Hinata POV
Huff… huff…
"That's enough training for today," Shizue finally said, lowering her wooden sword.
I didn't argue. I couldn't. My entire body felt like it had been torn apart and stitched back together wrong. My arms trembled as I tried to hold my stance, but the moment she relaxed, I collapsed to the ground with a loud thud.
Flat on my back, breathing hard, I stared up at the clear blue sky above the training field. The air was warm, carrying the faint scent of grass and dust. Every part of me hurt. My hands, my legs, even muscles I didn't know existed were screaming.
But I didn't stop her. Couldn't.
After all, I was the one who asked Shizue to train me in the first place.
And in this world skill alone doesn't cut it. You can have the flashiest Unique Skill in existence, but if you don't have the fundamentals to back it up, you're toast.
Skill plus hard work beats skill alone, unless you're Rimuru or some other walking cheat code.
Still, hard work usually pays off. Usually. Unless your luck's absolute garbage. Hopefully, mine isn't.
It's been twenty-nine days since I woke up as a girl. Twenty-nine days of pretending to be someone I'm not, walking, talking, and living like a girl.
Why? Simple. I don't want anyone finding out that there's a guy stuck inside this body.
See, will or desire here isn't exactly a small matter. The moment people find out I used to be a man, they're not going to think, "oh wow, what a crazy accident." Nope. They'll think I wished for this. Like I was some pervert who asked to be reborn in a woman's body.
I'd rather die than deal with that reputation.
So yeah, I've been keeping the act up. I walk like her, speak like her, and let everyone assume I am her. It's safer that way.
Though, if I ever meet whatever cosmic force decided to stick me in this situation, I'm punching it square in the face.
I sighed, glancing down at my outfit. Shizue had insisted I wear something "fitting." That included a set of pink flower-patterned underwear.
I still wear them.
Not because I want to, but because she bought them for me, and saying no to her kindness feels impossible.
Still, every time I catch a glimpse of them, it feels like another reminder of how far from my old self I've drifted.
I grit my teeth and push myself up, ignoring the ache in my muscles. My breathing was still uneven, my uniform clinging to my sweat-soaked skin.
"You're the most talented otherworlder I've seen so far in combat, Hinata," Shizue said softly, stepping closer. She reached out and brushed her hand through my hair. I didn't stop her. I knew she did it to calm me down, a small act of kindness.
"I still can't believe you've never trained in your world," she added softly. It was gentle, warm in a way that made me almost drop my guard.
I exhaled, pretending to think. "Maybe my skill lets me copy other people's experience or talent to some extent. I'm still exploring it, so I don't know its full capabilities yet."
"Either that," she said after a pause, "or you really are talented, just never realised it before." Her hand lingered for a moment before she pulled away, and I let the silence stretch between us. I didn't comment on it. There was no point. I already knew why my growth had been this fast.
My focus shifted inward as I willed the system window to appear.
[Talia al Ghul 28%]
A faint smile tugged at my lips. Almost a third already.
Honestly, I got lucky pulling her on my very first spin. She might not be on Batman's level, but she's still top-tier in her own right, an assassin trained from childhood, a strategist, a leader, and a woman who could command the League of Assassins without flinching. People underestimate her because she's human, but that's exactly what makes her terrifying, she's peak human.
Still, something about this version seemed different. I hadn't gained any traits tied to the Lazarus Pit. Either she never took the plunge in this iteration, or the effect merged into my physiology in a subtler way.
Or maybe it's locked, waiting for higher assimilation.
I dismissed the status screen with a thought and turned my gaze back to Shizue.
She was still wearing her mask, the same one she never seemed to take off. Of course, she'd shown me her face once, when I asked. I'd wanted to confirm if she really looked like I remembered, like the Shizue Izawa from the story I knew.
And yes, she did.
"Am I ready for hunting?" I asked, unable to hide the restless energy in my voice. It had been days of pure training, and honestly, I was dying to test myself against something that actually fought back.
"Hmm, yes. I think we can start now," she said after a brief pause. "You've already reached the level required for low-rank missions."
My eyes widened a little. "So, I can take quests now?"
She nodded. "Yes. We'll get you registered at the Free Guild tomorrow."
A grin tugged at my lips. Finally. My first step into the real isekai experience, monster hunts, quests, rewards, and danger.
"Did you memorise the stuff Yuuki gave you?" Shizue's voice pulled me out of my fantasy before it got too wild.
"Yeah, I did," I said.
"Good," she nodded. "It's gonna come in handy. Knowing what kind of monster you're up against will decide whether you fight or run. Don't forget that."
She wasn't wrong. That book wasn't just some random field guide. It was basically a survival manual for idiots who think being in another world means they're immortal. I still remember thanking Yuuki when he handed it over. As for him, whether he's the LN version or the WN one, both have their quirks. I honestly couldn't care less which he is, as long as he doesn't step on my path, I'm not stepping on his.
Though, since he already knows about my Unique Skill, I doubt he'll be forgetting me anytime soon.
I hadn't planned on telling him that much, but Yuuki isn't exactly easy to fool. He must have some sort of analytical skill, either one he created or something he picked up along the way, and it probably told him I've got a Unique Skill. Still, I'm betting it didn't show the full picture. Most analysis skills can't pinpoint everything.
I had to drop a few cards on the table, just enough to make myself look like an investment, not a liability. If I'd acted too ordinary, they might've thrown me into some random backwater village and forgotten I ever existed.
Although Hinata ended up under Shizue's tutelage, I can't expect everything to play out by the book.
During our first meeting, I played the part of the clueless newcomer, harmless, eager, and conveniently talented. I told them about my "copy" ability, pretending it was the only Unique Skill I possessed, while keeping Mathematician and Seize sealed tight beneath the surface.
Once I earned Shizue's trust, I took the chance to copy everything she had, except her Unique Skill, of course.
As for Yuuki, just like I predicted, it didn't work. His anti-skill protection is leagues above my current level. That alone tells me how dangerous he really is behind that smiling face.
It's a pity, really. I won't be able to copy many skills anymore. The ability just doesn't work on those weaker than me, and after copying Shizue's techniques, my level rose quite a bit. Unless I unlock Force Seizer, I'm stuck with what I have for now.
Still, I'm not too upset about it. If anything, it's proof that I'm growing stronger.
Also there's gacha too, my ace in the hole. No need to hunt scraps when I can pull something extraordinary from the Omniverse itself.
Now that I think about it, before I start this new chapter, let's roll the damn thing.
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