Chapter 45 – If You Mess with Little Ellie, You’re Absolutely Fucked

Stars exploded behind my eyes, my thoughts scattered, and when I regained consciousness…

I found myself lying down, with Leona massaging my legs in the corner of my vision.

“Ah, you’re awake!”

“Awake? That last punch had quite a bit of feeling behind it…”

“As your master, I had to stop my disciple from doing something reckless, didn’t I?”

“…What?”

I forced my aching body to sit up.

My stomach was roaring with hunger. My body felt hollow, drained of mana. Sweat had soaked through to my underwear, leaving me feeling sticky and uncomfortable.

Still, the elixir I’d unknowingly consumed earlier seemed to have been absorbed well.

Roughly 70% absorption, I’d say. This body’s performance is insane.

“So, my dear disciple, have you properly grasped today’s lesson from your master?”

“Disciple? Me?”

“Yes!”

“Why am I your disciple, Vice Headmaster?”

In that instant, the lion’s tail that had been swaying pleasantly froze, and her ears shot straight up.

“…What?”

“I asked, why am I your disciple?”

“W-Well… you received my teachings, didn’t you…?”

Her speech pattern suddenly changed. Had that cheerful tone just been an act?

“No way. I don’t study under someone who knocks their student unconscious.”

“U-Um…?”

“What kind of master punches their disciple like that? I was about to realize something important, but your punch ruined it.”

At the sound of my tongue clicking, Leona’s tail and ears drooped dejectedly.

“T-There was no choice…”

“Why’s that?”

“If you’d attempted that roundhouse kick in your current condition, your mana would have gone berserk. You’d have been bedridden for a week…”

“So you decided punching me in the jaw was the solution?”

“…I-I’m sorry about that…”

“Hmm…”

I silently watched Leona, who hung her head while continuing to massage my legs.

After staring at her for a while, she slowly began wagging her tail again and cautiously asked,

“But… you did absorb what I taught you, didn’t you?”

“The footwork?”

Leona drew in a sharp breath.

“Nya-haha! I thought you might figure it out, but it still feels strange now that you actually have!”

“It was impossible not to notice. But what’s with that speech pattern? Is that how you normally talk?”

“Um?! A-Ahem, well… Anyway! How was the footwork I taught you? Pretty good, right?”

“…Yeah, not bad.”

What Leona had taught me was footwork.

Though she’d mostly just thrown punches and kicks at me, dodging them had revealed the technique.

A steady rhythm and measured steps. Though slightly irregular, it followed a defined pattern and flow.

Once I’d adapted to it, I could avoid her punches while mixing in counterattacks. By the final strike, I’d even managed to incorporate it into my offensive moves.

That’s when I became certain. Leona’s master was definitely Arisa.

The image of Arisa in my memories. Her punches, her kicks. Her breathing, her irregular footwork. All of it started connecting piece by piece.

When I’d tried to mimic just the outward appearance before, it had felt disjointed, but now everything flowed naturally.

Of course, it would take time and effort to fully adapt it to my body and raise my proficiency, but this was still remarkable progress.

Much as I hated to admit it, among all the chimpanzees I knew, Arisa was the strongest.

If I could recreate her movements… No, if I could modify them to suit my style, my growth would accelerate tremendously.

I could have figured it out alone given enough time, but I wouldn’t have made such rapid progress.

And Leona was connected to Arisa.

Maybe she hadn’t learned directly from Arisa—the knowledge might have been passed down through disciples. What mattered was that I’d found clear evidence.

That irritating woman hadn’t just left behind my techniques—she’d left behind moves that even the Eustetia family had never seen.

Even so…

“I still won’t be your disciple.”

I turned my head away.

Think you can control me? Not a chance.

“W-Why not…!”

“I don’t like reckless masters like you who knock their students unconscious.”

“…B-But I gave you an elixir…”

“What kind of elixir was it?”

“Well… I can’t tell you right now…”

“Hmm…”

As Leona avoided my gaze, I let out a small sigh and stood up.

Then, recalling that earlier sensation…

Whoosh—!

I executed the roundhouse kick, stopping it right in front of Leona’s face.

“Then teach me this properly.”

“Huh…?”

Leona stared at me with a startled expression. She wasn’t shocked that I’d kicked at her—she was surprised I’d managed to perform the roundhouse kick at all.

“If you teach me, I’ll be your disciple.”

“Ah-hah… I really did underestimate you.”

“Will you teach me?”

“…Alright. But not today.”

“Why not? I’ve got the feel for it now, and we might as well finish since there are no lectures tomorrow.”

I frowned and lowered my leg.

“Because you won’t be able to stand soon.”

“What do you mean by…? Oh…?”

Thud.

I collapsed.

“…Ugh.”

My legs wouldn’t respond. Not just my legs—I couldn’t properly control my waist or abs either.

All this from a bit of sparring…? No, could that roundhouse kick really have caused this?

Impossible.

Denying it in my mind, I wobbled and tried to stand again…

Thud.

And collapsed once more.

“…Damn it.”

No matter how much I struggled after that, my pathetic body kept falling back down.

“I told you. If you’d completed that kick properly, you’d be in even worse shape.”

Watching me, Leona giggled while massaging my legs, slowly circulating mana to untangle the blocked pathways.

“Still, it’s amazing you’re only this injured. Usually, you’d be bedridden for a week and limping for a month.”

“Ugh… Ngh, is that… hic… from experience?”

An electric sensation spread from my calves to my lower abdomen, making my whole body twitch and spasm.

“N-Not at all! I was naturally talented from the start!”

Definitely from experience.

“Why do you push yourself so hard? You could take it slower. You’re still young.”

Leona’s gentle hands worked up from my calves to my inner thighs, pressing firmly. Each time she did, my back arched and electricity seemed to jolt through my lower abdomen.

“Huff, hic…! Hek… Huff… I wasn’t even pushing myself.”

“Nya-haha! Your spirit is admirable, but this definitely counts as overexertion. I’m a beastkin and you’re human. How could you possibly copy my movements?”

Now her hands moved past my thighs, pressing into my buttocks and groin. The earlier tingling had been replaced by waves of heat flooding through my body.

Desperately suppressing the strange sounds trying to escape my throat, I managed to respond:

“Ugh… ha, ngh… g-gentler… please… I-I’m flexible enough, so it’s fine.”

As Leona had said, beastkin movements weren’t meant for human bodies.

They were fundamentally different species. Beastkin bodies were powerful and resilient, almost purpose-built for combat.

In contrast, human bodies were fragile and weak. While it was possible to force yourself to imitate beastkin movements, a normal human body would suffer severe joint damage and risk bone deformation.

But I was different. Though small and soft, my body was extraordinarily flexible and elastic. I could fine-tune my movements by channeling mana into each joint.

While I couldn’t perfectly replicate beastkin movements at my current level, I was confident I’d catch up soon.

“Don’t rush. Take it slow, take it slow. I want my disciple to live a long life.”

“…Even without you saying that… ngh, ah… hic, I plan to live long.”

“Nya-hahaha! Good! Now then, let’s go!”

After Leona’s massage finished, I tried standing again. Though I felt looser than before…

My legs still wouldn’t support me.

“…What’s happening?”

When I punched and pinched my legs, I could feel pain, but they felt strange, like I was walking through water.

“I told you you won’t be able to walk today!”

Seeing my state, Leona…

“Up we go.”

Picked me up.

Not a piggyback—she lifted me in her arms.

A princess carry.

“W-What… what are you doing?!”

“You can’t walk, right?”

“No! I mean, no—I can walk!”

“Hmm? Really? Then go ahead.”

Snickering, Leona set me down gently. I gathered mana to support my legs and…

The mana dispersed and my body started tilting.

“Hup…! D-Damn, this…”

“See? I told you.”

Just before I could fall, Leona scooped me up again.

“Now then, let’s get going!”

“No, wait, what is this…”

“By the way, why is a martial artist like you so light? Are you eating properly, disciple?”

“Ugh… ah… ngh…”

I couldn’t speak. The words wouldn’t come. This was humiliating. Embarrassing. I wanted to die. What kind of position was this? Why?

“Jeez. How can you practice martial arts with skin this soft?”

“Ah…! Stop! Don’t touch me!”

“Oh? What’s this? Is my disciple embarrassed?”

Leona’s eyes widened in apparent surprise as she peered at my face.

“Hmm… I thought you were all tough, but you’ve got quite a girly side. Hehe, I like it.”

Her surprise quickly turned into a smirk.

“No! Nngh… stop! Just… just put me down!”

“Give up. You won’t move until tomorrow morning. It would normally take five days to recover, but thanks to my massage, you’ll be fine in one. Heh!”

“…Is it really because of that kick?”

“Yep. Partly that, and partly the elixir I gave you earlier.”

“…Elixir?”

*An elixir? Can an elixir really paralyze my legs like this?

It must not be an ordinary elixir.*

“What exactly was it? Can’t you just tell me since I’ve already taken it?”

“Nya-haha! Trade secret. Anyway, you won’t move until tomorrow, so give up!”

“…No. I’ll crawl back on my own somehow, so just… put me down.”

“My disciple is too shy! Don’t worry—it’s past curfew, so no one will see!”

Ignoring Leona’s words, I struggled with what strength I had left in my arms and waist.

Of course, it was useless. Leona didn’t budge an inch.

And so, carried like a princess, I was taken out of the training grounds and…

“…Ah, Lady Ellie?”

We ran into Yurasia.

Instinctively, I covered my face with both hands.

“…Yurasia. Close your eyes.”

“Y-Yes, ma’am.”

“And hit my head hard.”

“…Pardon?”

“Or if that’s too difficult, hit my head instead.”

“I didn’t expect to find students out at this hour!”

Leona approached Yurasia with a carefree laugh. I struggled again, but it was futile.

Goddamnit.

“Ah, I… I just got back from sending a letter home. I have a pass…”

“Sure, sure! You don’t look like the type to cause trouble, so I believe you!”

“Um… but why are you carrying her like that?”

“Hmm? Ahaha! She worked so hard during training that she can’t walk, so I, as her master, am carrying her!”

“Ah… she said she couldn’t walk?”

Yurasia looked at me with obvious confusion. Chewing my lip in frustration, I glared at her.

“I never said that. This isn’t from training. And I told her I’d crawl back myself, but the Vice Headmaster insisted on carrying me. I had no choice in this. Got it? Understand?”

“…Y-Yes.”

“Nyeh-hehe. Say, Yurasia, could you take my disciple to her room? It might be easier for you.”

Gulp—whether from nervousness or something else, Yurasia swallowed audibly.

“Ah… I-I’ll do that then…”

“No. Don’t. I’ll crawl back myself.”

“But… I really can escort you…”

“No. I said I can manage.”

I fixed Yurasia with an intense glare.

“So just leave me be.”

“Eep… u-um…”

“Hmm. My disciple is such a handful!”

Sighing, Leona laughed and patted my head.

“Sleep well! Rest up this weekend! I’m busy Monday, so we’ll meet again Tuesday!”

“What? Sleep well—?”

At that moment…

Poke—

Leona’s finger struck a pressure point in my neck.

“Urk…”

My consciousness faded.

***

After handing Eliaernes over to Yurasia, Leona immediately set off.

Her steps were light, each stride measured and unfaltering as she made her way to the academy’s outer gate.

The moment she passed through the front gates—

WHOOSH—!

A perfect rotational kick, far superior to Eliaernes’ clumsy attempt, cleaved through the air.

Then—

“As expected, I can’t hide from your eyes.”

From the space behind where Leona’s leg had stretched, a figure in a pitch-black hood emerged.

A male figure. But not human.

A wooden puppet, jointed in more places than a human body, walked forward with heavy steps.

“Isn’t that quite a violent greeting for a junior you haven’t seen in so long?”

“Hah.”

Leona’s vertical-slit golden eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Call yourself my junior one more time, and I’ll find your real body within two days and tear you apart.”

“…Haha. Yes, I forgot myself in the unexpected reunion. Please forgive my slip of the tongue.”

Though it was just a warning, the man facing Leona through his puppet could feel cold sweat running down his spine as he bowed his head.

“But Leona, taking on a disciple? What brought this on?”

“I already tore out one of your eyes, yet you haven’t broken that spying habit. Should I pluck out the remaining one to cure it?”

“I wasn’t spying. I merely overheard.”

“Overheard? Then perhaps I should tear out your eardrums.”

Leona’s gaze shifted toward the academy.

“Your ears must be in there somewhere. Shall I go in and handle it myself?”

“As Vice Headmaster, should you speak so casually about killing students?”

“My disciple is far more precious than any of your puppets.”

“The Sword Emperor said you’d mellowed since taking up teaching. Clearly that was a lie.”

The wooden puppet chuckled softly.

“I’m relieved to see the Empire’s First Pillar, the ‘Fist Demon,’ hasn’t lost her edge.”

At that moment—

Leona’s fist moved.

―――.

The sound compressed to its limit. With barely a whisper, as if merely disturbing the air—

The wooden puppet crumpled lifelessly. Leona ground her foot into its chest and growled.

“Didn’t those other pillars warn you what happens when you put the word ‘demon’ before my name?”

“…I didn’t expect you to get this angry.”

“Then allow me to remind you.”

Crack—Leona’s extended hand sprouted sharp claws. Fangs emerged from between her clenched teeth, and her golden eyes blazed with malevolent light.

The killing intent she’d been suppressing burst forth. Her carefully contained, overwhelming mana flooded out, and her dominating presence filled the area.

“The White Palace in the North. That’s where your real body is. Wait there quietly. I’ll personally come to tear out your tongue and remaining eye.”

In less than a second— That’s all it took for Leona to locate the puppet master’s true body.

The Empire’s Third Pillar, the Puppet Emperor Wu Je, fell silent.

“The Sword Emperor, Shadow Sovereign, and Ghost Spear are there too, aren’t they? Four of the Empire’s Six Pillars. Care to test your luck against me?”

“…Have you grown even stronger?”

“I did not give you permission to speak.”

Crunch—The ground cracked beneath Leona’s foot as she crushed the puppet. Space itself seemed to warp.

“Don’t forget. The only reason you lot still breathe is because of the ‘Pact.’ The moment it breaks, you’ll be the first to die.”

Wu Je couldn’t refute her words.

This was no bluff or empty threat. It was fact—something that could truly happen.

The Empire’s Six Pillars. Though only six in number, even they were divided into factions.

Those who sought to maintain the Demon King’s seal. Those who sought to break it. And those who remained neutral.

The former consisted of four pillars—those Leona had mentioned: the Sword Emperor, Shadow Sovereign, Ghost Spear, and Wu Je himself.

The latter had but one member. The Empire’s First Pillar: Leona.

Even with the neutral Fire Emperor’s support, they still couldn’t overcome Leona alone.

That’s why Wu Je could only hold his tongue.

“If you have nothing more to say, begone.”

“…Understood.”

As Wu Je began severing his connection to the puppet, Leona exhaled briefly and turned away.

“And one more thing. If anyone dares touch my disciple…”

Though she didn’t take another step, she left behind a quiet murmur.

“I will personally reclaim the title of Fist Demon.”