Subjugation Battle (10): Elixir Kiss and Brutal Honesty
“Ideal, Ideal!!” Ashu pulled the battered, collapsed Ideal into his arms.
“Damn it, the paralyzing poison…!”
She hadn’t moved much, which kept the effects from spreading too far, but the paralysis drug was still working its way through her system. If they both passed out like this, they’d end up as monster chow—nice and cozy together. He couldn’t die so pointlessly. This was the life she’d saved. Not just her, but he couldn’t go out like this either.
“There’s gotta be a way…”
That’s when it happened. A loud pop echoed like a firecracker, and a vial of elixir dropped from thin air.
“…What the hell?”
His eyes, overcoming the paralysis from sheer disbelief, flew wide open.
“This is a recovery potion…?”
He’d seen them before at the temple—stuff so expensive one bottle could buy a whole mansion.
Why the hell is this here…?
Questions later. Ashu uncorked it and chugged half the elixir. Only then did sensation flood back into his numb body.
“…Ideal, drink.”
Her tightly shut lips wouldn’t budge. He tried trickling some in, but the precious elixir just spilled onto the ground. She would’ve freaked out and whined if she’d seen it, but Ashu didn’t care.
“Damn it…”
Time was critical. Ashu hesitated for a second. Her lips clamped shut. The elixir too valuable to waste. Only one way to get it into her without spilling.
For real?
Her soft lips were right there. Her closed eyes looked like they might never open again. Her complexion was fading to pale.
“…This is not my fault.”
His heart pounded like it would burst. His feverish head felt like it wasn’t his own. Ears burning red, Ashu filled his mouth with elixir.
Then he gently pried open Ideal’s lips.
Her lips were impossibly sweet and soft.
“Hnggh…!!”
Ideal shot upright with a gasp. She immediately groped at her body—
“Agh…!!”
Her hand brushed the gash on her thigh, and she let out a groan.
“You’re awake.”
She turned at the familiar voice. Ashu watched her with visible relief.
“…?”
Ideal staggered to her feet. Without a word, she marched over and squish—pinched both his cheeks hard.
“Y-You’re not my disciple… are you?”
She puffed his face into a pufferfish and tilted his head side to side. Her breath grazed his skin, making Ashu freak out and shove her away.
“What the hell are you doing all of a sudden?!”
“…You’re mad, so you are my disciple. Unless the poison’s still…?”
Ideal mumbled dreamily, nibbling her finger.
“…I am him, damn it?”
“Nah, no way. My disciple would never grow up this much…”
Crack. A vein bulged on Ashu’s forehead.
He opened his mouth to yell, then shut it at her oddly entranced vibe. She looked hypnotized—like she’d spill anything if asked right now.
And that feeling was spot on. Ideal was still loopy from the drug. What she’d overlooked: the paralysis potion acted like full-body anesthesia. And patients fresh from anesthesia tended to blurt out their deepest thoughts.
“…So, what do you really think of me usually?”
“My disciple’s, like, super rude, a spoiled brat, doesn’t listen, treats me like crap…”
“…What?”
“Rude beyond belief, no conscience, a total punk…”
Ideal grabbed Ashu’s head.
“But seeing you grow makes me happy.”
She grinned dopily and petted his hair. The affectionate touch flushed his face.
“Wait, why am I even—?”
Focus returned to Ideal’s hazy eyes.
“Eh…?”
She let out a deflated sound, oblivious to the situation. Then realization hit—her expression cycled through confusion, shock, despair.
“S-Sorry!!”
Ashu snatched her retreating hand.
“Eek!!”
Bracing for the massive backlash, Ideal squeezed her eyes shut.
…It’s quiet?
She peeked. Ashu, face strawberry-red, had placed her hand back on his head.
“…Hey.”
“E-Eek. Y-Yes…?”
“Just… stay like this a bit longer.”
Baffled, Ideal nodded vigorously.
The venue buzzed like the first day of the tournament. Mid-forfeits, disqualifications, examinees—all tangled up gossiping about the event.
“How many’d you get?”
“Eight for me? That’s supposed to be top ranks.”
Thud!!
Sihan dumped a bundle of monster cores at the judging station, drawing every eye.
“S-Sihan Kan Hart, sir. Thirty-four magic stones confirmed. All top quality. You’re in first place.”
The registrar gaped. Sihan’s lips curved in satisfaction.
“…Still, where’d that knight go?”
He’d vanished without even switching night watch. Worried something happened, Sihan had alerted the guards—still no word.
“Whoa, no wonder the duke picked him as heir.”
“Totally…”
The murmurs made Sihan’s ears perk up. His shoulders puffed instinctively.
At this rate, Ashu Kan Hart’s no match…
Sihan was certain of victory—until a panicked shout from afar.
“A-Ashu Kan Hart, sir! Forty-eight magic stones—you’re in first place…!!”
Sihan whipped around. In the distance, Ashu nodded blankly.
Teeth grinding, Sihan stormed over.
“You bastard!!”
Grab!!
Sihan suddenly seized Ashu’s collar. Both Ashu and I were utterly exhausted—no chance to react.
“…Who the hell are you?”
Ashu eyed Sihan with deadpan indifference.
“What dirty trick did you pull…?! How’d you get more than me?!”
Sihan shook his collar furiously, eyes blazing. Ashu’s face darkened with rising killing intent. I panicked and pried Sihan off.
“H-Hold on!!!”
“…And you?”
What kind of mess was this at the victory celebration?! The hellish subjugation battle was finally over!! I was done watching people die.
“…The guardian who entered with Ashu Kan Hart?”
“Y-Yes…. C-Could you calm down first…?”
“Why’re you hanging around this guy?”
“Huh…?”
My head tilted at his words. Why was the fire turning on me…?
“Why stick with a punk with that kinda reputation?”
“D-Disciple…?”
“Take me as your disciple instead. I’ll be your star pupil.”
These Kan Hart lunatics were all cut from the same cloth. I was so done.
Ashu smirked, arms crossed. “Keep going. This is entertaining.”
His cold laugh sent chills down my spine. That was a real danger signal. My disciple wasn’t faking anger—this was boiling up from his core…!! Someone else was gonna die at this rate. I jumped into damage control.
“Wh-Why are we together, you asked…?”
“Yeah.”
“I dunno why you’re saying this to me outta nowhere, but… yeah, the rumors are partly true, but my disciple’s a good guy deep down.”
Silence fell. Ashu stared at me wordlessly. Then he sighed and turned to Sihan.
“Hey, you. You asked how I got more than you?”
“…Yeah.”
Their eyes clashed midair. Sihan burned with inferiority; Ashu couldn’t have cared less.
“‘Cause I’m stronger than you.”
“…”
“Got it? Now scram.”
“—Next time, I’ll win for sure.”
“Sure.”
Sihan clenched his fists and stalked off. The storm had passed. I stood dazed, then scurried over to Ashu, waving happily. We were bonding a bit, right? Pure relief.
But his face looked scary for some reason.
“D-Disciple…! It’s finally over!!”
“Yeah. But what’d you say earlier?”
“H-Huh…?”
“The rumors are ‘partly true’?”
“Eek….”
Ashu glared at me with a demonic grin. The icy expression made me shrink.
“D-Disciple…? B-But I saved you this time…?”
“Yeah, thanks. But lemme tell you why those rumors exist.”
“Huh…?”
Ashu advanced with a terrifying look. I trembled and yelled.
“I-I’m innocent…!!”
What’d I even do wrong!! It is true!! So freaking unfair.