Chapter 65: My Master Is A Bit Of A PrickAfter getting knocked out, I slowly awoke to a prickling feeling on my chest.

    "Huh...?" [Solace]

    I opened my eyes, just for them to widen as I saw Master holding a silver needle over me.

    "Wh-What are you doing?!" [Solace]

    "I''m giving you acupuncture." [Vincent]

    So he said as he tried to stab me with the needle.

    "Aw hell naw!" [Solace]

    I scurried away in fright, trying to distance myself from the needles.

    "...Can you not do that? If you move too much, you might mess up the ones I''ve already placed." [Vincent]

    ("Ones he''s already placed?") [Solace]

    I looked down at my chest, only to see about ten needles sticking out of my chest.

    "Don''t touch them. If you mess up the needle placement, you might die." [Vincent]

    I froze. Not moving a single muscle, I stared at Master with worry.

    "Take these out please." [Solace]

    "I can''t do that." [Vincent]

    "...Why?" [Solace]

    "I need to place three hundred twenty six more needles." [Vincent]

    "..." [Solace]

    There wasn''t much to say. I simply didn''t want to get pricked by needles. Why? They scare me and they hurt.

    "Just be quiet and let me put them on you. It won''t take that long." [Vincent]

    "I don''t believe you." [Solace]

    "Listen. Your body is currently too weak to handle my attacks. I need your body to get stronger through acupuncture." [Vincent]

    "I don''t get how that will help me." [Solace]

    Master sighed.

    "The human body has some muscles that aren''t usually used, so its performance is weakened. This technique I created will help you stimulate those muscles and increase your strength by a half." [Vincent]

    "..." [Solace]

    The idea of more strength was tempting, but not tempting enough to get pricked over three hundred times.

    "Come on. You''re not being very poggers right now." [Vincent]

    "...Where did you learn that?" [Solace]

    "Your memories." [Vincent]

    "Never do that again." [Solace]

    Great. Now my master is using lines from earth.

    "Solace, I need you to learn the |Gentleman''s Valor|. It can only be acquired through acupuncture." [Vincent]

    "...How about no?" [Solace]

    "You want to save Fina, don''t you?" [Vincent]

    ("...God damn it.") [Solace]

    I didn''t think he''d have known me well enough to grasp my weakness and use it against me. Frankly speaking, that was a low blow.

    "Fine... Go ahead." [Solace]

    I lifted my arms and stood straight, closing my eyes so I don''t have to watch myself turn into a porcupine.

    "Don''t worry. It''s not like I''ll be shoving needles into your eyes. However, I will be stabbing a few into your butt." [Vincent]

    ("How quaint...") [Solace]

    There goes another reason why I didn''t want him to give me acupuncture.

    "Let''s continue with the front." [Vincent]

    I heard his clothes shuffle in front of me, then a few sharp pains on my chest.

    ("Ow. Ow. Ow.") [Solace]

    They slowly spread from my chest, to my shoulders, to my back, and then my head.

    "Solace, just in case... If I mess up, my apologies." [Vincent]

    "...What?" [Solace]

    I felt an intensely sharp pain in the back of my head. I suppose it was one of the needles.

    ("Ow! What the hell is he doing?!") [Solace]

    "Oh, guess I didn''t mess up. Let''s hope I don''t for the next twenty." [Vincent]

    ("Dear god...") [Solace]

    "The gods have heard your call. Upon observing you, they have decided to grant you the title, |Pitiful Disciple|." [Spirit Guide]

    ("Out of all the timings and titles... I hate my life.") [Solace]

    I experienced the intense pain of getting pricked a total of twenty four times. So, yes, my master lied. Also, yes, I counted.

    "Done with the head. Now for the lower part." [Vincent]

    At this point, I know what you guys are thinking and what I was thinking. I hope kids aren''t reading this.

    "By the way, I''m not going to stab your junior. Rest easy." [Vincent]

    After hearing that, I relaxed until I felt my "behind" getting stabbed.

    ("This... is incredibly unpleasant.") [Solace]

    Master worked his way down, all the way to my toes. After that, he stopped.

    "There. All done." [Vincent]

    I opened my eyes to see the progress. Without moving much, I looked at how I had turned into a silver porcupine.

    "Cool. Now can you take these needles out?" [Solace]

    "What? Are you insane?" [Vincent] Sear?h the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He flicked one of the needles, causing me to feel like I just got shocked by a lightning bolt.

    "Ack!" [Solace]

    "Hah! That''s funny." [Vincent]

    "Can you not?" [Solace]

    Master shrugged.

    "Sorry. I have to stimulate you by flicking all the needles. Afterwards, we can do some exercises." [Vincent]

    "..." [Solace]

    Unable to find any words, I simply had one thought.

    ("Fina... I''m working so hard...") [Solace]