Chapter 1091: Side Story – Slave Training (3)

No. 2… No, Geum Dallae was confused.

It had been good until the moment she entered the Guild representative’s office, her heart pounding at the thought of seeing the Great Master for the first time in a while, but the things she witnessed afterward were increasingly difficult to comprehend phenomena.

First of all, the most surprising thing was the sight of two women apologizing nakedly to the Great Master as soon as she entered the representative’s office.

Although it was a very familiar act to herself, she hadn’t seen the Great Master’s slaves other than herself up until this point.

Even more so, she couldn’t help but feel bewildered because one of them was her own Master, Eunbyul.

‘Master wouldn’t be the type to do something that would provoke the Great Master’s temper…’

Of course, not knowing the situation later, she couldn’t rashly defend her. Whether Master had truly done wrong to the Great Master, or if she was merely being punished like that due to the Great Master’s whim, she couldn’t know.

If not that, perhaps it was merely part of the training. Currently, that seemed the most likely possibility.

Since then, being too flustered, she had inadvertently made a slip of the tongue and hastily expressed her intention to apologize likewise to reflect on it. While lying flat on the floor like that, listening to the conversation between Master and the Great Master and cautiously observing the situation, but…

What was more confusing than the situation of Master being punished by the Great Master was after hearing the personal details of ‘another woman’ that immediately followed.

“I am Sung Chae-eun, Master’s new slave! Please treat me well from now on!”

Sung Chae-eun.

If you were a citizen of South Korea… no, if you were someone who had been involved in the Hunter industry even once, you would definitely know this person.

A figure who was the leader of the legendary party ‘Destruction Trio,’ composed solely of S-Class Hunters, and the Hunter among the three with the longest career record.

Excluding Seo Ok-hee, she was also once one of the Hunters ranked among South Korea’s strongest. She was a remarkable individual, said to possess physical abilities that far exceeded not only those of a Flame Mage but even the level of an ordinary person.

Although she recently retired citing a decline in performance, a legend is still a legend.

Why this living legend, who was actively performing until just a year ago, would become the Great Master’s slave and volunteer to be a junior to herself, No. 2 simply couldn’t comprehend.

“S-Seong Chae-eun…? The Scorching…? Huh…?”

She was so taken aback that she momentarily forgot her own position and blurted out such stupid words.

“Yes! People call me Sung Chae-eun of the Scorching Heat!”

“……”

Although it was an absurd situation, this woman was undoubtedly the S-Class Hunter she knew.

And frankly, she didn’t really know why such a woman would suddenly volunteer to be a slave under the Great Master.

Unlike her rough and self-centered personality known to the public, she didn’t know why she was so obedient and docile. Perhaps Sung Chae-eun had also received ‘reformation’ and ‘correction’ from the Great Master, just like her past self?

Geum Dallae had a fleeting anxious thought: what if she said something wrong and got roasted by Sung Chae-eun’s flame magic?

‘…Don’t doubt. S-Class Hunter or whatever, the fact that we’re both slaves to the Great Master is more important.’

Do not doubt. Do not question. Obey the words of Master and the Great Master absolutely.

It didn’t take long for Geum Dallae, who had already adopted a thorough chain-of-command attitude as a slave to the two for a long time, to grasp her own position.

“Nice to meet you, Sung Chae-eun. I’m Geum Dallae, the representative of Geumhyang Chemical. Also, to me, he is the Great Master, Master’s Master, Sung Taekyung-nim, and he calls me No. 2.”

“Yes, No. 2-nim!”

Since she was sure the other party was her subordinate, from now on, she would deal with her strictly as a business associate.

Although she was merely a figurehead representative, on the surface, she could sufficiently interact with an S-Class Hunter as the head of a corporation.

And what was more important than even being such an S-Class Hunter or the head of a corporation was the fact that she was the Great Master’s slave.

For No. 2, who had been thoroughly trained as a slave, there was no hierarchy more important than that. That’s why even the act of conversing while lifting her head from a naked position lying flat on the floor could be considered natural.

“I never expected to be talking with a Hunter like you like this for the first time. If we had met outside, I would have been more polite, but since we’re speaking in front of the Great Master, I’ll speak casually as a senior slave. The point is, you must follow his hierarchy in front of the Great Master. If you claim to be Sung Taekyung-nim’s slave, you surely have at least that much knowledge, right?”

“Of course, No. 2-nim!”

“Good. However, using honorifics between fellow slaves could be seen as serving someone other than the Great Master, so calling me ‘No. 2 Sunbae’ would be sufficient. Since No. 2 is the name the Great Master personally gave me, it’s my favorite title, so I’d ask you to call me that rather than my name, if possible.”

“I understand, No. 2 Sunbae!”

…Right, this is fine.

The head of Geumhyang Group, the legendary S-Class Hunter – in front of the Great Master, they are all merely loyal slaves.

Geum Dallae, who believed without a doubt that remaining his slave for life was precisely the most valuable position rather than such grand titles, naturally started treating Sung Chae-eun as a junior.

“You understand better than I thought? I expected you to ask various annoying questions as soon as you recognized Sung Chae-eun.”

“If one can become the Great Master’s slave, any title in the world holds no meaning. And didn’t you say before? Since I heard the order not to doubt the words of Master and the Great Master, I simply recognize it and follow.”

“…Just because you started your slave life about a year before me, you think your perceptiveness has improved? That stupid bitch also learned something if properly educated.”

No. 2 felt that Master was speaking a bit harshly compared to usual, but she figured this was also part of the training.

She fully realized it was to establish discipline more firmly, especially in front of the new slave, Sung Chae-eun. Just like how the Great Master thoroughly educated her the day she was first captured and became a ‘slave’.

Since she herself had obtained nearly several years of ‘reformation’ opportunities in a doorless white room, she understood that treating the new slave harshly was natural.

“Get up, No. 2.”

“Yes!”

As soon as she heard Sung Taekyung’s command, Geum Dallae got up briskly from her spot.

Despite being naked except for a hair tie, her movements were neither awkward nor hesitant; they were smooth and precise.

Because showing her naked body to the Great Master at this point wasn’t shameful at all.

…Actually, it wasn’t that she felt no shame at all, but even so, that certainly wouldn’t take precedence over the mindset a slave of Master should have.

“It seems you came at just the right time today. Besides, I was just thinking I needed you.”

“It’s an honor! Please order me to do anything, Master!”

“It’s nothing grand, just take your junior around for a while and train her a bit.”

“Are you saying I should train Sung Chae-eun?”

“She’s a bitch who doesn’t even know basic slave etiquette, so there’s nothing in her head. As a senior slave who started about a year before her, teach her basic slave common sense and rules, and if she doesn’t listen, it’s okay to hit her a bit, just like I or Eunbyul did when we trained you.”

…Even so, telling me to train an S-Class Hunter with violence involved?

Could I, who only reached A-Class during my active days, and even then through shortcuts, really do such a thing?

But even if it seemed impossible, I had to do it. That was the Great Master’s command, and what the Great Master wanted.

“I, I’ll do my best!”

“Yes, that’s a good attitude. And Sung Chae-eun.”

“Yes!”

“From now on, when I’m not around, No. 2 will take charge of your slave training, so for the time being, go receive training from No. 2 after you finish. Got it?”

“I understand!”

Her spirit is strong.

Even though she thoroughly followed the chain of command in front of Sung Taekyung, her strong spirit could be felt.

Since it’s the Great Master’s command, of course, I’ll train her, but can I really handle ‘Sung Chae-eun of the Scorching Heat’ properly?

What if, later when it’s just the two of us, her original personality suddenly emerges and she puts me down instead?

Such reasonable worries of No. 2 naturally disappeared thanks to Sung Taekyung’s subsequent actions.

“In my absence, think of No. 2’s command as my command. And if, by any chance, you inflict even a scratch on No. 2’s body for a reason you don’t like….”

-whisper whisper, whisper whisper….

“……Huh?”

“You had better understand clearly. I’m not a merciful master who gives chances twice.”

“Ah, I understand! I, I absolutely! I absolutely will not resist No. 2 Sunbae’s training and will obey!”

…I don’t know what they talked about, but he probably took some measure to ensure I can handle Sung Chae-eun well.

Perhaps she too, like myself, has a ‘weakness’ held by the Great Master?

Because otherwise, it’s unlikely she could become such an obedient slave in just a few days.

Even if that’s the case, before long, the time will come when she too will desire the slave position herself.

Because becoming the Great Master’s slave and having a weakness caught by him is both an opportunity and a blessing – that’s a fact any of his slaves will come to know.