“Hahaha…sorry about that, missy. I kind of forgot I didn’t have clothes on.”

Zenith’s awkward attempt at apologising, while Earth and Metal spells created clothes for him with the Dungeon Stone as material, only served to further degrade his already shitty image in Emilia’s mind. Sure, he might have saved her, but for a pure maiden like Emilia to have seen such a scene, regardless of how attractive and, quite literally, charming he might have been due to his stupidly high Charm value, not to mention she had not too long ago suffered from lecherous bastards and even monsters, it is only natural for hims to be named Pervert before he even got the chance to say his actual name.

Emilia was currently blushing furiously, all the way till the tips of her slightly pointed ears and the depths of her slender neck, as she recalled Zenith’s appearance once more. Lucky for her, Zenith had, despite possessing 20 digit values for all stats(except for Luck), limited himself to displaying merely a fraction of those stats. Why? Well, let’s just say his reflexes increasing to the point where even light seems slow isn’t exactly nice, especially when hearing one speak. The sound that reaches his ears is so distorted, so deep, and so unnerving, that he simply cannot bear to even begin to try and get used to it. It’s like he was in a constant time delayed plane, not to mention his perception including the entirety of the dimension, causing an influx of information so large that is nearly caused him a headache, nearly, the only reason for him remaining sane being his 20 digit intelligence, wasn’t a pleasant experience he would like to feel too much either.

Alice being omniscient was enough, he didn’t need to suffer from all the extra information as well, not to mention, it’s way better for Alice who actually has the System that arranges all the information and neatly and properly stores it in the System Archives. At least, that’s what Zenith feels.

((How….extravagant. To think the Dungeon Stone, known for being nigh indestructible and far more precious than even Gods’ Metal Orichalcum, or Dragons’ Metal Mithryl, or Titans’ Metal Adamantite….and you would so easily make clothing out of it….and such soft and comfortable looking clothing too….not to mention, it looks so..simple…))

As Alice remarked, stupefied, the Dungeon Stone, the name given to the material out of which the natural infrastructure of all dungeons are made, regardless of what kind of terrain or environment they might boast, is nigh indestructible. Well, long story short, Dungeon Stone is basically rock and metal that is saturated with enough mana, that a Demi God majoring in magic and mana capacity might very well hang him/herself in shame. So dense, and so large in quantity, that mana, which is nothing short of an ethereal form of energy, condensed till it looked like liquid, like viscous mud and sludge, to boot.

Of course, that is a long shot from Zenith’s mana, since even the infinitesimally small amount of mana which he, similar to all other mages and Sorcerers and spell casters, let’s out in the form of what one might call aura is already dense enough to form a near solid shell of pure mana. Luckily of Emilia, again, he had already used his 20 digit Mana Manipulation stat to the extreme to completely suck in all the mana he was unconsciously letting out, else the simply act of slapping him wouldn’t result in merely getting a swollen palm, but the recoil would have instead not only ripped her body and soul apart, it would have also completely wiped out the entire Dungeon right off the map. Again, a pity, Koarleina would never come know she had once more barely survived by chance.

If one believes the parallel world theory, where there is a world in existence wherein there exists a change, from as small as which direction a new born caterpillar looks right after coming out of the egg to as huge as whether or not 9/11 happened, then there might actually exist a world where both Emilia and Koarleina have been decimated from existence due to Zenith having forgotten reeling his mana in, though of course, our dear MC would merely turn back time to before he was slapped.

“By the way…why were you here missy? You do know this is the 109th floor, right?”

“I’m not missy! I have a name! And it’s Em-!??”(Emilia)

Emilia shouted at Zenith who treated her not unlike how he would treat a kid, clearly displeased, but stopped midway as she recalled why it was she was here. Even the fact that the man before her, nay, the Pervert before her, was actually all alone wandering in the 109th floor, didn’t make it to her head, which was frozen from fright.

“Ari! Oh my God! I-I…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence, as she broke down into sobs. Crystal clear tears ran down her eyes and cheeks as she collapsed onto the cold, hard ground once more, despair apparent on her eyes.

Zenith could only scratch his head, once more affirming in his mind that no matter how high his stats might get, and no matter how great his mastery over spells might become, and no matter how complex of a spell he might create in the future, all of that would still be second to the complexity and befuddlement that a woman’s heart, a maiden’s heart and mind in particular, could offer. Indeed, as to be expected from one of the multiverse’s greatest wonders and mysteries.

‘A little help, Alice?’

((*cough* *cough*…right, so…here’s what happened………))

Alice quickly summarised all that Emilia had experienced in her life, and Zenith, who came to know of all this, couldn’t help but shake his head in disappointment.

‘And you say the System will issue punishments for wrongdoers? Really, you should try working on your excuses more, dear.’

*cough* *cough*

Ignoring Alice’s awkward coughs, Zenith looks at the seemingly broken woman before him, sighs, before kneeling down to reach her eye level. He gently reaches his hands out to her, stroking her wet cheeks, before,

*slap!*

“Kyaaa!!”(Emilia)

With a rather cute cry, she starts and looks up at him, startled, holding her cheek.

“Studies show that a nice crisp slap does more in calming down a person in a daze than a warm and gentle embrace ever could, and no, I’m not making this crap up just to justify me slapping you. I’ll show you the book I read it from if you want.”

Emilia stares at the smiling man before her with red, watery eyes, as she once more blushes, recalling his previous appearance. Now, however, he was completely clothed in seemingly plain looking robes.

Long black robes covered his entire body, from his ankles to his neck, and there was also an added hood hanging behind his nape. Within the robes, was a black shirt and pants covering his body, and his sleeves extended to his wrists. His feet were hidden behind similarly black shoes made of a strange material(Dungeon Stone obviously), while his rather long white hair was tied into a ponytail by a black ribbon. And most importantly, Zenith didn’t have a single object that could be called a weapon.

“If you’re done admiring me, I’ll send you back to the surface. The Ogres in this floor are in the mid 300s, not exactly a place you would want to be.”

“Ahh! Ari! Please! You have to save her!”(Emilia)

Once more remembering her situation, Emilia jumps and clings to Zenith’s legs, crying and sniffling and begging. While she might be safe, the same can’t be said for her little sister, who was alone in her house. Those lecherous bastards had already said they knew where her house was, and since she escaped, would Ari not be their first target?

“Why?”

“Wh-what?”(Emilia)

She stares at Zenith, confused, before he continues.

“Why should I? What do I get?”

“Th-that’s….!”(Emilia)

Looking at her speechless and terror struck face, Zenith couldn’t help but chuckle as he grinned and spoke to her.

“Listen here, missy, the only reason I even bothered to save you is, well, you know how people tend to take pity for dying puppy or kitten if they find one on the street? I saved you cause the last bit of humanity inside me would be snuffed out if I watch an innocent human, or Elf for that matter, die before me eyes and do nothing to prevent that. But your sister, I never saw her, nor do I even know how she looks, nor do I care what happens to her. She is, in simple words, a stranger to me, so why would I care about what happens to her?”

“Ah….h….t….”(Emilia)

Emilia could only utter some non coherent sounds as despair once again struck her. Looking at the charming man before her who greatly resembled a so-called Prince of Knight in shining armour, who spoke such cruel words so nonchalantly, she once more realised that this world isn’t a kind and fun one, but is a world where only selfish people, only those people who care for themselves and remain calm and do not simply jump into every single mess like a wannabe hero can possibly live.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Even Alice, who was normally kind, although she wouldn’t agree to that statement, remained silent, since she knew that if the elf before them didn’t realise the way of the world, she would only die sooner or later, or perhaps face a fate even worse. Sure, she might have been sold as a slave, sure, she might have watched those people who had brought her up sell her for money, sell her for food, sure, she might have heard all sorts of disturbing things from the traders who had bought her, but that didn’t mean she had seen all that this world has to offer.

Gogam is not merely a world of fun. Just like the hidden side of a coin, the dark side of the moon, there will always exist a hidden dark side to civilisation regardless of how mystical it may appear to be at first glance. When all is said and done, the so-called ideal world where all races live in peace and harmony and where all people laugh and have fun and where not a single being would cry from being wronged, is simply just that, a mere ideal that can never truly be realised.

As long as life exists, no, as long as Sentient life exists, such an ideal world will never come to be, for it is the nature of Sentient beings to look after themselves, to identify themselves at the very beginning as an I rather than as a We. And one cannot blame them, either, for that is merely their instinct, making them feel and truly believe that they are different from the rest, that they are unique. And when they hear all the god level BS about how every single being in existence is unique, about how they all are born with a purpose, about how none of them are inferior to another, well, let’s just say pride, vanity, and self indulgence aren’t exactly as uncommon as one might think. On the contrary, just believing that they aren’t vain, that they aren’t prideful unlike the others, is being vain in itself.

A pity, few would actually understand that.

Looking at the young elf who seemed to have witnessed her entire life crashing down, Zenith could only sigh.

“Let’s make a deal, little missy.”

“…?”(Emilia)

Perhaps due to his unusually gentle voice, Emilia reacts, albeit vaguely. Looking at her questioning gaze, with a trace of hope amidst the despair that was engulfing her.

“A….deal?”(Emilia)

“Yup, a deal. That’s how this world works, you do something to get something else done.”

“A….deal….but….I don’t have anything….someone like you….would want….”(Emilia)

A trace of hope flashed past her eyes, yet receded as quickly as it had appeared. And there was simple reason for that as well. Because what does she possess, that a being such as Zenith who could walk completely alone(Alice doesn’t count, much to her dismay) in the 109th floor of the Dungeon and who could so easily and near instantaneously turn level:300 odd Ogres into ashes would desire? And even if she does have something like that, why would he help her, instead of simply taking it from her with his own clearly immense strength?

“Well, the System doesn’t have anything it wants from you either, but it makes deals with you, doesn’t it? You put in effort into killing monsters, it rewards you in the form of experience, you use your skills enough times, it rewards you by increasing the skill level, you put in effort into training, and it rewards you by increasing your stats, permanently. Think of me as the same thing, you give me something, anything, that you believe is worth your sister’s life and chastity, and I’ll save her. Simple, without any strings attached.”

“I….I….”(Emilia)

Emilia stares at Zenith, trying to say something, yet no words manage to come out of her trembling lips. Her whole body was trembling, although far less than before, and slowly but surely, the shaking stopped, proof of her calming down. Yet she does not avert her gaze, staring right into Zenith’s white eyes, as if trying to find the something that he mentioned. And after a while, as if making her resolve, she takes a deep breath, and reaches her hand to her dress, opening it slightly, and showing Zenith a grey crest.

((That’s the slavery crest. It’s an application of Mind, Body, and Curse magic. As long as one drops a single drop of their blood onto it, and the blood does not belong to other slaves, they will be registered as the slaves’ master till death do them part. And the crest demands absolute obedience, both from the mind and the body, though the slave can have free thoughts if the master so wishes.))

“A slave….I…and Ari….we’ll be your slaves….as long….as you save her….so please…”(Emilia)

Looking at her pleading expression, her clenched fists that had already turned white, and her lips being bitten hard enough to bleed, Zenith couldn’t help but chuckle lightly as he grinned.

“What makes you think I’m any different from those, what did you call them again? Ah, yes, those lecherous bastards that you barely escaped from?”

She bit her lips even harder when she heard Zenith’s words, clearly having had that doubt herself, but she didn’t have a choice, and could only hope for the best. And so hopeless was the situation, that she didn’t even notice how Zenith knew of her situation despite her not telling him about it.

“Well….since you’re resolved enough, who am I to say no? Come here.”

Emilia gets up, slowly, and walks towards Zenith. Zenith places his right index finger on the crest, causing Emilia, who had never felt a male’s touch on her bare skin before, to flinch. With a smirk, Zenith lets a single drop of blood fall onto the crest, and the greyed out crest shines a bright red, before the glow disappears, and he could feel a new connection, one that was clearly not Alice, within himself.

Emilia, who had officially become Zenith’s slave, gritted her teeth, barely stopping herself from crying, as she stared at Zenith with hope.

“You’re an idiot, you know that? I knew you didn’t have any more choices, but what will you do, what can you do, if I don’t keep my end of the bargain?”

Despite saying that, and making Emilia widen her eyes in despair, Zenith puts his hand atop her long silver hair and rubs it.

“Found ‘em, and her.”

Disregarding the surprised elf, Zenith points his hand and snaps his fingers, using a spell that he had created not too long ago.

“((Veni Ad Me))”

Silence, followed by a sudden surge in his mana, and when a little less than a tenth of it had all but disappeared, an expected cost, five people suddenly appeared before them.

“Huh…just in time, I guess.”

“Ari!!”(Emilia)

Four men, with obviously lustful expressions, were undressing in front of a clearly terrified and shivering little elf. The little elf, barely looking to be over ten years old, had the same silver hair as Emilia, and was wearing thick wooden clothing, clearly a precaution against the cold and harsh winter. Her coat, which was a dusty brown with a bear eared hood hiding her cowering little face, served to both keep her warm and increase her cuteness. Her height was short, especially for an elf, barely reaching 140cm, the same as Emilia who was roughly 159cm tall despite being an adult in her late teens.

At the moment, she was crying and sobbing in joy as she leaped into her sister Emilia’s embrace, and her sister was no better, accompanying her in wasting precious moisture and water in the form of salty tears.

As for the four men? Well,

“((Ut Incenderent Cinere))”

Regardless of how charming or ugly or handsome or out right villainous they might have initially looked, now, they were nothing more than four piles of ashes. Why waste the Author’s brain cells and your time describing and reading about clearly insignificant characters, right?

“Ari! You’re alright! Thank God you’re alright!”(Emilia)

“S-sister…*sob* *sob*…I…I was…so scared….*sob*….”(Ari)

‘……wow……now I feel bad for making these two into my slaves…’

((Really?))

‘Oh, wait, what am I saying? Of course I don’t. Why would I feel bad when two women, two beautiful and cute women to boot, become my slaves?’

((Humph! Bastard! Wait till I get a body, see how I’ll…I’ll…))

‘Oh, don’t worry, my darling, I’ll wait on our future bed for as long as you want me to, I’ll wait to be punished by you….hehehe’

((Yo-you!! Lecherous bastard! Pervert!))

You’re way too good at digging your own grave, dear, Zenith thinks with a sigh, as he points his finger and lets a drop of blood fall onto Ari’s left shoulder, the same place where Emilia had her crest. With a small darkness spell, the bright red glow was shrouded, letting the pair of traumatised siblings be uninterrupted in their little reunion.

((How kind of you.)), Alice says sarcastically, to which Zenith shamelessly admits, “I know, I’m just that kind.”, making her speechless.

“Sister….who is that….big brother…?”(Ari)

“Ah…uh….this is….”(Emilia)

Ari finally notices Zenith who was staring into the sky, though he was actually busy teasing his wife, and asks her sister curiously. Although she was shocked by the sudden turn of events, she at least knew that Zenith was the one who had brought her here just as she was about to be assaulted, and that he was also the one who turned those four wicked men into piles of ashes. Although it wasn’t the first time Ari had seen people die, it was certainly the first she had seen them perish without a single drop of blood falling to the ground. Of course, she had no idea that the plies of ash was actually burnt carbon in the air, and that the remains of those four men had actually been disintegrated in the atomic level.

At the moment she looked at Zenith, and she saw him look back at her with his clear white eyes, his lips having curled up into a small, gentle smile that was completely different from the cold and calculative behaviours he had shown Emilia, Ari instinctively knew who he was.

“Master….Master?”(Ari)

“Ahh! You!”(Emilia)

Ari tilted her head in confusion, wondering why she suddenly had the urge to call Zenith Master, while Emilia was shocked. Quickly glancing down at Ari’s shoulder, the initially grey crest had, indeed, turned a bright red, although it was still hidden beneath the wooden coat. She had no idea when and how Zenith managed to drop his blood onto the crest, but recalling how he had called Ari and those four men from their house in the middle of Sofia City into a Dungeon which was essentially another dimension with but three words, she decided not to care about it anymore.

After all, she had far more pressing matters to attend to, like how she is going to explain to her little sister why the charming young man before them was their new master, as well as worrying whether or not Zenith, although she had already marked him as a pervert, was perverted enough to lay his hands on the 12 year old little girl.

But before she could speak,

“What’s your name, little one?”

“Ari is Ari. What’s your name, Master?”(Ari)

“Me? You can call me big brother Zenith, or just Big Brother. You don’t have to call me Master.”

“Then I’ll call you Big Brother! Hehe~”(Ari)

“Nn? What are you giggling for?”

“Because! Ari now has a Big Sister and a Big Brother!”(Ari)

“Is that so? Well then, Big Brother has some work in here, but will you play with Big Brother once we’re outside the Dungeon?”

“Yes! Ari loves to play! Ari likes the ball game! And the knife throwing game!”(Ari)

“Catch and darts, is it? Alrighty then, Big Brother will play with you once we go out, deal?”

“Deal!”(Ari)

“…………huh?”(Emilia)

Emilia stared at the two of them, one white haired ponytailed young man with a charmingly gentle smile and with affection literally oozing out of his eyes, and one silver haired little elf sitting on his shoulders clinging onto his head, grinning like she had just experienced the happiest moment in her life, absolutely dumbfounded. As she looked at how the two who were strangers not even a minute ago were so happily chatting like they’ve been real siblings for decades, she shouted as loudly as her throat could allow her to,

“Wait a second!! Don’t leave me behind!!!”(Emilia)