Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: New Companions (Slaves) Are Always Welcome!
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New Companions (Slaves) Are Always Welcome!
After Arin's true body swept through in a frenzy.
"Urgh... huge eyes... black scales... endless abyss... ugh... waaah..."
"What's wrong with her?"
'Lavris' looks on with pity, saying she knows the feeling well—having survived facing the King of All Scales herself, it's only natural.
'Lavris' says she'll pull herself together after some time, so don't worry about it.
Yeah... if that's what she says, I'll just leave the ditzy True Ancestor be for now.
More importantly, there were too many things about what just happened that I didn't understand, so I asked Lavris about it.
"What the hell is Arin's true body, anyway? I knew it was strong because you told me, but no matter how you slice it, wiping out another transcendent like swatting a bug doesn't add up."
'Lavris' says she can't go into detail due to restrictions, but for ordinary transcendents, you're right.
"So Arin's true body isn't your run-of-the-mill transcendent?"
'Lavris' nods, explaining that the 'King of All Scales' is one of the handful of the strongest even among transcendents known as off-spec existences.
So it can pull off stunts like that just because it's stronger than the rest?
What the hell is its deal?
'Lavris' admits that even she doesn't know its exact identity.
"You don't know either?"
'Lavris' explains that the being has existed since time immemorial, but among transcendents, nothing is known beyond its strength—earning it names like 'King of All Scales', 'Tyrant Dragon', 'Black Dragon of the End', and 'Dimensional Predator'. No one knows its true name.
...This is maddening.
The more I hear, the more my head spins—nothing clicks into place.
Still, one thought keeps nagging amid the chaos.
What the hell.
Why.
'Lavris' wonders what you must have done to be called 'parent' by that being.
"I wonder that too..."
I didn't even ask for it.
Why the hell does it call me that...?
Afterwards, while chatting idly with Lavris.
As I gave her a quick rundown of meeting Arin's true body.
Not long after, the ditzy True Ancestor snapped out of it with a dramatic fuss.
"Urgh... waaah... ...Huh?! Wh-where...? Di-did I survive? I remember beholding the Tyrant Dragon's true form and bowing my head, but..."
"She's asleep again, so no need to worry."
"Ah... I see. I have zero memory after the Tyrant Dragon's maw opened, but looks like I behaved myself..."
"What the hell happened to get a reaction like that?"
"...The details are fuzzy. Just that the deathly terror from my ascension came rushing back."
No memories, huh...
The ditzy True Ancestor is a heavyweight who reached transcendent status herself.
Does that mean Arin's true body is so off-spec that just facing it wipes memories?
But such thoughts didn't last.
"More importantly, kid. What are you that you're under the Tyrant Dragon's protection...?"
"Why bring that up all of a sudden?"
"My memories may not be intact, but the Tyrant Dragon's aura lingers, frozen—and its will is imprinted strong.
Absolutely no harming you, no antagonizing you, and total obedience."
"What does that even mean?"
"Put simply: whatever command you give from now on, I follow. No different from a slave..."
What the hell...?
"And if you don't follow?"
"The Tyrant Dragon's aura in my body would erase me. Truly... even after ascending, I've never felt this powerless..."
...So, long story short.
She wakes up to find an unwanted slave contract stamped.
She's the slave. I'm the master.
Disobey my orders, and poof—erased like that other guy.
"Uh, um... sorry?"
"...Forget it. If there was any gap in power, I'd feel cheated, but it's so overwhelming, the thought doesn't even cross my mind. And honestly? Not so bad."
"Not so bad...? Wait, you into that hardcore stuff...?"
"Eek...! What do you take me for?! No—it's that the Tyrant Dragon's aura elevates my stature too. That's why it's not bad!"
"Elevates your stature...?"
'Lavris' explains simply: think of it as sharing the 'King of All Scales'' power, in exchange for serving you.
Hm. Got it.
I was feeling guilty enough to toss her something.
But unpaid slave labor? Nah, heart's a bit lighter.
"No guilt means I can work you ragged."
"What the hell do you plan to make me do...?"
"I'll figure it out going forward."
She's pretty ditzy.
But a True Ancestor beyond tiers? Gotta be useful somewhere.
Anyway.
"Speaking of, the penalty on Lin is cleared now, right?"
"The tampered one from that guy vanished, replaced by a standard penalty in mitigated form."
"So Lin's good?"
"Body-wise, yes. But her mind, pushed to the brink, will take a few days to recover."
"I'll sort that out somehow. No worries."
Mental stabilizer potions? Whip 'em up later.
More than that, I figured the penalty died with the guy.
Come to think: transcendents just meddled, tweaking it to their liking.
No authority to impose 'em outright, so it defaulted to normal.
A shame, but whatever.
Better than the explosive one, no biggie.
With that in mind, I asked the ditzy True Ancestor about her penalty.
"So...... ...Huh? Th-this is the penalty...?!"
"What'd you get to freak like that?"
"Uh... drink human blood daily..."
"What? Piece of cake."
Sure, burdensome for normals.
But for her? More natural meal than penalty.
So why the freakout? Then her follow-up...
"...Precisely: drink the blood of the human with the highest favorability, daily. That's the new one."
"?"
...Highest favorability human's blood?
"Just to check: that human isn't me, right?"
"...I figured obviously not, but the master-servant bond must've influenced it."
"...What're you saying?"
"...See for yourself."
[Penalty 1]: An impulse arises to drink the blood of the human with the highest favorability.
[Penalty 2] (Mitigated): Drink 500mL of the highest favorability human's blood once per day.
[Penalty 3]: Fail to do so within the time limit, and enter abnormal status [Berserk].
※ Currently, the human with highest favorability is 'Benefactor'.
"Ah."
"All clear? Really... I didn't want to do this."
Slurp...
"Penalty leaves no choice. Even the Tyrant Dragon's aura seems fine with it."
Slurrrp...
"So let's wrap it up quick. Ah, no pain worries—my bite brings pleasure, not hurt. Now... time to unravel this diamond-indestructible outer shell."
"...Damn it."
Not thrilled, honestly.
But yeah, penalty forces it.
I bared my unprotected nape to the ditzy True Ancestor.
Crunch-! Suck suck suck...!!!
"Puhaa... Exquisite blood! Sweeter, deeper than any I've tasted—makes you wanna live like this forever!"
"...Didn't ask."
Watching her slurp away like a gourmet judge from a cooking manga...
A thought hit me.
"Hey, ditzy True Ancestor. You didn't tweak the penalty on purpose for this, did you?"
"...Huh? M-me? N-no way! Slander ain't nice!"
...This ditzy True Ancestor.
Stammering like mad—super suspicious.
I pressed with a commanding tone.
She spilled the truth like it pained her.
"Spit it honestly. Master's order."
"Ah, augh... ugh... I nudged it a bit, since a penalty was coming anyway... but favorability attaching? Didn't see that. Never meant to suck your blood..."
So.
No intent to suck my blood, but...
"Bottom line: your fault."
"...Not on purpose, so one free pass...?"
"Nope. You're home daughters' sandbag No. 1 from now on."
"Wha?! Why me?!"
"You will. Second daughter's a homunculus born from that Tyrant Dragon scale you're terrified of."
"...Huh? Wh-what?! Tyrant Dragon scale... how?!"
"Oh, and you're 'Lame True Ancestor' now, not ditzy."
"Eek...! Quit calling me ditzy or lame-!!!"
"Gotta endure daily bloodletting 'cause of you. Fitting, no?"
...Pisses me off again, thinking it over.
Why suffer this lame one's feedings daily?
"Hey, annoying—so you handle all housework too."
"E... eek...!!!"
"Glare all you want? Your fault!"
"E... ek...... F-fine... forgiveness...?"
"Depends on performance."
"...I'll hustle."
'Lavris' is pleased about the new slave, then realizes her own lot's no different and sends a pitying gaze.
No, why you all of a sudden?