Tch… as expected, I can't copy any of them.
Hinata clicked her tongue softly, eyes scanning the crowded training hall. Most of the adventurer candidates gathered here were far weaker than her. Naturally, Userper didn't react; it required a certain difference in power to function properly. Trying to steal from those beneath her level was meaningless.
And the few who did seem stronger… would take time. A lot of time.
That was one of Userper's greatest weaknesses: the need to appraise a target fully before replication. The stronger the target, the longer the analysis. In Shizue's case, even with her cooperation and no resistance, the process had taken nearly a month.
If only it worked like Great Sage, she mused quietly. Mathematician can't enhance other skill processing; it lacks an ego, and I'm not skilled enough to combine them.
Worse yet, she couldn't use her abilities continuously. Each activation consumed a portion of her magicules, and thanks to her anti-magicule physique, recovery was painfully slow. Unlike a certain slime, she had no internal reserve to draw from. Once depleted, she would be helpless until natural recovery took effect, which was far slower than others.
Still, not all was lost.
...At least Analytical Appraisal works properly.
Under Mathematician's control, it allowed her to record data from observable techniques, not directly copying them, but extracting the underlying logic, structure, and rhythm behind each movement. It was like dissecting a piece of art to understand its brushstrokes.
Given time and the right set of complementary skills, she could recreate what she saw. Not now, perhaps, but soon enough.
"You next."
Hearing that, she stepped into the fighting arena of the hall while the defeated candidate limped out. The majority had failed, only about one in ten succeeded.
As soon as Hinata crossed the testing boundary, the proctor was already prepared to face her. With his sword in hand, he immediately lunged forward.
Hinata easily dodged the attack. She had spent the entire time observing others fight and had already grasped enough to predict where the next strike would come from. It wasn't her own skill she was using, rather, it was the effect of the Talia Template.
As time passed and the assimilation progressed, Hinata could tell that many things within her were changing, the way she walked, sat, talked, even the way she saw people. Everyone she met, she instinctively assessed, could she beat them? How much power would it take? What was the most efficient way to do it? What alternatives existed if the plan failed?
She was getting used to it, and accepting it.
Talia might not have the superhuman feats of other DC characters, but being trained from birth to fight and manage her father's criminal empire was no small achievement.
Even if she couldn't match Batman, Nightwing, or Lady Shiva, she was still far above most. She possessed greater knowledge, sharper instincts, and more experience than the majority of fighters out there.
And now, all of that, the instincts, the discipline, the tactical thinking, was slowly taking root within Hinata. She had grown much better at applying them, especially after her training under Shizue.
"Sorry, but I have to win," she said, raising her sword.
The words slipped out before she could stop herself. It was a cliché, and she felt her face heat up in mild embarrassment. Still, her inner chuunibyou refused to let the moment pass unclaimed.
With Thought Acceleration engaged, her mind sharpened to a razor's edge. Every twitch of her opponent's muscles, every shift in his stance, she saw them all in perfect clarity.
She predicted his next move even before he made it.
The man lunged forward, sword cutting through the air.
A second later, Hinata was already behind him, her blade resting lightly against his neck.
---
"Here's your ID."
Hinata accepted the small metal card from the receptionist and glanced down at it. Her name was neatly engraved, along with her adventurer designation, Specialist (Warrior), and her assigned division.
Tucking it safely away, she turned and walked toward the exit, where Shizue was waiting.
"How did it go?" Shizue asked.
Hinata shrugged lightly. "Smooth enough," she replied, before explaining the details. It wasn't anything worth hiding anyway.
"I see." Shizue nodded with a small, knowing smile. She wasn't surprised in the least; Hinata's growth had been remarkable, something Shizue herself had witnessed firsthand.
Then, suddenly, Shizue's expression shifted. Her voice grew more serious as she said, "There's something I need to tell you."
Hinata's brows furrowed. She didn't interrupt, only waited quietly for her to continue.
"There have been reports of unusual activity in the Kingdom of Blumund," Shizue said at last. "The king has formally requested my assistance."
Hinata frowned slightly. "Do you have to go?"
Despite knowing how strong Shizue was, she couldn't help the unease that surfaced. They hadn't been together for long, but somewhere along the way, she'd gotten attached. Maybe a little too much.
Seeing the concern in Hinata's eyes, Shizue gave a small, reassuring smile.
"Blumund is one of the kingdoms that helped establish the Free Guild," she explained. "Their reasons weren't purely altruistic, of course. They border the Jura Forest and constantly face monster incursions. Still…" She paused briefly, as if considering something. Then she shook her head and continued, "I have to go. Not just because of the formal request, but because someone I know has also asked to meet me there."
Hinata understood right away that Shizue's decision wouldn't change. Trying to persuade her would be pointless.
So instead, she shifted the topic.
"Are you telling me this so I can decide whether to follow you or not?"
Shizue gave a small nod. It wasn't a question of permission, more of concern. Hinata had only been in this world for less than two months. A little more guidance, Shizue believed, wouldn't hurt.
But Hinata simply smiled faintly and shook her head.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine."
There were plenty of reasons behind that refusal.
For one, she didn't want Shizue watching over her any longer. Having her nearby made it difficult to use the Gacha freely, even something as simple as taking items out of the inventory became risky under someone else's eyes.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Shizue. Deep down, Hinata believed she wouldn't betray her secret. But still… what if she did? What if her mind changed one day? What if curiosity or fear made her act differently?
Maybe I'm just being paranoid, Hinata thought wryly. Like some mental patient in a bat costume with trust issues and sadist tendency.
Still, that didn't mean she'd stop being cautious. Trust was valuable, but secrets, her secret, were irreplaceable.
The other reason was simpler, she needed time alone. Time to think, to plan her next move.
She wasn't interested in getting too close to anyone, not yet. But she also knew solitude in this world was a fragile thing. Unless one had overwhelming strength, the kind that made others hesitate to even think about crossing you, isolation was a luxury.
Unless you're Joker, she mused with a faint smirk. Then people just stay away out of sheer terror.
"Okay," Shizue said, respecting her decision. "Let's have an expensive dinner today."
"Thanks," Hinata replied, expressing her gratitude as they walked together.
"Oh, and we should buy some more clothes for you," Shizue added casually. "During missions, they get damaged pretty quickly."
"Hmm, yes, let's go."
"We should also get some more undergarments."
"....."
"Things like Melting Slimes or Duds Slugs are more troublesome than they seem. Sure, they're easy to defeat but once you make contact they leave many adventurers... well, naked. It's a very difficult situation, especially for females."
"...."
"So, which colour do you want this time? The black one like before, or the panda one ?"
"...."
"You should try the pink one with the rabbit on it. You'll look cute in it."
"....."
"Oh, and I know you're far more mentally mature than most, but as your elder, I should remind you, don't sleep with any man until you're at least eighteen."
"....."
*********
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