Taming the Beastkin (2)

"This place... it's exactly as I remember."

I muttered absentmindedly while surveying the Beastkin Training Facility. It was identical to the one I'd seen in the game—no differences whatsoever.

Tucked between sheer cliffs, the facility was utterly barren. Not a tree, not a flower, not even a single blade of grass grew properly. It was designed entirely for beastkin.

The higher and steeper the cliffs, the harder it was for beastkin to escape. And trapped in a desolate wasteland without plants, they'd better grasp their dire situation. Realizing the cruel calculus behind it made me grimace involuntarily.

But the disgust I felt was nothing compared to what Karyl was going through. She was a beastkin, after all.

Grinding her sharp fangs and radiating killing intent, Karyl whipped her claws toward me the moment she heard my mutter.

"Feels pretty familiar, huh? You must come here all the time. Disgusting."

"I'm not going to deny it."

"Not denying? More like you can't, you piece-of-shit bastard."

I ignored Karyl's words and headed toward the main gate.

"You think you can keep ignoring me forever?!"

Karyl howled from behind, tail raised high. Her beastly hand, claws sharpened, twitched as if itching to rake me. Compared to when I'd ordered her to kneel earlier, her movements seemed freer. Her rising fury must be weakening the artifact's power, letting her regain control bit by bit.

Can't drag this out too long.

As I approached the gate, the guards saluted. It was my first time here as Vermin, but he'd visited plenty, so their reaction was natural. Karyl's glare intensifying was natural too.

"What brings you here, sir?"

"Looks like my slave needs a reality check."

"Could you elaborate?"

I rolled my eyes at the guard's question, glaring pointedly. The guy running this place knows me. Don't nitpick and risk your job—just let me in.

Thankfully, they caught the chill in my gaze and stepped aside.

As I led Karyl inside, I grabbed a collar from the guard post storage.

"What the hell are you planning?"

Karyl growled, eyes narrowed to slits.

As I opened the collar and approached, she twisted her body, letting out a guttural roar.

"Get this off me!!! I'll kill you all right now!!! Every last one of you!!!"

"That's why I brought you here."

I fastened the collar around her fiercely resisting neck without mercy. Now she was swinging her arms to attack too. If her rage spiked much more, she might actually lunge.

I twisted aside to dodge her claws and gripped the collar tight.

"Now choose. Walk on your own four legs, or get dragged like a dog on this leash? Your call."

"Don't pretend you're giving me options."

Gripping the collar, I slowly entered the facility. If I walked too fast and yanked it taut, her fury might explode—so I had to tread carefully. Maintain dignity without poking the beast. Surviving ain't easy.

Too busy focusing on my steps, and now these assholes are bitching again.

Dizzying. Can I really pull this off as planned?

If things go my way, Karyl boils over with rage but ends up my slave again. Won't be easy.

But no giving up.

Deeper inside with Karyl, the grim, shadowy scenes invisible from outside came into view. Unlike the slave facilities I'd seen, no musty stench hung in the air. Quite clean for a slave pen, which made it all the more horrifying.

The beastkin faces showed no spark of life. Even those without collars mostly stood dazed; some lay on their backs, bellies exposed. No need to explain what those curled-up, whimpering ones with bared undersides wanted.

"Grr... grrrk..."

Karyl no longer spoke human words. Just beastly grinding of teeth and ragged breaths fueled by rage.

Just as I thought it was going decently, a man approached from straight ahead, wiping sweat.

"Well, if it isn't Lord Vermin?"

"You..."

"Slave trainer hired by Lord Gloss. Specializing in beastkin. An honor to meet you."

The trainer bowed deeply. Karyl's hatred flared hotter at the sight.

"Grrk... grr..."

"Looks like you've caught yourself a nasty-tempered one."

The trainer chuckled casually. I replied in kind.

"Yeah. Fiercer than any beastkin warrior. Can't tame her alone."

"If even you say that, she must be something special."

"Yeah. You take ones like this?"

"No worries. We can train any beast into a person. No matter how fierce, our tools reduce them to obedient bitches."

Karyl, who hated even "female," wouldn't stay quiet for "bitch." She lunged to rip out the trainer's throat—but only her upper body tilted, chained by my leash, feet stuck to the ground.

"Fresh one."

"Fresh as can be. Mind if I tour more? This beast needs bigger fear."

"Of course. I'll guide you. Lord Gloss is arriving soon anyway."

The trainer led; I followed with Karyl. But no one but me knew. This tour ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't for her fear—but her hatred and rage.

The facility's horrors were straight out of nightmares. Misbehaving beastkin slaves went to punishment rooms for brutal "lessons." Some lay bleeding, claws ripped out. Others broken beyond continence begged for mercy.

"Please... please spare me..."

A sheep beastkin slave clung to Karyl, pleading. But leashed, Karyl couldn't help. Instead, she watched the sheep whipped for "other thoughts."

"Grk... grrrk..."

Karyl's eyes were no longer beastkin's—but a rabid beast's. My heart pounded harder.

Can I control her until Gloss arrives? Her rage is at the brink—no more touring.

I nodded to the trainer's explanations, then asked casually.

"When's Gloss coming? Think we've seen enough."

"Ah, one key spot left."

Key spot? The darkest, most wretched one. She'll go berserk there.

As I fretted, the trainer's mana stone flashed. He checked and said,

"Lord Gloss has arrived. Right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this way."

Perfect timing.

I gestured; he led to Gloss.

Unlike the prison-like beastkin cells, Gloss's meeting room gleamed. Marble floors shone white; walls hung with paintings. Beastkin slaves scrubbed floors ostentatiously.

As I ascended stairs to the parlor with Karyl, Gloss welcomed me.

"Hey, Vermin! Long time!"

Don't judge by looks, but Gloss screamed villain: bloated gut ready to burst, sagging jowls, shiny bald pate. Silk robes, jeweled rings glittering. A beastkin slave clung to his side.

I averted my eyes and raised a hand. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Long time."

"Coming here means a prime beastkin slave, right?"

"See for yourself."

Gloss lumbered toward Karyl. She bristled, hissing sharply. But he stroked his jowls appraisingly.

"Hmm... beautiful face. Sharp yet resilient beauty. Top-tier for sure. And that body... flaunting her femininity."

"Grrrrng...! Grrk...!"

Karyl swung her slowly raising clawed hand. Gloss retreated, bellowing laughter.

"Spirit unbroken! But leashed, can't move properly!"

Think that? I just broke a sweat. Arms free already. No more time.

"Buy her?"

I asked Gloss directly. As his side slave wiped his sweat, he pondered aloud.

"Hmm... high value... but tough to train. What to do? Yank teeth and claws first? But that'd disappoint sharp-tooth lovers..."

After mulling, Gloss nodded decisively. He extended his right hand; the slave handed him a scroll.

"Gotta immobilize first. Then the path clears."

"You can do it?"

"How long have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I been at this?"

Gloss grinned cockily, then extended his left hand.

"Hand over the collar. I'll turn that beast into a meek beastkin slave."

Thank god my plan matched an option. Choice was easy.

I extended the collar toward Gloss. As he reached with his left hand, I let go first.

"Ah, oops."

I feigned shock. "Hand slipped."

Simultaneously, the black magic artifact binding Karyl released.

Now she could rampage freely.

Go wild. Unleash all that rage.

Confirming her freedom, Karyl slashed. The trainer shattered into pieces on the floor, unaware of death. With a feral roar I'd never heard, she muttered,

"I'll chew you all up."