Almost a month had passed since I became a shadow.
Training was pure hell.
It was literally hell mode.
The training I endured as a magic knight had been tough, and the Captain was unforgiving back then, but compared to this, that felt like a leisurely stroll in the park.
Every morning, I had to sprint endlessly around a training space the size of a colosseum, pushing myself until my lungs burned and I was gasping for air. Then, I’d dive into working on the weapon I was most proficient with, each swing and strike demanding more focus and precision. After that, I’d hone my skill to make it as deadly and effective as possible in a fight. Finally, I was forced to strategize and develop tactics, preparing for every possible scenario in case I faced an enemy head-on.
This was the routine, day in and day out.
Unsurprisingly, none of the other Shadow members even broke a sweat. Amon told me they’d literally traveled from heaven to hell and back to reach their current level. That meant if I wanted to be on par with them, I had to go through the same grueling process. Honestly, I was pretty sure I’d screw it up spectacularly.
I’d also learned their names— the names of the Shadow members, that is.
Sandra, Krista, Isabelle, Bernadette, and Juliette.
Sandra, the golden-haired woman who used to be a bandit, was the leader of the Shadows. I was surprised to learn that, out of the five, she was the weakest. Still, she managed to take me down with a single blow as if I were nothing more than a piece of cake, barely worth her attention.
There was another one—an elven archer—but she wasn’t an official member of the Shadows. She trained alongside us, but she wasn’t truly part of the group.
I hadn’t interacted much with her because she had this quiet, reserved demeanor. Her age, which far exceeded her youthful appearance, likely made her more inclined to find silence more comfortable than conversation. I could understand that, which was why I hadn’t intruded on her solitude.
At this moment, we were both sitting on a bench. I was completely wiped out, my muscles aching, while she was methodically polishing her bow, each stroke smooth and deliberate. The silence between us felt thick and almost tangible, but with her immense age and centuries of experience, she didn’t seem to find it awkward at all. It was as if she was perfectly at ease in her own quiet world.
I, however, found the silence grating.
“Um, Miss Aegis…” I said, my voice hesitant as I tried to bridge the gap between us.
She glanced up from her bow, her hands pausing in their careful polishing. “What do you need?” she asked, her tone as smooth and unruffled as her movements.
I struggled to find the right words. The lack of shared interests made communication awkward, and I’d never been good at it.
That’s why I blurted out the question that had been weighing on my mind. “Can I ask you… why aren’t you joining the Shadows?” I asked, my curiosity more pressing than I realized.
It was a simple, harmless question, born out of genuine curiosity and not meant to offend. But as soon as the words left my mouth, she froze, her expression darkening into a scowl that twisted her otherwise serene features.
Had I stepped over a line with my question? It felt like I had.
Then she spoke, her voice cutting through the silence with an edge of bitterness. “Because I don’t want to join a group controlled by that man,” she said, her disdain evident.
“T-That man?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“The man who owns those,” she said, her hand sweeping towards the weapons on the rack and the Shadows themselves. “Everything here that belongs to him—I loathe it all. I don’t want to be associated with any of it. That’s why I refuse to join.”
“Uh, are you talking about the owner of the Leonamon? The one they call Master?”
There was no one else she could be referring to but the owner of the Leonamon. And he was the same man who had saved me from being wiped out of existence.
“Have you seen any other men around here?” she asked, her tone sharp.
“C-Come to think of it, I haven’t,” I replied, realizing the truth of her words.
I’d noticed the same thing before—there were many people here, but all of them were women. I hadn’t thought much of it until now.
“All the women here belong to him,” she explained, her voice carrying a note of disgust. “They are his women. I refuse to be one of them. I’d rather keep my distance than become involved with someone like him.”
“A-All of them? Even the Shadows?” I asked, stunned by her revelation.
“I told you, didn’t I? Many of them, and maybe not all, have had sexual intercourse with that man, and they call him their Master,” she said, her voice dripping with contempt. “And yes, even the Shadows. I can still smell his scent lingering on Sandra, especially. The others may not have had sex with him yet, but they’ve already pledged their loyalty to him, making them his women too. And you, being a Shadow yourself, means you’re his woman as well.”
Wait, I’m his woman too?! But we haven’t even done anything remotely romantic yet—how am I already considered his woman? Is this really true? Huh?!
My face burned with embarrassment, and I instinctively cupped my cheeks with both hands. I’d never been in a relationship before, but now I was apparently in one? What should I do? Should I start dressing more attractively? Should I go to his room and make a move? He’s so handsome—maybe I should try to look a bit prettier for him.
I hadn’t even realized I was swooning over him, even with all his other women. But nothing about that seemed wrong to me. I understood the concept of polygamy, so it was fine if my partner had other girls. I was more accepting of that.
“Be careful around him,” she warned, her eyes lingering pointedly on my crotch. “Or you might lose something precious.” Then she turned and walked away.
“Huh? But, wha…? I’m in a relationship now? Really? I have a boyfriend? Kyaaa~! What should I do? What should I dooo!?”
I was so giddy about my first relationship that her warning barely registered.
Just like that, I found myself part of a harem.
I accepted it much more easily than I did becoming a Shadow.
