Work? Yeah, right...

Read up to 18 chapters ahead! Celestia TIER patreons also get to read the first few chapters of my new series:

MHA - Return By Death.

https://pa treon.com/StickSwinger

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***

"Come on! I know you're lazy as hell! You can't say that you want to focus on work all of a sudden! You never do that! You're just sleeping all the time!" Yomite shook his head impatiently and said, "Moreover...you told me previously that you would help me once again..."

He approached the edge of the desk and lightly placed his hands on Lisa's shoulders, causing her to groan loudly while sitting up straight again.

A light massage on her shoulder did the trick, and she was soon able to regain the energy to talk once more.

"Handsome...if you're that demanding, girls won't like you," she replied with a slight wince.

"Don't worry about what girls think. They are not my primary concern here."

"If that's so...why do you wish to become even stronger than you are currently? I'm confident that your reputation as a Hero of Mondstadt is sufficient to captivate the attention of majority of ladies."

"Come on...Don't call me a Hero...You know I don't like it...I don't care that much for those shallow things. Let me ask you this way, if I fought with Kaeya or someone like Diluc, who are both experienced veterans, would I win?" He asked curiously, raising one eyebrow.

Lisa remained silent for a moment as she considered his words.

"Well, that depends on whether or not you went all out. With your physical prowess, you should be able to defeat nearly everyone in Mondstadt."

"Almost anyone?"

Lisa again pondered carefully before responding: "There are approximately three individuals in Mondstadt against whom you would have little chance in a fight to the death. In a sparring match, certainly, but in a genuine fight, you have no chance."

He raised an eyebrow in response to her reply.

"...So, who're those people? Do I know them?" Yomite questioned.

Lisa gave him her undivided attention as she gently responded: "...If it's a matter of life and death, my lovely Jean would surely kill you without any problem. Ultimately, she is the best that Mondstadt has to offer. Her psychotic mother subjected her to such arduous training that the sages of Sumeru would have vomited if they knew about it. Like a 'present,' instead of eating cake and rejoicing with friends on her birthday, as normal children do, her mother brought her into the wilderness to relentlessly hunt monsters. Due to this, she had mastered nearly every weapon and martial art from Mondstadt's past for which she could locate documentation. As the Acting Grand Master, she has access to a wide variety of potent artifacts and is a training and exercise fanatic. I do not believe you would have a chance in a real fight, but you should be alright in sparring."

"..."

"That's how it is," She replied quietly and sighed as she continued explaining. "Nonetheless, there is some slim chance of victory since she favors you quite well... As for the other two...you don't really stand a chance." The final statement she made was accompanied by an expression of frown.

"Who're the last two?" He asked curiously.

"The first is Grand Master Varka, who embarked on an expedition. He was renowned as the Titan and was impervious to all attacks. But with your small cube ability, you may be able to breach his defenses so the outcome is blind, but I doubt you could use it in a simple spar...I have not yet determined the nature of your skill, but once mastered, it should be highly dangerous. As for the final opponent you could not defeat, well..." She paused briefly before speaking in a hushed whisper. "...It's me." She added with a soft chuckle, "Your chances against me are negligible. Around null." She winked before returning her attention to her book.

"Huh? Null? What do you mean? Am I that weak?" Yomite arched his brow.

Lisa smiled warmly, letting her head fall back down to rest once more.

"I'm just that strong, Handsome." She sighed as she closed her eyes while resting on the table, letting out a long yawn.

"As I have already taught you, I am aware of your existing strengths and weaknesses. With my whole knowledge and strength, there is no way you can defeat me."

She spoke in a straightforward manner, almost matter-of-factly, without any fake bravado or boasting; she was completely convinced that she would wipe the floor with him in a fight right now.

"...I see," he muttered thoughtfully.

He didn't doubt Lisa's skills. Her confidence was well-founded, as she was vastly superior in intelligence and strength.

He had previously learned from Jean that the respected Sumeru Akademiya regarded Lisa as their most distinguished graduate of the preceding two centuries.

That meant she was literally "the best" when it came to sorcery and magic.

"Could you tell me my weaknesses?" He questioned her after hearing what she stated.

"I'm sure you already know about them, but okay. Your ability takes too long to charge, and while your claymore skills are commendable, it feels as though you lack soul when using it. You have no Vision, and being Visionless would instantly lower your chances against me by at least 90%. You presently possess approximately three artifacts, while I have twenty-five. The entirety of my attire is a powerful artifact. All I need to do is maintain my distance and torment you with my power. You simply cannot defeat me." She answered abruptly by turning the page of her book and propping herself up on her elbow.

Yomite narrowed his eyes slightly in response to her comment, then chuckled.

"Alright! Then you better teach me well enough so I can beat you up!"

"..."

Lisa flinched in surprise, blinked several times, and then erupted into laughing that filled the entire library. "Haha...what a ridiculous man you are, Handsome!"

She took a moment to compose herself before speaking up again, this time with a more solemn tone: "As you wish. Prepare for the day ahead. We will leave the city of Mondstadt and train in a remote location, where there will be no other people. However, it may be several days before we return here."

"Okay, great." Yomite nodded immediately in agreement.

"Please take me in as well!" a voice of a girl, interrupted them.

Lisa cast a glimpse at Barbara, who had unexpectedly emerged behind Yomite's back. Curiosity widened her eyes as she regarded the girl.

"You wish for me to teach you? What nonsense."