The Human Who Wants to Be Sold Off (2)
Warrior Captain 3rd Seat, Bariteon Trident. Age 420 this year. High elf origin. Single. He possessed handsome features, outstanding talent, and pureblood noble lineage, yet he never married. Countless high elf noble ladies flocked to Bariteon for his exceptional gifts and superior bloodline, but as a natural playboy, he chose bachelorhood, declaring he had no desire for a life tethered to one woman.
"A human who beat Ardena at Bria Academy? Now that's interesting."
Bariteon responded to his adjutant's report. He flashed a grin and slipped a cigar imported from the southern continent between his lips. Unlike the nonchalant Bariteon, his adjutant seemed irked that some human had left a mark at an academy teeming with pureblood high elves.
"Ease up. I'm a dandy high elf who values talent over bloodline. Who cares? Looks like Ardena fell for him hard. Even that iron wall of a woman knows how to act with some feeling."
"What the hell are you even saying? I can't understand a word."
"It's slang I picked up from my old Another One friend. That's how they talk in his world. Pretty cool, right?"
"You're an idiot."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Bariteon expressed mock regret to his adjutant, who couldn't grasp his unique trends. He swept back his flowing golden hair. Soaking in the steaming waters of a massive bath, he lit the cigar in his mouth and savored a bath-time smoke.
"Your disciples might clash with that human."
"Clash?"
"Word is, the moment he arrived at the academy, he knocked out the high elf students' attendants."
"Oh, impressive."
"Seventeen attendants got carted off. And the students themselves got one-sidedly beaten by Alonne Valencia, the second daughter of the Valencia family, and hauled to the infirmary."
"Pfft—haha! Heh heh heh, hahahaha!!"
Bariteon laughed so hard he dropped his cigar into the water. What a massive scandal. Who would've thought such entertainment would erupt in Bria Academy, that tiny microcosm of the old world?
"This isn't funny. If that human messes with your disciples, we'll get complaints from their parents."
"Complaints? What're we gonna do, kowtow to the customers? Hey, Brienne. Loosen up. Be as soft as that ass of yours."
Bariteon reached out. He groped the rear of his female adjutant, who had been reporting in a stiff tone. Her face flushed red. Short skirt, black pantyhose, and a cheekily voluptuous figure—she exuded the allure of an AV actress in career woman cosplay. Yet she had no immunity to sexual harassment and delivered a stinging slap to Bariteon's cheek.
Smack! A handprint bloomed on Bariteon's face.
"Whatever happens, let 'em sort it out. I don't care. They're kids I taught ages ago. I'm not their damn parent—why should I step in? They can wipe their own asses."
Bariteon fished out the soggy cigar, then pulled a fresh one without a second thought. Top-grade cigars from the southern continent—worth a common household's weekly living expenses—but he showed no regret.
"The cigars you're smoking and this mansion you're lounging in? All funded by your disciples' earnings. Be grateful to your hosts, you bloodsucking leech."
"Grateful? These are the brats I taught when they were kids. I'm just collecting the favor of my own teachings."
And Brienne, his adjutant, was also the wife of an officer Bariteon had placed in the military. She overflowed with the dense allure of a married woman. Bariteon, who fancied both virgins and wives, was lecherous enough to bed even his subordinates' spouses. He'd bedded high elves, elves, and half-elves to the point of boredom, indiscriminate with humans and beastkin alike. Of course, no rapes—just a flick of the wrist from an alpha stud, and the females swarmed on instinct. If Yushin saw Bariteon's conquests, he'd dub him the ultimate possible slut.
"My goal's simple. Kill the Raging Flames Demon King, Sabnack, lurking in Granata. Save the homeland from that nightmare while bedding the succubi under the Demon King Army. I've done plenty of demon women, but never a succubus."
Bariteon boasted proudly. Brienne sighed deeply at his bravado.
"Die of an STD."
"Well... Would any STD even breach the body of Warrior Captain 3rd Seat? If one exists, I'd love to try it."
Bariteon burst into laughter at the married woman's cute jealousy.
"Bria Academy, huh. I'd love to meet that human who beat Ardena. And if possible, take him to the front lines with me."
Bariteon was one of the 12 Warrior Captains commanding the southern front. Seated 3rd, higher than Ardena, he led thousands of troops. His current location wasn't far from the front lines; he'd slipped away briefly to enjoy this sullen-yet-honey-sweet married elf woman. The higher-ups would chew him out if they knew, but this free spirit couldn't care less.
* * *
The instructor from Trident Company handed Yushin a piece of paper. A check, up close. Depositing it at a bank would yield the stated amount in cash.
"I'm past the age for pocket money."
Yushin's face hardened. Cash from a total stranger always came with strings attached—unpleasant ones. He'd seen it plenty in Valua Kingdom. Even as one of the Kingdom's Seven Swords, he'd been sneered at for lacking status or bloodline.
Memories of the kingdom surfaced. A twisted disgust welled up from deep in his chest.
"We'd like you to cede the training grounds to us. Heard you're borrowing them with Instructor Liana's permission."
"Cede?"
Yushin quickly scanned the check's amount. Three million Aiter. Chump change for a high elf instructor from a major company with ties to politics and business, but enough to dazzle common folk. Still, not enough to make him bow. One more zero, and he'd have considered it.
"No thanks."
"You dare defy a high elf's order, you human slave?"
"Fuck off. My master told me never to bow my head to anyone."
Yushin bared his teeth at the high elf's warning. He'd lived by that ironclad rule. Even sold into slavery to the Valencia family, even facing high elf students. Teachings of his master, Heinkel. Slave or not in the elf kingdom, he wouldn't betray them. Nor disrupt his disciples' training.
"We tried to end this nicely."
The high elves scowled. Having swallowed Yushin's vulgarity, they gripped their sword hilts. They knew this human had bested Warrior Captain Ardena. But what could a human slave do? The elf kingdom's laws enshrined class inequality. A mere 4th-class human couldn't strike back at 1st-class high elves. If he attacked, he'd face the kingdom's judgment.
"Draw? Fine, I'll draw too."
Yushin placed his hand on his hilt. Blunt training sword, but enough to handle two high elves.
"You really gonna draw...?"
"Human scum! Even as a Valencia slave, attacking us high elves means judgment by law!"
Yushin replied,
"I've never been big on laws anyway."
The human meant it—no hesitation. The high elves faltered instead. Instructors exchanged glances. Their foe was one of Valua's Seven Swords, a top-tier powerhouse rivaling the elf kingdom's 12 Warrior Captains. They knew they couldn't win.
"Take him down, instructors!"
"End this arrogant slave's nonsense!"
Tone-deaf students cheered the instructors on, convinced they'd lynch the damn human. Eyes everywhere—cheering students behind, staff rushing over at the commotion. Backing down now would tarnish Trident's reputation. The high elves gripping their hilts felt trapped, their bravado rebounding. They'd never dreamed the human would actually draw.
"Tch!"
"Damn it!"
Caught in the crowd's gaze, unable to retreat, the high elves shouted. No choice but all-in now. They moved to draw, aiming to swing at the human. But that fearful resolve fizzled at the arrival of a high elf Warrior Captain from behind.
"Stand down. What are you doing to my slave?"
It was Ardena. At her appearance, the high elves hastily withdrew. Students screaming for the human's death clamped their mouths, glancing nervously. The legendary undefeated Warrior Captain, radiating stern allure. Her arrival chilled the boiling atmosphere. Her piercing blue eyes intimidated the high elves.
"I asked what you're doing to my property, Trident high elves."
Ardena demanded. Her voice was sharp as icicles, rough and fierce. She was furious. She'd nearly let an irreversible incident unfold in her absence. If Yushin had drawn against them, he'd face extreme punishment under national law. Her eyes narrowed sharply. Fortunately, her timely arrival defused the crisis.
"W-well..."
They couldn't admit trying to forcibly seize the training grounds, biting their lips. Opponent: Ardena, Warrior Captain 4th Seat, bearer of the invincible legend. Even name-dropping master Bariteon Trident wouldn't spare her wrath. She bowed to no authority or power. And tattling to the master later? He'd just scold them to handle it themselves.
"Vanish from my sight."
"Y-yes, ma'am...!"
At Ardena's chilling command, the high elves scattered. The students who'd strutted on the instructors' behalf? Needless to say, they fled too, backing away lest she spot them.
"And you too."
Ardena turned her glare on Yushin. She knew he had reasons. But this could've sparked a disaster, so her eyes blazed with anger.
"There were wiser ways. Without me, it would've ended badly. Never draw on a high elf. This isn't Valua Kingdom."
"Knew you'd show."
He'd sensed her presence, naturally. Ardena bit her lip, at a loss, and turned away. He was sly. Charging ahead knowing the peril meant solid cause. She rated highly the man who'd dealt her first defeat.
"Such arrogance from a mere human."
"Why's he talking to his owner like that? Lady Ardena will surely punish the slave."
Onlooking elves whispered. Academy staff, by their looks. Eyes everywhere. Ardena now bore the pressure the high elves had felt. Under the crowd's watch, as his owner, she had to play the 'proper master' and meet expectations.
"Insolent slave. When we return, you'll be punished!"
Ardena shouted. Yushin shot back, "Do as you like, Mistress."
Her retort hit Ardena with a second shock. Corporal punishment. She'd never laid a hand on a slave—how could she know? Virgin in experience but rich in knowledge, the high elf spinster reeled with lewd fantasies, confused by master-slave discipline.
"What? What's going on?"
"She said corporal punishment just now..."
Alonne and Leticia appeared at the training grounds. Worst timing. Hearing the staff murmurs, they learned Yushin had screwed up big, and Ardena would punish her slave as owner.
"S-sis...!"
How could he. Disappointment poured from her little sister's gaze.
"He messed up, so why reward...?"
Yushin, the man in question, brimmed with anticipation at being disciplined by a beautiful high elf beauty.