I y on the ground, groaning in pain, but before I could even think about catching my breath, Hong cpped her hands together.

  "Alright," she said with a smirk. "Since you're still full of energy, no need to rest."

  I froze. Damn it. I cursed myself for activating my ability earlier.

  She cracked her knuckles and stretched. "This time, I'll attack, and you'll dodge. Don't worry, I'll go slow."

  Something about the way she said slow made me nervous.

  I took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright, let's do this."

  The moment I blinked, she was already in front of me.

  Her fist shot forward.

  I barely twisted my body in time, the punch grazing past my ribs. My instincts screamed—if I took a hit, I'd be sent flying again.

  Hong wasn't using her full speed, but to me, her movements were still too fast.

  I ducked under her next strike, rolling to the side just as her foot swept where I stood a second ago. The sheer force of her kick split the air, sending a small gust of wind behind me.

  "This is slow?" I muttered, sweat dripping down my back.

  Hong grinned. "Yeah. Try harder."

  She didn't let up.

  Every attack came at me like a storm—punches, kicks, palm strikes—each one precise and controlled. If I hesitated for even a second, I'd be on the ground again.

  But somehow—I was dodging.

  Maybe it was my magician's instinct, my experience in trickery, or just pure desperation—but I managed to weave through her attacks, dodging by the slimmest margins.

  Still, I knew...

  I couldn't keep this up forever.

  ................................

  Meanwhile, at the Gazebo...

  Sakuya silently observed the fight, her sharp eyes analyzing every movement. She turned toward her mistress, who was leisurely sipping her coffee.

  "Midy," Sakuya finally spoke, "is training with Hong really making him stronger?"

  Remilia smirked. "Of course. I checked his other possible fates for ways to make him stronger, but most of them are things he would hate."

  Sakuya raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"

  "For example," Remilia mused, stirring her sweetened coffee, "if he fully embraced his vampire form, I could make him drink human blood to awaken his full potential. Or Patchouli could have him sign a contract with a powerful demon to grant him immense magical strength."

  Sakuya frowned. "But he wouldn't like that."

  "Exactly," Remilia nodded. "That's why I chose this path instead."

  Sakuya thought for a moment before speaking again. "But why Hong? Midy is stronger than her, aren't you? Wouldn't training with Midy be more effective?"

  At that, Remilia ughed.

  "Why do you think I let him train with Hong?" she asked, amusement in her crimson eyes.

  Sakuya remained silent, waiting for an answer.

  Remilia leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. "If we strip away our abilities—my fate manipution, your time-stop, and Fndre's destructive power—Hong would defeat us with ease."

  Sakuya's eyes widened in shock. "That can't be..."

  "Believe it," Remilia smirked, swirling her coffee zily. "Do you know how I found Hong?"

  Sakuya remained silent, watching her mistress with curiosity.

  "I used my ability to search for a powerful youkai—one I could bring to my mansion. One strong enough to kill me."

  Sakuya's expression didn't change, but she was clearly processing the weight of those words.

  Remilia continued, gazing toward the fight. "Many powerful youkai appeared in my fate... but none of them were ones I could take in."

  She tapped a finger against her cup. "Take Yakumo Yukari, for example. She's a walking nightmare to deal with. Even if I wanted to invite her, she wouldn't accept. And honestly, I'd rather not have someone who can rewrite reality itself lurking in my home."

  Sakuya nodded in agreement. The thought of Yukari casually gapping into the mansion whenever she pleased was... unsettling.

  "Then there's Yuuka Kazami," Remilia continued, gncing toward the flowers in the garden. "I considered her as well. A being of raw, unrestrained power. But she has no reason to leave the Garden of the Sun, and I doubt she'd follow anyone's rules but her own. If she lived here, half the mansion would be rubble by now."

  Remilia sighed dramatically, resting her cheek on one hand. "Most of the strong youkai I found were like them—too independent, too dangerous, or simply uninterested. But then, out of all those possibilities..."

  She gestured toward the fight, watching as Hong's effortless movements overwhelmed Carl.

  "Only Hong appeared in my fate."

  Sakuya's grip on her pocket watch tightened.

  Hong Meiling... out of all the powerful youkai in Gensokyo, only she was chosen?

  She couldn't help but gnce at the red-haired gatekeeper again. The zy, carefree woman she had always dismissed as unmotivated and weak...

  Could really be the strongest one here.

  Remilia took another sip of her coffee, her crimson eyes watching the fight with amusement. "It seems Hong is hiding her true strength," she mused. "But honestly? I don't care, as long as she does her job and works for me."

  Patchouli, who had been quietly sipping her bck coffee, finally spoke. "Even if she's hiding her power, I can't say for certain whether I'd be able to win if she got serious."

  Remilia smirked at that but then noticed the way Sakuya's expression had darkened. The head maid was staring at Hong, deep in thought, her brows slightly furrowed.

  Remilia chuckled. "Don't look so unhappy, Sakuya. Even if Hong is stronger than you, you are still my head maid. She still has to bow her head to both you and me." She gave her servant a teasing smile. "So don't let it bother you."

  Sakuya closed her eyes briefly before responding, "Of course, Midy."

  Remilia leaned back in her chair. "If it really bothers you, then how about this? If you have time, go train with Carl as well. I wouldn't mind seeing how he handles your time-stopping tricks."

  Sakuya was silent, considering the idea.

  Before she could reply, Fndre suddenly cpped her hands. "Oh! I wanna py with Big Brother too!"

  Remilia turned to her younger sister, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, alright. I'll let you have some fun with him ter."

  Fndre's face lit up with excitement. "Yay~! I can't wait!"

  Meanwhile, Sakuya remained deep in thought, her gaze drifting back to Hong and Carl.

  Should I train with them as well?