Watching Arya almost destroying the equipment all by herself from just her bare strength leaves a smile on my face. Her punch delivers explosive sounds into my ears. "What the heck? She's not even exerting her body all the way through. This is ridiculous."
"Arya! Stop destroying the equipment!" I shouted.
"Hm? Oh, my vassal! Perhaps you wanted to join me for a fun? Here, test it."
"No, I'm good, thank you for the invitation. However, they're fairly new, so I don't think you would want to destroy them?"
"Fret not, they're durable as the little people said to me!"
Her words contradict the state of the equipment, especially the heavy bag as it's certainly not capable of withstanding Arya's unformidable strength. At the back of my head, I ponder the integrity of the dwarves' word or it's just that they weren't able to take into account Arya's strength which seems sensible.
I approach Arya with the intention of observing her up close. Once I got closer, Arya noticed my presence which made her grin at me, and then she became more aggressive with her punches which completely destroyed it. My presence got her too excited.
-Boom!
"Yep, I knew it."
"Ah... I broke it." Arya's expression darkens.
With my quick thinking, I manage to craft a perfect excuse in order to protect the innocent dwarves from Arya. According to Lily, what Arya hates the most are liars. Not only that, if Arya causes a problem, the academy will be needed to take action against her. "It's not durable as you said. Perhaps they miscalculated since your strength is immeasurable. Remember, your race is not something often would be seen strolling around this world."
Arya's face softens as she ponders. "Hmm... You're right. Lowly-beings are not accustomed to my superiority. Then I shall forgive them."
'Thank god, she's reasonable. I'm glad that simple logic and reasoning exists in her head.' I thought.
"Time to try the next one!" Arya left me.
I crouch down, picking it up. "Is this high-quality products? I haven't seen this kind of material. Hmmm... What was it from a skin of a monster? The outer layer is rough, yet so soft."
I clench my fist.
-Boom!
The sound of my punch reverberated throughout the place. Upon inspecting the heavy bag once again, it exploded since the protective layer around it was gone. "Ah!" I exclaimed.
"I shouldn't have done that. It was fixable..." I glance at Arya and when our eyes met each other, she grins at me and gives me an approving nod. "... So, she doesn't really have any problems with destroying stuff, huh?"
I left the place. Arya is having a moment on her newly-built training ground, I went on a stroll to explore the place. For quite a time, I found myself mesmerized by the architectural design of the place, but at the same time, seeing the place empty of people—It's disheartening because the place was filled with this dreadful loneliness. Just by looking around, the reminiscence of Master Irene's mansion enters my mind.
"What do I do now? It's getting boring in this place."
Regardless of how big or grand the place is, I wouldn't feel isolated at all because Clara is always at my side. But looking back at those days when Master Irene adopted me to become her disciple, the first few months of my stay did feel lonely, considering Clara doesn't often talk too much. I don't have anyone to talk to, other than Stephanie who rarely visits me those days.
"It is really hard to be alone..." I stare at the ceiling. "Haaaa..."
From the looks of it, everything will be forced upon Lily and me, mostly on Lily because she's the only person who has the important knowledge regarding running a group. Regarding Arya, she's complicated but in terms of strength, looking back, she's incredibly strong. I wouldn't say she's on par with Master Irene since I can't compare the two when I myself haven't seen Master Irene's true strength.
I still lack in some sectors and needed some honing. Unlike before, I'm focusing on lessening the strain of using Diana's power in my body. In addition, Tsuki is also something I need to deal with because our soul's synchronization is slightly off, making it harder for me to control her power during combat.
In my right palm, I summon a spear in a size of a pencil then play with it while walking alone. "I keep hearing explosions from Arya's location. This palace will surely get destroyed by her, one day..."
"Hey, hey, hey, hey."
Someone shook my arm while calling out my name. I turn toward the person calling me. "Hm?! Oh, bunny. It's you. Long time no see... Is your gimmick now involves stalking me?" I calmly said, but I was incredibly surprised and my heart is beating uncontrollably.
"Huh?! I don't! I'm here because I'm also a part of the group, you know?!" Rinna yells into my ears.
Gradually, my heart finally calm down. "But you've been following me since this morning?" I chuckled.
"Gasp! How did you find out?!"
Her words erased the smile on my face. Honestly, I said it to mess with her, but I didn't expect it to be true. Most importantly, I'm speechless not for the fact she's really doing it, but rather how I haven't noticed her presence at all—not a single trace of it. It's creepy... To hide from me... That's a hard feat because every assassin that I encountered had this sliver of mana still lingering around their body which I focus my attention on.
Assassins trained themselves to conceal their presence and mana, but they're doing it in a peculiar way by blending their mana with the surroundings. To conceal mana completely, they need to scatter their mana to the surroundings leaving the mana inside their body completely empty because mana is dense which is easily noticeable, so it shapes to whatever physicality of the individual have.
Obviously, the reason for it was that mana flows through the body. As for how I can detect it... I don't know how... It's in my natural instinct, like how I breathe. It came out instinctively without doing anything. And then this little bunny in front of me manages to do that.
"Why are you looking at me like that?!"
Rinna's scream made me snap out of my thoughts. "Hm? Because you're talking to me?"
"Then why are you looking at me that way?! I'm not a pervert, okay!"
"I'm not saying anything..."
"You're not, but deep inside, you do! I know because of my intuition as a detective, and it is always right!"
"No. I'm impressed by our ability to conceal your presence."
Rinna's anger immediately dissipates and smiles smugly. "Ho-ho, you're finally enlightening yourself to my greatness."
'She and Arya had a similar vibe... Yeah, they would mesh together greatly.'
I grab her swaying long ears. "There's nothing better than this... I miss this sensation. So, what are you doing here?"
"Kyaaaah! Don't touch it!" Rinna lifts a leg up. She attempted to kick me in the groin but I managed to block it.
"Oi, those are my precious. Don't ever attempt to do that again."
"Stop grabbing my ears!"
I let go of it. As usual, she glares at me with her tearful eyes. To ease her out, I pet her head gently which worked intuitively. Her bunny ears drop until it almost covers her face with it, and then she began making this weird noises from her mouth. But despite the odd reaction of hers, I continued.
"Looks like your enjoying it... I don't know why ears are forbidden, but it's okay between them. But nonetheless, your reaction is so adorable. There, there."
"Hehehe♥"
"So, why are you following me?"
"I'm bored~"
"Really? That's your excuse?"
"It's the truth~"
Observing Rinna up-close, I realized that she had been unusually attempting to get close to me which makes a lot of sense from how she's also approaching Lily and Stephanie. She wouldn't approach me carelessly for a pity reason like just wanting to pet her head, right? Or perhaps because of her father? Her father's face was crystal clear when I saw him the first time, it's like her father is not fond of me. He's the most distrustful person that I have met, and I'm basing this on the vibe that he exuded that day. Our meeting was quite short, but he did give me a strong first impression.
I remember now! Before she left last time, I remember doing the same thing for a few hours before her father drag her home. I completely forgot... It was the last moment I had with her. Like her, I was also drowning myself with happiness at that time because for some reason—her expression feels exotic to look at and it brings me joy. Rinna is a bonafide pet bunny in my eyes which is bad morally, but I can't help it.
"Do you want to walk with me?"
Rinna nods. I took her hand unconsciously and continues my stroll alongside Rinna. I glance at Rinna's beet-red face, as she kept glancing at our interlocked hands and my eyes. Realizing what I've done, I let go of it. It became a habit of mine. Afterward, she breathes deeply and exhales calmly, collecting her composure.
"It takes me back. We haven't met for a few years, but you've become a grown woman." I stare deeply at her well-developed breast. Rinna before is like this child that's just messing around, but now, she's oozing feminity throughout her body.
"You too! You got taller too! And l-look cool..."
I put my hand over to my mouth. "Oh my, did you fall in love with me? How cute."
"N-No!"
"Hahaha, yes, yes, there we go." I caress her head once again.
"Mouu♥ Unfair~ Why do you always act like this? I hate it. This is why the phoenix girl took an interest in you. Look at her now, she's completely head over heels to you like every girl that you rejected back at the Seeker's guild, and the other girls from your missions. Hehehe~"
'Huuuuuuuuh?!' I inwardly screamed.
"How did you know?"
"Of course, I'm an investigator for a reason, myieeh~"
"And... How did you know about the others...?" 'Myiieh? What?'
"Hehehe~ I also know that you sleep with Ms. Clara, Ms. Lily, Ms. Adelle, Ms. Stephanie, and your master." Rinna kept blabbering on my past.
In spite of that, I continue stroking her head. "H-How did you know all of that...?"
"Investigation. It's my job."
I pull my hand away.
"Ah..." Rinna shows her disappointment.
"Why?"
"Because of you." Rinna points at my chest.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"I don't know because I feel like it." Rinna tilts her head to the side.
I raise an eyebrow. "Pardon? Because you feel like it?"
"Umu." Rinna nods.
(I think she's telling the truth.) Diana suddenly spoke.
(How can you say that?)
(Intuition. Look at her, does she look like someone who will bring harm to us? It doesn't seem like it. Oh...)
(See?! How can I not be creeped out by her?! But I do get your point. She looks too innocent and too pure to do anything stupid. Her father also spoiled her too much like Lily. She could also be on the same spectrum as Rosalyn!)
(I don't think so... You're exaggerating it, Claude.)
(I hope so...)
I sigh exasperatedly as I watch Rinna silently taking my hand and placing it on the top of her head. I ruffle her hair which she seems to like. Rinna placed me in a tough spot. I'm conflicted by her. Additionally, she doesn't seem to realize what she said is out of the normal.