Second Day, Partner

On the morning of the second day.

Mitsuna had made a quick morning sandwich for herself and her teacher and was currently training.

Her wrists were almost broken from yesterday as it was surprisingly difficult to swing a sword the entire day perfectly.

As such, she was now training her stamina.

How was she doing that? An activity called planking.

Laying on the ground while lifting your body with only your toes and forearms. All the while, her teacher has been adding weight in the form of metal plates onto Mitsuna's back.

Difficult is it not?

This has been going on for nearly 2 hours.

The reason for the ever-increasing weight?

Empathy said that it's for 'building character' and because 'why not'.

Mitsuna could not find a good argument.

After nearly two and a half hours had passed, the weight was finally too much and Mitsuna fell on her face.

"Oh, that's a problem you need to get fixed. You aren't using all of your stats.

You see what you are doing is pretty stupid. Push your stats to their limit."

With Mitsuna turning around and letting the metal plates crash onto the ground, she pulled her face up from the earth and mud.

'That's easy to say sure but how?'

Receiving a splash of water on her face, Mitsuna sat up.

"Don't make that face. Now prepare another sandwich, I'm hungry. When you come you better be ready to go on for 3 hours straight."

Walking out to the forest to get more meat with a defeated expression, Mitsuna looked back only to see a few extra-large metal plates appear on the ground.

The only thing that could be heard from her mind at that moment would be a very sad sigh.

Jumping from branch to branch, Mitsuna searched for suitable prey only to hear a soft cry in the distance.

'Huh.'

Jumping towards the voice, Mitsuna landed on a branch only to see a beastkin girl and a large boar.

'Animal girl? Animal, catgirl? Boar, catgirl.'

Narrowing down the possible results of this situation in an instant, Mitsuna appraised both.

'Boar level 90 and catgirl level 46. Bad matchup.'

Throwing an ice needle at the boar, Mitsuna drew its attention for a moment before swinging down, grabbing the girl and running.

Hearing trees break behind her, Mitsuna started sweating.

'I am too good of a person.'

Dodging and trying to duck out of sight, Mitsuna managed to make it back home.

"Oh, so you brought the meat to me like this? I guess you Do need to learn how to disassemble these." Empathy spoke as she stood up.

Touching her sword, her aura by itself perfectly cut the boar.

"See that? You do it like that. Now get me my sandwich while I treat that girl."

Placing the girl down, Mitsuna turned and left without asking any questions.

'B brought someone interesting. A catkin with light violet hair and purple eyes huh. Nearly an extinct race I believe. Ooh, maybe I'll get two successors if this brat is good~.'

'Race is... Illusionary Panther level 46 and one pretty interesting Unique skill. Very nice, very nice.' Empathy thought while appraising the girl.

Suddenly she spoke.

"How did you do that?"

Looking at the sparkling eyes that reflected the sky, Empathy was slightly bewildered.

"Swordsmanship."

"Can I do that too, yes?"

"Maybe. I can teach you."

"Really?"

"Sure. But you better treat me and B really nice if you do."

"Yes please!"

'She might just make the perfect rival for dear B. That Unique skill [Denial of Failure] is really something else.'

"Alright. I'll teach you but you have to go through the same training that B goes through and worse since your level is higher. You do know what levels are right?"

"I know how the System works, yes."

"Great. Now put these clothes on, I think they'll suit you."

Shoving the short black hoodie and white trousers both with purple stripes to the girl, she obediently put them on.

"You look good. Now on your knees."

The girl seemed slightly shocked but still listened.

"Now start planking, I'll add weight as time passes."

Suddenly receiving orders to train, the catgirl was shocked for a moment.

"Get to it or I'll burn your clothes and have you do it naked."

Listening with not even a hint of backtalk, she planked and growned as nearly ten plates of metal were placed on her back.

"I'll add more in a minute or two."

Right at this moment, Mitsuna came out of the house with a beautifully large sandwich.

"Teacher, I brought it and made sure to add plenty of healthy ingredients."

"How much meat?"

"Enough."

"Fine. Go join your new partner there in training."

"Okay."

Watching Mitsuna get into position without even a hint of hesitation, Empathy was slightly amused by the different reactions her students gave her.

'I hope they don't change.'

...

That night, both Mitsuna and the catgirl were sleeping on a soft bed in the basement of the house.

"Hey. Why did you save me, yes?"

The catgirl suddenly asked.

"You looked like you were gonna cry."

"Is that all?"

"Yep."

"You didn't seem surprised when teacher introduced me as your partner, yes."

"Yep."

"Is that the only reaction you have?"

"Is the only interesting thing about you the way you end your sentences?"

"Harsh."

"..."

"..."

"By the way. You can call me-"

"Natash."

"yes?"

"There are skills that let you see another person's status."

"...There really are a lot of skills out there huh."

"Yep."

"..."

"You can call me Mitsuna then."

"Doesn't your name start with a B?"

"No."

"Oh, I see, yes."

"Pft."

"Hehe."

Mitsuna and Natash seemed to hit it off quite well as they chuckled at their own conversation, thinking different things and possibly laughing at different things too.

"Hey. Did you see anything weird in my status?"

"I can't see much. But I think that teacher can see everything."

"Really, yes?"

"Yep. If you want to ask someone you should ask her."

"Alright, yes."

"Well let's get to bed. Tomorrow is another day."

"Good night Mitsuna, yes."

"Night, Natash."