How to Cook Elf Sisters Donburi (8)
It was impossible to tell how much time had passed inside the iron cage.
Scary...
Every time I tried to persuade Lora unnie, she punished me without a moment's hesitation. I thought things couldn't get any worse, but I was wrong. Unnie took so much from me.
First, she stole my sight. Thick blackout curtains covered the window, and later she even blindfolded me, leaving me in total darkness. Next came the food. The meager rations were just enough to keep me alive, but they ravaged my spirit. Thin corn gruel with no flavor at all. Hard, undercooked beans. I licked the bowl clean like pig feed, drowning in utter misery.
Finally, she took my freedom of movement. At first, I could at least pace the narrow cage, but now the chains were pulled taut, allowing me only enough space to lie down.
...I could endure all this pain and suffering. If it meant saving unnie. But it tormented me to madness that unnie showed no desire to be saved... Still, I couldn't give up. Unnie had always saved me when I was in trouble. She shone brightly by my side, protecting me... Now it was my turn to save her.
I have no energy at all...
In this state, I couldn't even form a plan. My head ached from simple thoughts, and hunger kept me asleep most of the time.
...To bring unnie back, I needed to regain my strength first. I shuffled my body against the wall and tapped the metal bell once.
As it tinkled and swayed, unnie soon returned to the room with a bright smile.
"What is it, Estelle? Do you need something?"
She removed my mouth gag and blindfold, asking me kindly.
"...Lora unnie, I'm hungry."
"Hmm, I see. Estelle... Unnie wants to feed our cute little one, but you know she can't just give it to you, right?"
Unnie smiled sweetly but spoke firmly.
"...I know."
I gritted my teeth and answered. The brainwashed unnie insisted that if I wanted something, I had to show the proper attitude. So every time I asked her for anything, I had to express gratitude to that filthy human.
"...I beg Leon Sodus, my master... Please give me food..."
Rage and fury boiled in my gut like my intestines were snapping, but I could spout this much of a lie. It was empty words, devoid of any sincerity.
"Hmm... A failing grade plea, but since it's Estelle's first time, here!"
After hearing my thanks, unnie stepped out briefly and returned, offering me a plate.
It smells so good...
The fresh aroma of steaming hot stir-fried vegetables wafted to my nose.
"Say ahh, our cute little one."
As I swallowed hard, unnie scooped a heaping spoonful and fed it to me.
"Ah..."
Aromatic flavors filled my mouth. Feeling the food's warmth chase away the chill in my stomach, I sensed my ravenous hunger easing like madness receding.
After I emptied the bowl and savored the last bite, unnie stroked my head.
"Delicious? Hehe."
Whenever unnie showed this gentle side, I remembered the old her.
"Yeah... Thanks, unnie."
"Give your thanks to Master, not me. Master is so kind. Even to a failing grade like you, he gave such tasty food, didn't he?"
Unnie naturally redirected my gratitude to her master. I pitied her so much.
"Unnie, that... um... no, Master is having a bad influence on you..."
I had to call him "Master" because if I said "filthy short-lived race" or "dirty, vile human male," she'd shut down the conversation immediately.
"Not at all, Estelle. You'll understand soon enough."
The kindness of the old unnie and the twisted version Leon Sodus had made coexisted, shattering my heart.
Unnie's standards were clear. Each time I expressed thanks to her master, Leon Sodus, the privileges I enjoyed increased.
The cold stone floor turned into a warm bed with blankets and pillows after just a few sincere gratitudes. Promising to improve my bad language habits let me remove the stifling mouth gag.
...But unlike before, I had to put more sincerity into the thanks.
This is all just a process to bring unnie back...
I had to cooperate with her demands for now and bide my time.
Today, as usual, unnie came when I rang the bell and first checked my homework.
"Estelle, did you finish today's thank-you letter?"
"Yeah, unnie. The letter thanking Master? I finished it..."
Her assignment was to write a letter of gratitude to Leon. To request anything from him, I had to fabricate insincere thanks.
Unnie skimmed the letter, then beamed.
"Hehe, Estelle. You worked hard? Your expression still lacks loyalty, but the content is satisfactory now."
"...What..."
She scrutinized it for sincerity more than before, so I hid my fakeness as best I could while writing as if I meant it. Thanking him for better sleeping conditions and granting freedom was easy—recalling the misery of losing them and the relief of regaining them.
"Master isn't a bad person. Don't you want to be with unnie for real?"
"No, unnie... I don't think I could ever do that."
I barely swallowed "filthy human" and firmly refused.
Unnie looked sad, stroked my head, and said,
"Okay, Estelle... Unnie can wait. Until our cute little one is ready..."
She caressed my cheek like a foolish sister waiting for her misguided sibling.
Why is unnie making that face... She's the one who needs to change...
I felt the floor jolt. The sensation of the lodging being set down on the ground.
The subjugation is over.
Confined by unnie, I couldn't join the demon extermination journey.
The other heroes really fell for unnie's lie...
She told them I was severely ill from homesickness and needed rest.
Believing such a lie...
It made it impossible for the other heroes to rescue me.
Will unnie be okay without me...?
I worried about her fighting demons alone.
"Can she fight well alone among humans...?"
When unnie returned from subjugation, I nearly fainted. My worst fear had come true.
"...Unnie!"
She was covered in blood.
"Unnie! Are you hurt? Are you okay?"
"Worried? Estelle? This isn't my blood."
Unnie reassured me and washed off the gore.
"Ah... Thank goodness... Unnie...! A bruise...!"
As the blood rinsed away, a huge bruise appeared on her thigh.
Unnie, who never got hurt...
"Oh, this? I got a bit careless."
She waved it off, but my heart burned.
"Is unnie okay? Does it hurt?"
"It was close, but I'm fine. I really felt your absence, though."
"Unnie..."
Of course—she always fought with my support, so my absence hit hard.
"It'd be great if Estelle became Master's slave soon and helped unnie... Is it tough?"
Unnie persuaded me wistfully with an unacceptable proposal.
"...No, I... hate that."
Knowing I'd refuse, unnie gave a sad smile and left.
Unnie...
I tossed and turned all night, agonizing.
What if unnie gets seriously hurt because of me?
If I stayed locked up, no one would protect her. Freeing her from brainwashing was vital, but if she died first... I couldn't bear it.
I slowly approached the bell. Ringing it twice would bring unnie immediately.
If I pretend to become his slave... I can regain freedom, right?
Act submissive, seize the chance, recover my strength... Then save unnie.
From the thank-you letters and her changed behavior, I could guess what he wanted.
He wants an obedient, lewd elf slave...
Pretend to be a slave, earn his trust, save unnie. Trapped like this, I was too powerless.
I raised both hands and slowly rang the bell twice.
Ding, ding—the sound echoed, and before it faded, unnie burst in.
"Estelle! Finally...!"
Her face overflowed with joy and relief at my choice.
I expected verification, but this is too humiliating...
"Estelle? Greet him properly."
Stripped naked before the arrogant human Leon Sodus, I prepared to declare my submission as his slave. Unnie poked my side, smiling contentedly, making me feel even more wretched.
The unnie I knew would never force me into this.
I'll never forget this humiliation...
Swallowing my rage, I knelt and prostrated myself before him.
His gaze from above disgusted me. Once I saved unnie, I'd kill him—I vowed it as I performed the slave's greeting.
"Apprentice slave Estelle... greets Master anew."
"What do you think? Does our little sister please you?"
Looking down at me, Leon toyed with unnie's body. He sat her on his lap and yanked her nipple hard. Despite the abuse-like treatment, unnie fawned over him like a pet, calling him Master.
Seeing her flirt with him, oblivious to my burning heart, made me nauseous.
You trash...
Good thing my face was to the floor, hiding my expression. I clenched my teeth, suppressing my vengeance.
This humiliation—I'd repay it tenfold, no, more.
"...I'll serve Master alongside unnie and prove my loyalty."
I spat the insincere words, swearing false loyalty.
Delighted by my change, unnie patted my back proudly.
"Please enjoy our sisters deliciously... ♥"
Seeing her transformed, the reason for enduring this humiliation crystallized. To reclaim the unnie I loved, the real unnie... I could become anything. Even a pathetic pretend slave.
Just fool him briefly. Gain his trust, recover my spirit power.
Brace yourself, Leon... You'll pay dearly for what you did to unnie...!
With resolve, I took unnie's hand and approached him.
A human's pathetic thing won't be a big deal...
Steel yourself for a short ordeal—I took the reluctant step forward.