"The duel is over. The winner is student Kim Taeyang."
I defeated Seol Harin.
Well, technically, Pomi did the heavy lifting, but in this world, constellations are treated as a hero's weapon, so whatever.
Everything up to this point was definitely part of my plan.
The problem? My damn mouth.
"Hey! Hurry up and declare it! I'm starting to get bored!!"
"…"
A 'slave declaration'?
All I wanted was to make a small bet with Seol Harin.
In my head, I was clearly going to say, "The loser grants the winner's wish."
But why the hell did it turn into slave nonsense?!
"Student Kim Taeyang. Student Seol Harin. Please return to your seats."
Thanks to the professor's intervention, Seol Harin didn't have to make a slave declaration.
Honestly, it would've been hilarious if she did… but there's no need to ruin my relationship with a heroine just for laughs.
However, Kim Taeyang is like a runaway freight train that doesn't know how to stop.
"Hey, sow. Come find me after all the duels are over. I'm definitely getting that slave declaration. Heh heh heh."
"…"
Seriously.
Could I at least stop calling her a sow?
"Answer me!"
"Ugh… Fine…"
Even after losing her constellation, for the high-and-mighty Seol Harin to obediently respond to being called a sow?
Instead of radiating killing intent and trying to murder me?
…Now that I think about it, it makes sense.
In the original game, while the protagonist picks spineless choices, the heroines eventually fall for Kim Taeyang.
Sure, he uses illegal means, but the fact that they do fall is undeniable.
Doesn't that mean they have some inherent masochistic tendencies that make "falling" possible?
In other words, Seol Harin is secretly a pervert pretending to be noble…!
'Hentai!!'
"Heh heh heh. Hilarious."
If this theory is correct,
Things might go a lot smoother than I thought.
***
All the duels were over.
The outcomes largely determined who would pass or fail.
But the exams weren't fully done—written tests and practicals were still to come.
The students, including me, poured out of the gymnasium.
On the way back to the temporary dorms,
All eyes were on me.
Or rather, on Kim Taeyang.
…To be precise, on Pomi beside me.
"Master! Pet me!"
Pomi was still in her human form.
Humanization is known as a constellation's final evolved state.
It only appears when the bond with a hero reaches its peak.
Honestly, I didn't expect to see Pomi's human form this quickly.
In the game, you don't see it until well past the mid-point.
Plus, players never got to see Pomi's human form at all.
The playtime bonus must've had a huge impact.
"I'm already petting your head, aren't I?"
"Pet my body too! I love it when Master touches me! More! More!!"
"Heh heh heh. You're totally addicted to my hands. No way you're going back to your old master now."
"Woof woof♡"
Pomi was a stunning beauty.
She drew every eye, male and female alike.
Maybe because she's a husky-type, her features were striking.
A face radiating intense charisma, you could say?
Tall, with long limbs, a full chest, and an unapproachable aura—yet she fawned over me like a puppy, creating an insane gap moe!!
A mega-dere who looks like a tsundere!
I was so happy I could die!
Following Kim Taeyang's instincts, I hugged Pomi tighter, parading her around like a trophy.
But maintaining Pomi's human form for long was tough.
"Whine…"
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Master… I need to pee. Is it okay if I go in the bushes? You said I could pee in front of everyone now."
"…"
No, that was when you were in dog form, dear constellation…
What are we supposed to do if a grown woman pees in public?!
"Just go to the bathroom."
"But I need to mark my territory on the street so other dogs know! I've always wanted to try it…"
※ A Quick Fact!
'What is "marking"?'
It refers to dogs leaving their scent through urine.
Dogs use marking to assert their presence and communicate with other dogs.
Pomi, having been restrained by Seol Harin all this time, has probably never had the chance to mark.
So for Pomi, this is like getting her first smartphone ever…!
She must be thrilled…!!
"Heh heh heh. Not only peeing in front of everyone, but spreading your urine scent to other dogs like some shameless mutt…! Hey! Aren't you just too proud?!!"
"Woof woof!"
"But turn back into a dog first!"
"Woof…? Why…?"
"Obviously! If you pee in human form, other dogs will think you're human!!"
"Master…! So smart!!"
Sniffle. Thank goodness I convinced her…
I nearly became a perverse hero who let his bikini-clad constellation pee in the street…
Poof—!
In a puff of mist, Pomi quickly reverted to her dog form.
She buried her nose in the ground, eagerly sniffing around before starting to pee here and there.
She looked so excited that I couldn't help but feel proud watching her.
That's when someone shouted from behind.
"What are you doing right now?!!"
"Huh—?"
As expected, it was Seol Harin.
"Glacis! How can you pee just anywhere?! Everyone's watching!!"
"Grrrr…!"
"Eek!"
Glacis didn't let Seol Harin get close.
Her appearance drew the kids' attention again.
"Hey…! Where my pet pees is none of your business!!"
"Pet…?"
The rookie who lost her constellation in just 10 minutes.
The incompetent former master who suppressed Pomi.
The noble lady who lost to me in the duel exam (and is now my slave).
And the potential masochist, Seol Harin.
"Stop meddling and make that slave declaration like you promised!!!"
A masochist needs to be tamed, naturally.
But my method of taming will be a bit different.
Starting today, you're a training slave!!
You'll train every day until you're a complete idiot!!!
And with that sweat, you'll save this world!!!!
***
Seol Harin accepted it.
She was an inadequate hero.
She hadn't listened to her constellation's needs.
But she didn't think it was all over.
Losing Glacis was a devastating blow, but she believed it could be undone.
'If I clear up the misunderstanding through conversation, it'll be fine. In her humanized form, I can hear Glacis's words…'
"…I'll make the declaration. But first, let me talk to Glacis."
Seol Harin waited for Kim Taeyang's response.
She knew he wouldn't agree easily.
She'd steeled herself for that.
But his reply was completely unexpected.
"What? Glacis? Who's that?"
"Huh…?"
"I said, who's Glacis?"
"G-Glacis… The constellation next to you… My constellation…"
"Ohh—This one? There's no Glacis anymore. Her name's Pomi now. Heh heh heh."
Grit—!
Seol Harin clenched her teeth.
This guy was determined to make her say that childish name.
Pomi.
A name that didn't sound English or Korean.
No sophistication, no noble elegance—just a ridiculous name…
Glacis had become a constellation with such a vulgar name.
"Let me talk to… Pomi…"
"No way!"
'What a petty bastard!'
The depths of his depravity were impossible to fathom.
"What do I have to do to let me talk to her?"
"Didn't I already tell you? Declare yourself my slave with a kowtow. Right here, right now."
"…"
"Perfect timing, don't you think? Heh heh heh."
Kim Taeyang pointedly gestured at their surroundings.
Dozens—no, perhaps hundreds—of students were staring at him and Seol Harin.
Most wouldn't make it into Ark, but some would be her classmates for the next three years.
Bow her head to this delinquent in front of them?
And make a humiliating slave declaration…?
Seol Harin bit her lip hard.
It was a nightmare she'd never even imagined.
She'd rather die than go through with it.
But…
'I can't lose Glacis…'
To her, Glacis was more than just a constellation.
After 10 years of shared joys and struggles, it was like family.
'Pride doesn't matter right now. I have to take Glacis back. A slave declaration… it's just temporary.'
She had no intention of truly becoming Kim Taeyang's slave.
She'd make the declaration, talk to Glacis, and clear up the misunderstanding.
Once Glacis returned to her, she'd get her revenge on Kim Taeyang.
Of course, she'd likely be used as a slave in the meantime…
And she might have to offer her long-guarded purity to this vile man…
But what choice did she have?
It was the only way, and she was prepared.
'If Glacis sees me repent, it might change its mind…'
Finally, Seol Harin made her decision.
She would do the kowtow slave declaration!
Rustle—
As she assumed the position, the crowd buzzed instantly.
"She's actually doing it!"
"No way, the Seol Harin? Nah, can't be…"
"With her constellation at stake, she might not have a choice…"
"But why isn't it a naked kowtow?"
"Go die, you creep."
She had to ignore becoming the subject of their gossip.
As someone already used to being a topic of discussion, she could handle the murmurs.
'I'm doing this… for Glacis…!!'
Thud—!
Seol Harin knelt on the ground.
She placed both palms on the floor and pressed her forehead to the dirt.
"I… hereby declare… that from today, I am Kim Taeyang's slave…"
Words that crushed her pride into the ground.
Uttering those few words was excruciatingly difficult…
But Kim Taeyang wasn't satisfied in the least.
"Huh? Are your ears clogged, or is your head full of fish?! Name, age, hometown, high school, and three sizes! Louder!! That pathetic ant voice won't cut it to be my slave!!!!"
Clench…!!
Her fists tightened involuntarily.
Her body trembled with humiliation.
But she had to do it.
Pride wasn't what mattered.
She had to take back Glacis.
Steeling herself, Seol Harin shouted.
"My name is Seol Harin…! I'm 20 years old! I live in Gangnam-gu!! I graduated from Gangnam High School and am currently applying to Ark Academy…!! My th-three sizes are… 32-22-34…! I declare that, having lost a duel to Kim Taeyang-nim, I have become his s-slave…!!"
Seol Harin poured out the words like vomit.
She wanted to die of embarrassment,
But at the same time, she praised herself for her endurance and courage.
'I did it, Glacis…'
She had to think that way, or she wouldn't have been able to bear it.
But the delinquent Kim Taeyang didn't even allow her that.
"BWAHAHAHA!! Hey, hey!! You actually did it just because I told you to?!!!"
"…?"
"I was just messing around!!! This is hilarious!!! Super hilarious!!!!!!!!"
'Childish bastard…!!'
Messing around?!
As if he wasn't going to torment her until she did it for real!
The words rose to her throat, but she swallowed them.
She couldn't let all her suffering go to waste.
Just when she thought the ordeal was over, Another hurdle came.
"Huh? That scrawny guy. Isn't he your boyfriend?"
'Boyfriend…?'
Seol Harin didn't have a boyfriend.
But there was one friend Kim Taeyang might call her boyfriend.
'No way, Juhyeok?!'
Kang Juhyeok.
Her childhood friend.
The precious friend who always saw her at her best,
Who admired her and never spared his praise.
'No! Juhyeok can't see me like this…!'
She thought she'd hit rock bottom,
But now, having fallen to the ground, she was plummeting into the abyss.