The Elves Submit as Slaves

"Who should I take down?"

Ena's voice rang out, steady as ever.

In response, I pointed my jet-black staff at Unpilea, who was ravaging the elves, and spoke.

"That elf. Deal with her before any more elves die."

"Understood."

At my words, Ena charged straight at Unpilea. And at that exact moment, Unpilea's head snapped toward Ena. She'd finally noticed her presence.

But it was already too ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠late. Before Unpilea could react, Ena's sword sliced clean through her waist.

"Kya aaak!!"

With a piercing scream, Unpilea crashed to the ground, clutching her spurting waist with both hands, gasping for breath. Her lower body wasn't moving at all—Ena must have severed her spine.

What... what the hell is that...?

I couldn't close my mouth at the overwhelming sight. No matter how much stronger she'd gotten, I never imagined she'd overpower Unpilea in a single strike.

...She's way too strong now!

While I stood there in awe, Ena raised her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sword high, clearly intending to finish the job.

But then Irene leaped in front of her, shouting.

"No!"

"......"

Irene, who had thrown herself in Ena's path with a desperate yell, alternated frantic glances between me and Ena. Ena looked troubled and glanced my way.

I nodded and stepped toward Irene, who was shielding Unpilea like a guardian.

Planting myself firmly in front of her, I glared and said, "Step aside."

At my words, Irene's face paled for a moment before twisting into a pleading expression.

"Y-You're Yuhyun, right? I beg you—save my mother. Please."

"There's no way to save her."

"Anything! There has to be some way... there must be! So I'm begging you—save my mother!"

"This is all your fault. Give up."

"I know! I know it's all my fault, that I brought this on myself. But... but I can't lose my mother like this. Please... think of something! There has to be a way to save her!"

Irene's tear-choked pleas stirred the surrounding elves into sobs as they begged me too, imploring me to save Unpilea.

A quick glance revealed Rishar weeping openly, staring at me.

I turned my gaze to Unpilea for a moment.

How the hell am I supposed to save her?

Her waist being more than half severed wasn't the issue. A healer's staff or the saint's staff could fix that easily enough. The real problem was the black stone. Extracting it was the challenge—hell, it might even be embedded inside her.

...Huh?

Then I spotted it: a black stone clinging to Unpilea's navel area.

This might be easier than I thought.

Stroking my chin briefly, I looked back at Irene and asked, "Do you want to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠save your mother?"

"Yes! If I can save her, I'll do anything!"

Her fervent cry made my lips curl into a sneer.

"Even become my slave?"

"S-Slave...!?"

Irene's face flashed with horror. At the same time, the elves who'd been sobbing around her recoiled in shock and surged toward me.

"Take us as slaves instead!"

"Yeah, make us your slaves!"

Their clamoring offers to become my slaves drew a chuckle from me.

"Don't worry. The ones I'm making slaves are all of you."

Shock rippled across every elf's face at my words. I laughed heartily again and turned to Irene.

"...So, let me ask once more. Will you become my slave, Irene?"

"......"

Excitement bubbled up as I watched her bite her crimson lips, her face flushed with humiliation.

"Kuh...!"

While Irene hesitated, Unpilea let out a pained groan. Her face had gone ghostly white—she was nearing her limit.

Irene noticed too, her expression turning urgent as her eyes darted around.

"What's your answer?"

Under my pressure, Irene squeezed her eyes shut, her shoulders trembling faintly. Several elves stepped forward, crying out, "No, Lady Irene!" "A human's slave? You can't!"

But despite their desperate pleas, Irene seemed resolved to save her mother. She nodded faintly and whispered, "I... I will..."

I immediately tapped Yes.

Perfect. Now I could torment Irene. How delightful.

Chuckling inwardly, I scanned the despairing elves and asked, "Now for you all. Will you become my slaves?"

One by one, they slumped their shoulders and replied.

"If Lady Irene has become a slave... I will."

"I will."

I hit Yes for all eleven elves.

That makes thirteen elf slaves now.

Grinning with satisfaction, I patted Irene's shoulder.

"Looking forward to serving you, slave Irene."

"Ugh......"

She shuddered with a small groan at my mockery, but quickly turned to me.

"...What about my mother?"

"Don't worry. I'll heal her now."

I unsummoned the jet-black staff and summoned the saint's staff. Healer's staff in my left hand, saint's staff in my right—like I could raise the dead.

"Wound recovery."

White mist rose from the healer's staff, while pure white light poured from the saint's staff, enveloping Unpilea. Her bisected waist began knitting back together.

"Ahh......"

A moan of relief escaped Unpilea's lips. Once her waist fully mended, she tried to rise—probably to flee.

But before she could fully stand, Ena stomped on her chest and pressed her sword to her throat.

"Stay still if you don't want to die."

"Eek......"

Unpilea groaned under the overwhelming pressure and obediently lowered her hands. The power gap was absolute.

How strong has she gotten, exactly?

Clicking my tongue in amazement, I shifted my gaze to Unpilea's abdomen. There was the black stone above her navel.

I unsummoned the staffs and summoned a sharp dagger. As I aimed it at the stone, Unpilea suddenly thrashed wildly, screaming.

"No! No! Stop it!"

She wailed and resisted, but pinned by Ena, escape was impossible.

Removing the black stone won't kill her, right?

Swallowing hard, I dug the dagger tip into the stone.

"Kya aaak!"

A shrill scream tore from Unpilea's lips. Irene, watching anxiously, grabbed my shoulder.

"Mother's in pain! Stop it!"

I paused the dagger and said, "Want to do it yourself?"

"Th-That's......"

"If you don't have the guts, stay out of it. It'll be over soon."

With that, I thrust the dagger decisively, prying out the black stone.

"Kya aaak!!"

Unpilea convulsed like she was dying, choking violently. But soon, her blood-red eyes faded back to gold as she stabilized.

"Hup! Haak! Hup! Haak!"

After several deep breaths, she lay back slowly, scanning her surroundings. Her eyes met Irene's, and tears welled up.

"...I-Irene?"

"Mother, do you recognize me?"

"Yes, Irene... my daughter."

"Mother...... sob."

Confirming Unpilea had returned to normal, I stood. Ena stepped back, freeing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her.

The mother and daughter embraced tightly, reunited at last.

"Ahh......"

"Mother's back."

Rishar and the remaining elves knelt, tears streaming down their faces.