《Shinobinekoden: A Ninja Catgirl’s Tale》 Chapter 1. Opening the Eyes in Another World Next to a small stream in a meadow surrounded by centuries-old trees, whose crystalline water flowed calmly among the stones, a catgirl with shoulder-length hair which is black like obsidian, dressed in a thin gray kimono, was sleeping on the soft grass. She was a true beauty, her face being somewhere between cute and sexy so that every angle you look at her can tip the balance one way or the other. Her well-proportioned body, with long legs and a generous chest that was barely contained by the kimono she wore, turned her into a true seductress, a true nymph of this meadow that had the power to enchant anyone who approached her. But the sun''s rays, which had just emerged from the clouds to admire the beauty of our heroine, managed to gently open her blue eyes that gave the impression that the entire sky was reflected in them. ''Huh, my head... What''s going on? Where am I?'' wondered the young catgirl after raising the upper half of her body and looking around. ''Something is strange. The last thing I remember is falling into a water stream when I tried to save a kitten from drowning. It was raining so heavily that you could barely keep your eyes open. Because of that, and because my prosthetic leg got stuck in the mud and came off, I lost my balance and fell into the water... but everything seems fine... except for some dizziness, I don''t feel any pain. Maybe I floated after losing consciousness and the water eventually brought me to the shore. But where is this shore? I don''t think I''ve seen this area around the city... Mmm, it can''t be that far. First, I need to find a piece of wood to help me walk, and then I''ll try to find a road...'' Stopping her analysis of the surroundings and managing to calm down after making a plan, she turned her gaze back to her own body. ''What is this? I don''t think I was wearing something like this when I was coming back from school. These aren''t even my clothes... and I''m sure my prosthetic from my left leg fell off. Who put it back on?'' She quickly realized that the situation was not as clear-cut as she thought. ''Maybe someone found me? But why didn''t he call an ambulance? Why did he leave me here? Maybe that person has some dubious plans... Yes, it''s possible. Considering the bad luck I''ve had in life, it''s very possible that I ended up in the hands of a pervert. Yes, that would explain the situation. If a normal person had found me, their first concern would be to offer me first aid, not to take off my clothes and then dress me in these weird clothes. Brrr... I need to leave quickly. Who knows what he intends to do when he comes back? Let''s go, Lucy, there''s no time to waste.'' Encouraging herself, Lucy, our heroine, stood up at full speed. Perhaps even faster than she thought possible, considering that her left leg, which had a prosthetic from the knee down, always slowed down the process. ''What''s happening? This sensation? Could it be possible?'' Lucy immediately lifted the fabric that completely covered her legs, and her suspicion was confirmed: she was no longer wearing a prosthetic on her left leg; it was completely healed. "This is impossible! I think I must be dreaming!" Lucy said aloud while pinching her cheek. "Ouch, it seems I can feel the pain... so I''m not dreaming, it''s real!" Lucy said, her voice becoming slower, tears of happiness forming in her eyes. She had lost half of her left leg for almost 4 years when she became the victim of an accident along with her parents, who, unfortunately, didn''t survive. That accident took everything from her, both her family and her dreams. And the absence of half of her left leg served as a constant reminder of that. After managing to control her emotions, Lucy headed towards the stream in search of a calmer section of water, wanting to confirm some suspicions that had arisen in her mind. After finding a patch of still water, these suspicions were confirmed as she saw her reflection in the water. ''It seems I was right. This is not my body. If before I could consider myself beautiful, now I can consider myself a true goddess. Damn it, if I keep looking for too long, I''ll fall in love with my face. These enticing lips, this adorable nose, these enchanting blue eyes, and these... what, cat ears?'' The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. It seems that Lucy finally discovered what we knew from the beginning, that she had become a catgirl. She immediately brought her hands to the cat ears visible through her hair and gently touched them. "Purrrr..." ''It''s truly pleasant... so soft... and this sensation, mmm, it melts my knees....'' After continuing to massage her ears for another two minutes, she finally managed to regain her composure. ''I don''t know why, but I have the feeling that I did something indecent....'' Fortunately, these moments of self-induced pleasure had the ability to prevent Lucy from losing her mind again. Turning her head and looking back, she noticed that she now had a black cat tail, just as black as her hair and ears, a tail that moved gracefully from side to side. "So now I''m a catgirl, or rather, a stunning catgirl. If I were to be discovered, I would become the target of an army of weebs who would give years of their lives just to see me. But who could have transformed me into a catgirl? A few years ago, I saw some memes on the internet that claimed the eccentric billionaire Elon Dusk was working on engineering catgirls. Maybe there was a grain of truth in that story. Someone must have created a secret laboratory where they conducted experiments, and I was probably one of the subjects. But why don''t I remember anything? And how did I manage to escape?" Lucy never lacked imagination; she always had too much of it. But a large envelope that appeared in front of her eyes stopped her from coming up with increasingly absurd explanations. ''A flying envelope?'' She tried to reach for it but couldn''t. ''What is this? It''s like some kind of augmented reality crap...'' Lucy thought as she waved her hand in front of her eyes. ''How can I open it?'' But she didn''t even have time to think about opening the envelope when it opened on its own. In front of her, a letter written in golden letters appeared, a letter that explained to Lucy in detail what the situation was. "Hello, Lucy. I am Bastelia, the Goddess of Felines, well, I am only a fragment of my power that has withstood the passage of time, as I probably disappeared from this plane thousands of years ago, after being defeated and banished into oblivion. Because I deemed you worthy to be my successor, I saved your soul from the clutches of oblivion and decided to reincarnate you in this magical world, offering you a gift that will help you fulfill all your dreams. This gift, for which I have expended all my remaining power in this realm, is represented by an adaptable system that will tailor itself precisely to your needs and desires. While others possess versions that grant them the ability to see their attributes and skills, yours will allow you to decide which attribute value you want to increase as you level up, select the skills you desire, and even create skills based on your wishes. Moreover, it will ensure that the class you receive is perfect for you, taking into account both your abilities and your desires. Seeing all this, you probably expect to receive some important mission from me. However, I will not do so because it is unnecessary, as I have already analyzed your entire destiny and know that as long as you follow your beliefs, you will achieve a favorable outcome for me. In conclusion, I can only wish you success in everything you do and express my hope that we will meet face-to-face in the future. So, farewell, Lucy. I trust you." ''So, I died and was reincarnated in another world, a magical world... Well, I have no reason to complain. There''s no one left behind whom I would miss,'' Lucy thought as the letter in front of her disintegrated. After the last letter disappeared, a large button appeared in front of her, under which only three words were written: [Begin Class Acquisition]. Just like opening the letter, pressing the button was automatic. It seems that the system could analyze Lucy''s intention very quickly and accurately. [Analyzing, analyzing... suitable class not found... creating suitable class... suitable class created... congratulations, your class will be Magic Powered Ninja.] Chapter 2. Stars in Her Eyes ''So, my class will be Magic Powered Ninja. Yes, the letter from the Goddess of Felines really told the truth. It''s a class that suits me perfectly from what I gather from its name. But this name... well, I think it could have been a bit cooler, like Shadow of Magic or Blessed Shinobi... Anyway, I don''t think I should continue to analyze the gift horse''s teeth. The fact that I''ll be able to be a real ninja in reality, and not just in video games, is fantastic, something I could never have hoped for, especially after the car accident.'' Lucy has been drawn to the path of a shinobi since she was a little girl, but living in a modern world, she had no choice but to dream of such a life. This passion was probably born from the numerous action movies she watched in her childhood with her father, in which the appearance of a ninja was like divine intervention because he could solve any problem with his reality-defying skills. Due to this passion, Lucy started attending karate classes at the age of 9 since in her small town, there was nothing closer to ninja arts. While these classes were initially seen by Lucy''s parents as a source of entertainment and a way to develop her body harmoniously, due to Lucy''s natural talent for karate, they immediately changed their opinion and started encouraging her to participate in competitions. Although the prizes in karate competitions weren''t very big, a good result could provide a fairly prosperous future. For example, a karate practitioner who has won numerous awards can become a successful karate instructor, and considering that Lucy had every chance of becoming a great beauty when she grows up, with a little luck, she could enter the world of cinema and become an action movie actress. Plus, Lucy never showed much enthusiasm for other things, with her academic results always being mediocre. So a career in karate would be the best option to secure Lucy''s future. Lucy enthusiastically accepted this, and within a few years, when she was fourteen, she even won the silver medal at the national Karate championship, being defeated in the final by a girl who was two years older than her, thus being superior in terms of physical strength. Unfortunately, all her plans were shattered one day when she was returning home from a karate competition, accompanied by her parents when a young drug-addicted driver crashed his car into theirs. Her parents, who were sitting in the front seats, died on the spot, and she hasn''t been whole since that day. After leaving the hospital, Lucy was taken into custody by her father''s sister because she was the only relative living in the same city. Since Lucy received a considerable sum from her parents'' life insurance, this money was supposed to last her until after she finished college. Unfortunately, the money was managed by her aunt, who had just gone through a divorce a few months ago and entered a so-called self-discovery period, during which she didn''t work at all and lived off Lucy''s money. The first two years after the accident were very difficult for Lucy, as she was in a constant battle with the depression caused by the loss of her parents, and the fact that the driver who caused the accident managed to escape unpunished kept her awake every night. From what she found out, he was the son of a wealthy politician who had many connections with the police leadership. Thus, the investigation lasted almost a year, much longer than it should have, during which the politician sent his son abroad to be admitted to a hospital for people with mental problems. Presenting documents showing that his son had mental issues since childhood, along with the statement from the clinic where his son was currently interned, stating that he requires permanent treatment and specialized supervision, the father of the killer driver managed to save him from prison. Lucy couldn''t accept this. Tearfully, she begged her aunt to do something for the process to be resumed again, but her aunt refused, arguing that there were forces behind the driver''s father that they couldn''t compete with, and the only result they would achieve is spending all the money on lawyers. ''There is no justice in this world. We have all been lied to. Who has always decided what is right and what is wrong? Those who hold power, those who govern over people. If their interests are not threatened, a correct verdict can be given in the end, just to make ordinary people feel protected or to make them feel good that they have taken revenge. Yes, justice is just a notion invented by humans to mask their desire for revenge. But revenge is not something that the weak or the morally intact can dream of when the opponent is part of those in power... And even if the guilty party were to go to prison, my parents won''t come back to life, and my leg won''t grow back. The imprisonment of the guilty would only serve as an example to others of what can happen if they break the rules. So what would be the point? In the end, it would be pointless. Yes, everything is a lie. But I can''t do anything about it. I have to continue living. Someone has to carry on the memory of my parents...'' This was Lucy''s conclusion when she realized that she wouldn''t have any chance of triumph. Yes, life is not an action movie where you can take justice into your own hands like a ninja who slashed down all those who wronged him. In the end, Lucy had no choice but to continue surviving, burying her disappointments deep within her soul. She tried to focus as much as possible on her studies to ensure that her future would do her parents proud, and she even started attending a few karate classes from time to time, although there was no longer any chance of excelling. But could all of this make Lucy forget? If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. No, that was impossible. Every time she saw pity in the eyes of her schoolmates, every time she saw that training partners from the karate club looked at her as a disappointment, she remembered that no matter how hard she tried, things would never go back to normal. This is how Lucy spent her last two years on Earth. The only thing that truly helped her relax was escaping into the virtual world of an online game called The Shadow Chronicles, where she could play the role of a true ninja and behave just like before the accident, leaving behind the disappointments caused by reality. And now, after being brought into another world, where she can start from scratch without any handicaps, and after being given the chance to become a true ninja, Lucy can finally feel that all the misfortunes she went through can be left behind. ''Yes, this is a great opportunity. I can finally have a fresh start. This world will probably have its difficulties too, but luckily, here I have a chance to truly become powerful. If someone does me wrong, here I have the chance to create justice with my own hands. No, even better than that. A ninja is not sent to participate in the war; they are sent ahead to prevent the start of the war. Yes, true justice is done before injustice begins...'' But Lucy''s thoughts were interrupted by the system''s intervention, which finished calculating Lucy''s status and presented it to her eyes. [Status] Name: Lucy Everlynn Race: Catkin Classes: Magic Powered Ninja Level: 1 Parameters Health: 100/100 Mana: 150/150 Stamina: 70/70 Attributes Strength: 10 Defense: 5 Vitality: 8 Agility: 20 Dexterity: 20 Magic: 20 Intelligence: 12 Luck: 10 Skills: No skills have been identified. [The host has the chance to choose two skills of maximum level S from a list generated by the system or to create her own skills] ''Hmm, everything looks good, well, I think... I believe that once I level up, I''ll see to what extent attributes will influence parameters. As for skills, the system''s proposed list is truly great, but all skills higher than grade A are impossible to use with the amount of mana I have. But I don''t want to miss the opportunity to obtain two maximum-level skills. The best solution would be to create two grade S skills that can help me right from the first day and whose effects will become stronger as I level up.'' Lucy sat on a rock by the stream and began thinking about what skills to create while analyzing her tail, which she couldn''t pay enough attention to before the system''s intervention. ''So soft... No Lucy, now you have work to do. So what does a true ninja absolutely need? I think the most important thing is to always have the necessary weapons at their disposal. They need an inexhaustible source of shurikens, kunai, and explosive papers. Yes, it would be best if my first skill allowed me to access a kind of virtual store where I can buy all the things a ninja needs, a store whose currency, for example, is obtained by killing beasts, like in a video game. Yes, it''s perfect. But is such a thing possible? How should I proceed to create it?'' Fortunately, as soon as Lucy decided on her first skill, the system sent her a notification that it had been created. [Ninja Shop (S): a unique skill that allows the host to purchase any desired product as long as it is related to the life of a ninja. The host will be able to use the points received from killing other creatures to buy from the store.] ''Huh, it was easier than I thought. Yes, it''s just perfect! Let''s see how I can access the shop. Maybe I don''t have to shout the skill''s name out loud. Not only would it be a bit ridiculous, but for a ninja, it would be a real problem. Imagine a ninja being unable to use their skills unless they shout their names. The whole point of hiding in the shadows would be in vain...'' Fortunately, as before, the system could perfectly read Lucy''s intentions, and accessing the skill happened automatically. ''The shop looks truly great. It''s even better than I hoped for. Look, you can find almost anything, not just ninja weapons. We have products like ninja cake, ninja orange juice, or ninja shower gel. Well, I hope the food is edible... It would be a shame if it were poisonous or explosive.'' After analyzing the products in the shop for a while, Lucy decided to leave that for later when she had at least a few points. ''It''s like walking through a mall just to look at the shop windows... It''s hard to be poor.'' But Lucy didn''t dwell on self-pity for long and started thinking about her second skill. ''It would be great if I had an ability that would help me better analyze the external environment, for example, to be able to see the amount of mana other beings have or even their level. No, that''s too little. It should also help me deduce in advance what attack the opponent will use by analyzing the mana within their body. Yes, something like magical eyes. Furthermore, it would be really cool if they had additional abilities, like the ability to put someone in an illusion or intimidate the opponent. Come on, system! Read my mind and help me create the perfect eyes, eyes that will help me see the whole truth of this world!'' [Received... analyzing...] ''I didn''t expect to receive an answer...'' But Lucy''s self-imposed slightly ridiculous situation didn''t last long, and the second skill appeared before her: [Nekohoshime (S): the "Cat Star Eye" will grant the host a series of abilities that will increase in number and power as the number of stars in the eyes grows. The current number of stars in each eye is three, totaling six. The number of stars will increase by two with every 10 levels obtained. The abilities will be automatically generated based on the host''s desires at the time of increasing the number of stars. Activating the skill will consume 10 mana points per minute as long as only latent abilities are used. Offensive abilities will have additional consumption. The current abilities are clarity of perception, double visual field, double visual range, level identification, mana flow identification, and ability to stun someone for up to 2 seconds.] ''Yes, the system didn''t disappoint me. These ocular abilities, besides being very cool, will truly be useful to me right now in order to identify the dangers in this completely foreign world to me. Yes, I think I''m ready now. Let''s get to work.'' Chapter 3. First Steps Lucy got up from the rock she had been sitting on and began to do a short warm-up to get used to her new body. At first, it was a bit strange for her to maintain balance because she wasn''t used to having a tail, but after half an hour of practicing some karate moves, she concluded that the tail was a great improvement. ''I don''t know how I could have lived without a tail until now. Kicks that I used to consider difficult to execute, as they required perfect balance control, I can now perform effortlessly. Well, maybe it also helps that among all the attributes I have, dexterity and agility have the highest values, but such balance would still be impossible with a completely human body. Moreover, with the help of the tail, I can change my trajectory while running without losing much speed. Plus, I can change the orientation of my body while in the air.'' Lucy was extremely pleased with the performance of her new body. She was nearly 50 percent faster than she was in her previous life, able to run short distances at a speed of almost 30 kilometers per hour, and her current dexterity made her feel like a true acrobat. She could now do three backflips in a single jump and spin in the air like an ice skater. ''This is truly amazing. I feel like a superhero. And this is just at level 1. How will it be at level 10? Or level 100? Considering that gods once walked these lands, I can conclude that powers beyond my imagination can be obtained here. Furthermore, I have been chosen as the inheritor of a goddess, so my potential should be immense.'' After a few moments of dreaming about the powers she would obtain in the future, Lucy decided to take the first step towards achieving them, which was to increase her level from 1 to 2. Unfortunately, the letter from the Goddess of Felines didn''t contain much detail, and her system didn''t have any function that would allow her to learn more about this world, so Lucy was a bit confused about leveling up. ''It''s a pity that I don''t have more information. However, considering that this system has many concepts that can be found in a video game, I can conclude that the experience required to level up can be obtained in the same way as in a video game: by killing monsters. But in a video game, monsters aren''t real; they don''t breathe, they don''t feel pain. They don''t even bleed if you choose that setting. Here, it probably won''t be a pleasant sight to see them take their last breath... But do I have a choice? If I don''t adapt to this world, I''ll just become prey, prey for the beasts that populate this world, whether they are animals or humans. Yes, I shouldn''t hesitate... What was my grandfather saying? He said that one shouldn''t eat chicken if they aren''t capable of cutting its throat. Yes, that''s the absolute truth of life. To survive, you have to take the lives of others. The only difference is that in the modern world, many people do this through intermediaries. Yes, many people eat chicken without knowing what a real chicken looks like... Fortunately, some meat packages have pictures of live chickens on them to reinforce the idea that they are more organic than others...'' After Lucy managed to motivate herself to do what needed to be done, she headed downhill alongside the stream in search of an easily killable creature to test her theory about leveling up. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ''Well, it''s not like I haven''t killed any living beings before. I think I''ve killed tens of thousands of flies with a swatter... and once when I was visiting my grandparents, I accidentally jumped on a frog and flattened it like a sheet of paper...'' These were some of Lucy''s thoughts as she scanned between the rocks in the stream, hoping to find a fish or a crab. After five minutes without seeing anything, she concluded that most of the creatures in the stream were either hiding or living in the deeper water areas. ''Maybe I should activate my visual powers? No, I don''t think it would be wise. I can''t irresponsibly consume mana. But I also don''t want to go into the cold water and search for fish at the bottom... No, I''ll search for a few more minutes. Hopefully, I''ll find something eventually... Uh, something''s moving near that rock!'' To Lucy''s surprise, the creature that was moving was something she had never seen before in her previous life. At least, not in reality. It was a blue slime slowly dissolving half a dead fish. ''Ugh, it smells bad... The fish is probably dead for a few days. But it seems like the slime doesn''t mind. As for the slime, what can I say? It looks really gross... it''s nothing like the ones in anime or video games. But maybe I shouldn''t be too disappointed with what I found. A slime is an excellent first target. At least, I hope so. Well, maybe I should check it before approaching to be sure. No matter how well-hidden the danger might be, my eyes will be able to see the truth...'' "Nekohoshime!!!" Although it wasn''t necessary to shout the skill''s name, Lucy felt that the first activation of her ocular powers should be a memorable moment, so it''s not surprising that she was a bit dramatic at that moment. ''So cool! I think I can compare myself to Lelouch vi Britannia. Maybe I should change my name... How would Lucy vi Britannia sound? Too bad I can''t see my eyes very clearly...'' As Lucy would later discover, upon activating her ocular powers, her pupils changed color to a deep black in which three luminous stars floated, as if her eyes were fragments of the night sky. After her initial excitement had subsided, Lucy directed her gaze toward the slime that was having its meal. Even though she was now about 20 meters away from the slime, Lucy could see it as clearly as if she were standing just 2 meters away. ''It''s truly disgusting... Let''s see, though, what level it is.'' By activating her ability to see the levels of other life forms, Lucy could see the number two appearing above the slime, indicating its level. ''Just level two. Probably not a threat. Let''s also see where its mana flow originates from. That''s probably its weak point...'' After activating her ability to see mana flow, she identified a darker area within the slime where the amount of mana was slightly higher. ''Probably, that''s where I should attack it. But with what? A stick? But if I get close to it, my feet will get wet. Besides, I don''t know how fast it is. It might jump on my face... No, I''ll attack it from a distance. There are enough stones on the edge of the stream.'' After selecting about 20 appropriately sized stones, Lucy began bombarding the slime with a precision that would make even the greatest baseball player envious. Thanks to her eye abilities and high dexterity, each throw hit its target perfectly. Lucy didn''t stop until she heard a notification from the system, indicating that she had gained 5 experience points and 5 points for the ninja shop. ''It seems I was right. In this world, if you want to become stronger, you have to kill with your own hands... Anyway, no one will mourn a disgusting slime. I''m sure there are plenty more in this world. Yes, the world would probably be a better place if their numbers decreased a bit. So let''s find another one!'' Chapter 4. Steps of Light After walking for about a quarter of an hour along the stream''s bank, Lucy encountered another slime. But this time the slime was no longer in the water, but on the grass a few meters from the shore. ''It seems to be a level 4 slime. I wonder if it''s more dangerous? Anyway, it doesn''t matter. I won''t give it any chance. I''ll attack it from a distance with stones. A true ninja always resorts to the most efficient way to eliminate their opponent...'' After Lucy annihilated the opponent, she received two notifications from the system. The first one informed her that she gained 10 experience points and 10 points for the ninja shop, while the second one indicated that her level had now reached 2. "Yes! Finally!" Jumping up and down with joy, Lucy clapped her hands without a care in the world, unconcerned if anyone could see her and make fun of her. She then opened the window with her status to see what changes had occurred. [Status] Name: Lucy Everlynn Race: Catkin Classes: Magic Powered Ninja Level: 2 (5/50) Parameters Health: 100/100 Mana: 150/150 Stamina: 68/70 Attributes Strength: 10 Defense: 5 Vitality: 8 Agility: 20 Dexterity: 20 Magic: 20 Intelligence: 12 Luck: 10 [You can allocate one point to an attribute] Skills: Ninja Shop (S) Nekohoshime(S) [You can select or create an E-rank skill] ''It seems that it now shows me how many experience points I need to reach the next level. Why didn''t it show when I checked last time? Maybe because I didn''t have any experience points at all? Anyway, it''s good that it will show from now on. Okay, let''s see which attribute I should increase its value...'' After pondering for a while, Lucy concluded that the initial point distribution was perfect for a Magic Powered Ninja. Despite having lower defense, considering her agility and dexterity, plus her ocular powers, she should be able to dodge most attacks, so she shouldn''t attempt to raise it to the level of the others. ''After all, I think it would be best to add one point to each attribute in their listed order. This way, I can roughly maintain the way the points are allocated and create a fighting style that harmonizes perfectly with my attribute values. So, let''s put the first point into the Strength attribute.'' After Lucy decided what to do with the point, the system automatically increased the value of the Strength attribute from 10 to 11, and she noticed that the limit of the Stamina parameter increased from 70 to 75. ''Hmmm. It seems that the Strength attribute has an influence on the Stamina parameter. But I don''t think that''s its main function. Probably, it''s considered that a stronger body is more resistant to effort... Anyway, let''s see which skill I''ll choose...'' This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Lucy opened the list of skills proposed by the system, but they didn''t impress her much. ''I know these skills are of E-rank, but I think they should be a little more interesting... Most of them are passive skills that can increase the limit of certain parameters, such as Minor Health Improvement, or increase the value of an attribute by 20 percent. There are also a few offensive skills, but they consume a considerable amount of mana, and I believe that opponents could often evade them. Well, the system is competent enough to read my desires, but it seems to lack inspiration on its own. Don''t worry, system, I have plenty of ideas. If you listen to me, I''m sure we can create skills together that will leave everyone amazed!'' [Affirmative] ''It''s clear that you''re just as excited as I am. So, let''s get to work. What would be most useful to me right now is a skill that can help me attack the opponent by surprise, but also quickly evade any incoming attacks. Something like a movement technique or, better yet, a skill that can make me move almost instantaneously to the desired location. But can such a skill be categorized as E-level? Let''s see, system, what can you create with these ideas?'' [Create skill for instantaneous movement... modify skill to be classified as an E-rank skill...] After a few seconds, the skill created by the system according to Lucy''s instructions appeared in front of her. [Steps of Light (E): A movement skill that allows the user to move almost instantaneously up to a distance of 20 meters, with a speed close to that of light, provided there is an obstacle-free path between the original location and the target location that the user could traverse in a normal manner. This skill consumes 5 mana points and 2 stamina points. It has a cooldown period of 5 seconds.] After reading the skill description, Lucy decided that it looked quite good and selected it without much hesitation. ''It''s unfortunate that it consumes stamina points in addition to mana points, but it was probably necessary for it to have this weakness to be classified as an E-rank skill. Okay, that''s done. Let''s see what I can buy from the Ninja Shop with the points I obtained from those two slimes.'' After activating the Ninja Shop skill, an interface containing everything a ninja would need, such as weapons, clothing, and food, appeared in front of Lucy. ''It seems I only have 15 points. Let''s see what I can buy. First and foremost, I need something to drink. I''m not an expert in survival techniques, but I guess it''s not advisable to drink water directly from a stream. At least, that''s how it was in the world I lived in.'' After accessing the beverages page and analyzing the prices of the products, Lucy decided to buy a half-liter bottle of orange juice, which cost 5 points. Immediately after Lucy selected the product and mentally pressed the buy button, the orange juice appeared floating in front of her. ''Not only will I quench my thirst, but I''ll also get some calories. It''s a very good choice. Let''s see if we can buy a weapon as well.'' Since Lucy had only 10 points left, she had only two options to choose from: buying a soft iron kunai or two shuriken. ''Considering that I''ve never used a shuriken in reality, I think the best option right now is to buy a kunai.'' After purchasing the kunai, it appeared in front of her, floating just like the bottle of orange juice. ''This skill defies reality. It can create things out of nothing,'' thought Lucy as she reached out to take the kunai. After savoring the refreshing orange juice, Lucy began to perform some combat movements with the kunai in her hand, slashing and stabbing imaginary opponents. Once satisfied with her kunai handling techniques, Lucy decided to move away from the creek to find an opponent to test her new skill and weapon. ''I think I''ll head towards the edge of the forest. I believe I''ll have a better chance of finding a more suitable opponent than a slime...'' But Lucy didn''t have to search for long, as a hyena-like creature started silently following her from a distance of about 50 meters, likely preparing to attack her by surprise. ''Luckily, I decided to activate my visual abilities to scan the area. Even though I would have noticed this creature when it lunged at me, it''s better for me to take the initiative and strike first. I don''t know what kind of animal it is, but my visual abilities tell me it''s just a level 5. So, I believe I can defeat it easily. For now, I''ll stay still and let the creature come closer, and when it enters the range of my movement skill, I''ll try to eliminate it in one strike...'' Seeing that Lucy started studying the grass, the hyena-like creature stealthily approached her. After a few seconds, realizing that the catgirl in front of it hadn''t noticed him, the creature decided to attack at full speed. But at the moment when he wanted to jump toward his prey: "Slash." ''Huh, what''s happening? Who cut me? Where did the prey in front of me go?'' Those would probably be the questions the creature would ask itself as it fell to the ground with its throat slit by Lucy, who had instantly appeared behind it. ''That was easier than I thought. Considering that this ugly dog (or whatever this creature is) wanted to attack me, I felt no hesitation in raising the kunai to kill it. Yes. I can truly say that I have done justice. And justice cannot be considered a crime...''. Chapter 5. An Explosive Appearance [You have eliminated a level 5 black-toothed hyena. You gained 20 experience points and 20 points for the Ninja Shop.] ''It seems it was a hyena... But why specify that it had black teeth? Could it have had a poisonous bite? It doesn''t matter. This specimen is already dead, and if I encounter another hyena, I''ll make sure it doesn''t have a chance to bite me,'' Lucy thought after seeing the system notification. Since Lucy wasn''t skilled in butchering animals, nor did she have an appetite for eating meat from a dog-like animal, she decided to leave the hyena''s corpse and move on. Fortunately, she didn''t have to go far to find her next opponent, as four other hyenas were heading towards the location of the battle, advancing swiftly without any caution. ''They might have been alerted by the smell of blood and decided to come to the rescue'', Lucy thought. But it turned out the hyenas weren''t as loyal as she imagined, because as soon as they arrived at the place where the body of the hyena killed by Lucy was, they began to tear pieces of meat from the dead hyena, completely ignoring the young catgirl who stood at a distance of 100 meters, shocked by their cruelty and greed. ''These animals are truly disgusting. They started devouring one of their own without any hesitation. Heh, let them eat as much as they can. I don''t intend to miss this opportunity. Although one of them is level 6 and seems slightly larger, the other three hyenas are identical to the specimen I killed moments ago. I think if I catch them by surprise while they''re eating, I can eliminate them without any problem, even if there are more of them. Plus, I believe it''s a good opportunity to test other products from the Ninja Shop. When I looked through its interface last time, I saw something that will be truly useful in this situation...'' Lucy immediately activated the Ninja Shop skill and purchased an explosive paper worth 10 points. "Let''s see if they''ll like the gift from me," she said to herself as she stealthily approached the four hyenas in the quietest way possible. After reaching a suitable distance to activate the Steps of Light skill, Lucy instantly appeared behind the level 6 hyena. She swiftly attached the explosive paper to its back and then she gave it a powerful kick, sending it crashing into another hyena feasting on the opposite side. As Lucy leaped backward, distancing herself from the four hyenas, the explosive paper detonated, killing the level 6 hyena and severely injuring the one it collided with. ''That went perfectly. I managed to take out two hyenas with one strike. Now let''s deal with the other two.'' Startled by Lucy''s attack, the two unhurt hyenas glared at her, growling, unable to decide on their next move. However, hesitation was not advised before Lucy, as she disliked playing defensively. As soon as the cooldown period elapsed, she activated the Steps of Light skill once again, instantly appearing behind one of the hyenas. With her kunai, she swiftly slit its throat. Witnessing this, the last remaining hyena immediately lunged at Lucy, attempting to deny her any chance of recovery. But Lucy anticipated this and promptly used her ocular ability, which disoriented her opponent for two seconds, leaving the hyena petrified two meters away from Lucy. She didn''t let the opportunity slip away and, with a kick to the hyena''s chin, sent it soaring two meters into the air. Unfortunately for the hyena, it didn''t know how to fly and plummeted back to the ground, and at that moment, it impaled its neck on the kunai that was waiting for it below, filling Lucy''s clothes with blood. After flawlessly executing this combo, Lucy threw her kunai into the head of the hyena injured in the explosion, which was attempting to rise to its feet, putting an end to the battle. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ''I''m truly formidable! Everything went great! I didn''t feel so proud of myself even when I ranked first in karate competitions. I think I have a talent for being a ninja,'' Lucy complimented herself in her mind after the fight concluded. [You have eliminated a level 6 black-fanged hyena and three level 5 black-fanged hyenas. You have gained 70 experience points and 70 points for the ninja shop.] [Your level has increased. Your level is now 3.] Upon seeing the system notifications, Lucy retreated approximately 50 meters from the blood-soaked area and decided to check her status while waiting for other hungry creatures attracted by the scent of blood. It was much easier to wait for them to come on their own than to search for them in an unfamiliar area, considering she had no hunting experience. [Status] Name: Lucy Everlynn Race: Catkin Classes: Magic Powered Ninja Level: 3 (45/100) Parameters Health: 100/100 Mana: 136/150 Stamina: 43/75 Attributes Strength: 11 Defense: 5 Vitality: 8 Agility: 20 Dexterity: 20 Magic: 20 Intelligence: 12 Luck: 10 [You can allocate a point to an attribute.] Skills: Ninja Shop (S) Nekohoshime (S) Steps of Light (E) [You can select or create an E-ranked skill.] ''I will follow the point allocation order I have established and add the point to the Defense attribute. Initially, I didn''t believe that a single point could make a noticeable difference, but now, after the fight with the four hyenas, I must admit that just one point added to the Strength attribute has greatly helped me, increasing my strikes'' power by almost 20 percent...'' After increasing the Defense attribute from 5 to 6, Lucy noticed that the Health parameter limit had also increased from 100 to 110. ''It seems that the Defense attribute value has a significant influence on the Health parameter. Now let''s see which skill to choose. Initially, I wanted to create a skill to enhance my stealth capabilities, but considering the impact attributes have on my combat abilities, I have concluded that acquiring passive skills to boost their values would be a good idea. So, I''ll stick to the same order I decided on for attribute point distribution and choose to enhance the Strength attribute by acquiring the E-ranked skill Strength Increase Level 1 from the provided list of E-ranked skills by the system.'' [Skill Strength Increase Level 1 has been selected.] [Strength Increase Level 1(E): A passive skill that increases the Strength attribute value by 20 percent.] ''Okay. From what I can see, the slight increase in the Strength attribute doesn''t have any visual effects on my body. That''s a relief. I wouldn''t want to end up with the body of a powerlifter... Anyway, let''s see how my status looks now.'' [Status] Name: Lucy Everlynn Race: Catkin Classes: Magic Powered Ninja Level: 3 (45/100) Parameters Health: 100/110 Mana: 137/150 Stamina: 52/85 Attributes Strength: 11 (+2) Defense: 6 Vitality: 8 Agility: 20 Dexterity: 20 Magic: 20 Intelligence: 12 Luck: 10 Skills: Ninja Shop (S) Nekohoshime (S) Steps of Light (E) Strength Increase Level 1 (E) ''Good. It seems that the Stamina parameter limit has increased after acquiring this skill. This way, I can counter the adverse effect of the Steps of Light skill, which consumes two points of stamina each time I use it. I wonder what would happen if the Stamina value were to reach zero. Would I faint until it recovers? Anyway, now is not the time to test this theory. If I were to lose consciousness in this place, I don''t think I would have much chance of waking up. Fortunately, the Stamina parameter recovers quite quickly, so I don''t think it will pose a major issue as long as I try to win battles as quickly as possible, which is the focus of my fighting style. Additionally, the Ninja Shop offers various potions such as Ninja Tonic or energy drinks like Ninja Energy, which can help me rapidly increase my Stamina value. But these things will be analyzed later. It seems we have company again...'' It appears that the corpses left by Lucy have attracted another group of hungry hyenas, who immediately began feasting on them. ''It seems that the fish will always bite as long as you have the right bait. Okay. Let the harvesting of experience points begin!'' Chapter 6. Second Crush (R-18) Lucy spent the rest of the day killing black-toothed hyenas, her number of victims exceeding 300. After defeating a group of 20 hyenas led by a level 12 hyena, which was as large as an ordinary lion, and receiving a notification that she reached level 10, Lucy decided it was time for a well-deserved break and looked for a safe place to rest. To be so efficient, Lucy purchased dozens of explosive papers, kunai, and hundreds of meters of steel wire from the Ninja Shop. Additionally, after each round, she bought two potions to quickly recover her Mana and Stamina parameters. As Lucy walked around the edge of the forest drinking a strawberry-flavored Ninja Milkshake and looking for a place to spend the night, she analyzed her progress that day and what she gained as she leveled up. ''Yes, it was a very productive day. Not only did I gain 10 levels, but I also became much more proficient in fighting against beasts and using ninja weapons. I think the most impressive weapon I used was the steel wire. Not only can you set up all kinds of traps with it or hinder the movement of beasts, but you can also use it actively in combat, as when wielded with enough speed, it can cut through the flesh to the bone. Of course, I still have much to learn to use it properly. Maybe I''ll find a manual with combat techniques using steel wire in the Ninja Shop...'' Since there was no cave in the area to shelter her for the night, Lucy had no choice but to climb the tallest tree she could find, so she could sleep peacefully. ''Well, many cats sleep comfortably in trees. Sometimes they like it so much that firefighters have to intervene to get them down. Too bad I''m not completely a cat. In that case, my bottom wouldn''t hurt from sitting on a branch...'' In the end, Lucy activated the Ninja Shop skill to find a hammock or something similar that would allow her to have a restful sleep. ''Hmm, even though I bought many consumables to deal with hyena groups without any issues, I still have 1570 points left to spend in the Ninja Shop. Let''s see. A simple hammock costs 120 points. I think it will be quite comfortable, at least more comfortable than sleeping directly on wood.'' After purchasing the hammock, Lucy set it up between two branches, about 10 meters above the ground. ''I haven''t tested it, but I don''t think a catgirl will always land on her feet like cats... I hope I can fall asleep, though. But now we have other things to do before we go to sleep. First, let''s see the prices of the clothes because I wouldn''t want to sleep in these blood-stained ones...'' Lucy started browsing the items displayed in the Ninja Shop and eventually decided to buy a one-piece pajama that cost 80 points. ''It looks great. I''m sure I''ll look very sexy when I wear it. Too bad I don''t have anywhere to take a bath. Probably a shower cabin costs more points than I have available. Let''s see what hygiene products they have. So, we have Ninja Antibacterial Soap, Aloe Vera Ninja Shower Gel,... oh, here''s a Ninja Cleansing Potion, good to use when a ninja wants to get rid of all traces that could be found on them. Err, the problem is that it''s quite expensive. Is it worth 200 points? But I have no choice. Even though I''m currently living in the woods, I can''t turn into a savage. A girl always needs to look good, no matter the situation.'' Lucy didn''t skimp and bought the potion, then drank it in one gulp. Immediately, both she and her clothes started to shine, and in a few seconds, she was clean as if she just had a shower and put on freshly laundered clothes. ''Definitely worth the money. Not only am I clean, but I also feel refreshed. If I had known that I would find something to clean my clothes, I wouldn''t have bought the pajamas. Oh well, no point in complaining. It will be much more comfortable to sleep in light pajamas since it''s quite warm at night.'' Lucy stood up on the wide branch, almost a meter in width, and began to take off the kimono she had been wearing since she arrived in this world. After removing it and remaining only in her underwear, she couldn''t help but marvel at how attractive her body looked. ''Damn. For a girlfriend with such a body, I would be able to kill. These perfect breasts, this attractive ass, this silky skin... Stop Lucy, you''re going to fall in love with yourself if you keep this up...'' However, it wasn''t that easy to stop, as this entirely new, incredibly attractive body, with breasts two sizes larger than she had in her previous life, and the animalistic instincts she now possessed, being part feline, caused Lucy to enter a state of excitement she had never experienced before. So, without thinking twice, she started caressing her breasts and playing with her own nipples, her moans blending with the chirping of the forest birds, creating a symphony of spring. But that wasn''t enough. The heat in her body couldn''t be quenched with just that. Pressing her bare back against the cool trunk of the tree, Lucy slipped her left hand between her legs and started pleasuring herself without any inhibitions, while using her other hand to firmly massage her right breast. Navigating through a sea of pleasure, surrendering to her desires like a ship with sails in the wind, Lucy continued making love to herself until a powerful surge ran through her spine, and she saw nothing but white before her eyes. When she regained her senses, Lucy was sitting down leaning against the trunk of the tree, with drops of sweat running down her delicate neck that was still convulsing due to her deep breathing, tenderly massaging her tail with one hand and tasting her own juices of pleasure from the other hand. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Although Lucy realized what she was doing involuntarily, she did not stop but continued with more determination to tease her fingers with her lips and teeth until the taste of vanilla took over all her taste buds. ''Nyaaa, I don''t want to boast, but I taste fantastic. I''m like a vanilla ice cream that melts under the sun''s rays on a beach of a tropical island...Damn, I didn''t think my second crush could be myself... But who could resist in my place? I''m the most beautiful woman I''ve ever seen in my life. Mmmm... Maybe I should stop... but it''s not right to forget to show appreciation to your partner after satisfying your needs... even if in this case, the partner is myself...'' After about five more minutes, during which Lucy fully regained her composure, she finally put on the pajamas to resist the temptation of her own body. She settled into the hammock, leaving all the things she had planned to do before going to bed for the next day. ''I still planned to check my status and purchase the last passive skill that enhances attribute values, and also browse the Ninja Shop interface to find some ninja techniques manuals and a more suitable fighting attire than this kimono, but I''ll leave it for tomorrow morning... It has been a very long day... I hope to wake up here again tomorrow...'' With those thoughts, Lucy drifted off to sleep, the swaying of the hammock and the moonlight filtering through the branches of the tree creating the perfect atmosphere to transport her to the realm of dreams. .......................................................... ''Fortunately, I''m still in another world. I''m still a catgirl. It wasn''t all a dream.'' Lucy thought as she opened her eyes the next day, awakened by the song of the birds that populated the forest. Lucy had nothing to regret from her old life. She had no one who was truly close to her, including her aunt who accepted her more due to her own financial interest. She had never been in a romantic relationship her whole life, the beginnings of such a relationship being severed along with the lives of her parents and her leg. Before the car accident, she had a crush on the girl who had managed to defeat her in the national karate championship. But because the girl lived on the other side of the country, Lucy had no chance to try to get to know her better. At first, Lucy was unsure of her feelings, as the irregular beating of her heart could have been caused by the emotions of participating in an important competition, and not by that charming girl to whom no one could have attributed the strength and the skills she possessed. However, a week after the competition, all that remained in Lucy''s mind were the girl''s face and the scent of her body, which Lucy felt when the girl had her in a chokehold. But what could she do? Lucy didn''t even know if the girl could accept being in a relationship with another girl. So she could only look forward to the next edition of the championship to try to get to know her better and maybe impress her if she wins. Unfortunately for Lucy, she never got the chance to fight for her love, and all she could do for four years was to see a picture of her crush every time the girl won the gold medal in the national karate championship. But now, everything was left behind, and Lucy didn''t intend to live in memories that didn''t bring her any pleasure, while her future looked very promising. So as soon as she woke up, she started to finish the remaining things before going to bed, First, she allocated the point she obtained with the advance to level 10 to the Strength attribute, and then she purchased the remaining passive skill that could increase the value of her last attribute, which was the Luck Increase Level 1. ''Finally, I''ve collected them all... Hehe, let''s see what my current status looks like.'' [Status] Name: Lucy Everlynn Race: Catkin Classes: Magic Powered Ninja Level: 10 (130/2400) Titles: Master in increasing attributes Parameters Health: 130/130 Mana: 215/215 Stamina: 110/110 Attributes Strength: 12 (+2) Defense: 6 (+1) Vitality: 9 (+1) Agility: 21 (+4) Dexterity: 21 (+4) Magic: 21 (+4) Intelligence: 13 (+2) Luck: 11 (+2) Skills: Ninja Shop (S) Nekohoshime (S) Steps of Light (E) Strength Increase Level 1 (E) Defense Increase Level 1 (E) Vitality Increase Level 1 (E) Agility Increase Level 1 (E) Dexterity Increase Level 1 (E) Magic Increase Level 1 (E) Intelligence Increase Level 1 (E) Luck Increase Level 1 (E) ''Huh, it seems I received a title. Let''s see what effect it has...'' [Master in increasing attributes: a title given to those who attach great importance to all their attributes, possessing skills that increase the value of all attributes. The effect of this title will double the points obtained with level increases.] ''This is great! I didn''t think titles could have such powerful effects. So from now on, I''ll be able to increase my attributes twice as fast. But is it such a special thing to have skills that increase the value of all attributes? Maybe it is. I can select my skills myself, but from what I''ve heard, others don''t have these functions.'' Lucy thought this explanation was sufficient for now, and after reviewing her status, she activated the Ninja Shop skill and started navigating through the interface that appeared before her, looking for manuals with ninja techniques specific to the use of steel wire and shuriken throwing. ''It seems there are manuals for almost any type of weapon. Hmm. Let''s still buy three manuals, one for steel wire, one for shurikens, and one for kunai. It wouldn''t hurt to learn from an expert how to use a kunai properly. Well, I hope they were written by an expert...'' After Lucy purchased the three manuals for 100 points each, she continued to search for a set of clothes more suitable for battle. Fortunately, there were hundreds of sets of fighting clothes to choose from. The downside was that Lucy didn''t have unlimited funds, so she had no choice but to buy a set for 250 points, consisting of black pants with a blue belt, a white sleeveless blouse, and two cut-resistant elbow guards. After dressing in her new clothes, Lucy also bought a backpack in which she put the rest of her things, then she had breakfast while starting to browse through the manual called "Ninja Art: The Deathly Wire." After half an hour of reading, Lucy descended from the tree where she spent the night, ready for a new day full of adventures in this fantastic world, where she could once again feel truly alive. Chapter 7. To Avenge a True Hero ''It seems that my strategy of attracting hyenas with corpses to kill them is no longer yielding significant results. Firstly, their numbers have decreased significantly, and secondly, they no longer offer me enough experience to sustain a level increase at the same pace as before... Hmmm, should I go deeper into the forest?'' Lucy pondered as she slit the throat of the last surviving hyena from a group of 7, which she had tied to a tree trunk with Steel Wire while she took the lives of her companions. Lucy spent half a day trying to replicate the strategy from the previous day, but unfortunately, she couldn''t make much progress. Only after the last round, in which she confronted seven level 10 hyenas, did she manage to accumulate the necessary experience points to reach level 11. After finishing this task and noticing that not even a single hyena was heading towards the pile of corpses containing approximately 400 hyenas, Lucy decided to take a well-deserved break and after buying a Cleansing Potion from the Ninja Shop which she consumed immediately, and a cappuccino milkshake, she climbed a tree located 100 meters from the battle site, settling on a branch where she had left her backpack containing all her possessions. ''Hmmm, I think I was supposed to allocate the point obtained in the Defense attribute... maybe I should note down what I did after each level increase. Wait a moment, I forgot. Now, I''ll receive two points for each level increase. So, I''ll put one point into Defence and the other into the Vitality attribute.'' Although increasing the Vitality attribute didn''t enhance Lucy''s combat abilities significantly, as her fighting style didn''t rely much on endurance, she observed that it had a great influence on the parameters. Each additional point in this attribute raised the Health parameter limit by 5 points and the Stamina parameter limit by 10 points. Additionally, she noticed that this attribute also increased her stamina and mana recovery rate, probably contributing to her health recovery as well, though fortunately, she hadn''t had the opportunity to test that. ''From what I''ve seen so far, it''s quite clear that to achieve the best results, I shouldn''t neglect any attribute. Besides, this world is not a video game where you can take risks; it''s not a place where you can afford to have a weakness, especially when you''re alone, without any teammates to watch your back...'' Lucy thought as she looked over her status and remembered how her fights against the hyena groups went. After distributing the two points, Lucy checked the description of the Nekohoshime skill and found that she could now receive two more ocular abilities, as she had advanced 10 levels. ''Hmmm, let''s take an ability that would help me easily find traces of beasts to locate other opponents, and an ability to trap the opponents I can see in illusions, distracting them from my attacks and causing them to miss when they attempt to counterattack.'' After deciding which ocular abilities to acquire, they were automatically added to the Nekohoshime skill, appearing in its list of abilities as "trace identification" and "illusion creation". Once she received the two ocular abilities, Lucy began to think about a skill that could increase the power of her attacks. Facing stronger opponents in the future, she couldn''t risk her surprise attacks failing and giving them a chance to counterattack. Moreover, now that she could select or create rank D skills, she had the opportunity to obtain a skill that could truly assist her in battle. ''The list offered by the system has some interesting options, such as Fire Fists or Black Vines, the latter being a skill that immobilizes multiple opponents. However, I believe I can create something more efficient, better suited to my fighting style. A true ninja should not put on too much of a show or allow opponents time to counter. So, let''s see what skill I''ll create. I think I''ll take advantage of the fact that I have an endless supply of weapons and create a skill that could enhance cutting power, similar to how characters in The Shadow Chronicles infused their chi energy into swords or shurikens. But here, there''s no chi energy, so I''ll have to use a form of magic. Hmmm, wind magic should work quite well. Additionally, I think this skill would work excellently when used in conjunction with steel wire, which doesn''t have a high cutting power. Let''s see, system, can you work with the ideas I''ve given you so far?'' [Affirmative... analysis... skill creation...] After about five seconds, during which Lucy took another sip of her milkshake, the freshly baked skill appeared in front of her. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. [Wind Blessing (D): a skill that enhances the cutting power of weapons by infusing them with wind magic. This skill will consume 2 mana points for every 10 seconds it is activated, whether the weapon remains in contact with the user or is thrown away.] ''Great. I can''t wait to test it. But first, I think it''s necessary to buy some weapons from the Ninja Shop since I don''t have any steel wire left, and I accidentally threw the only shuriken I bought into thorny bushes and didn''t go back to retrieve it...'' After activating the Ninja Shop skill, Lucy purchased about 50 meters of Steel Wire and 5 shurikens. ''Hmmm, my points are not looking too good either. I only have 750 left. I think I''ll still buy a more powerful Kunai to make the most of the new skill.'' After browsing through the shop''s interface for a bit, Lucy decided to buy a black steel Kunai worth 200 points, which would become her main weapon for the next period. As she looked at other displayed products, suddenly an advertisement appeared in front of Lucy for a special offer for the purchase of a ninja sword made of black adamantine. ''I didn''t expect them to have advertisements too... Let''s see what this offer is about.'' [Special Offer: You can now purchase a ninja sword made of black adamantine at 20% off. This sword, with an unparalleled hardness that can cut through any armor and magical power conductivity similar to a living being, can be obtained for only 800,000 points within a maximum period of 3 months from the offer''s announcement. Additionally, customization is free during this period.] ''What is this? Did this ad just taunt me? Where can I get so many points... Honestly, I would love to have such a sword. But is it even possible to gather that many points? Anyway, it''s not worth thinking about it now. I''ll decide based on how things evolve. Besides, I should first buy a cheaper sword for around 1,000 points to see how well I can handle one...'' After Lucy took her last sip of milkshake and closed the shop''s interface, she jumped out of the tree and began to test her new skill. After cutting dozens of tree trunks using both Steel Wire and shurikens infused with wind magic, Lucy concluded that she was ready to seek out an opponent stronger than the hyenas she brought to the brink of extinction in that area. Walking approximately two kilometers through the forest, scanning the surrounding area minute by minute using her ocular abilities, Lucy finally spotted a 4-meter-long lizard devouring a corpse about 100 meters away, paying no attention to Lucy. ''Huh, aren''t those human legs? Yes, I can clearly see that the feet are wearing shoes. Damn, it''s actually a human corpse...'' Lucy hid behind the trunk of a tree and activated her ocular ability, allowing her to see the opponent''s level. ''It appears to be a level 22 beast. Hmmm... Considering I could fight 20 hyenas with levels ranging from 8 to 12 simultaneously, I believe I have a good chance of defeating it. In the worst case, I''ll use Steps of Light and escape...'' Determined to rid the forest of a beast that was killing people, Lucy sneaked towards the spot where the giant lizard was feasting. When she reached a distance of about 20 meters, she activated both the Steps of Light and Wind Blessing skills simultaneously, teleporting behind the lizard and stabbing it in the throat with the black steel Kunai infused with wind magic. As Lucy wasn''t familiar with the lizard''s anatomical structure, her strike didn''t manage to kill it in one blow, and she had to leap to avoid its tail strike. While in the air, 4 meters above the ground, Lucy retrieved 6 Kunai tied with steel wires from her pockets and threw them into the tree trunks surrounding the pain-ridden lizard. Upon landing, she pulled on the wire ends, activating the Wind Blessing skill once more, ensnaring the lizard between the sharp wires like the edge of a sword, causing deep wounds down to the bone. ''It''s truly resilient. Bleeding from all over but still not giving up. But it can''t escape. Victory is already mine...'' Lucy thought as she threw two shurikens infused with wind magic toward the lizard''s head, ending its suffering. ''That was quite easy. These creatures don''t have the necessary abilities to defend against attacks like mine. But that''s to be expected, as I doubt many ninjas have roamed these woods... Anyway, I''m glad I managed to defeat it without resorting to explosive tags... But would those have been effective? Considering the lizard''s thick skin, I don''t think a few explosive tags would have brought it down like it did with the hyenas,'' Lucy contemplated while examining the dead lizard''s body. [You have eliminated a level 22 whip-tailed lizard. You gained 820 experience points and 820 points for the Ninja Shop.] After seeing the notification and realizing that the offered points weren''t enough to reach the next level, Lucy redirected her attention to the human corpse that was half-devoured by the lizard. ''It seems it was a man, probably around 20 years old. Judging by the quality of his footwear, he probably wasn''t very wealthy. He likely came to the forest to find food for his family and accidentally encountered the giant lizard that killed him. It''s a shame. True heroes always pass away without being praised by anyone. Huh, what''s that sound?'' "Jacky Dumby, where did you go? We need to get back to the camp. How long does it take to poop?" Thanks to her cat ears, which allowed her to hear much better than human ears, Lucy heard some people shouting for someone about 200 meters away. Observing the corpse and noticing that his pants were down, not torn by the lizard''s mouth as she initially thought, Lucy realized that this was probably Jacky Dumby, the person the approaching group was looking for. "Yes, a true hero..." Chapter 8: The Hand of Justice Lucy wasn''t sure what to do in the current situation because she didn''t have many clues about the identity of the people approaching her. From what she understood from their shouts, they had a camp nearby, so it''s possible they were a group of hunters. But what if they were thieves hiding in the woods from the long arm of the law? What would they do when they found a very beautiful girl alone in the middle of the forest? And even if they weren''t criminals, there was a high chance that they might have ill intentions toward her. Who would hold them accountable when there were no witnesses? ''I didn''t want to encounter people so soon. I wished to spend a few more weeks in the forest to raise my level even further, so I could handle any situation I might face in the future unharmed. With beasts, you know what to expect, but with humans, it''s harder to deduce what truly lies in their minds. Who knows what macabre thoughts may hide behind an innocent smile? So, should I hide and follow them to see what they do? But what if they have someone on their team who can detect me? In that case, the chances of a friendly meeting would drop close to zero. Who would be willing to talk to a person who follows you from the shadows? Anyway, I think I''ll first check their levels and then make a decision...'' As they approached, Lucy activated her ocular ability, which allowed her to see their levels, and she began to analyze the group of four individuals who hadn''t discovered her yet. ''Hmmm, it appears they are indeed humans, not another humanoid race. They are four men, all around 30 years old. The one who shouted first is at level 34, making him the strongest. The others are at levels 29, 27, and 24. Considering they all have swords as weapons, and the strongest one is fully armored, I can deduce that they are not here for hunting. Yes, this is not hunting equipment. They seem more like adventurers or mercenaries... Anyway, even in the worst case, if they attack me directly when they see me, I believe I can easily escape using the Steps of Light skill, so it''s not such a great risk to wait for them here and try to gather some information about the world I find myself in. Plus, I have enough time to set the stage in my favor...'' After deciding to meet the group of men, Lucy immediately bought 200 meters of steel wire and 10 explosive papers from the Ninja Shop. Then, she started attaching the steel wire to the surrounding trees, following the instructions from the manual she had read while having breakfast. ''Yes, it turned out very well. In case the group of men doesn''t have good intentions, I can immediately activate the trap to capture them, and then I''ll have enough time to flee...'' Lucy thought after finishing attaching the steel wires and seeing that everything seemed to be in order. In less than a minute after Lucy finished her work, the group of four men managed to spot her among the tree trunks and headed towards her with their swords drawn. "Look what we have here, boys. Seems like we hit the jackpot..." said the massive man dressed in armor, who was walking in front of the group and had the highest level. Lucy didn''t like his tone, but it was too late to change her decision now, so she had no choice but to wait for the group of men to reach her. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "Huh, isn''t she a lionkin? What the hell is a catgirl doing in a place like this? Does anyone in the camp have a catgirl as a slave?" the man with the highest level asked the other three behind him. "I don''t think so. If there was such a beauty with us, I''m sure I would have noticed..." one of the three men replied. "Hey, boss. Isn''t that Jacky''s corpse next to that dead lizard?" one of the other men asked after taking his eyes off Lucy and looking behind her to see if anyone else was in the area. "Yeah, that''s Jacky... Haha, he died with his pants down. I told you he''s an idiot. What kind of hunter gets taken by surprise by such a big lizard..." Realizing how he died, the other three men followed their leader''s example and started laughing and mocking Jacky, remembering all the foolish things he did while accompanying them in the forest. After a minute of laughing at Jacky''s pathetic death, the four men turned their gazes back to Lucy, who was still standing in the same spot where they found her, without saying a word. "Boss, what should we do with this catgirl? Do you think her master is nearby? He probably killed the lizard..." one of the men from the back asked their leader. "Take a closer look, she doesn''t have any slave collar. Probably the lizard was killed by some lionkin, and she got left behind to butcher the prey. Seems like we got lucky. We can gather information about the location of the lionkins'' village and have some fun at the same time. Hehe, this time I''ll be the first. You won''t find such beauty even in the capital''s brothels." "But boss, the employer said to deliver his goods as intact as possible. He clearly specified not to touch any females..." "He said not to touch any liongirls, right? Do you see any liongirl around here? So shut up and let me do my thing if you want your turn with her when I''m done...", said the man in front of the group to one of his subordinates who interrupted him and then began taking off his armor. As the four men in front of her discussed how they would use Lucy to satisfy their sexual needs, she looked at them with such a cold gaze that it could freeze the flames of hell. ''What does this mean? What are these bastards saying? Slavery? Having their way with me? Who do they think they are? Thinking they can do whatever they want without any repercussions? They''re truly disgusting... worse than wild animals. No, Lucy! You mustn''t run away! You must do something! You can''t allow such people to exist. If they leave here alive, who knows how many innocent people will fall victim to their cruelty. Yes, I have to do something. In my previous life, I didn''t have the chance to make the one who took my parents and my leg pay, and even if I had managed to put him in jail, true justice wouldn''t have been served. But right now, I can create true justice with my own hands. Yes, true justice can only be done before the crime... They think others'' lives are worthless, they think they''re superior. They believe the strong can do whatever they want with the weak''s lives... Such trash shouldn''t live. Maybe if someone else had been brought into this world instead of me, they wouldn''t have had the courage to do this... but I am capable. I can sleep better at night knowing that I made the world a better place...'' Yes, Lucy had no intention of running away. She couldn''t allow such people to remain alive. Wasn''t this what she always wanted? Didn''t she always want to be able to deliver justice with her own hands? Why would she hesitate now when she had the chance to do it? No, she wouldn''t hesitate. She was ready to stain her hands with human blood. So Lucy reached out and grabbed a section of steel wire in front of her, and after activating the Wind Blessing skill, she pulled it with force, turning the trap, initially meant only to slow down opponents, into a deadly weapon. ''Kill them, Lucy! Kill them all! Remove such bastards from this world!'' Chapter 9. Unexpected Earnings Immediately after Lucy activated the trap, the four men were assaulted from all sides by wires with a cutting capacity similar to the scythe worn by the messenger of death. One of them instantly lost his life when his head was severed from his body, while the other three had deep cuts all over their bodies and were missing a hand or a leg. Lucy had no intention of waiting for any of the three to activate a skill that could protect them, so she immediately appeared behind them and attached five explosive papers to the backs of the two men who were left with one leg, trying to straighten themselves using their swords, and with two kicks, she sent them towards their leader, who had lost a hand and was desperately looking around to find the attacker while trying to stop his bleeding. "Boom!" Caught off guard once again by this new attack, the group''s leader was thrown to the ground by the blast that turned the last two subordinates into a rain of flesh and blood. His clothes were on fire, and his mouth was filled with dirt and broken teeth. ''Who''s the scoundrel who attacked us? Could it be a lionkin assassin? No, I don''t think so... It must be a wizard... I have to find a way to escape, I can''t die here like...'' Unfortunately for the group''s leader, he didn''t get the chance to find answers to all these questions, as Lucy immediately appeared above him and, with her black steel kunai infused with wind magic, beheaded him in a single strike, sending him to the afterlife to join his three subordinates and Jacky Dumby, whose death he had laughed at just about two minutes ago. Looking around at the carnage she had caused, Lucy couldn''t help but admit that she might have taken slightly drastic measures, and it would have been advisable to leave at least one alive to gather information about their mission in this forest and the rest of the world. Moreover, the fact that she had just killed four men when she could have avoided it by choosing to flee and avoid confrontation with them couldn''t pass without affecting her. ''Did I make the right decision? Can people''s lives be taken so easily? No, they weren''t people. They were beasts with human faces. If someone weaker had been in my place, these four men would have turned his life into a living hell. And I don''t think this was the first time they planned to do something like this. They probably committed such acts dozens of times. Who knows how many suffered because of them. Yes, this world will be a better place without them. Yes, I haven''t committed a crime; I''ve delivered justice...'' But Lucy couldn''t continue to ponder whether what she had done was right or not because several notifications from the system interrupted her, redirecting her attention to the present situation. [You defeated a level 24 Swordman. You gained 945 experience points and 945 Ninja Shop points.] [You defeated a level 29 Swordman. You gained 1685 experience points and 1685 Ninja Shop points.] [You defeated a level 27 Arcane Swordman. You gained 1360 experience points and 1360 Ninja Shop points.] [You defeated a level 34 Berserker. You gained 2680 experience points and 2680 Ninja Shop points.] [Your level has increased. Your level is now 13.] ''What? So, if you take people''s lives, you get experience? Things might be more serious than I thought. If in the world where I lived in my previous life, there were so many criminals, even though they risked spending their whole lives in prison if caught, here it''s as if such behavior is encouraged by the laws governing this world. Uff! There are too many things that I don''t know. I wish the Ninja Shop had some manuals describing the situation in this world... Anyway, I''ve earned quite a lot from this battle. Since I''ve gained 2 levels, I can allocate 4 points to attributes and obtain two new skills. But first, I should get away from here because there might be more groups of people nearby, and I wouldn''t want to be disturbed while analyzing which skills to choose...'' After retrieving her backpack that she had left in a tree about 100 meters away, Lucy moved about a kilometer away, and after consuming a cleansing potion to get rid of the bloodstains covering her clothes and skin, she climbed up a tree and sat on a branch with a chocolate-flavored protein bar in her hand, then she opened the status window and began allocating points to the four attributes whose time had come, these being Agility, Dexterity, Magic, and Intelligence. After completing this operation, Lucy looked again at her parameters and attributes to observe the changes that had occurred. [Status] Name: Lucy Everlynn Race: Catkin Classes: Magic Powered Ninja Level: 13 (490/3800) Titles: Master in increasing attributes Parameters You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Health: 160/160 Mana: 196/230 Stamina: 114/130 Attributes Strength: 12 (+2) Defense: 7 (+1) Vitality: 10 (+2) Agility: 22 (+4) Dexterity: 22 (+4) Magic: 22 (+4) Intelligence: 14 (+2) Luck: 11 (+2) Skills: Ninja Shop (S) Nekohoshime (S) Steps of Light (E) Strength Increase Level 1 (E) Defense Increase Level 1 (E) Vitality Increase Level 1 (E) Agility Increase Level 1 (E) Dexterity Increase Level 1 (E) Magic Increase Level 1 (E) Intelligence Increase Level 1 (E) Luck Increase Level 1 (E) Wind Blessing (D) [You can select or create two D-rank skills] ''It looks more than good. I believe it''s thanks to my passive skills and the title "Master in Increasing Attributes" that I obtained, that my status now has the attribute and parameter values of a person 25 levels higher than me. No wonder I defeated those four villains so quickly. Moreover, considering that my class might be unique in this world, as the system created it specifically for me, I think many won''t know how to counter my fighting style. Probably the only ones who might give me trouble in the future are those with excellent defensive abilities, making it difficult for my attacks to hit them. Anyway, that remains to be seen. If I can buy a sword made of black adamantine like the one shown in the advertisement I saw, I don''t think opponents'' defensive methods will stand a chance against me...'' Seeing that she finished the protein bar, Lucy bought an aloe vera juice from Ninja Shop and started thinking about which skills to create. ''Hmmm, I think one of the essential skills for a ninja that I haven''t taken yet is a stealth skill, a skill to help me sneak around without being noticed. So far, I haven''t necessarily needed it, and I couldn''t create a very efficient skill when I could only make rank E skills. But now the situation is different because my future opponents won''t be just simple-minded beasts I can easily distract. From what I understood from the four, there are more people patrolling the surrounding areas in this forest, so a skill that allows me to get closer to them for gathering information would be useful. Let''s see what skill I should create... In the game "The Shadow Chronicles," one of my favorite skills for reconnaissance missions was Shadow Cloak, which allowed me to become invisible as long as I stayed hidden in the shadows. But such a skill has its weaknesses, and the fact that it depends on using shadows was the biggest one. If an opponent uses attacks like Fireball or Light Bomb, this skill couldn''t be used during the fight. Moreover, using it during the day in an open space could be a real challenge, as I''d have to move from one shadow to another.'' After thinking for five more minutes while finishing her drink, Lucy finally had an idea for a stealth skill that would make her completely invisible in almost any situation. ''Here''s what I came up with, system. How about a skill that uses light magic to render me undetectable to the naked eye? Yes, a skill that bends the light around the user, effectively making him invisible. What do you think? Can it be done?'' [Analysis... analysis... skill creation... adapting skill for rank D] ''It seems that this skill will have some limitations in use, just like Steps of Light. Anyway, let''s see how it looks, and then I''ll decide if I''ll accept it...'' [Bending of Light (D): a skill that allows the user to become invisible as long as they do not come into contact with a dynamic object with a volume larger than 5 cubic centimeters. The user cannot use this skill simultaneously with offensive skills, and it consumes 2 mana points every 10 seconds while active.] ''The mana consumption is quite high, but the effect is worth it. Besides, I have access to an inexhaustible supply of mana regeneration potions, so that won''t be a problem. Hmm, the skill''s limitations don''t seem as severe as I expected. As long as I don''t touch anyone, I can remain invisible in any environment. Considering that I am now a catgirl, and the flexibility and the ability to move as silently as a cat are some of my main characteristics, using this skill would make me nearly impossible to locate. So, I can select this skill without any worries...'' After selecting the skill "Bending of Light," Lucy started thinking about a skill that would help her capture opponents without inflicting significant injuries, unlike traps that use steel wire. Inspired by a skill proposed by the system, she created a skill that would allow her to create a mobile trap that could catch any opponent off guard. [Black Vines Substitute (D): this skill allows the creation of an identical substitute of the user, which can maintain its form for up to 1 minute and can be programmed to follow simple instructions. If the substitute can make contact with the target during that time, it will transform into a heap of black vines that will capture the target and have the power to regenerate for 10 minutes. Activating this skill to create a single substitute consumes 40 mana points.] ''It''s perfect. If I use this skill together with Steps of Light or Bending of Light, my opponents will be truly confused by such a trap. I''m really curious to see how the substitute looks. I need to test this skill immediately.'' Lucy immediately descended from the tree and activated the skill Black Vines Substitute, creating an exact copy of herself one meter away. "A true beauty. No wonder I fell in love with her. It''s a shame she''s a deadly beauty that will capture anyone who comes near her in an embrace they''ll hardly escape from." When nearly a minute had passed, Lucy instructed the substitute to head towards a tree and transform into a pile of black vines, which would trap the tree''s trunk. ''It''s very effective. I can''t imagine how anyone could escape since the vine regenerates as soon as it''s broken or cut,'' Lucy thought when she saw the skill''s effect. ''Now that I''ve finished everything I had to do, let''s make some plans for the future. If what those four were talking about before I attacked them is true, there should be a settlement of lionkins nearby, probably people with characteristics of lions. Considering that humans don''t seem to have much respect for catgirls since they immediately assumed I was someone''s slave, I think it would be wiser to make contact with a species similar to mine, like the lionkins. But where can I find their settlement? I don''t even know which direction to go. I guess the best method would be to spy on the human camp for more information, and depending on what I find there, I''ll decide what to do next...'' Chapter 10. Acting from the Shadows Returning to the place where she had fought and seeing that no person or beast was heading in that direction, Lucy began to search the pockets of the five human corpses, hoping to find a map or clues about their mission. Unfortunately, she found nothing useful on them, so her only option was to find another group of humans to follow to find out the location of their camp. ''Damn it. I got my hands dirty for nothing. Now I have to buy a cleansing potion again...'' Lucy thought as she kicked the corpse of the group''s leader. After consuming a cleansing potion and getting rid of the blood stains, Lucy pondered on which direction she should go. ''Since the other four wandered around this area looking for Jacky, who was eaten by the lizard, my ocular ability to identify tracks is of no use in finding the right direction. Besides, their tracks might not lead directly to their camp if they spent several hours exploring the forest. Hmm, what solution can we find to this problem?... What did my grandfather used to say? If you can''t lead the horse to water, you can bring the water to the horse. Yes, maybe it''s better to make them come here. Considering that they are here to find clues related to a lionkins'' settlement, there''s a good chance they''ll come if they see something unusual happening here, like a big fire...'' With no better idea, Lucy gathered a large pile of dried branches in a less wooded area and then placed the five corpses on it to ensure that the smoke would be strong enough. Once everything was ready, Lucy bought a canister of gasoline and a lighter from the Ninja Shop, and after dousing the pile with fuel, she immediately set it on fire, the smoke rising hundreds of meters into the air. ''I think the smoke will be visible from a distance of over 10 kilometers, so it''s impossible not to be noticed by someone. Now, all I have to do is hide in a place where I can see what''s going on and wait for someone to come and investigate.'' Satisfied with the result, Lucy left the location of the fire, which already started to smell like barbecue, and moved about 100 meters away. She then climbed to the top of a giant tree, from where she could clearly see the situation around the bait she had created. Although Lucy''s plan was far from perfect, as there were many unknown factors she couldn''t consider, it had a favorable outcome for her rather quickly. In less than an hour, a group of three men, equipped similarly to the previous four she had killed, arrived at the fire and began analyzing the situation. "What the hell happened here? From the bloodstains, I can tell there was a fight. Could it be that the lionkins found out about us and attacked one of the scouting groups? But then, why did they start this huge fire and throw the corpses in it? It doesn''t make sense to act so conspicuously if they wanted to attack...." the man at the front, dressed like a knight with a huge shield, asked the two following him at a distance of two meters. "I don''t know, boss. It seems a bit strange. It''s like someone wanted to lure us here to ambush us. But I''m sure there''s no one within 100 meters, and I haven''t seen any traps, so it can''t be that..." the shorter man on the right, armed with two knives and dressed like an assassin with a black hood nearly covering his head, replied. "So, what could be the objective of those who started the fire? Maybe they just wanted to delay our return to camp? Yes, that makes sense. They probably planned to attack the camp after eliminating as many reconnaissance groups as possible, and they used these diversions to prevent us from regrouping. Hurry, we must return immediately! The attack may have already started!" "But boss, shouldn''t we check whose bodies these are?" the third man asked. "Do you think we have time for that? We''ll figure out who''s missing when we get to the camp. Let''s move fast before it''s too late!" Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. After their leader decided to head back to the camp at full speed, the group of three disappeared among the trees, and Lucy, who had been observing from a distance, immediately followed them, maintaining a distance of about 200 meters. ''Since I was too far away, and they weren''t speaking loudly, I have no idea what they discussed. But it seems they decided to hurry back to report to their superiors about what they found here. Well, at least I hope so...'' Lucy followed the three men for about an hour, somewhat surprised by their diligence in delivering the obtained information as quickly as possible. Little did she know that the reason for their haste was that their leader had an overactive imagination and was firmly convinced that Lucy''s diversion was part of a larger plot meant to destroy their base of operations. Although this initially made Lucy''s job easier as the three men didn''t try to check if anyone was following them or to move stealthily, once they reached their camp, they started shouting loudly that they were about to be attacked, putting the entire camp on high alert. Looking from a distance of 100 meters at the camp where about 30 people started patrolling with drawn swords, some of them accompanied by hunting dogs sniffing every bush around, Lucy realized that the situation wouldn''t be as straightforward as she expected. ''Did they realize they were being followed? No, I don''t think they spotted me. Most likely, they were alerted by the fact that five of their comrades were killed. Anyway, it''ll be nearly impossible for me to infiltrate even if I use the Bending of Light skill.'' Lucy had no choice but to wait until nightfall, hoping that the camp''s occupants would calm down, allowing her the opportunity to infiltrate and gather information about the lionkins'' village and their mission in the forest. Unfortunately, even after nightfall, 10 men continued patrolling with torches in hand, and around the large tent in the center, where the mission leader likely resided, five people with levels between 40 and 50 were always present. Since infiltration into the camp seemed impossible, Lucy thought that the only way to obtain information would be to kidnap one of the patrolling men and make him spill everything he knew. To ensure no problems would arise, Lucy purchased a potion from the Ninja Shop that completely masked her scent for half an hour, as well as a smoke bomb with a poisonous effect that would render the person inhaling the smoke unconscious for an hour. ''I think I''m ready. Now, I just need to wait for one of the patrols unaccompanied by a dog to move at least 100 meters away from the camp...'' Lucy thought while observing the situation from a large tree, hidden among its leafy branches. Since the patrolling men carried torches with them, Lucy could precisely see their locations, and it wasn''t challenging for her to locate an individual who met all the criteria to be kidnapped. Without letting the opportunity slip away, Lucy advanced quickly toward the man, using both the Steps of Light and Bending of Light skills to decrease the chances of being detected. Once she was within 10 meters of him, she threw the somnolence smoke bomb in front of him, causing him to collapse to the ground as soon as he inhaled the toxic air. ''So far, everything has gone perfectly. The harder part will be to distance myself with the prisoner at least 2 kilometers to avoid being discovered while I interrogate him.'', Lucy thought, looking at the nearly two-meter-tall man who fell face down to the ground. Fortunately, Lucy''s attribute values were quite high, making her physical abilities far superior to those of her previous life''s body. As a result, she had no major issues in swiftly getting away from the camp, dragging the captured man by one leg. "Bang!" Glancing back at the man''s head, now covered in blood after accidentally hitting a rock, Lucy marveled at the efficiency of the somnolence smoke bomb and continued at the same pace, paying no attention to the situation of the man she was dragging behind since she was already quite far from the camp and there were few chances of being detected. ''As long as he''s breathing, I can heal him using a potion. There''s no need to worry too much about his condition. Though I could carry him on my back, I wouldn''t like to have too close contact with him...'' After half an hour of continuous walking without any breaks, Lucy believed she had distanced herself sufficiently from the camp, and, after she administered a health potion to the unconscious hostage, she tied him to a tree using 30 meters of steel wire, ensuring there was no chance for him to escape when he woke up. ''It seems like my first ninja-worthy mission was a success. Now, all I have to do is be convincing enough when he wakes up to make him spill all the information he knows... Considering the type of people he belongs to, I believe the bad cop, bad cop method will be most appropriate...'', Lucy thought as she gazed at the man who was still sleeping peacefully, unaware of the surprise awaiting him when he regains consciousness. Chapter 11. Bad Cop, Bad Cop ''Huh, what happened? Where am I?'' thought the man tied to the tree as he tried to open his seemingly numb eyes. "Bang!" "Ahhh!!" "I guess you''ve slept enough! It''s time to wake up and answer some questions!" Lucy told the man after delivering a powerful kick to his knee. Suddenly awakened by the excruciating pain in his knee, which almost felt like his bones were about to break, the man glared at Lucy and, after attempting to free himself for a few seconds with no success, he began to threaten the catgirl in front of him. "Slut, are you aware of what you''re doing? Do you know who I am? If you don''t untie me immediately..." "Bang!" "Ahhh!!" Lucy didn''t let him finish his words and with another kick to the man''s other knee, she made him scream in pain once more. "I am the one asking the questions, not you, a garbage who kills for money...", Lucy said to the man who was still wailing, being inspired by lines from The Dark Knight. "Free me, whore, or you will see in the future what it means to wish for death!", the man started to shout again, not taking into account Lucy''s words at all. ''It seems that I haven''t been tough enough with him and he still hasn''t realized how serious the situation is. It''s truly difficult to appear frightening with a pretty face like mine. But the night has only just begun. I''m sure that eventually, I''ll manage to make him obedient...'', Lucy thought as she purchased a rubber baton and some health potions from the Ninja Shop. The man didn''t have time to marvel at the sudden appearance of these objects in front of Lucy, because, immediately after she put her hand on the rubber baton, she began to strike him with all her might, tearing flesh from the bones with each blow, making him feel pains that he didn''t think were possible. Lucy continued to hit the man tied to the tree, ignoring his screams and threats, and did not stop until she saw that he had lost consciousness. ''I believe it''s enough. There''s no point in hitting him anymore if he''s no longer conscious. Let''s see now how effective these health potions are. It''s great that I found such a quality guinea pig, meaty enough to create all sorts of wounds...'' Lucy said to herself as she left the blood-stained rubber baton and pulled out a health potion from her pocket. After stuffing the health potion down the hostage''s throat, Lucy sat on a log placed about a meter away from him and began analyzing how quickly his wounds were healing, using her ocular abilities not to miss any details. ''Hmmm, it seems that superficial wounds, no deeper than one centimeter, heal completely within a minute, leaving no scars. Unfortunately, the effect is not as good for deeper wounds, where the bleeding barely stopped after 2 minutes. Perhaps more potions of this kind or higher quality potions are needed for such wounds...'' Unfortunately, Lucy didn''t have time to continue analyzing the potion''s effect as the prisoner showed signs of waking up. ''The first phase of the experiment is complete. Now let''s see how effectively the potion can repair broken bones.'' Lucy didn''t wait for the man to say anything and immediately started hitting him, this time using the middle part of the rubber baton, with the aim of shattering his bones without causing external injuries as serious as the first time. "Ahhhhhh!!! No, Please! Ahhhh!!" Lucy did the same as the first time, not taking a break until the prisoner lost consciousness again. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ''Unfortunately, even with my ocular powers, it is impossible for me to see how well the bones have healed. I believe the only solution is to see if his legs can bend in some unnatural positions...'', thought Lucy as she gave the prisoner another health potion. After waiting for about 5 minutes, Lucy grabbed the tied man by one leg and noticed that everything seemed fine, as it didn''t appear to be broken. Then, she took the rubber baton again and began to hit him before he could wake up on his own. "Ah, no, please! I''ll tell you everything you want...", the prisoner began to scream as soon as he was awakened by the pain from the new blows. ''Hmm, maybe that was enough to make him understand. The faster I get the answers I''m looking for, the better...'', Lucy thought as she walked away from the prisoner who had started crying, without the arrogance he had displayed about a quarter of an hour ago. "Enough with the whining! Tell me, what is your objective in this forest? Did you come to attack the lionkins'' village? Do you want to capture them and make them slaves?", Lucy asked while looking the prisoner directly in the eyes, her pupils resembling two miniature night skies with four stars floating in each. Seeing that the catgirl in front of him seemed to have some information about their mission, the tied man didn''t dare to lie or omit anything, and he started to tell her everything he knew. "Yes, our mercenary team was sent here by Marquis Olsen to find the location of the lionkins'' village and attack it when most of their fighters leave for the hunt, in order to capture as many children and women as possible...." "And why does Marquis need them?" Lucy asked after hearing his response. "I have no idea. As long as we are paid, I don''t care even if they get eaten..." "Is it normal for humans to have slaves?" Lucy continued, trying to learn something about the situation in this world. "Huh, isn''t this common knowledge?" the tied man asked back, looking at Lucy as if she were an ignorant girl who had no idea about the world she was in. "Bang!" "Ahhh!!" "You forgot? Only I have the right to ask questions. If you want to escape with your life, you''d better listen to me!" Lucy warned after giving the prisoner a kick between his legs. ''I think if I continue asking him about the general situation of the world, I''ll lose the authority I gained. It''s best to focus only on information related to their mission.'' "Tell me, have you identified where the lionkins'' village is? In which direction should I go to reach it?" Lucy asked the prisoner, who had somewhat recovered from the blow that had a good chance of rendering him incapable of having offspring. "Uhh, a search team found the village, the lionkins'' village, but, but I don''t know anything about its location. I stayed at the camp all day..." the prisoner stammered, still affected by the hit he received. "Heh, you really don''t know?" "Bang!" "Where are they?" Lucy asked angrily, after punching the prisoner in the face, causing the bark of the tree behind his head to crack and scatter in all directions. "Ahhh! I don''t know anything..." "Bang!" "Where are they?" Lucy asked again after giving the prisoner another punch, this time managing to knock out some teeth and break his nose. "Please, I really don''t know anything. I''m just a guard..." the prisoner replied, crying again. "Well, it is possible that this clown is telling the truth. Damn it, I haven''t solved anything. If I don''t find the lionkins'' village before they decide to attack, I won''t be able to warn them in time. Now, the only solution left is to attack their camp as soon as possible! But will I be able to defeat so many people at once?" As Lucy couldn''t decide at that moment, she tried to gather more information about the camp''s organization and its members from the now extremely obedient prisoner. ............................ ''It''s going to be tough, but I don''t think it''s impossible...'' Lucy said to herself after hearing the prisoner''s answers. "I guess that''s all I had to ask. See, it wasn''t so bad. And if you had been as obedient from the beginning, our conversation would probably have been even more pleasant", Lucy told the prisoner after deciding to conclude the interrogation. "So, can you let me go now? I''ll go far away and I won''t tell anyone about what happened! I swear on all that is holy!", the prisoner said to Lucy, a flame of hope for life igniting in his eyes. "You are right. You will indeed go far...", Lucy replied, putting her hand on the steel wire with which the prisoner was tied and activating the Wind Blessing skill. "Ahhhhhh!" [You have defeated a level 26 Swordman. You gained 1435 experience points and 1435 points for the Ninja Shop.] Looking without any remorse at the prisoner, who had turned into something resembling sliced bread, Lucy concluded that such a death was fitting for such wretched individuals, with only a slight regret that she killed the four who wanted to capture her too quickly. ''Well, there''s no point crying over spilled milk. Besides, the end result is the same. Yaaaawn! It''s been a very long day. I think it would be good to try and get at least four hours of sleep and then head to the camp to arrive before it gets light and they leave for the lionkins'' village. I think I should buy an alarm clock from the Ninja Shop....'' Lucy wasted no time and quickly prepared for sleep, settling into her hammock about fifteen minutes after finishing the interrogation. Then, allowing herself to be hypnotized by its gentle rocking, she slowly slipped into the realm of dreams. Chapter 12. Attack Before Dawn "Ring, ring!" "Ring, ring!" "Bang!" "Uhh, I''ve always hated waking up this early...", Lucy muttered after flinging the alarm clock to the ground over 10 meters away from the suspended hammock. After stretching for a few minutes, Lucy got out of the hammock and settled on a thick branch, where she began to have breakfast. ''Maybe I shouldn''t have taken it out on the alarm clock. It wasn''t at fault for this situation. Plus, it cost me 100 points... Yeah, those bastards are to blame. They''re the reason I couldn''t sleep for even four hours. Heh, I''ll get a chance to pay them back right away. I''ll make sure they have a more unpleasant morning than I did...'' ................................... About half an hour after having breakfast, Lucy found herself about 200 meters away from the humans'' camp, preparing the necessary things for an attack. Initially, she hadn''t wanted to attempt wiping them all out, as the people in the camp hadn''t personally wronged her, but after learning from the hostage she had interrogated about their intentions, Lucy couldn''t allow things to unfold as they wished. She couldn''t stand by and watch as they destroyed the lives of innocent people. Yes, they were all wretches. What honest person could participate in such a thing? After purchasing 100 explosive papers and a potion from the Ninja Shop that could completely mask her scent, preventing her from being detected by the hunting dogs the guards used to patrol the area, Lucy activated the Nekohoshime skill at its maximum capacity, simultaneously employing all the passive abilities it provided, her eyes resembling the still-darkening sky. ''Even though I''ll need to be highly focused to analyze all the additional information these passive ocular abilities provide, I think it''ll be a real advantage during the battle to always be aware of everything happening around me, to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Considering I haven''t really used my ocular abilities much during fights, mostly using them before the battle to analyze opponents and the surrounding environment, in this case, when the number of opponents will be so large and their skills are completely unknown to me, any extra information will be necessary...'' Lucy thought, trying to acclimate to the mental strain caused by the overwhelming amount of information. After about a minute, Lucy felt prepared and, employing the Steps of Light and Bending of Light skills simultaneously, she circled the camp at a distance of 100 meters among the still-patrolling humans, trying to see if she could infiltrate unnoticed. ''It''s possible they might have noticed that one of them is missing; otherwise, they probably wouldn''t have been so active all night'', Lucy thought as she climbed a tree near the camp and consumed two potions to regenerate her mana and stamina. ''From what I''ve seen, even though I got within a distance of less than 2 meters from those patrolling the area, they didn''t notice anything, and the dogs accompanying them were in the same situation. Unfortunately, I''m not sure I can enter the camp as easily, since when I got to a distance of about 20 meters from where the tents are placed, I noticed a few suspicious-looking mana signs in the air. Even if I''m not sure if it''s some kind of spell or device meant to detect intruders, I can''t risk losing the advantage provided by the element of surprise. So, it''s best to eliminate all those patrolling the area and then try to lure as many as possible to a location where I can set up a few traps beforehand.'' After buying another 200 meters of steel wire, Lucy quickly began to hang it from the trees, then placed explosive papers in areas where those who wouldn''t die after the trap was activated would try to retreat, creating a true death zone from which no one would escape unscathed once they entered it. ''I think it looks pretty good. If everything goes according to plan, I should be able to eliminate around 10 people. Anyway, I should start since it will start getting brighter in about half an hour.'' It took Lucy less than 5 minutes to eliminate the 6 people patrolling the surroundings, each accompanied by a hunting dog. She used poisonous smoke bombs to make them lose consciousness and then, using her black steel kunai, quietly sent them to their eternal rest. The only time she faced difficulty was when she tried to attack the last one, who was at level 36, as he was more resilient and didn''t lose consciousness when inhaling the smoke. However, Lucy managed to avoid complications by hitting him in the head with a wind-infused shuriken, killing him before he had a chance to make any noise. ''The first stage of the plan was almost perfectly executed. Now let''s see how many will take the bait and fall into the trap I''ve set...'' Lucy thought as she headed toward the location where hundreds of meters of steel wire awaited her touch to transform into a deadly weapon, dragging the body of the man she had just killed behind her. ............................................................ "Help! Help! Someone, save me! Get him off me!" Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Huh, a woman? Don''t tell me those scoundrels caught a liongirl and now they''ve decided to have some fun? I made it clear how much the marquis would pay us for each individual. With that money, they could hire dozens of whores..." said the leader of the group, who had just come out of the tent to his two subordinates sitting around a fire in the middle of the camp. "Boss, I think after making them patrol all night, they deserve to have a few pleasant moments too. Besides, if she''s a spy from the lionkins'' village, it''s too risky to leave her alive. She might have a way to send information as soon as we take our eyes off her..." responded the older mercenary, sipping from a cup containing a black drink. "I''ll be the one to decide that! Orders are orders! David, wake your team up and head immediately to where the screams were heard!" the leader instructed the other man by the fire. "Just a second, boss!" intervened the older man, who had been lost in thought for a few seconds. "Doesn''t it seem a little odd? Why isn''t any dog barking? Aside from the screaming we heard, it''s complete silence. Plus, one of the ones who patrolled the area last night has disappeared without a trace. Although it''s possible he was attacked by a wild beast and we couldn''t find any clues due to the darkness, we can''t rule out the possibility that our camp''s location has been discovered by enemies, be they lionkins or some other species." "Yes, you''re right! Furthermore, according to the three who arrived last, they found evidence that the missing team was massacred and their bodies were incinerated. Hmm, I think you and your team should go along with them to make sure there''s no magic trap. With your abilities, I''m sure you''ll notice immediately if something''s wrong." After receiving these orders, the two men immediately woke up all members of their teams, and in less than two minutes, they sprinted toward the area from which the scream had been heard. "Rob, what''s your opinion? Do you think it''s a trap? And if so, are our teams capable of handling the attackers?" David asked the older man who was leading the way. "To be honest, I think it''s very likely. Seeing that none of those sent to patrol the area have returned, it''s most probable they''ve been eliminated. Now, using this method, they''re trying to lure a few of us to reduce our numbers. Anyway, they probably expected a team of 5-6 people to come, as the boss intended to send, not 12 like we are now, so I don''t think we''ll be at a disadvantage." "We''re lucky you decided to come with us, old man. Few can analyze the situation as well as you..." But David didn''t have the chance to heap more praises on his older companion, as a scene appeared in front of them that they hadn''t anticipated anymore, with the actors being a young girl struggling and a man trying to hold her down. "Seems like you''ve overthought this, old man Rob. Looks like the scoundrel found such beauty and wanted to keep her all for himself..." Rob was truly taken aback by what they found. Having the Thief class and being level 55, he could confidently say he could smell a trap before anyone else. ''Could I have been mistaken?'' he thought as their group continued to approach the two who were still in conflict. "Hey, buddy? If you can''t handle this alone, why didn''t you call for help?" David asked the half-naked man with his back to them. "Huh, now that you''ve found your future wife, you''ve forgotten about your comrades?" he continued to taunt, seeing he got no response, as he continued to approach. ''Something''s not right,'' Rob thought, stopping and looking around. ''Though I don''t detect anyone around and haven''t noticed any trace of magic that would indicate a trap placed here, the situation seems very strange. Huh, what''s that? I think I noticed a glimmer...'' "Listen to me, we need to..." But Rob, who finally noticed a segment of steel wire, didn''t have time to warn his comrades anymore, as Lucy, who had been struggling until then, covered with the body she had been carrying, immediately pulled one end of the steel wire, activating the Wind Blessing skill, turning the whole area in front of her into a true massacre. "Ahhhh!!" "Aahhhh!!" "Boom!!!" "Boom!!!" "Aaahhhh!!" Rob, who managed to escape at the last moment due to his Shadow Transportation skill, stared in horror at the bodies of his comrades, either sliced to pieces by the initial attack or caught in explosions when they tried to retreat. "That bitch! I won''t let her get away with this!" Determined to take Lucy''s life, Rob used the Shadow Transportation skill again, and after appearing behind Lucy, he stabbed her directly in the throat with a knife without any hesitation. Unfortunately for him, he didn''t see a single drop of blood, as the catgirl in front of him transformed into hundreds of vines that immediately bound him tightly, lifting him a meter above the ground. "Skills like these are useless against me," Lucy told him after appearing instantly a meter in front of him. ''I need to escape! I have no chance of defeating her alone!'' Rob thought in complete terror, planning to use Shadow Transportation to move as far away as possible. But could Lucy let him go so easily? Of course not! So as soon as she saw the changes in the mana flow inside the bound man, she thrust her wind-infused kunai directly into his head. [You have defeated a level 29 Swordsman. You gained 1925 experience points and 1925 points for the Ninja Shop.] [You have defeated a level 31 Wind Archer. You gained 2170 experience points and 2170 points for the Ninja Shop.] .................. .................. [You have defeated a level 55 Thief. You gained 4280 experience points and 4280 points for the Ninja Shop.] [Your level has increased. Your level is now 18.] ''It seems like many took the bait...'', Lucy thought as she looked at the corpses that had almost stained the entire area with their blood. Sometimes, uncertainty becomes the greatest hindrance to progress, as it necessitates the consumption of more resources in the quest for accurate answers. Thus, by instilling doubt among the individuals in the camp regarding the presence of a potential trap versus the authenticity of the situation, Lucy managed to prompt the deployment of a larger group to assess the circumstances. This is precisely why Lucy employed such an obvious bait. Additionally, the fact that her adversaries remained oblivious to the truth until the last moment facilitated her ability to catch them off guard. ''It seems that my plans to eliminate all opponents always work perfectly. I probably should have chosen this method from the beginning...'' Lucy thought as she headed towards the camp engulfed in agitation. Chapter 13. Red Morning After hearing the explosions accompanied by the shouts of their comrades, the mercenaries who had just woken up a few minutes ago went into high alert because it was clear that unknown enemies had come to attack them, and after equipping themselves with everything at hand, they gathered around their leader to hear his plan. "Boss, what''s happening? Who''s attacking us?" "Could it be the fighters from the Lionkins'' Village? No, it doesn''t seem like their fighting style. Maybe it''s an adversary of our employer..." "Boss, should we go check the situation?" "Boss, what''s the plan?" Bombarded with questions to which he didn''t have answers from all sides, the mercenary leader felt a vein in his head about to burst from the nervous state he was in. Not only had he lost over half of his men without knowing who was attacking them, but the remaining subordinates also seemed to have forgotten the meaning of order and hierarchy, as if they had never been on a mission before or faced a life-threatening situation. "Bang!" "Silence!" he roared after delivering a punch to one of the agitated subordinates in front of him. "Do you think I would''ve kept you in the dark if I knew who was attacking us? Why keep bombarding me with pointless questions? Dammit, except for Rob, there''s not a single one capable of rational thinking among you..." While their leader was quick to anger, the mercenaries had never seen him in such a state before. His gaze conveyed the message that he would personally kill the next person who dared to say anything. After they fell silent and moved a few meters away from him, they continued to wait for orders from their leader, further aggravating his frustration. "Do I really have to tell each and every one of you what to do? Hurry up and get ready to defend the camp! Raise as many magical barriers as you can, quickly! Those with observation skills, start looking if anyone''s approaching! The rest, take defensive positions and watch each other''s backs! Considering that Rob''s group was caught off guard, it wouldn''t surprise me if there are Master Assassins among the attackers..." As all those skilled in magic weren''t part of the reconnaissance teams, the surviving group of mercenaries consisted of 5 individuals capable of creating magical barriers. Among them was a Level 42 Dark Mage who activated a spell in seconds, creating a barrier that concealed everything inside the camp and the others set up numerous defensive barriers or placed traps around the camp capable of seriously injuring any fighter below Level 40. ''It looks like things are going to get quite complicated...'', Lucy thought as she gazed from the top of a tree 100 meters away from the camp. With the element of surprise already lost, there was no longer any point in rushing to attack the remaining mercenaries. So she calmly drank potions to replenish her mana and stamina, then allocated her earned points to attributes that were due for an increase. ''Hmm, considering that the camp is now in defensive mode and my attacks probably won''t be able to break through their magical barriers, no matter how many explosive papers I use, I have two options. The first would be a war of attrition, launching occasional long-range attacks to keep them on their toes and drain their energy and resources. Thanks to the Ninja Shop, I could easily win this fight, as I can buy potions and food to last me several months, while they probably can''t hold out for more than a week. And when they finally attempt to escape, I''ll take advantage of their weakened state and eliminate them easily. However, if I follow this plan, there''s a chance the mercenaries in the camp might call for reinforcements, rendering all my efforts pointless. Moreover, even though the Ninja Shop offers potions to keep me awake for days, it wouldn''t be a pleasant experience. They''ve already made me lose a night! If I continue at this pace, my beautiful face might suffer irreparable damage! This is a risk I don''t want to take. So the only solution is the second option: make them believe they have the advantage, prompting them to lower their guard and start counterattacking, giving me a chance to take them out. But can I face 19 people at once? Moreover, from the information I got from the prisoner I captured yesterday, some of them are quite competent fighters. Their leader is a Level 45 Berserker who had a career in arena battles before forming this mercenary group, remaining undefeated so far due to his extraordinary regenerative abilities. Yes, it will be truly challenging to defeat all 19 of them alone. Thankfully, I have five Rank D skills that I can create, and although it''s not advisable to create skills for active use in battle since I don''t have time to get accustomed to them, I believe I can come up with something to help me overcome the challenges posed by their numerical superiority...'' Having decided on her course of action, Lucy wasted no time and began instructing the system to create the five skills she needed to form her temporary army. Although it wouldn''t be very efficient, as it would consist of substitutes unable to follow complex strategies, it would be sufficient to level the playing field in the battle''s initial stages. [Explosive Paper Substitute (D): This skill allows the creation of an identical substitute of the user, which can maintain its form for 10 minutes and can be programmed to follow simple instructions both at the moment of creation and after it has been created. If the substitute comes into contact with the target or receives instructions to do so, it will cause a powerful explosion with a radius of over 5 meters. Activating this skill to create a single substitute consumes 20 mana points and 20 explosive papers.] [Lightning Substitute (D): This skill allows the creation of an identical substitute of the user, which can maintain its form for 10 minutes and can be programmed to follow simple instructions both at the moment of creation and after it has been created. If the substitute comes into contact with the target or receives instructions to do so, it will transform into an attack using the lightning element, affecting all those within a distance of less than 3 meters from it. Activating this skill to create a single substitute consumes 30 mana points.] [Ice Substitute (D): This skill allows the creation of an identical substitute of the user, which can maintain its form for 10 minutes and can be programmed to follow simple instructions both at the moment of creation and after it has been created. If the substitute comes into contact with the target or receives instructions to do so, it will transform into an attack using the water element, generating hundreds of sharp ice pieces flying in all directions. Activating this skill to create a single substitute consumes 40 mana points.] [Fire Substitute (D): This skill allows the creation of an identical substitute of the user, which can maintain its form for 10 minutes and can be programmed to follow simple instructions both at the moment of creation and after it has been created. If the substitute comes into contact with the target or receives instructions to do so, it will transform into an attack using the fire element, incinerating an area with a radius of 5 meters around it. Activating this skill to create a single substitute consumes 40 mana points.] [Poison Gas Substitute (D): This skill allows the creation of an identical substitute of the user, which can maintain its form for 10 minutes and can be programmed to follow simple instructions both at the moment of creation and after it has been created. The substitute will behave like a gas, able to pass through narrow spaces or small objects and poison all those who breathe it. Activating this skill to create a single substitute consumes 60 mana points.] ''Yes, I believe it looks quite good. Unlike when I created the Black Vines Substitute skill, this time I focused on increasing the lifespan of the substitutes and enhancing their killing capabilities. Moreover, these substitutes can be controlled more effectively during battle, so they should be able to help me divert opponents'' attention for a longer period of time...'' Lucy thought after reviewing the five skills she had just created. As Lucy didn''t want to lose the advantage brought by the darkness, she decided to put her plan into action immediately. After purchasing three high-quality mana potions, each costing 500 points and having an almost instant effect, and a hundred explosive papers, she started creating four substitutes of each kind, except for those made of Dark Vines, as they wouldn''t last long enough. After approximately one minute of using continuous creation skills for the substitutes and drinking the three potions, she had 20 identical copies of herself ready to join the battle and unleash chaos. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ''Hehe, maybe I went a bit overboard with those three potions considering my stomach doesn''t feel great, but the result is as expected.'' "Let''s go, girls! Let''s go bring the trophy home!!" ..................................... In the mercenaries'' camp, tension had reached its peak. The 10 minutes they waited for the attackers to finally reveal themselves seemed as long as 10 hours. "Boss, there''s absolutely nothing in sight. Is it possible that the opponents were intimidated by our defense and retreated? How much longer do you think we should keep the magical barriers active?" one of the five mages asked their leader, who stood a few meters behind. "Do you think I pay you to give me advice? Don''t be lazy and keep those barriers up! I''m sure our adversaries are just waiting for an opportunity to attack us..." their leader yelled, annoyed that his subordinates didn''t grasp the seriousness of the situation. ''Damn it. How did we end up going from hunters to the hunted? Everything was supposed to be a simple operation. We had the necessary information, we had enough people... Why did it come to this?'' he thought, looking around at the forest still engulfed in darkness and hoping that he would find some clue that could make him realize who are the bastards who are going to attack them. "Boss, it seems that three individuals are heading towards us from different directions! Judging by their agility and silent way of moving, all three could be assassins of a level higher than 30!" one of his subordinates, who possessed a passive skill granting him exceptional hearing, informed them, putting everyone on high alert. "Just three? Very well. Let''s see how capable they are now that they''re not acting from the shadows." .............................. Thanks to her ocular powers, Lucy could accurately identify where the magical traps the mercenaries had placed were located, and by sensing mana fluctuations, she could anticipate when the mercenaries were planning to launch a ranged attack. As a result, the instructions she sent to the three substitutes were highly effective, helping them get within 20 meters of the camp. Then, following the plan, she allowed two of the substitutes to be injured, ordering them to retreat, while she instructed the third one to try to capture the mercenaries'' attention. "Boss, we hit two opponents. They appear to be of the catkin species based on their ear shape... Look, now they want to retreat. What do you think we should do? Should we go after them?" the mercenary with the Dark Mage class, possessing a passive skill that allowed him to see much better at night than an ordinary human, asked his leader. "Do you think it''s that simple? Haven''t you seen before how some people send their slaves forward to confuse the enemy? If they were humans or another type of demi-human, I might consider that possibility. But where have you ever seen catkin individuals who weren''t someone''s slaves? Most likely, the enemies have a team of catkin slaves under their command and have decided to send them ahead to trick us into lowering our guard..." the leader of the mercenaries replied, who had finally started to calm down after the appearance of the first opponents, realizing that the adversary would take advantage of any misstep he might make by succumbing to his emotions. "You''re right, boss. If we were facing amateurs, the old man Rob, who had so much experience, wouldn''t have been defeated so easily. Who knows what tricks the opponents still have up their sleeves?" ....................................... ''Damn it, why didn''t it work? What gave me away?'' Lucy asked herself in her mind, seeing that the mercenaries didn''t intend to pursue her substitutes. ''Should I retreat and come up with a different plan? No, I still believe I can save this situation if I sacrifice a few substitutes. From what I''ve observed, every time the mages who created a barrier around the camp send a magical attack, the barrier in front of them seems to weaken. I think it''s worth trying to exploit this to infiltrate a poisonous gas substitute, disrupting their coordination and allowing me to attack them with full force...'' Lucy halted the retreat of the initial three substitutes she had sent and sent them back toward the camp along with five more, aiming to provoke the opponents into increasing the intensity of their magical attacks. Controlling the substitutes from a distance like a master puppeteer who can lend grace even to a doll made of straw and wood, Lucy managed to bring two of them within just 5 meters of the mercenaries'' camp. These substitutes were one composed of explosive papers and the other of poisonous gas. ''Now is the ideal moment. Let''s see how good your prideful defense really is...'' Lucy thought as she ordered the explosive paper substitute to head directly for the barrier surrounding the camp. Fortunately for Lucy, this substitute was too tempting a target for the frustrated mages who couldn''t seem to hit anything and, as soon as she noticed the mage closest to it preparing a magical attack to destroy the enemy in front of him, Lucy triggered the explosion of the substitute. This created large cracks wide enough for the second substitute, composed of gas, to easily slip through. "Haha, it worked on the first try! Let''s go, girls, let''s go bring death to these bastards!" Lucy exclaimed loudly, unable to contain her enthusiasm. She then led the other 12 substitutes toward the camp, now defenseless after the poisonous gas substitute targeted all the mages, causing them to lose focus as soon as they breathed in the toxic air. While the gas wasn''t lethal to those above level 10, it could induce a cough that was hard to control. Since Lucy didn''t have the same level of control over the substitutes as when she observed from the sidelines, she sent one substitute toward each opponent, instructing them to transform into their characteristic attacks as soon as they had the chance to get within 2 meters of an opponent. ''They almost look like an army of zombies!'' Lucy thought as she watched her substitutes advance toward the terrified mercenaries at top speed, ignoring the arrows and ranged attacks that the mercenaries directed at them. "Boom!!" "Slash!" Taking advantage of the chaos her substitutes had created, Lucy used the skills Steps of Light and Bending of Light to slip through the disorganized mercenaries who didn''t know which way to turn and the moment she noticed a wounded or distracted mercenary, she swiftly decapitated them using her kunai infused with wind magic. "Damn it! What kind of lunatics are we dealing with? I''ve never seen anyone use such a strategy! How on earth did they convince their slaves to fight with such determination?" the leader of the mercenaries asked, retreating behind a tree to recover after being hit by a lightning attack when he thrust his giant sword into one of the attackers. "Boss, I think we''ve been deceived. I don''t believe we''re facing a group of suicidal slaves. Have you noticed that all those attacking us look the same? It''s more likely that we''re up against an army of golems controlled by a wizard... Ouch!" One of his subordinates, who had the Assassin class, said as he removed the ice spikes that had pierced his right shoulder and left leg after he attacked one of the enemies from behind. "Golems? So realistic? It''s impossible!" the mercenary leader exclaimed, looking at his subordinate as if he didn''t know what he was talking about. "But boss, haven''t you seen that..." "Slash!" Unfortunately, the assassin who had managed to remove the ice spike from his leg couldn''t finish his thought, as Lucy appeared next to him and ended his life without him realizing what had happened. "It seems it''s just the two of us now! Let''s see how you''d like to end this: are you going to surrender and answer my questions, or will you continue to fight and force me to beat you to the brink of death?" Lucy told the mercenary leader, who had hit his head against the trunk of the tree at the moment when Lucy appeared out of nowhere. "You fucking whore! You''re to blame for all of this!" he shouted and immediately attacked Lucy with his massive sword. "It looks like you''ve chosen the hard way!" Lucy said as she easily dodged his attacks. Although the mercenary leader was a skilled and powerful fighter, the combination of exceptional agility, her karate knowledge, and her ocular abilities made Lucy impossible to touch, his sword cutting trees and splitting the ground without any result. Realizing that he had no chance of hitting Lucy with his sword, the mercenary leader decided to use his skills that allowed him to destroy everything around him. Immediately, he struck the ground with his foot, creating a shockwave that caused everything within a 20-meter radius to be thrown 5 meters into the air, including his unsuspecting opponent who was taken by surprise. As soon as he saw the opponent being thrown backward to the ground, he swiftly advanced and cut off his legs from the knees down. "Haha!! That''s what you deserve, whore! Let''s see how you''ll escape me now! I''ll make sure your life becomes hell from today onward!" he laughed, watching the catgirl at his feet start to crawl away from him. "Slash!" "Unfortunately for you, that future is not possible!" Lucy told the mercenary leader, who had fallen to the ground with his legs cut off. "Aaaahh!! How, how is this possible? I''m sure I hit you! Ahhh!!" he began to scream in pain. Well, Lucy wasn''t planning on explaining her ocular abilities that allowed her to anticipate his attack and implant a realistic illusion in his mind where she would be the one defeated. "Slash!" "Slash!" "Aaahhh!!" "It seems you don''t understand the situation! I''m the only one who gets to ask questions here!" Lucy told to the mercenary leader after cutting off both of his hands from the elbow. "Let''s begin now..."Lucy said and immediately delivered a powerful punch to the mercenary leader''s face to capture his attention. "Where are they?" Chapter 14. Consequences (R-18) Although the leader of the mercenaries initially kept his mouth shut, as he was aware that Lucy would kill him no matter how much useful information he would offer, and even if she spared him, the fact that he no longer had hands or feet made leaving the forest an impossible mission, eventually, after many broken bones, after pulling out many teeth, and after dozens of square centimeters of skin peeled off, Lucy managed to persuade him to talk, the leader of the mercenaries realizing that a swift death is not such a bad option. Even if Lucy didn''t discover what the ones who hired this group of mercenaries intended to do with the kidnapped lionkins, because the leader of the mercenaries hadn''t been interested in such details when accepting the mission, she was able to find out how to reach the location of the lionkins'' village and the fact that the next morning 2-3 individuals working for the one who ordered the abduction of the lionkins would come to meet the group of mercenaries at the camp''s location, to lead them to the place where they were supposed to deliver the kidnapped individuals. "Slash!" [You have defeated a level 45 Berserker. You gained 6340 experience points and 6340 points for the Ninja Shop.] [Your level has increased. Your level is now 22.] ''Well, he was quite stubborn at first and didn''t want to tell me anything I wanted to find out. However, in the end, relying on my natural charm and communication skills, and appealing to his conscience, I managed to convince him to cooperate...'', Lucy joked in her mind, looking at the corpse of the mercenaries'' leader, or what was left of him, still sensing the smell of alcohol he had poured on his wounds to make him talk more freely. ''I guess I understand that expression now, the one that says you need to offer someone a drink to truly get to know him...'' Lucy didn''t waste much time and started searching the camp for things that could be useful to her in the future, such as maps or books containing information about the new world she was in. However, aside from an old map she found in the leader of the mercenaries'' tent, she didn''t find anything important worth taking with her. ''I think I wasted my time in vain, rummaging through these foul-smelling tents. Apart from this map, which I don''t even know how to decipher, I haven''t found anything...'', Lucy thought as she walked among the corpses and collected their heads to prove to the lionkins that she was their savior and they could trust her. Looking at the sack containing 9 heads, now stained with blood, Lucy couldn''t help but think that what she was doing now seemed more like an action fitting for the antagonist in a horror movie rather than a hero of justice. ''Have I ever imagined I would be capable of such acts of cruelty? To take so many human lives in such a brutal manner? To torture prisoners to extract the information I need? Often when we watch a movie or read a book where the main character embarks on a path of revenge, we tend to overlook the things they are capable of to achieve their goals, because we consider justice to be on their side. But in the end, can a person with the blood of dozens on their hands be considered a hero? Perhaps yes, considering that soldiers who survive wars and kill hundreds of people are welcomed back with applause and participate in ceremonies where they receive medals for their actions. Why is it a good thing to kill for the country and a bad thing to kill for your personal well-being? Anyway, perhaps in the end, the only thing that matters is how your actions make you feel. And as for me, when I think about the deeds I''ve just committed, I can''t help but feel proud that I''ve rid the world of such scum. Could there have been good people among them in an unfortunate situation? Yes, it''s possible. Do I regret killing them without giving them a chance to mend their ways? No, I don''t regret a thing. Why? Because everyone must face the consequences of their actions. Yes, something similar to this was said in the second part of the movie ''John Wick'' or in the third. Consequences... Will I also be obliged to face the consequences of my actions? Maybe yes, but I''ll make sure I''m not caught unprepared...'' Although Lucy''s mind was occupied with such questions to which she couldn''t find a precise answer, she didn''t waste time and within a few minutes, she filled another sack with mercenaries'' heads and then headed towards the place where she had left her belongings, two hundred meters away. ''Maybe I should create a skill to help me store things, as it has become annoying to carry so many things around...'', Lucy thought after placing the two sacks at the base of a large tree, intending to take a break to clean up and assess her status. After buying a Ninja Cleansing Potion from the Ninja Shop, which she consumed immediately, along with an apple pie that she planned to eat while analyzing her status, Lucy climbed the large tree and settled on a branch twenty meters high, where there was a low chance of being disturbed, then she opened her status to see the situation. [Status] Name: Lucy Everlynn Race: Catkin Classes: Magic Powered Ninja Level: 22 (1270/18300) Titles: Master in increasing attributes Parameters Health: 190/190 Mana: 247/275 Stamina: 158/170 Attributes Strength: 14 (+4) Defense: 8 (+2) Vitality: 11 (+3) Agility: 23 (+6) Dexterity: 23 (+6) Magic: 23 (+6) Intelligence: 15 (+4) Luck: 13 (+3) [You can allocate 8 points to any attribute] Skills: Ninja Shop (S) Nekohoshime (S) Steps of Light (D) Attributes Increase Level 2 (C) Wind Blessing (D) Bending of Light (D) Substitute Creator (C) [You can select or create two D-rank skills and one C-rank skill] ''Huh, it looks a bit different from what I expected. It seems that some of my similar skills have combined, resulting in higher-ranked skills. Moreover, it seems that the first E-rank skill I created has also increased in rank...'' Excited by the fact that her skills had evolved without costing her anything, Lucy immediately inspected the Steps of Light skill and the two skills that resulted from combining the attribute-boosting skills and those that allowed her to create various substitutes. [Steps of Light (D): A movement skill that allows the user to move almost instantaneously up to a distance of 40 meters, with a speed close to that of light, provided there is an obstacle-free path between the original location and the target location that the user could traverse in a normal manner. This skill consumes 5 mana points and has a cooldown period of 4 seconds.] [Attributes Increase Level 2 (C): A passive skill that increases all attribute values by 30 percent.] [Substitute Creator (C): A skill that allows customization and creation of identical substitutes of the user that can be programmed to follow simple instructions at the time of their creation or after they have been created. Available templates for instant creation: Black Vines Substitute, Explosive Paper Substitute, Lightning Substitute, Ice Substitute, Fire Substitute, Poison Gas Substitute] ''This is truly amazing! Not only have I eliminated the stamina consumption when activating the Steps of Light skill, but the distance I can cover instantaneously has also doubled. Until now, I believed that in order to increase the rank of skills, I would have to recreate them when I have the opportunity to create higher-ranked skills. I didn''t expect that after using them so frequently, they would evolve on their own... As for the other two skills, I believe the advantages they offer are evident. Now, attribute values will increase even more, and I''ll have the ability to create a wide variety of substitutes suitable for any situation. However, I wonder what the asterisk (*) before their names means. System, could you provide me with more information?'' [Affirmative. Skills marked with an asterisk (*) indicate that they can only be obtained under certain conditions. For example, Attributes Increase Level 2 (C) can be obtained only if the user has a skill that increases the value of each attribute and has reached level 20.] ''At least it''s willing to communicate about skills. It''s a shame that the system can''t provide me with other equally precise information...'', Lucy thought after hearing the explanations provided by the system. ''Anyway, now that I''ve seen the situation, I think it''s time to allocate the 8 points to the corresponding attributes and create some skills that I believe will be useful in the near future.'' After Lucy allocated one point to each attribute, she instructed the system to create a skill that would allow her to store her belongings in a space she could access anytime to retrieve them, and a skill that would make her body intangible for a short period, enabling her to pass through objects and allowing opponents'' attacks to pass through her without affecting her. [Ninja Spatial Pocket (D): A spatial skill that allows the user to access a 10-cubic meter space in which she can store lifeless objects, which will remain in the same condition as when they were stored. Using this skill to store or retrieve an object will consume 2 mana points.] [Phantom Body (D): A spatial skill that allows the user to become intangible for a short period, including the objects she carries. The user is capable of passing through objects and magical barriers during this time, and physical or magical attacks can pass through the user''s body without affecting her in any way. If, upon deactivating the skill, the user is in contact with a solid object, she will be transported to the nearest area where her body doesn''t make contact with any object. This skill consumes 5 mana points per second while active, can''t be activated for more than 10 seconds at a time, and has a cooldown period of 30 seconds.] Satisfied with how the two skills turned out, Lucy accepted both of them and then began to think about a skill that would allow her to confront multiple opponents at the same time because the previous battle had shown her that sending instructions to more than 10 substitutes while actively participating in combat was almost impossible to achieve, the only reason her plan succeeded was that the opponents didn''t know what they were dealing with and didn''t attempt to avoid the substitutes until their time expired. ''Unfortunately, even though the substitutes were truly enticing, they didn''t have much brainpower and behaved like a horde of zombies when I stopped sending them instructions. However, the idea of having more of me in a battle isn''t bad. As far as I remember, when I was younger, I read a manga where the main character used a skill of this kind in battle, allowing him to create identical copies of himself, which have his personality and memories, enabling him to use strategies that required extraordinary teamwork. Yes, such a skill would be perfect. The only things I''d improve would be the durability of the clones and the information sharing between them, so the clones wouldn''t need to disappear for the skill user to know exactly what they experienced. Tell me, System, could you create such a skill?'' [Analysis.......analysis.......skill creation.......] ''It seems to be working...'', Lucy thought as she saw the system getting to work. [Blood Clones (C): This skill allows the creation of identical clones of the user, possessing the same body and soul as the user. Although the clones generated by this skill are independent, they can communicate with each other and with the user through a soul connection. Through this connection, memories, emotions, and real-time sensations can be transmitted, as long as the clones are within 100 meters of another clone or the skill user with whom they want to initiate communication. This skill doesn''t allow the existence of more than 3 clones simultaneously, and the lifespan of each clone is a maximum of 12 hours. The cost to create a single clone will be 80 mana points and 10 milliliters of blood from the user.] Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ''Seems alright. Although the skill description doesn''t seem to cover everything, as it doesn''t specify how capable the clone will be in using my unique skills or what parameters it will have when created, I don''t think any unpleasant surprises will arise, like the clone not being able to access the Ninja Shop or having limited ocular abilities. Anyway, I''ll accept it as is and I''ll just have to test it to see all the skill''s characteristics. The only unpleasant part will likely be that I''ll probably have to cut my finger to obtain the required blood, but I can heal immediately with a health potion and I''m thinking of creating a skill that will help me heal faster and on my own in the future...'' After accepting the newly created skill, Lucy remembered that she is now capable of receiving two more ocular abilities, as another 10 levels have passed since her eyes underwent an upgrade. ''Hmm, considering that my level has increased and I''ve even been able to acquire C-rank skills, I don''t think it will be a problem to obtain more powerful ocular abilities. Let''s see now what to choose... I believe an ability that could induce an opponent into a dream controlled by me would be great for moments when I want to interrogate someone or take an opponent out of the game for a longer period, and a similar ability to X-ray vision would help me identify hidden dangers much more easily. Let''s see if these abilities will be accepted...'' After Lucy decided which ocular abilities she wanted to obtain, the abilities "Dream Creation" and "Piercing Sight" appeared in the Nekohoshime skill list, indicating that she was successful and the abilities were accepted by the system. ''I think I''ve sorted out everything I needed to do. Now, let''s see how the status looks with all the modifications...'' [Status] Name: Lucy Everlynn Race: Catkin Classes: Magic Powered Ninja Level: 22 (1270/18300) Titles: Master in increasing attributes Parameters Health: 205/205 Mana: 278/300 Stamina: 163/185 Attributes Strength: 15 (+4) Defense: 9 (+2) Vitality: 12 (+3) Agility: 24 (+7) Dexterity: 24 (+7) Magic: 24 (+7) Intelligence: 16 (+4) Luck: 14 (+4) Skills: Ninja Shop (S) Nekohoshime (S) Steps of Light (D) Attributes Increase Level 2 (C) Wind Blessing (D) Bending of Light (D) Substitute Creator (C) Ninja Spatial Pocket (D) Phantom Body (D) Blood Clones (C) ''I didn''t expect to become so powerful in such a short amount of time. Considering that most of the experience points were obtained from eliminating the group of mercenaries, maybe I should be grateful and thank them for their sacrifices. Thank you, experience bags!... Anyway, let''s see how well the newly acquired skills work now...'' After quickly testing the skills Ninja Spatial Pocket and Phantom Body and realizing that they worked as expectedLucy had no problem storing a kunai in the storage space and passing her hand through the tree trunk she was perched on without feeling any resistanceshe prepared to activate the "Blood Clone" skill to further investigate its capabilities. ''It seems I''ll be the first one to shed my blood in this world...'', thought Lucy as she pricked her finger with the kunai''s tip and, simultaneously, she activated the Blood Clone skill to create a clone and learn more about its features. Although the clone didn''t appear instantly, as the blood from Lucy''s finger gathered into a sphere, which then transformed into a tiny red version of her that began to grow, in less than 15 seconds, there stood an identical copy of herself in front of Lucy who during this time drank a health potion to immediately heal her wound. "Wow!!" "Wow!! Looking at each other, both Lucys couldn''t help but marvel at how efficiently the skill worked; they wouldn''t have been able to tell which one was the original if they hadn''t maintained their initial positions. "The skill worked as expected, but I can''t help but be amazed by what it''s capable of. Anyway, new me, let''s proceed as I thought before to differentiate between us. So, I''ll be Lucy Alpha, and you will be..." Lucy Beta!", answered the clone in front of her, with a seductive smile on her lips. "Cough! Yes, that''s what we agreed on... From what I can see, the clones enjoy a lot of autonomy. If I didn''t know you were my clone, I''d probably think you were my twin sister. Do you notice anything unusual?" Lucy Alpha asked Lucy Beta, who was about a meter away. "No, I don''t notice anything unusual. If I didn''t know I was a clone, I would probably think I''m the same as I was an hour ago. Anyway, I''ll open the status to see the changes... Hmmmm, even though the attribute values and skills are the same, it seems the parameters have undergone some changes. The maximum values for Health and Mana are only half of what I hadwell, what you have now. Fortunately, the Stamina parameter remained unchanged..." Lucy Beta replied, then activated the Ninja Shop skill to buy an orange juice, proving she could use the skill without any issues. "It seems that the points we use to buy from the Ninja Shop are shared. As soon as you bought the juice, I saw the number decrease..." Lucy Alpha commented, following suit and buying herself an orange juice because the two of them had the same cravings. "Maybe it''s better to refuel only when we''re only one, otherwise we''ll waste points unnecessarily..." Lucy Beta suggested, noticing that Lucy Alpha had followed her example and started drinking the freshly bought juice. "Well, considering you can last up to 12 hours, I don''t think I''d want to stay hungry for that long. Ugh, it''s quite complicated to address each other this way. I think it''s time to test the soul connection to avoid such issues..." After the two Lucys decided to access the soul connection between them, they realized there were multiple levels through which they could communicatethe weakest being through simple thought and the strongest merging them back into a single person inhabiting two bodies simultaneously. ''This sensation is quite strange. I guess it will take some time to get used to...'' Lucy Alpha transmitted through telepathy, reducing the intensity of the connection between them. ''You''re right about that. But I think I know a few methods that will help us experiment with transmitting real-time sensations. I think you know what I''m thinking...'' Lucy Beta replied through telepathy. "Well, it''s only natural that I know. I''ve been thinking about the pleasures this skill could bring me even before creating it..." Lucy Alpha said aloud after the soul connection between them was severed, while she approached Lucy Beta, who was looking at her with a teasing smile. Given how attractive Lucy found her own body and the fact that her newly acquired animal instincts made her very easily sexually aroused, it''s not hard to figure out what the two Lucys had in mind, with only a 5-centimeter distance between them. "I told you since I laid eyes on you that you stole my heart, didn''t I?" Lucy Alpha said to her own duplicate, her sweet breath making the latter even more excited. "Oh, damn. We might share the same body, but right now, you seem much more enticing to me. Your smile, your scent... Sniff, sniff... they''re driving me crazy, and I can''t think straight...", Lucy Beta replied, immediately closing the gap between them to zero and she started kissing her duplicate without any hesitation, their breasts, trying to occupy the same space, being pressed between them, while their hands massaged each other''s sexy asses. Though Lucy hadn''t kissed anyone before and didn''t start very smoothly, thanks to the fact that the two Lucys could understand each other very well, they quickly transformed the wild kiss, where they tried to devour each other''s lips and tongue and steal every breath from each other''s chests, into a true dance of sensuality, in which their lips took the place of feet setting the rhythm, and their tongues took the place of hands shaping the emotions the two dancers wanted to convey. If someone were to ask Lucy later how long this kiss lasted, she wouldn''t be able to give a clear answer, as during the kiss, it seemed to her that it lasted for an eternity, and after their lips parted, it seemed to her that it didn''t last more than a fraction of a second. "Slurp! You''re truly sweet...", Lucy Alpha told her duplicate after licking the saliva that was trickling down her chin, not wanting a single drop of this divine nectar to fall to the ground and be wasted. "From what I remember, I believe you have even sweeter spots than that. How about we test this theory?" Lucy Beta whispered softly in her cat''s ear, then began to lick the soft fur on her, trying to convince her counterpart not to stop there. Although before activating the skill and creating a clone, Lucy wouldn''t have wanted to go all the way with the intimate act, considering the time and place were not suitable for such things, both versions of her at that moment had nothing else in mind but the desire to make love to each other, so as they teased each other with their lips and tongues, their hands began to carefully undress each other as if they were participating in the unveiling of an ancient artwork that needed to be treated with adoration and respect. "You''re truly perfect! You''re the most beautiful girl I''ve ever seen..." Lucy Alpha told her counterpart, who was now only in her underwear. "You don''t look bad either... Huh? It seems you''re very attracted to my breasts. You can''t even look me in the eyes anymore after seeing them? Don''t blush.....don''t be shy...come and taste it...", answered Lucy Beta, while with her left hand she started to lift her breasts, like a mother ready to feed her baby. Could Lucy Alpha refuse such an offer? Of course not! So she immediately crouched down in front of Lucy Beta and dipped both hands into her duplicate''s breasts and then began to kiss and lick them as if they were made of the sweetest jelly in the world. ''Mmmmm...good, baby. Eat Lucy, eat to your heart''s content...from now on I will feed you this way whenever you want...'', Lucy Beta telepathically told her duplicate, accessing the soul connection between the two of them to give Lucy Alpha a portion of the pleasure which she felt. "Ahhh!!", moaned Lucy Alpha, entering a sensation of excitement she had never known before, her body being engulfed by a heat that threatened to melt her brain. "It seems that the sudden pleasure I sent you has made it difficult for you to concentrate on your mission...", Lucy Beta told her duplicate, then helped her stand up and brought her back to her senses with a tender kiss. "Let me lighten your burden... let me throw you into a sea of pleasure...", she continued to seductively whisper in her ear, and then her lips slowly headed towards the place where she felt the heat was strongest, leaving behind a trail of kisses, like children venturing into the depths of the forest and leaving breadcrumbs behind, hoping it will show them the way back when they decide to return, unaware that by the time they finish their business in the forest, those breadcrumbs will have disappeared. "So wet...and it smells so nice...", Lucy Beta said when she got her nose in Lucy Alpha''s sexy panties. Seeing that Lucy Alpha was beginning to lose her patience, Lucy Beta bit down on her duplicate''s panties and pulled them down to knee level, then, kneeling in front of her, she buried her nose in the short, silky black hair between her legs and, using her skilled tongue, she started collecting all the nectar that was dripping from her duplicate, who, in order to remain upright, she pressed her back against the cold, hard trunk of the tree they were perched in and she dug her hands into the rich, silky hair of the one who had brought her to a state where she felt nothing but infinite pleasure... "Ahh...so...a little more...", Lucy Alpha said between moans, without knowing exactly what she would like to happen next. Fortunately, Lucy Beta hadn''t completely given in to the pleasure, and remembering some theoretical knowledge about how to satisfy a partner, she penetrated with two fingers inside the wet cave in front of her, while her lips continued to tease the edges, not wanting to separate herself from the source of the sweetness she has tasted so far. "Ah, ahh, yes..." Lucy Alpha began to moan, the new sensations seeming to hold the key that would eventually send her to the stars. Although it was the first time in both of her lives that Lucy had been penetrated so deeply, due to her heightened arousal reaching its peak, she felt almost no pain. Instead, she experienced immense pleasure that rendered her unable to control her body, which had started to convulse and, from her mouth, a stream of saliva began to flow, trickling between two white mounds and making its way toward the face that gazed upwards with eyes as blue as the sky after rain, thus providing another source of sweetness for the one possessing these eyes, helping her endure until her fingers would achieve their purpose, bringing her the elixir she needed like air. "Ahhhh! Yessssss!!!" Lucy Alpha screamed as in front of her, all she could see was white and at that moment, Lucy Beta pressed her lips to the source of the long-awaited nectar, not letting a single drop go to waste. When she noticed that the source had ceased to flow, she began to lick her fingers, still covered in both nectar and a bit of blood, a testament that the task had been completed and, after finishing her feast, Lucy Beta stood up and passionately began to kiss her duplicate, who was still floating on a sea of pleasure. "Mmmm, how is it? Do you like your own taste? I was right when I told you that you have some even sweeter spots..." Lucy Beta continued to tease her duplicate, noticing that reason had returned to her eyes. "I think it''s your turn now to make me feel good... What do you say, my little kitty?" Lucy Beta continued, while caressing her duplicate''s tail, ready to experience the same sensations and be sent to cloud nine. "Roarrr!!" Unfortunately, Lucy Beta''s plans couldn''t be carried out anymore, as a giant bear came rushing towards the tree where the two Lucys were, most likely attracted by the blood dripping from the two sacks full of human heads, which Lucy had forgotten to store away immediately after obtaining the Ninja Spatial Pocket skill. "Consequences..." the two Lucys said at the same time, looking at each other, trying to refrain from laughing at the situation they were in C having to fight the enormous bear while being naked and covered in their own fluids. Chapter 15. The Merging of Bodies and Minds (R-18) Because Lucy Alpha, or rather, the original Lucy, still had weak knees after the climax she had a few moments ago, Lucy Beta came up with the idea of confronting the level 32 giant bear alone, which had almost reached the tree they were perched on. This way, she could check if she had the same fighting efficiency as the original Lucy and if the experience points she would obtain would instantly transfer to her original. "I will head into battle, my love! If I survive and manage to return, I hope you''ll keep your promise and make me the happiest catgirl in this world!" Lucy Beta told her duplicate in the most solemn tone while caressing her cheek and gazing at her with melancholy in her eyes as if she wanted to imprint the face of her beloved in her mind for eternity. After a brief kiss and one last longing look, Lucy Beta turned resignedly away from Lucy Alpha and, after she used her cat tail to stroke the face of the original Lucy one more time, she leaped from the tree, ready to fight the entire world if necessary to be able to come back. ''She''s so brave... No, wait a minute. I am her, and she is me. Damn, at this rate, I might fall in love for real with my own self...'' thought the original Lucy after her duplicate disappeared from her sight. Reflecting on the things she and her duplicate had done, Lucy couldn''t help but wonder if what they did could still be called self-pleasuring and if ever since arriving in this new world, she had fallen too much prey to her own desires, both of a sexual nature and those related to enforcing justice with her own hands. ''Even though in my previous life I held the same ideas I have now, because I had no options available to put them into practice, I had grown accustomed to hiding everything within me and didn''t even attempt to change the situation. Yes, what kind of justice could I have achieved on my own? Without money or influence, you couldn''t do anything in the world I lived in. As for finding a girlfriend, I had begun to believe that was impossible as I had lost all confidence in myself after losing my leg and being unable to practice karate, the only thing I could excel at. But now, everything is different. In this world, I can be my true self. Here, I can fulfill any desire of mine...'', Lucy thought as she watched her duplicate attacking the giant bear from all sides, whose fur seemed to have transformed into a mix of rocks and roots. ''It''s truly sexy the way she fights in just her panties, her breasts bouncing with every turn or jump. Well, maybe it''s not so great to be so fascinated by my own body, but it''s hard to resist because I''m still not used to my new embodiment and because ever since becoming a catgirl, I seem to succumb more easily to instincts. Plus, the fact that I''m truly gorgeous contributes a lot to this... Anyway, I guess I should think about what I''ll do next after Lucy Beta finishes the battle. Should we continue where we left off or should we immediately head to the lionkins'' village? Considering how eager Lucy Beta was to receive a reward from me, I think it would be a bad thing to disappoint her and not take her wishes into account. Besides, it wasn''t hard for me to figure out why she was so active and dominant during our intimate moments, even though I haven''t accessed that soul connection since she sent me that surprising pleasure sensation that caught me off guard and made me surrender control. Yes, it wasn''t hard for me to realize that because her existence is limited, my duplicate started to feel the need to make every minute count. Yes, this would be my attitude if I were the one who would disappear.... Anyway, this issue will probably fade away with time, as I''ll get used to the effects of the skill, and I won''t be as clueless as when I created Lucy Beta, which gave her some uncertainties. And in the future, it would be preferable that before the clone disappears, I open the soul connection between me and her to the maximum level, to become a single person again in a harmonious way, so my duplicates won''t have an abrupt disappearance that I know I wouldn''t like...'' "Boom!!" Seeing that her duplicate had almost managed to defeat the giant bear, Lucy didn''t waste any time and immediately opened the Ninja Shop to buy a cleansing potion to freshen up, a two-meter-wide mattress, and a sheer black lingerie set, which was very alluring. ''Well, I bought these things in a hurry without really analyzing the prices, but I want everything to be ready for when Lucy Beta returns...'' thought Lucy, who immediately consumed the cleansing potion and dressed in the erotic lingerie, then she created a dark vines substitute to securely attach the mattress to the tree. [You have eliminated a level 32 Mountain Bear. You gained 8200 experience points and 8200 points for the Ninja Shop.] ''It seems Lucy Beta took care of the bear. Huh, I don''t think I''ve ever received this many points from a defeated being before. Seems like it was stronger than I expected...'' contemplated Lucy, as she tried various sexy poses in the middle of the mattress, struggling to decide which one was the most seductive. Lucy Beta, who had just killed the bear that had given her more trouble than she anticipated due to its exceptional defensive capabilities, drank a cleansing potion to remove the blood stains from her skin, then she headed toward the sacks with heads responsible for luring the bear and placed them in her newly acquired storage space. ''Well, that''s done. I thought Lucy Alpha would have descended by now... Huh, what the heck is hanging from the tree?'' she wondered, observing the underside of the white mattress entangled in hundreds of vines on the tree branches. Curious to see what her counterpart had concocted, Lucy Beta climbed the tree immediately. However, what she discovered there left her questioning whether she was trapped in an illusion or merely imagining things. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. "Mmm, why do you look so surprised? Aren''t you the one who insisted on being rewarded for the work done?" asked Lucy Alpha, who lay on her side on the mattress in an extremely sensual pose that almost induced a nosebleed in Lucy Beta, like those fools in anime she used to laugh about. Although Lucy Beta had come up with this idea before starting the fight with the giant bear, during the battle her mind became less preoccupied with sexual thoughts and she reached the conclusion that it wouldn''t be wise to waste any more time and to head straight for the lionkins'' village, expecting her duplicate to think in the same way. "Huh, what are you waiting for? Don''t tell me you don''t find me attractive anymore...", continued Lucy Alpha, a trace of sadness appearing like a cloud in her blue eyes. "Damn it! How can I resist this..." exclaimed Lucy Beta, reverting to her initial plan of making love with her duplicate until she would be satisfied. She didn''t waste any time and immediately climbed over Lucy Alpha and, after using one hand to hold both of Lucy Alpha''s hands above her head, she started to kiss her passionately as if she wanted to devour her entire being. Lucy Alpha didn''t back down either and captured her duplicate using both of her legs, then she began to fight back, using her lips and tongue to take control of the kiss, intending this time for her to be the one dictating the rhythm. Unfortunately, since both were equal in terms of attribute values and experience, Lucy Alpha couldn''t establish dominance as she had planned, and, after about 15 minutes, the two Lucys were in the same position, continuing to kiss, disregarding the fact that their lips had become numb. ''I think it''s become ridiculous already. Why are we both trying to be on top? We''re the same person...'', thought the original Lucy, who began to open the soul connection between her and her duplicate, causing their minds to blend like the saliva in their mouths, gradually increasing the intensity until they felt as if they had become a single identity living in two bodies. ''Ah, this sensation of merging minds is truly amazing. It''s as if I''m having a spiritual orgasm...'', thought the merged Lucy, a result of combining her original mind with that of her clone, reducing the intensity of the kiss between her two bodies, but with no intention of stopping, truly captivated by this double pleasure she was feeling. After about 5 minutes, Lucy decided to interrupt the soul connection between her and her clone, because, although the pleasure she was receiving from two bodies was greater, things seemed to be less interesting than before, when their minds were separate, and the interaction between them could be considered making love, not just self-pleasuring. ''It''s astonishing. After we fused our minds, I feel like I was the one who fought the giant bear 20 minutes ago, and I can remember all the thoughts my clone had as if they were my own. Although I might have exaggerated when I thought that my clone was probably scared, because she didn''t really have time to think about these things, being first occupied with satisfying me, and then killing the bear, I could see that deep down she had a trace of uncertainty about what would happen in the future. Anyway, now my clone will be much more emotionally stable after seeing that she won''t disappear suddenly and I intend to let her slowly merge with me, thus feeling the same things I feel...'', thought the original Lucy, while her clone, after licking all the saliva around her mouth and giving her a quick peck on the lips, got off her, took off her panties, and lay down on the mattress with her legs spread, ready to receive the reward she had negotiated before the fight with the original Lucy. "Even though this position is truly sexy, I feel like it might be a bit... perverse. It''s like you''re a cat in heat...", said the original Lucy as she crawled on all fours towards her duplicate, or rather, Lucy Beta, with her tail swaying from side to side behind her. "Look who''s talking...", responded Lucy Beta, gazing at her duplicate who seemed more like a cat with human characteristics than a human being with cat-like traits, her elastic yet determined movements contributing greatly to this illusion. "Well, I''m a cat too. A very hungry one...", replied the original Lucy, then slowly bit into the right inner leg of her duplicate. "Ah! Naughty kitty!" moaned Lucy Beta, taken by surprise by the attack. "Huh, since when did it start to talk... this kind of food? Well, let''s see.... if it''ll be able to say anything after I devour it completely....", said the original Lucy, as she approached her main target, leaving a trail of kisses behind. "How appetizing it looks... Slurp! And the taste is even better... Slurp! Bon apptit..." said the original Lucy after licking the wet entrance of her duplicate a few times, then proceeding to kiss it passionately, her tongue leaving no unexplored millimeter of the sweet cave in front of her, causing her duplicate to lose all rational thought due to the pleasure she was experiencing, leading her to moan uncontrollably. ........................................ Having not been interrupted by any unwelcome guests, the two Lucys continued to make love to each other for almost two hours, and after both were completely satisfied, they slept in each other''s arms for another four to five hours to make up for the lost sleep from the previous night. "We''re done here. I think it''s time to hit the road...", said Lucy Beta after cutting the vines that held the mattress tied to the tree and then placing it in the storage space. "Do you think so? We''ve already lost half a day! It would be good if we could reach our destination before it gets dark...", responded the original Lucy, who had just finished drinking a blueberry milkshake and tossed the biodegradable packaging into a bush. "Should we merge now or will we go to the lionkins'' village together?" asked Lucy Beta, who pretended not to hear that they had to hurry, and she bought an identical milkshake from the Ninja Shop and started drinking it calmly. "Well, we''ll go together. It will be easier for us to find the signs left by the mercenaries to locate the lionkins'' village...", answered the original Lucy, leaning over to the milkshake in her duplicate''s hand to take a sip. Although Lucy Beta was tempted not to let Lucy Alpha steal from her portion so easily, and was even tempted to set some conditions, like allowing her to drink only from inside her mouth, she ultimately took no action and allowed her to drink as she pleased, in order to avoid the risk of being swept up in sexual excitement again and having to return to the tree to start over. "Huh, I didn''t expect it to be so simple...", said the original Lucy after finishing her duplicate''s milkshake. "I think you suspect what kind of ideas I had. Too bad we don''t have time...", said Lucy Beta after tossing her packaging into a bush as well. "Okay, let''s hit the road now. Even though we''ll have many kilometers to go, at least we''ll keep each other company. Who wouldn''t want to go on a journey with such a beautiful catgirl?" asked the original Lucy rhetorically. "Okay, goddess of modesty! Let''s go..." Chapter 16. A Somewhat Arduous Path Due to their ocular abilities, Lucy and her clone had no trouble finding the signs left on the tree bark by the mercenaries, indicating the direction to the lionkins''village. However, they couldn''t move at their maximum speed because the terrain was very rugged and filled with thorny thickets. "Slash!" "Slash!" "If I hadn''t known this was the right direction, I don''t think I would have ever attempted to cross this area...", complained Lucy to her clone, while massaging the wrist of her hand which she had used for 20 minutes to cut thorny thickets with a ninja sword she had purchased from the Ninja Shop, worth 5000 points. "At least we''ll have the chance to perfect our swordsmanship techniques..." replied Lucy Beta, trying to see the silver lining. "What techniques? So far, both of us have only used a single move..." said the original Lucy as she handed her sword to her clone to continue cutting the bushes in front of them. "Well, you know that saying? ''I''m not afraid of someone who has practiced ten thousand kicks once, but of the one who has practiced one kick ten thousand times.''..." responded Lucy Beta, who began using the sword to cut through the thorny thickets with an aura of unwavering focus on the task at hand, like Bruce Lee whose words she quoted. "I''ll see if you still have the same opinion after half an hour..." said the original Lucy, trying to refrain from laughing at the seriousness with which her clone had begun to cut the thorny thickets as if she were giving a sword-handling demonstration in front of hundreds of people. "Anyway, I wonder how the mercenaries managed to cross these marshes without attempting to create a path through these thorns? Maybe they were wearing thick clothing?" she continued, although she didn''t expect her clone to have a different answer from the ones she had thought of. "Well, maybe they just had thicker skin..." her clone replied, proud of the explanation she had come up with. "Haha, I don''t know how I didn''t think of that myself..." ............................................ In the end, after 4 hours, half of which they spent cutting through thickets, the two Lucys managed to reach a location from which they could see the walls made of wood and stone that surrounded the lionkins''village. "Finally! I thought we wouldn''t make it before sunset..." said the original Lucy, wiping the sweat from her forehead and then purchasing a cleansing potion for both her and her clone to freshen up. After handing a potion to her clone, Lucy quickly drank the remaining one herself, and then began to think about the most suitable method to make contact with the villagers. Unfortunately, since she knew nothing about the people she was about to meet, except that they were humans with lion traits, and had no idea about their hospitality towards strangers, Lucy couldn''t come up with a more complex plan than to head directly toward the village entrance, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible, and once she was noticed by the villagers, she will convey her good intentions. ''Well, I don''t expect them to believe me so easily, but I hope the sacks of mercenaries'' heads will help dispel some doubts...'' Lucy thought to herself and at the same time, she started opening the soul connection between her and her clone, who had about half an hour left before disappearing, because Lucy wanted the two of them to merge into one entity before meeting the villagers, to allow the fusion of their minds to proceed as smoothly as possible. With their minds connected, the two Lucys no longer needed words to communicate their thoughts and it didn''t take them long to agree to proceed in the same manner as the last time they experienced the mind fusion process. So, they approached each other, and as their chests made contact, they began to kiss passionately, attempting to recreate the mind fusion process as a painting, using their lips as brushes and their saliva as paint. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Strengthening their soul connection more and more, the two Lucys, locked in a kiss so deep that they were breathing just the air exhaled by the other, gradually felt themselves becoming a single person residing in two bodies, who was feeling a pleasure so intense that she wished the moment would never end. Fortunately for Lucy, who had surrendered to the pleasure and seemed incapable of recovering, her clone''s body, which had reached its time limit, began to dematerialize, turning into a red mist carried by the wind toward the setting sun, and as a result, her entire consciousness had to return to her original body, which, for a few moments, felt too solitary and insufficient to contain her. After standing in silence for a few minutes, watching as the red mist blended with the warm hues of the sunset, Lucy found solace in the realization of a perfect fusion between her and her clone, in which their minds had blended in the most harmonious way possible, making it impossible to determine whether one had been more dominant than the other in the process or had a stronger influence on the current Lucy. ''Though this skill that allows me to create clones worked perfectly, I have to admit that I didn''t anticipate all the problems that could arise from using it. I didn''t think about what my clone would feel when waking up in a body with limited time, nor how the fusion of minds between me and my clone could affect my mental health... Anyway, in the end, I believe I managed to overcome all these issues in such a way that I''ll be left only with pleasant memories...'' Lucy contemplated as she walked slowly towards the lionkins''village, giving them enough time to notice her and prepare to welcome her. .................................... When she reached about 50 meters from the walls that surrounded the village, Lucy noticed how one of the large wooden gates opened, and from it emerged 10 middle-aged lionkin men, dressed in worn armor and holding weapons in their hands, seemingly ready for battle. "Don''t worry! I''ve come with peaceful intentions!" Lucy shouted towards the approaching lionkin men, raising her hands in the air to appear as non-threatening as possible. "Stop where you are! If you take one more step, our archers will bring you down instantly!" one of the men shouted, while three others raised their bows and aimed them at Lucy, their arrows infused with mana showing that they were not ordinary archers. Lucy had no choice but to comply with their request, as she wanted to gain their trust. However, she continued to maintain all her ocular abilities responsible for analyzing the surrounding environment and opponents, ensuring she wouldn''t be caught off guard by anything, even if her eyes which seemed like fragments of the night sky might make them see her as unusual. "Catkin, in whose name have you come here, and what is the purpose of your master who sent you?" the man who had told Lucy to stop a few moments earlier asked her, looking at her with disdain. Lucy didn''t like the tone the lionkin man used or the content of his words, but she tried to keep her calm and explain the situation. "I am nobody''s slave, nor have I been sent by anyone. See? I don''t have any collar around my neck...", Lucy told the lionkin men while raising her hair with one hand to show that she was telling the truth. "The reason I came here is to inform you that a team of mercenaries was sent into these woods to find the location of your village and to abduct as many women and children as possible while most of your warriors are away hunting. But you don''t need to worry too much. Although they found the way to your village and planned to attack today, after I had a conflict with some of them and learned their intentions, I eliminated all of them before they could carry out their plan", Lucy continued, ignoring the skeptical looks from the lionkins. "So, you, a catgirl, single-handedly took out a team of mercenaries? And how did you do that? Did you fuck them until they passed out? Don''t tell me you''re half succubus..." one of the archers sarcastically remarked, having noticed some bite marks on Lucy''s neck due to one of his skills that allowed him to see better than ordinary lionkins. Lucy, who had forgotten to consume a health potion after the interactions earlier that day between her and her clone, which had been quite wild at times, didn''t realize that the archer had seen the fading marks on her neck when she lifted her hair and she thought he was only trying to humiliate her through his comment, alluding to the fact that many catgirls had been enslaved by humans and probably subjected to various perversions. "Well, you can ask them how good they felt after meeting me..." Lucy said as she retrieved the two sacks containing the mercenaries'' heads from her storage space and emptied their contents in front of the lionkins, disregarding the arrows that two of the archers sent towards her feet, as she had already activated the Phantom Body skill when she made that abrupt move that put the lionkins on alert. Looking at the astonished expressions of the lionkins, Lucy felt a sense of pride at how quickly she made them swallow their words. "What do you think now? Do you believe it''s a good idea to keep mocking me?" Lucy said after kicking one of the heads and sending it directly to the feet of the archer who had insulted her. Chapter 17. Lesson in Etiquette Seeing the indifference with which Lucy handled the human heads from which blood still flowed as if they were mere watermelons, and recalling how the two arrows sent her way had failed to harm her, even though they had certainly made contact with her legs, the ten lionkin men who initially didn''t expect the catgirl in front of them to pose any significant threat realized that the situation was far more dangerous than they had anticipated. Therefore, they decided to bide their time until reinforcements arrived. "Tell me, catkin, where did you encounter the group of mercenaries?" asked the lionkin man who had spoken the most so far, and whom Lucy believed to be the group''s leader. "Well, in that direction, at a distance I covered in about 4 hours..." Lucy replied, pointing with one hand towards the direction she came from, thinking that the lionkins were finally taking her seriously. The lionkin man continued to question Lucy about the number of mercenaries and their fighting strength, questions Lucy tried to answer as accurately as possible, though she began to find the attitude of the lionkins in front of her rather strange, as they didn''t seem to trust her any more than they did initially, and they didn''t seem to analyze her answers too deeply. ''If they still don''t intend to believe me, why do they keep asking me questions?'' Lucy had begun to wonder in her mind, unsure if it was worth continuing to converse with the lionkins'' group or if it would be better to leave. However, Lucy didn''t have much time to think about how to get out of the increasingly frustrating situation because her attention was drawn to two masses of mana moving towards her from the direction of the village entrance, crawling along the ground. ''Oh, so this is what these ungrateful people had in mind. They just wanted to buy time and catch me off guard... Very well, then. Let''s see what they plan to do next...'', Lucy thought. She then simultaneously used the skills Steps of Light, Bending of Light, and Substitute Creator to leave behind a substitute made of black vines without the lionkins in front of her realizing what had happened. Lucy didn''t have to wait long to see what the lionkins'' plan was because, in less than 5 seconds, the masses of mana reached her substitute. At that moment, two human hands emerged from the ground, grabbing the substitute by the legs and pulling it into the earth up to the waist, and immediately after, two other human hands emerged from the ground and placed a collar around the substitute''s neck, which Lucy was sure had the purpose of controlling the one who wears it. "What... What does this mean? Is this how you treat your saviors?" the substitute asked, panic evident in its voice, as it was being remotely controlled by Lucy to appear as real as possible. "Saviors, you say? We''ll see about that...", one of the two lionkins who had completely emerged from the ground said, these two being the ones responsible for the surprise attack that had occurred a few seconds earlier, resulting in the capture of Lucy''s substitute. "Yes, we will now see the true reason for your visit..." the lionkin Lucy believed to be the group''s leader said. "Catkin, I command you to tell us exactly who you are and what your purpose for being here is!" he continued, his voice dripping with confidence that he was now in control. Unfortunately for the lionkins, their strategy was not as flawless as they had thought, and after nearly a minute, the catgirl in front of them remained silent. "Boss, what''s happening? Why isn''t the collar working?" one of the lionkins asked, noticing that the catgirl didn''t seem to be affected by the collar''s power, which was supposed to inflict increasing pain on the wearers as long as they didn''t obey the orders given by their master. "Hahaha! You are truly idiots!" suddenly exclaimed Lucy''s substitute, then transforming in less than a second into a pile of black vines that captured four of the Lionkin who were closest to it. "Oh, damn! What''s going on?" "How did she escape?" "Where did she go?" "Help me! Get me out of here!" Watching from a distance the commotion that had engulfed the lionkins, Lucy didn''t feel sufficiently avenged for what they tried to do to her. ''I can accept the fact that these lionkins don''t trust strangers, and I believe they have every right to be cautious. However, that doesn''t justify the fact that they attempted to turn me into their slave, even if they would have released me after discovering the truth. Considering that I hadn''t harmed them, not even when they insulted me or shot arrows at me, what they did could only be regarded as a crime. No, it wasn''t just a crime. It was even more serious than that. It was a crime against me. Yes, something like this could not go unpunished...'' Lucy thought as she headed toward the panicked lionkins, and although she wasn''t intending to kill them, she was planning to leave them with at least a few broken bones. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ''Since I arrived in this world, I''ve only focused on lethal techniques and using ninja weapons, so I haven''t had the chance to use my karate skills... Well, I guess I''ll take this opportunity to see if I haven''t lost my touch...'', Lucy told herself in her mind as she reached the lonkin man closest to her. She then deactivated her invisibility skill and started attacking him without any warning, a tactic she intended to employ against all the others who were present. ........................................... While outside the village walls, a violent confrontation had begun, in which Lucy was throwing punches and kicks mercilessly, as if her opponents were sand-filled dummies, inside a house on the other side of the village, a verbal confrontation had started between a young lionkin woman, who was very attractive, her trained body making her seem like a true war goddess, and a middle-aged lionkin woman, who, although still beautiful, it was quite evident that her days of youth had passed some time ago. "To feed the ducks, to pick beans, and now, to knit socks! Are these the very important tasks that made my grandfather not take me hunting? Tell me, grandma, what does this mean?" the young lionkin woman asked the middle-aged lionkin woman in front of her, who was her grandmother, and was holding several skeins of thread in her hand. "Rina, both your grandfather and I thought it would be good for you to learn to do some household chores. When you get married..." "Who said I have any intention of getting married?" interrupted the young lionkin woman, whose hazel-orange eyes were filled with anger as if she were facing her greatest enemy. "I told you from the very beginning that I won''t accept such a thing! If Grandpa is so eager to form an alliance with the tigerkins'' leader, he can go and be his bride himself!" she continued, and then turned and headed for the door. "Rina, have you heard the news about the pantherkins'' clan, how many have died, how many have been taken as slaves... I think you realize we''ll face the same fate if we don''t agree to the tigerkins'' demands..." the middle-aged woman said, her words causing her granddaughter to stop in her tracks. "Whatever you say, I''ll never accept it... I''ll accept fighting if the others want to fight, I''ll accept leaving the village if others decide it''s too dangerous to stay here, but I''ll never accept being the only one to suffer so that others can live comfortably..." Rina said, not turning back and still looking towards the door, as she didn''t want to see the disappointment in her grandmother''s eyes, fearing that her determination would waver. "Rina, how can you say such a thing? Are you aware of how many have sacrificed themselves so that we can live in peace in this village? Your father, your mother..." "They at least died in battle! They died as heroes! I would gladly accept such a fate rather than being sent to the enemy''s bed...", Rina replied to her grandmother and then reached out to open the door. "Bang!" "Ah, my head!" Rina shouted as she held her head in pain, looking angrily at the lionkin girl four years younger than her who had opened the door without any warning and hit her while she was still lost in thought. "I''m sorry. Rina, I didn''t mean to... Are you okay?" the lionkin girl started apologizing, momentarily forgetting why she had sought out Rina. "Do I look okay to you? I hope you have a good reason for barging in like that, Nalani, or the fur on your ears won''t be safe for long..." "Yes, Rina, it''s an emergency! A fight has broken out at the eastern gate of the village. All the fighters who remained in the village have gone there..." "Huh, a fight? Is someone attacking the village?" Rina asked, not understanding what the lionkin girl in front of her was trying to say. "I have no idea. Because I headed straight to you, I didn''t have the opportunity to find out more details..." replied the lionkin girl, whose name was Nalani, her tone indicating her regret at not being able to provide Rina with more information. "It doesn''t matter. I''ll go see for myself. Stay here with my grandmother until I return..." Rina told Nalani, then hurriedly left through the door. "But..." Nalani tried to object, but when she stepped outside, Rina had already left the street. "Nalani, do as Rina told you. If the situation is very serious, she might have an easier time escaping if she''s alone..." Rina''s grandmother told Nalani, who didn''t have a class yet and wasn''t a very competent fighter. "Okay, I don''t want to be a burden..." Nalani said quietly, aware that at that moment she couldn''t be of any help. However, she didn''t let herself be influenced by negative emotions for too long, and after a few seconds, she lifted her head from the ground, her determination to become stronger visible in her eyes. "Take care, big sister Rina! Come back safely!" Nalani shouted as she looked in the direction of the east. ..................................... When Rina arrived at the village entrance, she found the twelve individuals who had confronted Lucy and approximately 200 other lionkins who had come to their aid lying on the ground. Some of them were unconscious, some were groaning in pain, and others were trying to crawl back toward the gate to escape from Lucy''s relentless blows, because as soon as she saw them attempting to get back on their feet, she would appear next to them and start treating them like punching bags. Since most of Lucy''s opponents so far had levels between 30 and 50 and weren''t particularly fast, partly due to their heavy equipment and partly because they were elderly, she had encountered no difficulty in her mission to make the lionkins more courteous in the future, showing them what could happen if they didn''t behave nicely with honest visitors. Seeing the scenes unfolding before her eyes, Rina had the impression for a few seconds that it might all be a dream because she couldn''t believe that one person could defeat the entire defense of their village. "Run, Rina, run! If she sees you, you''ll suffer the same fate as us!" one of the lionkins who was crawling near her said, his words making her realize that what she was seeing was real. Unfortunately for Rina, she didn''t have time to decide whether it would be wise to follow his advice, because Lucy, who had all her passive ocular abilities activated, immediately detected her as she exited through the gate, and after finishing off the last lionkin who was still trying to get up, Lucy appeared instantly in front of Rina, her starry-eyed gaze assessing her from head to toe. "Well, it''s about time for some fresh blood. I''m tired of hitting uncles and aunts..." Lucy said enthusiastically as if she had become an avatar of the Karate God, a deity born from the fighting spirit of millions of Karate practitioners and she was no longer interested in anything other than defeating all those who challenged her. Chapter 18. A Strange Evolution of the Situation Looking at the very cute catgirl in front of her, who was about 20 centimeters shorter than her and had very white and delicate hands, like those of a princess who had never left the castle she lived in, Rina would have found it hard to believe that this catgirl was responsible for the brutal beating the lionkins lying around her had received. However, she had seen just moments ago how Lucy struck one of the lionkins directly on the top of the head with a karate chop, causing him to lose consciousness instantly and fall to the ground, and how she had given another one a powerful kick in the rear, sending him flying over 7 meters away. But even though she realized the danger in front of her, Rina, who was used to fighting fierce beasts and sturdy lionkin men, remained for the first time in her life stuck, unable to decide what to do next, because she didn''t know how to handle such an opponent, a beauty who seemed very fragile and incapable of enduring the pain caused by her trained fists. Unfortunately for Rina, Lucy was not an opponent you could afford to be inattentive to even for a moment, so before she realized what the catgirl in front of her had done, she found herself on her back, the catgirl positioned on her stomach, with her legs on either side of her body, and looking at her with a mocking smile. "I am aware of how beautiful I am, but during a fight, you must not let your emotions influence you. What if I were as wicked as the other villagers think? Don''t you think you would find yourself in an inescapable situation?", Lucy told the young lionkin woman she had pinned to the ground, whose sexy posture made Lucy lose some of her desire to fight, and thoughts of a different kind of interaction began to form in her mind, one much more exciting and enjoyable. Taking a closer look at the young lionkin woman, an action that caused Lucy to lick her lips involuntarily from time to time, she was impressed by both her perfect body, which, although trained, did not seem any less feminine, and her stunning face, whose delicious lips seemed to have the power to draw Lucy''s gaze like a magnet. ''What an astonishing girl. If she had lived in my old world, she probably would have gained millions of fans just by posting a single picture of herself. Not only is she incredibly beautiful, but she also has a well-trained body with toned abs and a pair of firm breasts, although they are truly large... Damn! I don''t think I could even fit one of them in my hands!", Lucy thought, her eyes, which until then had roamed all over the upper part of the young woman beneath her, now were fixed on the two soft mounds in front of her, which, although mostly covered, managed to raise Lucy''s excitement to levels not recommended for the situation at hand. "Don''t you think you''ve looked long enough? If you don''t want to fight me anymore, I think it''s time for you to get down!" Rina suddenly said, irritation evident in her hazel-orange eyes, which, along with her long, matching-colored hair, gave the illusion that she could transform into a fierce lion at any moment, capable of devouring anything in her path. Brought back to reality by these words, Lucy made eye contact with the young lionkin woman beneath her and, without showing a hint of fear, slowly brought her face closer to the other''s until their noses were almost touching, her teasing smile indicating that her intentions were far from good. "Congratulations, woman! You''ve managed to capture my attention...", Lucy said with all seriousness, trying to mimic the tone of a male lead like those from Chinese novels, whose subject is the love full of ups and downs between a young company president and one of his newly hired female subordinates. Seeing that the young lionkin woman was looking at her with confusion, not understanding her intentions, Lucy reached one of her hands into the young woman''s rich hair and began to massage her lion-like ears, and before the young woman could snap out of her stunned state as a result of the actions of the catgirl who held her down, Lucy gave her a delicate kiss on the nose and immediately teleported five meters away to avoid being affected by the furious flames that began to emanate from Rina''s body the next second. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "How dare you do such a thing!", Rina roared, immediately getting to her feet after Lucy released her, the flames around her growing stronger with each step she took towards the position where the catgirl who had dared to take advantage of her stood. Seeing that the catgirl in front of her said nothing and continued to look at her with a teasing smile, Rina accelerated towards her, ignoring everything, and when she reached next to the catgirl''s position, she began to strike her with fists engulfed in flames, as if that catgirl were her greatest enemy. ''She''s truly ferocious...'', Lucy thought as she watched Rina beat the substitute of earth that she had left in her place, which had started to turn into a statue due to the heat generated by the punches it received. Lucy decided to wait a few minutes for the young lionkin woman to calm down, but things did not go as she had hoped, because, with each passing minute, Rina became increasingly angry, seeing that the catgirl in front of her seemed unaffected by her blows and continued to look at her with the same teasing smile. ''Maybe creating a substitute of earth with the sole purpose of being a punching bag and having extraordinary regenerative powers wasn''t the best choice, as this lioness won''t stop until she sees blood... Hmm, what should I do now? Well, if she really wants to destroy me, let''s see if she''ll be satisfied when she does...'' Lucy thought, and after about 10 seconds, when she saw the young lionkin woman sending another punch to the substitute''s head, she reduced the substitute''s defense to zero, allowing the blow it received to decapitate it and send its head into the bushes. "Eeekk! I, I didn''t mean to do that..." exclaimed Rina, who was so horrified by what she had done that she didn''t even notice that no blood was flowing from the decapitated substitute. Seeing the expression full of regret on the young lionkin woman, who had fallen to her knees in front of her substitute''s body and was on the verge of tears, Lucy realized that her prank had been too exaggerated, so she decided not to hide any longer and instantly appeared behind Rina, whom she took into her arms and began to comfort. "Calm down... I''m okay... It was just a silly prank..." Lucy told the young lionkin woman in her arms, who, upon hearing her voice, couldn''t contain her happiness and turned suddenly to embrace Lucy. Unfortunately, Lucy, who wasn''t expecting this, feared that Rina intended to strike her again, so she activated her Phantom Body skill, which allowed her to become intangible. Consequently, Rina passed right through her as if her body were a mere apparition. "Eeekk! A ghost... Nooo! ...I''m so sorry... I didn''t mean to kill you..." Rina began to shout, this time unable to stop her tears. "...I''m not a ghost. I just used a skill to protect myself because I thought you were going to attack me again...", Lucy told her, visibly full of remorse at how the situation had evolved. "Rina, it''s okay. She''s not dead. She''s just using some weird skills...", one of the lionkins, who had managed to stand up and were now watching from the sidelines like it was a theater play, told Rina. After hearing the words of one of her acquaintances, Rina managed to overcome her fear and look more closely at the catgirl in front of her. After analyzing her for almost a minute and realizing that she didn''t exhibit any ghostly characteristics, Rina understood that nothing had happened to her, and it was probably all a big prank orchestrated by the catgirl to embarrass her in front of everyone. "You! Do you enjoy bullying me? You just want to make a fool out of me..." Rina said angrily and then headed towards Lucy, who decided not to disappear this time and to face the consequences of her actions. However, Rina had no intention of exchanging punches with her or incinerating her using the flames she could summon during a fight. ''For such a naughty cat, there must be an appropriate punishment...'', Rina said to herself in her mind, and the moment she reached Lucy, she rushed with her mouth open to one of her ears and then bit it with force, intending to make the catgirl always remember what can happen if she upsets her. "Ahhhh!" Lucy screamed with tears in her eyes. Although she had guessed Rina''s intentions and could have easily avoided her attack, she decided to let her do as she pleased, hoping that in the future, Rina wouldn''t hold a grudge for what had happened that day. "How on earth did they end up in this situation?" one of the lionkins who witnessed these events asked in a hushed voice. "Old Jarek," he continued, looking to the west, "you''d better come back from your hunt faster because, at this rate, your niece might present you with a daughter-in-law when you return..." Chapter 19. Wedding preparations? ''This will make this catgirl think twice before deciding to play pranks in front of me, hmph!'', Rina thought, feeling a sense of satisfaction, while she involuntarily licked her lips, which had become moist from biting and chewing on Lucy''s ear, who was standing before her with red, reproachful eyes, occasionally shedding a tear. Unfortunately for Rina, her sense of satisfaction didn''t last long because when she looked around proudly as if she had returned victorious from a great battle, she only noticed disapproving glances from the lionkins around her, as if she had just committed a grave crime. "Huh, what happened?" Rina asked one of the older lionkin men who were closer to where she and Lucy were. "Rina, ...um..., how should I put it,... what you just did, you can''t do it to anyone; you can only do it to the person you want to mark as your future partner..." the lionkin replied to Rina, somewhat perplexed that he had to explain these things that almost all demihumans with feline traits knew. "Huh, ...what kind of partner?" Rina asked, not quite understanding what the lionkin in front of her meant. "....Your future spouse, Rina... or in this case, your future wife... I can''t believe you don''t know anything about this. Besides, what you did is not something you can do in the middle of the road, in front of everyone. Although this catgirl is a real troublemaker, you still have to consider that a young woman''s honor cannot be treated so casually....", the lionkin replied, this time unable to refrain from scolding Rina. Hearing all of this, Rina was completely shocked, as she had no idea about the significance of biting someone''s ear, because every time her grandmother began the discussion about marriage or a future partner, she would get upset and head to the training ground, not giving her grandmother a chance to explain even the basics. ''Damn it, how did I end up in this situation?'' Rina wondered in her mind, not knowing what to do next. ''Why did I have to bite her ear? Couldn''t I have just used my hand to pull her ear, like I always do with Nalani when she does something stupid?? What was I even thinking before doing this? ...All I remember is feeling a strong desire to put this catgirl, who had teased me so many times, in her place, to show her that I''m not someone to be provoked... If I think about it more carefully, it''s her fault for all of this. Her playful look, the way she touched me while holding me down, the kiss she planted on my nose..., yes, all of that is to blame for my reaction. You can''t play with fire without risking getting burned...'', Rina continued to think, trying to convince herself that it wasn''t her fault for what had happened. Unfortunately for Rina, she didn''t have the necessary time to find a way out of this situation, as Lucy, who also heard the lionkin''s words, couldn''t resist taking advantage of the situation to get back at her for nearly taking off half of her ear. "What are you still thinking? Don''t tell me that after everything you''ve done, you don''t intend to take responsibility? Who will marry me if you don''t want me?", Lucy said to Rina, her voice filled with reproach. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "I... no, that wasn''t my intention...", Rina replied, all the courage she had mustered disappearing when her gaze met Lucy''s accusatory eyes. "Oh, so you mean I''m not good enough for you? What am I lacking? Am I not pretty enough? Is my tail not silky enough? Or are you saying that you didn''t like the taste of my ear?" Lucy continued to ask loudly, as if she wanted to draw everyone''s attention to show what kind of person this young lionkin woman was, one who enjoyed playing with the feelings of innocent girls. "No, it''s not like that... You have a good taste... um, I mean, you look good...", Rina stammered, not knowing how to calm down the catgirl in front of her, who seemed to have forgotten all about shame. "Ohh, so you just like taking advantage of beautiful girls without intending to enter into a serious relationship with them... Hmph, shameless woman!" Lucy concluded, her words receiving the approval of most of the lionkins present, who watched the scene as if it were a theater performance. "Yes, Rina! You need to take responsibility!" one of the lionkins present said. "This catgirl is both beautiful and very strong. What more could you ask for?" came the words of another lionkin from the opposite direction. ''Have they all gone mad? What do they want from me? Do they want me to marry this catgirl right now, whose name and identity I don''t even know? Have they forgotten that this catgirl is the one who beat them to the point where they couldn''t walk less than a quarter of an hour ago, and now they''re all on her side?'' Rina thought as she looked around at the increasingly agitated lionkin. Although the lion, often referred to as the king of the animals in Lucy''s previous world, is known for its aggressiveness and determination, when faced with a situation it couldn''t explain, it would also succumb to the basic instinct of self-preservation and retreat like a frightened rabbit. The same happened with Rina, who, not understanding what was happening and not knowing what to say, decided to withdraw as quickly as possible from that place to ensure that the madness of the lionkins around her wouldn''t affect her as well. So, in less than 5 seconds, Rina picked up the catgirl, who was the source of all these problems, in a princess carry, and ran with her towards her home, where she lived alone, hoping that in a familiar and peaceful environment, she would be able to figure out what to do. "Well done, Rina! That''s how a true lionkin behaves..." one of the lionkins said, believing that Rina''s gesture meant that she had decided to take Lucy home to make Lucy her wife and forgetting that they had initially gathered there to capture the catgirl. "Uh, is it okay for that catgirl to enter our village? Weren''t we here to capture her?" asked a lionkin who had just recovered from fainting and was watching the events around him in bewilderment. "Why wouldn''t it be okay? Can''t you see that Rina has chosen her to be her wife? She will be part of the village from now on..." replied one of the lionkins who had been conscious before the moment in which Rina met Lucy. "Although that catgirl is quite tough, the fact that she didn''t kill anyone, even though I believe she was capable of eliminating all of us here, is clear evidence that it was all just a big misunderstanding. Moreover, the fact that such a powerful warrior is joining our village is incredible news... Ouch! Come on now! Let''s go tell everyone to prepare for the wedding!" added another lionkin, who, although still limping from the blows received from Lucy, was very excited about the outcome of the situation. "Yes... I think you''re right...", said the lionkin who had just risen from the ground. "Let''s hurry and spread the good news to everyone! Ouch! I''m sure everyone will be thrilled that Rina has finally decided to accept a partner, as we will finally be rid of her grandfather''s complaints about not knowing how to convince her to get married..." he continued to say, and then, like the other lionkins present, headed towards his home, not letting the pain that made him limp diminish his happiness in the least. Chapter 20. Too Wet ''She''s so domineering... Well, maybe I should have expected this from a young lioness. However, I hope that after she''s done with me, I''ll still be able to walk...'', Lucy fantasized in her mind as she was being carried in Rina''s arms, the prolonged contact between their bodies making Lucy increasingly aroused. Unfortunately for Lucy, as her mind began to form various scenarios in which she was ''devoured'' by the young lionkin woman who was carrying her, Rina wasn''t on the same wavelength, as the confidence and boredom she was displaying were merely a mask to hide her uneasiness. ''Why did I have to bring this catgirl with me? Have I lost my mind like the others?'' Rina wondered, not understanding why she had acted so irrationally in the last few minutes. ''Maybe I should just throw her by the side of the road and leave the village for a few days? I have a feeling that once this catgirl enters my house, I''ll never get rid of her... Huh, what''s happening? What''s with that shy look? Why did she start blushing? Don''t tell me she''s in heat...'' Rina thought as she noticed Lucy''s movements, who had begun to involuntarily rub the insides of her thighs together. "Hurry up, please... I''m on the edge..." Lucy whispered in Rina''s ear, her sweet and hot breath almost making the young lionkin woman''s heart leap out of her chest. ''Crap! I''m sure she''s in heat! I can''t leave her in this state in the middle of the road! I need to get home as soon as possible...'', Rina thought, immediately speeding up, as if she were holding a bomb ready to explode the moment she slowed down. ''It seems she''s just as impatient. Let''s hope her bed will be sturdy enough, hehehe..'' Lucy thought, convinced that her fantasies were about to become a reality soon. However, to Lucy''s surprise, her final destination was not Rina''s bed, but a large wooden tub into which Rina had placed her as soon as they entered the house. "Huh, what''s happening?" Lucy asked, confused, looking at Rina who bent down to pick up one of the two buckets filled with water next to the tub. "Splash!" "Shit! What kind of foreplay is this? This isn''t how you make a woman wet..." Lucy exclaimed nervously after Rina poured a bucket of cold water over her head. No matter how much Lucy fussed, Rina couldn''t provide any more explanations because the sight before her was too overwhelming C Lucy''s wet clothes clinging to her body, with water droplets trickling from her hair down her exposed neck, increasing her attractiveness by approximately 54 percent. ''Damn it. What is this sensation?... No matter how hard I try, I can''t take my eyes off her... No, this is bad... I feel like I''m about to lose control. No, Rina, you need to snap out of it. Don''t fall into the trap set by this catgirl. She''ll only bring you trouble...No, I need to do something immediately...'' Although Rina was about to pounce on Lucy, she eventually convinced herself to fight against these urges she had never experienced before in her life, in which the only thing that interested her was becoming a stronger warrior. So, gritting her teeth and with clenched fists, she bent down, picked up the remaining bucket of water, and, under Lucy''s vigilant eyes, poured it directly over her own head, hoping that this gesture would somewhat bring her back to normal. Seeing what the young lionkin woman had done, Lucy, who had expected Rina to try pouring another bucket of water on her, remained puzzled by how the situation had evolved. "What does this mean? Are you saying that now that you''re wet too, we''re even? Don''t think you''re getting off that easily... Mnnhmm!" Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "Please, be quiet... I need some peace... for a few minutes..." Rina told Lucy between deep breaths while covering her mouth with one hand and trying not to look at her, in order to avoid falling back into the state she had just escaped from. Reading the fatigue in Rina''s voice, Lucy realized that her expectations had been too high, and the chances of her fantasies coming true that day were almost nonexistent. So she made an effort to calm herself and let Rina gather her thoughts. After Rina withdrew her hand and sat down on a chair to quietly analyze the events of the past half-hour, Lucy got out of the wooden tub and bought a cleaning potion from the Ninja Shop to dry herself and a healing potion to alleviate the earache caused by Rina''s bite. ''Hmph, why do I have to suffer for a woman who doesn''t want to take responsibility...'', Lucy thought as she consumed the two potions, which made her feel as good as new in a matter of seconds. To avoid stressing Rina and out of curiosity about the level of development in this new world she found herself in, Lucy began to explore the room and analyze both its structure and the objects within it. ''Hmmm, it''s a rather nice place. Not only do the walls seem to be very sturdy, most likely made of bricks or stone, but they are also tastefully decorated with various wooden ornaments...'', Lucy thought after lightly tapping a wall twice, a gesture that made Rina flinch for a few seconds but wasn''t enough to stop her train of thought. Although Rina''s house was not very spacious, as it had been designed by Rina herself, who was planning to live alone for a long time, it had everything she needed for a decent life, the room where Lucy was bought by Rina and which seemed to be intended for daily activities, such as cooking or washing clothes, having both well-made and quite complete wooden furniture, as well as all kinds of devices that Lucy suspected were powered by magic. ''I''m not sure if Rina''s financial situation is representative of this world, but considering she lives in an isolated village in the middle of the forest, I can conclude that people in this world don''t have it so bad...'', Lucy thought. Although she wanted to explore the rest of the house, she considered it impolite to do so without Rina''s permission, as Rina was still lost in thought. So, Lucy sat down on a chair and bought an apple tart from Ninja Shop, which seemed freshly baked, and she started eating it immediately to replenish the calories she had lost during the fight with the lionkins. "Huh, where did you get the pie? And how did you manage to dry yourself so quickly?", Rina asked, brought back to reality by the rumbling of her stomach provoked by the smell of the apple tart that Lucy was eagerly consuming. "Well, I have a skill that provides me with a space where I can store various items, and I filled it with all sorts of snacks for the days when I''m unable to cook. As for drying myself, I used a cleansing potion.", Lucy replied, not intending to tell Rina anything about Ninja Shop until she was sure she could trust her. "Judging by the sounds of your stomach, it seems you''re quite hungry. Would you like to eat with me? Although I swore I wouldn''t let anyone else eat the food I make except my future wife, I think I''ll make an exception for you to thank you for your hospitality...", Lucy continued, her last words spoken as she looked at the wooden bucket into which Rina had placed her immediately upon entering the house. "I''m sorry... I thought you were in heat and I tried to calm your symptoms... But given how quickly you recovered, I must have been mistaken..." Rina told Lucy, now calmer than when they had entered the house. ''In heat? I''ve heard that term before in biology class when they talked about the reproduction of mammals... So the reason she poured cold water on me is that she confused my state of excitement with being ''in heat''? But why did she pour a bucket of water on herself too? Could she have made the same mistake about herself? Don''t tell me... hehehe... Maybe the road to fulfilling my fantasies won''t be so long after all...", Lucy thought, her mood improving visibly. "Oh, I see... So you just wanted to help me. Then I hope that by sharing this apple tart with you, it will be enough to reward you. By the way, my name is Lucy. We''ve been so busy since we met that we haven''t had a chance to introduce ourselves..." Lucy said, moving to an empty chair about half a meter from Rina and placing the tray with more than half of the apple tart in Rina''s lap. Although Rina wasn''t accustomed to eating food offered by people she didn''t know well, something deep inside her told her that the catgirl next to her had no intention of harming her. Plus, the apple tart smelled truly delicious, better than any dessert Rina had ever eaten in her life. "Okay. I''ll accept your gratitude gift. If you haven''t figured it out yet, my name is Rina.", Rina told Lucy, and then she started eating as well, making a great effort to hide her excitement at the chance to eat such a delicious dessert. Chapter 21. The Way to Rina’s Heart Rina had always been a fan of pastries, but in recent years, she had only indulged in them on special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays. This was due to the fact that Rina had very little cooking skills, and her pride wouldn''t allow her to ask someone else to make them for her because she didn''t want others to know that she enjoyed pastries like a little child. ''It''s truly delicious. It''s probably the best pastry I''ve ever had in my life. Maybe keeping this catgirl around isn''t such a bad idea...'', Rina thought as she ate the apple tart Lucy had offered to her, wishing it would never end. Seeing the regret in Rina''s eyes when she realized there was only one slice left, Lucy had no trouble guessing that the quickest way to Rina''s heart was through her stomach. ''Hehe, when I created the Ninja Shop skill, I didn''t think about how useful it would be when I want to impress a girl I''m attracted to. Let''s strike while the iron is hot and try to win Rina''s heart by satisfying her stomach!'', Lucy thought as she navigated the Ninja Shop interface with the purpose of buying a few more desserts and some fruit juice. In the end, Lucy decided to buy a large platter of blueberry muffins and two 1-liter boxes of pineapple juice, each accompanied by a plastic straw to facilitate consumption. When these products appeared, Rina couldn''t hide her excitement anymore. "Why did you get so many pastries? Do you want to share these with me?" Rina asked, her sparkling eyes reminding Lucy of the eyes of a little child sitting in Santa''s lap at the mall. "Well, half a tart seemed a bit small to express my gratitude to you...", Lucy said, taking only one muffin from the platter and handing the rest to Rina. Rina wasted no time and immediately finished the last slice of apple tart she had been savoring slowly, then she took one of the muffins from the platter Lucy had handed her and bit into it eagerly. "So tender..." Rina involuntarily murmured, forgetting to hold back her excitement and letting it show on her face and in the movements of her lion''s tail. Seeing this side of Rina, which she found extremely cute, Lucy struggled to restrain herself from jumping out of her chair to scoop Rina into her arms and start pampering her ears. ''This strategy is a double-edged sword. Not only will it make Rina want to have me in her life forever, but it will also make me want the same thing...'' Lucy thought. To calm herself, she filled her mouth with the remaining muffin to satisfy the sweet craving that Rina had induced in her. After finishing chewing, Lucy opened both juice boxes, inserted the straws, and handed one to Rina, who had been watching her with curiosity, not knowing what other delicious surprise this catgirl had in store. "This is a fruit juice box. The easiest way to drink from it is by using the straw I''ve put in it...", Lucy explained to Rina and then took a few sips from her own box to demonstrate. "Thank you. I really needed something to drink..." Rina said to Lucy, and then she began to drink from the fruit juice box, initially with hesitation, and as she got the taste, with deeper sips. Watching the young lionkin woman in front of her almost finishing a liter of juice in less than a minute and then starting to eat muffins again as if she hadn''t eaten anything for two days, Lucy recalled an article she had read in her previous life, in which a citizen had talked about how he wanted to adopt a dog from an animal shelter but he gave up due to excessive bureaucracy, and, as he left the animal shelter and walked towards his car in the parking lot, an individual had approached him and offered to sell him a tiger cub. The citizen, who already had a big house and an expensive car, realized that owning a tiger was the missing piece to flaunt his prosperity, so he didn''t think much and accepted the offer. Thus, in exchange for a sum of 1000 dollars, he returned home with a tiger on the right seat of his car like the sheiks of Dubai, being convinced that his future would be blissful. Although the first two years spent with the tiger were the happiest of his life because his popularity skyrocketed, as the tiger grew into adulthood and started consuming 15 kilograms of meat daily, he soon realized that his income was far from sufficient to sustain the tiger, so he had to cut corners and work overtime to ensure that the tiger remained well-fed and didn''t get any ideas about turning him into a meal. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ''Well, considering how easily I can earn points for the Ninja Shop, I don''t think I''ll have any trouble keeping this lioness satisfied for a long time. Plus, I don''t think I''d mind if she tried to ''eat'' me when she''s hungry, hehehe...'' Lucy thought. .............................. "Thank you for the meal. I''ve never eaten such delicious pastries before...", Rina told Lucy after finishing all the muffins and drinking another box of pineapple juice that Lucy had offered to her. "From what kind of fruit was the juice you gave me made? I don''t remember ever tasting anything like it...", she continued, wanting to see if she could make a similar juice herself in the future because squeezing fruits didn''t require much kitchen expertise. "The juice you drank was made from pineapple. Although in the place where I grew up, you could easily get this fruit, I don''t know what the situation is here..." Lucy replied, having no idea about the fruits that grew in that area since all she had consumed since arriving in this world were products from the Ninja Shop. "Oh, I don''t think I''ve heard of such a fruit. It''s probably specific to the demon territory..." Rina said, visibly discouraged. "Huh, demon territory? What made you think that''s where I''m from?" Lucy asked, a bit perplexed by Rina''s words. "So, you''re not from the demon territory? Given how powerful you are and the fact that I''ve never heard of your existence in these lands populated by demihumans, I thought it was possible you might be a descendant of a catkin family that managed to escape when their clan was destroyed around twenty-five years ago and sought refuge in the demon territory..." Rina said, a bit surprised that her theory was incorrect. "Oh, I see...." Lucy said without providing Rina with more information because she still didn''t know much about the structure of that world and couldn''t create a credible backstory. "So?" Rina asked Lucy, seeing she wasn''t saying anything more. "So, what?" Lucy asked in turn, trying to feign obliviousness. "So, where did you come from?" Rina asked again, despite the fact that Lucy didn''t seem too eager to talk about her past. ''This girl has no idea what subtlety means...'', Lucy thought, realizing that Rina didn''t seem to understand from her attitude that she didn''t want to continue discussing this topic. ''I really don''t want to lie to her, but I can''t blindly trust her and tell her I came from another world. What if transmigrators are seen as enemies?'' "I''m sorry, but for now, I won''t be able to tell you much about my origins. All I can tell you is that I arrived in this area a few days ago, and I don''t know much about the current situation...", Lucy told Rina, hoping that she would understand and not press further. "Hmm, so you can''t tell me for now. When will you be able to?" Rina asked again. "Well, probably when you decide to take responsibility. Although my ear has healed, don''t think I''ve forgotten what you did..." Lucy replied, irritated, trying to hit Rina''s weak point to escape from this interrogation. "Okay. I''ll take responsibility. So, can you tell me now?" Rina said without a hint of hesitation as if she hadn''t been the one making various excuses to avoid the consequences of her actions just half an hour ago. "Huh, what did you say?" Lucy asked, thinking her hearing must have played a trick on her. Chapter 22. Proving Feelings "I said that I intend to take responsibility. Although we''ll have to wait for another 1-2 days until my grandfather returns from the hunt, as soon as I meet him, I''ll ask him to start preparing for our wedding..." Rina told Lucy, her face showing no signs of insincerity, only a mix of shyness brought on by discussing a topic she had avoided until now, and pride in having finally avenged herself against the catgirl who had teased her so many times before, leaving Lucy in a state of shock. Hearing Rina''s words, Lucy was left speechless, unable to comprehend how their relationship had evolved so quickly, that in less than two hours since they met, she had to start to think about what kind of wedding dress would suit her best. ''What? Are we getting married in two days? Haven''t we skipped a lot of intermediate steps, like dates, the first kiss, and many passionate nights? But if I think about it, I''m the one who kept pressuring Rina to take responsibility. If I back down now, she might start to think that I don''t really like her and that I was just playing with her feelings... But am I not too young to get married? I''ve just turned 18... Besides, in this world, I haven''t even spent a week. Wouldn''t it be unwise to marry the first girl I''m attracted to without spending more time together to get to know her better? What if our personalities aren''t compatible?... If I think about it, even if I marry Rina, I don''t have much to lose if things don''t work out. I don''t think it''s like on Earth, where getting a divorce might leave you bankrupt. Yes, in case things go south, I can always go buy some milk...'' "Huh, why aren''t you saying anything? Isn''t this what you wanted?" Rina interrupted Lucy''s thoughts, noticing her unusual silence. Brought back to reality by Rina''s words, Lucy focused her attention on Rina again and began to analyze her from head to toe. With every passing second, her admiration for Rina''s very attractive body and beautiful face grew, dispelling her remaining doubts until only one thought remained in her mind: ''I really want to spend the rest of my life with such a beauty''. Once decided to accept Rina''s proposal, Lucy wasted no time and jumped onto Rina''s lap, positioning herself with her legs on either side of her body, their faces only 40 centimeters apart. "Yes, I''m very happy that you''ve decided to marry me, but I still have doubts about how much you like me. I''m afraid that the reason you want to be my wife is just so you can keep eating the pastries I make..." Lucy told Rina, the concern on her face contradicting her bold posture. "No, that''s not true. Although I really liked the pastries you offered me, that''s not a sufficient reason to make me want to marry you..." Rina replied, her face beginning to blush visibly. "Oh, so what''s the reason then? Are you attracted to my beauty? After the way you bit my ear, it''s pretty clear you had impure thoughts about me from the moment you saw me..." Lucy continued to ask, her tone becoming increasingly teasing. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "I don''t know... maybe... These emotions... Everything is new to me, so I don''t really know how to express myself..." Rina replied with shyness, but not breaking eye contact with Lucy, trying to convince her that she was determined to follow through with her decision. Although Rina told the truth about her decision to marry Lucy not being based on her desire to continue enjoying the pastries Lucy "baked", the fact that she had such a feast had worked wonders for her mental state, helping her relax and sort out her thoughts, leading to a clearer understanding of the events since she had met Lucy and her new emotions. After recapping everything that had happened in the past hour, Rina found it easy to notice that she had a weakness for Lucy, who seemed capable of influencing her emotions with every gesture and making her behave irrationally. If someone else had tried to tease and make advances on Rina instead of Lucy, she would have remained composed and refused them coldly. However, with Lucy, it was an entirely different situation. Lucy seemed to know how to bypass all of her defenses and imprint her presence on Rina''s very soul. Moreover, the animalistic urges Rina had felt when she bit Lucy''s ear and when she saw Lucy in wet clothes after pouring a bucket of water on her were clear evidence that she was not as innocent as she thought. "Oh, so that''s the situation. Well, if you can''t find the right words to express yourself, I think I know a way you can show me how much you like me..." Lucy told Rina, and then, in Rina''s puzzled gaze, Lucy brought her face closer to Rina''s. When there were only 5 centimeters between their lips, and their increasingly heated breaths began to synchronize, she seductively said, "Through actions...", then, she passionately kissed Rina, her tongue easily finding its way into Rina''s mouth, where, after exploring every corner, it began a battle with Rina''s tongue, as if it intended to conquer that new sweet territory it had entered and claim itself as the new master. Rina, whose brain had turned into a vanilla pudding as a result of her taste buds coming into contact with Lucy''s saliva, had completely surrendered to this attack, making no attempt to save herself from the fate of being devoured by the most delicious dessert she had ever encountered in her life. After passionately kissing Rina for two minutes, Lucy decided to let her oxygenate her brain for a few moments because her eyes seemed to have lost the ability to focus, so she reduced the intensity of the kiss, only stopping to taste the sensual lips of the young lionkin woman in whose lap she was sitting and to whom she was tightly clinging, much like a Koala bear. ''She''s so hot...and her lips are so delicious...Damn, I don''t know if I can stop until I hurt my mouth...'' Lucy thought as her lips began to give a lesson to Rina''s about the art of provoking pleasure, which were becoming increasingly active, a sign that Rina intended to counterattack. Unfortunately for Rina, who had regained her senses and intended to show Lucy how fierce a lioness''s mouth can be, she didn''t have the chance to put her plans into action because the door suddenly swung open, and Nalani entered the room accompanied by Rina''s grandmother, these two remaining frozen upon realizing what activities Rina and the catgirl, whom they had heard Rina brought home, were engaged in. "So it''s true... Sister Rina really brought a wife home..." Nalani muttered, turning as red as a tomato and cursing herself in her mind for not learning the lesson of knocking on the door before entering someone''s house. Chapter 23. A Good Daughter-in-Law "Grandma, Nalani, why have you come here? I told you to wait for me to return...", Rina addressed the two lionkin women who had remained petrified at the doorstep, trying to hide her embarrassment at being caught in such a compromising position. Meanwhile, Lucy, who was still sitting in her lap, albeit much more decently than a minute ago, wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Rina, what does this mean? Who is this catgirl?" Rina''s grandmother finally asked, never imagining she would catch her granddaughter, whose only concern had always been battles, in such a situation. "She is Lucy, my future wife.", Rina replied without any hesitation. She then took Lucy in her arms and held her close, as if fearing that the two intruders intended to separate them forever. "It''s nice to meet you, grandma..." Lucy said with timidity, playing the role of a well-mannered bride-to-be perfectly. Hearing the two of them in front of her, Rina''s grandmother was about to explode with anger. "Rina, have you lost your mind? What kind of wife are you planning to marry? Don''t tell me this is your idea to escape the marriage your grandfather intends to arrange for you. Do you really think he will accept the fact that his only granddaughter is going to marry another woman and never have heirs? Besides, this wild catgirl..." "Hey, who are you calling wild? And what do you mean by an arranged marriage? Who wants to steal my... mmmnmm..." "The decision to marry Lucy has nothing to do with my grandfather''s plans..." Rina said after covering Lucy''s mouth with one hand, as Lucy had completely forgotten the respect owed to the elders and seemed ready to start a fight with Rina''s grandmother. "I love Lucy, and she loves me, so it''s only natural for us to get married..." Rina continued, starting to stroke Lucy''s head with her free hand, trying to calm her down. Rina''s grandmother knew that her granddaughter was very passionate in battle, but she didn''t expect her to be equally passionate in love. ''This girl really wants to put me in the grave ahead of time. If she had chosen a man from within the village, things would have been completely different. Yes, in that situation, there would have been a good chance that Jarek would not insist on Rina marrying the leader of the tigerkin, as it would have risked causing a conflict within the village. But if Rina wants this catgirl to become her wife... well, there are more chances for it to start raining slices of pastrami from tomorrow than for him to accept that...'' "Rina, if you..." "Ahhh!" "Don''t be afraid, grandma," Lucy interrupted Rina''s grandmother, managing to remove Rina''s hand covering her mouth by biting one of her fingers. "I''m going to prove to everyone that I''m the best person Rina can choose as her partner. Yes, I''m willing to accept a fight with anyone who has a problem with our relationship." Although Rina''s grandmother had heard most of what happened at the village entrance, she wasn''t convinced that Lucy could match the village''s elite fighters who were currently away with her husband, hunting for beasts to obtain food for the village and increase their levels. "Heh, I hope you won''t regret those words in the future... Very well, let''s say that for now, I''ll accept your relationship...", said Rina''s grandmother. She realized that nothing she could say would convince the two of them to part ways, and she didn''t want to hurt her heart in vain. Besides, from what she had heard from the guards at the village entrance, Lucy seemed to possess vital information for the village''s safety, so she needed to calm her down in order to find out what she knew. "Really, grandma?" asked Rina, who had firsthand experience of what it meant to fight Lucy and was pretty sure that few of the other fighters in the village could do better against Lucy than she could. "Yes, I''m serious. As long as Lucy can defeat anyone who opposes your relationship on her own, I''ll agree to your marriage. But, Rina, I never expected you to be so eager to be seen as a trophy..." Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. To be honest, Rina wasn''t exactly thrilled to leave everything to Lucy, but she was aware that, aside from leaving the village with Lucy, she didn''t have many options to ensure they would be together in the future. "It''s not like I have a choice, grandma... Lucy is stronger than me..." Seeing that Rina seemed a little disappointed in herself, Lucy quickly gave her a peck on the lips to boost her spirits, then swiftly bought a chocolate cake and a set of plates and cutlery from the Ninja Store to celebrate the fact that she had been accepted by Rina''s grandmother. "Don''t worry, Rina. You''re not just a trophy to me... Yes, I really like you for who you are..." Lucy told Rina, then spoon-fed her a mouthful of cake. "Mmm, so delicious. No, I''m not upset... Give me more...." Rina said, looking at Lucy like a baby bird waiting to be fed by its mother. "Just a little, sweetie. Wait until I offer your grandma and your younger sister each a portion... I think it''s a good idea to celebrate together the beginning of our relationship..." "Well, my grandma doesn''t like sweets. If she did, I think she would have prepared them more often. As for Nalani, she''s not my real sister, just a distant cousin...." Rina, who is the kind of person who holds grudges for a long time, even for the smallest things, said. "Truly shameless...", Rina''s grandmother muttered, shaking her head in exasperation, unable to fathom how her granddaughter remained as insensitive as when she was a child. ''Maybe I should be thankful to this catgirl for being willing to accept Rina...,'' she added in her mind, watching Lucy do her best to placate Rina. "Sister, sister Rina, how can you say that? I''ve always considered you my older sister..." Nalani said with tear-filled eyes, who until then was trying to be as transparent as possible to avoid being dragged into the conflict between Rina and her grandmother. "If you truly consider me your older sister, why don''t you remember what I told you? An hour ago, you slammed the door in my head without any warning, and now you''ve entered the same..." Hearing Rina''s words, Nalani felt deeply wronged because, on both occasions, the situation had been urgent, and there was no time for such pleasantries. Plus, she had never seen Rina consistently follow the rules she set for her. Seeing the lionkin girl with teary eyes and her tail between her legs, Lucy thought that Rina''s disciplinary methods were a bit extreme. ''Though she''s taller than me by about 5-10 centimeters, I can''t help but classify her in my mind as a loli... And a loli must be protected, even if she''s done something wrong...'' Lucy thought. She then walked over to Nalani with a spoonful of cake and, despite the jealous glances from Rina, stuffed it into Nalani''s mouth without giving her a chance to refuse. "Don''t cry... Rina didn''t mean to say she doesn''t consider you her sister. She probably just likes to tease you because you''re very cute when you get upset..." Since Rina had satisfied herself with pastries from Lucy just a few minutes earlier, she wasn''t very shocked at how delicious this new treat was, as she knew what Lucy was capable of. However, Nalani, taken by surprise and also quite hungry, as soon as her taste buds came into contact with the delicious cake''s cream, froze completely, even losing the ability to breathe for a few seconds. "Err, are you okay?" Lucy asked, not expecting Nalani to have such a reaction. "Sooo good...", Nalani finally managed to say, who, losing her ability to stand, collapsed directly into Lucy''s arms, shaking slightly as if she had just experienced a long climax. Looking closely at the lionkin girl in her arms, Lucy had to admit that even though she was rather slender and didn''t have many curves, she was a true beauty. ''To be honest, she doesn''t seem like a true lionkin... She looks more like an idol doing cosplay. In her amber-colored eyes, there''s no trace of aggressiveness, and her long, dirty blonde hair looks like it was styled at a hair salon...'' "How long are you planning to hold her like that? She''s not a little child. In just a few months, she''ll become an adult..." Rina''s voice suddenly came, containing a hint of jealousy. Not wanting Rina to consider her disloyal, Lucy quickly placed Nalani in an empty chair and then distributed a slice of cake to both Nalani and Rina''s grandmother. She then returned to Rina''s lap and began feeding her again, occasionally taking a bite of the cake herself using the same spoon. Seeing her granddaughters completely enthralled by Lucy''s treats, Rina''s grandmother didn''t dare to taste the cake Lucy had offered her. ''Could this treat possibly contain a substance that''s addictive, or is it just so good that it drives people to lose their minds? In any case, I can''t risk being influenced by this catgirl. Yes, I''m a married woman over 80, not a girl who hasn''t seen the world...'' "Grandma, if you''re not going to eat, can you give me your portion?" Looking at Nalani, who had devoured her entire portion in less than a minute and was now eyeing her share, Rina''s grandmother was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the attitudes of the two young lionkin women, who continued to behave as if they were perpetually hungry and had never seen enough food. "No!" she exclaimed, losing her patience, and then forcefully shoved a spoonful of cake into her own mouth as Nalani looked on with regretful eyes. Chapter 24. Lucy’s “Past” ''It''s truly delicious. Considering how much my granddaughter loves sweets, it''s no wonder she was won over by this catgirl so quickly. To be honest, they do look rather good together... And Rina seems genuinely happy... But is it really possible for their relationship to last? Even though I may be able to influence my husband to some extent to accept their relationship, the conflict with the tigerkins cannot be avoided. Yes, maybe Rina is trying to appear indifferent, but I know how much she cares about this village...'', Rina''s grandmother thought as she started to take smaller spoonfuls of her almost finished piece of cake, wanting to savor it more. "Eat without a worry, grandma. If you like it, you can have another slice of cake. Look at Nalani; she''s already on her third portion..." Lucy said, having just offered Nalani another slice of cake and returned to Rina''s embrace. "Thank you. It was truly the best dessert I''ve ever had, but I''ve had enough for today. Perhaps another time...", Rina''s grandmother said. She decided to sacrifice herself to restore some of the lionkins'' honor, which had largely been lost due to the way her granddaughters behaved, as if until then they had eaten nothing but dry bread in their entire lives. "But please, tell me," she continued, "where did you learn such recipes? When I was younger, I visited many catkin settlements, and I''ve never seen a dish like this..." ''Well, though I managed to buy some time with the cake, eventually, I couldn''t avoid giving some explanations about myself...'', Lucy thought, realizing that Rina''s grandmother''s purpose wasn''t to talk about her culinary experiences but to find out more about her origins. "I didn''t grow up in a catkin settlement, so I''m not sure if they know the recipes that I learned from my sensei..." Lucy replied, who had already prepared an emotional story about her origins, a story worthy of becoming the subject of a book. "Huh, ''senzei''? What''s that?" Nalani asked with her mouth full of cake, tilting her head to the side in an incredibly adorable way. "Not ''senzei'', sensei. It means my teacher who initiated me into the ninja arts.", Lucy replied, struggling to resist the urge to go to Nalani and start petting her head. "Ninja arts... I''ve never heard of such a thing." Rina''s grandmother said, starting to scrutinize Lucy closely, not wanting to miss any sign that could indicate that she was not sincere. Since Lucy didn''t know precisely how someone in this world acquired their class and skills, she decided to focus on the philosophical aspect of the term ''ninja'', so she began to explain to the three lionkin women present what a ninja''s life entailed, the beliefs of a person who hides in the shadows, and many other things she remembered from movies and anime. Hearing Lucy''s explanations, the three lionkin women were left astonished, each for a different reason. Rina, who knew Lucy somewhat better, was shocked because she couldn''t imagine how someone like Lucy, who liked to stand out, could claim to adhere to these beliefs she spoke of with such passion. Nalani, on the other hand, was truly impressed by what Lucy said and was starting to become a fan of the ninja way of life. Rina''s grandmother, however, was experiencing something entirely new in her life as she found herself in front of a person about whom she couldn''t discern how honest she really was. "The things you''re saying are truly unusual. Your teacher must be a very special person...", Rina''s grandmother said after Lucy had finished her speech. "Well, she was. She passed away a year ago..." Lucy said, her voice trembling slightly as she uttered the last sentence. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. "I''m sorry to hear that. You must have been very close..." ''Let the show begin...'', Lucy said to herself in her mind, seeing that the conversation was heading in the direction she wanted. "Yes, she was like a second mother to me because she raised me since I was four, from the day she saved me from my burning village. She taught me everything I know, how to fight, how to sneak, how to prepare all kinds of potions and poisons, and many other things she considered useful to seamlessly integrate into any community, like cooking and massage techniques. Honestly, I always thought I''d be with her for the rest of my life, and I believed she wanted the same. That was until one day when she confessed that she had been part of the group that attacked the village I was born in and that the only reason she spared me was to turn me into a loyal subordinate, someone who would obey her every order without question, but because I wasn''t talented enough and didn''t meet her expectations, she decided to abandon that plan. Upon hearing this news, I lost my mind completely and attacked her with everything I had, but she defeated me easily, leaving me in a pool of blood. I still don''t know how I managed to survive. Probably, it was only the desire for revenge that got me through those moments... I felt betrayed, not only because she was one of those responsible for my parents'' deaths, but also because she chose to abandon me. Yes, I couldn''t let things stand like that! So, after I managed to heal, I dedicated half a year to rigorous training, my goal being that when I met her again, I would prove to her that I wasn''t just a disappointment and make her pay for my parents'' deaths. But all my efforts were in vain because after searching for her for a month, going through all the hiding spots I knew she had, I finally found her in one of them, lying on the floor with a sword through her heart, her body already showing signs of decay. You might think that at that moment, I was relieved, but things didn''t turn out that way... I sat there for days and cried beside her corpse... I didn''t care about anything anymore, not even the fact that she was one of my parents'' killers. Yes, I would have given anything to bring her back, even my own life. Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done, so I had no choice but to bury her in one of her favorite places, by a lake full of water lilies. After some time, when I managed to calm down and started carefully analyzing all the memories I had with my teacher, it wasn''t hard for me to realize that, regardless of her initial motives, she did care about me for real, which led her to do everything in her power to push me away when she learned her life was in danger, even hurting me physically and emotionally. Honestly, I still have no idea how much she was involved in my parents'' deaths, whether she killed them with her own hands or if some of her allies did it, but I think that if at the moment she confessed, she hadn''t abandoned me but instead had apologized and promised to spend her entire life trying to make amends, I believe that, although I would have been angry for a while, I would have eventually forgiven her. Anyway, after I finished mourning, I spent nearly two months looking for clues about who killed her, but I think my teacher expected something like that from me, so she had already destroyed all her documents and most of her personal belongings by the time of her death. The only thing I found of hers was a painting she had likely made a few days before her death, illustrating a bird flying towards the sky. Considering all of this, I think what she wanted was for me to be free, not to be consumed by the desire for revenge, and to start over somewhere else. This is what led me to abandon everything and cross almost half the continent to get here, where I hoped there might be a catkin settlement where I could integrate. Anyway, from what I''ve learned, I may have arrived much too late..." After hearing Lucy''s heartbreaking story about her past, the three lionkin women were truly moved, with Nalani even having tears in her eyes. "I''m so sorry you had to go through that. But from now on, you won''t be alone. I''ll always be by your side...", Rina said after she saw that Lucy didn''t intend to say more. She then hugged Lucy tightly, as if she wished to absorb all the painful memories that still haunted Lucy. ''Let''s hope you keep your word after I tell you my true past...'' Lucy thought, regretting that she had to lie to Rina. However, she intended to tell Rina what her true origins are in the moment they would be alone again because she didn''t want their relationship to be based on a lie. Plus, she needed someone she could trust to teach her the things known to all the inhabitants of that world. Chapter 25. Back to Serious Business ''It seems that this catgirl has been through many difficult situations in her life. It''s no wonder she has such an unusual personality... Well, that can be deduced from her story... But is what she said entirely true? Although this catgirl is very cute and appears to be quite sociable, I mustn''t forget that she can be ruthless. The heads of the mercenaries she brought are proof enough of that. In addition, she said that she is a follower of the so-called ninja path, which she leisurely explained is based on creating illusions and keeping secrets. How can she identify as a ninja when her behavior seems to be the exact opposite? Anyway, even if she claimed to have descended from the stars, I couldn''t find anything to counter her words, as the fact that no one has heard of her until now allows her to come up with any story about her past she desires....'', Rina''s grandmother thought as she watched her granddaughter trying to console Lucy. Even though Rina''s grandmother had started to have more and more doubts about Lucy''s story, which, although didn''t contain contradictions, seemed more suitable to be a theatrical plot because it contained so many twists and turns, she ultimately decided not to dwell on Lucy''s past, because regardless of her origins, Lucy did not seem like a person with ill intentions, and if what she had told the guards at the village entrance was true, she could indeed be considered their savior. ''Besides, if Lucy is as talkative in reality as she appeared before us, it''s not unusual for her to want to share all these troubles to ease her mind...'', Rina''s grandmother told herself, trying to bury her doubts about Lucy''s story deep in her mind, to prevent them from influencing her future interactions with Lucy, because she still had a lot to learn from her about those who tried to attack the village, and she didn''t want to make her to avoid answering more questions. "Well, there hasn''t been a catkin settlement in this region for a long time, but you''re welcome to live in this village for as long as you''d like. It''s the least we can do to show our gratitude for saving us from the surprise attack by the mercenaries." "Huh, what attack? What are you talking about, Grandma?", Rina interrupted her grandmother, not having heard anything about this subject until now. Upon hearing Rina''s questions, her grandmother felt like banging her head against the wall. ''My granddaughter is truly amazing. Although she spent the most time with Lucy out of everyone in the village, she knows the least about why she came to our village. How could she spend almost two hours with Lucy and not find out any information? What was she thinking?'' Fortunately for Rina, no one told her grandmother that in the last two hours, her mind had been occupied only by thoughts of pastries and sex; otherwise, there was a good chance her grandmother would have beaten her. "Forgive me, Rina. I didn''t consider that you didn''t have the time to learn about what I discussed with the guards at the village entrance...", Lucy said to Rina, feeling a bit guilty for putting her in such an awkward situation in front of her grandmother. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. To quickly rectify her mistake, Lucy immediately began to recount the confrontation between her and the group of mercenaries and the information she had gathered from them, including the fact that some subordinates of the person who had hired the mercenaries would visit the location where the mercenaries killed by Lucy had set up camp next morning. ................................. "We must capture those humans. We need to find out how they discovered the approximate location of our village..." Rina said with determination, trying to keep her anger in check after learning about the news from Lucy. ''At least I can take comfort in the fact that Lucy gave them what they deserved. I wasn''t wrong when I said she''s perfect for me...'', Rina thought to herself, looking at Lucy with admiration and gratitude. "Well, don''t worry, Rina. I intend to see this through. After I get about 6-7 hours of sleep, I''ll head straight to the location where the meeting between the mercenaries and the subordinates of the person who hired them was supposed to take place...", Lucy said, feeling quite flattered by Rina''s admiring gaze. "Thank you, Lucy. I''m truly grateful for what you''ve done for this village. Do you think it would be okay for me to go with you tomorrow? Even though you''re strong, it''s better to have someone with you in case things don''t go well..." "Of course, Rina! The journey will be much more enjoyable with you by my side. And..." "Rina, I don''t think it would be wise to leave the village before your grandfather returns..." Rina''s grandmother interrupted Rina and Lucy''s conversation, wanting to leave such an important decision as engaging in direct conflict with representatives of a nobleman to her husband. Plus, she wasn''t entirely comfortable with the idea of Rina going on such a mission accompanied by someone in whom she didn''t have complete trust. "But, Grandma, if we wait for my grandfather to return, it will be too late to take action. As for leaving Lucy to go alone, it would be completely dishonorable for all the lionkins in this village, considering that Lucy has no obligation to fight for us...", Rina said, who was determined to follow through with her decision, whatever the consequences. Knowing how stubborn her granddaughter could be, Rina''s grandmother decided not to waste her words trying to change her mind, so she decided to go to her own house, taking Nalani with her, leaving Lucy and Rina to go to bed early since they needed to wake up about four hours before sunrise to make it to the location where the camp of the mercenaries eliminated by Lucy was located. .................................. "Rina, I think it would be best if we slept in separate rooms tonight...", Lucy said upon seeing Rina''s bedroom, which had just a bed that was far too narrow to accommodate two people without making contact. "Well, I don''t have another bed available, and I can''t let you sleep on the floor...", Rina said, seemingly unaware that there was little chance that she would be able to sleep that night if Lucy joined her. ''Woman, you''re playing with fire...'', Lucy thought, being sure that Rina suspected what was going through her mind. However, even though she was very tempted to accept Rina''s offer, in the end, she decided to sleep in the living room on the mattress she had in her storage space because she wanted to make sure that both she and Rina would have well-rested minds the next day to avoid making any mistakes during the capture of the group of humans. Chapter 26. The price "Ring, ring!" "Ring, ring!" "Just 5 more minutes..." "Ring, ring!" "Ring, ring!" ............ "Ring, ring!" "Bang!" ''Damn it, even though I managed to sleep for almost 6 hours, it''s still very unpleasant to wake up so early...'' Lucy thought after smashing the alarm clock she had just bought before going to bed. ''Well, even if we leave a bit later, I think we''ll have enough time to reach the mercenary campsite before sunrise, considering I''ve already created a path through the bushes when I arrived here. I guess it won''t hurt if I sleep for another half an hour...'' Unfortunately for Lucy, who had just opened the Ninja Shop interface to buy another alarm clock, her plans were ruined when Rina, accustomed to waking up early, entered the living room at the time they had agreed upon before going to sleep. "Good morning, Lucy. It seems that, even though it took nearly 10 minutes, you finally won the battle against the alarm clock..." Rina taunted, looking at the catgirl stretching on the mattress in various complicated positions as if she had no bones. "Yawn!..You talk, Rina... When I showed you last night how the alarm clock works, you stared at it as if it were the most fearsome creature...", Lucy said amidst yawns, after finally managing to get up from the mattress. "Well, I didn''t expect such a small object to be so noisy. Besides, in our village, we don''t have many of these magical devices since no one is capable of assembling them, so I''m not used to interacting with such complex things...", Rina said, a little embarrassed by her lack of knowledge. "Don''t worry, Rina. There''s a slim chance that such devices are very common in the rest of the world..." Lucy reassured Rina, after which she bought several portions of pancakes from the Ninja Shop and placed them on the table next to her, in Rina''s admiring gaze, to serve as breakfast. "Mmm, it smells delicious. I think they must be very tasty..." Rina said as she immediately sat down at the table and intended to start eating, leaving Lucy a bit unsatisfied. ''What does this girl think? That I''ve become her maid? Not only did she not give me a good morning kiss, but she also completely diverted her attention from me the moment the pancakes appeared...'' Because Lucy wasn''t the type to accept being mistreated, she decided to take immediate action to ensure that her girlfriend would behave better in the future, so before Rina could even reach for a fork, Lucy sat in Rina''s lap, blocking her view of the table. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Huh, what''s going on, Lucy? Aren''t we going to eat?" Rina asked hesitantly, not knowing why Lucy was looking at her so upset. "Oh, so you still remember me? Seeing the way you were looking at the pancake in front of you, I thought you had started considering it your lover... Anyway, since you don''t know how to value me, I think it stands to reason that I''m not going to give you free pancakes. Hmm, how should I charge you? I guess a minute of kissing for each pancake you plan to eat is a reasonable price..." "I''m sorry, Lucy. I thought we were in a hurry... As for kisses, I haven''t washed my face yet, and I haven''t chewed leaves... mmmnn..." However, Lucy, who wasn''t interested in Rina''s apologies, didn''t let her finish what she was saying and immediately captured her lips to get her payment, her tongue swiftly entering Rina''s mouth with the determination of a worker at a debt collection agency. Even though Rina wasn''t particularly put together, as she had just woken up and was wearing only a nightshirt that couldn''t be considered sexy in any way, resembling more of a sack with holes for her head and arms, her languid movements and her lazy gaze made her incredibly attractive in Lucy''s eyes, and Lucy had a hard time stopping herself from kissing Rina after about 10 minutes. "I don''t know... why were you worried, Rina... I think you''re very... delicious...", Lucy told Rina as she licked her chin to clean it from the mixture of saliva that had escaped between their lips. "Haaa, Lucy... You''re really good at this. Maybe a little too good... Tell me honestly, how many girls have you kissed before?", Rina asked Lucy as she took a deep breath to oxygenate her brain, which she felt was submerged in an ocean of vanilla. Hearing Rina''s question, Lucy felt like she had shot herself in the foot. ''Damn it. When I practiced with my clone to get better at kissing, I never imagined that my future girlfriend would be jealous because I''ve become too skilled... Although some say love is a battle, maybe, unlike a battle, it''s better to enter a relationship a little less prepared, to be able to have new experiences with your loved one...'' "Huh, why aren''t you saying anything? Don''t tell me you''ve kissed so many girls that you''ve lost count?" Rina asked again, a little upset, seeing that Lucy didn''t offer any response. "No, it''s not like that. You''re my first girlfriend. It''s true that I have a bit of kissing experience, but that can be considered just the result of training..." Lucy hurried to reply, not wanting Rina to form a wrong opinion of her. "Oh, I understand... Probably your former master taught you. I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to bring her up. I know this is a sensitive topic for you..." Hearing Rina''s words, who seemed to think that there had been interactions between Lucy and her former master that violated the sacred student-teacher relationship, Lucy felt, for the second time, that she had shot herself in the foot. But because they didn''t have much time left, Lucy decided to leave things as they were for now until she had the necessary time to confess the truth about her identity to Rina. "It''s not quite how you think... Anyway, I''ll tell you later. First, let''s finish the mission..." Lucy told Rina, and then she shoved into Rina''s mouth one of the pancakes that had almost cooled down as they had been kissing. Chapter 27. Waking the Birds Because the pancakes were very delicious, it took Lucy and Rina no more than 5 minutes to eat them all. However, due to Lucy''s antics, they were running a bit late, so Lucy bought two cleaning potions from Ninja Shop, one for herself and one for Rina, in order to set off on their journey as quickly as possible. "This potion is amazing. Even after taking a hot bath, I didn''t feel as refreshed. No wonder you always look so impeccable and smell so nice...", Rina told Lucy as they headed towards the exit of the village. Hearing what Rina said, Lucy wasn''t quite sure whether to be happy or upset. ''Well, Rina said that I always look impeccable and smell nice, so I could take it as a compliment. But the fact that she attributes so much merit to the cleaning potion kind of annoys me. It''s like telling a girl that the only reason she is beautiful is because she has quality makeup at her disposal...'' "It''s not exactly as you think, Rina. This potion is just meant to clean you, not to perfume you. So, the fact that I smell so good is solely because of me...", Lucy finally told Rina, unable to refrain from taking credit. Upon hearing Lucy''s words and observing her pouting like a child who feels deeply wronged, Rina couldn''t help but laugh. "Huh? Why are you laughing, Rina? Don''t you believe me?", Lucy asked Rina, forming various plans in her mind to prove to Rina that she was right. "No, no... I believe you. My Lucy is the most fragrant... she''s like a true flower fairy..." "Hmph, it''s good that you know that...", Lucy said, satisfied with Rina''s response, which, though a bit clumsily formulated, was spoken sincerely (at least in Lucy''s opinion). "Hey, Rina! Where are you off to so early? Are you going to meet your grandfather to introduce him to his future daughter-in-law? Too bad I won''t be around to see how thrilled he''ll be, hehehe....", one of the guards at the village entrance, who had a closer relationship with Rina''s grandfather, asked. He had made great efforts over the past two years to tolerate Jarek, who, every time they met, complained that Rina didn''t want to settle down and start a family, so it wasn''t surprising that he had begun to resent Jarek for spoiling everyone''s mood at the parties, a sentiment shared by other villagers as well. Seeing the elderly lionkin man laughing, Lucy was sure he didn''t really believe that Rina''s grandfather would be too excited when he found out about her and Rina''s relationship. Probably, he just wanted to see Rina''s grandfather get worked up. "No, we''ll meet my grandfather when he returns to the village...", Rina replied, a bit irritated by the old guard''s apparent mischievous mood. "Don''t worry, Rina. Even if Jarek doesn''t agree, know that we all support you. Besides, from what I''ve heard, besides being very beautiful, this catgirl is also a great fighter. Seeing her with my own eyes, I can be sure that at least the first part is true. As for the second part, well, I wouldn''t want her to demonstrate it like she did with the others on guard duty yesterday, hehehe... Anyway, Jarek would be a fool not to accept her as a daughter-in-law..." Since Lucy was very pleased with what the elderly guard said, she immediately changed her initial opinion of him, that he was an old man who liked to cause trouble, so she promptly bought a quality bottle of whisky from the Ninja Shop to offer it to him as a gift, wanting to show her gratitude for his support and also to increase her popularity among the villagers. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. "Thank you for your blessings, uncle! Please accept this small gift from me and Rina as a token of our gratitude for the support you''ve shown us. We hope you''ll attend the party we''re organizing for our wedding...", Lucy said to the elderly guard, then handed him the 1-liter bottle of whisky that appeared in front of her a few seconds earlier. "It looks truly good. I don''t think I''ve had the chance to enjoy a drink of such quality before...", said the elderly guard, showing no hesitation as he took the bottle from Lucy''s hand. "It''s a pity both my granddaughters are already married because it would have been great to have you as a daughter-in-law. Yes, I would have preferred a daughter-in-law like you over their stingy husbands anytime..." he continued in a joking tone, but with visible regret in his eyes. "No problem, uncle. Rina is more than enough for me...", Lucy hastily replied, hoping her words would calm Rina, who seemed ready to confront the elderly guard after hearing that he might have intended to set Lucy up with one of his granddaughters if they hadn''t had partners. As Rina seemed no longer in the mood to talk to the elderly guard, Lucy had to exchange a few more words with him to avoid an awkward situation. After she explained to him the reason why she and Rina were leaving the village so early, he realized that the two didn''t have much time for further conversation, so he bid them farewell, wishing them success. "I remember that we were in a hurry, weren''t we, Lucy? It wasn''t appropriate to give so much importance to an old man who has nothing else to do all day but chat...", Rina said to Lucy after they had moved about 100 meters away from the village. Her words clearly indicated that she was still irritated by the old man''s remarks. "I didn''t have much choice, Rina. In case your grandfather doesn''t agree with our relationship, I''ll need as many allies as possible...", Lucy replied, leaning her head on Rina''s arm, the atmosphere around her suggesting that she sought comfort. "Well, whatever my grandfather says, I don''t intend to separate from you...", Rina said, then began to pet Lucy between her cat-like ears, a gesture that made Lucy feel weak in the knees. "Mmnn, it''s so pleasant... It would be great if we had more time... Unfortunately, we have to pick up the pace... we won''t make it in time if we continue like this...", Lucy said between pleasure-filled moans, then made a great effort to separate her head from Rina''s hand, as Rina seemed completely absorbed in petting her. "Um, yes... You''re right... We need to hurry...", Rina agreed, completely forgetting about her irritation caused by the elderly guard''s words, her mind being focused solely on thoughts about the fluff on Lucy''s ears, which her hand had brushed against several times more or less accidentally. ................................ "It seems the work of the elders of the village has gone to waste. Now anyone will be able to find the location of our village...", Rina said after seeing the path Lucy had made through the thorny bushes area. "Well, I didn''t have much choice. If I hadn''t made a path, I would have been covered in scratches and lost more than half the hair on my head and tail...", Lucy said, realizing that creating a path to the lionkins'' village might not have been the best decision. "By the way, how do the people in the village navigate through this area?", she continued, suspecting that the lionkins might have secret tunnels or special garments to protect themselves from the thorns. "Honestly, I have no idea. None of the villagers venture in this direction for hunting, to prevent the humans from discovering the location of our village...", Rina replied. ''It seems humans pose the greatest threat to the lionkins of the village. I wonder what Rina''s opinion is about them. Does she hold hatred toward all of them? How would she react if she discovered I was once a human in my past life?... Well, it''s not the time to seek answers to these questions. First, we must complete this mission...'', Lucy thought after hearing Rina''s response, which reminded her that there are many things yet to be clarified between her and Rina. The two wasted no time, and after drinking a potion for stamina recovery, they started running again, the sound of their steps being entirely masked by the songs of the birds that had begun to awaken. Chapter 28. Bone Crushers "Ahem, maybe I should have gotten rid of the corpses before heading towards the village...", Lucy said as she and Rina arrived near the camp of the mercenaries killed the day before and caught sight of a large gathering of beasts feasting on what remained of the mercenaries'' bodies, the sounds produced by the crushing of the bones that were nearly devoid of any flesh, reminding Lucy of the nutcracker she used in her childhood on cold winter evenings, standing by the radiator to warm her body and gazing at a picture of a fireplace, strategically placed nearby, to warm her soul. "This isn''t good... The commotion caused by these beasts will surely alert anyone approaching within a 500-meter radius of this area. If we don''t eliminate these creatures, there''s a good chance the people meant to meet the mercenaries will realize something''s amiss and turn back...", Rina said, concerned as the first rays of sunlight were already visible through the trees, a sign that the group of people could arrive at any moment. "Well, although there are quite a few beasts, they''re not very powerful. The only somewhat dangerous one would be that wolf near the big tree, which is at level 28...", Lucy said after activating her ocular powers and surveying the area for hidden dangers. "Huh, how do you know that? Don''t tell me you have some skill that lets you see the status of creatures..." Rina asked, visibly surprised that Lucy might possess such a rare skill. "Well, my eyes can see many things..." Lucy replied, trying to sound as mysterious as possible. "Things hidden by the hands of the gods and... ouch!" Unfortunately for Lucy, she couldn''t finish her sentence as Rina, aware that time was running short, used the only method she knew to calm Lucy downby biting her ear. ''This lioness is too fierce... If Rina keeps biting my ears every day, I might end up with no fur left on them...'', Lucy thought, looking reproachfully at Rina. "Don''t look at me like that... I had to do something to stop you. Have you forgotten we''re in a hurry?", said Rina, avoiding eye contact with Lucy, whose eyes had become like two celestial fragments of the night sky, just as they were when Lucy and Rina first met. ''This skill of Lucy''s makes me feel strange. It gives me the sensation that she can see even the most hidden thoughts of mine...'', Rina thought, trying to appear as innocent as possible. "Heh, that''s what you say! I think you just wanted to take advantage and eat my tofu without any consequences...", Lucy said, attempting to pay Rina back in the same coin, finding Rina''s ears very appealing at that moment. "Huh, what should I eat?" asked Rina, not understanding what Lucy meant. ''This girl doesn''t really have much connection with metaphorical speech. Well, maybe tofu doesn''t exist in this world, but it was pretty clear from the context that I meant she took advantage of me...'', thought Lucy, starting to calm down as she looked at the puzzled yet anticipatory expression on Rina''s face upon hearing the word "eat". "Let''s leave these things for another time... Anyway, what I wanted to say before you interrupted me is that my eyes have some special powers, among them the ability to see the level of any being. For example, I can see that your level is 31...", Lucy replied, trying to summarize the monologue she was going to give before having her left ear bitten by Rina. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.? "Yes, you''re right! That''s my level... But can you find out other information about someone''s status? Like, for instance, the classes they have, or some parameters? Don''t get me wrong, this ability is impressive, but a being''s level isn''t a very accurate indicator of their fighting capacity..." Rina''s words weren''t news to Lucy, as she had noticed herself that some of the mercenaries with rarer classes were much more competent than those with common ones. ''Perhaps I should have tried to obtain an ability that would allow me to better analyze opponents the last time I had the chance to do so. Unfortunately, I was influenced by the desire to have more impressive abilities and didn''t give this much importance...'' Lucy reflected. "At the moment, I can only see the level, but in the future, I''m likely to enhance my ability to gather information about other beings'' statuses. By the way, is there anyone in your village with a similar ability? I think it''s quite risky to attempt hunting a beast without knowing how dangerous it is...", Lucy finally said, realizing that crying over spilled milk wouldn''t bring her any benefit. "Hmm, I believe there are three people with similar skills, but their classes aren''t oriented toward combat; they''re more support-oriented. Considering your class allows for very powerful offensive abilities, I didn''t expect you to have such an ability...", Rina replied while equipping a pair of sturdy-looking gloves, the metal pieces on them being a clear indication that they weren''t meant to warm hands but rather to cool down adversaries'' bodies. "I see... So, what about those gloves? Do they help you strike harder? It seems that during our short fight, you didn''t give it your all..." Lucy said, looking with interest at the gloves on Rina''s hands. "Something like that. Additionally, the metal on them amplifies my Fire Fist skill, thus increasing the temperature of my punches threefold. As for our brief fight, I don''t think these gloves would have helped me much because you''re very fast, and your movements are highly unpredictable. I don''t think I could have touched you if you were actively avoiding me...", responded Rina, ready to engage in battle with the beasts at any moment. As Lucy hadn''t had the chance to test her sword-handling abilities in combat before, she decided not to use any other weapons besides the ninja sword she used to clear a path through the thorny bush area. After retrieving it from her storage space, she was also ready for battle. "It seems we''re both ready. But before we start to fight with the beasts, I think it would be good if you offer me more details about your class so that I can synchronize better with you...", said Lucy, who had hesitated until then to ask Rina about classes and skills as she still didn''t want Rina to realize she didn''t have much knowledge about that world. "Hmm, yes, I think that would be a good thing. My class, Inferno Brawler, is quite rare, so I should have realized you wouldn''t know what skills I use. So, as you saw in our fight, I excel in close combat, with skills like Fire Fist and Fire Cloak being my best ones. But I have a few skills that allow me to fight at a medium distance too, such as Fire Claw or Inferno Zone, the former being more useful against a single enemy, and the latter being handy when surrounded by multiple foes..." ''So, Rina is an Inferno Brawler. It seems to suit her fiery personality well. Besides, Inferno Brawler sounds quite impressive, unlike the name of my class. Heh, what can I do if my system lacks imagination...'', Lucy said to herself after hearing Rina''s explanations. "Hmmm, since we''re both close-combat fighters, I believe it would be best to split up and take care of the beasts in separate areas to avoid getting in each other''s way. And in case one of us encounters any difficulty, the other will come to help..." Lucy said, though she didn''t believe the beasts before them were a match for her. Still, she couldn''t know how well Rina would handle fighting dozens of beasts, even if their level wasn''t too high. "Fine by me. Let''s start as soon as possible...", Rina said, and then she strode toward the area where the level 28 wolf mentioned by Lucy was located. ''So, she''s picking the strongest one, huh? I have a feeling Rina will treat this battle as a competition with me. Well, I better get to work as well because I don''t want my future wife to think that I''m all talk...'', Lucy thought, looking at Rina''s determined stride, and then she headed toward an area teeming with beasts in a different direction. Chapter 29. A Damn Cupid Although both Lucy and Rina preferred to confront their enemies up close, their fighting styles didn''t have much in common. While Lucy''s style was characterized by efficiency, speed, and discretion, her way of moving from one enemy to another could be compared to the spread of a deadly virus, Rina''s style resembled a meteor shower, leaving behind only destruction and scorched areas. "Slash! Slash!" ''It seems these two were the last ones! From what I''ve seen, the sword cuts through flesh and bone much easier than through wood...'', Lucy thought, observing the carnage she had left behind. Although she had cut down dozens of beasts in just a minute, not a drop of blood had landed on her clothes. The only hint suggesting Lucy was responsible for the deaths of the creatures around her was the ninja sword in her hand, occasionally dripping with the blood of the last slain beast. "Boom!!" Distracted by an explosion, most likely caused by one of Rina''s punches, Lucy turned her gaze toward Rina''s location. She noticed that more than half of the beasts in the area had been eliminated by Rina, who had begun battling the level 28 wolf. ''Hmm, considering the wolf is no longer in its initial position, it seems it didn''t wait to be attacked but decided to take the initiative and go after Rina. Though she seems to handle it, I think it''s best if I get closer to be able to intervene quickly in case of an accident...'' Lucy wasted no time and immediately headed towards where Rina was fighting the nearly 4-meter-long wolf. Although Lucy respected Rina''s fighting prowess and decided to let her handle the situation alone, she wouldn''t forgive herself if Rina got hurt. Thus, she positioned herself on a branch in a tree less than 100 meters away from Rina, ensuring she could intervene in a maximum of 2 seconds if Rina was in danger. ''Hmm, while Rina''s strikes may seem somewhat straightforward, the natural flow with which she executes them aids her in landing hits on her opponent. Should I attempt to teach her more advanced techniques? Doing so might disrupt the synchronization of her movements... Perhaps it''s better if I engage in occasional sparring sessions with her so she can identify her own weaknesses and observe my techniques. This way, her fighting style can improve without being completely reconstructed. Yes, a cat doesn''t need to be taught how to catch mice. I''m sure this applies to lions as well, hehe...'' Keeping this thought in mind, Lucy observed the ongoing battle between Rina and the wolf, the latter now left with only a few patches of unburnt fur. Concurrently, Lucy began devising a training plan aimed at enhancing Rina''s repertoire of striking techniques. Sensing its opponent''s superior strength and realizing that continuing the fight in the same manner would lead to its demise, the wolf abandoned attempts to evade Rina''s punches. Instead, it focused on a decisive strike, banking everything on a move that could potentially change the course of the battle in its favor. Seeing that the wolf no longer exhibited any traces of self-preservation instinct and that its attacks had become much quicker, Rina decided to move a little farther away from it and repeatedly use the Fire Claw skill from a safe distance to exhaust the wolf, suspecting that it will not be able to continue at the same pace for more than a minute, his additional speed being most likely the product of a skill that could only be used as a last resort and had adverse effects. Everything seemed to be going smoothly for Rina; the wolf hadn''t managed to cause her even a scratch. However, an arrow, shot from a distance of over 200 meters without making any sound during its flight, suddenly pierced one of her legs, causing her to lose focus and giving the wolf a chance to bring its mouth full of sharp teeth closer to her head. "No! I can''t..." Although it didn''t take long for Rina to realize what had happened, she understood that there wasn''t much she could do to avoid the wolf''s attack, which was now less than a meter away from her. It seemed she might lose her life without even having the chance to ponder her regrets. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "Slash!" Fortunately for Rina, the moment Lucy saw the arrow, she instantly rushed towards her. Although she couldn''t stop the arrow as it moved too swiftly, and she noticed it too late, Lucy arrived next to the wolf before it could bite Rina and swiftly decapitated the wolf with a strike from her ninja sword infused with wind magic. However, before Lucy had a chance to say a word to Rina, she noticed two more arrows heading towards her; this was due to her activating her ocular powers at maximum level and already being aware of the direction from which the first arrow came. "Clank! Clank!" Though Lucy had the ability to let them pass through her without suffering any damage if she activated the Phantom Body skill, she didn''t want the enemies to gather too much information about her capabilities. Hence, she deflected both arrows using her sword, her cat-like reflexes being of great help. "Rina, hide behind that large tree! Stay there, no matter what you see happening!", Lucy shouted to Rina without turning her gaze, still alert for any other arrows approaching either her or Rina. Aware that she couldn''t be of help to Lucy against such an enemy even if she wasn''t injured, and because she trusted Lucy''s abilities, Rina didn''t hesitate. She swiftly moved towards the location indicated by Lucy, using her maximum speed at that moment. "Clank!" "Clank!" "Clank!" ''It seems the bastard doesn''t intend to let Rina out of sight. He''d better take full advantage of the moment because soon he won''t be able to see anything...'', Lucy thought after blocking another three arrows heading towards Rina. Although Lucy was extremely angry and wished to swiftly punish those responsible for injuring her girlfriend, she knew that at that moment, the most crucial thing was to protect Rina. Therefore, she tried to remain as calm as possible, not letting her emotions sway her, and continued to block the increasingly frequent arrows. "I''m safe, Lucy! Try to come over here too...!", Rina shouted the moment she reached behind the trunk of the gigantic tree. However, Rina didn''t finish what she wanted to say before an arrow pierced one of Lucy''s shoulders, causing her to drop the sword from her hand and seemingly rendering her defenseless. "Nooo! Lucy! Run away quickly!", Rina screamed in terror, not knowing what to use as a shield against the arrows to go and save Lucy. After Rina yelled, Lucy abandoned everything and began to move towards the place where Rina was sheltering, but her speed was significantly reduced, as if she too had been injured in a leg. "What are you doing, Lucy? Run faster!" Rina shouted again, her desperation growing more intense. ''Could she have been hit by a poisoned arrow? No, I must do something...'' However, before Rina could find a solution, three more arrows embedded themselves in Lucy''s body, causing her to collapse to the ground, seemingly unable to move. "Lucy!!!", Rina screamed and, forgetting that she still hadn''t removed the arrow from her leg, she rushed towards the spot where Lucy had fallen. "Go back. This is just an earth substitute...", Rina heard an emotionless voice coming from what she had previously believed was Lucy. ''Huh? So Lucy wasn''t injured? What a relief...'', Rina sighed, recalling both Lucy''s warning not to leave the shelter no matter what happened, and her previous fight with Lucy, in which she had used the same method to create an illusion of being killed. ''This time I can''t blame Lucy for scaring me because I fooled myself...'' ............................... At that moment, approximately 500 meters away from where Rina was, a dark elf perched high in a tall tree, holding a long bow, was quite proud of his achievement. ''Haha, the bitch thought she could take me on! Although initially, I intended to let her live to gather more information about what happened to the mercenary group, her ability to block my arrows twice has sparked my competitive spirit...'' However, his joy didn''t last long because Lucy, whom he believed to be dead, immediately attacked him upon reaching his position, intending to leave him without the hands capable of playing a silent symphony of death even with a simple wooden bow. "Clank!" To her surprise, Lucy saw no blood, as before the edge of her sword could make contact with the dark elf''s hands, something akin to a force shield caused her sword to bounce back. "Hehe, that was a good attempt! You really fooled me! But don''t think it''ll be so easy to defeat me..." the dark elf told Lucy, who stepped back a few meters, trying to figure out what had happened. ''Hmm, when the force shield appeared, I noticed a disturbance in his mana, centered around the necklace at his throat. It''s probably an artifact meant to protect him...'', Lucy thought, not paying much attention to the elf''s words, as she knew he wasn''t the type of adversary to offer information that could be useful in defeating him. "But how did you do it? Did you create an illusion? No, you''re not a mage... and from that distance, it was impossible to cast a spell on me..." the dark elf continued to inquire, showing no trace of panic on his face. ''For a silent killer, this damn Cupid talks too much...'', Lucy thought, not planning to engage in conversation with the dark elf and immediately launching her attack. Chapter 30. Preparing a Gift for Rina To Lucy''s surprise, the dark elf man excelled in close combat as well. Despite her continuous attacks for a minute, she not only did not succeed in hurting the dark elf, but she even failed to activate the force field protecting him. Even though Lucy simultaneously used the skills Steps of Light and Bending of Light to confuse the dark elf, he seemed to possess the ability to anticipate her moves, effortlessly evading her strikes. He even managed to graze her clothes a few times with some of his arrows used as knives or skillfully shot with his bow, leaving afterimages with his swift hand movements. ''Shit! I didn''t expect him to fare this well in close combat...'', Lucy thought, seeing that none of her attacks hit their mark. ''But how can he react so quickly? Could he be capable of reading my mind? No, I don''t think that''s it. Most likely, he has a skill that allows him to anticipate the opponent''s moves. Yes, something like that would be useful for an archer to hit a moving target from far away...'', she continued to ponder while distancing herself around 50 meters from her opponent to calm down for a few seconds. After changing her hiding spot several times to ensure that the dark elf had lost her trail, Lucy breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that he hadn''t followed her, a sign that he couldn''t anticipate all of her movements. ''I was too reckless attacking without properly assessing the situation. It seems my recent easy victories got to my head...'' Because Lucy wanted to retaliate against the dark elf for the injury inflicted on Rina and because she was very confident in her abilities, she didn''t even consider checking his level, thus being taken by surprise by his physical prowess. ''Hmm, no wonder he''s so fast. It seems he''s at level 61. Moreover, it''s possible that his class isn''t Archer, as I initially thought. Perhaps it''s a special class...'', Lucy said to herself after using her ocular ability to read the dark elf''s level. Aware that the dark elf was not an opponent against whom she could afford to keep her aces hidden for the entire match, Lucy decided that in her future attack, she would use both the Phantom Body skill and her ocular ability to create illusions to counteract the dark elf''s ability to read her movements, as well as the Substitute Creator skill to create some explosive paper substitutes capable of causing a lot of damage. Once the plan was finalized, Lucy immediately purchased a potion from the Ninja Shop to maximize her stamina and a few hundred explosive papers, enough to create about 20 substitutes. ''Let the second round begin...'' Lucy said to herself after drinking the potion, her black eyes, each adorned with 5 sparkling stars, filled with determination. ............................ "Where have you vanished, little kitten? Don''t tell me you''ve run away with your tail between your legs..." shouted the dark elf as he scanned the surrounding trees to uncover where his opponent was hiding. Although he possessed a skill enabling him to anticipate the opponent''s movements, it had rather challenging conditions to activate: he needed to see the opponents for two seconds to predict their actions in the following two seconds or be within a maximum distance of 5 meters from the opponents, thus continuously predicting their movements. Therefore, he had no way of knowing Lucy''s current whereabouts. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ''Even though I am a bit faster than her, her skills are quite problematic as she can instantly close the gap between us, leaving me unable to see her until the moment she attacks. Yes, I can''t afford to lose focus for even a second...'', thought the dark elf, who wasn''t as confident as he appeared. However, he didn''t have to wait much longer, as Lucy appeared instantly behind him, giving him no more than a fraction of a second to dodge the sword aimed at his throat. "Damn it, this girl isn''t tired at all!" muttered the dark elf, tired of being on the defensive and hoping Lucy would eventually lose her pace. ''Even if I have enough mana, it''ll be hard to maintain my focus indefinitely. No, I need to do something...'' Determined not to let Lucy dictate the fight''s pace, the dark elf nocked an arrow on his bow, activating one of his most powerful skills, Lightning Arrow, capable of creating an explosion akin to a lightning strike over 40 meters in diameter where the arrow hit, his goal being to destroy everything around him when Lucy attacked again, while his body was protected by his magical necklace. So, upon detecting Lucy''s presence once more, instead of dodging her sword, he aimed the arrow towards her feet, on the thick branch where both were standing, enveloping the entire area in a blinding light seemingly capable of penetrating any material. "Boooomm!!!" As the battle took place 100 meters above the ground, on the branch of a giant tree, the dark elf was forcefully thrown towards the ground by his own attack, his magical necklace absorbing almost all his mana to shield him from the blows he received. "Fuck, perhaps this was one of my worst ideas. But I had no choice since this cursed catgirl is a totally unsuitable opponent for me..." Struggling to rise from the half-meter-deep crater he created when thrown to the ground, the dark elf looked around to find what remained of his opponent''s body, only to be surprised to see Lucy standing unscathed at a distance of 10 meters from him. "How, how is this possible?" he asked in horror, realizing that all his efforts were in vain. The dark elf immediately retrieved a magical potion from his storage ring to help replenish his mana, but before he could drink it, a kunai with an attached explosive paper pierced his hand, the powerful explosion maiming his entire arm and throwing him back into the crater from which he had risen. .............................. Even though Lucy had won, she didn''t feel particularly satisfied with how the battle ended, finding her carefully crafted plan unnecessary. She remembered experiencing a similar feeling in the past during a karate tournament''s final, where her opponent withdrew after spraining her ankle, only having a brief exchange of blows with her. ''What he did was truly thoughtless, but it probably would''ve been more than enough to defeat anyone in my place...'', thought Lucy, surveying the damage caused by the dark elf''s attack. When Lucy noticed the massive amount of mana accumulating in the arrow the dark elf was preparing to shoot, she anticipated his intentions, and as soon as she noticed that he sensed her presence, she activated the Phantom Body skill, rendering her unaffected by the magical explosion. ''He probably didn''t expect that I have such a skill allowing me to dematerialize, and he likely assumes I''m too poor to possess such a magnificent necklace like the one around his neck. Hehe, this will be a perfect gift for Rina once I clean it from blood...'', thought Lucy while dragging the fainted dark elf out of the crater by one of his legs. After binding the dark elf using over 50 meters of steel wire, Lucy removed the golden necklace, adorned with a giant ruby in its center, from his neck, putting it in her storage space. Then, grabbing the dark elf by a leg again, she headed toward the area where she had left Rina sheltered, dragging him along without paying attention to the sounds his head made upon contact with numerous blunt objects. Chapter 31. A Kite in the Wind After realizing that everything she had seen was just a diversion orchestrated by Lucy to distract the archer''s attention and that most likely she had already sneaked to his location, Rina breathed a sigh of relief. However, at the same time, she began scolding herself for letting her emotions control her mind. ''Damn it! Both yesterday and today, I made a fool of myself in front of Lucy! If I continue at this rate, I don''t think Lucy will ever rely on me in a critical situation. I''ve heard many times that when someone falls in love, their ability to think rationally decreases, but I didn''t expect to find myself in the same situation...'', Rina thought as she sat on the grass, intending to remove the arrow from her leg so that she could then consume one of the potions offered by Lucy while they were on the way, to heal herself. Since the arrowhead had come out on the other side of her leg, it wasn''t very difficult for Rina to extract the arrow after cutting it with a knife. The entire so-called surgery took less than 5 seconds. "Ah!... Fuck!!! Why does it hurt more now than when it went in?!" screamed Rina, who lacked knowledge about adrenaline, specifically its ability to reduce pain, and she had tried to remain calm before extracting the arrow, not wanting to make any mistakes in haste that could worsen her wound. Once the arrow was out, Rina didn''t waste time and immediately consumed a health potion. To her surprise, in less than half a minute, the bleeding completely stopped, this being clear evidence that the potion she had consumed was of much higher quality than those produced in her village. ''This potion is truly amazing. At this rate, I think in 2-3 minutes, my leg will be completely healed.'' Planning to go help Lucy since there was a chance that the archer wasn''t alone and she might be overwhelmed, Rina consumed another potion to regain stamina, and as soon as she could step on the injured leg, she headed towards a 2-meter diameter rock well-sheltered by the massive roots of the tree she had taken cover behind, as she intended to shape it into a shield with her fists, capable of protecting her from other arrows. "Unfortunately, it doesn''t seem to be the kind of rock that splits easily... Well, at least the shield will be sturdy...", thought Rina, immediately starting to pound the rock in front of her with her fists engulfed in flames. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" "Bang! Bang! Bang!" .............................. "Bang! Bang! "Booommm!!!" "Huh, what the heck was that sound?... Don''t tell me... Oh no...", Rina said, filled with worry, when she heard the explosion caused by the archer to eliminate Lucy. After two minutes of punching the rock, Rina was so soaked in sweat, as if she had emerged from a lake, but the shield she was working on was far from finished. The rock she intended to use weighed around 150 kg. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "Shit! I can''t wait any longer! It''s good enough as it is..." Fearful that Lucy might be injured, Rina decided to quickly head towards the explosion site, so she grabbed the piece of rock with both hands and after finding a position for the rock that would be as comfortable as possible for her and would protect her whole body, she started moving with small but swift steps to rescue her adorable loved one, resembling a knight clad from head to toe in heavy armor but left without a horse. ............................................ ''This is a real workout for the biceps. But seriously now. Not only are her arms very powerful, but they also have great endurance... Hmm, I''m afraid my waist will be in danger in the future...'', Lucy thought as she saw Rina, who was about 200 meters away, slowly approaching, holding the carved rock in front of her. Not wanting Rina to be too stressed (and because she didn''t want her girlfriend to have hands like a male bodybuilder in the future), Lucy sped up towards her at maximum speed, the dark elf she was pulling after her by one leg floating like a kite. Although the rock she was carrying didn''t allow her to see in front of her, Rina easily realized that Lucy was heading towards her, because both her hearing and sense of smell were far superior to humans. Realizing there was no longer any danger, Rina tossed the rock from her numb arms, intending to sprint towards Lucy to check if she was okay. Unfortunately, due to Lucy''s speed, there was no romantic scene where two lovers, after tossing aside all their baggage, run toward each other to meet in the middle, because by the time the rock hit the ground, Lucy was already in front of Rina. "Look, Rina! Your beloved has avenged you and punished the one who hurt you..." Lucy said proudly, the position of her hands clearly indicating that she wanted Rina to hug her. "Praise Bastelia that you''re unharmed, Lucy!", said Rina, embracing Lucy. However, realizing that she was covered in sweat, Rina decided to end the embrace in less than 5 seconds, not wanting Lucy to get a bad impression of her. Honestly, Lucy found a beauty covered in sweat after an intense workout one of the most attractive sights, so in the moment she saw that Rina was embarrassed about her state, Lucy wanted to bring her down and cover her entire toned body with kisses. However, knowing that the timing wasn''t right for such things, she decided to save it for another time. Wanting to shift Lucy''s attention from her condition, Rina approached the dark elf Lucy had left two meters behind her, but she had to analyze him for a long time to realize he wasn''t human, as his face was covered in blood and dirt. "Huh, it seems the archer is a dark elf. From what you said, the mercenaries were supposed to meet a group of humans. Could he have no connection to them? No, if he didn''t, I don''t think he would have any reason to be here because there''s no dark elf settlement for thousands of kilometers...", Rina said, surprised by the identity of the one who tried to capture her. "Well, we''ll find out after he wakes up..." Lucy said as she opened the Ninja Shop interface to buy some health potions and a bottle of vodka labeled Ninja Tongue Burner. "Wait, I remembered something. From what I saw, he has a storage space ring. Can we access its contents if we take it, or will we have to persuade him to take everything out?", Lucy asked, then leaned over and removed a simple steel ring from one of the dark elf''s fingers. "Hmmm, in the village, there''s an old man who knows about all kinds of magical devices. I think he can replace the dark elf''s mana signature with someone else''s. Plus, if the dark elf was acting as a scout for the group of humans, I don''t even see how we can make him talk about his purpose before they arrive..." Rina replied, not believing that threats would make the dark elf collaborate. "Don''t worry, Rina. Anyone will start talking if you serve them enough alcohol..." Chapter 32. Lucy Holmes? "Aaaah, stop! Please, please, stop! Aaahhh!!" "Where are they?!!" "Aaaah, I don''t know, I don''t know anything!!!" ...................... Watching from a distance of about 20 meters as Lucy poured vodka over the dozens of sword cuts on the dark elf''s body while he screamed and writhed in pain, Rina found it hard to believe that the catgirl in front of her, seemingly possessed by a demon that feeds on the suffering of others, was the same catgirl who just a few minutes ago didn''t want to leave her embrace. ''She is truly frightening in these moments. I don''t want to admit it, but that''s the truth. It''s as if these acts of extreme violence are nothing more than a game to her. Even the rage she shows when the dark elf refuses to answer questions doesn''t seem genuine...'' Rina didn''t feel too comfortable seeing Lucy torture the dark elf mercilessly because in her mind, Lucy was a much more sensitive person than she was in reality. However, thinking that Lucy was doing all this to avenge the harm caused to her by the dark elf and for the good of her village, she managed to accept this side of Lucy''s personality even if it could be considered downright malevolent. ''What does it matter how she behaves with others! As long as Lucy values me and makes me happy, she''s the best for me!'' ............................... "No, ahhhh!!" "Speak, you bastard! You used to have a big mouth and never stopped talking! Now all you know is how to scream..." "Ahhhhhhh!!!" "It seems you want to test my patience...." "Bang!!" Seeing that the dark elf had once again lost consciousness after delivering a powerful punch to his head, Lucy decided to take a short break to think of a new strategy because, after 15 minutes of causing unbearable pain to the dark elf, she hadn''t been able to extract any useful information from him. ''Damn it! At this rate, it might take several more hours until I manage to find out something useful from him. Why are his lips so sealed? If he''s some mercenary, he shouldn''t be this loyal. No, in case he has a partner, he probably thinks he has a better chance of surviving if he stalls for time. Yes, if he believed he had no way out, he would probably have answered all my questions by now, even realizing I''ll kill him after he loses his value.'' Concluding that there was a good chance someone would come looking for the dark elf, Lucy activated all her passive ocular powers, which allowed her, after the last enhancement, to see everything up to a distance of 400 meters, even through trees, and she began scanning the entire area for anything unusual. ''Hmmm, I haven''t seen anyone. Have those accompanying him not noticed that something''s wrong yet? It''s also possible that my deduction is incorrect...Anyway, I think I should prepare for the worst...'' "Hey, Lucy! Did something happen?", Rina asked, alarmed by Lucy''s actions. Looking towards Rina, who still had her pants stained with blood from her wound, Lucy decided it was more important to protect her at that moment than to wait for a special event to give Rina the necklace she took from the dark elf''s neck, so as she walked towards Rina, she took it out of her storage space and began disinfecting it with the remaining vodka. "No, at least not yet. I have a suspicion that someone will come looking for the dark elf because he''s too stubborn. Anyway, I wanted to wait until tonight to give you this necklace as a gift, but I think it would be better if you wear it from now on....", Lucy said as she reached Rina, holding the necklace with both her hands, intending to put it around Rina''s neck. Since Rina wasn''t the type to hesitate when receiving a gift, she made no attempt to refuse the necklace. Instead, she moved her thick hair to one side to make it easier for Lucy to put it around her neck. "Mmm, it looks fantastic! It''s like it was made for you..." Lucy said after placing the necklace around Rina''s neck, admiring the ruby in the center of the necklace positioned above Rina''s ample chest. "Thank you, Lucy! I love it so much! I''ve never had the chance to wear such a precious accessory!" Rina exclaimed. Although she wasn''t a big fan of jewelry, she was very excited about how much Lucy valued her, giving her such an expensive gift, so she then embraced Lucy and gave her a passionate kiss. "Haa... Rina... You learn very quickly...", Lucy said after Rina allowed her brain to oxygenate. "Anyway, this necklace not only looks great but also has the ability to protect you from attacks, even surprise ones. Look!" Approaching the edge of her ninja sword towards Rina''s hand, the necklace immediately created a magical barrier just a few centimeters before touching her skin, deflecting the sword with force. "Huh, it''s amazing! Such a device is only found in the higher levels of a Dungeon. How did you get it?", Rina asked, the value of the necklace increasing many times over in her eyes. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "Well, we have to thank the dark elf for delivering it to us..." Hearing Lucy''s response, it didn''t take long for Rina to understand that the necklace belonged to the dark elf, and Lucy confiscated it after defeating him. "Do you mean it was worn by the dark elf? Then how did you break through the barrier it forms?" "I couldn''t penetrate the barrier. I won because the dark elf ran out of enough mana for the necklace to work. From what I deduced during the fight, the necklace has no energy source but operates by absorbing the wearer''s mana. So, you shouldn''t rely too much on it, just keep it with you to protect yourself from surprise attacks...", Lucy explained, not wanting Rina to become reckless in battle like the dark elf. Afterward, Lucy bought two cleansing potions from the Ninja Shop, giving one to Rina to drink to remove the blood stains from her leg wound and consuming one herself, as she had a few blood splatters on her clothes from interrogating the dark elf. "Why did you decide to clean us up? Don''t you plan to continue interrogating the dark elf?", Rina asked, hesitating to drink the potion because she didn''t want to deplete Lucy''s resources. "My plan to capture the partner of the dark elf involves having no distinctive marks on my clothes. As for you, I want my girlfriend to always look well-groomed, so you''ll make me happy if you consume it. Anyway, don''t worry about running out of potions; I have a few thousand at my disposal...", Lucy reassured, suspecting what Rina was thinking and trying to convince her not to be frugal. "Hmm, then why didn''t you give me one earlier when I was covered in sweat?", Rina asked, then removed the flask''s cap and emptied it in one gulp. "What can I say? You were extremely attractive at that moment, so I wanted to keep you in that state for a bit longer..." Hearing Lucy''s explanation, Rina felt the urge to bite her ears again, but knowing it wasn''t the right time, she decided to spare her until the evening. "Let''s save this discussion for later. You said you had a plan. What does it involve?", Rina asked, not wanting to be caught off guard again by Lucy''s actions. "So, my plan is to use a substitute made of black vines to continue interrogating the elf, while I''ll stay close to you in disguise, alongside two more substitutes posing as your bodyguards. If the elf''s partner shows up, he''ll most likely attack the lone substitute very close to the dark elf, and as soon as he approaches, he''ll be captured...". Lucy explained. She immediately created three Black Vines Substitutes with a half-hour lifespan and then purchased three white masks of different cat faces from the Ninja Shop, placing one on her face and the others on the faces of two of her substitutes. "They look exactly like you. No wonder you managed to fool me twice using this skill...", Rina said, amazed at how real Lucy''s substitutes were. "Well, if that impressed you, I think the last skill I obtained will blow your mind..." Lucy could already imagine how surprised Rina would be when facing a team formed by her and 2-3 clones of herself. ''Hehe! No matter how strong your arms are, you won''t be able to handle us. How was it said? Hercules was the strongest and could defeat anyone, but even he couldn''t defeat two at once.'' Although Rina was curious about which skill Lucy was referring to, she deduced from Lucy''s tone that she probably had no intention of giving any clues, so she didn''t ask for more information and brought up the current situation, asking Lucy for her ideas on how to convince the dark elf to talk. In truth, if Rina hadn''t been present, Lucy would have used even more violent torture methods than pouring alcohol over cuts, such as crushing a limb or tearing out nails, as she was very angry that the dark elf dared to injure one of Rina''s legs, which, for Lucy, were true works of art created by nature. Therefore, it couldn''t be said that she was out of ideas. ''Hmmm, I have plenty of ideas, but all of them would turn me into the antagonist of a horror story in Rina''s eyes. Maybe it''s time to try one of my latest ocular powers, the one to induce the opponent into a dream controlled by me. Since I have no experience using it, I don''t think I''ll get great results, but it''s still better than continuing at the same pace...'' After approaching the unconscious dark elf with her unmasked substitute, Lucy bought another Healing Potion from the Ninja Shop, then, she administered it to the dark elf using the substitute to avoid getting her hands dirty. As soon as he showed signs of waking up, Lucy ordered the substitute to forcibly open his eyes, and she looked directly into them, the stars in her black eyes moving towards the center, gathering into two circles rotating faster and faster, eventually forming two rings of light. .............................. At a distance of 10 kilometers from Lucy and Rina''s location, a group of 5 people stood around a fire, the scattered food remnants around them indicating that they had just finished eating. "Yara, it''s been an hour since Silas left! Why hasn''t he sent any signal so far?", impatiently inquired a young human man who appeared to be no older than 20, addressing a young dark elf woman sitting on a rock a bit further from the fire, sharpening a knife, her face completely covered up to her nose. "I have no way of knowing, young master. Perhaps he encountered some problem...", replied the dark elf woman, continuing to sharpen her knife nonchalantly. "Well, don''t you think you should go after him to see what happened? The sun has already risen!", the young human asked again, growing increasingly frustrated with the indifference of the young dark elf woman his father had sent to protect him. "I can''t do that. Your father told me to stay by your side permanently..." "Bang!" "I am the leader of this mission, so you better do as I say!", yelled the young man after throwing an empty mug from beside him onto the rock where the young dark elf woman was seated. He couldn''t fathom what was in his father''s mind when he hired the two dark elves. One of them talks too much and senselessly, boring him again and again throughout the journey, and the other seems completely detached from reality, not taking him seriously at all. When he first met Yara, he had a very favorable impression of her. Despite her covered face, with only her penetrating purple eyes visible, her very attractive body kept him sleepless for many nights. However, after spending nearly a month trying to get her into his bed, using both sweet talk and threats, he not only failed but made her view him like a clown and take him not at all seriously. "Whatever..." the young dark elf woman finally said, standing up, the knife instantly disappearing from her hand. She didn''t even glance at the young man, the son of Marquis Olsen, let alone say anything more, and advancing towards a densely shaded area, she became completely invisible. "Whore! I don''t know why she''s so proud of herself. She''s just a lowly creature who would do anything for my father''s money...", the Marquis''s son muttered as he saw Yara leave, his words immediately gaining approval from the other three human men, although none would have dared to say such words if Yara, a level 71 Assassin, were present. Chapter 33. Bad Plan or Bad Luck? "You''re much more resilient than I expected. At first, when I saw you crying louder than a baby, I thought I could make you talk in a maximum of 5 minutes, but so much time has passed and I haven''t learned anything useful. Hmm, come to think of it, there''s also the possibility that you didn''t make any effort to restrain yourself from whining to make me believe that the methods I used were tough enough because you didn''t want me to resort to even more painful methods. Anyway, it doesn''t matter now, because while you were enjoying your beauty sleep, I managed to capture someone else, who I think will be much easier to convince to talk...", the dark elf man heard Lucy saying, and in the next second, he saw another catgirl dressed similarly to Lucy, but with a mask on her face, emerging from behind a tree, dragging an elderly dark elf woman tied with a chain around her neck, her clothes covered in dirt. "She, she, she... my great-grandmother. She''s my great-grandmother! You, you bitch, how did you manage to capture my great-grandmother?! Release her immediately, or I''ll make sure not even your corpse remains when I''m done with you!", the dark elf man began to shout as loud as he could. "Bang!!" "Aahhhh!!!" "It seems you''ve forgotten your situation... Only I give orders here!", Lucy told the dark elf man after delivering a powerful kick to his stomach. "So it seems I managed to capture your great-grandmother... She probably noticed you were away from home when she served breakfast and came looking for you. Heh, it''s very tragic... She''s really unlucky to have such a great-grandson like you...", Lucy continued to say, then she signaled the other catgirls to bring the old woman in front of the dark elf man. "What, what are you planning to do? Don''t tell me that... You shameless bitch! How can you behave like this towards an elderly woman who hasn''t done anything wrong to you?!", the dark elf man continued to yell, ignoring both the pain caused by Lucy''s blow and by the wounds that kept appearing on his body in the areas where he struggled against the steel wire bindings. "What do I plan to do to her? As long as she answers the questions I''ll ask, I won''t do anything to her. But if she refuses..., well, then I''ll have to be a bit tougher..." "What questions do you want her to answer? She''s just an elderly woman who takes care of plants all day. She has nothing to do with all this business...", the dark elf man continued to scream, horror-stricken as the catgirl wearing a mask placed the old woman, her face dirty and tear-streaked, on her knees in front of him. "Silas... I''m scared... What''s happening?... Who are these people?", the old woman asked, her voice very weak, giving the impression that it would only take a blow to send her to eternal rest. "Don''t worry, great-grandma. Everything will be fine... Everything will be fine...", the dark elf man began to reassure the old woman, trying to calm himself so as not to frighten her even more, but his terrified eyes didn''t suggest he truly believed in the words he spoke. "Although I don''t want to spoil your reunion, I want to remind you that we still have matters to settle...", Lucy interrupted the conversation between the two, simultaneously resting the edge of her ninja sword on one of the old woman''s shoulders. "So tell me, old woman, who does your great-grandson work for?", she continued, but her gaze was not at all on the woman to whom she addressed the question, who stood with her back to her, but on the face of the dark elf man in front of her. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Seeing this, it didn''t take Silas long to understand that Lucy didn''t expect to get answers from his great-grandmother and that her goal remained to make him talk. However, if until then, he had managed to resist the torture because he suspected Lucy wasn''t the type to spare her enemies and that he had a better chance of surviving if he delayed until his disappearance was noticed, at that moment, when his great-grandmother''s life was threatened, who had raised him for 15 years, he couldn''t continue to say nothing even though he knew his chances of escaping would be almost zero after Lucy learned everything she wanted from him. "Alright, I''ll tell you everything I know... Just swear you''ll let her go, and I''ll tell you...", Silas said after a few moments, unable to bear the thought of his great-grandmother being tortured in front of him. "Oh, so you''re finally willing to talk. It seems you know how to value your elders...", Lucy said, retracting her sword, which had almost touched Silas''s great-grandmother''s throat. "So, to let her go... hmm, her existence doesn''t matter much to me, so I''m willing to accept your offer and let her go after you tell me everything I want to know...", she continued, signaling the masked catgirl to come and take the old woman away. ........................................... ''This fool... Not only has he been captured, but he''s also fallen into an illusion...'', Yara thought as she watched from the shadow at the base of a tree about 30 meters away how Silas was talking to himself while the catgirl in front of him just stared at him, with no trace of the great-grandmother he kept mentioning anywhere around. Although Yara had arrived at that location several minutes ago, the fact that she couldn''t determine the level and class of 3 of the people holding Silas captive prompted her to stay hidden for a while longer to analyze the situation more thoroughly. ''If my status reading device can''t read the level and class of a person, then either that person has a level over 100 or possesses a device that prevents information about them from being read by others. Hmmm, I can''t determine which category the three people whose information I couldn''t retrieve fall into, but whichever it is, I expect the fight with them to be a very difficult one even for me...'' Faced with such a situation full of uncertainties, Yara couldn''t help but wonder if it might be better to abandon everything and leave, as Silas''s life wasn''t among the things she was willing to risk her own life for. However, remembering how long it took her to find someone who had an effective treatment for her brother, that person being Marquis Olsen, she couldn''t risk returning empty-handed, without even finding out what happened to the mercenary group, as there was a good chance he would refuse to hold up his end of the bargain if he weren''t satisfied with her services. ''Since I can''t risk a direct confrontation, the best option would be to capture the young lionkin woman who''s level 31, or her masked guardian who''s only level 22, and take her to Marquis Olsen for interrogation. But capturing the young lionkin woman won''t be easy because she has Silas''s necklace, which even I can''t bypass its defense in a single move, and that catgirl who''s among those guarding her has a class I''ve never heard of. What does Magic Powered Ninja mean? Is it some kind of fighter who enhances their physical abilities using mana? Hmm, whatever her specialization is, her level isn''t even a third of mine, so I don''t think she''ll pose a problem. So I believe she''ll be the easiest to capture...'', Yara decided in the end, not intending to make the rescue of Silas one of her objectives, her goal being just to obtain something to bring back to Marquis Olsen so that she couldn''t be accused by anyone of not making any effort. Seeing that Silas had already begun to talk about their employer and that everyone''s attention was on him, Yara decided that now was the ideal time to set her plan in motion, so she began to advance very discreetly from shadow to shadow, maintaining their shape and size unchanged, until she reached the shadow of the tail of the catgirl she had her eyes on from the beginning and who didn''t realize she was in danger until she felt a broad chest pressed against the back of her neck and a cold blade at her throat. "Be silent, kitty, and do as I say...", Lucy suddenly heard a very charming voice in her right ear, taking her a few moments to realize it belonged to the one threatening to take her life. Chapter 34. Reversal Although Lucy remained frozen for 2-3 seconds, shocked that someone had been able to sneak up so close to her despite her constant use of ocular powers to scan the area up to a distance of over 300 meters, she quickly regained her composure, as she realized that the greatest danger had already passed, because the opponent had not eliminated her when she was unaware of their presence, and, at that moment, she could easily evade using either the Steps of Light or Phantom Body skills. "I wouldn''t rely on that if I were you. Take a careful look at what''s at my feet...", Lucy said, releasing over 20 explosive papers from her storage space, which immediately upon contact with the ground began to explode, engulfing the place where she and Yara stood in a ball of fire that destroyed everything within a distance of over 5 meters. "You''re truly skilled...", Lucy said, who had activated the Phantom Body skill to make her body untouchable and had made no effort to avoid the explosion, watching as Yara emerged from the shadow of the knife, which Yara had thrown towards a tree just a fraction of a second before the explosion occurred. "Lucy, are you okay?", Rina shouted as she rushed to Lucy''s location, her fists already enveloped in flames, ready for battle. "Yes, I''m fine. The explosion was caused by me...", Lucy replied, still facing away from her as she continued to carefully watch Yara, fearing that if she were to let the young dark elf woman slip out of her sight even for a moment, she would once again slip into a shadow, becoming almost impossible to locate. "It seems you were right. Someone did come to save the dark elf man...", Rina said as she reached Lucy''s side and also saw the young dark elf woman, who was looking at them and didn''t seem to have any intention of attacking first. "Tell me, catgirl. Why did you warn me before the explosion?", Yara asked, finding Lucy''s gesture very strange, as it wasn''t characteristic of someone under the threat of death. "Hmmm, I''m not sure. Maybe I wanted us to be even for not eliminating me when I wasn''t aware of your presence...", Lucy replied, her voice becoming clearer as she put her white cat mask in her storage space. "No, I don''t think that''s it...", she continued after a short pause, her tone thoughtful. "I think I was influenced by the desire to have a fight with an opponent whose fighting style is so similar to mine. Yes, I''ve longed for a chance to confront another ninja, and, from what I''ve seen so far, you meet all the criteria to be classified as one..." Seeing her wide smile and the excitement in her eyes, both Rina and Yara couldn''t say that Lucy was joking, even though her reason seemed totally absurd because, for them, the purpose of a fight had always been only to win, not to see what the opponent was capable of. However, Rina had a suspicion that the reason Lucy was excited wasn''t entirely because she had found an opponent with a fighting style similar to hers, but that she had the opportunity to say a few words that Lucy probably thought would make her sound cool. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Your face... Yes, it''s identical to the face of the one who was interrogating Silas. No wonder the other catgirls didn''t intervene. They were just illusions created by you...", Yara said after a few moments. Until then, she had found it strange that the other three catgirls, whom she believed were the biggest threat to her, hadn''t intervened, and they stood in the same positions they were found in when she arrived, completely unaffected by what was happening. "Uh, I thought you figured that out before attacking me... Wait a minute, if you didn''t know I was the one who set up the trap for you and the other comrades of the dark elf man we were interrogating, why did you decide to capture me?", Lucy asked, unable to understand why her apparently successful plan had such a result. "Heh, let''s just say you''re an unlucky kitty. Anyway, now that I know it''s just you two, I think everything will be much simpler..., Yara said, and from the shadows of Lucy and Rina emerged several black chains that began to bind the two before she even finished her words. Thanks to the magic necklace she wore, Rina managed to escape Yara''s attack, all the chains attempting to touch her body being annihilated, but after almost 10 seconds in which it continuously absorbed her mana to protect her, Rina felt she could barely stand. Seeing the tangled mess of chains forming around Lucy, with only the tip of her tail visible, Rina had no idea how to proceed, as she didn''t know if Lucy had actually been captured and if she should try to free her, or if what was in the middle of the chain cluster was just a substitute left by Lucy to deceive the young dark elf woman. "Rina, this won''t be the kind of battle you''re accustomed to, so it''s best for you to withdraw to a safe distance when I attack the dark elf. Don''t worry about me, I''ll handle it..." Lucy suddenly whispered into Rina''s right ear. Feeling Lucy''s sweet breath, Rina deduced that she was probably close by and using the skill that allowed her to become invisible to deceive their opponent. Aware that she couldn''t really help Lucy fight against such an unpredictable opponent as the young dark elf woman and that she would only distract Lucy during the fight, Rina nodded very discreetly to let Lucy know she understood and then began to shout and pull on the chains, wanting to help Lucy deceive Yara, who was approaching them without a care, thinking victory was already in her hands. "It''s pointless, lionkin... It''s impossible for anyone to escape after being captured by the Chains of the Moon''s Eclipse, as they can immobilize not only the body of the captured person but also their mind...", Yara said as she arrived just a few meters from where Lucy and Rina were, taking out from her storage ring a slave collar with the intention to put it around Rina''s neck to force her to obey her orders, as it was too much of a hassle to threaten her all the way to where her companions had remained. However, before Yara could start implementing her plan, she suddenly felt a sharp object pressing against her throat: a black steel kunai wielded by Lucy, who had appeared behind her without warning. "It seems you''ve made a habit of underestimating me...", she heard the voice of the catgirl she thought she had managed to capture. "Initially, I had intended to eliminate you as soon as I had the chance, but what can I do if I have a weakness for very attractive and dangerous girls? So, I thought I''d give you a choice: either surrender peacefully now, allowing me to be gentle with you, or persist in resistance, which will force me to employ drastic measures to secure your surrender...", Lucy continued, trying to mimic the tone with which Yara had spoken to her when their roles were reversed. Chapter 35. Smoke and Mirrors Although Yara''s face was covered with a material through which Lucy couldn''t see even using her Piercing Sight ocular ability, which allowed her to see even through the trunk of a 5-meter thick tree, Lucy was sure that Yara''s face must be gorgeous, as it was impossible to imagine that a pair of penetrating eyes like hers could belong to an ordinary face, just as it was impossible to imagine that a flawless purple sapphire stone wouldn''t deserve to adorn a finely crafted jewelry piece made by the hands of a true artist. Being only slightly shorter than Rina, and possessing a very seductive figure, accentuated by her tight-fitting clothes, Yara had no trouble attracting all eyes around her, Lucy suspecting that the reason she preferred to move through the shadows was because it was nearly impossible for her to go unnoticed in any environment, even if she were amidst hundreds of people. Moreover, her long silver hair tied in a ponytail and her velvety grayish skin made her appear to Lucy as a true night nymph, one of the magical beings she often dreamed of in her childhood on full moon nights, so Lucy couldn''t help but be fascinated at the moment she saw her, even amidst the tense situation they were in. That being said, it''s no wonder that Lucy couldn''t treat her the same as she did with all her other opponents. How to put it? Perhaps justice is blind, but Lucy certainly isn''t. On the contrary, she could see better than anyone in that world. And when it came to Yara, well, there was plenty for her to see... "Well played, kitty. Not only did you manage to trick me into thinking I captured you, but you also sneaked behind me, something no one has been able to do before. But do you think it''s enough to put a strange knife to my throat to make me admit defeat? And even if I said I surrender, what guarantees you that I''ll keep my word? You''re too childish, kitty... Only an opponent who can no longer move is truly defeated...", Yara said without a hint of concern in her voice, as if Lucy were just a child playing games, threatening her with a toy knife. ''Damn it, why does everything she says sound so cool? Is it because her words are one hundred percent original and describe something she truly believes in? Yes, she would be much more entitled than me to identify herself as a ninja. Next to her, I seem like just an actor who''s been given the role of a ninja and thrown into action without even being given a script, like I''ve heard some eccentric directors do in their productions. But what''s my fault? All I know about being a ninja is from movies and anime, while she has lived her whole life sneaking from shadow to shadow, and considering she''s a dark elf, she might have lived for over a hundred years...'', Lucy said to herself after hearing the words of the young dark elf woman whom she held a kunai to her throat. She was a bit irritated at the thought that her ninja creed was just a mishmash of ideas taken from movies that managed to impress her, rather than the result of her own experiences, which would always make her wonder if perhaps her entire assumed identity since she was reincarnated was just a farce. Truth be told, Lucy''s passion for ninjas had almost disappeared before she was reincarnated, aware that much of what she appreciated in her childhood about ninja life was just the inventions of some screenwriters who had never even held a ninja sword, but after arriving in a new world, where she was offered the chance to obtain ninja-specific skills, she couldn''t resist the temptation to fulfill her childhood dream and try to behave like a real ninja, just like a young person entering the workforce buys a toy from their first paycheck that they wanted as a child and their parents refused to buy for them. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. But if you play a role long enough, isn''t it possible to identify with it, especially if it''s the role of your dreams? In Lucy''s case, the answer was ''maybe'', because her mind easily assimilated many ideas cataloged by her subconscious as ''cool'', the proof of this fact being the moments when she imitated certain characters or acted out scenes from a movie or anime, but in some occasions, after killing someone or while torturing someone, when she wondered if what she was doing was wrong, she quickly rid herself of any trace of remorse, telling herself that all her actions were not characteristic of her own person, but of the ninja role she had assumed. "What''s the matter, kitty? Don''t know what to do next? If you don''t dare to use your knife, how about I help you?", Lucy was interrupted from her thoughts by Yara. Then, she saw how the dark elf she held captive suddenly pushed her throat onto the blade of the kunai she was threatening her with, which penetrated the flesh on her neck easier than through butter. Though taken by surprise by Yara''s action, Lucy was sure that Yara wasn''t the kind of person to give up life so easily, so she didn''t think for a moment that her kunai had actually pierced the dark elf''s throat and immediately started looking for clues about the skill Yara used with her ability to analyze the flow of mana. "Heh, it''s a good trick... So you can transfer the ability to be material from your body to your shadow...", Lucy said in less than two seconds, then she attempted to grope Yara''s buttocks with her free hand just to see her hand pass through it like through smoke. "You''re a clever kitty, but I don''t think anyone has taught you yet not to put your paws wherever you please...", Lucy heard a voice coming from Yara''s shadow, which began to rise from the ground and gain more and more three-dimensional properties. "Well, you''re welcome to try to teach me...", Lucy said, her body transforming into a heap of dark vines as soon as Yara''s shadow attempted to grab her arm, wrapping around both Yara''s shadow and her body, eliminating any chance of escape. "Maybe I will. And if you''re obedient, maybe I''ll keep you for myself...", Yara said, both her body and her shadow slipping into the shadow of the heap of dark vines, unaware that Lucy had left behind not only a substitute of dark vines but also a freshly purchased stun grenade from the Ninja Shop, which once it exploded, caused all the shadows generated by the dark vines to disappear, abruptly interrupting Yara''s skill that allowed her to slip into shadows, throwing her over 3 meters away. "Heh, I''ll probably teach you to fly first...", Yara heard Lucy''s taunting voice in one of her pointed ears, which Lucy couldn''t help but pinch by its tip even though she knew the effect of the Bending of Light skill would be canceled, so Lucy suddenly appeared next to her, her proud expression managing to irritate Yara more than she had ever been in her entire life. "Kitty, pray you don''t end up in my hands..." ....................................... Watching from a distance of about 50 meters from where Lucy was fighting Yara, Rina was not at all pleased with the direction the confrontation between the two was taking, her jealousy growing so intense that the grass beneath her feet began to catch fire. ''What kind of fight is this? Have they exchanged any serious blows so far? It feels like they''re just teasing each other... Damn it, Lucy... You dare to play with other women right in front of me... Heh, I''ll make sure you won''t forget again that you have a girlfriend...'', Rina said to herself, very dissatisfied that she wasn''t strong enough to intervene between the two to separate them and assert her sovereignty over Lucy. Chapter 36. Solar Eclipse When Yara realized that Lucy and Rina were alone, she believed she wouldn''t have any trouble capturing them because they were at a much lower level than her and didn''t seem to be the kind of people who had faced many hardships in their lives, as the expressions on their faces still bore the innocence characteristic of those who had not had prolonged contact with the hidden side of the world, one full of cruelty and governed by interests. However, things didn''t go at all as she expected because the catgirl, whom she thought was too confident in her own abilities due to her strange skills, not only managed to evade all her attacks, but she also seemed to have the advantage, as the catgirl''s counterattacks always managed to catch her off guard, proving that she indeed had reasons to be so proud of herself. Yara was not at all satisfied with how she had performed so far in the fight against Lucy, who not only managed to bring her down without much effort but also dared to taunt her, which was truly humiliating for her because she was aware that Lucy''s level was much lower than hers and that Lucy probably had only half her years. ''Screw this mission. If I don''t put this catgirl in her place, I won''t be able to look at myself in the mirror...'', Yara said to herself, determined to show the catgirl, who was looking at her with a mocking smile, what she was capable of when she was serious, and to make the catgirl regret provoking her. "What''s happening, dark elf? Did you bump your buttocks when you fell? I apologize if I''ve hurt you... Yes, I know! I have an ointment with me that could help you with the pain! If you want, I can give it to you, or better yet, I can help you apply it...", Yara heard the catgirl next to her continue to joke about her without a care in the world, not realizing that the danger was approaching her. "If I were you, I wouldn''t worry about others'' buttocks, but rather about my own...", Yara said as a sphere of deep black formed inside her fist, which flew immediately when she opened her hand towards the barely rising sun, growing bigger and bigger until the entire area around them was covered in shadow for over a kilometer. When Lucy saw that a large amount of mana was gathering in Yara''s hand, she thought she was about to be attacked again, so she immediately disappeared from beside her, leaving behind a substitute made of dark vines, which eliminated all her chances of stopping the black sphere. ''This is bad...'', Lucy thought, sure that the skill used by the dark elf had more than just the role of casting a shadow over the ground, detecting traces of mana all around her. "Rina, run as far as you can!", Lucy shouted, believing that Rina wasn''t safe as long as she was in the shadow of the black sphere blocking the sun. Unfortunately, at that moment, any warning was futile, as Rina didn''t even have a chance to utter a word before being enveloped by a mass of shadows that rendered her unable to move at all. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "Rina!!!" Seeing what happened to Rina, Lucy immediately threw a stun grenade toward her in the hope that she would be able to free her by creating a strong enough light to disperse the shadows around her, but the result was far below expectations, as Lucy could only see Rina for a few fractions of a second before she was swallowed again by the shadows. ''Damn it! I thought she was just an assassin specialized in using shadows! I didn''t expect her to have a skill capable of affecting such a large area...'', Lucy said to herself, somewhat relieved that she saw the shadows didn''t seem to have caused any harm to Rina, but aware that to free her, she would have to find a way to defeat the dark elf who had the advantage at that moment since the entire area was under her control. "Are you impressed, kitty?", Lucy heard the voice of the young dark elf woman from the area around her, unable to determine her exact location. "Heh, you seem very proud that you managed to bully some young girls...", Lucy replied, not understanding why the dark elf was so proud of herself when she had cornered someone who didn''t even have half her level. "Hmmm, you''re right. Maybe I exaggerated a bit. But I had no choice... How can I tame you when you''re capable of scratching me?" Hearing the dark elf''s words, Lucy began to regret teasing her until she finally managed to get her angry. "And who says I''m no longer capable of scratching?", Lucy asked in turn, wanting to find out why the dark elf was so sure of herself and to buy herself some time to find a solution to escape for both her and Rina. "Well, as long as you''re within the area affected by my skill, Solar Eclipse, your mana will be constantly absorbed, so it would be wise not to waste it. Additionally, I think it would be a good idea to keep your claws sheathed and do as I say if you don''t want the one you''re protecting to suffer...", Yara replied from behind Lucy, who was seated on a throne formed of shadows. She gestured for Lucy to approach after Lucy turned to face her. ''Shit! Maybe I could manage to escape on my own from the area affected by her skill, but escaping with Rina is almost impossible. Hmmm, the only solution I have is to stall until the effect of the skill she used wears off, because I don''t think such a skill can have a longer effect than 5 minutes. But I can''t let this dark elf control the situation, because she might come up with some weird ideas. What if she slaps my butt? Ugh, that would be truly humiliating... Hmm, I guess I have no choice but to use my catgirl charm. Yes, I don''t think there''s been a being born yet that my cuteness couldn''t conquer. Probably if I were to go back to my old world, I''d only need to post a picture of myself for everyone to consider me the goddess of cuteness...'', Lucy thought as she made her way with timid steps towards where Yara awaited her, wanting to appear as harmless as possible. Upon reaching Yara, Lucy didn''t wait for her to give any further instructions, and she settled very quietly in her lap, her tail lightly brushing against Yara''s right hand. "Big sister,... please be gentle...", Lucy said with a trembling voice, her ears perked making her appear resigned to what she was about to endure, like a cat seeing a hand reaching towards its head to pet it. ''Fuck! What have I gotten myself into?'', Yara cursed in her mind, completely overwhelmed by the behavior of the catgirl in her lap, forgetting all the plans she had made to humiliate her. Chapter 37. Petting a Shy Cat When Yara was little, not just once did she find the neighbor''s cat on the kitchen table, trying to steal a piece of meat or lapping from a bowl of milk. Yara, who wasn''t the type of child to eat without any qualms from a plate others had eaten from, immediately declared war on the cat, chasing it throughout the village where she lived until she managed to corner it or tire it out so much that it couldn''t run anymore. But after she succeeded in capturing the cat, Yara always found herself in a dilemma because when she saw the cat cowering, trembling with fear, her heart was filled with pity, and she couldn''t bring herself to be harsh with it, so eventually she let it go after aggressively petting its stomach for a few minutes or pulling its tail a few times. More than 30 years had passed since then, and Yara, who had been through a lot and had learned to be ruthless, didn''t expect to ever find herself in such a situation again, where she would be influenced by her opponents'' state, no matter how much they begged her to spare them or how much they cried. ''No, Yara. She''s just putting on a show... Yes, she''s like that wicked cat who kept sticking her nose in my food. No matter how scared she seemed and how much remorse there was in her meowing after I managed to capture her, she never learned her lesson and kept coming into my kitchen..'', Yara tried to convince herself not to be gentle with the timid catgirl sitting in her lap and twitching at the slightest movement. But was this possible? Could she be cruel to someone who completely surrendered to her and made no effort to defend herself? ''No, I don''t see how I should proceed... I need to make her show her claws. It''s much easier to humiliate someone who resists...'', Yara said to herself, not having any idea of ??how she could get revenge on the catgirl as long as she stayed so quiet. "Tell me, catgirl, why are you so obedient now? Are you trying to convince me to make you my pet?", Yara asked teasingly, hoping to see at least a trace of dissatisfaction on Lucy''s face. "Yes, big sister... Lucy wants to be your cat from now on...", Lucy replied shyly, but with a hint of enthusiasm in her voice. Yara wasn''t too pleased to see that Lucy had no intention of stepping out of the role of a very obedient catgirl no matter what she said, but Lucy''s response gave her an idea of how to proceed. ''Heh, so you want to be my cat? Let''s see if you''ll enjoy being treated as if you were...'', Yara thought, remembering that every time she caught the cat stealing her food in her childhood, it was very dissatisfied when she petted it aggressively. "Very well, little kitty. You deserve a reward...", Yara accepted Lucy''s offer, reaching her right hand towards her silky hair, which she then immediately began to stroke vigorously. Yara was sure that something humiliating for a real cat would be much more humiliating for a person playing the role of a cat, so she was very shocked when she saw that the catgirl didn''t seem affected by her actions at all, and had even become active, pushing her head into her hand. But how could Yara know that, unlike a cat, for Lucy being caressed by a very attractive woman was not unpleasant at all, but rather desirable? ''It seems like this method isn''t working. I think I need to take more drastic measures...'', Yara thought, intending to start taking care of the catgirl''s ears, knowing they were very sensitive. Putting her hand on one of Lucy''s ears, Yara was very impressed by how soft the fur on it was, feeling like her whole body had sunk into fluff. Involuntarily bringing her left hand to Lucy''s other ear, Yara began to knead both cat ears to her liking, becoming so absorbed in this activity that she didn''t pay attention to the condition of the catgirl whose ears were in her hands, and she didn''t notice that Lucy had started to blush. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ''They''re so soft... I wonder how they are on the inside?'', Yara wondered after she had molded Lucy''s ears for a few minutes, her attention being captivated by the fluff inside the ears that had constantly tickled her palms up until then. Since Lucy''s cat ears were several times larger than those of a regular cat, Yara had no difficulty inserting a finger into each one and starting to tease them from the inside, these actions causing Lucy to feel a state of arousal that was hard to control. ''I already have a girlfriend... I already have a girlfriend...'', Lucy kept telling herself in her mind, making great efforts to push away all the naughty thoughts about the young dark elf woman who was holding her, and to suppress any moans. "Big sister, please!... Not so deep...", Lucy eventually said with a trembling voice, feeling like she was about to give in, already imagining in her mind how she would pin down the dark elf and start tearing off her clothes. Seeing Lucy''s condition, Yara believed that her plan had started to work and that Lucy was beginning to feel embarrassed, so she had no intention of stopping, her fingers continuing to massage both the outside and the inside of Lucy''s ears. "What''s wrong, little kitty? Why are you blushing so much? Are you upset about something?" Upon hearing Yara''s questions, Lucy''s competitive spirit ignited once again. ''Heh, don''t be too proud of yourself. Do you think I won''t hold out until the effect of your skill wears off? I''m not going to give in even if I reach orgasm...'', Lucy said in her mind, determined not to let things go in the direction Yara wanted. "No, big sister... I was just thinking your hands might be getting tired..." No matter how slow Yara was to realize what was happening with Lucy, even she could tell that the catgirl''s words were just an excuse. But remembering that there were other, much more effective methods of teasing a cat that she hadn''t tried on Lucy yet, she thought it wouldn''t hurt to play along to make Lucy think she had escaped, only to crush all her hopes later, so eventually she took her hands off Lucy''s ears. "Hmm, you''re right. It''s quite tiring to keep my hands up like this...", Lucy heard the young dark elf woman whispering into her left ear, but before she could breathe a sigh of relief, she felt a hand gripping the base of her tail firmly while another one began to pet her abdomen. "Fuck, fuck, fuck...", Lucy started to curse in her mind, overwhelmed by the new sensations that made her legs go weak and her eyes roll in their sockets, managing to hold out for only a minute until Yara accidentally touched one of her breasts while petting her abdomen, causing her to see white in front of her eyes. "Ahhhhhh!!" Seeing Lucy''s reaction, who began to moan and convulse, Yara initially thought that she couldn''t bear to be treated like a pet anymore and wanted to escape from her grasp, which meant she had won as she managed to make her feel humiliated. Unfortunately for Yara, her joy didn''t last long, as the moment she noticed something wet on one of her legs, the illusion she was in shattered, reminding her that she wasn''t dealing with a real cat, but with a young catkin woman, for whom her actions could be considered those of a pervert. ........................... "Sorry, that wasn''t my intention...", Yara said to Lucy, visibly disturbed by what had happened, unable to explain to herself what was going through her mind when she started treating Lucy like a cat, and the mixture of pleasure and pride that engulfed her when she realized the state she had managed to bring Lucy to with her own hands. Although Yara was over 40 years old, she was still quite young for a dark elf, so it''s no wonder she hadn''t been in any relationships up until then. But that didn''t mean Yara had never thought about what her future partner should be like, imagining that the one who would steal her heart would be a very handsome and gallant young man. Therefore, the fact that she felt extremely attracted to Lucy the moment she saw her moaning with pleasure after a powerful orgasm caused by her was a real shock to her. ''I never thought the first person I''d be attracted to would be a woman, let alone one as unserious as this catgirl. Hmmm, I guess I''ll have to think more seriously about what I want from my future partner, and not as superficially as I have done so far...'', Yara thought, aware that there were still many things she hadn''t discovered about herself. "Well, what''s done is done. I also get stupid around attractive young women...", Lucy interrupted Yara''s thoughts, just having consumed a cleansing potion she bought from Ninja Shop as soon as she got off Yara''s lap, her attitude resembling that of a person who starts smoking at the end of a passionate night. "As you say... I''m glad to see you weren''t too affected...", Yara said after pondering Lucy''s words for a few moments, a hint of reproach hiding in her voice. However, if someone were to ask her what the reason for her dissatisfaction was, she probably wouldn''t know what to say. Chapter 38. Deals in the Shadows "So how do you want to proceed from now on, dark elf? Perhaps you are capable of maintaining this realm of shadows for longer than I expected, but that won''t help you much against me. I believe you''ve also realized that your chances of killing me are very slim, let alone capturing me alive; otherwise, you wouldn''t have threatened Rina''s life. But do you truly believe that''s a solution? If I were you, I wouldn''t be so sure, because as long as you can''t keep this skill activated indefinitely, killing Rina means losing your own life. You might think I''m bluffing because, in our previous fight, I haven''t been very serious, but I assure you that when I''m truly angered, there''s no room in my mind for sympathy or admiration, my only goal being to eliminate all those who have wronged me..." From Lucy''s speech and the determination in her gaze, it was quite clear to Yara that the situation had once again become serious, so she set aside the questions that had arisen in her mind for another time and began to think of a solution herself to get out of this impasse. Yara couldn''t deny that Lucy could indeed pose a threat to her life despite her own much higher level, Lucy''s skills and tools being very unpredictable. While blackmailing Lucy with the life of the captured lionkin girl might buy her some time, it couldn''t be a long-term solution and she didn''t expect Lucy to continue making concessions if the situation became too dangerous for her. At least that''s how she would proceed; she wouldn''t sacrifice herself for anyone. "Damn it, why did the situation have to become so complicated? My job was just to protect Marquis Olsen''s brat, not to capture lionkins and catgirls... Yes, why do I have to complicate things so much? The simplest thing would be to say that I just found Silas unconscious, and after thoroughly investigating the area around him, I found no trace indicating the direction the attackers took. And if someone doesn''t like the explanation, so be it. It''s not like Marquis Olsen is the only one with ties to the Great Church...", Yara finally decided, tired of wracking her brain over a matter from which she had almost nothing to gain. "I think we can come to an understanding. How about we proceed as if we never met? I''ll take Silas and return to my comrades, and you two can go back where you came from...", Yara proposed, thinking that Lucy had no reason to refuse. Hearing what Yara said, Lucy didn''t hastily agree, as if she accepted Yara''s idea, not only would she have to leave Silas alive, but she wouldn''t be able to gather more details about those who ordered the capture of the lionkins. Well, perhaps Silas could be spared because he had already paid for the harm he caused Rina, but if she couldn''t get her hands on those who worked for Marquis Olsen to interrogate them, she would have to return to the lionkins'' village with her tail between her legs. Would Rina''s grandparents think less of her? ''No, it would be best for me if Yara would just drop everything and leave. But how can I convince her? Ugh, I know too little about her relations with Marquis Olsen to do that...'', Lucy lamented in her mind, not wanting all her work to go to waste. "Not a bad idea...", Lucy eventually said, hoping to keep Yara off guard. "But I''m curious, how did you end up working for Marquis Olsen? Are relations between humans and dark elves that good? Or did he pay you a lot?", Lucy continued, aiming to find a way to persuade Yara to defect. "Not quite. The situation was that Marquis Olsen needed competent and discreet bodyguards who weren''t affiliated with the Adventurer''s Guild, and I needed someone with connections to the Great Church, so I made a deal with him...", Yara briefly explained the situation she was in. "The Great Church? What do you want from them?", Lucy asked again, her intuition telling her she was getting closer to a solution to her problems. Confident that Lucy couldn''t jeopardize her affairs and perhaps also out of a desire to unburden herself, Yara didn''t hesitate to provide more details. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. "My younger brother was stung by a Craniskorpid, and the only ones who have an antidote that can fully heal him are the priests of the Great Church. Even though he''s always been a nuisance, I promised my father before he died that I would take care of him, so I''m obliged to do everything in my power to save him..." "So, if I can get hold of an antidote for you as potent as the one in possession of the priests of the Great Church, are you willing to abandon the marquis?" Upon hearing Lucy''s words, Yara didn''t seem too enthusiastic because she didn''t believe the catgirl in front of her could obtain an antidote very soon, imagining that Lucy most likely intended to take advantage of her unusual skills to infiltrate the Great Church to steal it. "Yes, but I don''t see how you can get it so quickly. Are you trying to tell me that your class is a High Priestess?", Yara joked, aware that Lucy couldn''t have that class. "What do you think?", Lucy asked, pointing to her cat ears. "Anyway, I have some very rare potions given to me as a gift by my teacher in my storage space. I''m sure there''s a suitable one among them. Just give me a moment to check...", she continued, then she opened the Ninja Shop interface and began to search for a very powerful antidote, effective against all types of venom. ''Hmm, Ninja Snake Venom Antidote, Ninja Poisonous Mushroom Antidote... Ah, here it is, the Ninja Universal Antidote, effective against any type of poison or venom. I think that includes Craniskorpoid venom or whatever that creature is called... But it''s so expensiveee... It costs 10,000 points, almost a quarter of my wealth. I could eat a cake daily for over three months with that amount...'' Although she hesitated for a few moments when she saw the price, Lucy eventually bought the antidote (mentally crying at the disappearance of 10,000 points), and a very feng-shui-looking (in Lucy''s opinion) vial made of jade appeared in front of her. "Fortunately, it seems I have a very powerful antidote in my possession...", Lucy said, taking the vial in her hand and placing it in front of Yara. "Don''t look at me like that, you can test it if you want...", she added, seeing Yara''s skeptical look. Yara didn''t doubt that what the catgirl held in her hand was an antidote, but she didn''t believe it was powerful enough to neutralize Craniskorpid venom. "Well, I have a device with which I can measure the quality of items. As long as it''s an Epic-grade antidote, we can make a deal...", Yara took the vial in her hand without much hope, thinking that the only beneficial effect of this testing would be that the catgirl in front of her would be excited for a few extra seconds. Taking out a device similar to a magnifying glass from her storage ring, Yara began to analyze the antidote vial without much haste, but when the words "Ninja Universal Antidote, Mythic grade" appeared before her eyes, she hurried to analyze it again. "Tell me, was your teacher perhaps some kind of deity?", Yara asked, seeing that she obtained the same result. "Ah, no. What deity? I have no connection with any deity...", Lucy denied Bastelia as Peter did to Christ, not wanting her origins to be known by people she didn''t fully trust. "Okay...", Yara said, noticing how Lucy''s tail was flicking rapidly from side to side and remembering that cats usually twitch their tails when stressed. "So, what''s the situation? Is it good enough?", Lucy asked, wanting to bring the conversation back to the antidote. "Not only is it good, it''s too good. This antidote is Mythic-grade. To create something like this, you need divine powers..." Since Lucy had no idea how common divine stuff were, she didn''t intend to discuss too much the origin of the antidote with Yara. "I have no idea. Maybe it fell from the sky and my teacher found it... Anyway, now that you''ve seen it''s good enough, I suppose you agree to stop working for the Marquis..." "Yes, but it''s way too expensive for me. If it was Epic-grade, I could give you all the money now, but for something like this..." "Huh, who said anything about money?", Lucy interrupted Yara, slightly amused by her humble attitude. "So... you want to give it to me as a gift?" Thinking about this possibility but also considering Lucy''s attitude up until then, Yara couldn''t help but wonder if the catgirl in front of her had certain intentions for her. "Not exactly. Let''s say you''ll owe me a favor... Anyway, now that we''ve reached an agreement, stop this skill and release Rina. I think she must be worried sick...", Lucy said impatiently, believing that reuniting with Rina was more important than haggling with the young dark elf woman. "Don''t worry. She fainted a long time ago due to lack of mana...", Yara tried to reassure Lucy. Yes, how can someone worry when unconscious? Unfortunately, her words didn''t have the effect she expected but only succeeded in provoking an angry glare from Lucy, so Yara hurried to deactivate the skill before Lucy could lash out. Chapter 39. Complicated Situations Tossing and turning in her sleep, Rina couldn''t manage to find a comfortable position for her head. ''Why is this pillow so hard? Have its feathers lost their fluffiness? Maybe I should capture some geese...'', crossed her mind as she tried to change the pillow''s shape by stuffing her face into it. Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried, Rina couldn''t make any progress because the pillow she was resting her head on wasn''t made of soft feathers, but rather Lucy''s firm thighs, so she raised a hand and began to pat and knead them. "Ouch!! Ouch!! Rina, stop it!" Awoken by these screams, the first thing Rina saw was Lucy''s teary eyes, expressing a deep sense of grievance. Brainwashed by what she had seen in anime, Lucy was convinced that offering Rina a lap pillow would greatly impress her upon waking up, potentially advancing their relationship. Therefore, how could she not be upset if, instead of sharing a romantic moment, she was being beaten? "Lucy?... What''s happening?", asked Rina, rising from Lucy''s lap and starting to rub her eyes. "Well, after you were captured, you lost consciousness because your entire mana was drained. I gave you a mana recovery potion as soon as you were released, but it took a few minutes for you to recover. Anyway, I was thinking of letting you rest for another quarter of an hour, but seeing how hard you hit my legs, I figured you''re in good enough shape..." As sleepy as Rina was, she would have to be completely blind and deaf not to realize that Lucy was upset with her. "I''m sorry, Lucy... I thought I was in bed...", she apologized with remorseful eyes and flattened ears, then began to caress Lucy''s thighs with more attention than a lioness cleaning her cubs. ''This girl only knows how to hit straight balls. How can my heart withstand so much sincerity?'', Lucy asked herself, completely captivated by the affection in Rina''s movements. Unfortunately for Lucy, this episode lasted no more than a minute, as the two were interrupted by Yara''s appearance, who was dragging an unconscious Silas by the collar. "Huh, she''s still alive?", Rina asked, realizing that the person approaching them was the dark elf woman who had captured her. She had thought Lucy had to kill the dark elf to free her. "To ensure your safety, I had no choice but to come to an agreement with her..." Although Lucy didn''t seem to pay much attention to the young dark elf woman''s appearance, Rina remembered the way the two had interacted while fighting, so she couldn''t help but wonder if Lucy had a weakness for her. "Are you sure you didn''t have other reasons? It seemed to me that you didn''t fight her very seriously... Hold on..." Rina stopped as a gust of wind came from Yara''s direction. "Sniff, sniff!... Why does she smell so much like you?" Lucy didn''t have time to be impressed by how capable Rina''s nose was, as her brain was working at full capacity to find a way to explain to Rina what happened after she was captured so that she wouldn''t get upset. But is there such a way? How could she tell her newfound lover that she was brought to orgasm by another woman, even if it was accidental? For the first time since becoming a catgirl, Lucy cursed the fact that her libido had increased considerably. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Seeing that Rina was about to catch fire, Lucy had no choice but to tell Rina a heavily diluted version of what happened, explaining how Yara wanted to humiliate her by treating her like a cat, but without mentioning that these actions had stimulated her greatly. Lucy hoped this explanation would be enough to quell Rina''s anger, not realizing how important she had become to Rina. Well, she found out at that moment, as Rina suddenly got up and headed towards Yara with the clear intention of fighting her, even though she was aware she had no chance of winning. Though impressed by Rina''s desire to avenge her, Lucy had no intention of letting her destroy the peace she had hardly obtained (and consuming many points), so she teleported instantly next to Rina and put her down using a karate throwing technique. "What, don''t tell me you want to protect her!", Rina yelled, seeing that Lucy had no intention of letting her get up. Under Rina''s accusatory gaze, Lucy couldn''t help but blame herself for not providing enough security to her new girlfriend. "Shut up...", she finally said, then leaned her head down and captured Rina''s lips in an intense kiss. .......................... Because she had promised Lucy that she would lead her to where the Marquis Olsen''s son was waiting, Yara had to wait too for Rina to regain consciousness. However, since she didn''t find it interesting to look at how Lucy treated Rina, she left to retrieve Silas, who had also lost consciousness once released from Lucy''s illusion. Not intending to waste time explaining the situation to Silas, Yara poured a sleeping potion down his throat, then grabbed him by the collar and headed toward where Lucy and Rina were. As the hearing of dark elves is very good, Yara didn''t need to be very attentive to hear what Lucy and Rina were discussing after they saw her returning, so she quickly realized that the two were in conflict because of her. ''What''s with these girls? Why waste time with such useless explanations? They act like a pair of lovers...'' But before Yara could deduce the truth, the fact that Lucy and Rina were in a relationship became something she could be absolutely sure of the moment she saw how Lucy put Rina down and started kissing her. ''...I should have realized this sooner. This catgirl doesn''t seem capable of controlling her hands in the presence of a beautiful girl, so it''s no surprise the lionkin girl couldn''t be spared by her...'' Recapping all the interactions between Lucy and Rina that she had witnessed, Yara realized there were enough signs indicating they were lovers, but since she hadn''t previously considered the possibility of being in a relationship with a woman, she ignored that two women could be together as well, so she hadn''t given much importance to it. Watching the two of them kiss as if their lives depended on it, Yara couldn''t help but compare how Lucy was behaving at that moment with how she behaved when she was being "pampered" by her. ''...The catgirl seems much more excited than when she was in my arms. It''s as if there''s nothing else in her mind but the lionkin girl...'', she thought, unable to keep herself from becoming irritated. Yara, who didn''t know why she had suddenly become so competitive, was tired of being treated as if she were invisible, so she left Silas leaning against a tree and approached them. "Ahem, I don''t want to interrupt your moment, but I think we should hurry..." A little embarrassed to be kissing in front of another person, Lucy and Rina stopped and stood up, but they didn''t separate, Rina taking Lucy in her arms from behind as Lucy wiped her lips of saliva. Seeing the proud expression on Rina''s face, Yara, who had begun to calm down once she was no longer stimulated by the sight of the two kissing, felt provoked again, and various thoughts began to form in her mind about the possibility of making Lucy to choose her over Rina. Yara had always been someone who didn''t like complicated situations, so such ideas were new to her. But could her lack of enthusiasm for work make her ignore them? It seemed not; on the contrary, it urged her to use everything at her disposal from the beginning to ensure she would win as quickly as possible. So, in the bewildered gazes of Lucy and Rina, she raised her hands and pulled the material covering her face down. "I don''t think I''ve introduced myself yet. I''m Yara, a member of the Silvermoon tribe. I hope we get along well from now on...", Yara said after her entire face was visible, both Lucy and Rina feeling their hearts skip a beat at the sight of her seductive smile. Chapter 40. The Proposal Being attracted to women and having no girlfriend, Lucy had spent many hours in her previous life looking at pictures of very beautiful women, so she thought she had an idea of the maximum level of beauty someone could have, given that both nature''s capabilities and the skills of those who edit photos in Photoshop have limits. However, the moment Yara revealed her face, whose beauty could make everyone unable to take their eyes off her while also feeling unworthy to look at her, Lucy had to admit that she had underestimated nature, which now seemed to have no aesthetic limits in this magical world she had entered. To say that Yara''s face was perfect was an understatement because perfection can become boring over time, and it is tiring to look at for too long. These things were not true about Yara, whom the more you looked at, the more you wanted to keep looking. Perhaps a better description for her face would be the word "magical," as it seemed to be an embodiment of the vitality of the forest and the mysteries of the night. Every movement of her bluish, voluptuous lips had the capacity to make everyone give in to their instincts and thirst for danger, and every glance from her seemed capable of uncovering the most hidden desires and fears. ''...I expected her to be a beauty, but not this exaggerated... Its as if her face is always under the influence of a gothic beauty filter...'', Lucy managed to form a few coherent thoughts in her mind. Unfortunately, Lucy didn''t have much talent for poetry, so it was difficult for her to express in words how impressed she was by Yara''s beauty. It is true that the shock she felt at the sight of Yara''s face also made her brain function more slowly. "...Okay, my name is Rina...", Rina finally broke the silence that had settled. Although she was also captivated by Yara''s beauty, the aversion she felt for the young dark-elf woman made her come to her senses much faster than Lucy. Moreover, the interest with which Yara was looking at Lucy made all her instincts scream that the young dark-elf woman was definitely a rival in love, so, like a lion before a fight, all her senses were becoming more and more active. Seeing that Lucy, who was in her arms, continued to admire the young dark-elf woman with her mouth open and feeling her accelerated heartbeat, Rina could barely refrain from biting her ear to punish her and declare her sovereignty over Lucy in front of Yara, not wanting Yara to consider that she wasn''t confident in her own strengths. Yes, its not a good idea to show fear in front of an opponent. However, she could not bear for that situation to continue any longer, so she very discreetly began to rub her chest against Lucy''s nape and blow her hot breath towards Lucy''s ears, trying to capture the attention of Lucy''s other senses. Even though Rina felt her ears burning, which was due to the fact that it was the first time Rina tried to seduce Lucy, she had no intention of stopping, finding the idea of backing down during a fight even more embarrassing. Fortunately, although Rina''s methods of seduction were a bit green, Lucy was not used to such stimuli either, so it took no more than a few seconds for Rina to capture her attention. If they had been in another situation, Lucy might have teased Rina a bit about her actions, but knowing she was in the wrong, as its not good to stare at other girls when you already have a girlfriend, Lucy felt a bit guilty and it was much more important for her at that moment to calm Rina down. "Oh, sorry, Im Lucy... It''s the first time I''ve seen what a dark-elf woman looks like... Well, you are indeed very beautiful...", Lucy eventually said, trying to explain why she had spent so much time admiring Yara. Feeling that Rina was not too pleased with this explanation, as she stiffened upon hearing how she complimented Yara, Lucy realized that Rina was much more affected by the situation than she had thought. Given that they had known each other for no more than a day, it was understandable that Rina might feel uneasy seeing her girlfriend find other girls attractive. Trust, unlike attraction, takes a much longer time to develop. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "Don''t be upset, Rina. I like how she looks purely from an artistic point of view. Yes, like a painting...", Lucy continued, letting her body go limp in Rina''s arms and wrapping her tail around Rina''s tail like a very obedient cat. She was very confident that this combo of cuteness would manage to calm Rina''s emotions. However, it seems that Lucy underestimated the territorial instinct specific to lionkins, as Rina had no intention of being so easily bought off. "Hmm, I understand... So from an artistic point of view, who looks better, me or her?", Rina asked, bringing her mouth very close to one of Lucy''s ears. Although her voice was very calm, all of Lucy''s instincts told her that she was in great danger. "You! Of course, you...", Lucy replied without a trace of hesitation, fearing that if her answer did not please Rina, she might lose half of her ear. ''Just yesterday, Rina blushed just looking at me, and now she has such yandere tendencies...'', Lucy complained in her mind, not expecting Rina to have such a cold and dangerous aura when her jealousy reached its peak. Thinking that in this world the percentage of extremely beautiful women seems to be much higher than in her former world, she could imagine how difficult it would be to avoid such situations in the future. ''At least it''s said that yanderes are extremely dedicated in bed...'', Lucy tried to see the glass half full. "I knew that Lucy likes me the most...", Rina said with a wide grin on her face, but her words seemed directed more at the young dark-elf woman in front of them, who was rolling her eyes, bored by their interaction. Yara was surprised by how the situation had evolved. Usually, it took much longer for those who saw her face for the first time to recover. ''Maybe their relationship is more solid than I thought...'', Yara thought to herself. Considering her interactions with Lucy, she did not expect her to be such a loyal person. ''Well, it''s also possible that people who look very good are somewhat immune to my beauty...'', she continued to analyze why Lucy did not seem much more interested in her than when her face was covered. However, the fact that Lucy and Rina were not easily captivated by her beauty did not bother her too much; she found it quite interesting. Yara had always been aware that she was extremely beautiful, this being confirmed not only by everyone who saw her face but also by the very laws of that world, as she had been born with the title "The Enchanting Beauty," and was used to everyone trying to win her favor and please her from childhood; perhaps this was also the reason she had an aversion to complicated situations. But if in childhood the fact that she was extremely beautiful made her life easier, after she started going out into the world, it began to have the opposite effect, generating all kinds of problems specific to extremely beautiful women, such as aggressive courting by influential people and stalking by secret admirers, so in the end, she decided to cover her face to be treated somewhat more normally. Taking all these things into account, it was not surprising that although winning over Lucy proved to be a more difficult process than she anticipated, she did not consider it a hassle, but rather she became even more enthusiastic. "I don''t see why you have to be so jealous, Rina. I don''t plan to steal Lucy from you. We can both be her girlfriends...", Yara finally said, her proposal leaving both Lucy and Rina with their mouths agape. As usual, Yara opted for a decisive strike, not intending to spend much time in a situation that did not favor her. She thought that if Rina vehemently opposed this proposal, Lucy would likely be displeased, as Yara couldn''t imagine Lucy not being attracted to her as well. In that case, Lucy''s favorability towards Rina would decrease, while Lucy''s favorability towards her would increase, seeing her as a much more understanding lover. If Rina agreed, she had no problem entering such a relationship, finding the idea of making Rina jealous quite amusing. Additionally, in dark-elf culture, it was quite common for someone to have multiple partners. Of course, if she were to enter a relationship with a man, it would probably bother her to see him surrounded by women, as it would seem that the relationship was not equal, but since everyone in this relationship would be women, there could be no question of inequality, as, due to her newly discovered attraction to women, Yara had no problem getting into bed with Rina as well, expecting that making the proud liongirl moan under her would be a very satisfying experience. Chapter 41. Trophy Catgirl Both Lucy and Rina were left speechless as Yara''s proposal was truly unexpected for both of them. "...Yara, can you repeat what you said?", Lucy finally asked, wanting to ensure that her hearing wasn''t deceiving her. Although the interactions between her and Yara during the fight had been "a bit" ambiguous, she hadn''t seen any sign indicating that Yara was interested in entering a relationship with her, so it was quite hard to believe that she had understood Yara''s words correctly. "Well, Lucy, I''ve realized that I find you very attractive. Your blushing face, your soft skin, your ears, your moans... I find it hard to get them out of my mind... Anyway, I''m sure you like me too, so I don''t see why we shouldn''t try to get into a relationship. Of course, I don''t intend to come between you and Rina; on the contrary, I believe the three of us could get along well..." "You... dark-elf slut...", Rina''s scream interrupted Yara. Completely enraged by Yara''s words, Rina rushed towards Yara with fists ablaze, ignoring both the level difference between them and the fact that Yara was a completely unsuitable opponent for her, as Yara could easily counter her direct fighting style. "Yara, don''t hurt her!", shouted Lucy, aware that if she tried to stop Rina, it would only make her even angrier. "Okay... I''ll let her blow off some steam...", Yara said while easily dodging Rina''s punches, their fight resembling a matador facing an enraged bull. Seeing that Yara was only on the defensive, Lucy breathed a sigh of relief as the chances of Rina getting hurt were almost zero. Not wanting the situation to escalate, she thought it best to just stay on the sidelines and supervise the confrontation between the two, or, as the saying goes: you two fight, and I''ll love the one who wins. Well, maybe that expression didn''t quite fit, as Lucy was aware that Rina didn''t have much chance of winning. With the shock of Yara''s confession and then the worry for Rina not allowing her time to think, she thought it would be good to take advantage of that moment to form an opinion about the whole affair. Lucy couldn''t deny that she found Yara extremely attractive, but the same could be said about Rina, who was also a true beauty, and whose athletic body made her mouth water every time she saw the sunlight reflecting off the beads of sweat that emanated after intense effort. So, Lucy wasn''t more biased towards either of them due to their appearance; the only thing that mattered was her feelings towards the two. Sentimentally, there was no doubt that Rina was in first place. Although she hadn''t known Rina for more than a day, Lucy had really grown attached to her, the warm atmosphere around Rina making her feel at home. Plus, the adventures they had gone through that morning made her deeply impressed by both Rina''s loyalty and determination. ''And sometimes she''s extremely cute, like when she''s sulking or has her mouth full of pastries...'', Lucy added in her mind another reason why she liked Rina. However, Yara did not propose to replace Rina but to become her second girlfriend, so the fact that Lucy preferred Rina as her girlfriend if she had to choose between the two didn''t really affect the situation, as in such an arrangement, Rina would still remain by her side. ''But is there any chance that Rina would agree?'', Lucy wondered. Seeing how Rina''s blows were getting stronger and stronger, Lucy was sure that at that moment Rina had nothing else on her mind but the total annihilation of Yara. ''Well, that''s kind of how Rina and I met...'', Lucy tried to reassure herself that there was still a chance for Rina to make peace with Yara. Knowing that for now, there was no point in making assumptions about how the conflict between Rina and Yara would conclude, Lucy continued to analyze her own feelings about being in a relationship with both of them, which wasn''t too simple since she hadn''t imagined the possibility of having multiple girlfriends at the same time until then. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Lucy couldn''t deny that this offer was tempting because, well, Yara was extremely beautiful and sexy. Besides, she almost had nosebleeds just imagining what it would be like to be squeezed between two great beauties. ''But is it common in this world for a person to have multiple partners at the same time? Hmm, probably yes, otherwise Yara wouldn''t have proposed it so nonchalantly. Plus, that old guard in the lionkins'' village also said he would have set me up with one of his granddaughters if she wasn''t married, even though he knew I was in a relationship with Rina...'', Lucy began to analyze how normal it would be in this new world to be in a relationship with multiple people. Thinking that even in the world where she had spent her previous life there were certain areas where it was accepted to have multiple partners, Lucy began to see Yara''s proposal as not so unusual and worth considering. ''Besides, most people are in such relationships, just without knowing it...'', Lucy thought, alluding to the fact that many cheat on their partners. However, entering a relationship with Yara didn''t depend solely on her but also on Rina, as Lucy didn''t want to force her to accept someone else joining them; just imagining Rina''s disappointed expression made Lucy feel a lump in her throat. ''Maybe it would be better to see how things develop first...'', Lucy finally said to herself, thinking there was no point in making all sorts of plans until Rina calmed down to find out if she was willing to give Yara''s proposal a chance. If Rina agreed, she would end up with another extremely sexy girlfriend. If not, so be it. It''s not like Rina wasn''t enough for her. In her previous life, Lucy thought she would end up marrying her left hand, so the current situation was much better than her most optimistic dreams, never imagining she would have such an attractive girlfriend as Rina. ....................................... The outcome of the confrontation between Rina and Yara was just as Lucy had anticipated, with Rina ending up exhausted and having her hands and feet tightly bound with a whip by Yara in about five minutes. ''It seems that using a flexible but non-sharp object, like a whip, to limit mobility is the best solution to counter the effect of the collar I gave Rina. Too bad I didn''t think of this when I fought the dark-elf man...'', Lucy thought to herself, berating herself for her lack of imagination. However, considering that Yara had probably seen many more instances of how the collar worked, she managed to patch up her ninja pride. "What''s the matter, liongirl? Are you tired?", Yara asked teasingly, taking Rina in her arms from behind as she tried with all her might to free herself. Rina didn''t bother to respond and continued to struggle for a while, until she realized that her tail had slipped between Yara''s legs, leaving her completely petrified. "Mmmm, Rina... Why did you stop? You''re still so hard...", Yara said reproachfully, pressing Rina''s tail between her thighs, which until then had been rubbing against her intimate area. "No!... No, it was... It was an accident!", Rina began to apologize, trying to pull her tail out from between Yara''s legs. Unfortunately, the only thing she managed to do was elicit some soft moans from Yara as the almost nonexistent distance between them made extracting her tail from between Yara''s legs an impossible mission. Seeing Rina''s face becoming redder and redder, Yara could hardly contain her giggles. "Rina, are you always this considerate with all your opponents? Does it matter where you touch them in a fight? Or is it that you feel attracted to me, making you react this way?", Yara asked in an extremely seductive tone, her lips brushing more or less accidentally against the space between Rina''s shoulder blades. "You''re dreaming!...", Rina said through gritted teeth, then began shaking her head to try to push Yara away with her lush hair as Yara continued to blow on the back of her neck. "Are you sure? It seems your body disagrees; its increasing temperature and your accelerated heartbeat are clear indicators that you''re not indifferent to my touch. Look, for example, right now...", Yara said, then slowly bit Rina''s neck. "I can feel your heart about to leap out of your chest...", Yara continued, very proud that her demonstration had been successful. "!!!!!", Rina panicked, trying once again to escape Yara''s arms. Maybe before attacking Yara, Rina was sure that Yara had said she was interested in her too just to enrage her further, but after Yara''s latest actions, she began to believe that maybe Yara wasn''t lying. However, given that the chances of Rina escaping Yaras arms with her limbs already bound were almost nonexistent even when she wasn''t tired, it was expected that she wouldn''t succeed in her current state. Thus, Rina remained under Yara''s control, who tried to calm her with sweet words and by caressing her abdomen. "Lucy!.. She, she... She''s bullying me...", Rina cried out, her wet eyes no longer showing any trace of hostility, only fear. She was really afraid that if things continued in the same direction, she would lose not only the battle but also her virginity. Seeing how the situation had evolved, the only thing Lucy could think was, "Damn it! Yara really knows how to handle feline girls...". Chapter 42. Seize the Reins "Yara, it seems Rina has calmed down, so please let her go...", Lucy said, with a bit of irritation in her voice. Since Yara hadn''t yet entered into a relationship with them, Lucy felt somewhat uncomfortable seeing the position the two were in. Maybe watching two extremely sexy girls satisfying each other was one of her favorite activities, a clear proof being the browsing history on her computer (which she hoped no one would bother to check after her disappearance), but this was not the case when one of them was her official girlfriend, as Lucy did not find it exciting at all to wear a green hat. "Huh, but things were just getting interesting... Why don''t you join us..." "I said that''s enough, Yara!", Lucy interrupted, not believing that Yara''s idea was the best solution for their situation. Maybe if all three of them gave in to their carnal desires at that moment, their relationship could be established much quicker, but Lucy didn''t want Rina to feel forced to accept Yara joining them. "Besides, don''t you think what you''re doing is a bit over the top? The fact that you''re extremely attractive doesn''t give you the right to act like a hooligan...", Lucy then began to scold Yara, but seeing that both Yara and Rina were looking at her with an expression that said, "Are you one to say that?" Lucy added, "At least, don''t be so aggressive...", wanting Yara''s extremely explicit actions and her teasing not to be put in the same category. Lucy could see that Yara had a natural talent for being a dominatrix, as both she and Rina easily fell under her charms. However, she believed Yara wasn''t proceeding correctly by relying solely on this to get closer to them. A solid relationship couldn''t be based solely on sexual desire but also required understanding. Rina''s reaction also didn''t sit well with Lucy. Driven by jealousy, she threw herself into a fight she couldn''t possibly win, and then panicked as soon as Yara began teasing her, without any attempt to engage in a mental battle. Lucy could accept in private that Rina had yandere tendencies, but she didn''t think it was good for her to be led by emotions in public, especially when she wasn''t ready to face the consequences of her actions. Only a qualified yandere, invincible both physically and mentally, could afford to do whatever she wants. ''But I must admit that this contrast between her aggressiveness and helplessness is rather cute. It reminds me of a short video of a lion cub trying to bite through the skin of a bison hunted by its family members...'', Lucy thought to herself, unable to see Rina in a completely bad light. Anyway, taking all these things into account, Lucy concluded that it would be best to be a little tougher with the two and not let them do whatever they wanted, otherwise, she risked not finding a solution to the problem generated by Yara''s proposal until evening. She couldn''t be like an emperor who has to resolve conflicts between wives and concubines all day while the people starve. "Yes, for a ninja, love should not come first... Well, I don''t know what should come first for me, but I guess it should be something greater. After all, I''ve entered a magical world full of conflicts, not a teenage sitcom...", Lucy continued to think while Yara released Rina, both of them behaving very obediently after seeing that Lucy was starting to lose her patience. Once freed, Rina immediately clung to Lucy and began to seek comfort from her, similar to a small child who feels they have suffered a great injustice without any fault of their own, so Lucy had to swallow the words of reproach she had prepared for her, unable to maintain her resolve to be tough with Rina, who seemed very vulnerable at that moment. "There, there... It''s no problem that you lost...", Lucy began to soothe Rina, patting her on the head, trying to lift her spirits. Since Rina was much taller than her, the position they were in was a bit comical; it was as if a child was trying to comfort her mother. But unlike Lucy, who could no longer think clearly after enduring multiple direct attacks from Rina''s cuteness, Yara was not so easily impressed, suspecting that Rina was exaggerating to win Lucy''s sympathy. ''She really is shameless...'', Yara thought to herself, not expecting that Rina, being so proud and straightforward, could pose in such a vulnerable state. ''But if I think about it, lions are just bigger cats, so it''s no wonder a liongirl has the talent to win affection by pretending to be harmless and obedient...'', Yara tried to explain the naturalness with which Rina had transitioned from a hostile attitude to an extremely submissive one, attributing it to the feline ability to bend and stretch both literally and figuratively. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Under Lucy''s strokes and reassurances, Rina recovered somewhat in about three minutes, but she continued to cling to Lucy, occasionally looking around vigilantly as if she feared that if she moved even a meter away, she would fall back into Yara''s hands. "Don''t be so agitated, Rina... It''s not like being teased by a sexy young woman is something extremely terrifying...", Lucy said with a bit of exasperation in her voice, not believing that the interactions between Yara and Rina were so extreme that Rina would be left traumatized. Having gone through Yara''s hands herself, she thought she knew what she was talking about. While it might be true that Rina hadn''t made much effort to calm down, since showing she was scared was a good way to get Lucy''s full attention, that didn''t mean her emotions weren''t sincere. First of all, there was a big difference between the way Yara teased a cat, as she did with Lucy, and the way she teased a girl. Secondly, apart from her kisses with Lucy, Rina had no sexual experience, so it was no wonder she was much more affected by Yara''s teasing than Lucy was. "But Lucy, don''t you see her eyes are glued to my tail? I''m sure she has dangerous intentions for it...", Rina complained, placing her tail in Lucy''s hands for protection. "....", Lucy was left speechless. It''s true that Yara was looking at them, but she didn''t seem to be paying special attention to Rina''s tail, so either Rina was exaggerating, or she was imagining things. But what could Lucy do in that situation? She believed that a good girlfriend should be there for her partner when they have emotional problems, so she didn''t start contradicting Rina but continued to assure her that she wouldn''t let Yara do whatever she wanted. It''s true that the contact of her hands with Rina''s tail helped her be more patient, as stroking a lion''s tail seemed to have a therapeutic effect on her. ''Her tail really is firm...'', Lucy had to agree with Yara, involuntarily stroking Rina''s tail more intensely, not noticing that Rina''s face, which had just regained its usual color, was starting to turn red again. .............................. Although Lucy eventually managed to calm Rina down, the atmosphere remained tense between her and Yara, so, to ease the tension, Lucy decided to organize a small picnic, hoping that the delicious food from the Ninja Shop would bring the two closer together. She didn''t expect Rina to accept Yara entering a relationship with them by the end of the picnic, but she hoped they could at least communicate normally because she didn''t want any arguments between them while capturing the subordinates of the marquis who had ordered the attack on the lionkins'' village, as this could lead to unpleasant incidents. Rina''s leg injury from an hour ago had already caused her enough stress for the whole day. Since they were going to run to where Yara''s former comrades were, Lucy thought it wasn''t a good idea to bring out very hearty food so they wouldn''t have stomach problems. So, she bought three bags of salted crackers and three cans of cola from the Ninja Shop, which could be consumed in about 10 minutes. Setting aside a bag of salted crackers and a can of cola for herself, Lucy handed Rina an identical portion. Then, under Rina''s sharp glare, she approached Yara to hand her a portion as well. "Huh, what are these items?", Yara asked, never having seen food packaged this way before. "It''s food... I thought it would be a good idea to have a small snack together to get to know each other better. But please, don''t tease Rina anymore. As you can see, she''s a bit shy and doesn''t have much experience... well, I think you understand what I mean. Anyway, the best solution would be to have a rational discussion where everyone expresses their ideas in a, how should I say... yes, politically correct manner...", Lucy said, wanting to make her intentions known to both Yara and Rina in the hope that they would behave civilly. "Alright. It''s a good idea... Thank you for the food...", Yara said, taking the items handed by Lucy. Then, wanting to be helpful, she took out three stools from her storage ring for them to sit on since there was no convenient stump or rock nearby. "Thank you, Yara...", Lucy was happy to see that Yara was willing to contribute to creating a harmonious environment. Unfortunately, this couldn''t be said about Rina, who didn''t seem at all pleased to share a meal with Yara, and even less so to see her eating specialties made by Lucy. She stood on the side with her arms crossed, not helping at all. ''At least she didn''t start doing a rain dance...'', Lucy consoled herself, considering that Rina had made some progress, since she didn''t lose her temper and didn''t take any measures to prevent the picnic from taking place. "Come on, Rina! Don''t be rude... Come and sit on the stool..." Lucy signaled to Rina to approach. She regretted a bit giving Rina the crackers and cola first, thinking it would have been an effective strategy to lure her with food; given Rina''s extraordinary sense of smell, she would probably have found it hard to resist salivating once Lucy opened a bag of salted crackers. However, Lucy didn''t need any strategy to convince Rina to join the picnic, as she headed towards the empty stool next to Lucy before she could insist. Lucy was pleasantly surprised that Rina was finally willing to approach Yara. Looking at the two beauties in front of her who were watching her seriously, Lucy found the situation they were in very similar to a courtroom, where both litigants sat in complete silence, waiting for the judge to start the trial. ''And I''m Judge Harper...'', Lucy assigned herself the role with the most authority, deciding to use as inspiration for maintaining order during the picnic a fairly popular show from her previous world, which took place in a courtroom and was known for featuring paternity cases in every episode. Chapter 43. Temporary Peace After she calmed down, Rina realized that her recent actions didn''t exactly put her in a good light; although she had almost no experience in relationships, even she was quite clear that most people probably wouldn''t choose to have a girlfriend who throws hysterical fits if they had more options. However, acting first and thinking later was a fairly common reaction for Rina when she was in a stressful situation, as it was for most lionkins, so Rina didn''t expect that such incidents wouldn''t occur again in the future, especially since ever since she entered a relationship, she had all sorts of emotions completely foreign to her until then and didn''t know how to manage them. But not everything was so bad. Seeing how Lucy was very patient with her and did everything in her power to calm her down, Rina could be quite sure that she had already become someone important to Lucy and that their relationship wasn''t a superficial one, that could be broken at the first obstacle, even if this first obstacle was a young woman who was interested in Lucy and who was superior to her both aesthetically and in terms of combat skills. But Yara read the situation well and didn''t make Lucy choose between them, her proposal that all three of them be in a relationship not directly contradicting the fact that Lucy didn''t intend to replace her. But what would that mean for the relationship between her and Lucy? Is it possible that Lucy would love her just as much if she had another girlfriend as she would if it were just the two of them? Rina didn''t know the answers to these questions, but she wasn''t really willing to take risks to find out, because accepting Yara to join them wasn''t a reversible thing, as Rina couldn''t imagine anyone would be willing to give up a girlfriend as perfect as Lucy. Well, that was her opinion about Lucy, Rina being extremely satisfied with her. As for being in a relationship with Yara, this wasn''t seen in a good light by Rina. First of all, since she hadn''t intended in the past to find a partner, Rina was quite emotionally overwhelmed just having one girlfriend. How could she cope with two? Secondly, Yara didn''t seem like a suitable partner for her, but rather a person she should avoid. Rina couldn''t deny that she also found Yara very attractive, her beauty and sensual movements making her gaze involuntarily drawn to her, but that wasn''t enough to make her yield to Yara, who, just by her presence, put those around her in a position of inferiority, and even more so with her words, because for Rina being submissive was hard to accept, as she sought equality and understanding in a relationship. That being said, it was quite obvious that Rina was still very hostile towards Yara at the moment she joined the picnic. However, since she was no longer stressed by the thought that Lucy might abandon her, it wasn''t as difficult for her to keep her emotions under control. Turning her gaze towards Yara, who was less than two meters away from her, to see what she was up to, Rina was surprised to see that she didn''t seem to have any intention of teasing her and just gave her a friendly smile. "See, Rina, Yara isn''t a difficult person to interact with. She probably just got carried away because you''re extremely cute when you blush...", Lucy interrupted the silence, believing that Rina hadn''t formed a correct opinion about Yara because they hadn''t had the chance to have a normal conversation, all their interactions being conflictual. "Good for her...", said Rina, visibly uninterested in this topic. What did she care if Yara was sociable or not? "...Yes...", Lucy had to swallow the rest of the words she had prepared to put Yara in a better light, fearing that if she insisted on this topic, Rina would lose her calm again. "...Anyway, let''s start eating. Be careful when opening the packages not to drop the crackers on the ground...", Lucy said, hoping that once they started eating, the situation wouldn''t be so tense, Rina being in a much better mood when she had her mouth full of delicious food. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Looking at the bag of salty crackers in their hands, both Yara and Rina were very confused because they didn''t know where to start pulling, as modern packaging didn''t resemble at all the cloths in which people in that world wrapped their food when they went on a journey. "Crack!", Lucy''s bag sounded, the whole area being enveloped in the enticing smell of salty crackers. Unlike Rina, who was convinced that Lucy had pulled out something very delicious again, Yara did not expect the contents of the bag in her hand to be so aromatic, as the airtight packaging did not allow any odor particles to pass through, so it didn''t even seem like she was holding something edible. "Mmm, it smells really good...", said Yara, watching Lucy start to munch, then she cut open the bag of salty crackers at one end with a knife and began to eat as well. "What kind of food is this? It''s truly delicious...", she marveled, as not only the taste but also the texture of the crackers was completely different from any kind of food that had ever entered her mouth. "I''m glad you like it. They are just some crackers made mainly from flour...", Lucy said, not intending to go into details. Since the packaging only said Ninja Salt Crackers, she couldn''t say much about them either. "Err, do you need help?", Lucy continued, seeing Rina struggling to open the package by biting a corner. Because Lucy had moved quickly and without warning when she opened the bag of crackers, Rina couldn''t figure out what move she used, and since Rina didn''t have any artifact or skill to store things and because she usually fought with her hands free, she often forgot to take a knife with her, so she had nothing at hand to open the bag of crackers as Yara did. Thus, Rina was the only one who hadn''t eaten any crackers yet, even though her craving was the greatest, as she was trying to open the bag by pulling with her teeth or trying to bite it. Unfortunately, although her jaw was strong, the packaging slipped through her teeth, so her chances of succeeding using these methods were quite low. "You can use my knife...", Yara added, extending the knife that had not yet disappeared from her hand to Rina. Rina didn''t intend to pay attention to Yara, but seeing that the cracker packaging in her hand was covered in saliva, she was a bit embarrassed to hand it to Lucy, so in the end, she reached out to Yara to take the knife. "Thank you...", Rina said after taking the knife from Yara''s hand. As long as Yara behaved normally, she had no choice but to act politely too, otherwise, she would seem immature. Although Rina wasn''t used to handling knives, it only took her one try to cut the top part of the cracker bag, her impatience to eat something delicious again stimulating her potential. "Mmmm, very good...", Rina said after chewing a cracker. Although they weren''t sweet like the other snacks Lucy had offered her until then, they had a crunchy texture that made each bite satisfying, and an extremely addictive taste, the salt enhancing the flavor of the ingredients and stimulating the taste buds, so once again Rina was captivated by Lucy''s culinary skills. "I''m glad you like it. You can eat without any worry, as I''ve prepared many bags...", Lucy said, thinking that a 100-gram bag might be too little for Rina. "Lucy, are these biscuits made by you?", Yara asked, taking back the knife Rina handed her. Once it reached her hand, it disappeared without a trace. Lucy suspected that she didn''t put it in her ring''s storage space but used a skill. "Yes...", Lucy replied between chews, finding it much easier to lie about the origin of her food than a day ago as she had managed to brainwash herself into thinking that even though she bought it from the Ninja Shop, technically the food was brought into existence by her own skill and bought with points she earned, so it couldn''t be said that it was made by someone else. Just as when someone uses a skill to eliminate a person or a beast, it isn''t said that they didn''t deliver the final blow. "Why do you ask?", Lucy continued after finishing the crackers in her mouth. "It''s the first time I''ve seen such a type of food, so I''m a bit curious about how they were prepared. For example, how did you bake them so that they have the same texture on all sides?" Since Yara didn''t seem like the type of person interested in cooking, Lucy didn''t believe that her intention was to exchange recipes; most likely, Yara, who had traveled more, found her salty crackers a bit suspicious. Maybe she suspected they were of divine origin, just as she initially did with the antidote Lucy had offered her. However, since Lucy had never visited a salty cracker factory, it was hard for her to describe the preparation process in such a way that it didn''t sound like she was talking nonsense. ''Damn it, I was supposed to play the role of the judge. Why do I feel like the one being interrogated now? Maybe it would have been better if instead of a picnic we had a beach episode...'', Lucy complained in her mind, tired of being put in all sorts of stressful situations. Chapter 44. Under Interrogation ''...We would put sunscreen on each other, build sandcastles, play in the water... Yes, with so many things to do, who would even notice all the little details? It''s a shame that the option of a beach party isn''t feasible, as both the time and the place are inappropriate...'' Aware that a beach party was far from being a possibility, especially since at that moment she didn''t even know if there was a beach within a reasonable distance, Lucy didn''t waste time thinking about how she could convince Rina to join such an activity with Yara. Instead, she started focusing on forming a response that would realistically describe how crackers are baked, so she wouldn''t come across as talking nonsense. "...How did I bake the salty crackers? Well, I used a large oven, powered by gas. Yes, if you try to bake them in a wood-fired oven, theyll probably burn because you can''t maintain a constant temperature, so a gas oven is necessary. Anyway, it''s more like a drying process at high temperatures than actual baking. Also, the salty crackers need to be turned every five minutes while they''re in the oven...", Lucy finally said, after finishing the handful of biscuits she had stuffed into her mouth when Yara asked her about the crackers-making process, trying to maintain a monotone tone to suggest that she wasn''t particularly interested in such technical details. However, Yara didn''t seem to understand that Lucy wasn''t in the mood to discuss such things, so she began asking for more details. "A gas oven? ...I''ve never heard of such a thing before. Is it similar to one that uses fire-attribute mana cores?" ''It seems that when it comes to reading the atmosphere, Rina and Yara are quite similar: neither knows when to stop asking questions...'', Lucy thought to herself, unable to enjoy the salty crackers because she was worried she might eventually say something suspicious. "Probably. Since I spent most of my childhood in the wilderness, I haven''t had the chance to see what an oven powered by mana cores looks like, so I can''t give you an exact answer," Lucy decided to play the role of someone disconnected from society again, to make it easier to justify her lack of knowledge. "Oh, so I was right when I thought you didn''t belong to the lionkins'' settlement. So, where are you from?", Yara directly expressed her curiosity about Lucy''s origins. Considering both her unusual class and the extremely valuable items in her possession, Yara believed it was highly likely that Lucy was either part of a secret society with close ties to demons or an apprentice of a legendary hero. "...I''m sorry, but I don''t want everyone to know my origins. That''s something I can only share with those very close to me, whom I trust...", Lucy said after a brief moment of hesitation. Initially, she wanted to tell Yara the same story she had told Rina''s grandmother, but considering that Yara likely knew much more about the world than someone living in an isolated village, she decided to abandon the idea to avoid getting tangled up in explanations. Besides, she couldn''t remember exactly the story about her origins that she had told in front of Rina, so there was a risk that Rina would realize she had lied if some details didn''t match. "I understand, it''s not wise to trust someone you haven''t even known for a day...", Yara said with a hint of disappointment in her voice. Although Lucy didn''t think Yara''s feelings could be hurt so easily, seeing a very beautiful girl sad because of her was quite hard to bear. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. "Well, maybe I can''t tell you now, but in the future...", Lucy blurted out without thinking. "Really, Lucy? So, you''re planning to accept the proposal I made?," Yara suddenly asked, very excited. Lucy almost forgot everything and was ready to agree after making eye contact with her bright, grateful eyes. ''No, no... This isn''t good! I haven''t discussed this matter with Rina yet. Damn it, the moment I let my guard down a bit, I fell into the trap of her beauty!'', Lucy made an effort to regain her composure, knowing that the probability of Rina losing her mind if she accepted Yara''s proposal at that moment was over 95 percent. "That...", Lucy began, shyly turning her gaze towards Rina. To Lucy''s surprise, Rina was unusually calm, seemingly wanting to hear what Lucy''s intentions were as well. Honestly, Lucy couldn''t tell if this was a good or bad sign for her. ''Damn. And here I thought talking about salty crackers and ovens was stressful...'', Lucy started to miss the situation she had been in just a few moments ago, now really feeling like she was standing in front of a jury. "Well, Yara, this isn''t a decision I can make on my own. I need to discuss it with Rina first...", Lucy finally said, but the fact that she didn''t respond directly with a "no" to Yara''s question made it clear to everyone present that she personally didn''t have anything against the idea. Lucy didn''t really want to discuss Yara''s proposal with Rina at that moment because it was clear from Rina''s sulky expression that the chances of her agreeing to let Yara enter a relationship with them were extremely slim. Maybe if she had 2-3 days to shower Rina with affection and boost her confidence in their relationship, the situation wouldn''t seem so bleak. However, it seemed that Rina and Yara had reached a silent understanding, both waiting quietly to hear what Lucy had to say next, so Lucy couldn''t change the subject without seeming like she was afraid to make a decision. ''Heh, I''m trying to protect their feelings, and the two of them are teaming up against me...'', Lucy thought, realizing that having multiple girlfriends wasn''t always a dream scenario; it could be extremely stressful. "So, Rina, what do you think? Would you want Yara to be in a relationship with us?", Lucy decided to stop beating around the bush. Why should she be the only one walking on eggshells? If she kept this up, she''d probably end up like those young men from harem anime, too afraid to have an opinion for fear of upsetting their girlfriends. "Not really...", Rina replied, trying to hide behind a mask of indifference the fact that she already felt defeated. Now that it was clear Lucy was open to Yara''s proposal, Rina knew her chances of getting rid of the young dark elf woman were slim. The only option would be to emotionally blackmail Lucy by throwing a jealous fit or starting to cry, but Rina believed that such a thing would probably harm her relationship with Lucy, as Lucy would always blame her in her mind, thinking that she had to refuse such a beauty just to please her. However, to ensure she wouldn''t lose too much and that Yara wouldn''t cause problems, Rina couldn''t give up the fight. If nothing else, it might help her vent her frustration, especially since she had discovered she enjoyed watching Lucy stress out. "...Do you think you could give more details?", Lucy asked again, a bit taken aback by Rina''s attitude. She still hadn''t found the best way to approach Rina when she was in her kuudere mode. "Well, because I think she''s a bad person...", Rina decided to start with what bothered her about Yara. "Not only was she on the side of those who had bad intentions for the people in my village, but she also seems like someone who is extremely casual about relationships, as from the way she treated my tail, I''m sure at least 10 beastkin girls have passed through her bed. Considering how many species there are apart from demihumans, who knows what her total number of ex-girlfriends and one-night stands might be?", Rina continued, looking at Yara with an accusatory gaze. Chapter 45. Reason for Hope or a Bad Sign? Yara was left speechless after hearing Rina''s accusations. The first part might have been somewhat justified as she had indeed worked for the person who sent mercenaries to capture the lionkins, though, in her defense, she had negotiated to act only as a bodyguard. But what kind of logic led Rina to conclude that she was a playboy? Given that Yara had never even held hands with anyone before, she felt she had been greatly wronged. "I don''t deny that during my mercenary career, I sometimes worked for bad people and did things I''m not proud of, and I don''t intend to make excuses for that. How should I put it... If I have to choose between my well-being and others'', I will always choose the first option. But if I hadn''t acted that way, the situation I would be in now would probably be very grim. I think you can imagine just by looking at me what would have awaited me if I were a weak person who couldn''t protect herself. Anyway, as long as someone doesn''t have strong support to rely on, it''s almost impossible to reach my level while keeping their hands clean...", Yara explained the situation she was in. Although she had been made aware of Marquis Olsen''s intentions towards the inhabitants of Rina''s village, as long as she could still achieve her goal, she did not intend to stop working for him, even though she knew she would have to partake in something immoral. Yara always believed that only those who have no one above them can afford to be influenced by pity; for everyone else, pity is like a contagious disease: today you pity someone, and tomorrow someone will pity you. Yes, for an ordinary person, personal well-being cannot exist without being based on the suffering of others. Let''s take a simple example: going to a store. If the seller miscalculates the total cost of the selected products and asks for less money, the buyer benefits by paying less, but this couldn''t happen without the seller incurring a loss. In conclusion, Yara could sleep soundly no matter what happened to the lionkins because she had become accustomed to the idea that living means devouring others. But that didn''t mean she personally had anything against the lionkin. It was just business. ''That was truly a good speech. In my opinion, it would probably score 9 out of 10 on the cool speech scale of an anti-hero...'', Lucy thought to herself as she assessed Yara. She was impressed by the fact that Yara didn''t try to deceive herself into thinking she was innocent when doing something wrong and that the only ones to blame were those giving the orders, but she deducted a point because she felt that the reason Yara was willing to do less honorable things wasn''t deep enough. Lucy was aware that for the weak, beauty is a curse and that Yara was forced to be strong to feel safe, but it couldn''t be said that Yara''s situation was one that stirred strong emotions. If this reason were presented in a movie about a ninja''s origins, it probably wouldn''t impress too many people, and the studio that produced the movie wouldn''t recover its investment. In her opinion, a reason like revenge or regret was much more captivating and easier for the audience to understand. Although Rina had lived her entire life in an isolated place, she had also seen that the world was not a place where someone who considers themselves a hero could live for long, so she was aware that she couldn''t expect Yara to make sacrifices for the well-being of the lionkins, especially since she had no obligation to the inhabitants of her village. Moreover, surviving thanks to the pity of others didn''t sit well with the character of lionkins, most of whom were proud people. Considering these things and the fact that Yara had not taken any action against her village so far, Rina couldn''t continue to hold a grudge against Yara for being on the enemy side without seeming narrow-minded. However, for the extreme way Yara had teased her, Rina still felt entitled to ask for an explanation, firmly believing that Yara was not a serious person. "I understand. Maybe you''re not the enemy of my village... But after what you did to me, dont think I can look at you favorably. Do you really believe that humiliating someone is the best way to get close to them? I don''t know what kind of girls you''ve dealt with before, but I''m not one of them..." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Upon hearing Rina''s words, not only Yara but also Lucy choked on the salty crackers they had in their mouths. As Lucy reflected on how she had reacted to Yaras teasing, she began to wonder if she was partly to blame for Yaras mistaken idea of how to court a girl. She didnt deny that a bit of S&M play in the bedroom could be fun, but it didnt have much of a place before exchanging even a few words, especially when the other person clearly wasnt in the mood for it. "...Rina, Im sorry if I went too far. But it wasnt because Im used to flirting with girls like you said. Its the opposite, actuallythis is all new to me, and I let my instincts take over. Believe me, until today, I didnt even know I had a preference for girls! Anyway, if itll make you feel better, Ill let you touch me back in the same way...", Yara said after taking a deep breath, hoping her explanation would be enough to dispel Rinas fantasies that she was some kind of succubus. "Who...who wants to touch you? Besides, how could I even do the same thing? You don''t even have a tail!", Rina quickly retorted, averting her gaze from Yara so as not to be influenced by her expression full of obedience. Even if Yara was telling the truth about her romantic history, it didn''t change the fact that Yara was something similar to her natural predator, as she had no way to counterattack her. Thus, she couldn''t risk lowering her guard in Yara''s presence, even if Yara showed signs of weakness, because there was a good chance that she would still end up being the one bullied. "Well, the offer doesn''t have an expiration date, so you have time to think of an alternative...", Yara said as if she was already sure they would be spending a lot of time together from now on. Also aware of the implication in Yara''s words, Rina thought she needed to be tougher to prevent Yara from dominating her. "No, theres no need. I dont plan on doing such things except with my girlfriend...", Rina reminded Yara that she had not agreed to any relationship between them. "Huh? I thought we resolved all the misunderstandings... What problem is left?", Yara asked, with a confused expression, though she didn''t seem at all disturbed by Rina''s cold tone. Since Rina was straightforward by nature, the fact that she hadnt outright rejected the idea of a relationship and was willing to continue the conversation made Yara fairly certain that Rina would eventually agree, so she didnt see much reason to worry. "What problem is left? Isn''t it obvious? Then imagine you''re in my place, that you''re in a relationship, and out of nowhere, a girl shows up and suggests sharing your girlfriend with her. What would you say in that situation? I don''t think you''d be thrilled...", Rina tried to make Yara see things from her perspective. Perhaps Yara was okay with sharing Lucy because she had nothing to lose, but that wasn''t the case for her. Rina was extremely worried that Yara''s presence would make Lucy''s feelings for her less strong than they would be if it were just the two of them in a relationship. "But who said anything about sharing? Can''t we all be happy together? Or is it that you don''t want anything to do with me... Is that it? You don''t find me attractive at all?", Yara thought to put Rina in a dilemma, feeling pretty sure that the answer wouldn''t be a simple no, not only because she knew how good she looked, but also because of how Rina reacted to her teasing. Hearing Yara''s questions, Rina was stunned for a few seconds. She didn''t want to admit that she found Yara attractive, as it would give Yara satisfaction, but she also couldn''t outright deny it because it would be obvious she was lying. Only someone blind could possibly be immune to her beauty. Moreover, as she continued the calm conversation with Yara, Rina began to see her less as an overly dominant person with whom it was impossible to reach a compromise. On the contrary, Yara often displayed signs of maturity. "...I don''t see what that has to do with anything...", Rina tried to dodge giving a clear answer. "Well, I think it''s very important because mutual attraction is the first step towards developing a relationship. So, I like you, you like me, Lucy likes both of us, and we both like Lucy, so I don''t see any reason why we can''t all be in a relationship together...", Yara said, taking Rina''s hesitation as clear evidence that she liked her but was too shy to admit it. "Besides, I think you''ve noticed that together, it''s much easier to keep Lucy under control.", Yara continued to persuade Rina. "Alone, neither you nor I have a chance of opposing her, but if we join forces..." "Ahem!" Lucy suddenly interrupted, displeased with the direction the conversation between Yara and Rina was taking. ''Dont try to lure Rina to the dark side, Darth Yara!'', Lucy began to panic in her mind. Chapter 46. A Determined Catgirl Lucy was happy for a while because Rina and Yara had turned their attention away from her and started to resolve their issues on their own. It was really stressful for Lucy to play the mediator between them, and not even her so-called experience from yuri dating sims seemed to help much, mainly because most of the love interests in those games were innocent schoolgirls, not like her situation, where she was dealing with two girls capable of acts of violence worthy of an R-rated movie. But how could she continue to enjoy the peace when, right in front of her, an alliance was forming that aimed to suppress her freedom? This was something she couldn''t ignore, so Lucy found herself forced to intervene, even though she knew she would once again be the center of attention and would likely not be able to withdraw until a compromise was reached between Rina and Yara. "Tatakae, Lucy! Tatakae!", Lucy tried to muster her fighting spirit, determined that this time she wouldn''t let herself be intimidated by Rina and Yara and would put them in their place. "...Lucy, is something wrong?", Yara asked, slightly confused by the sideways glance Lucy was giving her. Why was she upset? Weren''t things going in the right direction? "Well, Yara, don''t you think that instead of finding ways to keep me under control, it would be better to think of ways to make me happy? And specifically, what do you think I did that was so inappropriate? Was it because I teased you a bit during the fight? If that''s it, I assure you I wouldn''t have gone any further with a girl I wasn''t in a relationship with, no matter how attractive I found her. As for what happened afterward, that was your fault, not mine..." Even though Yara didn''t entirely agree with Lucy, the fact that she herself had bent was the best proof that Lucy''s actions were extremely provocative, she was smart enough not to contradict Lucy; as long as the cat wasn''t yet in her arms, she had to tread carefully, or else the cat would run away. "Im sorry if I didnt express myself clearly. I wasnt criticizing your actions, but rather acknowledging that your natural coquetry makes it difficult for anyone to resist being swept away when they''re around you..." Remembering her interactions with her clone, Lucy couldn''t say that Yara was exaggerating. The truth was, she was very temptingsometimes just a single flutter of her eyelashes was enough to make someone feel provoked. "Oh, yes... You''re right. Seeing the two of you in front of me, who are extraordinarily beautiful, I forgot how attractive I am myself...", Lucy said with melancholy in her voice, not just because she was craving her own body, but also because she remembered how easily she could resolve misunderstandings with her clone, and how pleasant the process was. Both Rina and Yara found Lucy''s expression a bit odd, and they couldn''t help but wonder if Lucy was suffering from a touch of narcissism; they looked very good themselves, but they never spoke about themselves with such fascination. However, in Lucy''s defense, Rina and Yara had their entire lives to get used to their bodies, not just less than a week like Lucy, and their minds hadn''t been poisoned by countless manga filled with taboo subjects, including selfcest, as had happened to Lucy in her previous life. That being said, it can''t be argued that Lucy was narcissisticrather, her relationship with her body was a bit different from that of others, as she hadn''t yet managed to see herself as a whole. In that sense, Lucy''s situation was somewhat similar to that of the main character in the movie Avatar. "Anyway, now that we''ve cleared this up, let''s try to reach an agreement...", Lucy said, drawing Rina''s and Yara''s attention. "Tell me first, Rina, what do you think of Yara? Is it true that she''s very attractive and very powerful?" Being asked directly by Lucy what she thought of Yara, Rina could no longer evade the question. She didnt want to lie to her lover. "...Yes..." Rina said reluctantly, avoiding looking in Yara''s direction so she wouldn''t see her triumphant smile. Stolen novel; please report. "So, don''t you think we should be proud of ourselves that someone like Yara is courting us? Probably anyone, whether man or woman, would give half their life to be in our place...", Lucy began to persuade Rina not to see Yara as an obstacle but as a prize, a kind of proof of her own excellence. "Honestly, if Yara hadn''t proposed to become our girlfriend, I wouldn''t have even considered the possibility of her joining us because I''ve never doubted for a moment that you''re enough for me. Not only are you incredibly beautiful with an amazing body, but you also have an extremely warm personality that makes me feel like part of a family when I''m around you. Even when you get angry, I don''t find you cold; instead, I think you''re incredibly cute..." Lucy continued to soften Rina, showing her how much she appreciated her. "But now that I''ve heard Yara''s proposal, I don''t think it would be a bad thing if the three of us were in a relationship because I believe we''d look great together. Yes, people will probably be jealous of us because we''ll have not one but two amazing girlfriends. And what about Yara if we refuse her? Could she really find two better girlfriends who could make her happier than we could? I think the chances are very slim, if not nonexistent, so I can''t help but feel guilty if we don''t accept her, cutting off her chance to find true happiness...", Lucy finished sharing her opinion, making the acceptance of Yara seem like an act of spreading goodness and beauty in the world. ".........", Both Rina and Yara were left speechless, as Lucy''s ability to change the perspective from which things were viewed was more than they could manage. How could they hope to control Lucy if they joined forces? When Lucy was motivated enough, probably not even four people could suppress her in a discussion. "...So, are you saying that the main reason you''re okay with Yara joining us isn''t because you want to mate with her?", Rina thought to bring up the thing that was obvious to everyone, a bit irritated that Lucy was trying to pose as a saint when it was clear she had impure thoughts. Lucy wanted to say yes, to maintain the effect of her speech, but she was aware that she would seem hypocritical if she denied having the desire to get Yara into bed at that moment. "Well, even you admitted that she''s very attractive... Tell me, Rina, what would you do if a delicious cake appeared in front of you? Wouldn''t you be tempted to eat it?", Lucy decided to explain the situation to Rina in terms she was sure she would understand. "Oh, so she''s like a cake to you? Then what would you compare me to?", Rina asked, not necessarily out of jealousy, but more to put Lucy in a difficult position. She didn''t want Lucy to start thinking she was someone easily influenced; otherwise, she wouldn''t be taken seriously in the future. "Uhh... still a cake, but with different ingredients...", Lucy tried to give an answer that wouldn''t upset anyone. She didn''t want to start another fight between Rina and Yara, this time to determine who was sexier. ''Though if I think about it, maybe such a competition could be quite an interesting experience. We could have something like a Wet T-shirt contest...'', Lucy thought to herself, as the possibility of seeing Rina and Yara in thin, transparent clothes soaked with moisture was a nice consolation prize in case she couldn''t maintain peace. "Oh... then I guess its fine...", Rina said, surprising Lucy by not continuing the discussion about cakes as she had expected. Lucy had been mentally prepared for questions like, "Which one is better?" or "Which one do you want to eat first?". "Umm, what''s fine?", Lucy didn''t quite understand what Rina was referring to. "That you get to enjoy both cakes...", Rina clarified. Although she had initially intended to tease Lucy a little more, she changed her mind after seeing how Lucy was trying again not to hurt her feelings. Rina was quite confident that even if Yara joined them, Lucy wouldn''t make her feel left out. Even though the cake metaphor originated from Lucy, it took her a few moments to fully grasp the meaning behind Rina''s words, her mind racing with possibilities. "...Seriously, Rina? So you''re okay with Yara...", Lucy still hesitated to finish the question, fearing that maybe Rina wasn''t suggesting she was ready to accept Yara joining them; perhaps she was just talking about two literal cakes. "Yes, I''m okay with her entering a relationship with us...", Rina confirmed, slightly amused by Lucy''s cautiousness. She didn''t think Lucy was the type to be intimidated by success. "Yay! I knew Rina wanted to make me the happiest catgirl in the world!", Lucy jumped into Rina''s arms, and in her excitement, she captured Rina''s lips in a kiss, not minding that they were salty from the crackers Rina had been eating. "Did you hear that, Yara? Come join us too!", Lucy then beckoned Yara to join them for a group hug. "Okay! I''m very happy you accepted me!", Yara approached them with a big smile and wrapped her arms around both of them. "Do you think I could get a kiss from each of you too?", she asked after a few moments, wanting to be treated equally from that moment on. "I don''t see why not...", Lucy replied a bit dizzy, unable to stop herself from swallowing nervously a few times as she caught sight of Yara''s voluptuous lips, now just centimeters away from hers. Chapter 47. Savoring a Slice of Blueberry Cake Now that Lucy had received permission from Rina to eat as much "blueberry cake" as she wanted, she no longer felt constrained by any moral obligation as she admired Yara, which made her fall even deeper under the spell of her beauty. ''To think that I might ever be in a position to kiss such a beauty. I''ve beaten you both, Ditt, PiCaprio!'', Lucy declared her victory over two male celebrities she had envied in her previous life for their success with women. However, it was a bit difficult for her to kiss Yara in their current position because she had to turn her head to the side to look at Yara, who was holding both her and Rina in her arms. "Just a moment...", Lucy said, then turned toward Rina and motioned for her to let go so she could fully turn toward Yara. Seeing how excited Lucy was, Rina couldn''t help but roll her eyes. She had heard rumors in the past that most catkins had a stronger sexual appetite than other human species, but she had dismissed them as words spoken out of malice. Well, Rina was beginning to think that maybe those rumors weren''t entirely unfounded. "Don''t pout, Rina. In the future, when we''re... well, a bit more experienced, I''ll make sure we all feel good at the same time...", Lucy tried to console Rina, believing that she felt left out. Thinking that it would be easier for Rina to see her kissing Yara if she were in a state of sexual arousal, Lucy gave her another short, but extremely passionate kiss. "...Alright...", Rina said after Lucy released her lips, forgetting to ask Lucy how important erotic activities were to her. After hearing Lucy talk about threesomes, Rina didn''t really need any further confirmation. Breaking away from Rina, Lucy turned toward Yara, her wet lips glistening. Her eyes, filled with desire, were very much to Yara''s taste. "You look... delicious...", Lucy said, her body pressing against Yara''s as she wrapped her arms around Yara''s lower back, pulling her closer. "And very soft...", Lucy added, with her face buried in Yara''s neck due to the height difference, as Yara''s body, with its full chest and rounded hips that perfectly illustrated the hourglass figure, was extremely comfortable even when clothed. As for when she wasn''t dressed... Well, Lucy could only imagine how satisfying it would be to sink into her softness, and even she, as a woman, would probably succumb to the desire to impregnate her. But only figuratively, because even if there were something in that world that would allow her to do that, Lucy probably wouldn''t use it, since she didn''t really like small children. Besides, why would she allow anyone to compete with her for her lovers'' affection? (There will be no pregnancy in this story.) Although Lucy was momentarily distracted by the contact with Yara''s body, which exuded fertility, she didn''t forget what she had to do, her face getting closer and closer to Yara''s. ''What beautiful eyes...'', Lucy was still thinking as she was surprised by the contact of her lips with Yara''s, the last five centimeters passing as if she were in a trance; it was almost impossible for anyone to remain lucid when looking into Yara''s eyes from such a close distance for the first time, as they seemed to have the ability to hypnotize, similar to a siren''s song. But after feeling the warmth of Yara''s lips, Lucy was suddenly brought to her senses by an electric shock that ran through her body from the nape of her neck to the tip of her tail, and to avoid being enchanted again, she finally closed her eyes as the Disnep princesses do during the final kiss, allowing herself to enjoy Yara''s lips to her heart''s content. Although Lucy was on tiptoes with her face tilted upward while Yara''s body towered over her, the fact that she was more experienced in kissing made a huge difference, as she effortlessly dictated the rhythm of the lips'' dance. After Lucy had sucked and licked Yara''s lips until she had completely removed the salty taste from the crackers Yara had eaten, she became increasingly hungry for the exhaled air that escaped through Yara''s teeth, her tongue aggressively demanding to enter Yara''s mouth. Initially, Yara thought she would be the one to dominate in the end, as she believed it wouldn''t take long for her to become an expert in kissing, given her extraordinary learning ability. However, what she hadn''t anticipated was how being kissed for the first time would affect her, as she felt her knees weaken after feeling the moisture of Lucy''s lips. So Yara was more concerned with maintaining her posture than learning how to move her lips, fearing that she might collapse into Lucy''s arms, which would ruin her badass image, leaving her lips almost entirely under Lucy''s control. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Nevertheless, Yara hadn''t given up on her plan to counterattack, which was why she hadn''t yet allowed Lucy to invade her mouth. She feared that once the city''s walls fell, the battle would be completely lost. But how long could she resist Lucy, whose expression full of desire and muffled moans made Yara feel like her chest was on fire? Moreover, Lucy''s tongue, though very delicate, had explosive power, acting as a lever to open her teeth. So, under the combination of a psychological and physical attack, Yara eventually gave in and allowed Lucy to begin exploring her entire mouth, her tongue acting like a polite guide who was always at the visitor''s disposal to fulfill all their desires. Feeling that Yara had completely surrendered to her, Lucy couldnt resist opening her eyes, curious to see how Yara looked with a submissive expression on her face. "Damn! She looks lewd...", Lucy thought to herself, Yara''s moist eyes, which had lost focus, and her cheeks tinged with a bluish hue making her utterly irresistible. Lucy was on the verge of pushing Yara to the ground and tearing her clothes off. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately), the sliver of rationality that remained in Lucy prevented her from doing so, as there was only time for a short break and not for a 2-3 hour threesome. So, Lucy had to settle for kissing Yara as deeply as possible until she had stolen all the saliva from her mouth and all the air from her lungs, nearly making Yara faint. It took Yara more than half a minute to recover after their lips parted. "You were... Slurp!... extremely sweet...", Lucy said as she cleaned Yara''s cheeks and chin of saliva, or perhaps she just wanted to lick Yara''s face. Truth be told, Lucy felt a perverse sense of pride seeing the state of Yara''s extremely beautiful face, similar to a demon who had succeeded in making an angel sin. Yara, who had let all her weight rest on Lucy and was breathing deeply, didnt know what to think about how things had unfolded. She couldnt deny that the kiss had been a very exciting experience and had made her feel really good, but at that moment, she felt a bit irritated, remembering how submissive she had been; she had never experienced a situation before where she didnt feel in control. However, thinking that it had been her first kiss, she managed to regain some of her confidence. She was certain that the next time, her performance would be much better. "You... too...", Yara managed to say between gasps. "Anyway, I see you really like me... You were very passionate...", Yara tried to frame things from another perspective, one where she had dominated. After all, wasnt it because of her charm that Lucy couldnt stop kissing her? "Well, youre right. Especially when I see you blushing...", Lucy teased her a bit. She found the incompatibility between Yaras dominant personality and the exaggerated sensitivity of her body very amusing. Although Yara had never had the chance to see how she looked when she blushed, she suspected that she didn''t overflow with too much dignity in that situation. "...It ...It was my first kiss...", Yara stammered, not realizing that this quick confession would make Lucy see her as even more innocent. "Yeah, I figured..." Lucy said, then gave her lips a quick peck. "Maybe thats why I got a bit carried away. How could I not be excited at the thought of being the first to taste your juicy lips? So, I really enjoyed kissing you. Youve really won me over... Anyway, next time, Ill let you show me what youve learned. Honestly, I cant wait to feel your tongue in my throat...", Lucy whispered to Yaras ear, her hot breath and the content of her words making Yara feel like her brain was starting to boil. "...Sounds good...", Yara managed to say, separating herself from Lucy; although she was tempted to try to get her revenge right then, she didnt feel ready for another confrontation with Lucy, who was far too skilled at kissing. She thought it would be better to practice first with Rina, who seemed a bit more reserved when it came to physical intimacy. "Hey, Rina... Its your turn now...", Yara addressed Rina, who was at a distance of 2-3 meters from them. Rina had mixed feelings about the interaction that had taken place between Lucy and Yara. On one hand, she felt very jealous seeing Lucys lips, which had belonged only to her until then, being tasted by someone else, but on the other hand, she felt very aroused, as watching two extremely beautiful girls kiss was very stimulating. "...Yes...", Rina managed to control her emotions. To ensure they would live in harmony, she needed to start treating Yara as a lover too. "Come on! Dont tell me youre shy...", Yara took Rinas brief moment of hesitation as proof that she was a little intimidated by her. Hearing Yara''s words, Rina felt underestimated. Maybe Yara was stronger than her, but she didnt believe that Yara could defeat her in a battle of tongues after only experiencing her first kiss; she had been trained by Lucy much more thoroughly. Plus, the lionkins'' tongues were truly powerful. "...Dont worry...", Rina said, approaching Yara. She intended to make sure that Yara would no longer think she was someone easy to bully once their lips parted. Chapter 48. Leading to the Light Side Before being challenged by Yara, Rina was thinking of giving Yara just a brief kiss on the corner of her mouth to show that she was open to the idea of them getting closer to each other. This wasn''t because she felt uncomfortable around Yara, whom she no longer saw as an extremely unreasonable person, but because Rina wasn''t the type to make quick moves in a new relationship; probably, if Lucy hadnt taken the initiative to kiss her, the two of them would still only be holding hands. However, seeing Yara so proud, as if everything was under her control, really got on her nerves. Didnt Yara know the state she was in? She had just stopped panting. Where did Yara get so much confidence that she could dominate her? So, Rina set aside any trace of hesitation, and as soon as she got close to Yara, she attacked her lips, pressing Yaras head towards her with one hand. "Wait a minute...", Yara tried to interrupt, turning her head to the side to take a deep breath. She hadnt expected Rina to be so aggressive from the start, so she hadnt properly prepared for such an intense kiss. But Rina, who remained with her face close to Yaras, kissing and licking the corner of her mouth, allowed her only about five seconds of respite before she forcibly turned her head back and sealed her lips again. Unlike when she kissed Lucy, Yara didnt stay on the defensive and tried her hardest to make Rina submit, even biting her lips occasionally to weaken her defense, or her tongue, to quell her attack. However, being unaccustomed to such moves, both her jaw and tongue grew tired after about a minute of intense kissing, so in the end, she had to accept defeat again, letting Rina explore her entire mouth at will. The only difference was that because Rina was slightly taller and Yara had to tilt her face upward, most of their mixed saliva dripped down Yara''s throat, forcing her to swallow almost every five seconds to avoid choking. As for Rina, it could be said that she was starting to see Yara from Lucys perspective; it was impossible not to be fascinated when kissing such a beautiful young woman as Yara. Although at first, her motivation was the desire to put Yara in her place, the longer she spent kissing her, the more excitement became her driving force, making her increasingly addicted to Yaras mouth. Moreover, the fact that she kept encountering traces of Lucys taste, first on Yaras lips and later inside her mouth, made Rina feel like kissing Yara was a kind of transcendent experience that united all three of them, beginning to no longer perceive Yara as an obstacle to the development of her relationship with Lucy. At the same time, Rina had to admit to herself that she was very attracted to Yara, especially seeing how she melted under her kiss. Although she wasnt as obsessed with beauty as Lucy, Rina couldnt get enough of Yaras seductive expression, her heartbeat quickening with every passing moment. In conclusion, Rina really enjoyed kissing Yara and even started to think that maybe it was a good thing Yara had joined them. "Damn, theyre incredibly hot...I havent seen a kiss this passionate even in Japanese lesbian porn films...", Lucy thought to herself as she admired the two from less than a meter away, barely resisting the temptation to join them; it wouldnt have been polite to interrupt Rina, considering that she had allowed her to kiss Yara as much as she wanted. Seeing the force with which Rinas lips moved and how her powerful tongue distorted Yaras cheeks from the inside, Lucy suspected that even she wouldnt have withstood her attack, the mouth of a determined lioness being too fierce. "Youve learned well, my disciple...", Lucy mentally praised Rina. She thought she might have to complete Yaras training sooner than planned, as it would be a shame not to use Rinas tongue to its full potential. Well, it wasnt her fault that her mind was filled with dirty thoughts; what was happening in front of her was extremely stimulating. Lucys panties were so wet that she intended to use a cleaning potion once things calmed down. Uninterrupted by anyone, Rina kissed Yara until she went limp in her arms. Judging by the tenderness in her eyes after their lips parted, it was quite clear that Rina no longer harbored any negative feelings toward Yara. This wasnt surprising if you were familiar with lionkins, as once they were willing to enter a relationship with someone, they quickly began to become very attached to that person, starting to perceive them as a family member. Moreover, physical intimacy greatly accelerated this process. "How was it, Rina? Isnt Yara delicious?", Lucy asked, hugging both of them. Seeing the saliva dripping from Yaras open mouth as she struggled to breathe, Lucy couldnt resist licking Yaras face again. "....Yes....", Rina had to agree, not wanting to seem hypocritical. Who would kiss someone for so long if they didnt actually enjoy it a lot? "But I think... you were... Slurp!... A bit too aggressive...", said Lucy as she continued to lick Yara''s face clean. "You don''t have to treat kissing like a battle... Well, maybe it''s partly my fault... Slurp!... Because every time I kissed you, I got carried away... Anyway, kissing is even more enjoyable... mmm... when both people involved aim to make the other feel as good as possible... But don''t worry... Slurp!... I''ll fix my mistake... I''ll guide you on the right path...", Lucy continued to advise Rina and Yara between licks. Both Rina and Yara were a bit confused after hearing Lucy''s words. Was kissing really that complicated? They thought that it was enough to just follow your instincts when kissing someone. Moreover, seeing the desire in Lucy''s eyes, they couldn''t help but wonder if she wasn''t just looking for an excuse to kiss them as often as possible. "So, how about we have a short lesson right now? I think it would be best to start with you, Rina... You seem to be in better shape...", Lucy suggested, stopping from licking Yara''s face, her words making both Rina and Yara think that they might be right. "...Alright...", Rina agreed, though she didnt quite understand why Lucy kept insisting on the whole story about learning the correct way to kiss. She had no intention of refusing Lucy when she wanted to kiss her anyway. "Lets begin then. Try to imitate my movements...", said Lucy, trying to maintain a professional attitude and not let her desire take control, kind of a sexy teacher. "Yara, watch closely too...", Lucy then addressed Yara, whom they both continued to embrace with one arm. Yara thought Lucy was just being playful since she had noticed from her interactions with Lucy that she had a tendency to put on a show. However, she found it quite exciting to watch them kiss from such a close distance, just a few handbreadths away, so she had no problem playing along and nodded in agreement. Next, Lucy brought her face very close to Rina''s, letting her warm breath envelop Rina''s lips for about 10 seconds to heighten their sensitivity. Then, she began giving Rina short kisses on the lips, occasionally sucking and gently biting her lips, encouraging Rina to do the same by placing one of her lips between her teeth; in those moments, Rina was very eager to imitate her. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. To prevent the kiss from becoming too intense, Lucy slightly parted her lips from Rina''s and began teasing her with her tongue, licking her lips or sliding it between her teeth and lips, only to then hold her tongue just 2-3 centimeters away from Rina''s lips to tempt her to join in. Understanding what Lucy wanted from her, Rina stuck out her tongue and pressed it against Lucy''s, and the two began a dance that was sometimes slow, with one of them simply licking the surface of the other''s tongue, and sometimes very agile, with the two tongues caught in circular motion, and occasionally involving their lips and teeth, which increased the amount of saliva exchanged between them. Attracted by the saliva dripping from Rina''s tongue, Lucy captured Rina''s tongue between her lips and began sucking it eagerly, like a desert wanderer savoring the morning dew from a cold blade, before pulling it completely into her mouth as a reward, letting Rina do as she pleased there. After spending some time serving Rina''s tongue, Lucy''s tongue began guiding Rina''s tongue back home, but once inside Rina''s mouth, it didnt seem to intend to leave anytime soon, as it began exploring every corner at will, only to then invite Rina''s tongue out to dance with it again. This led to many such reciprocal visits until Lucy and Rina had more of the others saliva in their mouths than their own, and the threads of saliva that escaped between their lips formed something resembling a spider web in the grass at their feet. "Wow...", Rina exclaimed after their lips parted, the state of euphoria she felt at that moment being hard to describe in words. A wild kiss might be very exciting and make you feel great, but in the end, it left you feeling a little empty and with a desire to escalate things, not as fulfilled as with the method Lucy had just taught her, which made the kiss have a much greater emotional charge. "Mmm... I see you liked it...", Lucy said after slurping up the thread of saliva that still connected their lips. She was extremely satisfied with how well Rina had cooperated. "Now it''s your turn, Yara. Try to put into practice what you''ve seen...", Lucy turned her attention to Yara, who seemed very eager to experience such a kiss herself. Yara realized that since felinekins had stronger jaws and tongues than other human species, it was almost impossible to dominate them during a kiss, so her only chance to explore Lucy''s and Rina''s mouths was if her tongue was willingly let inside. Lucy didnt make Yara wait long and began giving her the same treatment she had given Rina, but this time things didnt go perfectly, as Yara was a bit too enthusiastic when her tongue first entered Lucys mouth, almost making Lucy choke. However, Lucy didnt scold her because she understood that Yara was a bit frustrated from being dominated by both her and Rina, as she was used to being the one on top. After Lucy and Yaras lips parted, Lucy encouraged Rina and Yara to kiss each other again, putting into practice what they had learned, hoping that a kiss full of care and tenderness would help them understand each other better and build more trust between them. However, watching the two kiss from just a few handbreadths away was too stimulating for Lucy, and she couldnt resist for long before joining them. In the end, they shared a passionate three-way kiss, where each of them experienced for the first time what it was like to taste two pairs of very juicy lips at the same time, to have their tongue sucked from both sides and many other extremely erotic and wet things involving lips and tongues. "...That was... fantastic...", Lucy managed to say between gasps after they separated, the eroticism of the moment being too much for her to bear. Lucy had to make a great effort not to let her sexual excitement take control and not to try to take things further, and from what she could tell from the longing looks of Rina and Yara, that was pretty much their situation too. In the end, she suggested they open the cans of cola they had to celebrate the beginning of their relationship, hoping that drinking something very tasty and cold would help them cool down. ............................... However, about 10 kilometers away from the three where the Marquis Olsen''s son and the three men in his service were resting, the situation was far from harmonious. Damn it, it''s been over two hours. Why the hell hasnt she returned?, Marquis Olsen''s son began shouting again, unable to go even five minutes without cursing Silas and Yara, who had left him waiting like a fool without any sign. In reality, only an hour had passed since Yara had left, but for the Marquis Olsen''s son, as for most people, time seemed to pass much more slowly when waiting for something. Nevertheless, none of the three men accompanying him dared to correct him, fearing that their bosss anger might be directed at them. Damn those useless pointy-eared fools. Elite bodyguards? Two good-for-nothings...I''d stick my dick in their big ears..., he continued to berate the two dark elves, and didnt stop until his throat was dry again. Young master, should we perhaps return? If those two have been captured, we might be in danger..., one of the subordinates suggested cautiously while the Marquis Olsen''s son paused to drink water, not out of any sense of duty, but because he feared for his life at that moment. And what am I supposed to tell my father when he asks what happened to the mercenaries he sent after the lionkins? If I have no idea what happened, I wouldn''t be surprised if he blamed me for his plans not working out the Marquis Olsen''s son replied bitterly to his subordinate. Seeing how the situation had evolved, he regretted letting his carnal desires lead him to convince his father to let him participate in inspecting the captured lionkins, just so he could select 2 or 3 lionkin girls to become his sex slaves. But he couldnt deny that his subordinate wasnt speaking nonsense; the truth was that they were indeed in a dangerous situation, so he had to quickly find a way to discover what had happened and avoid getting into a confrontation himself. Hey, Gary! Youre the fastest, right? Go see whats going on, the Marquis Olsen''s son eventually addressed one of the two subordinates who were pacing around, trying to look useful to avoid getting on their bosss bad side. Huh! But I dont have any skill or artifact to camouflage myself. If I run into enemies, theyll capture me immediately. What difference would it make? Gary protested, the speed of his response making it clear he had already prepared his refusal. If those two had been killed or captured, what chance did he have to escape? But it seemed his efforts werent enough, as the Marquiss son had already considered the problems Gary mentioned. Dont worry. Ill give you an artifact that will teleport you right back to me if youre attacked. So the only thing you need to worry about is keeping your eyes wide open to bring back as much information as possible about what happened to the mercenary camp and the identity of the enemies, the Marquiss son said in a suspiciously calm tone, then handed Gary the promised artifact, a bracelet adorned with a blue gemstone. Even with the artifact that assured his safety in hand, Gary still hesitated to leave, but after the Marquiss son lost his patience and began scolding and threatening him with losing his job, Gary finally set off, albeit reluctantly, hoping he would meet one of the dark elves before reaching the mercenary camp. After Gary was no longer visible among the bushes, the Marquiss son told the other two subordinates to prepare to leave as quickly as possible. Upon hearing the Marquiss sons words, the two remaining subordinates looked at him in confusion. But didnt you tell Gary wed wait for him here? one of them asked, fearing that the Marquiss son was beginning to suffer memory loss due to stress. Well, I changed my mind. But it doesnt matter, if something happens to him, hell be teleported right in front of me anyway. So start packing everything up, the Marquiss son wasnt too keen on explaining himself. Seeing that the two had started to get to work, the Marquiss son put a ring on his finger that seemed to be part of the same set as the bracelet he had given to Gary, after which his right eye began to glow for a second, and then he began to see the trees moving towards him, which made him dizzy for nearly a minute. But this didnt happen because he had consumed hallucinogenic substances, but because he had started to see with his right eye what Gary was seeing. The bracelet he had given Gary wasnt actually an artifact that would teleport him if he was in danger but rather one designed for reconnaissance. However, he hadnt deceived Gary out of spite or fear of entrusting him with such a valuable artifact as those for long-distance teleportation, but because he didnt have such an artifact with him at the time, the only one of that kind owned by his family being in his fathers possession. In any case, faced with the choice between remaining in danger and sending Gary to almost certain death, the Marquiss son chose the latter without hesitation, unconcerned that Gary would haunt his dreams in the future. And even if that were the case, it''s better to live in luxury and occasionally have nightmares than to be dead. Chapter 49. A Big Fish "Mmmm, that was great. Do you think I could have another can?", Yara asked Lucy with a charming expression after finishing a can of cola, her eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly in flight. Seeing the three empty cans beside Yara, Lucy didnt know how to respond. The first time Yara asked for another can, Lucy thought maybe one wasnt enough. When Yara asked again, she figured Yara must really like cola. But now, as Yara was asking for a fourth can, Lucy couldnt help but wonder if she was already developing an addiction. But how could Lucy say no to her new girlfriend, especially when she looked at her with such hopeful eyes? Lucy was the kind of girlfriend who couldnt stand to see her partner look at her with disappointment, so she ended up giving Yara another can of cola, but not without warning her that this would be the last one since she was worried about her stomach. "Don''t worry, Lucy, dark elves have very strong stomachs... We can even consume poisonous mushrooms...", Yara reassured Lucy before quickly opening the can and taking two large gulps. "......", Lucy was speechless, as the explanation she had prepared about the negative effects of excessive consumption of fizzy drinks seemed pointless. Thinking about the fact that in that world, magical potions and skills could keep you perfectly healthy, Lucy thought that Yara probably wouldn''t suffer any harm even if she replaced water with cola from now on. But perhaps there was one issue if Yara truly became addicted to cola, and that was the fact that Yaras only source of cola was Lucy herself. Wouldnt that mean it would be her responsibility to make sure Yara never ran out of cola? Remembering Rina''s appetite for sweets, Lucy already saw herself condemned to a life where she could never stop killing to earn enough points for the Ninja Shop to supply her girlfriends. ''But do I really have the right to complain? When I have not just one, but two gorgeous girlfriends, isnt it logical that I should give it my all?'', Lucy thought, considering that some people would give half their lives to be in her place. So, what effort could be too great when her girlfriends'' happiness was at stake? Yara tried to learn from Lucy how cola was made and whether it could be bought somewhere, but Lucy was reluctant to give too many details, saying only that a skill unique to her class was required to create cola. That wasnt entirely a lie, since she doubted any other class could access a skill similar to the Ninja Shop. In any case, after the issue with the attempted kidnapping of the lionkins was resolved, she planned to share more information about her abilities with her girlfriends, not wanting to keep making up excuses and explanations about the origin of the items she obtained from the Ninja Shop. "Dont worry, Yara. I can produce enough cola for you to even bathe in it. But putting that aside, what can you tell us about Marquis Olsens plans? What did he intend to do with the kidnapped lionkin women and children?", Lucy thought it was time to steer the conversation toward serious matters, planning to head to where the marquis''s men were located after Yara finished the can of cola she had just started. "Honestly, I don''t know. While I was in the marquis''s service, I had to team up with Silas, the archer, to protect him from the shadows as he traveled through the human kingdom, visiting various nobles. Because he wanted to travel incognito, our mission was not only to eliminate potential threats to his life but also to deal with those who tried to spy on him..."If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Hearing Yaras response, Lucy wasnt too disappointed, as she had expected that the marquis wouldnt trust temporary hires with confidential information. But where was this wisdom when she interrogated the mercenaries sent after the lionkins? Well, it wasnt as if she hadnt been aware of these things at the time; she was just looking for a reason to vent her anger on them. "Then why did you accompany those who came to meet the mercenaries sent after the lionkins? Is it possible that Marquis Olsen plans to inspect the situation himself and he sent you ahead to ensure everything is in order?", Lucy was starting to get excited at the thought that she might have a chance to catch the big fish. "Not exactly. It was his annoying youngest son I don''t think the marquis wanted to involve us in this matter, since Silas and I were far too qualified for such a task, and it wouldve been a waste of resources. No offense, Rina, but the members of an isolated village arent considered much of a threat. Anyway, from what I gathered, the marquiss son developed an obsession with beastkins after seeing a foxgirl slave in one of his friends houses, so he kept pestering his father to let him accompany those who were supposed to meet the mercenaries because he wanted to pick out two or three of the prettier lionkin girls for himself. Since I had signed a contract stating my job was only to act as a bodyguard, I initially didnt want to get involved in something like that. But the marquis said I wouldnt have to do anything except ensure his sons safety and promised he would hurry to obtain the antidote for my brother, so I eventually agreed..." "Crack!", The sound of the empty cola can being crushed in Rina''s hand echoed sharply, the fury she felt evident. She had known that if the mercenaries eliminated by Lucy had succeeded in their mission, the kidnapped lionkins wouldn''t have faced a good life. But hearing how some scumbag had planned to turn a few of the girls she knew, maybe even herself, into his playthings made her feel like she was about to explode. "Calm down, Rina. Didnt you hear? The Marquiss progeny has delivered himself right to our doorstep, so youll soon have a chance to get your revenge. Honestly, I already have a great idea for punishing him. How about we strip him bare and sprinkle him from head to toe in bear aphrodisiac, then tie him to a tree with his bottom up?", Lucy tried to calm Rina down, thinking that imagining her revenge might make her feel better. "I dont think Id want to see that...", Rina said after realizing what Lucy was suggesting, a sentiment shared by Yara. They couldnt deny that it would be a fitting punishment for someone who intended to turn innocent girls into sex slaves, but just the thought of witnessing such a scene made them want to vomit. Although Lucys plan didnt have the desired effect, it did achieve something positive, as Rina no longer seemed as angry. Well, she was now mostly overwhelmed by disgust. As all three of them had finished eating their bags of salty crackers, and Lucy suspected it wouldnt take Yara more than a few seconds to finish the can of cola shed just started, Lucy suggested they head out as soon as possible to the location of the Marquiss son because she didnt want to let such a big fish slip through her fingers. While he might be a smaller catch than the Marquis himself, he would still be valuable to them, as he likely knew almost everything about his fathers intentions. But before they could get up from their stools, their attention was drawn by a rustling sound growing closer; given that all three had excellent hearing, it wasnt hard for them to figure out it was a person. "It seems the Marquiss son has lost his patience again, seeing that neither I nor Silas have returned, and has sent someone else to check on the situation..." Yara said, not surprised by this development, as she was well aware that more than an hour had passed since she left the Marquiss son, who wasnt known for his patience. "Well, it wouldnt be polite to set off just as our guest arrives, so lets wait another minute...", Lucy suggested, eager to see the expression on the Marquiss subordinates face when he found them sitting at the table with Yara, whom he still believed was on their side. Chapter 50. The High Ground Gary wasn''t exactly cannon fodder, as his class, Battlemage, had immense potential. Unfortunately, he didn''t handle stressful situations well, which was the reason he ended his adventuring career and entered the service of Marquis Olsen. Anyway, with a skill that amplified his senses, Gary didn''t have much trouble locating Lucy and the other two, but since he couldn''t see through tree trunks and bushes, he had to get close enough to make visual contact with them to understand the situation. But despite covering the last hundred meters as discreetly as possible, the moment he poked his head out from the bushes to peer into the clearing where he had heard voices, he was met with the sight of three extraordinarily beautiful girls staring right at him. "Gasp!...", Gary was left with his mouth agape; since his vision was also enhanced, the combined visual impact of the three was far stronger than his brain could handle. Looking at the head suspended above the bush, resembling a malfunctioning Whac-A-Mole machine, Lucy realized that the pranks she had prepared for the marquis'' subordinate had become unnecessary. How can you prank someone who seems to have entered brain-death? "Yara, can you use that skill that generates shadow chains to pull him over here? It would be a bit ridiculous if we had to go into the bush after him...", said Lucy, who no longer seemed very enthusiastic, much like a cat losing interest when it sees the mouse stop moving. "Right away...", Yara replied, and in the next moment, a black chain emerged from her shadow, advancing toward Gary with the force and speed of a sinking anchor chain, snatching him along with the surrounding branches and dragging him to within two meters of them. "As far as I know, this man has been working for the Marquis for some time, so he might know quite a bit about his plans. Should I put a slave collar on him to ensure he doesn''t cause any trouble until we capture the others?" Yara proposed, as enslaving was the standard method in that world for handling prisoners. "No, I am against slavery in any form, especially through the use of such a collar, which I understand subjugates not only the body but also the mind... I wouldn''t wish such a humiliating state on even my worst enemies. So, I suggest we cut off both his legs. Yes, without legs, he won''t have any chance to escape...", Lucy responded, her words full of compassion for human dignity (or so she thought), then in her right hand appeared her black steel ninja sword, indicating that she wasn''t joking and truly intended to carry out what she said. Rina and Yara didn''t quite know what to make of Lucy''s logic. Wasn''t it worse for a prisoner to have their legs cut off than to be enslaved? Not only must having your legs cut off be excruciatingly painful, but for an ordinary person, it''s nearly impossible to obtain a potion that can regrow limbs, as they are extremely rare and expensive. So, the prisoner would be far more desperate at the thought of losing their legs for life, even if rescued, than if they were enslaved, which could be just a temporary situation. However, since Lucy grew up in an era where slavery was considered extremely inhumane, but seeing people with a hand or leg cut off in movies was common, it was no wonder she concluded that it was more humane to leave someone without legs than to take away their free will. Moreover, if she had to choose between becoming a slave unable to refuse an order and losing her legs, she was convinced she would choose the latter without hesitation, the humiliation she would feel in the first scenario being harder to bear than having to crawl for the rest of her life.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Neither Rina nor Yara stopped Lucy, as Gary''s well-being wasn''t something that concerned them. So, she approached him, determined to take about half a meter off his height. As the stubborn Ned would say, ''The one who passes the sentence should swing the sword.'' However, by that moment, Gary was no longer dazed; the pain he felt being dragged over 50 meters through roots and stones, along with the suggestion he heard about cutting off his legs, was enough to chase away any amorous thoughts. Maybe some angels were standing before him, but they were angels of death. "You...you, who are you? What do you want from me?... Wait a minute... You''re Yara, aren''t you?", Gary finally recognized Yara as he looked frantically from one to the other, her amethyst-like eyes being hard to mistake. "So what if I am?", Yara didn''t understand why Gary suddenly started looking at her with hope. Even if she hadn''t switched sides, her job wasn''t to save Gary, but just to ensure the marquis''s son returned home safely. Well, maybe she would have saved him before making the deal with Lucy if he had treated her with respect and not bad-mouthed her behind her back, but since Gary, like the rest of the marquis''s employees, hadn''t done so, she didn''t see any reason for him to have expectations from her. "We...we work for the same person. You can''t just stand by and let her do whatever she wants with me...", Gary still didn''t understand the situation. Or maybe he didn''t want to, because if Yara had betrayed them, his situation was indeed dire. "Oh, it seems you''re out of luck. My deal with the marquis fell through, so there''s no longer any connection between us...", Yara delivered the bad news to Gary, who turned as pale as a ghost upon realizing his worst fear had come true. "No! No!", Gary began struggling with all his might to escape the black chain coiled around him. Losing his mind from fear, he activated all his temporary attribute-boosting skills, ignoring the fact that amplifying more than two attributes simultaneously would harm his health. As for the bracelet given to him by the marquis''s son, which was supposed to protect him, he had completely forgotten about it, and even if he remembered, it probably wouldn''t have reassured him, as it should have teleported him by then considering he was already covered in scratches, so it was clear it wasn''t working properly. "Don''t try it! I have the high ground...", Lucy warned Gary, seeing him preparing to leap to his feet. But like the famous hero who became a villain, Gary ignored Lucy''s warning (or maybe he didn''t even hear it) and, as soon as he got his feet under him, he propelled himself upward as he was planning to use a skill that would affect a wide area around him, including Lucy and the other two, and then take advantage of the chaos to try again to break the chain from a position where he could exert his maximum strength. Well, I think everyone can guess how this situation ended: Gary ended up back on the ground, while his legs were left behind, as Lucy appeared instantly behind him and cut them off with her ninja sword, which she had infused with wind magic to ensure that one swing would be enough. "Ahhhh!! Nooo...Nooo...", Gary began writhing in pain, painting all the grass around him with his own blood. ''It''s a bit bloodier than in the original...'', Lucy thought to herself, seeing the state Gary was in. But was it her fault? Her sword, infused with wind magic, didn''t have the ability to cauterize wounds; it actually amplified the bleeding. Regardless, she promised herself that she would recreate this scene again if she ever obtained a skill that would allow her to infuse her sword with light magic. Chapter 51. Wrong Priorities Since Gary didnt seem very brave, Lucy expected him to faint within seconds. However, much to both her surprise and boredom, even after a full minute, he continued screaming and writhing in pain; she suspected that his high adrenaline levels were likely the reason for his endurance. As she planned to interrogate Gary along with the Marquis son and the other subordinates accompanying him once she captured them, Lucy couldnt let him struggle until his health parameter dropped to zero. So, she kicked him in the head to knock him out, intending to pour a healing potion down his throat afterward to close his wounds. However, since Garys head was an extremely unpredictable moving target, Lucy didnt manage to hit him properly on the first try, needing four blows to finally put him to sleep. "You can untie the chain around him, Yara. After I make him drink a healing potion to stop the bleeding, Ill bind him tightly with steel wire...'', said Lucy, no longer considering Gary a threat, as she knew well what it meant for a fighter to lose their legs. ...Ok..., replied Yara, unsure what to make of Lucys actions. Since she hadnt witnessed Silas torture, as she had arrived while he was trapped in the dream controlled by Lucy, and because during her fight with Lucy, she hadnt sensed any killing intent from her, Yara believed that Lucy was more playful than decisive in combat and she didnt expect Lucy to be capable of committing such acts of violence so easily. Moreover, Lucy seemed to actually be enjoying herself in those moments, as if she had just pulled off a prank. Although Yara had long since become desensitized to committing extreme acts of violence, cutting human beings becoming as simple for her as chopping vegetables for soup, she couldnt recall ever doing so with the same enthusiasm that Lucy displayed. For Yara, cutting someone was more of a nuisance, often creating extra work, like disposing of the body if the blow was fatal. Not to mention, she almost always had to clean her clothes and knives afterward. But in Lucys case, the situation was completely different, as she treated her victims like a cat playing with a mouse; for her, it seemed the process was more important than the outcome, because, once she won, her enthusiasm diminished considerably. You seem pretty familiar with this process. Is this something youve been doing for a long time?, Yara asked Lucy, noticing the skill with which she was tying up Gary, her curiosity about Lucys past being reignited. She now leaned more toward believing that Lucy had grown up among demons, as such a bloodthirsty nature was not usually found in catkin, who werent similar to cats in terms of cruelty. Not really. It probably seems that way because Im just talented at it..., replied Lucy, who, busy tying up Gary, didnt think too deeply about Yaras words, taking them as a compliment. Huh, whats with this bracelet? Is it some kind of magic item?, Lucy asked, noticing the blue gemstone-encrusted bracelet on Garys wrist. This world is truly full of wonders. Even someone so incompetent can acquire such drip..., Lucy thought to herself, planning to bring things back to normal by taking Garys bracelet, which seemed far beyond his level. Wait a second, Lucy! Something might be wrong with that bracelet..., Yara stopped her, feeling like she had seen similar bracelets before, though not on people in favorable circumstances. As she moved closer to Gary to take a better look at the bracelet, Yara was almost certain she wasnt mistaken; it was nearly identical to the bracelets she had seen a few times on the wrists of slaves accompanying their masters during dungeon explorations.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Im afraid I have bad news: weve almost certainly been spied on. The purpose of this bracelet is to transmit what the wearer sees to another person, so its very likely the Marquis son saw everything that happened through Garys eyes. However, the situation is a bit comical. Usually, this bracelet is put on the wrists of slaves sent ahead through trap-filled areas or into boss rooms by wealthy people who dont want to take risks when exploring a dungeon, so I imagine Gary wasnt too comfortable being forced to wear it by the Marquis son when he was sent after me. Or maybe he wasnt even told what the bracelets purpose was. Knowing Gary, he wouldve probably quit if he had known he was being sent on a mission that was considered suicidal from the start..., Yara said, not expecting the Marquis son to make such a move, as she had previously thought he only had a head to keep his throat from getting wet in the rain. ''Well, dangerous situations have a way of unlocking someones potential...'', Yara found an explanation for the sudden rise in the Marquis sons IQ. What?! If he saw us together, he probably realized all their plans had fallen apart. Doesnt that mean hell try to leave the forest as quickly as possible? If he has some magical item that lets him teleport straight home, how will we ever capture him?, Lucy began to worry that the Marquis son might slip through their fingers. Damn it, my mission is going to be a huge failure. Well, thats what happens when a ninja prioritizes emotional issues over the mission, Lucy berated herself for not immediately going after the Marquis son. However, if she had the choice to redo everything from the moment Rina regained consciousness, Lucy was certain she wouldnt change anything, as winning Yaras love was far more valuable to her than capturing the Marquis son, who likely didnt know much more about the Marquis plans than the subordinate they had captured. Congratulations, Gary! It seems youve gone from being a pawn to a queen!, Gary suddenly became much more important to Lucy, as evidenced by her remembering his name after Yara mentioned it. As far as I know, he doesnt possess any magic item that allows long-distance teleportation, as such items are pretty hard to come by. But its true that capturing him will be more difficult, as I think he has a magical item that helps him move faster. Plus, one of the Marquis subordinates traveling with him is a level 48 Hunter, so he knows very well how to hide their tracks and leave false trails. Well, that would be the case if I hadnt secretly left marks in their shadows, Yara explained, her last words revealing why she wasnt too worried that the Marquis son had likely already fled. Seriously, Yara? So you can find them even if theyve already left the area where you last saw them?, Lucy asked, regaining her excitement at Yaras words. Yes, as long as their shadow hasnt been purified by someone with at least a Priestess class, Ill always be able to locate them..., Yara confirmed, a little amused by the admiration in Lucys eyes. Wow, Yara! Youre amazing!, Lucy gave Yara a quick hug and a firm kiss on the cheek, then started urging her to lead them toward the Marquis son as quickly as possible. Dont worry, Lucy! To get to the place where he had to abandon his carriage, the Marquis son will need almost five hours even if he moves at my speed, a feat I doubt is possible, regardless of any magic item he might have to boost his speed, as his level is too low. Besides, since hes probably realized Im no longer on his side, hell likely try to hide for a while, knowing that Im aware of the direction where his carriage is. Considering all this, I dont think we need to rush too much, Yara tried to calm Lucy down, feeling too relaxed for a high-speed chase after the passionate kisses and the doses of cola she had consumed. But who knows what could happen? What if a bear eats them before we find them?, Lucy said, still unable to calm down after the scare that the Marquis son might have slipped through their fingers. She wouldnt feel at ease until she saw him tied up. Hmmm, youre right. Then how about we bring them here instead?, Yara made a surprising suggestion. Yara figured that now that Lucy and Rina were her girlfriends, there was no problem using one of her secret skills in front of them. Well, it wouldnt have been the first time, since the skill she used during her confrontation with Lucy to create a shadow domain came from the same category. In any case, she always preferred quick solutions, so if she could use a skill without any worries to skip the chase through the forest after the Marquis son and his two companions, why not use it? Besides, she thoroughly enjoyed the way Lucy looked at her with admiration. Chapter 52. Some Technical Stuff Not knowing what else Yara might be hiding up her sleeve, Lucy misinterpreted her proposal. She believed Yara was thinking of a way to lure the Marquiss son and the two subordinates accompanying him to come to them, possibly using the bracelet on Garys wrist to send them some message. I dont know what to say, Yara... I dont see how we could get them to come to us willingly. If Marquiss son saw what happened to Gary, he probably wouldnt even come if we threatened his mothers life... Seeing the confusion on Lucys and Rinas faces, Yara felt a sense of pride, thinking it was finally her turn to show off. Since Lucy had been in the spotlight lately due to her cooking skills and knowledge about kissing, Yara felt like she hadnt had much of a chance to impress her new lovers with anything other than her beauty. Thats not what I meant. I was saying that I can teleport all three of them here, Yara said with no hint of doubt in her voice, her face practically begging, Start praising me. Huh? You can do that? From your fighting style, I thought your class was Assassin or something similar, so it seems odd for you to have a skill that lets you teleport people from such a distance. Or do you have some sort of magical item that does this?, Lucy asked for more details, because, although thrilled by Yaras news, she wanted to make sure Yara wasnt taking any risks. Though Lucy didnt know much about how classes and skills worked for the natives of that world, she assumed it must be similar to how they worked for players and NPCs in MMOs, which seemed to have much in common with the world she had been reincarnated into. In those games, someone with the Assassin class couldnt have skills that seemed better suited for a Mage class, so Lucy feared that Yaras method might have negative consequences for her. Of course, if Yara had a skill or magical device that allowed her to teleport someone, Lucy would agree with Yaras proposal. But if Yara planned to perform some suspicious ritual to summon the three of them, Lucy would definitely oppose it. Well, you werent wrong, since I do have the Assassin class. But when I reached level 50, I gained another class, Shadow Master, which not only evolved many of my existing skills, making them more compatible with the shadow element, but also allowed me to acquire some skills that are uncommon for someone with only the Assassin class, whose skills are mainly focused on stealth, close combat, and surprise attacks Since Lucy had suspected that someone could have multiple classes because her status screen had a "Classes" section, not just "Class," she wasnt shocked by the news that Yara had acquired a second class. Instead, she admired how capable Yara was. However, this fact reminded Lucy that, being so content with her class, she had forgotten to ask the system how she could acquire a second class, something she intended to address as soon as she had some free time, as she wanted to plan ahead for a second class that would best complement her current one. Additionally, it made her realize once again how crucial it was for her to obtain the ability to view more information from others'' status screens during her next eye power upgrade. As with Yara, relying solely on appearances wasnt enough to determine what someone was truly capable of, which could land her in unexpected situations. Lucy regretted not opting for this ocular ability upgrade when she had the chance, as she had been too tempted by the thought of her eyes having more impressive abilities. Sure, she could create a skill that would allow her to do this once she could receive a new skill, but Lucy wasnt thrilled about using her resources this way, because she wanted her skills to make her a more complete ninja, not focus on technical and boring details like this. Besides, she preferred her abilities to be somewhat organized, and inspecting someones status seemed more fitting as part of her ocular abilities. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Rina, however, was far more surprised by Yaras words, knowing how rare it was to obtain a second class immediately upon reaching level 50. It was common knowledge that you could obtain a second class after surpassing level 50, but most people only acquired it around level 75 because you needed to master your first class thoroughly before gaining the second. Did you really obtain your second class when you reached level 50?, Rina asked Yara, her eyes filled with admiration. In this matter, it wasnt about resources or opportunities, not even hard work; it was purely about talent, so Yara could indeed be considered a genius. "Whats wrong, Rina? Cant believe your new girlfriend is someone so capable?, Yara teased Rina, amused that she seemed more fascinated by her power than by her beauty. Well, I have to admit, you are amazing, Rina said with genuine sincerity, which made Yara feel, for the first time, what it was like to be hit by one of Rinas straight balls. ...Alright. So, Ill use a skill called Shadowgate to create a portal under their feet, through which theyll fall directly in front of me. Normally, I can only use it on people I have visual contact with, but if I combine it with Umbral Mark, the skill that lets me track someone''s location through the mark left in their shadows, I can use it even on people much farther away, provided their shadow has been marked by me. Of course, the mana cost will be significantly higher, but it shouldnt be a problem as long as the distance between me and them isnt greater than 100 kilometers..., Yara tried to shift attention away from herself and towards the teleportation process, not used to being praised so sincerely for her abilities. Since Yara was going to teleport the three using only her skills and not through some dubious method, Lucy agreed with her plan. However, to ensure Yara wouldnt suffer from the high mana cost, Lucy handed her two mana regeneration potions, one to take before teleporting the three and one for after the task was done. Additionally, Lucy asked Yara for some details about the classes of the three and whether they had any magical protection items with them, as she didnt want any unpleasant surprises (it had already been an emotionally intense morning for her). Yara reassured her that there was nothing to worry about, since of the Marquiss two subordinates, only the one with the Hunter class was more capable, being level 48, but he excelled in fighting beasts rather than human beings, and the other was just a level 33 Formation Crafter, who wasnt good at close combat. As for the Marquiss son, he couldnt be considered a combatant at all, as he was just a level 10 Swordsman. The only thing that might prevent him from being captured instantly was a necklace similar to the one Rina now wore, except his necklace didnt drain mana from the wearer but charged from the ambient mana in the atmosphere. Since the three didnt seem to be opponents worthy of a direct confrontation with her, Lucy created three Black Vines Substitutes to ambush them as soon as Yara brought them there, and, to ensure the three would behave, Lucy had her substitutes hold explosive papers to give them as welcome gifts (instead of flowers). However, considering that the Marquiss son might resist two explosions due to his magical necklace, she gave one of her substitutes an extra 10 explosive papers to stick progressively onto him until his defense gave way, after which the substitute would transform into a pile of black vines to capture him. I know theyre very attractive, but Id refrain from getting too close to them, Lucy joked, noticing how Yara was staring in awe at the three substitutes. I was just marveling at how identical these golems are to you. The only problem is that they spend too much time without saying anything, which is very uncharacteristic of you. But for someone who doesnt know you well, I dont think theyd notice the difference, Yara said, having never had the chance to closely observe one of Lucys substitutes before. But no matter how impressed she was, she noted the discrepancy between Lucys very extroverted personality and her stealthy, deceptive skills. ....., Lucy didn''t know what to say, because she couldnt deny that she could probably use her substitutes better if she were a quieter ninja. But what could she do? A silent ninja is only cool when filmed, which wasnt the case for her. If she defeated her opponent without saying a word, who would be there to witness how amazing she was? ...Anyway, everythings ready. Go ahead and cast the net, Yara! Lucy finally said, deciding there was no point in doubting her ninja path. After all, for a ninja, it didnt matter if he was quiet or talkative; what mattered was whether they could complete their mission successfully.