Becoming Paola
In the southwest of the Kallandra Empire lay the capital of the Nova Empire, Orias. Among the throng of people queuing at the gateway into Orias stood a silver-haired woman dressed in a maid's outfit and wearing a crown of thorns.
"This is Orias... the place my Lord commanded me to come."
"Cleared. Next."
A knight guarding the largest gate in Orias—the East Gate—addressed Saula.
"Where are you from?"
"Uh..."
Oh no, I messed up. I was so focused on Orias because of my Lord's command that I just walked straight through the gate. I should have slipped into the city while hiding my appearance!
"...Why aren't you answering? Judging by your outfit, you look like a maid. Have you lost your master?"
"Well, Sir Knight. She seems like a lost maid who's misplaced her master. Allow me to help find her owner for you."
At that moment, a mustachioed man who had been waiting in line behind the maid stepped forward.
"Huh? You? ...Hah. You're planning to do that thing again, aren't you?"
"Heh heh. No need for you to trouble yourself, Sir Knight. Take this... and we won't forget the hard work you always do."
The mustachioed man discreetly handed a small pouch to the knight, who pocketed it before waving them through.
"Fine. But be careful not to draw attention. It'll be a hassle if you're caught. You're cleared."
"Thank you, sir! Miss, I'll find your master for you. Come with me."
"...Uh, okay?"
A man helping me out of a tricky situation... Is this part of my Lord's arrangement? If so, I should follow him for now.
The mustachioed man led the way deeper into Orias. Saula followed silently behind.
He started along the main avenue but soon veered into the rundown back alleys of the city.
"Just a little further. That's where you'll find your master."
"...I see."
As they passed through a narrow alley, he knocked on a small door tucked in a shadowy corner.
Knock knock.
Creeeak.
A small hatch above the door slid open, revealing a pair of eyes.
"Laserface. It's me, Adei. I've brought fresh goods."
"Good. Confirmed."
Clank.
Groooan.
The hatch shut again, followed by the sound of locks disengaging from inside. The door swung open.
"There you go. Come on in. Your master might even be inside."
"Hmmm..."
Saula stepped slowly through the door.
The mustachioed man followed... and then—
Clank.
The door locked behind them.
Inside was a dimly lit space occupied by ten rough-looking men and about a dozen women bound hand and foot, kneeling on the floor.
"Keh heh heh. Stupid bitch. Even if she was desperate to find her master, who follows a stranger to a creepy place like this? Looks like she's got top-tier beauty but zero brains."
"Adei, you brought us a premium catch!"
"Yeah. Wonder which dumb noble lost a maid like this. I even bribed the gate knight to bring her here. If she'd had half a brain and run away, I'd have been in deep shit, but she followed right along."
"Keh heh heh heh. Pretty girls are always airheads. That's how we've been able to snag all these women. Hey, can't we have a little taste before the boss shows up?"
"You idiot, as if. Goods like this, even the boss won't touch. They're for special clients."
"...True, she's top-shelf. Lucky you, Adei. You'll get a fat reward."
"Right? With this, the boss might even give me a spot in the crew. Can't wait."
"Heh heh heh heh. Dumb bitch. Still haven't figured it out? You've been kidnapped."
"Laserface, tie this one up with some rope. Don't want her causing trouble. Go grab some."
The mustachioed man approached Saula as he spoke.
"Behave, and I won't hurt you. You're valuable merchandise, after all."
The moment he reached for her arm—
Before his hand could touch her, it crumbled to dust and scattered in the air.
"...Huh? My, my hand... Gaaahhhhh! My hand!"
The men rushed over at Adei's scream.
"A-Adei, what happened?!"
"This bitch! This bitch blew off my hand!"
"Blew off your hand?"
"Is she a mage?!"
"Damn it, a mage maid? That's ridiculous!"
"Could be a Gift user! Everyone, keep your distance!"
As the men warily encircled her from afar, Saula spoke.
"You still don't understand."
"...What?"
"Is this mage some kind of moron?"
"My Lord guided me here. But I still don't get it. What does He want me to do? Wasn't it to spread His word? Why lead me to trash like you?"
"What kinda nonsense is that?"
"Even if she's a mage, she's alone! Mages without protection are weak! Rush her before she can chant—we can take her!"
"Yeah, don't chicken out! Charge, boys!"
"Haaah!"
Thud.
Suddenly, an invisible, crushing force slammed down on the men charging at Saula with their weapons, pinning them to the ground.
"Gr-Gravity magic!"
"This bitch... used magic without chanting!"
"Quiet."
Snap.
Saula grimaced and flicked her fingers. The men's mouths moved, but no sound came out.
"I still don't understand. What could my Lord possibly mean by sending me here..."
Then, one of the women—eyes glazed, kneeling on the floor—cried out.
"P-Please, save us!"
"...Huh?"
"We were free citizens, but these bastards kidnapped us! Please save us!"
"Save us!"
"I want my mommy!"
The other women lifted their heads and joined in the pleas.
"...I see. I think I get it now. So that's why my Lord sent me here."
Snap.
Saula snapped her fingers again, and the ropes binding the women fell away.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you, our savior!"
"Um... what should we call you, Savior?"
"Call me... Paola. Yes, I am Paola, servant of Deus."
"I'm Barnabas. Before you came, I thought we were done for—sold as slaves, humiliated by these scum, no one to help us. Thank you for saving us, Paola!"
"Thank you, Paola!"
"Don't thank me. Give thanks to Deus."
"De...Deus?"
"Yes. The Lord who sent me here. He loves this world and will atone for its sins to save it."
"Deus..."
"Yes, Deus. He..."
Boom.
Suddenly, the locked door exploded inward.
"No one's coming out to greet the boss? What the hell are you—...Huh?"
A burly, hairy, muscle-bound man stormed in with several underlings trailing behind.
"Ho ho. Prime merchandise. Huh? What are you idiots doing? Don't tell me you lost to that bitch? ...Useless trash. Can't trust you with anything."
"Th-That's the boss!"
"Gaaah, we're screwed! The boss is here!"
The women shrank back in terror at the sight of him, squeezing their eyes shut or curling into balls.
"You. Got some skill, but you're no match for me."
The boss drew a massive sword from his back and infused it with rippling mana blade aura.
"I'm a top-tier Sword Expert!"
"Expert? Top-tier?"
"Yeah! A swordsman who's surpassed the level mages call a disaster!"
Roaring, the boss leaped at Paola.
In an instant, he vanished—then reappeared right in front of her.
"There it is! Boss's charge combo!"
"No mage can counter the ultimate technique!"
"Can't damage the goods, but gotta train her not to harm—guhck!"
The boss, swinging his blade aura like a club, suddenly rocketed upward and crashed into the ceiling.
"B-Boss!"
"What nonsense about a disaster? He's weaker than the knights who served my Lord."
"Y-You bitch! Do you know who backs our boss? Duke Nysher, who can shoot down flying dragons!"
"Oh? Shoots down dragons?"
"Hiiik! She's insane!"
Thud.
The new arrivals were crushed to the floor by intensified gravity, just like the others.
"I see. My Lord wants me to save those suffering from evil here and spread His word."
"Um... Paola?"
The woman called Barnabas approached Paola.
"Yes?"
"Can I... follow you? I want to help."
"...Very well. I will teach you the word of the Lord." My Lord. I shall obey Your command.