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Chapter 54: A Terrifying Woman
So shameless…
What a despicable adult!
Rei watched Rika strip off her jacket and flaunt her curves in front of Suyan, inwardly disgusted.
I was here first, and now everyone's trying to cut in line!
Just like that pink-haired glasses girl Saya earlier—if she could, Rei would pin Rika to the floor the same way.
But looking at Rika's leopard-like wild body, the smooth lines of her abs, and the elegant, powerful muscles on her arms that weren't exaggerated yet undeniably strong…
If it were a spear match, Rei still had confidence. But bare-handed? She would be the one pinned.
For Suyan's sake she could step in front without hesitation, just like before.
But right now…
Rei could only stare at Suyan, silently praying: Please don't accept! Absolutely do not accept!
Thankfully, her prayer was answered.
Suyan shook his head at Rika. "I refuse your challenge."
Rika frowned. "Why?"
His answer made her doubt herself for a second. Had her charm really fallen so low?
Why would this boy refuse her challenge?
"You're too weak."
Suyan explained calmly, "A tiger might accept a lion's challenge, but have you ever seen a tiger accept a mouse's challenge?"
He was tempted by Rika's proposal—after all, it was an impossible-to-lose guaranteed victory.
But as he said, she was simply too weak.
A fight with such a massive gap in strength wasn't a challenge; it was bullying.
Even without using Nen, the physical conditioning and reaction speed he had gained over the past year from constantly refining his body with aura far surpassed what any ordinary person like Rika could match.
It would be unfair to her.
Of course he could hold back, let her enjoy the fight, then defeat her.
But afterward?
He still planned to form a Contract with her.
Once she learned Nen, she would instantly understand the difference between ordinary people and Nen users—and realize he had been going easy.
That would only create distance.
Better to show the gap from the start. If she still insisted on challenging him…
Then he would have no choice but to tearfully claim her.
"You think I'm a mouse?"
Rika pointed at herself, almost laughing from anger.
From childhood she had been competitive yet capable—always number one at everything. Even in her previous job she had completed every mission flawlessly.
This was the first time anyone had compared her to something as weak as a mouse.
"No, no. Strictly speaking, the gap between us is bigger than between an elephant and an ant."
Suyan placed both hands on Shizuka's shoulders and gently pushed the blonde forward. "You can't even beat Shizuka-nee right now, let alone me. Why don't you get past her first?"
Although Shizuka rarely trained her Nen, she was Suyan's very first Contract. Over the past year she had transformed into a seductive succubus, draining aura from him almost nightly.
The results far exceeded normal training.
Despite her usual airheaded appearance, her current strength could only be described as a human-shaped T-rex—even without Nen.
"Eh? Me?"
Shizuka blinked, then belatedly raised her soft arm and tried to flex. "That's right! I'm super strong!"
"Shizuka?"
Rika stared at her best friend's silly pose, utterly exasperated.
With those few pounds of extra "assets," just running would already be terrifying enough. Fighting? Please.
She turned back to Suyan, annoyed. "What do you mean by pushing Shizuka forward? Even if you're looking down on me, there's a limit!"
"Rika-chan, I'm not lying—I'm really super strong! Want me to show you… um…" Shizuka thought for a second. "How about a split?"
Looking at her completely unreliable best friend, Rika's mouth twitched. "Shizuka, just go stand over there."
"Okay~ Suyan, go get her!"
To everyone's surprise, Shizuka happily agreed and walked off to cheer for him.
Rika had clearly challenged Suyan. Pushing Shizuka forward—was he trying to show respect?
But Shizuka knew better. Respect meant nothing to Rika.
Even in modern times, Rika's bones still followed the ancient law of the jungle: the strong eat the weak.
Only if Suyan thoroughly defeated her would she acknowledge him—Nen or no Nen.
She usually thinks less, but she's not actually stupid.
Especially when it concerns Rika becoming our companion, of course I have to take it seriously.
"Come on!"
Seeing Shizuka step aside, Rika worried Suyan would keep stalling. She crouched like a hunting leopard and pounced.
Rika had learned standard military combat techniques and adapted them to her own body, adding her personal flair—wild yet with few openings.
But to him the speed was still too slow.
Suyan simply sidestepped, easily dodging the charge.
If it had been anyone else, he would have gone on the offensive—showing them the difference between left-fist damage and right-fist damage.
Since Rika was so eager, it looked like he had no choice but to claim her.
Fine. He would play with her first.
Let her enjoy the fight a little—hold back for now.
Meanwhile, outside the combat zone, Shizuka was enthusiastically chatting with Rei and the others.
Mainly she was getting to know the newcomer Yuriko.
Soon Shizuka yawned. "So sleepy… fighting is so boring~ It's almost dawn anyway. You all probably haven't rested properly, right?"
"Those two don't look like they'll finish anytime soon. Why don't we all go to bed? I'll show you to the rooms."
With a bright smile that hid her true goal, she grabbed the girls and started leading them away without waiting for agreement.
Before leaving, she gave the fiercely fighting Rika a deep, meaningful look.
Rika-chan, Rika-chan… I've prepared the perfect opportunity for you. Don't waste it.
At the exact moment Shizuka glanced at Rika, Yuriko—whose arm she was holding—also gave her a long, deep look.
A formidable opponent!
Her intelligence is probably on par with mine!
Yuriko had seen every move Shizuka made.
And compared to her own difficult-to-handle Saya, Rika was far easier to guide.
Feeling Yuriko's strange gaze, Shizuka's eyes instantly returned to their usual innocent clarity. "Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing." Yuriko shook her head, not exposing her.
Shizuka pointed at Yuriko's purple hair in surprise. "I only just noticed—your hair is the same color as Rika-chan's and Saeko-san's! What a coincidence. Want to sleep together later?"
Is this woman a purple-hair fetishist? No, if anyone is, it should be Suyan.
Otherwise how do you explain three purple-haired women out of six in this house?
Yuriko froze for a second, then quickly recovered.
Wait, almost got led astray.
Shizuka had first coaxed the two young girls, Rei and Saya, and now she was personally dragging Yuriko away—all to create an opening for her best friend Rika.
Flawless.
What a terrifying woman!
Yuriko couldn't help sighing inwardly.
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