Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Hey! If You're a Slave, Shouldn't You Declare Your Name, Age, Address, High School, Three Sizes, and Proclaim While Groveling That You've Become My Slave from Today Onward?!!!
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Admission screening was of utmost importance.
They had to select talent worthy of Ark Academy's status as humanity's greatest academy.
All eyes were on them as the three professors took their seats, waiting for the first match.
"Time to work! Yahoo!"
Yokozawa Tomoe.
With the appearance of an elementary or middle schooler, she was Ark's academy head.
No one knew her real age, but everyone knew she was far more impressive than she looked.
"Tomo-tan is a good academy head who works hard!!"
Not only did she refer to herself in the third person, but she insisted on being called 'Tomo-tan.'
It was a bit odd that a top-tier hero like her had such childish tastes.
Even in this game world.
Vice Head Shin Hye-won chimed in as she listened.
"Works hard? Don't lie. You just want to watch the fights, don't you?"
"It's not a lie..."
"Then leave the screening to the other professors and handle the backlog of paperwork. It's a month's worth."
"Hmm~? Tomo-tan is Japanese-desu~ Doesn't understand Korean well~"
"Don't pretend you can't understand just because you're naturalized."
As they bantered, preparations for the first match wrapped up.
The vice head muttered while flipping through documents.
"Seol Harin... She's the most promising freshman this year. Her basic abilities are outstanding, but I especially like her long-standing relationship with her constellation."
For heroes, their bond with constellations was crucial.
They needed to win over a constellation's heart to gain greater power.
In that regard, Seol Harin was already an exemplary hero.
Maintaining a relationship with a constellation for over ten years wasn't easy.
"On the other hand, Kim Taeyang is... the complete opposite of Seol Harin."
The vice head frowned.
Kim Taeyang had no notable track record or affiliated constellation.
There were truckloads of applicants like that, but the real issue was his background.
"His father is Kim Tae-gun."
"Tae-gun-chan? Daredemo...?"
"He's a gangster CEO infamous for his shady dealings."
"Eum? Gangsteru?"
"Think yakuza."
Kim Tae-gun.
He was a notorious mob boss.
"Aha! But it doesn't matter, right? If he's got the skills, he can join Ark!"
"True, but his opponent is Seol Harin. He'll drop out without a fight."
"Really? Then Tomo-tan will cheer for Kim Taeyang! Vice Head-tan can cheer for Seol Harin!"
"We're not here to cheer. And don't call me Vice Head-tan."
That was when it happened.
Right after the match began, a roar erupted from the center of the arena.
"Stop it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
It was a thunderous shout that captured not just the students' attention, but the judges' as well.
The one who appeared next was the sled dog constellation, Glacis.
'It's over.'
The vice head thought the match was decided with the constellation's entrance.
Glacis must have been furious at the thug's provocation.
Maybe the magic barrier would tear, injuring Kim Taeyang.
However.
'Wagging her tail at Kim Taeyang...?'
Unexpectedly, she jumped into Kim Taeyang's arms, not Seol Harin's.
They looked like partners who'd spent years together.
"Glacis is definitely Seol Harin's constellation, right? Why is she going to Kim Taeyang...?"
Something was off just watching her.
It seemed the constellation had switched her affiliated hero.
The academy head was shocked too.
"Heeeeeh?!?! She got her constellation stolen?!?! Vice Head-tan!! Is that gangster guy that charming?!?!"
"......"
As everyone reeled in shock, the real duel began.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Why would Glacis... go to a thug like that...?!'
It was hard to accept reality.
Glacis had built over ten years of friendship with Seol Harin.
A loyal constellation who never looked at another hero.
To repay him, Seol Harin never stopped training.
She'd learned that a hero growing stronger was a constellation's greatest joy.
She never imagined Glacis would abandon her.
Or bare his teeth and growl at her.
And that.
'In just 10 minutes...!'
Just 10 minutes after Kim Taeyang touched him.
She couldn't even imagine her 10 years crumbling.
'No. Glacis wouldn't do that... That scum must have pulled some trick!'
Seol Harin didn't know the truth.
That Glacis wanted his master's love, not grueling training or lofty dignity.
"What the hell did you do to my Glacis?!"
"Pomi."
"Pardon...?"
"Not Glacis, Pomi. Don't call someone else's pet whatever you want."
Grind...
Seol Harin gritted her teeth.
Pomi...?
Not only giving a noble constellation a tacky name fit for a country mutt, but treating her like a 'pet' too...!
Glacis wouldn't stand for such an insult.
She was a noble constellation.
'See...'
So there was no need to worry.
'Glacis didn't betray me.'
This was definitely Kim Taeyang's scheme.
She'd take him down and beat the truth out of him about what he did to Glacis.
Then she could figure out how to bring Glacis back.
With that resolve, Seol Harin warned coldly.
"I'll make you regret your vile actions."
"Hah-? You dare call this body vile?"
"What else would you call forcibly stealing a constellation with dirty tricks? You probably used some illegal back-alley drug that's popular in your world. Though its effects won't last long."
"Haaaaah?!?! What drug could seduce a constellation!!! Pomi truly sees me as her master!!!!!"
Swish-
Seol Harin spun her sword into position.
Its tip gleamed sharply under the lights.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Splat───────!
It was a ferocious charge.
So fast she seemed to vanish in an instant.
Kim Taeyang braced for defense too.
His raw strength alone couldn't match her.
Seol Harin was a hero without peers among the freshmen.
Even without her constellation, no one disputed her overwhelming skill.
"Urgh-! Pomi! Bark!!"
Of course, things changed with a 9-star constellation's help.
Woof!!
Crunchhh-
Ice gauntlets formed on Kim Taeyang's fists.
He blocked Seol Harin's sword with them.
Clang-!
'This bastard! He's even using Glacis's stigma...?!'
Stigma.
A constellation's blessing.
Lending their power to the hero.
Kim Taeyang's stigma was 'Ice Armament.'
Reinforcing the hero's weapons or body with ice.
"Hey, hey. Why the face? Ahh- Shocked that I'm using the stigma too? If Pomi was drugged, she wouldn't give it to me, right? Kekeke."
Seol Harin received the Ice Armament blessing after five years with Glacis.
A blessing earned through years of trust.
Kim Taeyang got it in just 10 minutes.
"Shut uuuup!!"
At that point, Seol Harin lost her composure.
A blessing only she enjoyed.
Fighting the one who stole it was mentally taxing.
Clang! Clang! Clang-!
"Urgh! Urgh! Urgh!!"
Seol Harin lashed out wildly.
Kim Taeyang blocked each with weird grunts.
'I'll kill him!!'
Seol Harin's eyes blazed.
Her mind filled with thoughts of killing the man before her.
Her killing intent was intense.
"Ugh. Just watching makes me tense..."
"It's brutal..."
"Suddenly need the bathroom..."
The overwhelmed students could only sweat coldly, no admiration left.
Even the professors were on edge.
However.
Kim Taeyang was the exception.
"Kekekeke."
He smirked.
As if Seol Harin was ridiculous.
Grinning leisurely, like victory was assured.
'This bastard... Why isn't he intimidated at all?'
His composure was almost awe-inspiring.
Has any 'man' ever been this relaxed in front of me...?
Probably not... This guy's the first.
More than 'man',
More than 'guy',
'Stud' suited him better...!
That was Kim Taeyang...!!
His aura left Seol Harin momentarily dazed.
Then, Kim Taeyang spoke up.
"Hey, girl. Wanna make a bet?"
"A bet...?"
"Loser of this match becomes the winner's slave. Obeying every command absolutely."
His words snapped her back to reality.
And steeled her resolve.
'Dropping him now can wait.'
The humiliation she'd suffered.
She'd pay it back tenfold.
"Fine. If becoming my lifelong servant is your wish, I'll make it so."
"Kuh- Dealing with prideful bitches like you is the most fun."
"...Pathetic."
Regaining her calm, Seol Harin created distance.
'I didn't plan to go this far, but...'
No need for drawn-out exchanges.
One strike.
Her ultimate sword technique to fell Kim Taeyang.
'This is all because you provoked me...!'
Seol Harin lowered into stance.
Her sword tip aimed at his heart.
The watching students gasped.
"Th-that's...?!"
"Heavenly Martial Four Divine Beasts Strike...?!"
"Never thought I'd see it for real!"
The ultimate technique of the Heavenly Martial Sword: Heavenly Martial Four Divine Beasts Strike.
A deadly move that could pierce magic barriers and claim lives.
The watching vice head shot to her feet.
"Stop her now!"
Academy Head Tomo-tan grabbed her wrist.
"Let's watch!"
"But...? If this continues, there'll be an accident-"
"Tomo-tan will step in if needed!"
"......"
Annoying brat or not, the head was the head.
She couldn't ignore a pinnacle hero's order.
"Understood..."
The vice head watched standing.
"Kekeke. What's with that shitty stance?!! Planning to summon a god or something?!!!
Kim Taeyang mocked Seol Harin.
His prediction was spot on.
"With this, it's over."
Booooom──────────────!!
The Heavenly Martial Four Divine Beasts Strike flew at him.
Kim Taeyang saw an illusion.
Four beasts—no, divine beasts charging him.
Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise.
His only thought then:
'Scaryyyyyy!!!!!!'
But the fear was brief.
A mysterious woman intervened, sending Seol Harin flying.
Thwack!!
"Kuhk!"
Seol Harin rolled and barely stopped.
Lifting her head, she faced a woman in a skimpy bikini.
Dog ears on her head.
A fluffy, massive tail like Glacis's.
Every other part: a beautiful, glamorous woman.
"Woof!"
"W-Woof...?"
The sharp, refined woman reminiscent of a sled dog scolded Seol Harin.
"Grrrrr...! Don't bully my master!!!"
"Ah......"
Seol Harin was speechless.
'This is... a constellation's evolution...'
Constellations change form.
The higher the bond with their hero, the more humanoid they become.
And Glacis's anthropomorphized form.
'A form I've never even glimpsed...'
Seol Harin had never witnessed it.
She lowered her head.
Tears plopped to the ground.
For 10 years, Glacis stayed in dog form.
Seol Harin thought he just needed more time, but no.
'She hated me...'
She had to accept it now.
That she was a poor master.
That man was Glacis's true master.
Step-
Kim Taeyang stood beside Pomi.
Naturally draped an arm around her; Pomi nuzzled him, licking his neck.
"Hey. Girl."
"......"
"No... my slave now? Kekeke."
Despair crushed Seol Harin.
Not only stolen constellation by a thug, but reduced to slavery.
'Me? Korea's hero world's super rookie...?'
Seol Harin wondered if it was a dream.
Prayed it was.
"Hey! Slaves gotta answer properly! Say it yourself!"
"...Say what?"
"Hah? Asking the obvious?! As a slave, isn't it etiquette to reveal your name, age, address, high school, three sizes, then proclaim while groveling that you've become my slave from today?!!!"
'That scum...!!'
Seol Harin knew it wasn't a dream.
Her imagination couldn't conjure filth like Kim Taeyang.
"Declare it now!!!!! Useless prideful sow bitch raised on premium feed despite being weak!!!!!!"
Her vision blackened.
Like a game over screen.
"I... I..."
Defeated by a thug before even enrolling, forced into slave declaration!
What will become of the noble lady's school life?!