Sam followed Juliana back to her quarters. As they entered, he froze. Curled up in his nest like a kitten was a human. She was a girl with golden, silk-like hair and skin as white as snow. Her body was draped in a thin, sheer white dress that left little to the imagination.

  Upon seeing Juliana, the girl scrambled to her feet. She stood timidly, head bowed, whispering, "Princess!" Her eyes flickered toward Sam, making him flush with embarrassment.

  Since waking up in this world, this was the first time Sam had seen a girl who looked truly human. Back in the cages, there had been women, but they were treated no differently than livestock: naked, filthy, and reeking.

  Juliana glanced at the girl, then turned to Sam. "This is your reward. Her name is Yuna. From now on, she lives with you."

  Sam’s heart raced. Juliana’s words made his blood feel like it had risen several degrees. A tremor ran through his body. Not knowing how to react, he stood there in awkward silence.

  "Yuna! From now on, you are his mate, understood? Breed well for him," Juliana commanded.

  "Yes, Princess!" Yuna nodded. She looked at Sam and smiled—a smile that, by human standards, was breathtakingly beautiful.

  Yuna had a stunning face with large, round blue eyes, a slender nose, and delicate features. She looked like an angel crafted by the hands of God—pure and crystalline.

  Seeing Sam’s lack of reaction, Juliana tilted her head and studied him. "You don't like her? Shall I pick another for you?"

  "No! No, that’s not it!" Sam stammered, his face turning bright red as he waved his hands dismissively. Juliana found this strange. Is this human feeling shy? she wondered. How can it have the emotions of a Pig? It’s just an animal raised by Pigs. Aren't humans only capable of fear, obedience, pain, and basic pleasure?

  Sam glanced at Juliana. Seeing her observing him with such a strange expression, he wondered if he had done something wrong.

  He didn't have much time to think, however, as Yuna walked up to him and looked directly into his eyes. Sam was a head taller than her. As he looked down at her, the proximity made the young man even more flustered.

  Yuna emitted a fragrant scent that Sam found soothing—a blend of wildflowers and the freshness of youth. The scent offered him a small sense of safety in this terrifying world.

  "Get to know each other!" Juliana said cheerfully. She stripped off her clothes and walked slowly into the bathroom.

  Sam’s heart hammered again. Blood rushed to his brain, and his breathing became ragged.

  Suddenly, Yuna embraced him, nuzzling her face into his chest. Sam felt as though a fire had been lit inside him. An overwhelming surge of excitement took hold. His mind went hazy, and he felt a desperate discomfort below.

  "No! I am not an animal!" Sam screamed internally, trying with all his might to suppress the intensifying emotions.

  In this world, there were no laws for humans. He was merely livestock whose life was held in the hands of the "Superior Pigs." No matter what he did to another human, there was no court to judge him. The resentment, indignation, and forced patience within him swelled like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

  A fierce battle between instinct and reason raged inside him. Guilt clashed with the last remnants of his humanity.

  He remembered Juliana’s words to Yuna. Was this human girl his "reward"? Was he to "breed" not for himself, but for the Pigs? How was he any different from a stud bull?

  "My life is a goddamn mess," Sam smiled bitterly. "I could refuse," he thought.

  But as he looked at Yuna, he realized that if he rejected her, Juliana would simply replace her with another "reward." Where would Yuna go then? Back to the filthy, stinking pens to live like a beast, or to the slaughterhouse? He felt a wave of anxiety for her.

  Finally, he found a reason to justify his next actions. Whether that reason was convincing or not, Sam didn't care—or perhaps, he didn't want to know.

  Like a starving predator, he pulled Yuna into his arms, inhaling her pure, sweet scent. He lifted her up, burying his face in the softness beneath her thin dress. He was like a thirsty cub, desperate and craving...

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Yuna’s soft moan only fueled his excitement. He carried her toward his nest, his mind completely surrendered to instinct.

  Juliana stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Her blonde hair hung loose, droplets of water trailing down to the floor. She turned her gaze toward Sam’s nest.

  He was lying there with Yuna. She was tucked into his arms, seemingly resting after their intimacy.

  Sam looked toward Juliana. The expression in his eyes gave the Princess an indescribable feeling. She smiled. It was the first time he had seen her smile.

  "Very good! It seems you like Yuna. She was carefully selected. You could say she’s the 'Miss Universe' of humans."

  Juliana spoke playfully. Sam wanted to let out a hollow laugh. Miss Universe? Images of beauty queens from 1000 years ago flooded his mind—elegant, magnificent, and regal.

  "Humans are truly pathetic," he shook his head, whispering to himself. Yuna nuzzled against him, making soft sounds as if she were dreaming.

  Sam reached out to brush a few strands of hair from Yuna’s face, watching her slowly, as if savoring the sight. A thousand years ago, Yuna would have been a beauty pursued by many. Back then, beautiful girls like her were always the center of attention for the wealthy. But now, she was just a pet with no right to her own life.

  "Sea God!"

  Startled, Sam snapped out of his thoughts. Juliana was sitting at her desk, reading something.

  "I’m here!" Sam said softly, careful not to wake Yuna. He stood up, dressed quickly, and walked toward Juliana.

  "Sit," Juliana said as he stood before her. "Are you hiding something from me?" she asked, looking him straight in the eye.

  Sam stiffened. He thought of dodging her gaze but decided against it. He had to face her.

  "No, Princess." Sam shook his head.

  "Your intelligence and emotions aren't very human-like. You seem more like a Pig to me," Juliana remarked.

  Sam was stunned. A human being complimented for having the intelligence and emotions of... a Pig. It was peak irony. But in this new world, Sam had no choice but to go along with it.

  "Thank you for the compliment, Princess," he said, bowing his head slightly.

  "Don't you find it funny? A human who is like a Pig. And a Pig who isn't considered a Pig," Juliana sighed, her voice tinged with sadness.

  Sam didn't fully understand, but he sensed the Princess had something on her mind. "I don't understand, Princess," he replied.

  "The Pigs out there... they don't consider me one of them," Juliana said, shaking her head.

  Sam suddenly recalled Adetch’s words about the Princess’s bloodline. He sensed a mystery.

  "Forget it. Do you realize you did something very dangerous?" Juliana continued.

  "No, Princess. I was only following your orders," he answered, a sudden chill of worry settling in his chest.

  "When you pointed that gun at Thomas... he is an Elder, the Director of the Tahi War Institute," Juliana explained. Sam remembered. Honestly, he hadn't cared about anyone in that room. To him, Juliana was the only one who mattered.

  "But if you hadn't, I wouldn't have caught Adetch or discovered the dangerous conspiracy underway. Thank you."

  "It was my duty, Princess," he replied politely.

  "We set out in one week," Juliana announced.

  "To where, Princess?"

  "To the sea! Everything is ready. We are going to war with the Solar Empire."

  "Yes, Princess!" He nodded, though dread filled him. Images of bombs and fire from the past flashed in his mind. Sam knew this journey would be brutal. This was real war—something he had never truly experienced.

  Returning to his nest, Sam found Yuna still sleeping peacefully.

  "If only I wasn't a human from the past, things would be so much easier," he mused. "No guilt. No worry. No thinking... but then, how would I be different from an animal?" He sighed.

  "By the way, the AnD signal—where did it originate?" he suddenly remembered to ask.

  "From beneath the Arena floor!" Ade responded immediately.

  "In the scanned documents, is there any mention of this Arena?"

  "The Arena was built 500 years ago during the reign of Queen Helena Mpire. There is no information regarding what was there before that," the AI replied.

  "A Queen? No King? Does Tahi have a King?" he wondered.

  "All nations on the Great Continent are ruled by Queens. Pigs follow a matriarchal system."

  "No wonder the Princess is the sole heir, even though the Queen has five sons," Sam realized. "How do we get down to the AnD center? I feel like something important is down there."

  "The only way is to dig," the AI suggested—a solution Sam knew was impossible.

  "Forget it for now. We don't have the means to dig that deep," Sam said, disappointed.

  Sam lay in his nest, holding Yuna, but his mind was swirling with schemes. He stole a glance at Juliana. She was still focused on the documents on her desk, oblivious to his observation.

  "Should I tell her the truth?" Sam asked the AI.

  "Which truth is the Master referring to?"

  "That I am a human from 1000 years ago. That humans once ruled this world. That humanity once had a civilization far superior to the current Pigs. Tell her everything. Maybe the Princess can help us..."

  "In my opinion, that is dangerous. It is unclear what kind of person she truly is."

  "I think she’s a good person," Sam insisted.

  "That is your perception. Do you have experience judging character?" the AI asked skeptically. "Furthermore, she is a Pig, not a human. Whether she is a 'good' or 'bad' Pig is yet to be determined."

  Sam was silenced. He was only 19. Before his accident, he had lived entirely under his mother's protection. Most people he interacted with knew his background and were responsible for protecting or teaching him. He had never truly experienced life on his own, so he couldn't truly judge who was good or bad.

  "She's not exactly... a Pig!" Sam argued weakly.

  "Whether she is human or Pig, this world belongs to her. Her family sits at the very top of the food chain, while you are merely a glorious past in a miserable present," the AI said emotionlessly.

  Sam sighed, shaking his head. "A glorious past in a miserable present, huh?"

  He watched in silence as Juliana tidied her papers, turned off the lamp, and walked to her plush bed. Only when he was the last one awake in the night did Sam finally close his eyes. He fell into a deep, peaceful sleep—the most restful he had ever known. In his arms, Yuna was soft and fragrant, curled against him like a kitten.

  Outside, thunder rumbled and lightning tore across the sky, signaling an approaching storm.