New Semester (1)
Upon returning to Valencia Castle, the first thing Yushin Gilliard did was place restrictions on Allen Rocksfield, who was no different from a walking nuclear bomb.
"You see this on my neck?" Yushin tapped the choker around his neck with his finger.
Allen nodded. Since Yushin had always avoided flashy accessories, she'd been suspicious of the choker ever since they reunited.
"It's super pretty. Looks cool on you, oppa."
"No, that's not what I... Once you know what this thing is, you won't say that."
Electric Zap Choker. That was the temporary name he'd given it. If the owner of the Obedience Seal issued the activation command, it would instantly fry the wearer's head like a well-done steak. It was a simple yet terrifying killing machine.
No one except the owner of the Obedience Seal could remove this choker, and regardless of their power level, it threatened the wearer's life.
"I don't know the details, but they say this choker is proof of a slave. Most of the human slaves I saw on the streets were wearing ones like mine."
"They control human slaves with that magic tool?"
"Probably. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense. The number of human slaves being used for labor in the Elf Kingdom far outnumbers the elves, yet there's no rebellions."
Yushin and his subordinates were lucky. Compared to other human slaves, they were treated pretty well. They'd proven their abilities and were assigned missions that fully utilized those skills, even receiving pay for it.
The Valencia family valued honor highly. And the Santander family, while prioritizing wealth, also emphasized honor and dignity. Being slaves under those two families meant good treatment; if they'd been sold to some abusive noble, they'd surely be suffering near-torturous labor.
"So they're holding your life in their hands with that magic tool? I knew it. Elves are untrustworthy scum. Oppa, I'll rip it off for you."
"If you force it, it activates immediately."
"Your head gets barbecued. But hey, might not be so bad? I'd still love you even like that."
"The guy whose head it is doesn't love himself like that, so don't."
A wicked high elf was controlling Yushin with the choker. Allen was furious. How dare they do something so enviable—no, so dangerous—to her oppa!
"Anyway, my life's on the line here like it's wholesale gold, so absolutely no causing trouble. I brought you to the Elf Kingdom staking my own life on it. And try not to stand out too much!"
"Got it. You're like a mom, oppa. All nagging. Though I love that about you too."
"Honestly, my type's more Mrs. Rocksfield."
"I'll kill you, oppa."
Allen's mother, Mrs. Rocksfield. A married woman armed with motherly love, an estimated E-cup bust, and a gentle smile. If she were a widow raising her daughter alone after her husband's death, she'd be fair game. Unfortunately, Mrs. Rocksfield had a great relationship with her husband, Count Rocksfield, making NTR impossible.
"Fine, I won't cause trouble. I'm over twenty, not some punk kid who goes around stirring shit."
"You saying that out of your own mouth."
"Don't worry, oppa. I'll show you your worries are just paranoia."
She's planting a huge flag. Why do they always jinx it with bold claims like that?
"What're you doing there?"
"You've been peeking out from behind the corner since earlier. You a thief or something?"
"Nah, the second daughter of this house."
A high elf was peeking at Yushin and Allen chatting in the courtyard. It was Alonne Valencia. She seemed shy around strangers, hiding her face like she was scared.
Who knew the true introvert would show full wariness at a new face.
"...Wh-who are you?"
Alonne asked from a distance, only her head poking out. She approached like she was facing a beast in the wild—one careful step at a time—before questioning Yushin.
"My first disciple. Name's Allen. As you can see, she's human."
Yushin introduced Allen. It was brief: her name was Allen, and she was his disciple. No need to spill all her info, so he kept it simple.
"Disciple...?"
"What, a disciple?!"
Alonne tilted her head. Allen shouted. Their eyes met. And in that clash, Alonne backed down first. No way a hikikomori girl could stand up to a beast's glare.
Alonne was a herbivore; Allen was a carnivore that devoured herbivores mercilessly. It was natural for the herbivore to fear the carnivore.
"Oppa’s disciple? This little brat's your disciple? No way! There's no way some plain, wimpy kid who'd flop over if you poked her could be your disciple!!"
"Y-yeah, she is..."
"Shut up!"
"Y-yes!"
Demoralized, Alonne slumped her shoulders with a dejected expression. Pitiful. She'd been outright denied her existence by a stranger—a human girl, no less.
"And that face! It reminds me of that arrogant high elf, and I hate it!"
"Ardena Valencia's little sister. Alonne Valencia. I'm tutoring her until she graduates from the academy. Goal is to get her through safely."
"What?"
So he's a home tutor! Despite Yushin's kind explanation, Allen exploded in anger. The third of the Kingdom's Seven Swords reduced to tutoring a high elf kid?! She couldn't believe it. Even as a high elf slave, how could Yushin play nanny to a snot-nosed brat? Unacceptable!
"Does honor pay the bills? Gotta live smart with the times. I'm a slave here, remember? Survival means mastering the art of getting by."
"The guy who flat-out refused to tutor the Holy Empire's crown prince..."
"He's hot, good family, and word is he's got a great personality. If he mastered swordsmanship too, it'd twist my guts."
What a petty reason. Turning down the Holy Empire—the overlord of human nations—for something so trivial. Allen burst out laughing. Classic Yushin. She felt deep happiness in her chest. Being with the one she loved, casually chatting like this—it filled her with infinite joy. If only that certain high elf brat weren't here.
"Oh yeah, makes you two fellow disciples?"
Yushin pointed it out. Allen scowled in dissatisfaction; Alonne trembled at Allen's fierce look. No sisterly bonding here. Allen openly disliked her, and Alonne feared Allen. The gap between them was too vast.
"Don't be too rough on her. She's the owner footing our bills."
To survive, you need food, clothes, and shelter. And for that, above all, you need money. Allen knew that too. She grudgingly backed off at the status of Alonne, the second miss of a grand noble house.
Allen's goal was to live a second life in the Elf Kingdom with Yushin. Marry him, settle in a house with a yard, live happily ever after, pop out about ten kids. Money was key to that dream.
"Looks like you worked hard while I was gone. Good girl."
Yushin reached out, stroking Alonne's head in praise. Allen's face soured instantly. Jealousy. She couldn't stand this new high elf disciple of Yushin's. No way was she seeing Alonne as a fellow disciple.
Watching Yushin pet and praise her stirred memories in Allen. Back when she trained under him. Just a few years ago, still vivid. Yushin always patted her head and praised her, even for small things.
"Heehee."
Alonne grinned ear to ear. Her efforts recognized, she was endlessly happy.
"What the—this high elf... Don't tell me you taught her your mana breathing technique?"
"Yeah."
"What the hell, teaching the kingdom's top swordsman's mana breathing method to a random high elf kid!!"
Yushin had a habit of doing absurd things that left people baffled—even Allen was shocked. She was appalled that he'd passed down Heinkel Envidia's—the kingdom's greatest swordsman's—mana breathing to a mere high elf child.
"Kingdom's top swordsman? What's that...?"
Alonne cocked her head. Allen's shock unnerved her.
The negotiations in Urhel village had ended in the worst possible way. Allen Rocksfield was missing. Thanks to the quick evacuation of the delegation and villagers, everyone else survived unharmed, but the disappearance of the second of the Kingdom's Seven Swords in Urhel sent shockwaves through both nations.
And...
"Arrest Prince Alpons!"
"All accomplices linked to the prince must be arrested too."
The king of Valua. The noble council. The royal supreme court in the capital. The nation's three great executive bodies had decided on judgment for the second prince, Alpons.
It turned out Alpons had committed treason by deliberately selling Yushin Gilliard to the elves out of personal grudge during the war with the Elf Kingdom.
Alpons was demoted from prince to commoner in an instant. No longer the king's son. Meaning even execution—a punishment not applicable to royalty—was now possible.
Facing the worst outcome, Alpons pleaded innocence and begged his father for mercy, but no one listened.
"What a headache. Who'd think Alpons would go that far."
With the king stepping back from governance, Crown Prince Lu An was ruling the country. Like his father, he was seen as weak, but he showed real talent in administration. Thanks to him, Valua was repaying its debts and laying foundations for revival.
"Don't think so badly of it, big brother. Getting rid of that idiot has actually made the peasants respect you more."
A golden-haired woman giggled behind her fan. The beauty smirked mockingly at the pig who was probably squealing his innocence right now. Foolish second brother. Wait, not brother anymore. No intention of honoring a demoted commoner as kin. Just pretend the incompetent fool never existed.
"Never imagined he'd use lowly elves for it."
Katrin Valua, first princess of Valua Kingdom, kicked the chair. Her hard bootheel made it shudder violently. Annoyed at its reaction, she kicked harder.
"Guh!"
The one playing chair on all fours collapsed. Not human—elongated ears gave it away. Shockingly, it was an elf. A handsome male elf at that.
"Elves are just slaves. Our great ancestors ruled over their kind centuries ago. And these mongrels dare build their own nation, forgetting the favor...!"
Katrin twisted her face in rage, kicking the unresisting elf male repeatedly. His body was covered in wounds, evidence of brutal abuse. Even as he screamed on the floor, Katrin's assault showed no sign of stopping.
"Katrin."
Lu An spoke. Katrin stopped huffing, fixing her disheveled hair.
"That filthy blood's staining the velvet."
"Ah, sorry! I didn't think of that. How dare this mongrel's blood dirty your presence, brother...!"
Katrin bowed her head, apologizing profusely for the elf's dirty blood soiling the floor.
======================
Alonne Valencia. Still unfinished! Come pick it up once it's done!