Sensing something was off, Ascon spoke irritably. "Ugh, Lord, you just don’t listen, do you? You can’t kill me ‘cause it’d be a waste of money, so what’s with the tough act? And what are you going to do if I agree to be your representative? We're best at having fun." "You all will be soldiers." "...What?" The elves looked at Ghislain in utter disbelief. Did he even know their worth? Did he buy them at such a high price just to turn them into soldiers? Ascon, with a look of utter disbelief, asked, “What did you say we’d be?” “Proud soldiers of this territory.” "You know how much we're worth, and you’d use us for *that*?" Ghislain maintained an infuriatingly calm expression as he replied, “Yes. And you know, a healthy body fosters a healthy mind, so let’s put an end to the drinking and smoking and start building up your stamina.” “What kind of stamina training!?” Ascon shouted, and the other elves nodded in agreement. They had spent their lives indulging in laziness and idleness; asking them to suddenly become soldiers was ludicrous. Ascon, shaking his head as if he had figured it out, said, “Ah, I see! You’re just playing some dominance game with us, aren’t you?” “I don’t waste my time on games.” “Then why the nonsense about training and being soldiers? Have you ever seen an elf fight? We’re a species designed for leisure and pleasure; that’s why we’re all pretty and charming.” Ghislain, however, did not find this argument convincing. His territory had no need for people who would waste away on idle pleasures and good looks alone. He had a special plan for turning the elves into a unique fighting force. "With the right training, elves can become exceptional warriors. So, we’re starting military training. Let’s give you all a chance to be reborn.” “And I’m supposed to be the elf leader in this ridiculous soldier game?” “Exactly. I’m counting on your full cooperation.” “Ugh, damn it! Lord! You’re driving me insane! I said I won’t do it! Are you ignoring me because I’m a slave? Do you think I, a noble, am the same as other human slaves?” “Oh...” Ascon’s words crossed a line, and Ghislain looked at him, almost impressed. Ghislain’s close companions all took a step back, pretending to be oblivious to the unfolding scene. Oblivious to the tension, Ascon continued to shout in fury. “What’s wrong with humans, anyway? Expecting an elf to do military training! We’re terrible at fighting! Are you insane? Look, if my first love had worked out, I’d have grandkids your age!” “Huh...” Ascon’s tirade earned a bemused laugh from Ghislain. “You think this is funny? Do you know how many times I’ve changed owners? Seven! Seven times! I’ve got anger issues; the nobles call me ‘Ascon the Hothead’ or ‘Ascon the Swearer’! Haven’t you heard of me?” *“I haven’t. I’ll have to ask Meriel or Rosalyn if they’ve heard of this crazy elf. Hothead? Swearer? Is that even a real nickname for an elf?”* Ghislain watched Ascon, whose face was reddening as he shouted. The situation was almost entertaining. While elf slaves were known for their quirks, letting them do as they pleased would be as good as falling for the slaver’s con. And Ghislain despised being taken for a fool. *“Sigh, people never listen when you try to be nice. You’re really dead now. I truly wanted to be kind to you because you’re a different species... Wait, different species?”* Ghislain preferred not to discriminate or use force. But the reality was, a shift in people’s views would take a deeper change in society itself. Then, it dawned on him with an eerie clarity. *“If these elves are this corrupted by human society... they’re practically just long-lived humans with pointy ears, aren’t they?”* That was it. All he needed to do was treat them as humans, not as elves. This was true equality. With a grin, Ghislain declared, “From today on, you’re human. A human with pointy ears.” “What? I’m a noble elf!” “No, you’re human now. And I’ll regard every elf here as a human too! This is true racial equality!” Hearing his strange proclamation, his aides distanced themselves even further. Ascon looked at Ghislain in disbelief. “What the hell? Are you crazy? Why am I a human?” “Yes, you’re human. And humans have a different way of communicating—one that’s quick and efficient.” Due to their long lifespans, elves tended to be leisurely and slow to change. Ghislain didn’t have the time to wait for them to come around on their own. So, there was only one solution: Mental “re-education.” Rolling up his sleeves, Ghislain spoke calmly. “It seems you haven’t heard of me. I’m a famous physician in the kingdom. Especially skilled at treating anger issues. It’s a specialty of mine.” “Haha! You idiot, what’re you gonna do, cure me? This is who I am, from birth! What, you got some magic medicine?” “My treatment doesn’t involve medicine—it involves physical therapy.” “What?” “To be clear, I have no negative feelings toward you. I’m not that petty. This is just... a treatment for you as a fellow human.” “What in the hell are you—” “Bite down hard. You might lose your tongue.” *Pow!* “Gaaaah!” Ghislain’s fist connected with Ascon’s face, the sound echoing. *Pow! Pow! Pow!* “Damn it! Do you think a few punches will make me submit? Gah! Do you think I haven’t been beaten before? Damn it—Aaaargh!” Even as he was beaten, Ascon cursed non-stop. Nobles had tried to “reform” him with beatings, but it never worked. They couldn’t kill or maim him, so the punishments were always mild. In the end, they would give up and sell him again. “Go ahead, keep going! The pain won’t break me; it’ll only make me angrier! You think I haven’t learned anything in my decades of life, you wet-behind-the-ears brat!” Ascon expected this to end like all the others. He was used to enduring until they grew tired and sold him off. But Ascon and the other elves had yet to encounter a *new kind* of madman. *Pow! Pow! Pow!* *“Damn... why does it keep hurting more? Why doesn’t he get tired? When will he stop? Aaagh!”* A human would stop once their anger subsided or they got tired. But this lord continued with steady determination. *“By now, I should either be crippled or dead. Why does it hurt so much yet leave no visible injuries? Aaaagh! It’s too painful!”* No one liked being beaten, and Ascon was no exception. He had acted out intentionally, knowing that a bit of defiance would make things easier later. But this pain was new. It was searing, and it left no bruises or injuries, only agony. Hoping to faint, Ascon instead found himself only becoming more alert with each hit. In desperation, he finally screamed. “Stop! I surrender! I’ll be a soldier! Just let’s talk like civilized people!” *Pow! Pow! Pow!* Yet Ghislain didn’t stop. The beating continued, as he used the time to practice his mana flow technique. *“Hmm, what if I shift my flow this way while hitting?”* “Gaaah!” Ghislain’s mind, however, was already occupied with how to improve his mana flow. Ascon had faded from his thoughts. “Please stop! I was wrong!” *“Ah, this flow seems more effective?”* *Pow!* “Gaaah!” Ascon was losing his sanity. He could feel something entering his body with each hit, tearing through him, causing indescribable pain that left his exterior intact. “Just stop! Please! I’ll do anything! I’ll cooperate completely!” In the face of this overwhelming force, Ascon’s anger dissolved into submission for the first time in his life. He found himself begging for mercy.