Despite his large weight, he was almost a blur for me, nearly decking me with the mace he held.
"...!!"
I had managed to just barely evade his attack.
How the hell?! That shouldn't be possible! He's too big to move that fast!
"Wow, you moved that fast without enhancing your physical capabilities with mana."
Enhancing physical capabilities? What the hell is he talking about?
I had no time to register anything anymore, now locked in combat with this man.
He must have trained with the mace to use it with such efficiency.
Jabbing with quick and precise speed, wasting no movements, displaying clean skill.
The most I could do was maneuver and parry, but even my parries were weak and erratic.
This is not how assassins fight.
I am supposed to be swift and undetected, not head-on and controlled.
Even if I had trained in many martial arts and fighting styles, just his sheer strength was far beyond what a human was typically capable of.
I had never fought a superhuman before, at most, a man drugged up on adrenaline, but that was it.
I was completely outmatched in the strength department, but I had surpassed him in the speed department just barely.
"You're only dodging? Why aren't you enhancing your body? This is common practice."
...do people not know I'm summoned? Does the emperor not make it public knowledge?
"...!!"
I had almost lost my head there for a moment.
He had swung the mace with such force that a shockwave was left in its wake.
The spectators were impressed with Theodore's strength and capabilities.
Yet, in that attack, he left himself wide open.
I jumped on the mace, aiming for the common carotid arteries.
Unfortunately, I was unable to cut deep, at most, cutting the surface skin.
How am I supposed to beat him?
"I see. So you were trying to bait me into exhausting my energy, then deal major damage by stabbing my neck. That would be clever if I weren't a titan. Unfortunately for you, our energy reserves last 24 hours without an ounce of tiredness."
Is he serious? That means my entire plan was pointless. Maybe...I can stab his eye? He may be strong with his muscles and bones, but even the strongest of people have weak parts.
Twirling the dagger in my hand, I was ready, a new plan in mind to win.
Theodore moved with that same speed again, swift movements and shockwaves leaving the arena and hitting the barrier that protected the stands.
My body had already reached its limit, my lungs burning from the exhaustion I had been going through.
I feel I may have pushed myself too far...
"Got you!"
...he had managed to strike me at my side, and my arm was immediately shattered.
I felt the even stabs from within, every bone fragment piercing my muscle tendons.
I rolled over, just barely able to recover, but my arm was broken, unable to be moved.
I could take such pain.
Hell, I would consider this mild if I had to compare.
I was completely outmatched.
I should never have tried to push so far.
I should have just surrendered, or if not, let him get an easy win.
Was it my pride?
Was it because I hated the feeling of losing, because I often associated it with dying?
What could it have been that made me so determined to win?
I couldn't even answer that question myself.
Even now, I'm refusing to back down.
...maybe...just maybe it was because of...
I recalled when I was first thrown into the mafia work.
Thrown in an arena with the dogs, forced to show those guys my capabilities, just barely surviving.
Theodore noticed the opening I had left him, taking it without thinking twice.
I caught you.
With instinct, I had figured him out.
He was a skilled fighter for sure, but his problem was that he didn't think twice.
He went in for any attack, not worrying whether or not it was a planned opening or not.
Moving as swiftly as the wind, the tip of a sharp edge appeared at the eye of Theodore.
"...!!"
Unable to move in time, first came the reflection of his eye, the next, red filling his right eye's vision, followed by my blade leaving the socket.
"NEAAAAH!"
Clenching his face, he groaned in pain, blood leaking from his socket.
"I commend you. Despite your weakness, you still fight hard."
After his praises, he lunged at me, but this time, he wasn't as fast as before.
I felt as if I could match him with pure technique.
There was no more dodging I could do.
I was already beyond exhausted.
All that was left in me was one final push.
I met him head-on in this clash, managing to get in one last dodge, forcing my body to move despite my limbs getting heavier.
The mace had broken from impact, and my dagger broke from impact as I missed the other eye, cutting his cheek.
With our weapons destroyed, we met each other in hand–to–hand combat.
I parried, blocked, struck, repeated, over and over, my air running out.
My body was on fire, my muscles worn out, my sweat drenching every inch of my skin.
...but I couldn't go on any longer.
In one last strike, I tried to jab his other eye with my thumb, but in a display of magic, energy particles were channeled into Theodore's palm.
His hand was enveloped in electricity, and he struck me full force, sending jolts throughout my body like a taser.
I had lost control of every body part as I was flung to the wall, thrown out of bounds.
I had fallen limp, the loser of the battle.
Everyone cheered for Theodore while I was unconscious, knocking on death's door, but I would be spared by this magic stuff.
The magic would heal all my injuries, rendering me safe for now.
In the stands, however, unknown to me, a magical eye was watching the fight, and its gaze was on me.
I had apparently been knocked out for the rest of the entrance exam, brought to the nurse's room.
"Oh, you're finally awake."
A woman wearing a lab coat, with long black hair and curved horns that were white, walked up to me, fixing her glasses.
"You doing okay? You got hit pretty badly."
I nodded.
"Good. I read in your reports that you are unable to speak since your vocal cords were damaged, so I will only ask you simple questions that can be easily answered with gestures if ever needed. I will also inform your teachers of this, so you don't have to worry about telling them, well, 'telling' them."
She had joked about my inability to speak, something I guess I can't find any humor in.
Not because it was sensitive or anything, but because I wasn't that much of a person of humor.
I had kept my face the same nonchalant face I always had.
"You may leave now if you want. The exams are over, so you are free to explore the school or go back to your dorms. Since tomorrow is Restday, there will be no classes for two days until Moonday."
What is she talking about? Are those the days of this world? I'll check the calendar when I have time.
I got up, checking my pockets, glad I still have the box cutter and my phone still with me.
I left the nursing room, walking along the hall.
Seeing just how big the school was, I felt it looked smaller when I first arrived.
I wonder if they have a library? I need to understand this world and adapt to this place. All this stuff is so confusing. Blimps, holographic screens, automatons roaming the streets. I know some of these things, but what the hell are those things?
In the view, I saw giant humanoid rocks carrying crates, carriages, machines, and other objects.
Without any more time to waste, I went to the library.
It was quite a large place.
The shelves appear to almost stretch into infinity, millions of books laid out for all to read.
Chairs and tables were floating, books were as well, entering and leaving the shelves, and students were reading from these books without a care for the fact that they were very high up.
Someone like me could never go on such things.
I would much rather stay on the ground.
None of the text I could understand, so I took a random book and used my phone, scanning the words to read, 'Succubus Biology'.
Succubus? What's a succubus? That sounds interesting.
Taking the book with me, I moved to a vacant corner of the library where no one could see me.
I took a seat on the floor, getting ready to read when...
"Succubus Biology? Weird taste for someone from another world."
I immediately pulled the box cutter from my pocket, swiftly attempting to threaten her by putting a blade to her neck, yet she slapped my hand with utter ease.
"Relax, will you?"
Before me was a floating short woman as tall to my belly, with a pear-shaped figure, possessing wide hips, a flat chest, and pointy ears like everyone else I had seen.
Her hair was a light blonde color tied into twin-tails by black ropes with bangs framing her face, which was a contrast to her tanned skin color.
Her eyes were a red wine color, and her right eye was covered by her hair.
Her attire was simple and minimalistic, a white sleeveless dress attached to her golden choker, designed with dragon scales and gold, gold thigh-straps that showed off her plump thighs, and yellow slippers.
"..."
"I know, you're probably wondering what I'm talking about."
She had given me a little sass, flashing her red nails.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you...too bad."
"..."
"Come on, think of something. I can read minds."
"...!!"
....you can?
"Yes, I can. You interest me, human. I thought humans were fantasy creatures, yet here you are, ears round and a soul unique."
She leaned forward, grabbing my face with a smug smile on her face.
The arrogance she radiated was a little annoying, but I knew better.
I didn't pull away from her, fearing what could happen if I did.
I wanted no trouble, so it was best to just let her.
Despite how short she was, she didn't give off the feeling of a little girl, but rather an arrogant, bratty, and smug woman, her tone matching that attitude, which didn't sound like a little girl's at all, but a young woman's.
It only aided in the fact that she has plump thighs, with curves that had far surpassed any woman I have seen in my world, something little kids don't have...at least I hoped.
"It's a good thing elves use mana surgery to make their pointy ears round, or else you would have been flocked, and I wouldn't have been able to approach you."
Mana...surgery?
"Surgery to reshape your body, of course. You were summoned from a different world, so surely you have something similar to this, or are you so dumb you don't even know that~ Kia~"
I was unsure if she was rage baiting me or not, but I wouldn't fall for it.
How do you know I'm from a different world?
"Heh, simple, I was there when I saw you getting your surgery."
...surger— ...!
I remembered the events once again, the flashes of pain, and the hospital room.
What did they do to me? Why can I barely remember what happened?
"Isn't it oblivious~ They erased your memories using magic, but it seems your brain is far more resilient than they thought, so you only remember flashes from what I understand. They gave you a Mana Gland so you can use magic."
Mana Gland? What's that?
"Fufufu~ I'll only teach you more...for a price?"
She pulled away, looking down at me, then sat right on my crotch as if I gave her consent.
Snapping her fingers, a paper appeared before me, words written in jet-black ink, with a sign line at the bottom.
"With this contract, I will train you in how to use magic and even give you some tips on how hand–to–hand combat works here."
I was bothered that she didn't say what she would gain.
That's something you're supposed to say always.
I didn't trust it one bit.
Being in the assassin business has taught me a lot about contracts and how one could scam you.
I will never be scammed again.
I took the paper, reading over the fine print, every single detail.
"Oh, you're suspicious, hmmm? That's only natural, especially for you~ Don't worry, I'll wait."
I read it over, and everything was legit, all except one simple detail:
As compensation for Bezel Voidgoat's time, she may lick the sweat or semen of Ozul, or if requested, mana transfer.
"..."
The deal is in my favor, but this one payment, should I accept? I don't know what it means by mana transfer, though.
"Why are you so hesitant? Training and understanding for some fluid, surely that isn't too much to ask. If it were a succubus, she would have had you be her personal mana transferer. Made you a slave completely. This is a good deal, or is your reading comprehension so low~ Kia~?"
"..."
I calmed myself.
I have dealt with a few people who had always tried to agitate me, but I managed to keep my composure.
I guess the difference is that the attacks weren't really personal, more so a desperate attempt at mockery.
Does it have to be semen?
"No, not at all, but I may prefer it based on mood. Sweat does taste better, I won't lie."
What is mana transfer?
"Sexual stuff, you know, like groping and all the other things. Don't worry, I'll most likely never ask it of you."
...it isn't required. I read over all of it. Frankly, I benefit more from this deal, at least from my perspective...
After a bit more contemplation, I took the quill floating beside the paper, writing my name, Ozel.
I didn't identify with a last name anymore, only my first, since it was my father's last name.
"About damn time, I thought I would turn old by how long you were taking. Starting tomorrow, I expect you to be in the training arena. Don't tell anyone I exist, though, as per the contract."
Snapping her fingers, she disappeared like dust.
I coughed, waving away what was left.
This was definitely a strange situation.
On my first day, I looked bad in front of all the teachers. Now I'm being trained by this arrogant short woman who I just now know.
"..."
I mean, in the end, all of this will be very useful to me. It will allow me to understand more about this world, and I can use this magic. If I can do that, I can fight better, seeing as Theodore is able to enhance his physical capabilities with ease.
If he could, then I needed to as well.