Chapter 161

Ha Yu-ri moved, and thoughts of that man naturally came to mind.

“…Lee Yun-seong.”

When she first saw him at the training facility, she had ignored him, knowing he had no talent—seriously, none at all.

No talent, and his job was Dark Sorcerer.

Of course, the reason she disliked Dark Sorcerers was due to influences beyond her own intentions, but that didn’t justify her discrimination against him.

Honestly, she thought he wouldn’t last more than six months in Eras and would die.

That’s what people who chose combat roles despite having no talent usually said.

“My judgment of people is no match for Yoon Yeon, that sly fox…”

Compared to Yoon Yeon, who had noticed his potential and made him an offer, she might truly lack the qualities of a Clan Master.

“A slave…”

When Lee Yun-seong was falsely accused and became a slave, it felt like she had truly hit rock bottom.

After all, she didn’t know what that man might do to her.

Back at the training facility, she had shamed and humiliated him.

And in front of his comrades, no less.

With that kind of karma, she was terrified he might resort to violence or even toy with her body.

A slave marked with slave magic cannot defy their master. If the master commands, even actions that insult one’s dignity must be obeyed.

Moreover, since the master can control sensations, depending on his whims, he could even reshape her personality.

He could turn Ha Yu-ri into a madwoman or, at the very least, a prostitute.

If he had wanted to.

“…But he didn’t do anything.”

Surprisingly, he only needed her strength. He didn’t harm her at all.

Of course… she was treated like a dog in his pranks… but deep down, she knew.

Compared to what she had done to him, it was a minor punishment.

In fact, he helped her regain her memories and even aided her in seeking revenge against her enemies.

Suddenly, a bitter laugh escaped her.

“Ha Yu-ri… you’re truly an ungrateful wench.”

She felt disgusted with herself for having once despised and tormented someone like him.

“…What have I done?”

She envied Yoon Yeon.

If her jealousy of Yoon Yeon had once been a petty emotion, now she genuinely envied the good relationship they had built.

“Would things have been different if I had treated him well at the training facility?”

Simply comparing how he treated her versus Yoon Yeon, even his expressions were different.

If the emotions he directed at her were annoyance or irritation, the feelings he had for Yoon Yeon were clearly different.

She couldn’t quite define it. It didn’t seem like love.

It didn’t seem like their relationship had developed romantically either. At least from her perspective, it seemed more like admiration or respect.

But isn’t love something that develops from such feelings?

“What on earth am I thinking?”

She couldn’t quite pinpoint her own emotions.

Did she like him, or was it just gratitude?

It wasn’t love. But for some reason, seeing him chat happily with other women irritated her.

“I’m such a mess.”

Snapping at him was just a reflex because she didn’t know how else to react to his words.

“…And I always regret it afterward.”

But now wasn’t the time for such thoughts.

Her lifelong nemesis was right in front of her. Soon…

“I’ll kill him.”

She would capture that old monster and tear him apart slowly.

She would make him beg for death, tormenting him until he pleaded for a merciful end.

As she gritted her teeth, the woman he had introduced, Ruska, spoke up beside her.

“Ha Yu-ri.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

‘What exactly is her relationship with him?’

Honestly, she had been curious since the first time she saw her.

For one thing, her appearance was unreal.

‘I’m not one to be outdone either…’

She herself was exceptionally beautiful.

It might sound conceited coming from her, but she was always mentioned among the most beautiful players in Eras.

Back in her rookie adventurer days, her looks had even been a curse at times.

She remembered the trouble she had when a famous Clan Master tried to make a move on her.

‘But this woman… she’s different. Her looks, her aura…’

Honestly, it might sound crude, but she exuded sensuality.

The kind of looks that would make any man lose their mind. As if she were born to enchant men.

‘And… his slave.’

Even Charis, the maid, was essentially under his command.

“Ha Yu-ri, you should tone down the murderous intent. I understand the situation, but controlling your emotions would be better for the battle.”

“…Understood.”

Her answer seemed to displease the woman, who then added,

“And… a warning. If you act disrespectfully toward the master in the future, I won’t forgive you.”

Suddenly, her mood soured.

The way she spoke as if she were his representative was incredibly irritating.

“…What exactly is your relationship with him?”

“Not ‘him,’ call him ‘Master.’ You’re not in a position to address him so casually.”

‘Ugh… seriously…’

“And what’s our relationship? The master is my everything. The reason for my existence, the one who gave me the will to live.”

Her words made Ha Yu-ri want to provoke her.

Without thinking, she blurted out,

“Your everything? Really? So, to him, are you his everything too?”

“You…”

The woman opened her mouth to retort but then fell silent.

“…Even if not, it’s fine. He is the master, and I am the slave. As long as this relationship continues, it’s enough.”

“Wow… impressive.”

“As long as the master doesn’t leave my side, it’s fine. Even this kind of relationship is far better than nothing.”

For a moment, she felt exhausted. She didn’t know why, but the depth of the woman’s feelings for him…





Because I couldn’t guess it.

“Actually, I don’t want to help you. I don’t like your attitude towards the master.”

“…Then why are you helping?”

“Because it’s the master’s order.”

A simple and clear answer.

“…..”

“The master might call it a request, but to me, every word from the master is an order. If the master says so, I’ll do anything. Even if it means helping you.”

“Your loyalty is impressive. Helping me even though you dislike it so much… Would you even give your life if the master asked for it?”

Ruska burst into laughter at her own words and replied.

“Yes. A life is just a life, after all, it was already a discarded one. And just in case, let me say one more thing.”

“…What is it?”

“Never even think of crossing the master. Ha Yu-ri, you don’t suit the master.”

It was annoying. This whole situation. Every word and action of this woman.

“Ha Yu-ri, I’m saying this because I see signs of it in you. Don’t take my words lightly.”

“…What gives you the right to say that?”

“Just removing a woman who could harm the master in advance.”

“What…”

“Let’s stop here for now. I’ll catch up soon.”

Ha Yu-ri bit her lip. Because she could feel it too.

The ominous and sticky black magic.

******

Boom!

The sight of two chimeras fighting was almost reminiscent of a monster battle.

‘No, it is a monster battle.’

The chimera that Rekalux clearly cherished was almost evenly matched with the one I made.

Actually, from my perspective, it was something. I confidently brought out my chimera, but it was evenly matched.

“…You made that?”

Still, the comforting part was Charis’s reaction.

She had a face that couldn’t believe I made that chimera.

“Did you think I outsourced it?”

“…I just can’t believe it. You made that monster? A chimera that can go one-on-one with Rekalux’s masterpiece?”

“Why not?”

At my reaction, Charis looked at me with a face that said she couldn’t believe it.

“You… You look unsatisfied, but the fact that your chimera can go one-on-one with that is already amazing. Do you think the old man is a joke?”

“Well… I don’t know? I haven’t met that old man in person.”

“…You might not know, but in this continent, Rekalux is the top in chimera synthesis. Do you remember a guy named Bahan?”

‘Ah, the guy who entered my body.’

It sounds weird to say he entered my body, but anyway.

“It’s an insult to compare him to that fool Bahan. That old man’s chimera and your chimera are evenly matched.”

Well, I understood what Charis was trying to say.

‘She’s asking if I’m full.’

But there was a reason why I was unsatisfied.

‘It’s incomplete.’

It’s not that it’s not fully made.

‘It’s uncontrollable. The more I let it loose, the less control I have.’

From the tests, after a certain amount of time, it becomes uncontrollable to the point where it can’t distinguish friend from foe.

So if I’m alone facing an enemy, I can’t bring it out unless I’m confident I can kill the enemy instantly. Because I might die along with the chimera.

‘Well, I could bring it out. But I’d have to be prepared for mutual destruction.’

Even now, I brought it out because Charis was with me. If I were alone, I wouldn’t have.

During the chimera battle, Rekalux’s chimera showed an abnormal reaction.

It started attacking random places as if it had lost its senses.

‘…The effect kicked in. Lucky. I don’t know which sense it took, but good.’

White Devourer takes memories, Black Devourer takes the five senses.

I couldn’t bring both abilities, but I succeeded in incompletely transplanting the Black Devourer’s ability.

My chimera temporarily takes away one of the five senses each time it injures the opponent.

Charis also seemed to notice it.

“Hah… How?”

“Just got inspired.”

“……”

The problem was that Rekalux’s chimera wasn’t going to just take it.

The mouths attached to Rekalux’s chimera all opened at once.

“This is…”

In an instant, liquid sprayed out from the mouths towards Charis, but.

Regiratus stepped in front of us and created a large amount of branches from the black part.

Thud thud thud—

Sizzle—

“Must be an acid type.”

“Seems so. By the way, Charis.”

“Yes?”

“Why aren’t you joining the fight?”

“…I just wanted to see the performance of the chimera you made.”

“You can check that later, join the fight now. This isn’t the time to relax.”

“Hmph…”

“And if more time passes here, my chimera will attack you.”

At my words, Charis looked puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

“My chimera is a bit unstable. Over time, it becomes uncontrollable.”

At the mention of the chimera being unstable, Charis reacted as if it made sense.

“Well, you wouldn’t make something proper. It felt off.”

‘This bitch…’

I really wanted to smack the back of her head, but I held back.

“Let’s just finish this quickly. We need to catch up fast.”