Chapter 39

Juno’s smile turned into a grin when she saw the confusion on Kyon’s face: {How do you like it? It’s only the beginning, wretched scum!}

The impact of the pure energy sent Kyon flying for about a meter as if a heavyweight boxing champion had hit him, not a little snow-white fist. He knew that the element of pure energy could increase the power of the blow, but it was too strong.

Apparently, he missed on a fair share of battle opportunities without pure energy, but even so he could stand up to her. However, if he could bend energy, the girl would hardly have done him any harm. He had to learn it by all means!

Juno flashed a predatory smile and pressed a furious attack.

*bam*

She kicked him in the hip. Kyon tilted dangerously to the side, losing his balance. A nasty bruise guaranteed.

Kyon knew that looks were deceiving, and Juno was a perfect example to this rule. Anyway, he had to find a way to minimize the damage and prove his worth to this eccentric girl. He focused on parrying, demonstrating how flexible and resourceful he was, and yet he couldn’t avoid being hit.

Anyway, the girl completely ignored his efforts as if she were concentrating on something else.

*bam*

She punched him in the abs knocking the air out of his lungs. Kyon coughed.

Juno raised an eyebrow in surprise. It felt like she had hit a solid dummy, not a human being. Note to self: the boy had strong abs that needed tenderizing… She could offer him an expensive massage, and the currency would be his health.

Flitz couldn’t take his eyes off the patriarch’s beloved granddaughter sparring with the slave. Her movements were incredibly effective, spectacular, smooth. From time to time, her slender body arched and bent, exposing her flexibility and elegance. {Our beautiful girl is growing up. Perhaps, she will surpass Elsa, after all.} The slave also caught his attention. His movements were amazing! The boy’s speed was twice as low, and yet he avoided almost all of her blows! Perhaps he shouldn’t have left him at her mercy… Anyway, it was too late.

All of a sudden, the sound transmitter rattled in his pocket. He angrily blew out smoke and answered the call:

«Who the hell is this?»

«Mr. Merrymaker, you are taking your time, aren’t you? It’s been five times fifteen minutes since you went away. Thirty people are waiting for you here. Some have already put up a tent and are having a barbecue! Should we treat the elders to our party!? Huh?…» – The caller would gladly spit on Flitz if the sound transmitter allowed physical reproduction.

Flitz frowned. He was having the time of his life when some nobles shamelessly demanded his return to the perishable world.

«Holy Matryoshka! I’m coming!»

Juno froze before delivering a blow under Kyon’s ribs. She turned to Flitz with no fear of possible counterattack:

«Are you leaving so soon?»

Flitz put his hand to his chest and bowed to her:

«Lady Juno, I have to work… The nobles threaten me with the elder, and I don’t want any trouble.»

«That’s too bad.»

Flitz nodded to the boy who was short of breath after the rough ride:

«So, how is he?»

Juno shrugged without turning around.

«I’m glad he doesn’t drool.»

«Alright… I have to go. Please, try and treat him… Go easy on him, okay? Don’t finish him off as quickly as the others.»

«He is my property, and I will do whatever I want.» – Juno retorted and playfully waved her hand: – «Bye, Flitz.»

The old man cast a meaningful look at the unfortunate boy, smiled at Juno and quickly left the training ground.

As soon as the gates shut behind him, Juno slowly turned to the boy. A bloodthirsty smile curved her lips. She looked like a demon from hell, planning to get back to her favourite game.

Kyon’s heart skipped a beat. He didn’t like what was going on, not in the least. Someone up above had pulled a prank on him, no doubt. He couldn’t leave it this way. He had to get out before she had made mincemeat of him!

Among the variety of options, he could play on her emotions, coax her or plead for mercy.

The first choice was not an option. His attempts to press her buttons could end with his unpleasant and quick death at the hands of the maid-assassin. The nobles didn’t tolerate slaves.

The second option implied offering her something valuable. All that Kyon could offer her, apart from his divine ability to clean the keys, was to teach her some new incredible techniques. However, he couldn’t get it straight to her because she would never believe him. No noble lady would ever learn anything from a slave, and if she did, he would have to prove himself to her first. Judging by the expression on her face, Juno wasn’t going to pay attention to his movements at all.

Kyon decided to go with the third option and find out if the young lady was really so rotten inside. He was going to make her believe that he recognised her power and then figure out what to do.

Kyon bowed respectfully.

«My lady, your slave apologies for his stupid behaviour.»

His words made Juno stop short. She stood still, raised her graceful eyebrows and said in an icy but still pleasant, melodious voice:

«I don’t care about your apology. I order now and forever: you will never say a word. Your dirty mouth hurts my ears, you wretched slave.» – The break was over. She ran at him with her fists ready, a malicious smile on her face. She had been restraining herself when Flitz was nearby. Now nothing would stand in her way.

Kyon was thunderstruck. He had said a short phrase, a harmless apology, and she immediately denied him the right to speak! He knew what to reply to anything she would say, but she had ruined everything. Now he couldn’t speak without revealing the ace up his sleeve: the ability to ignore the orders and the subjugating formation.

The evil but seemingly sweet creature moved to a non-stop attack with a smirk on her face. She missed three times, he blocked two of her blows and then…

*bam*

A kick in the guts sent Kyon flying.

Every time she hurt him really bad, Juno was exuberant. This arrogant slave wasn’t much different from the rest. No… He was even more annoying. The others lowered their eyes, bowed to her, begged her for mercy, knew their place, but this one… He was nothing like them. He moved too well, he was tough like a wooden dummy, he never screamed in pain. And yet, he signed his own death warrant the day he arrived in the mansion.

Juno continued to attack with a demonic grin on her pretty face, ignoring how pale and exhausted the slave looked.

Her evil smile only grew wider each time she hit him, which only confirmed Kyon’s conclusion: Juno was a sadist!

Flitz must have known everything… That’s why he looked away. That’s why his reaction was so intense when Kyon asked questions about her… It was all clear. The old asshole had sold him to the little demoness like a beast to be slaughtered. The first impression wouldn’t have changed anything. She couldn’t care less about his manners. He was just a punchbag for the ruthless, sadistic bitch.

* bam * * bang * * bam *

Another series of swift and graceful punches made him moan in pain.

Kyon couldn’t physically keep up with her movements even if he had figured them out. A trickle of blood ran down his chin: her fist had badly smashed his lip.

He would have been half dead by now if Synergy hadn’t upgraded his nervous system, accelerating the signal transmission to his muscles.

Juno stopped short as if putting a toy aside. She took out a white handkerchief and wiped the blood off her fist, her nose wrinkled in disgust. {I don’t want to get soiled with the secretions of this scum… I will need a thorough wash later.} There was no trace of pity or sympathy on her face… She was cool as a cucumber. The young lady was frighteningly calm and totally indifferent to the battered slave.

Kyon got goosebumps just looking at her. All her natural charm took the farthest seat possible. {She doesn’t take me for a human being… This girl is a maniac. She will kill me and won’t bat an eye!}

His mind was frantically searching for ideas. To kill her? To reason with her? To blackmail her? To make her see that he was a valuable asset? Nothing would work out or would only make things worse. He was trapped in the cage with a beast! His ability to resist the formation would most likely destroy him. Kyon could see through this sadist. If she couldn’t control him, she would get rid of him. Her credo was the ends justify the means. He needed something really big to get out of this catastrophic situation. Kyon wished he could switch places with anyone who had more chances than him.

Time was of the essence. As a last resort, he thought of offering her key cleaning. It wasn’t a good idea, though. It might turn him into a cash cow for the rest of his life. Anyway, it wouldn’t work even if he told her against the order about his unique talent. Would anyone believe a stinking drunk hobo mumbling in his sleep that he was a god? In his situation, Juno’s reaction would be just the same. No noble lady would ever let a slave touch her, and Synergy wouldn’t enter her body without physical contact.

When he saw the evil grin on her mean face, his desire to use any leverage vanished into thin air.

Juno threw away the soiled handkerchief, frowned in disgust and attacked again. Tiny beads of sweat dappled her smooth ivory forehead, while Kyon was drenched in sweat mixed with blood. She hated this wretched, tough dork. He was still holding on, still on his feet, even strong enough to block almost all of her blows.

The last thing Kyon wanted to do was to lose his balance. It was getting harder to resist with each next second. His body was sore all over. Some parts were numb and out of control. He knew too well that this soulless creature would kick him to death if he fell. He could see his imminent doom in her blows, in her smile, in her eyes.

{Where the hell did you come from, bitch? Why did I get this lady? Did I have a fucking choice?}

* bam *

Juno kicked him in the hip and nodded to her thoughts: {Indeed, it’s a pleasure to beat up this scum. He is so different from the dummies. He can dodge. He is softer to the touch but, above all, I love the expression on his dirty face! It makes me beat him again and again. I will never stop. I want him and his kind to cry for mercy… To beg me! But… Why doesn’t he raise his eyes? I want to see his despair! Where are his tears, pleas for mercy? Why doesn’t he scream in pain? Why is he just groaning from time to time? This slave is getting more and more annoying.}

During another series of her elegant attacks, Juno found a soft spot in his body. With a joyful glee, she punched him right there.

Kyon’s ribs crackled painfully, but he got a chance to grab her by the hand and… Nothing happened. An invisible barrier was protecting her skin, slippery and smooth like an ice crust. Another moment and her hand slipped from his grasp.

{Fuck! The ether barrier!} – Kyon did not despair, anyway. His primary task was to show his skills, which was impossible to do without attacking her. He would have to stop at the very last moment to let her know that without the barrier, she would have been badly hurt.

Juno winced and carefully examined her hand for dirt. He did not touch her. She gave the slave a disgusted frown. No slave had ever dared to resist her. This one was stubborn, impudent, arrogant… Of course, she didn’t say a word on his account. She was above chatting with a living dummy. However, her rage had increased tenfold. She could feel it burning inside. She wasn’t going to let him off easy.

The battle continued. Kyon tried to counterattack Juno many times. He had found all of her weak spots, ready to convince her he could fight better than any master. She refused to notice anything. Anyway, he made her leave the mode of non-stop attack and concentrate on her defense, which, judging by her long face, she did not like at all.

Juno was heaving and puffing from the effort. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead. As for Kyon, he was about to collapse from exhaustion. He couldn’t stand it anymore, and yet he was holding on.

Kyon was at the limit of his strength. All he wanted to do was to lie down and have some rest.

Suddenly, Juno held out her hand:

«I order you not to move.»

Kyon’s heart skipped a beat. Was she going to batter him until she turned his face into mincemeat… He was too close to revealing himself, but she just turned around and left.

Even the monsters have physiological needs. Juno needed to use the bathroom.

Kyon breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the floor. He would explain that he couldn’t resist her greatness and excellence if need be. Only, he wasn’t supposed to. She had forbidden him to disclose his ability to disobey orders. His heart was about to jump out of his chest. He was sweating all over his body. Kyon scanned himself with Synergy and came to a disappointing conclusion: a couple more minutes of battle, and he would blackout, giving Juno carte blanche to finish off his unconscious carcass.

And then a great idea flashed across his mind – the healing ointment!