Chapter 54: Since I’m Already S-Rank, Might as Well Go Up Another Level

“Yay! I’ve finally advanced to S-Rank!”

Luna exclaimed excitedly.

All the effort over these days was finally worth it in this moment!

“Congratulations, kid.”

Eliza was also smiling as she congratulated her, but then her tone suddenly shifted.

“Now, it’s time to set your sights on SS-Class, kid.”

Eliza’s “gentle smile” sent a chill down Luna’s spine!

She hadn’t forgotten the pain she endured just to reach S-Rank.

She wished she didn’t have to go through it all over again—ahhh!

“Then… can I rest for a while first…?”

Luna asked weakly, but Eliza acted as if she hadn’t heard a thing and completely ignored her.

“What are you talking about, kid? I don’t understand a word.”

“Next, you have to brace yourself for SS-Class training.”

Eliza continued to speak “kindly”, causing Luna to break out in a cold sweat and immediately shut her mouth.

Luna understood in her heart that if she resisted any more, she’d only be inviting more trouble for herself!

“F…fine…”

Luna sighed silently, feeling full of grievance with nowhere to vent.

“Isn’t there any quick way to reach SS-Class…”

She muttered softly to herself, not realizing that her complaint was heard loud and clear by Eliza.

“You say you want a quick way to reach SS-Class…”

Eliza suppressed her anger, a strange smile appearing on her face.

Luna nodded cautiously, both expectant and nervous.

“I see… That’s easy enough.”

Though the anger in her heart hadn’t faded, Eliza’s voice carried an inscrutable lightness.

“Really!?”

Luna felt a surge of excitement, completely oblivious to Eliza’s hidden fury, and couldn’t help but ask.

“Of course.”

Eliza replied casually, snapping her fingers.

In that instant, a mysterious Portal appeared before her, emitting a faint light, as if hiding countless secrets.

Luna was stunned, staring at her in confusion, her gaze drawn irresistibly to the Portal.

But suddenly, several slimy Tentacles surged out from the Portal, wrapping around Luna’s thighs and limbs, even binding her neck tightly.

Luna’s eyes widened in terror.

“What is this—!”

Her heart filled with confusion and fear, unable to comprehend Eliza’s intentions.

She could feel the wet, sticky sensation where the Tentacles touched, as if they were trying to drag her into the mysterious Portal.

Luna panicked, questioning Eliza.

“What are you doing!”

She struggled desperately, trying to resist being pulled into the Portal by the Tentacles.

“Didn’t you say you wanted an easy way to ascend to SS-Class?”

Eliza leaned in closer to Luna, speaking softly.

“It’s simple, really. Just let these Tentacles ‘remodel’ your body, and you’ll achieve it.”

She gently stroked Luna’s cheek, a seductive smile curling at her lips.

“All it takes is transforming your body into a sensitive type, so even a breeze makes you unbearably sensitive—that’s enough.”

Luna froze, her heart in turmoil.

“Re…remodel…?”

“That’s right. If you wish, you can experience incomparable pleasure. And it’s the shortcut to SS-Class.”

Eliza’s words were sweet as honey, tempting her to accept the proposal.

“I…”

A blush spread across Luna’s cheeks as she realized what Eliza was implying.

If I turned into one of those manga protagonists…

“No…don’t…!”

Luna quickly refused, but Eliza wasn’t about to let her go so easily!

(Weren’t you just longing for a shortcut to SS-Class? I’ll grant it for you right now!)

“Actually, you really want to try, don’t you? Just stop struggling, and follow these Tentacles, and everything you desire will be yours.”

“No! I was wrong! Don’t do this, Eliza!”

Luna pleaded with Eliza to stop, but it wasn’t enough to move her.

“You wanted it so badly, so as your ‘mother’, I have to satisfy you.”

“That’s wrong! I know I’m wrong! Don’t throw me in there! I was wrong, mom!”

Overwhelmed by the situation, Luna called her ‘mom’ again, finally easing Eliza’s anger a little.

“Hmph, that’s more like it.”

With that, Eliza snapped her fingers again, and the Tentacles obediently released Luna, retreating back into the Portal.

Then, the Portal vanished.

“Ha~ I’m saved…”

Freed from the Tentacles, Luna collapsed on the ground, still shaken from the ordeal.

“I almost… stopped being myself…”

But then she reconsidered.

Turn into one of those heroines…

No, no, no! I can’t become like that!

Luna shook her head, trying to banish such thoughts.

Beside her, Eliza’s anger hadn’t fully faded.

She let out a light ‘hmph’ before speaking to Luna.

“Stop thinking about such nonsense, okay? If you want to ascend, then do it properly!”

“Got it!”

“Now, back to the main topic.”

Seeing Luna’s contrite expression, Eliza continued.

“Next is preparing for SS-Class training.”

“But…”

Eliza seemed to be pondering something as she went on.

“But, SS-Class training can’t be as easy as this.”

There was a conspiratorial tone in her voice, causing Luna’s lips to twitch and a sense of unease to rise within her.

“Wha…what?”

“Relax, I’ve already prepared a new Training Plan for you, kid.”

Her words only made Luna more uneasy.

To her ears, Eliza’s words sounded like the whisper of a Demon.

But Eliza didn’t care what Luna thought.

After finishing, she snapped her fingers again, and a refined-looking young man stepped out of the Portal.

Another Portal…

“Master.”

The young man greeted Eliza respectfully upon his arrival.

His demeanor was exceptionally elegant, like that of a noble.

Luna observed him closely, realizing his style was entirely different from the Demon she had met before.

She quickly recognized him as a Demon too—the beast ears on his head made it impossible to ignore, as did his clothing.

He wore an ornate, predominantly white eastern-style outfit.

Compared to the previous Demon with a warrior’s aura, he seemed more like a civil official.

She noticed his hair—long, snowy white interspersed with strands of red, and even his beast ears shared the same coloring.

Behind him, a large tail swayed cheerfully.

What caught Luna’s attention most was the fan in his hand, adding to his scholarly appearance.

Eliza then introduced him to Luna.

“Let me introduce you, kid. This one’s one of us too. Just call him ‘Number Two’, kid.”

The young man called ‘Number Two’ bowed respectfully to Luna and spoke.

“Greetings, Young Miss. I am ‘Number Two’.”

Hearing him call her that, Luna was shocked!

“Young Miss…?”

No one had ever addressed her that way before.

“I…I’m not some Young Miss!”

Luna stammered, clearly reluctant to be called that.

“Is there…something wrong with that? Young Miss?”

I told you I’m not a Young Miss…

At that moment, Eliza interrupted the boy’s introduction and looked toward Luna.

“From now on, he’ll be your sparring partner, kid.”

Eliza declared solemnly.

Luna sensed something terrible in her words!

“Sparring partner!?”

Eliza confirmed, “That’s right, kid. From now on, Number Two is your sparring partner. You need to train well with him.”

The boy called Number Two stood there elegantly, awaiting Eliza’s command.

“Alright, enough talk, kid. Once you’re ready, it’s time to face Number Two.”

Eliza smiled as she spoke, but to Luna it sounded like the whisper of a Demon!

“Eh! Me? I have to spar with him!?”

“Exactly. Right now.”

“Why!?”

Luna couldn’t understand how she’d suddenly ended up sparring with him.

“This is the new round of the Training Plan I mentioned, kid.”

Eliza explained.

“We won’t be starting SS-Class ascension training just yet, kid. First, you need to solidify your own strength before moving on.”

“Number Two will be your sparring partner, helping you gain experience through real combat.”

“First, how to perfectly use the power within you, and second, to practice how to absorb Magical Power during battle to sustain your fights longer. Understand?”

“Oh…”

“But…meditation is still required, though it’s reduced. Once before starting, once after ending. That’s enough.”

“During the interval, you just practice with Number Two.”

Eliza explained the Training Plan with a smile to reassure Luna, then added.

“Don’t worry, Number Two’s strength is more than enough to be your sparring partner.”

Luna found it hard to believe, but what puzzled her more was…

“Why…aren’t you being my sparring partner yourself?”

Luna asked, confused.

If it was for sparring, couldn’t Eliza just do it herself? Why let Number Two handle it?

Eliza’s answer was…

“Why should I do something my subordinates can handle?”

“…”

“Alright, enough pointless chatter, kid. Prepare and begin immediately.”

Eliza waved her hand for the two of them to get ready, then walked over to her own chair.

“Don’t go overboard, Number Two. Just use S-Rank strength.”

As she passed by Number Two, Eliza instructed him.

Number Two nodded in response.

Once Eliza was seated, both sides prepared themselves for the first round.

“…Stay calm. Look for openings…”

Luna observed the refined Number Two before her.

He used his fan to cover his face, as if not wanting Luna to see his expression.

“This guy…he can’t be that strong, right…”

For some reason, Luna suddenly thought that this scholarly Demon wasn’t much of a fighter.

After all, his attire didn’t give off a combat vibe at all…

Thinking this, Luna still wasn’t careless.

“Let’s test him out first!”

With a sudden flash, Luna moved behind her opponent.

“Take this!”

Her dagger aimed straight at her foe, swift as lightning in a storm.

But then, something unexpected happened!

A long, slender object blocked her dagger.

“!?”

Luna stared in disbelief.

Her attack had been effortlessly blocked by his fan.

“Seems you’ve gotten into the right state, Young Miss.”

Number Two’s voice was deep and magnetic, as if assessing her ability.

“Then, pardon my rudeness!”

Before he finished speaking, he launched a counterattack.

The fan moved like a snake’s tail, striking at Luna with fierce speed…