At the very heart of the continent lay Dungeon City Argon.
Right beside it.
The vast Yagon Great Plains stretched to the horizon, dotted only sparsely with vegetation.
It was, without a doubt, the largest plain on the continent.
Famous for its expanse, but even more so for the diverse monsters that roamed it.
Especially the Blood Minotaurs, notorious for their ferocity—this was their primary habitat, making the Yagon Great Plains infamous for that reason alone.
Blood Minotaurs were known to travel in packs of at least five, never backing down easily from any foe, always striding with unyielding pride.
But this time was different. They merely watched from afar, the two figures who had appeared in the middle of the plain.
Overwhelmed by the savage auras emanating from them, the Blood Minotaurs desperately sought any cover they could find in the open expanse, hiding their bodies as best they could.
A woman with platinum blonde hair faded to near gray, vitality drained from it. She wielded a greatsword as tall as herself, wrapped in restrained blue aura, her entire body—including her face—encased in armor.
In stark contrast, a white-haired woman who couldn't stay still for a moment, her hands cloaked in turbulent, violent red aura.
In the Yagon Great Plains, the Sword Saint and the Beast faced off, staring each other down.
They had already clashed once; their clothes and armor were torn in several places.
"..."
"Grrrrowl..."
From the moment they'd first met in Argon, the Beast had been radiating hostility toward her. The Sword Saint simply gazed at her calmly.
After several skirmishes, neither could overpower the other easily, so they'd paused the fight for now.
The Sword Saint had asked multiple times why she kept attacking, but conversations with the Beast yielded no progress, leaving her frustrated.
"So, what's the reason?"
Still, the Sword Saint asked again.
Thinking this might be her last question.
"Youuu! I smell him on you, nya!"
Nya?
The odd speech pattern made her furrow her brow for a moment, despite hearing it several times, but she quickly returned to her expressionless face and continued calmly.
"I can't understand if you don't explain precisely."
With an ordinary nobody, she would have simply beheaded them on the spot.
But the opponent before her was one she couldn't guarantee victory against, even as skilled as she was.
When victory was uncertain, the best course was not to fight.
If not for the words her master always habitually spoke coming to mind, she might have engaged in a deathmatch with the beast right then.
But her patience was wearing thin now, so she figured this question would be the last.
The Beast was just as frustrated with the stalemate, and her response this time was markedly different.
"I smell Master on you, nya! Bitch! You better not try to fool me, nya!"
"On me...?"
It was strange.
The only things in her embrace right now were a money pouch sufficient for living expenses for a while.
Besides that, just the items her master had left behind with a note saying, "Sorry. Goodbye."
Even those had faded over the three years that passed, and the Sword Saint's growing desolation from her master's lingering traces was her own shy secret.
So what on earth had the Beast sensed on her to react like this?
Perhaps...?
The Sword Saint momentarily withdrew the energy aimed at the Beast and lowered her greatsword.
"Beast, was it? Let's talk for a moment."
"Nya? I'm Mimi, nya! What's Beast, nya?"
She didn't even know the nickname people called her by?
Then again, what did it matter what others said?
"...You're searching for your master right now. Correct?"
The Beast, who faintly caught her master's scent on this human bitch and wanted to tear her apart immediately, decided to play along with the subtle shift in her opponent's demeanor for the moment.
"That's right, nya. I'm looking for my Master, nya."
The Sword Saint posed a question to test her hypothesis.
"By any chance, does he have gray hair?"
"!"
Her suspicion confirmed that this human bitch was connected to her master, the Beast tensed her legs to charge.
Swish.
If the Sword Saint hadn't suddenly removed the chest plate of her upper armor.
More precisely, the moment her lower abdomen came into view as she lifted her top, the Beast froze mid-lunge.
It bore the exact same pattern engraved on her own belly, which she stroked nightly while yearning for her master.
"The same... pattern, nya...?"
While searching for information on her vanished master through various channels, she'd learned about the tattoo on her belly.
The Sex Slave seal, commonly called the Yin Seal.
Yin Seals shared a basic framework but differed in detail, each unique.
Because the pattern varied slightly depending on the owner.
Thus, it was precious proof that she and her master were still connected.
She knew she could instinctively erase it once strong enough, but the Beast couldn't bear to sever that tie with her master.
The same pattern as hers.
The instant she saw the identical Yin Seal on the Sword Saint, questions flooded the Beast's mind, but its meaning was clear.
"Same Master...?"
"It seems the one you're looking for and the master I'm seeking are the same person."
'Master? Master is Master, nya?'
Odd terminology puzzled her, but if this bitch wasn't wagging her tail at her master but a fellow slave, it changed everything.
The Beast instantly dispelled her hostility, adjusted her stance, and slowly approached the Sword Saint.
A brief silence followed, but the Sword Saint spoke first.
"My name is Gloria. Master's slave."
"My name is Mimi, nya! Master's, nya!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Entrance exam day.
A decent crowd had gathered in front of the Academy. I'd heard they'd weeded out plenty via paperwork, but this many still showed up?
For reference, I already had a record of clearing up to the 19th floor in Dungeon City, so the paperwork was a breeze.
Dungeon... dungeon...
Ria, are you still clearing dungeons somewhere?
With your talent, you're probably aiming for the 40th floor or so.
If you're still resenting this worthless master, I hope you'd forgive me.
Squeeze.
"Master."
Lost in wistful thoughts of Ria, Lili playfully hooked her arm around mine from the side.
Her plump hills proudly enveloped my arm in their soft embrace.
Haah... Screw the entrance exam. Should I just take her right here?
I subtly flexed my arm, savoring the delightful bounce of Lili's breasts. Let's savor them first.
"Yeah. What is it?"
"Hehe. Nothing. You just looked deep in thought, so I called out."
"Don't worry. An entrance exam is nothing to this master."
Exactly as I said. Even if the Academy drew top talents from across the continent, most were still unpolished gems.
The age limit was 19 to 25, but most came at 19 or 20.
Old-timers like me were rare.
Not just age, but clearing the 19th floor? That marked a seasoned adventurer already on track.
They'd be grinding dungeons harder instead of wasting time at the Academy.
Conclusion: Talents on my level were probably scarce. My personal opinion, anyway.
Maybe not.
I'd planned to leave Lili at home, but she wanted to cheer me on by my side.
How could I refuse such a rare request from her?
She clasped my hands, gazing up at me soulfully—rejecting that as a man, let alone a master, was impossible.
'Getting real-time cheers from a beauty like Lili. How far have I come as a man?'
So here I was with Lili in front of the Academy.
Some passersby scowled at her face, but far more men ogled her openly, desire in their eyes.
I get it. Superstitions about pink hair ran rampant on this continent, but superstitions were just that.
With a stunner like this right in front of you, how could you not look?
Hmph. Look all you want. Doesn't change that Lili's mine.
Still, my petty instincts couldn't help pulling her closer, flaunting to everyone that Lili was mine.
Bathed in envious glares and jealous stares from the men, I entered the Academy and followed the guide to the waiting area for the exam.
Guess I'll just admire Lili's face while waiting.
Never gets old.
"W-Wait a moment."
"Hm?"
What's up, guide?
"Um... Only examinees are allowed entry."
I knew the rule, sure.
But I brought Lili anyway. Because...
"Lili's my property. A slave. There are no restrictions on personal items, as far as I know?"
Legally, slaves had no human rights. Just the owner's possessions.
So I claimed it boldly, chest puffed with righteous confidence.
Go on, refute that, human. Too logical to counter, right?
I'm just carrying my valuables, that's all?
What's the problem with that~? None, I say~
"Th-That... She's a slave, not a servant? Still..."
"No problem."
No issue, factually, but the guide couldn't decide and bowed deeply.
"P-Please wait! This is beyond my authority. I'll check with my superior right away."
"Sure, whatever."
By the way, what's with all the "th-that"?
Grown-ass adult fumbling words like that tanks your score.
Others shared the guide's view, it seemed—surrounding stares turned icy, mostly from women.
Not that I care about winning you over, but those looks sting a bit. Emotionally, haha.
"Indeed! Property, huh? Hey, you!"
There stood a sleazy punk with tanned skin and matching frizzy blonde hair, eyeing me.
That arrogant smirk completed the trifecta of a golden-sun thug. Surely not calling me?
Ugh. My eyes are rotting.