The Fierce Beast Karyl (2)

All those around us were stunned when I declared I would buy Karyl. The slave trader's jaw dropped, and the soldiers restraining her turned their gazes toward me.

"Are you serious?!"

The slave trader asked me in disbelief.

"Yeah. She's exactly what I was looking for. I'll pay any price, so sell her to me."

"Price isn't the issue right now! Do you know how dangerous this one is?!"

"You think I can't tame a mere wild beast like this?"

I threatened in a low voice, and the slave trader promptly shut his mouth. Then Yenika, who had been standing quietly, asked me,

"May I ask what you're thinking, Master?"

"You don't need to know."

It was still too early to tell Yenika my plans. I could explain them step by step later; it wouldn't be too late.

Leaving Yenika blinking in confusion behind me, I stood directly in front of Karyl. She glared up at me with sharp eyes, her fangs clacking together menacingly.

"What are you gonna do about it?"

"Just as you heard. From today, you're my slave."

"Fuck off!!!"

Karyl raised her tail and ears stiffly as she roared, and an overwhelming aura exploded from her body, spreading in all directions. Several soldiers dropped their spears, and even Yenika staggered as her legs momentarily gave out.

The force hit me, standing right in front of her, even more intensely.

It was a good thing I'd possessed Vermin. No ordinary strength could have withstood the power infused with Tigrion's might.

Warning messages flashed before my eyes in sequence.

Fortunately, I'd fully anticipated Tigrion's reaction.

Tigrion was a wise, primal hunter—the ultimate predator—but not an evil god. It despised betrayal's patient waiting or expressionless lies, things that went against its instinctual nature. Naturally, it had no love for the evil god Delitoph, who favored such acts.

So, seeing someone laden with Delitoph's grace trying to take Karyl wouldn't sit well. Vermin's overwhelming power only fueled Tigrion's rage further.

Originally, Karyl was in the midst of training right now. Tigrion's lessons to teach her—the apex predator of the wilds—the true meaning of savage fury and strength.

That's why Tigrion had only watched as Karyl fell into traps, had her limbs bound, and was dragged to the slave market. In the process of being hauled around as a slave, she'd learn to channel her rage into power by mercilessly slaughtering her handlers.

But Vermin was different. Considering his innate strength and ruthlessness, he could easily kill Karyl.

That was why Tigrion was reacting so violently.

"I'll never submit to a worm like you—not even worth an insect!"

Of course, Karyl herself had no intention of becoming a slave easily.

From here on, every word mattered. Killing her now to eliminate future threats would get me obliterated by an enraged Tigrion. But not buying her meant I might one day die at the hands of the slave trader killer she'd become.

There was only one way to avoid both futures.

I crossed my arms and looked down at Karyl with a pathetic sneer.

"You?"

"Want me to prove if it's a lie or not? Just loosen these for a second, and I'll rip open your gut and devour your entrails!"

"Impossible with your unrefined power. So strong, yet you don't even know how to use it properly—beast brains can't be helped, I suppose."

"You bastard!!! I'll kill you!!!"

Karyl thrashed wildly, trying to tear through the bars and lunge at me. The enchanted chains groaned and rattled as if they might snap any moment.

Watching calmly, I muttered the most crucial words.

"Who knows? If you serve as my slave, rage enough, and awaken the madness beyond fury... you might even be able to kill me."

"I could kill you right now!!! Come at me!!!"

Karyl grew even more frenzied at my words, rampaging harder. But her guardian deity grew cautious.

That's exactly it. Don't predators toss their precious cubs off a cliff once in a while? Of course, the lion cub story is just a myth.

Just show me that bold ferocity befitting a wise beast, once.

I let out a silent sigh of relief, patting my chest inwardly. If Tigrion had refused to the end, I'd have been in deep shit. I didn't even need the Eye that Peeks at the End to picture my guts splattered on the ground.

With tacit approval secured, I turned back to the slave trader.

"The payment..."

"Oh, no need. I'd rather pay you to take her. Just take her and go, please."

Word that Karyl had been sold spread like wildfire through the slave market. As I prepared to transport her to my mansion, not only the market overseer but even unrelated slave traders came running.

Soon, they all offered generous supplies and manpower to help move Karyl to my mansion.

"That fucking bitch is finally getting hauled off."

"Try to kill her, and some weird power bursts out wrecking everything nearby. Can't release her either... just a money-sink pig."

"Lord Vermin, one request: whatever you do, don't let that beast into your bedroom. Think about what happened to her first owner who couldn't control his urges..."

Under the slave traders' "considerate" send-offs, Karyl was successfully transported—cage and all—to my mansion's courtyard.

I stared at Karyl, who was crouched low behind the bars. Yenika stood behind me, hands clasped, watching the cage silently.

Her limbs were still bound, but I couldn't let my guard down. The way she narrowed her eyes, scanning the surroundings—it was clearly her checking for escape routes.

No point dragging this out. Better to start right away.

"Karyl."

"Don't say my name, you bastard."

"You're my slave."

"Fuck off."

"You can't work as a slave with your limbs bound. I'll release the iron chains on your arms and legs."

Yenika flinched in surprise. I could feel it without even looking. Sure enough, she hurried to my side.

"Lord Vermin."

"Don't worry. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I have my reasons."

"But this is too dangerous."

"You have to take risks to gain greater rewards."

"Lord Vermin..."

Yenika tried to dissuade me, but she couldn't sway my resolve. As she watched me with worried ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes, Karyl—who had been looking up at me—sneered.

"Ah, right. Hurry up and release me. My limbs are killing me."

Even as she said that, her eyes were fierce, her claws instinctively scraping the ground. She was itching to pounce the moment the restraints came off.

I approached Karyl slowly. The closer I got, the more frantically she clawed at the floor.

Finally standing before her, I gripped the chains with mana and snapped them. Just as Karyl planted her feet to leap, I activated the artifact.

Chain Collar of Necros.

Unlike the enchanted iron chains, ominous black chains sliced through the air, wrapping around Karyl's neck and limbs. Before she could react, they tightened, digging into her flesh.

"Guh... Kkh...! What... is this...!"

Karyl clutched her bound neck in agony. Moments later, the chains sank into her skin like melting away.

After a few coughs, she glared at me.

"What... did you do...?"

"A special collar for you. What use is a dog collar on a tiger?"

"With something like this...!"

Karyl tried to lunge at me again. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠But I didn't flinch, issuing a command.

"Stand properly on two legs."

"You think I'll obey your orders? I'll kill you!"

Despite her murderous threats, Karyl slowly rose, standing on two legs like a human.

"What the—why is my body moving on its own...?"

That's the power of this artifact. It lets you wield advanced Black Magic mastery prematurely. Not omnipotent, but it works perfectly on Karyl with her low magic resistance.

Wonder if it can break her will too?

"Quit barking like a dog! Release this now, you bastard!!!"

Couldn't break her will, huh. Her instincts are too strong for ordinary black magic.

Still, this is enough.

"Follow me just like that. Walk on two legs, don't crawl like a dog."

"Grr... Graaaah!!!"

Karyl screamed in frustration but followed me on two legs as ordered. As I headed into the mansion, messages poured in hot and heavy.

Anyone would think I was some celebrity. Why all this attention? And how the hell did Yaslin find me? She always pops up at the slightest whiff of something interesting. But this isn't that kind of hook.

As I led Karyl inside, Yenika hurried after me and asked,

"Shall I escort her to the basement?"

"No. To the bedroom."

Yenika froze in place, too shocked to even make a sound. When I offered no further explanation, she ran up and demanded,

"You've never shared a bed with anyone before, Lord Vermin."

"True."

"And the slave traders explicitly warned against letting this slave into your bedroom."

"They did."

"Then why...!"

Yenika's voice rose sharply for a moment. When I turned, startled, her gaze wasn't on me.

Instead, her eyes were fixed on Karyl, who trailed behind cursing under her breath.

"Why..."

Yenika's clenched fists trembled faintly.

Is she... jealous? If she knew what I planned in the bedroom, there'd be no jealousy. But I couldn't exactly tell her. Awkward.

"Yenika."

"Yes."

"You must be tired. Why not rest inside?"

"...Yes. As you command."

Yenika bowed her head stiffly, fists still clenched. She shot Karyl a glare before stalking off down the hall, heels clicking sharply.

I watched her go, then headed to the bedroom. Soon Karyl entered too, and I locked the door firmly.

"The bed's going to get dirty."

I muttered with a sigh, eyeing the bed the maids had neatly made while I was away.

Ignoring the message, I drew the blackout curtains tight. The afternoon light vanished, plunging the room into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠midnight darkness.

"Lie on my bed."

At my command, Karyl staggered to the bed and lay down. In the dark, her glowing yellow slit-pupil eyes glared fiercely at me.

Soon, she sneered.

"Even a beast in heat wouldn't do something this shameless."

Silent, I approached the bedside and inspected Karyl's posture. Propping my chin in thought, I commanded again.

"Don't lie on your back—get on your stomach. That seems more comfortable."

"Crazy bastard..."

Karyl cursed me as she rolled over, pressing her belly and legs to the bed in a prone position. Messages bombarded me again.

"Looks like preparations are complete."

I muttered, gazing at Karyl sprawled on the bed. Even prone, she craned her neck sharply, growling at me.

"Do whatever. It'll just make killing you more satisfying."

A chill ran down my neck as I placed my hand on the bed. It felt like a tiger had rested its paw on my shoulder, claws pricking my flesh.

Keeping calm, I grasped the soft, warm edge of the blanket and draped it over Karyl.

"Sleep well."