A muffled cry escaped his mouth as he was kicked hard from behind.
"If you're useless, then at least learn how to clean properly!"
The woman who shouted stepped closer to Thomas and drove her heel down against his head.
"I know men are useless, but you in particular are beyond pathetic. Honestly, I can't find a single use for you, so after giving it some thought, I decided to fire you."
"N-no… please, Miss Isabel. I really need the money. I'll do better. I'll improve my cleaning," Thomas said, squeezing his eyes shut from the pain.
Isabel crossed her arms, making her enormous breasts stand out with shameless superiority.
"I only agreed to hire you because your sister asked me to, but the nerve you have to make her look bad like this."
She stepped away from him and began to walk off, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor as she spoke:
"Grab your things and get out. I want you out of my house in less than fifteen minutes."
Thomas dropped to his knees, rubbing his head, and thought:
'Damn egotistical bitch… I'm the only one cleaning her entire mansion—what does she expect to get done in such a short time? She's probably never touched a broom in her life.'
He pushed himself to his feet, kicking the aluminum bucket aside.
'I know not all women rule like this crazy woman… but it still makes me lose hope.'
Following Isabel's orders, Thomas left the mansion with his head lowered. The sun was setting over the city, and all he could feel was fear about tomorrow.
"I need to find a job fast. We only have food for two more days, and my sister still isn't old enough to be accepted into the Heroine Academy. Until then, everything depends on me…"
He let out a weary sigh and scratched the back of his head.
"At least I know she has a good future ahead of her. She'll never have to worry about hunger or money again."
A female voice from a loudspeaker caught his attention as he crossed the central plaza.
"The biggest event of the year is right at your doorstep! The Annual Tamed Beasts Tournament is searching for its next champion! Or will the current champion continue to defend her title? In just two months, the competition begins to decide the new winner of one hundred thousand dollars! Head beyond the city walls, tame your combat beasts, and prove who among you is the greatest master!"
The energetic woman on the screen vanished, replaced by the tournament schedule and official rules. Thomas kept walking, his muttered words dissolving into the noise of the plaza.
"One hundred thousand dollars… I wish I had the money to take my sister to enjoy an event like that. But once again, we'll just be watching it on TV."
Imperio Ark housed the entire surviving population after the New World catastrophe. Beyond its walls, in the Atlantic Ocean, lay the Gate of the Abyss, from which monsters, beasts, and demons continuously emerged.
"Huh?" Thomas muttered as he watched a trio of women flying over the buildings.
They were heading toward Ark's central tower, where the most powerful women in the world ruled. The streets were mostly filled with men, though women and children could also be seen among them.
"A world where powers awakened, huh?"
He raised his right hand and activated his Gift—an opening in the center of his palm that emitted light like a flashlight.
"What a shitty Gift… women really are lucky. Only they possess the strongest abilities to protect the world; naturally, that's what led them to rule it."
He moved through streets where some women proudly showed off their beasts; others took pictures with them, or simply rode atop them like trophies.
The happiness on their faces contrasted brutally with the hard expression on Thomas's face as he watched them pass.
'And they can still afford to domesticate monsters. It even turned into a major annual event.'
When he arrived home, his sister burst out of her room and held up a white sheet of paper with a drawing on it.
"Brother, look! I finished it! You can finally see it now!"
His sister, Iris, was only nine years old, and her hair was white—just like Thomas's. He took the paper and crouched down as he replied:
"Wow… I'm not just saying this to make you feel good, but you genuinely have the skill of someone fifteen years older. This is way beyond normal…"
The quality of the drawing rivaled that of a seasoned professional. Every detail—the landscape, colors, shading, proportions, and perspective—was flawless.
"Are you sure your Gift isn't being a professional artist?" Thomas asked, gently patting her head.
"Ha, ha, ha! No, brother. My Gift is still the same as always! Intangibility and enhancement! No one would ever mess with me!"
"What a kid… ha, ha. It's a shame they don't accept underage girls into the Heroine Academy. You could already be earning a lot of money."
"I will when I grow up—and I'll help you buy food!"
"You'll be one of the greatest who ever lived, but there are still nine years to go."
Thomas stood up, holding the drawing in his hands, and walked into the house.
"I'll start cooking—"
Three heavy knocks slammed against the door.
"Thomas, I saw you come in. Get out here!"
His expression immediately tightened with worry. He handed the drawing back to Iris and spoke calmly:
"Go to your room and close the door, okay? I'll handle this."
"Okay…" Iris replied sadly and hurried away.
Thomas walked to the door and, after waiting for his sister to leave, opened it. On the other side stood a brown-haired woman wearing glasses, her expression painfully egocentric.
"Where's the money? You're already two days late."
Thomas sighed before answering:
"Listen, I do have it. It's just that I got fired today and—"
"Not my problem. Give it to me now. Or would you rather be thrown out of my apartment?"
Thomas sighed and rolled his eyes. He pulled the money from his wallet and handed over the exact amount. The woman took it and left with a threat:
"Don't be late with the rent again."
'Damn bitch. I hate you with everything I am,' Thomas thought. 'You act important just because of your Gift, and you still never even became a heroine.'
He closed the door, leaning his back against the wood. He exhaled slowly and slid down until he was sitting on the floor.
'How am I supposed to fix this? Are they still hiring at that pizza place?'
◇◆◇
When morning came, Thomas woke up because his TV turned on automatically at the same time as the daily news.
A calm, composed female voice flowed from the speakers, fully waking him. Thomas groaned softly as he listened in the background:
"Thank you all for your warm welcome, people of Ark. We are pleased to announce that the expedition beyond the walls was a success, as usual. You may all rest easy—we are protecting you as you deserve."
'Is that Belle?' Thomas thought, still not looking at the screen.
He slowly sat up, rubbing one eye as his hair stuck out in every direction. Once his vision cleared, he noticed something floating in front of him.
"Huh?"
Floating before him was a sapphire-blue rectangular screen filled with white text.
'What is this? And what happened last night? I don't remember… I didn't drink, did I?'
When he opened his eyes fully, he read the words displayed before him:
[Synchronizing Symbiotic Conquest System…]
[Compatibility detected.]
[Activation conditions fulfilled.]
[Establishing symbiotic contract…]
• Failure will result in irreversible loss.
"System…?" he murmured.
"People of Ark, next I will inform you in detail of everything our expedition obtained beyond the walls, as well as the newly discovered beasts for all lovers of domestication."