The entrance exam was a big deal.
After all, they had to select talent worthy of the world's top academy.
With every student's eyes glued to the scene,
Three professors took their seats, awaiting the first match.
"Time to work! Yahoo!"
Yokozawa Tomoe.
Despite looking like an elementary or middle schooler, she was Ark's headmaster.
Her real age was unknown, but everyone knew she was far more formidable than her appearance suggested.
"Tomoe-tan is a hardworking headmaster!!"
Not only did she refer to herself in the third person, but she insisted on being called "Tomoe-tan."
For a top-tier hero to have such childish tastes was bizarre, even for a game world.
The vice-headmaster, Shin Hyewon, chimed in as she listened.
"Hardworking? Don't lie. You just want to watch a fight, don't you?"
"It's not a lie…"
"Then leave the judging to the other professors and deal with the month's worth of paperwork piling up."
"Hmm~? Tomoe-tan is Japanese~ Don't understand Korean well~"
"Don't play dumb after getting naturalized."
As they bantered, preparations for the first match wrapped up.
The vice-headmaster muttered while flipping through documents.
"Seol Harin… She's the most notable freshman this year. Her basic abilities are outstanding, but what I like most is her long-standing bond with her constellation."
The relationship between a hero and their constellation was critical.
Only by winning a constellation's heart could one gain greater power.
In that sense, Seol Harin was already an exceptional hero.
Maintaining a bond with a constellation for over a decade was no small feat.
"On the other hand, Kim Taeyang… He's the complete opposite of Seol Harin."
The vice-headmaster furrowed her brow.
Kim Taeyang had no notable achievements or bound constellation.
While there were plenty of applicants like that, the real issue was his background.
"His father is Kim Taegun."
"Taegun-chan? Who's that…?"
"A notorious thug."
"Hmm? Thug?"
"Think of him as a yakuza."
Kim Taegun.
A well-known gangster.
"Oh! But that doesn't matter, right? If he's got the skills, he can get into Ark!"
"Sure, but his opponent is Seol Harin. He's going to fail without a fight."
"Really? Then Tomoe-tan will cheer for Kim Taeyang! Vice-headmaster-tan, you cheer for Seol Harin!"
"We're not here to cheer. And stop calling me Vice-headmaster-tan."
At that moment, right after the duel began, a lion's roar erupted from the center of the arena.
"YAMERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
It was a shout so powerful it captured the attention of not only the students but also the judges.
Then came the appearance of the sled dog constellation, Glacis.
'It's over.'
The vice-headmaster thought the match was decided with the constellation's arrival.
She assumed Glacis was furious at the delinquent's provocation.
Perhaps Kim Taeyang's mana shield would be torn apart, leaving him injured.
But.
'It's wagging its tail… for Kim Taeyang?'
Unexpectedly, Glacis leaped into Kim Taeyang's arms, not Seol Harin's.
They looked like partners who'd been together for years.
"Glacis is supposed to be Seol Harin's constellation. Why is it with Kim Taeyang…?"
The situation was alarming.
It seemed the constellation had switched its bound hero.
The headmaster was equally shocked.
"Whoa?! The constellation got stolen?! Vice-headmaster-tan!! Is that thug guy that charming?!!!"
"…"
As everyone stood in stunned silence,
The real duel between the two began.
***
'Why is Glacis… with that delinquent…?!'
Seol Harin couldn't accept reality.
Glacis was a constellation she'd built a bond with for over 10 years.
A loyal constellation that never glanced at another hero…
To repay it, Seol Harin never stopped training.
She'd learned that a hero's strength was a constellation's greatest joy.
She never imagined Glacis would abandon her.
She never thought it would bare its teeth and growl at her.
And all that…
'In just 10 minutes…!'
In just 10 minutes under Kim Taeyang's touch.
She couldn't even fathom that her 10 years with Glacis could collapse so quickly.
"No way. Glacis wouldn't do that… That filthy guy must've pulled some trick!"
Seol Harin didn't know the truth.
What Glacis wanted wasn't grueling training or noble dignity—it was its master's love.
"What did you do to my Glacis?!"
"Pomi."
"What…?"
"It's not Glacis, it's Pomi. Don't go changing my pet's name as you please."
Grit…!
Seol Harin clenched her teeth.
Pomi…?
There's no way Glacis would stay quiet after such an insult.
It's a noble constellation, after all.
'Exactly…'
There was no need to panic.
'Glacis didn't betray me.'
This was definitely Kim Taeyang's doing.
She'd beat him down, make him confess what he did to Glacis, and find a way to restore things to normal.
With that thought, Seol Harin issued a chilling warning.
"You'll regret your filthy behavior."
"Huh? You dare call this body filthy?"
"What else do you call stealing a constellation with dirty tricks? You probably used some illegal drugs from the back alleys. Though their effects won't last long."
"HUUUH?! What kind of drug could seduce a constellation?! Pomi genuinely sees me as its master!!!!"
Swish—
Seol Harin spun her sword into position.
The blade gleamed sharply under the lights.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Whoosh───────!
Her charge was ferocious.
So fast it seemed like she vanished in an instant.
At the same time, Kim Taeyang prepared to defend.
His raw strength alone couldn't possibly match Seol Harin.
She was a hero unmatched among freshmen.
Even without her constellation, her overwhelming skill was undeniable.
"Ragh! Pomi! Bark!!"
Of course, with a 9-star constellation's help, things were different.
Woof!!
Crackle—
Ice gauntlets formed around Kim Taeyang's fists.
He blocked Seol Harin's sword with them.
Clang—!
'This bastard! He's even using Glacis's stigma?!'
A stigma.
The blessing of a constellation.
A gift of power bestowed upon a hero.
The stigma Kim Taeyang received was "Ice Armament."
It reinforced a hero's weapon or body with ice.
"Hey, hey! What's with that face? Shocked that I'm using a stigma? If Pomi was drugged, it wouldn't have given me its stigma, right? Heh heh heh."
Seol Harin had received the Ice Armament blessing after five years with Glacis.
A blessing earned through years of trust.
Kim Taeyang had obtained it in just 10 minutes.
"Shut up!!"
By now, Seol Harin had completely lost her composure.
The blessing that was hers alone.
Fighting the guy who stole it was mentally unbearable.
Clang! Clang! Clang—!
"Ragh! Ragh! Ragh!!"
Seol Harin attacked wildly.
Each time, Kim Taeyang blocked her strikes with bizarre vocal flourishes.
'I'll kill him!!'
Her eyes blazed.
All she could think about was killing the man in front of her.
Her killing intent was truly formidable.
"Ugh… Just watching this is intense…"
"It's terrifying…"
"I suddenly need to use the bathroom…"
The overwhelmed students couldn't even muster gasps, only cold sweat.
Even the professors were on edge.
But Kim Taeyang was the exception.
"Heh heh heh heh."
He was smirking.
As if Seol Harin's display was laughable.
As if victory was already his, his lips curled with smug confidence.
'Why isn't this guy intimidated at all?'
His composure was almost astonishing.
'Has there ever been a 'man' this unfazed in front of me…?'
'Probably… this is the first.'
More than a man,
More than a guy,
A male—that's the word that suited him.
That was Kim Taeyang…!!
His audacity left Seol Harin momentarily dazed.
Then, Kim Taeyang spoke up.
"Hey, chick. How about a bet?"
"A bet…?"
"Whoever loses this match becomes the other's slave. Absolute obedience to their master."
The moment she heard that, her senses snapped back.
And she made up her mind.
'Forget just getting him expelled.'
The humiliation she'd endured.
She'd make him pay for it.
"Fine. If your dream is to be my servant for life, I'll make it happen."
"Heh—Nothing's more fun than taming a prideful chick like you!"
"…You're the worst."
Regaining her composure, Seol Harin stepped back.
'I didn't plan to go this far…'
There was no need to exchange multiple blows.
Just one strike.
She intended to take down Kim Taeyang with her ultimate sword technique.
'It's all because of your provocation…!'
Seol Harin lowered her stance.
Her sword tip aimed straight at Kim Taeyang's heart.
The students watching let out gasps of awe.
"What's that?!"
"The Celestial Martial God's Strike…?!"
"I can't believe I'm seeing this in person!"
The ultimate technique of the Celestial Sword, the 'Celestial Martial God's Strike'.
A dangerous move that could easily pierce a mana shield and claim Kim Taeyang's life.
The vice-headmaster shot to her feet.
"We have to stop this!"
But the headmaster, Tomoe-tan, grabbed her wrist.
"Let's watch!"
"What…? But at this rate, someone could get—"
"If it comes to that, Tomoe-tan will step in!"
"…"
Annoying as a brat, but a headmaster is a headmaster.
No one could ignore the orders of a top-tier hero.
"Fine…"
Reluctantly, the vice-headmaster stood and watched the duel.
"Heh heh heh. What's with that fancy pose?! Planning to summon a god or something?!!!"
Kim Taeyang mocked Seol Harin.
His prediction was spot-on.
"This ends it."
BOOM──────────────!!
The 'Celestial Martial God's Strike' surged forward.
Kim Taeyang saw a vision.
Four ferocious beasts—no, divine beasts—charging at him: Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise.
His only thought was:
'Terrifying!!!!!!'
But the fear was fleeting.
A mysterious woman intervened, knocking Seol Harin back.
Thwack!!
"Urgh!"
Seol Harin tumbled across the ground before stopping.
When she finally looked up, she saw a woman in a tiny bikini.
Dog ears on her head.
A large, fluffy tail like Glacis's.
But every other part of her was a stunning, glamorous woman.
"Woof!"
"W-Woof…?"
A sharp, refined woman reminiscent of a sled dog scolded Seol Harin.
"Grrrr…! Don't bully my master!!!"
"Ah…"
Seol Harin was at a loss for words.
'This is… a constellation's evolution…'
Constellations change form.
The stronger their bond with their hero, the more human-like they become.
And Glacis's human form…
'I've never seen it before…'
Seol Harin had never witnessed this form.
She hung her head.
Tears dripped onto the ground.
For 10 years, Glacis had remained a dog.
Seol Harin thought it just needed more time, but that wasn't true.
'It didn't like me…'
She had no choice but to accept it now.
She had been a terrible master.
This man was Glacis's true master.
Step—
Kim Taeyang stood beside Pomi.
He casually threw an arm around her, and Pomi fawned over him, licking his neck.
"Hey, chick."
"…"
"Or rather… my slave now? Heh heh heh."
A crushing sense of defeat weighed on Seol Harin.
Not only had her constellation been stolen by some delinquent, but she'd also been reduced to a slave.
'Me, Korea's superstar rookie, of all people…?'
Seol Harin wondered if this was a dream.
She desperately hoped it was.
"Hey! If you're a slave, you answer properly! Say it with your own mouth!"
"…Say what?"
"Huh? Why ask the obvious?! A slave should state their name, age, hometown, high school, three sizes, and declare with a kowtow that they're my slave from today onward. That's basic courtesy, isn't it?!!!"
'Filthy…!!'
Seol Harin was certain this wasn't a dream.
Her shallow imagination could never conjure up a scumbag like Kim Taeyang.
"Declare it now!!!!! You useless sow, raised on fancy feed with nothing but pride despite being so weak!!!!!"
Her vision went dark.
Like a game-over screen.
"I, I am…"
Defeated by a delinquent before even enrolling, forced to declare herself a slave!
What will become of this noble lady's school life?!