Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Innkeeper's ??
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“Sir Kyle, is that the girl?”
I came out to the village entrance under Kyle's supervision to find the innkeeper's daughter.
A brown-haired, slender girl? was washing blankets in front of the inn.
“Yeah, that's her. The innkeeper's daughter.”
Right, that's her.
Truth be told, there's no such thing as the innkeeper's daughter in this village.
That's a guy.
A MacGuffin created by the game devs to fool players.
In the game, he was pretty much a gag character.
I also thought he was a girl when I first played and pumped his affinity sky-high...
He was the only slave whose affinity went up early on.
Unless you had True Appearance, you couldn't even raise affinity with slaves.
I figured it was an event just for slaves.
Thought she was some picky, high-maintenance bitch...
But when I later found out why his affinity rose from the start... it was already too late.
The backstab hit hard.
In the game, the pink female icon suddenly switched to a male one in a creepy cutscene, making him the ultimate slave filter.
Ugh.
That's why the slave route was full of traps like this and wasn't popular with casual players.
But there is one way to get rid of those two monsters, Kyle and that freak.
[Anon(131.121)] “This run's Kyle simp marries the innkeeper's shota lololol”
Wtf... there was a method like this?
Our village's hero, why'd you show up just now?
Finally done with that shitty trap guard, fuck yeah.
Trap's good tho; can't even fap.
Me too
Proudly, I wrote that post.
The most popular one on the community boards. One of my life's achievements.
The route praised as the one that delivers the ultimate suffering to Kyle.
I'd accidentally spotted Kyle, leashed and dragged away by the trap guard, in a tiny glimpse across all the slave endings.
That's how I stumbled on this route.
Most people fall for that freak's looks just like I did, raise affinity, and end up seeing something horrific.
And if you get caught by that monster trap, you get hit with the Subjugation: Innkeeper's ?? curse.
Once afflicted by that abomination, every time you raise affinity with any other character, that freak pops up on screen and does unspeakable things to you.
No way the innkeeper's son could pull that off, right?
He could. The devs made him just to troll players.
Hero, Demon King, anyone.
Slaves' affinity rises from just talking to them...
Yeah. That freak wouldn't even let you talk.
Basically, no answer except save-scumming back to the start.
But once I found this route, more people started playing slave.
Anyone who's been screwed by that insane trap—whose affinity rises just from inspections—has to do it.
Soldiers or nobles could mess with Kyle later using power or money, but for slaves, this was the only discovered method.
That demon trap didn't even raise affinity unless you were a slave, so no one researched it.
The condition is after passing Selena's inspection: talk to Kyle, point out that freakish sentry, and somehow get him summoned to the gate.
Then leave him alone in the shack with Kyle, and the event triggers.
Now the Curse of Decay kicks in, debuffing the subject's combat power.
“Hey, slave. You know what happens if you get caught with this, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
If we're found out, we're dead. Colluding with a soldier and impersonation? Major crimes.
And we even plotted something insolent?
Summary execution, no complaints.
But Kyle's got no time to worry about me...
That freak sentry won't say a word anyway.
The monster trap would see me as a benefactor instead.
Thankful for the opportunity.
“I'll stand firm watch as the village sentry. No, guard.”
“Hm? Yeah, you do that, you little shit. Just stand at the entrance. Who's next after that bitch? That elf girl from earlier?”
Ah. Selena?
Yeah, go ahead and try talking to her.
If you can escape that monster.
I slowly approached the trap sentry and spoke.
“Hello. I'm Anderson. Want to make a deal?”
Weakness? Who needs it.
...
-Crash! Bang!
Whew, that shack's gonna collapse.
Kyle was locked in fierce combat with someone inside.
-Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Hey, slave! Open the damn door!!!”
Kyle pounded on the shack door, begging to be let out...
Sorry. Can't do that.
Slaves mainly used this shack, so the door locked from the outside.
And for the same reason, the door and windows were extra durable.
So you couldn't escape.
I tossed the iron axe from the shack wall into the bushes.
Kyle had given it to me, chuckling, “That girl might threaten you with an axe, so toss it away.”
“Hey, slave. No... Anderson!! Throw an axe through the window... quick!!”
Oops. Not in my hands anymore.
-Crash! Bang!
“Come here!!!”
“Anderson... s-sorry, please.”
Horrific screams.
I didn't want to see that guy's face again.
Suddenly, the shack went quiet.
It's starting.
I don't really want to see what comes next...
My stomach churned, so I hurried away from the shack.
A short walk later, the village entrance came into view.
Not too far, but not too close—the shack was just out of easy earshot.
-Clunk.
I'm wearing Kyle's knight uniform now. A bit big, but not too uncomfortable.
He gave it to me, saying I couldn't stand watch in slave rags...
Sucker Kyle simp bastard.
I glanced to the side.
Another knight was silently standing guard besides me.
Florian, Kyle's one and only loyal subordinate in the game.
The soldier who'd watched all this from start to finish in silence.
The one who insisted on following Kyle even to this remote village.
Absolute loyalty shown through unwavering silence amid it all.
Hard to believe a guy like Kyle had a subordinate like that.
Not that there's no reason at all.
“...”
“...”
Florian and I stood watch in utter silence.
The shack remained quiet, no reactions yet.
Nothing to say, huh? This awkward silence is getting to me.
“Um...”
“Quiet.”
Firm shutdown. Doesn't want to talk to a slave punk.
Florian's voice was fairly androgynous.
“...”
“...”
Say something, damn it.
Florian and I stood there in silence for over ten minutes.
Then, suddenly, Florian spoke up.
“Whatever deal you made with Senior Kyle has nothing to do with me.”
“...Pardon?”
“Kyle lending you his uniform to harass women, you impersonating him for inspections—all of it.”
“Got it. ...May I ask your name, sir? You can call me Anderson.”
“...”
First rule I learned here: don't ask names first, or you get smacked.
Like reporting rank and name to superiors in the army.
These guys are soldiers too, so same deal.
“...Florian.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, Sir Florian.”
“...”
Really got nothing to say?
Florian.
NPC who only appears in the setting booklet.
Respected Kyle since childhood, became a soldier to follow him... kinda cliché.
Kyle's just been doing idiot shit lately, but purely in terms of martial prowess, he's strong in the game.
Empire knight from the capital Astra, a position granted directly by the Emperor.
Kyle's probably top five in the Empire.
Reason for exile to this backwater? Nothing special.
Just touched too many women, so “reflect and cool off.”
Empire knight positions don't vanish easily anyway.
So Florian respects that Kyle as an Empire knight... or whatever.
Honestly, didn't read much about Florian's backstory.
Why bother with dude lore.
Just Kyle's sole loyalist.
How many women did he mess with for his one top-five Empire strongman to be down to one subordinate, you simp.
“Guess I'll head over now.”
“...”
Time seemed right, so I started toward the shack.
Before leaving, I glanced—Florian's expression was crumpled, unlike before.
Probably doesn't like Kyle messing with women either.
But sees it as a perk of the strong, I bet.
That's why he follows Kyle...
Birds of a feather.
But not this time, Florian.
Opponent ain't a woman, and the vibe's way off...
I arrived at the shack before long.
Side window was slightly open.
If airing it out, I was a tad late.
Doesn't matter now anyway.
I opened the shack door.
“Kyle... oh, big bro's here?”
Don't call him bro, you freak trap.
Good, he's dressed.
The monster trap sat on Kyle's lap.
The shack was on the verge of collapse.
Holes punched everywhere, drag marks on the floor, desk splintered into firewood.
The door... Kyle's nail marks starkly visible.
You fought hard, Kyle. Good job.
“...Slave, you fucking bastard... how dare you...!”
“Ah-ah, Kyle, shh...”
The monster trap pressed a finger to Kyle's lips.
Whoa, shit...
“Gotta listen to Anderson big bro...”
Kyle trembled but was helpless.
The moment one of the Empire's top fighters lost utterly in manhood.
Chills. If I hadn't known this route...
Then I spotted an unfamiliar tattoo on Kyle's neck.
Subjugation curse... it's taken hold.
Thanks, Kyle.
I held back bursting laughter and spoke.
“Ka... heh, Sir Kyle, how was it?”
Turnabout's fair play. Should've quit touching women.
“I'll take Sir Kyle back now.”
“Oh my.”
The trap acted shocked time was up, bringing a hand to his mouth.
And then...
-Smack.
“Bye, Kyle. See you later.”
He kissed Kyle's cheek.
Fuck.
Chicken skin erupted all over me.
“Let's go, Sir Kyle.”
“Yeah...”
Kyle staggered toward me.
Can't even walk straight now, simp?
Oh right.
“Mind saying one last thing to Sir Kyle?”
“...Ah! Gotta obey the gatekeeper!”
The monster waved at Kyle.
“...Yeah.”
Kyle trudged toward me powerlessly.
[Subjugation: Innkeeper's ??]
[Curse of Decay: Combat power -99% vs dominator, absolute obedience]
[Subject: Kyle (Empire's 5th Sword)]
[Proxy Command Authority: Anderson (Slave)]
Kyle is now completely subjugated.