In the eastern part of the empire, within a vast, desolate mountain range stretching for thousands of miles, a towering pillar pierced the heavens. The top of the pillar was unusually smooth and flat, as if someone had sliced it off with a single stroke. A luxurious palace stood atop it.
"Hah! Hah! Hah…"
At this moment, a group of girls in identical tight uniforms, wielding Western-style swords, were practicing their sword techniques in unison in the palace courtyard.
With each strike, the girls would let out a collective shout, full of vigor and heroic spirit. Though there were only about fifty or sixty of them, the aura they exuded was even stronger than that of the empire's so-called elite troops of tens of thousands!
Each of these girls possessed stunning beauty, graceful figures, and extraordinary talent. They had once been renowned women of the empire, the objects of countless young nobles' infatuation!
It was hard to imagine that such outstanding girls would all gather here, seemingly under the command of a single entity.
Well, actually, this was all the doing of a certain evil individual named Sora, who had used various methods to capture these girls from all over the empire!
To conquer this world, Sora couldn't rely solely on his own strength; he needed many allies. Although there were some capable assassin girls in the original story, their numbers were too few, and they were wanderers of the dark. He couldn't possibly drag them around everywhere, could he?
So, over the past three years, while continuously gathering information and intelligence about this world, Sora had also been searching for girls with exceptional beauty and talent. Besides forming a future assassin group, he also needed a guard corps to assist him in open combat.
Well, of course, it was also to satisfy this evil guy's desires for a harem, sweat …
At the other side of the courtyard, a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl with pink hair tied in a ponytail, pink eyes, and wearing a pink princess dress was elegantly sitting on a stone bench, enjoying her tea with an utterly content expression. This was the once pitiful little loli, Mine-chan, from three years ago.
Beside Mine-chan stood two guard girls with Western-style swords at their waists. One was gently massaging her shoulders, while the other was pouring her tea. It was clear that Mine-chan was living quite the comfortable life.
"Um, Miss Mine, isn't this a bit inappropriate? If the master finds out we're slacking off, he'll punish us again."
As she massaged Mine's shoulders, the beautiful guard girl behind her spoke with concern. Just mentioning the punishments from that big bad master made her cheeks flush slightly.
"Hmph! That big bad guy is probably off somewhere looking for women again. Who cares about him!"
"I'm tired and need a break!"
"And even if he finds out, so what? I'll take the blame, so just relax and serve me!"
Taking a sip of her tea, Mine-chan spoke with an air of authority.
Well, this was the current Mine-chan—a full-fledged tsundere ojou-sama!!!
"Oh, alright…"
Pouting slightly, although verbally agreeing, the two guard girls didn't feel reassured at all.
They thought to themselves, "Miss, you are the precious gem of that big bad master, and since you're still young, even if you are to be punished, it won't be severe. But we won't be so lucky; we'll probably be tormented to death again."
Well, knowing full well that this tsundere young lady is unreliable, the two guard girls had no choice but to indulge her. After all, she is the little princess of the household, and the big bad master dotes on her so much that they dare not offend her.
"Mmm, yes, right there! Use a bit more force, ah, that feels good…"
Letting the cool breeze brush her face, under the care of the two guard girls, Miss Mine felt that her current life was truly blissful.
Mmm, I must enjoy myself before that big bad guy returns. Once he's back, I'll have to return to my miserable life!
However, just at that moment, a purple streak of light descended from the sky—it was Sora, Esdeath, and Kasia returning!
Seeing that Miss Mine had already started slacking off and enjoying life the moment they left, Sora's mouth twitched, and he stopped the guard girls who were about to run over upon noticing their return.
"Huh? Number 5, why does it feel different now?"
"Ouch, lighter! Lighter!"
Feeling the sudden increase in pressure on her small shoulders, Miss Mine let out a series of delicate cries. Just as she was about to turn around, she found herself floating in the air, firmly held by two large hands.
"Ha, haha… Big bad guy, you're back?!"
Seeing Sora's gentle smile, Miss Mine broke out in a cold sweat, laughing nervously.
"Hehehe, my dear Mine-chan, it seems like you've been living quite comfortably! Have you finished today's training?"
Sitting down, Sora said with a wicked smile.
"Yes, yes! I finished it and just took a little break!"
Nodding her little head repeatedly, although she hadn't done a single thing, she had to brag when the time came.
"Tch, do you think anyone believes your full-of-holes lies?!"
Giving her a look that said "you're an idiot," Sora sat down on the stone bench and said helplessly.
"Well, I'll punish you later. And you two, who are trying to run away!"
Looking at the two guard girls who were trying to escape, Sora's lips curled into an evil grin.
"Hehehe, Master, you're back so soon! You must be tired!"
"Is this our new sister? Master's taste is as good as ever!"
Sticking out their tongues, the two guard girls reluctantly ran back, eagerly massaging Sora's shoulders and legs, inwardly cursing Miss Mine to death.
"Hmph, flattery won't work. You'll just have to wait for my punishment!"
Snorting, Sora wasn't buying it.
"Ah? No, Master, we were forced by Miss Mine. We were actually very serious!"
Well, in a moment of crisis, the two guard girls lost all sense of shame and immediately sold out Miss Mine, nearly driving the tsundere young lady to fury.
"Oh, so you were forced by her, huh?"
Rubbing his chin, Sora looked as if he had wronged the two girls and felt deeply guilty.
"Mmm, mmm!!"
Nodding their little heads repeatedly, the two girls didn't want to be punished by the big bad master in those embarrassing ways!
"Well, in that case, I'll punish little Mine, and you two will be trained by Esdeath."
With a regretful expression, Sora finally said.
"Hehehe, don't worry, my dear. I'll make sure they're well-trained!"
Esdeath sat down on the opposite stone bench and said with a wicked smile, her eyes gleaming with a fiery light.
"Ah?!!!"
"No, Master! Don't hand us over to Esdeath!"
"We were wrong, we were wrong! Please punish us severely!"
"Yes, yes, to atone for our sins, please let Master punish us!"
…
Hearing Sora and Esdeath's words, the two girls were shocked and began to plead incessantly.
Being punished by the big bad master would at most torment them to death, but being trained by Esdeath would definitely be a living hell!!!
"Girls, where's your sense of shame?"
His mouth twitching, Sora looked at the two girls pleadingly and replied helplessly.
Initially, Miss Mine, held in Sora's arms, was furious that these two girls had dared to sell her out, but now she felt nothing but sympathy for them.
However, she didn't have the strength to save them; she herself was unsure how the big bad guy would torment her!
"Wuwuwu, as long as Master is willing to punish us severely, we'll give up those things!"
Pitifully, it's hard to imagine what Esdeath has done to these girls over the past three years to make them fear her so much!
"Well, alright, since you're so sincere, I'll reluctantly punish you. Remember to come to my room tonight."
With a look of reluctance, Sora said to the two girls.
Nodding their little heads repeatedly, although they knew they would be bullied terribly by the big bad master, this outcome already made them feel quite happy!
"She is your new sister. Take her with you and teach her the methods of cultivating inner energy and swordsmanship."
Pointing to Kasia, Sora said to the two guard girls.
"Mmm, Kasia, from now on your code name is 60. There are 59 sisters before you. Get along well with them!"
Looking at Kasia, who had been standing quietly all along, Sora knew the girl was still concerned about what had happened before. But he wasn't worried; the girl's heart had already been opened, and she would return to normal after some time.
"Yes, Master!"
Extremely obedient, the girl bowed in response.
She knew that from today onwards, everything about her would belong to this man, and she would start a new life.
Without any regrets, on the contrary, seeing how Sora and the other girls had been playing around earlier, Kasia's heart was filled with anticipation. These seemingly ordinary things were things she had never dared to dream of before!
Under the enthusiastic urging of the two young girls, Kasia followed them to meet the other sisters.
"Hey, dear, are you letting her start training so soon? Aren't you going to discipline her first like before?"
Watching Kasia and the girls leave, Esdeath, who was standing nearby, asked with some confusion. She had been looking forward to disciplining that girl!
"Well, Number 60 is already very obedient without any discipline."
"We don't have much time left. Let's head to the capital in two months. During these two months, don't go out to play. Just focus on training these girls rigorously."
Gazing in the direction of the distant capital, Sora took a deep breath and said.
Both Esdeath and Mine, who was in Sora's arms, had a strange glint in their eyes.
Although they had never been there before, the girls had a feeling in their hearts that the capital was their destined place…