“You are my disciple.”

“Npfhx.” Her breath saturated the palm of my hand moistly, which was not comfortable. I wanted to wipe it on my clothes, but I knew I couldn’t let her open her mouth or she’d say something stupid again.

“You’re my disciple.” The woman continued taunting. She was still fumbling about with my hair as if it were a stress toy and it’s self-explanatory how I felt about it.

“Nhfbdj,” she tried saying. It was too muffled for anyone to interpret.

“That’s right, you’re my disciple.” The women kept chanting.

“Ndhhf.”

“No, you are my disciple.” She was deluding herself.

“Nfpols.”

And they kept going back and forth eventually making me question if I was the one being weird for not speaking.

‘Why am I here.’

The fact that my hair was still being ruffled after all this time was not making it any more pleasant. It didn’t feel bad, let’s say—but it was uncomfortable to imagine anyone’s disgusting fingers groping any part of my body. It was the same as rubbing a violin or some fiddle. Instruments were meant to be played, but some people out there buy them for the sole purpose of touching the wood. No one does that. But in front of me was that one in a million maniac.

While I normally didn’t value my body because I was a man and the idea of a woman's body being valued higher was still instilled in my mind from my previous life, I all of the sudden had a realization that this intimacy was disgusting. While I didn’t normally express my opinions outwardly, I was seriously considering shouting with a highly-privileged tone, “UNHAND ME YOU FILTHY PEASANT!”

And I would if I had balls. I didn’t even have hair down there so my shouting would not bear any testosterone with it—meaning, I’d sound like someone high on helium.

I was grossly considering at what point I should release my grasp on Sam’s mouth and distance myself far far away. Maybe even jump into the nearby stream to escape with the currents. I should do that, shouldn’t I? I should…

But at what point would it be considered better to off myself and die?

‘If I am to die, then fight her, you coward!’

I wanted to think fighting off the harasser would make a difference, but even if I discarded the fact that she was deranged, she would still be able to sever my head in a matter of milliseconds. The reason being this unease that surrounded her. It would normally be something found in fictional stories or comic books where being in the presence of a strong person would kill anyone from the sheer aura and pressure they emitted. There was a similar sentiment applied here.

Does the pain weigh out the pride? Could I hold it in? I think I could, but I’d lose my sense of self-worth if this continued. Add on the fact that crazy people usually had little holding them back with the exception of the law, and even that was questionable if this were a truly medieval fantasy. I’m dead if I fought. I’m dead if I didn’t. What is one to do in this situation?

‘Make up your mind.’

But I can’t make up my mind.

‘Then fucking run you dumbass.’

Ahh yes, I’m a fucking genius. Who needs to think; when in doubt, run away… Yeah, no. Won’t I die first?

‘Dying is running away you moron.’

Ah yes, I’m never wrong. Why do I ever doubt myself?

‘Dunno man, you’re always right.’

And with clarity along with the sudden lapse of determination, I pivoted about the balls of my feet to slip away from that hand. I lifted Sam’s curse as I got behind her, sprinting away with both hands at the ready.

But before I could go anywhere, the ground beneath me had vanished, gone, reduced to atoms. My legs moved to no avail like a cartoon character that kept on running and only fell when they noticed they had just run off a cliff. I wished I was joking, but I was hovering above the ground.

“Hey let go of him!” An arm had wrapped around my chest, grabbing me by the armpit.

“Why should I?”

“Let go!”

I couldn’t see the woman’s face, but I was certain she was smirking in the same ill-fashion as before.

“You sure you want that?”

The wind started grazing past my face as indicated by my messy hair. I didn’t dare look down with the premonition I just had.

“You…”

“I’m your Master, remember that. And Master can only be so lenient toward such rude behavior. Would you like to see your friend splat on the ground?”

“Grr.”

I thought I heard the growl of a wild cat, but I think it may have been the wind.

“Come if you want him back.”

When I looked, all I could see was a figure in the distance drifting away.

The woman was flying away with me in tow, and I couldn’t do anything about it.

I knew no one could save me except for myself, but even that was questionable. With the elevation, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say I would get myself killed if I were dropped. I didn’t dare to give a struggle.

As for Sam, she was no Mario. I knew better than anyone else that she couldn’t stop this crazed woman from kidnapping me even if she wanted to.

“Daniel, right?” she asked. Was she trying to start some chit-chat when she was literally kidnapping me? At this point, I should just treat her as a full-fledged pedophile. There was no point in staying this reserved if what’s been done has already been done.

So I tried biting her arm, but it was too far from my mouth and shielded by my own chin.

“You won’t accomplish anything from doing that.”

I knew what she said was correct, but fuck her.

Her arm was holding me by the armpits so I couldn’t really do anything with my upper body. I tried swinging from my pelvis and kipping up with my legs, but that only annoyed her further.

“Stop swinging around like a—.” Upon realizing what she was about to say, she sighed and put her other arm around me, gripping even tighter this time. One arm went around my chest and held me up by the armpits, while the other arm went around my pelvis, holding my legs together. For a child, I didn’t think I was that short, but I was being handled like a tool. It only went to show that this woman was a formidable foe who was much too tall for a child to compete with.

It’s easy to say that this was an unnatural way to carry someone. And it was also easy to pretend I couldn’t feel her panting breath slide down the back of my head. Her assets were another thing, but I was too disturbed by the erratic breathing from behind me. If I didn’t know of her god-like prowess, I would have thought she was having a stroke in the middle of flight.

[The Sword God laughs at your plight.]

[The Sword God sends a gift.]

[Book; received: Void Severing Scripture.]

[Conditions have been met. Inventory has been unlocked.]

[The book, Void Severing Scripture has been sent to the inventory.]

[Conditions have been met. Potions are now available for purchase.]

[A lingering will has been found in the book.]

[Received: Diary of the Greatest Swordsman Volume 1.]

[Absorbing information.]

Before I knew it, I had forgotten the looming danger. The blowing wind sang a lullaby distant to me. And my eyes were forced close.

The sweat running down my back tried warning me to no avail, “Wake up.”