The High Elf's Slave (3)
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Yushin had agreed to teach Alonne on the condition that it suited his convenience. Contrary to his initial grumbling, he explained the basics of mana breathing in a straightforward, easy-to-grasp way as he instructed her.
Ardena Valencia watched Yushin and Alonne from her room's window. Was it impatience? She'd been fretting over whether he'd teach her properly, but now she realized her worries were unfounded.
Caw! Caw! It was a pitch-black crow. The bird, wearing a glowing necklace around its neck, approached the windowsill with a loud cry.
"Yusel."
The crow spoke—or rather, it was the voice of a female elf using the crow as her familiar. Yusel Sindra, vice-guildmaster of the Pamplona Slave Merchant Guild. She'd sent her familiar to Valencia to get feedback on Yushin Gilliard, one of the slaves sold through her guild.
Of course, that was just an excuse. In truth, she'd sent it to tease Ardena.
She relentlessly grilled her about dropping 5 billion Aether in Pamplona to buy a slave.
"I'll kill you. Not the crow—you."
Even indirectly conversing with Ardena through her familiar, Yusel felt a chill. As expected of a 4th Sword Realm warrior captain—she could transmit killing intent through a familiar. Yusel worried Ardena might march to Pamplona for payback over the sexual harassment.
She hurriedly changed the subject.
Ardena had kept Yushin Gilliard's identity as an Another One—a being from another world—a secret. She didn't want it exposed. That's why she'd gone to extremes, pulling in the vice-guildmaster, to cover it up.
Another Ones. Beings from worlds beyond our own. Transferred here for various reasons, having crossed the world's barriers. In exchange, they receive divine powers from the gods—abilities no created being should possess, granted solely to the divine.
Another Ones, bearing these powers, always stirred up incidents and left their marks across the continent.
"A few years back, there was a human knight who converted to our Elf Kingdom. And one who joined the Demon King Army. Another Ones always bring cataclysms."
The culprits of upheaval. Some called them that.
While some reincarnates brought new knowledge and culture, others became Demon King Army heroes, sparking wars. Nations always monitored and guarded against Another Ones.
It was extraordinarily rare for Valua Kingdom's Another One, Yushin Gilliard, to fall captive to the Elf Kingdom after defeat. Too contrived to be mere coincidence.
"Thanks."
"None of your business."
The crow cawed mockingly, as if ridiculing the ice-cold elf warrior captain who lacked any charm or flexibility. Ardena snatched the crow's neck. She looked ready to dunk it in boiling water right then.
Thrust into mortal peril, the crow groveled pathetically, begging Ardena for its life.
* * *
The human slave from Pamplona. The Valencia Castle servants buzzed with curiosity about the one the two young ladies had personally bought there.
"Lady Ardena must've been lonely."
"That's why she got a human slave to soothe her lonely nights. We've been lacking in care."
"But he's human? No way a noble high elf lady would get that intimate with a filthy human!"
"You didn't hear? In high elf society lately, banging human slaves is trendy. They say it's preferred 'cause you can get into some seriously hardcore play. Elves are all stiff prudes. Unlike humans with their sky-high libidos."
High elf noblewomen, tormented by lust, favored human slaves. Mating play with slaves thrusting away for breeding satisfied their desires like magic.
Pregnancy, of course, was forbidden. A noble high elf carrying a human child? Unthinkable. So they always used contraception during sex.
"Feels like more elves around lately," Yushin muttered.
Alonne replied to his musing. "Duh, it's weird. Big sis, who never cared about slaves, went to Pamplona herself to buy one? Servants are naturally curious."
"Your sister's got some real dedication. Going all out to hire me as sword tutor for her dimwit little sis."
"Sorry for being dimwitted!"
"Good you know."
"Eek!"
The sneaking-glance servants were elves and half-elves. When Yushin asked Alonne why, she explained that class-4 humans rarely entered high elf estates due to status. Class-3 half-elves (elf-human mixes) had fewer restrictions over time, but humans—who'd once enslaved elves—still faced heavy prejudice in the Elf Kingdom.
"I already explained humans accumulate mana in their bodies. We store it in our hearts, where it naturally forms into embers."
"Humans are such a hassle with mana. We elves can handle it just by breathing through our skin."
"You're excluded from that 'we,' though."
"Argh, whatever! Keep explaining!"
Stung, Alonne flushed and fidgeted. Yushin continued.
"Elves call the Mana Blade realm the Sword Realm. We call it Ember. They label me Six Sword Realm here, but in Valua Kingdom, it's Six Ember."
The ancient elf who taught Mana Blades must've been an isekai reincarnate, Yushin figured. Otherwise, why use Sword Realm as a measure?
"So if I accumulate mana embers in my heart like a human, I can use Mana Blade?"
"Theoretically. I've taught lots of knights back home, but this is my first elf, so no guarantees."
"Doesn't matter. I'm Ardena the warrior captain's sister, lady of Valencia Forest. I'll master human tricks in a month flat!"
"Funny. One guy I taught bragged the same. Got kicked from the knights for sucking—haven't heard from him since."
"D-Don't add useless side stories!"
Alonne yelled, but inwardly she quaked. Can I really pull this off? Trauma from classmates' endless mockery had crushed her confidence.
"Let's test your skills first."
"Test?"
"Best breathing law's useless if your body's trash. Show me what you got."
"No regrets! I'm top-10 academy material!"
"...You know I beat your sister, right?"
Yushin stared incredulously at her cocky display. Alonne had Ardena-level talent and potential—but unrealized. Untapped genius was just potential.
* * *
Sparring Yushin Gilliard left Alonne stunned. The level gap was insane. Relentless assaults with flawless swordplay, backed by vast experience and effort. Better than academy instructors?
Facing his blade, she knew he was beyond her prediction. Thrilled by a true strong opponent, she swung with full power.
Finally, I can go all out! Even flat-out, I won't graze him!
Alonne inwardly cheered. No holding back. She could aim to crush without mercy.
She'd never gone full throttle against classmates or teachers—not since knocking one out a year ago, after which she'd hidden her strength.
But against this human? She could unleash everything.
"Can't you ask your sister?" Yushin asked.
Dodging fluidly by bending back, Alonne shouted, "She'd beat me half to death!"
"Figures. She seems inflexible. Probably fought for real, calling spars duels."
"Yeah, sis lacks flexibility. Explains why she's unmarried. Even without her invincible vow, no takers."
Ardena watched their spar from nearby. She heard even whispers. Yushin spotted her icy glare at Alonne from the window and shivered sympathetically—Alonne had pissed off big sis with her slip.
"Ugh!"
Alonne yelled as her lower body buckled mid-setup for a torso-powered strike, tumbling back. Yushin had tripped her.
Exploiting her focus on upper body, he'd targeted her exposed legs, toppling her balance. Classic newbie mistake—offense over defense.
"Can't you go easy?" Alonne whined, teary-eyed, rubbing her sore butt from the sprawl.
Standing on both feet again, she faced Yushin as he spoke. "Not bad. Prodigy-level, better than expected."
"Told ya—I'm a genius!"
"Then you're ready for mana breathing. Your body's vessel is primed."
"Sweet, teach me!"
"But first..."
Yushin paused, then bonked her head with his wooden sword.
"Call me master."
"M-Master? Me, a high elf, you a human? Hmph, ridiculous."
"Fine, breathing lesson canceled."
"M-Master! Master!! Happy now?!"
"Good."
Alonne swallowed her humiliation. She was the desperate one. She'd endure for Mana Blade—to crush that Santander bitch, humble her arrogance, show up the mocking classmates and failing-grade teachers.
"Master, teach me... now."
Under Yushin's gaze, Alonne hastily added the honorific.
A human master and high elf disciple. Class-1 high elf and class-4 human. In Valencia Castle, a mentor-student bond transcending status was born.