Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Mage Slave Rumor
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Lami had just returned from running errands at the main house.
She alternated glances between Ed, who was struggling to drag the laundry basket, and Ben's back as he walked off into the distance. A frown creased her delicate brow, clearly displeased by what she saw.
"My slave taking orders from a lowlife like that? Unbearable."
With that sharp remark, she strode past Ed and crossed the hallway without a second glance.
Ed, head bowed low, bit his lip hard before lifting his gaze again. The rain seemed to fall even heavier now.
On a day like this, getting drenched would mean catching a cold for sure. But he couldn't just leave the laundry sitting there. The basket was full of Lami's everyday clothes, after all.
"If you end up flat on your back coughing your lungs out, it'll be a hassle. Stay in my room while I'm gone."
"My slave taking orders from a lowlife like that? Unbearable."
Lami's words echoed in Ed's ears like a hallucination as he stood frozen at the annex's back door, staring up at the sky.
Ed turned his sunken eyes toward the hallway where Lami had vanished.
Thinking of Lami, he knew he shouldn't listen to Ben. But he'd already taken the laundry basket.
If he tossed it now and said, "I only follow Lami's orders," it would spark rumors that she hadn't properly trained her slave.
'That would just bother Lami.'
A heavy sigh scattered into the pouring rain.
With no choice, Ed stepped outside, squeezing his eyes shut as he plunged into the downpour.
"...Huh?"
Something was off. He cracked one eye open and looked around. His body, which should have been soaked by now, felt strangely dry and fluffy.
"What?"
His eyes widened in shock at the unbelievable sight. He couldn't fathom what was happening; confusion flooded his face.
The torrent of rain pouring like a waterfall parted around him, cascading down to the ground below.
Still bewildered, Ed trudged to the stream to wash the clothes. Not a single raindrop touched him as he worked and carried the basket back to the annex.
'Was that magic too?'
Remembering that strange day, Ed's cheeks flushed with excitement.
A mage... what an incredibly cool title.
Like anywhere else, but especially in Sheep Territory, every single mage was a precious and invaluable asset.
No one dared hope for a mage skilled enough to be officially hired by the Magic Tower. Even those with modest mana were few and far between.
"I'll take that slave with me to the main house."
I set my teacup down with a sharp clink as Ramen Morton suddenly declared he was taking Ed.
I'd wondered why he'd come all the way to the annex without warning. So that was the reason.
He'd tossed Ed to me like a slave, ignored him completely, and treated him like dirt. Now, on a mere unverified rumor, his attitude flipped like a pancake.
'You think I'll just hand him over quietly?'
I had no intention of telling Ramen that Ed could use magic.
He might assign a teacher or offer support, then manipulate Ed however he pleased.
More importantly, wolves couldn't become mages in Sheep Territory. If Wolf Territory found out, they'd snatch him away in an instant.
'If Ed's uncle hears about this and comes looking, all my care for Ed so far will be for nothing.'
I could tell exactly how Ramen would exploit Ed without even seeing it.
The moment his uncle found out, we'd meet the same end as the original story: Ramen dead, me dead, and the Morton Family wiped out.
But the idiot Ramen, blinded by the prospect of a "possible mage slave," boldly demanded Ed.
"What do you plan to do with him?"
"You know why. You know how rare mages are in our territory, right?"
"I do. What does that have to do with my slave?"
I sipped my tea calmly, and a wrinkle formed on Ramen's smooth forehead.
"I heard the rumor. He used magic at the ranch."
He smirked smugly, as if he'd uncovered some grand secret.
I let out a blatant scoff, dripping sarcasm into my voice.
"You believe that nonsense? As a territory leader, aren't you a bit too naive?"
"If you're going to deny it, save it. Someone saw his body heat up."
I tilted my head nonchalantly and pointed toward the ranch behind the annex.
"See that wooden fence?"
Ramen turned to look, glaring at me as if asking what I was getting at.
"If they saw my body heat up, they must've seen me jump from the top all the way down. And me tripping on a rock and face-planting."
Ramen's expression shifted rapidly—frowning, raising his brows, glancing between the fence and me. It was almost entertaining.
"I get that you're desperate for a mage after fighting Mark Robni, but maybe sharpen your judgment as a leader?"
"Hearing that from you is rich. ...We'll talk later."
His face crumpled as he stormed off through the garden, heavy footsteps thudding. His aide trailed behind, looking utterly miserable.
The moment Ramen left, I set down my teacup and tapped the table lightly with my fingertips.
'I've dodged the crisis for now, but I need to make sure no one else spots Ed's abilities.'
I was deep in thought about Ed when that irritating scene from before flashed in my mind.
Just then, a maid passed by in the annex hallway.
I called her over immediately.
"You, come here."
Her body jolted at my emotionless tone, and she froze.
"Y-yes, Lady? Do you need something?"
"About that guy from last time."
"Pardon?"
She blinked blankly before realization dawned, her mouth falling open slightly.
"What happened? Did you chase him off?"
After the laundry incident, I'd grilled the servants about harassing Ed.
'Ed insisted it wasn't true to the end.'
But he didn't seem like the type to stop at one time, so I'd kept a close eye on him and investigated his past actions.
I'd learned he'd persistently bullied Ed because he didn't like him.
I'd ordered him gone the moment I found out, but I hadn't heard the results yet.
'Ben, was it?'
If I didn't make an example of him, who knew what the annex staff might do to Ed behind my back.
"W-well... I heard he packed up and left last week!"
The maid, standing ramrod straight in tension, suddenly raised her voice at the end.
"Eep! S-sorry!"
Startled by her own volume, she clapped her hands over her mouth and bowed repeatedly.
"Fine. Go."
"Yes! Thank you!"
"Wait."
I stopped the maid as she bowed and hurried away, speaking in a low voice.
"Remember, only I can command my slave."
Now, through her, the whole annex would hear about my actions and today's warning.
'This crap is exhausting.'
Living on edge like this quietly drained my stamina.
Time to write to the Magic Tower again before I collapse.
'I can say I want help nurturing a child's magical talent without naming Ed, right?'
If luck was on my side, they might even visit to pick up a promising kid.
That could mean meeting his uncle sooner. Sending this letter might be the last thing I can do for Ed.
'I hope this works.'
By the time I climbed the stairs, the letter to the Magic Tower was already fully formed in my head.
Another letter had arrived.
Nick Fren and Billy Rub let out dry chuckles at the audacity of the Morton lady sending a second letter in less than a month.
In Nick's neatly organized office, the two wolves lounging on the sofa and playing chess set it aside to read the letter.
"What kind of family is this?"
Billy placed the letter on the table, his voice laced with disbelief.
Both letters had begged for help while insisting it be kept secret from their Family Head, doubling the absurdity.
"Did you look into it?"
Billy, his nearly black navy hair slicked back impeccably, turned to Nick.
The answer came not from Nick, who shook his head, but from beside him.
Philip, the Magic Tower Lord's secretary with his neatly combed green long hair and monocle, pulled out a stack of documents.
"Here's the information I gathered on the Morton Family."
"When did you even do that?"
Nick praised his proactive secretary warmly.
Ignoring it, Philip flipped through the papers with businesslike efficiency and began reciting his findings.
Lami Morton.
Rumored across all of Sheep Territory as a tyrannical sheep, her villainy was so legendary even the Family Head had given up on controlling her.
"That's the surface-level info."
Philip flipped a page and read on with his soulless eyes about the "real" investigation.
"She's the illegitimate child of the previous Family Head and a maid. Discrimination started abruptly when she turned five."
Illegitimate discrimination was common in noble families, but Billy latched onto the prior detail.
"Abruptly at five? So she was treated well before that?"
"Yes. The mistreatment began suddenly at five."
What a strange household. Billy found it odd but gestured for him to continue. Philip nodded lightly and proceeded.
"The Family Head, famed for doting on his sibling, recently bought a slave for his brother—infamous as a mansion terror."
"A slave?"
Slaves meant the illegal slave market. Nick frowned in distaste.
"Yes. And unusually, not a sheep or herbivore Beastkin, but a carnivore."
Billy and Nick exchanged glances. A carnivore slave for a sheep sibling? That family must be a total mess with no decent people left.
As they shared the thought, Philip adjusted his monocle and continued.
"And that slave is apparently a wolf clan child."
Both wolves snapped their gazes up.