Episode 17: Woof Woof! Master! Let’s Do It! That Fun Thing!!!
“Hey, you’re wearing what I got you, huh?”
Kim Taeyang said this the moment he saw Seol Harin.
“…What?”
“The earrings. You acted like you didn’t like them, but you’re secretly into them, aren’t you? Heh heh heh.”
“It’s a gift… I’m just showing appreciation.”
“Hey, don’t act all proud in front of me when you’re just a slave.”
“Tch…”
Swish-
Kim Taeyang slung his arm over Seol Harin’s shoulder.
His massive, solid arm.
By now, such physical contact didn’t feel all that uncomfortable.
“Gasp, it’s Kim Taeyang.”
“Seol Harin’s drop-dead gorgeous today too…”
“Poor thing, stuck being harassed by a guy like Kim Taeyang every day…”
On the way to school,
The gazes of students crossing the campus poured over them.
The hulking delinquent, Kim Taeyang.
The aristocratic lady, Seol Harin.
The sight of this mismatched pair walking so closely together was always a spectacle, no matter how many times people saw it.
It almost felt like they lived in a separate world.
They seemed to exist in a different realm from the other students.
“Are they really freshmen like us?”
“Their aura’s just… different.”
“Kim Taeyang looks scary, but his body’s kinda impressive.”
“No way I’d ever want to get close to him, though.”
Their presence had the power to turn everyone around them into background extras.
For better or worse…
Or maybe both.
Being at the center of attention was both intimidating and enviable.
Some students even viewed Kim Taeyang positively.
“He doesn’t really do anything that bad, right?”
“He looks and talks rough, but what he says is kinda reasonable.”
“Yeah, aside from that slave declaration, he doesn’t openly torment Seol Harin.”
A major event had improved Kim Taeyang’s image:
He’d taken down the disciplinary president, a figure feared by freshmen,
And as it spread on ArkGal, his existence became almost meme-like…!
“Maybe he’s actually a decent guy…”
But moments later,
The students realized how gravely mistaken they were.
“Hngh…?”
“?”
Seol Harin, walking calmly, suddenly let out a moan.
Her body stiffened like a startled cat.
“Hey, hey. Weren’t you already used to it? Heh heh heh.”
“S-Suddenly doing that… I got startled…!”
Seol Harin stumbled, letting out animal-like noises.
She seemed so overwhelmed that her eyes couldn’t even focus properly.
The students covered their mouths in shock.
‘It’s that…!’
‘It’s definitely that…!!’
Anyone could tell it was a vibrator, right?!
“Doing that on the way to school? Is he insane?!”
“That guy’s living life like it’s a porno…!!”
“Crazy bastard…!”
Scratch that about not tormenting Seol Harin.
Scratch that about him being a decent guy.
‘Kim Taeyang’s absolute trash!! A nuclear waste-level jerk that won’t even decompose!!!’
Kim Taeyang’s image swiftly reverted to its original state.
***
“Generate sword aura.”
“Yes.”
Crackle…!
Kang Juhyeok focused his mind.
A blue sword aura enveloped his wooden sword, revealing itself.
“Not a bad amount.”
“Thank you.”
His instructor was Shin Hyewon.
The vice-dean of Ark and a top-tier hero who taught swordsmanship.
“How far have you mastered the Seven Sword Auras of the Hero’s Sword?”
The Hero’s Sword.
A versatile swordsmanship style created for heroes.
The Seven Sword Auras referred to seven techniques for wielding sword aura in attacks.
Though basic, they were crucial, as nearly all swordsmanship was an extension of these techniques.
“I can use all of them except the Earth-Splitting Sword and the Head-Turning Sword.”
Shin Hyewon’s brow furrowed.
‘He needs to master the Head-Turning Sword.’
She was well aware of the rumors about Kim Taeyang.
He withstood a thousand lashes from Chloe, the disciplinary president, without flinching.
Even if it was pure physical whipping without mana,
Enduring a thousand strikes was a testament to his incredible resilience.
Whether his body could block sword strikes was uncertain, but Shin Hyewon believed they needed to be thorough.
“There’s too little information on your opponent. To ensure victory, you must use the Head-Turning Sword.”
“If you teach me… I’ll do my best to learn!”
“That’s the one phrase I hate the most… Forget ‘best’! Aim to be the greatest!”
“Yes…!”
Planchel, the ghostly knight floating above Kang Juhyeok, muttered.
“If I could just transform into a female form, I’d teach him in a day…”
Kang Juhyeok’s constellations hadn’t achieved female forms yet.
The ghostly knight Planchel appeared as a small ghost draped in a blanket.
The white-eyed archmage Aporione took the form of a talking conical hat.
The sealed saintess Danaran manifested as tightly wound chains.
Shin Hyewon raised her wooden sword.
“The Head-Turning Sword is, as the name suggests, an attack that concentrates sword aura at the tip of the blade for a piercing strike. It’s the most powerful of the Seven Sword Auras. Follow me.”
“Understood!”
Kang Juhyeok threw himself into learning with zeal.
“Too little aura. You’re carrying three constellations, and this is all you can manage with aura manipulation?”
“Bluntly gathering aura is useless. Are you only carrying three constellations because of luck?”
“Your aura’s leaking everywhere. Not focusing, are you? Too distracted by three constellations?”
Shin Hyewon was renowned as a strong, competent, and beautiful hero.
And as a notoriously strict and terrifying professor.
“Urgh…”
“Carrying three constellations must make you soft. Don’t show weakness so easily.”
“Sorry…!”
Even so, Kang Juhyeok persevered.
His opponent was Kim Taeyang.
‘I’ll crush you and make you kneel…!’
He couldn’t afford to underestimate him.
My precious childhood friend, Seol Harin.
The humiliation and shame she’s endured,
And the insult I’ve felt—
I’ll make you pay!
***
“Urgh! Urgh!!”
After school.
In the indoor training hall, a lion’s roar-like shout echoed.
It was none other than me.
“Woof!”
Clack!!
Blocking my sword was Pomi in her female form.
When I said I wanted to practice swordsmanship, she eagerly offered to help.
But she wasn’t much help.
Pomi’s swordsmanship skills were terrible.
She was just overpowering things with raw physicality.
“Urgh! Urgh! Urgh!!!”
“Woof! Woof! Woof!!”
“Urgh! Urgh! URGHH!!!”
“Woof! Woof! Woofwoofwoof!!!!”
Pomi blocked every swing I threw.
But she couldn’t counterattack at all.
This was just mindlessly swinging a sword…
I overheard whispers from students stealing glances at me.
“Damn. It’s Kim Taeyang.”
“Look at that body. What do you have to eat to get like that?”
“Feels kinda intimidating… Should we train somewhere else…?”
Kim Taeyang’s physique was undeniably superior.
His strength and stamina rivaled even the top-tier students.
His weakness? Pathetic mana levels.
But that could be compensated with constellation buffs.
The real issue was his weapon-handling skills, particularly swordsmanship.
“Kim Taeyang’s swordsmanship is kinda mediocre, huh?”
“Yeah. I heard he’s facing Kang Juhyeok for the disciplinary committee spot. Might be tough for him.”
“With a body that endured a thousand lashes, won’t he just crush him with raw power?”
“It’s a duel, so it’s probably point-based. If that’s the case, he’s screwed.”
They weren’t wrong.
In pure swordsmanship, I’m far behind Kang Juhyeok.
And contrary to the rumors, my body isn’t some indestructible fortress.
In a real sword fight, not a duel, I’d just be a flashy slab of muscle meat.
Raising my swordsmanship in the short term is impossible…
Well, that’s why I got the cheat item (love gel).
I came to the training hall today not to practice swordsmanship but to test the cheat item.
A rehearsal, if you will.
Pomi, being a constellation, isn’t a good test partner, so Seol Harin needs to hurry up…
“Hey, Pomi, that’s enough. Let’s take a break.”
“Woof woof! Master! Let’s do it! That thing!! The fun thing!!!”
Pomi nipped at my hands and shoulders, whining eagerly.
For the record, “that thing” refers to tug-of-war with a toy, not anything weird.
“Gasp, Kim Taeyang’s even doing that with his constellation…”
“With a constellation that looks like that, it’s totally possible.”
“But wouldn’t it be awkward when she turns back into a dog? That’s basically bestiality.”
“A guy like Kim Taeyang wouldn’t care. He’d just go for it.”
“Yeah… He’s a total beast.”
I’m not doing anything, you idiots…!!!
Your filthy imaginations are more beastly than me!!!!
“Hey, Pomi, I’ll order chicken later, so behave.”
“Chicken?? Really??”
“Your favorite hot fried chicken.”
“Woof!!”
I could’ve yelled at the whispering punks, but getting mad would only make it seem like I’m confirming their suspicions…
Anyway.
Where the hell is Seol Harin?
She’s already late for our meeting.
Is she getting too comfortable because I’ve been nice lately?
I’ll have to set her straight when she gets here.
***
After school.
Seol Harin was on her way to help Kim Taeyang with his swordsmanship training.
“Harin!”
“…?”
As soon as she left the dorm, a familiar voice called out.
It was Kang Juhyeok.
“Can we talk for a sec?”
“What’s up?”
“We don’t need a reason to talk, do we?”
“…”
For a moment, Seol Harin felt a pang of guilt about her attitude.
Hanging around Kim Taeyang lately had made her speech sharper.
She was upset that Kang Juhyeok had ignored her.
But if she thought about it coldly, he had no obligation to help her.
‘We’re just friends, after all.’
As Kang Juhyeok said.
They were friends, not lovers.
Seol Harin instinctively glanced around.
Just in case Kim Taeyang was watching.
“Why’re you looking around like that?”
“…It’s nothing.”
‘Don’t talk to other guys in front of me!’
That was Kim Taeyang’s order.
‘Since when did I start following his orders so well…?’
She sighed, mocking herself for how tamed she’d become.
But that was her reality.
“Oh? Harin, you’re wearing earrings? You always said they were uncomfortable.”
Kang Juhyeok noticed the earrings Kim Taeyang had given her.
As he leaned closer to inspect them, Seol Harin hurriedly covered her ear with her hair.
“Just… a gift.”
“A gift? Could it be…”
“Got something to say? I’m kinda busy.”
An awkward silence hung in the air.
Kang Juhyeok looked slightly frustrated.
“Harin, can’t you tell me now… what’s going on with that guy?”
“It’s not resolved yet.”
“Resolved how?”
“I need to take back Pomi… no, Glacis, and get revenge on him.”
“I’ll help you!”
“No, you can’t. This is my fight.”
Her tone was firm.
Kang Juhyeok felt a bit relieved by her response.
Despite the rumors, she hadn’t been completely corrupted.
‘Harin’s still strong. She’s resisting in her own way.’
His fists clenched instinctively.
“Harin, when I think about what that guy does to you every night… it makes my blood boil.”
“Yeah, he’s a real jerk.”
“He’s tormenting you like crazy, isn’t he?”
“Totally… He targets one spot so relentlessly… until my legs shake…”
“Urgh, that perverted bastard…!!!”
“?”
Seol Harin realized her words could be misunderstood and shut her mouth.
She could’ve clarified it was just training, but whether it was sex or training, it was equally embarrassing.
Judging by Kang Juhyeok’s reaction, he wouldn’t believe her even if she told the truth.
She herself hadn’t believed it at first, had she?
With the entire school convinced that ‘Kim Taeyang keeps Seol Harin as a sex slave’, no amount of words could change their minds.
“I heard. The disciplinary committee scouted you, right?”
“Yeah, that delinquent applied too. He wants to destroy the committee.”
“I also heard you two will have to duel…”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m training like crazy…!”
Kang Juhyeok. And Kim Taeyang.
Seol Harin compared the two.
‘Juhyeok’s definitely better at swordsmanship…’
She knew Kang Juhyeok’s skills better than anyone.
They’d trained together since childhood.
Logically, there was no way he’d lose this duel.
But…
‘Why does it feel like he’ll lose…?’
For some reason, she couldn’t picture Kang Juhyeok winning.
First, there was the physical difference.
Kim Taeyang’s beautiful, massive body, forged through years of weight training.
Could Kang Juhyeok handle that?
Then there was his presence.
A fearless spirit, unshaken even by Seol Harin’s killing intent.
A man with the heart of a beast, never cowering before professors.
Kim Taeyang, imposing wherever he went.
Just thinking about him made her feel secure.
‘Can Juhyeok… really win?’
She wasn’t convinced.
Kang Juhyeok’s confidence suddenly seemed foolish and pitiful.
“Harin? What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing. You can win.”
“Of course! Who trained with me? You’re practically my master too, Harin!”
Kang Juhyeok flashed a bright, innocent smile.
Seol Harin smiled back.
A slightly bitter smile.
“Yeah. Make your master proud and win properly.”
“Got it! Cheer for me!!”
***
“Hey, hey!!! Squeeze out more mana!!!!!”
“Nghhh…!!?”
Seol Harin’s bitter smile quickly turned to pain.
Swordsmanship practice with Kim Taeyang.
He subdued her in a way she never imagined.
‘My sword aura… it’s all being sucked away…?!!’
Kim Taeyang was absorbing her sword aura.
The suction was so intense it drained her to exhaustion in moments!
“URGHGHGHGHGH!!!!!”
“EEEEK!!!!!”
A man who NTRs not just constellations but sword aura too…!
Kang Juhyeok, fighting a beast like this…?
‘No way, no way, no way, no way, NO WAY──!! It’s over!!! That loser can never beat Master!!!!!’