this man, apart from the fact that he’s married to my Mama Pandora.

Oh, and also the fact that he and Mama Pandora have fought a few times, and apparently he’s beaten Mama Pandora once, and then Mama Pandora beat him later, and then they got married. It’s kind of confusing because there’s not much about it in the history books.

“I believe maybe. I’ve never taught anyone. But since you’re Pandora’s daughter, you must have as much talent as your mother, and your mother learned really fast just by watching me fight her.”

“Why would you help me?…You’re not thinking of wanting me, are you?”!

“What? No, that’s absurd. You think I like brats? That’s practically an insult. The only interest I have is in fighting you when you’re strong. Besides, I already have an agreement with Pandora.”

“Pandora became the only girl I’d ever have anything with. And I might not be the most polite or responsible person, but I’m without a doubt faithful. Pandora won our marriage by defeating me, and I respect that.”

“I’d rather kill myself than break the respect I have for her!” When he says this, I smile. He seems like someone who respects strong people, and that I understand well.

“Alright then! Master, what’s the first lesson!? I’m—”

CRACK

I hear a loud snapping sound that takes my brain a moment to process, and then I feel the air fleeing my lungs and a sound like bones breaking.

“Urgh…” I spit up blood as I look around, realizing I’m embedded in a wall. I look at the hole in my stomach as a few tears escape.

“?” I look forward, seeing dozens of houses with a hole in the path I passed through as Mikael appears in front of me.

“Your first training session will aim to make you capable of reacting to this punch. This is a punch with 1% of my current strength. Ever since Pandora defeated me, I’ve trained intensely to have another fight worthy of her.”

“Motivation is important, don’t you think? If you can’t see the top, then try to see the steps as far out as possible. Your first step will be to dodge this blow, or else endure this blow without many wounds.”

“For now, I’m going to help you control your magic. You seem to have a lot of magic, but you don’t even know how to create a mana armor automatically.” I look down, seeing everything blurred as I feel like I’m going to pass out.

“Going to give up? I won’t stop you from giving up. But I’d be really disappointed if a daughter of Pandora turned out to be so lacking in determination. Pandora, during our fight, didn’t care about having bones broken and limbs torn off.” I get frustrated and angry immediately, which comes from the pain.

“She advanced with a smile on her face. Maybe because she’s a little crazy, but she’s undeniably determined. So, ’Lycoris,’ what’s your answer?” He calls my name for the first time. I look at him, unable to speak because of the blood in my mouth. What a harsh master.

But I still give a weak smile as my answer to him, and when he sees my smile, he smiles back at me.

“Good answer, brat. From what I can see, your regeneration will take care of the damage, so you won’t die. Now, I’m going to the castle. I want to see you there in an hour. Heal yourself on your own, clean yourself up, and come to me. Meanwhile, I’ll go tell Elena that I’ll be spending some time at the castle.” I hear his footsteps walking away as I try to get up.

’So strong…’ Not even Aqua comes close to causing me this much damage in one blow. Actually, have I ever been injured like this so easily? I don’t think so. Even Eclipsya’s attacks, at most, draw a little blood from me.

I have so much magic that it forms almost a natural barrier around my body. Still, I couldn’t even withstand a punch with 1% of the strength of the man who married Mama Pandora.

’Mama Pandora only picks the most interesting people…’ I give a wide smile, digging my nails into the wall to stand up, while I struggle even though everything seems to tremble and be blurred in my vision.

“I can do it…haaa…” I murmur, regenerating slowly. My regeneration seems slower, maybe because of the huge amount of damage. But I force myself to stand. My trembling legs give way and I almost fall, but I keep my nails in the wall to stay on my feet.

’Aqua would be really mad to see me looking so pathetic.’ My passive [Shed Skin] ends up activating. I’m not sure what makes it activate, but I immediately feel better, while the wounds are healed.

Shed Skin – Can shed old, wounded skin and scales, thus gaining a new armor plating on draconic parts that is twice as strong as the previous one, just as shedding skin eliminates old wounds and scars, leaving the skin completely new.

Although the healing of the wounds isn’t 100%, maybe because I’m new and the passive hasn’t fully adapted yet. I look down and lift my dress, seeing the mark of Mikael’s fist on my belly.

“It’s okay…I’m going to get stronger…” I need to get stronger not just for myself, but for sister Aqua too! I love her and I need to be strong enough to protect her from everything!

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