I Only Summon Villainesses

Chapter 169: Progressive Training

I had thought that Lady Yuan and I were going to wake up to one hell of a post-nut clarity, but to my surprise, the young wolf lady only seemed even more fond of me now. There was absolutely nothing awkward about us except I wanted to force it to be.

’Why does she keep looking at me like that?’

And from time to time she’d often talk to me when I stepped out of the ship. Just casual conversation, nothing loaded, but her eyes carried something that made me want to look elsewhere.

One month passed since the event of the Leviathan Eel. The ship was now already way past Solarium’s coastline and heading towards the western coast instead. Of course, this caused an increased ratio of Spirit Beasts in our path, and even though we had about three weeks of no battle, the crew had to engage this time around.

The ship had battlement machineries that served this purpose. Many of the Spirit Beasts that disturbed us weren’t as threatening as the eel, so the ship’s archaic firepower would blast terrifying cannons at them while Tristan used his summon to complement. There were times that Kassie would help, and even I would join.

Actually, more often than not I was always eager to join. And because of that my growth rate had increased significantly. I was still struggling with training in my Nave, but the attributes — I was seeing a significant increase in them all.

My movement in general was getting better. The weight of the sword was getting bearable, even though I still couldn’t efficiently swing with the weight bracelets on.

But when I thought about the past two months, I figured that I had reasonably grown from what I used to be. It was a far cry from my vision, but the rate at which my attributes were growing informed me that they were nearing a major checkpoint.

Instructor Stanley had not evidently taught us about growing your attributes, aside from telling us that the more we use them the better they get. But evolving them usually required a specific material which we only would discover when it was time for evolution.

This is because these attributes are tied to spirits in different manners. There really can’t be two same materials needed for evolving attributes from different spirits.

’He did also mention the tiers of abilities that we had.’

Thinking further, I managed to remember some of it. I had to have been sleeping in class. I didn’t sleep often, but there were times then that Lira wouldn’t let me have my night, and it usually affected me in class. This had to have been one of those days.

’He did say, basic... advanced...’

It was basic, advanced, expert, and legendary. Those were the tiers of attributes that existed. But how long until your proficiency brought you close to the doors of tier evolution?

Stretching my hands upward, I looked before me. Training today was going to be a bit different.

I had weight manacles on me. Even though I wasn’t in the Nave, I was standing on the deck. The ship was tearing forward across the calm blue waters of the western coastline, salt wind cutting past my ears.

People were seated here and there — some on the mast, discussing, while other crew members leaned on the leftward railing. Kassie, me, and Magdalene had found our area towards the rightward.

In front of me, Maggie stood. Her gaze was terrifying, like she would burn me alive from just staring.

I glanced at Kassie, who had made this awful suggestion.

”Are you truly sure? Is this a good idea?”

Kassie exhaled, suppressing her anger. It wasn’t her fault — I had asked her about ten times before now. And it wasn’t my fault either. She was the one that suggested I get more used to hand-to-hand combat with this ghoul-looking maiden.

”I have spoken to her already. It is alright. It isn’t like your summon has the power to kill you, why are you being a coward?!”

”There are things worse than death, and I’m not being a coward! I am many things, Kassie, but a coward is not one of them!”

I stood my ground with a stern look in my eyes.

She was silent for a moment, looking at me. Then she took her face away.

”I apologize... I spoke out of turn.”

My eyes flew open for a moment.

’She apologized?’

It wasn’t like there had been many causes for apologies in the past. But I hadn’t exactly pictured Kassie apologizing to me.

’The world is ending. That has to be it.’

I turned to Magdalene, who now wore a crooked grin on her face. One just had to know she was up to something.

If there was a silver lining to this unfair battle, it was that she was wearing three times the weight bracelets I was wearing.

She looked eerily imposing nonetheless. I gulped and steeled myself. There were many people currently looking at us, and Lady Yuan was one of them.

I couldn’t flop.

I locked my gaze with Magdalene and dashed towards her.

To my surprise, she was gone from me — already flying all over me. Her hands touched my shoulders to twist me, but instantly I twirled in the exact opposite direction, tearing myself from her grip.

I pivoted my legs and shot towards her as she landed, ramming straight into her. Both of us rolled on the ship’s floor, and I felt her petite breasts and massive ass grinding against me in turn.

’Focus. For the love of — focus.’

I wanted to pin her down, but I clearly had let my recent progress get into my head. She yanked her hand free and plunged one bastard kick into my chest that sent me reeling away from her.

The deck scraped against my back. Something cracked — hopefully wood, not ribs.

She sprang up like a ghost and shot towards me, her habit playing in the wind. A wide, crude smirk revealed her white teeth as she descended.

But I turned and returned that grotesque grin to her. It vanished from her mouth when she saw the one on mine — but it was too late for her to change course. I shot my right leg into the air, returning the favor.

The kick was perfect. It caught her abdomen and threw her away from me, giving me time to stand.

She was already standing. Showing little to no signs of pain.

The point of my ribs where she’d hit me was still screaming, making me unable to stand straight. Every breath felt like a punishment.

”What’s wrong, summoner? You look like you want to cry? Do you want to cry?”

”Damn you.”

My eyes glowered and I shot at her.