Taming Beasts in a Ruined World

Night fell quietly over Black Tortoise City, and the palace restaurant glowed with the soft amber hue of lamplight.

The long stone table in the center was already laden with dishes, the air rich with the scent of sizzling meat and fragrant herbs. Outside, the distant hum of the city faded beneath the rhythmic clatter of cutlery and the low murmur of voices.

"It's fried steak tonight."

Mino, dressed neatly in her maid uniform, approached with a tray in her hands. She lifted a piece of slate tableware from Sophia's arms and gently placed it in front of Luciel.

Luciel's brows rose slightly. "What kind of beast is it this time?"

He had grown accustomed to surprises at dinner lately. Every time the rock tortoise paused its march, the city's defense teams would head out hunting. But successful hunts weren't guaranteed—sometimes they'd return empty-handed for days.

Encounters like the octagonal fang herd he'd once faced were considered an extraordinary stroke of luck among the hunters of the city.

"It's the meat of a Tooth Beast," Mino replied brightly.

Luciel looked up in mild astonishment. "Tooth Beast? You actually managed to catch one?"

The Tooth Beast was a burrowing creature—thick-bodied, short-limbed, and voraciously fond of insects. In a way, it reminded Luciel of the bamboo rats back on Earth, except this one could bite through stone with those massive incisors.

"It smells so good…" Agni Moon's red nose twitched as she leaned closer to her plate, eyes gleaming with hunger. The palm-sized steak on her slate dish glistened with oil, a perfect crust seared golden-brown.

For Agni Moon, mealtime was always the happiest moment of her day.

"Where's Ariel?" Luciel asked casually as he picked up his knife. "She hasn't shown up yet?"

He wasn't asking idly. Tonight, he had a particular matter to discuss with the blonde alchemist—something that couldn't wait much longer. Normally, Ariel preferred to dine in her laboratory, half-lost in her experiments.

"I've already sent word to her," said Alina, poking at her steak with a fork. "She should be here any moment."

Without breaking her motion, she lifted the face cloth that covered the lower half of her face and deftly stuffed a chunk of meat into her mouth.

"You're really getting used to that mask," Elara commented dryly, doing much the same herself—mask up, fork in, mask down.

Sophia, who stood quietly at the side, couldn't help but watch in fascination. Since joining the City Lord's Mansion, she'd never seen these two mysterious women up close during mealtimes. Even Luciel himself had never actually seen what Alina looked like beneath her veil.

"Shall I send someone to fetch Ariel, just in case?" Mirean Moon asked. She lifted her porcelain teacup with elegant fingers and took a sip of Star Tea, her lips curving with quiet satisfaction.

The evolved seventh-tier Star Tea was brewed only from tender buds, and the faint spiritual energy it released could gently invigorate one's soul. Mirean felt that if she kept drinking it daily, she might soon touch upon her next awakening.

Luciel shook his head. "No need—she's here."

The faint sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the corridor.

Ta-ta-ta…

"I'm late!" came a familiar voice before the door even opened.

Ariel burst into the dining hall, golden hair slightly tousled, an earthen bottle clutched in one hand. Without ceremony, she slid into the seat beside Alina, her expression a mix of apology and excitement.

Luciel smiled faintly. "Sit down. Have some tea first."

"Okay." Ariel reached for the bottle she'd brought, pulling aside the cloth around her mouth. She tilted it toward her lips—

"Wait! What are you doing!?" Alina exclaimed, grabbing her wrist in alarm.

Ariel blinked, confused. "Eh?"

Luciel's mouth twitched as realization dawned on everyone else. "You nearly drank tonight's main topic of discussion."

The table went silent for a beat—then Agni Moon burst into laughter. "Yufel's so funny!"

"Swallow before you speak," Mirean chided gently, tapping the red-haired girl on the forehead with one finger.

"Ow—okay, okay~~" Agni mumbled, quickly chewing and gulping down the rest of her steak in two exaggerated bites.

Then, mouth still full, she turned to Sophia and blinked expectantly.

Sophia chuckled softly. "The next batch is coming right up, Miss Agni." She turned to the kitchen to signal the chef.

"I'll take another one too!" Alina called, waving her hand without shame. Her restraint during her early days in the mansion had long since vanished.

"Yes, Miss," Sophia replied.

Luciel watched the exchange with a faint smile. "Eat well," he said, his gaze moving from Alina to Mino. "You'll need the energy tonight."

"Me?" Mino froze, her fork halfway to her mouth.

"You've trained long enough," Luciel said gently but firmly. "It's time you get some real combat experience. Training only takes you so far—progress truly begins when you test yourself in the field."

Mino hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Understood. I'll go."

Luciel turned toward Ariel next. "By the way, about the secret medicine I asked you to develop—the one that can make people faint?"

Ariel perked up immediately. "Ah, yes! I finished that one already. This is it." She pointed proudly at the very earthen bottle she'd almost just drunk from.

Luciel raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. How does it work?"

Ariel tilted her head thoughtfully. "If someone smells it, they'll faint. If they drink it, they'll faint. If it touches an open wound, they'll faint. It's… very effective."

Luciel leaned forward, intrigued. "There must be a catch, right?"

"Mm-hmm," she admitted with a sigh. "It only works on people below Tier Four. Anyone above that level is completely immune."

She pouted slightly, clearly unsatisfied with her own creation. "Honestly, it feels kind of useless. Anyone weak enough to be affected by it—I could already knock them out with one hit."

Luciel chuckled softly. "Can you make it into an aerosol? Like… a smoke bomb?"

Ariel's eyes lit up instantly, golden irises gleaming like polished amber. "A challenge! Difficult, but I'll try!"

Luciel nodded approvingly. "Good. Oh—and how's the progress on the second-tier enhancement serum?"

"It's already finished," Ariel said, chewing on her steak between words. "Didn't I tell you?"

Luciel's expression darkened slightly. "No, you didn't."

"Really? Are you sure?" Ariel turned to Alina helplessly.

Alina wilted under the gaze. "Um… I might have forgotten to tell him," she admitted. "I meant to! But then… I fell asleep."

"You two are hopeless," Elara sighed, rubbing her temple.

Luciel exhaled through his nose, then gave a small smile. "Fine. Make more of the second-tier serum—you'll be using it soon."

"Got it!" Ariel said, this time a little more serious.

Luciel then glanced between Elara, Alina, and Mino. "Divide the fainting agent among yourselves. You'll be handling the mission tonight. I want the targets properly educated—teach them what special operations really mean."

They all straightened. "Understood."

Sophia returned then, carrying a tray of freshly fried steaks, their aroma filling the room once more.

Luciel gave her a look and added, "Sophia, you're coming too."

"Me?" she blinked, startled. "Yes, my lord." She replied automatically, only realizing what she'd agreed to after the words had left her mouth.

Across the table, Agni Moon's eyes shone. "Can I go too?"

Luciel's smile turned wry. "Of course. But if you fail the mission… you'll be punished."

Agni tilted her head, curious. "What kind of punishment?"

Luciel leaned back slightly, that faintly dangerous smile tugging at his lips. "You don't want to know."

Agni felt a chill crawl down her spine. "I—I won't fail," she declared quickly, puffing her chest out as if to ward off the mysterious threat.

"Good. Because for safety's sake—" Mirean Moon interrupted, smiling sweetly yet with eyes that glinted like knives, "—you're not allowed to use flames tonight."

"Huh!?" Agni froze, dumbfounded. "But that's—!"

Luciel's smile deepened as laughter rippled around the table.

---

The laughter lingered long after the dishes were cleared.

Beyond the restaurant's tall windows, moonlight shimmered on the rooftops of Black Tortoise City. The wind carried the faint scent of metal and dust, and somewhere far below, the rhythmic steps of the city guards echoed through the streets.

Tonight would not be a peaceful night.

Luciel's gaze lingered on each of them—the bright-eyed Mino, still half unsure of herself; Alina and Elara, ever composed and capable; Ariel, the scatterbrained genius; Sophia, nervous but determined; and Agni Moon, practically bouncing in her seat with excitement.

Each of them was growing, piece by piece, into something far stronger than when they first arrived.

"Finish your meal," Luciel said quietly, his tone softer now. "Then meet me in the courtyard."

The faint smile on his lips remained, but in his eyes—there was only the calm of someone ready to test his blades again.

And beneath that calm, a hint of something colder—something that made e

ven the boldest of his companions shiver.

After all, accepting punishment was easy to say.

But surviving Luciel's version of it… was something else entirely.