The Followers' Grave Misunderstanding
After wrapping up the loose ends, the fraudulent protagonist returned to the present—at the front entrance of the Neutral Saintess's hospital.
"The master must be deeply disappointed in us. Yet he chose not to show it, all for our sake. Instead, by removing us from the mission, he clearly conveyed his true intentions."
The followers, convinced that their own weakness had greatly disappointed their supporting character, sank into gloom.
"Earlier, while you left me and the Saintess behind and went to the cafeteria to deal with those bandits' corpses, how exactly did you handle them?"
"Huh? I turned them into undead, obviously."
"Eh? Undead? You made them your subordinates?"
"No, not subordinates. Just tools. I needed to find out where Kelts Pitra's main base is."
"Hee~ What about the other followers?"
"They already had tasks assigned. Besides, we didn't even know where the hideout was. It's all about using the right person for the right job."
In truth, Joyeon hadn't given it much thought at all.
"And when we called everyone together, House's report confirmed it… The master apparently resurrected a man named Delpiari—the one who orchestrated this incident alongside Pawn—to kill Kelts Pitra."
Clack…
"To think he would go that far…"
Jack muttered in a trembling voice after grasping the meaning behind Tiasia's words.
Clack?
"Jack? Is resurrecting that Delpiari person really such a big deal?"
Clack-clack…
"Of course it is. Delpiari is the enemy who tried to use the master's mother and Lady Arty as hostages and isolate him. The fact that he would resurrect even an enemy like that means… he no longer trusts us."
Clack…
"Ah… So that's what it means…"
The followers concluded that Joyeon must distrust them so much that he would even bring back his sworn enemy, Delpiari.
"There was another crucial reason he resurrected Delpiari."
"An important reason? What is it?"
"To pay them back in the exact same way, of course."
"Huh? The exact same way?"
"Yeah. I returned the method they used right back at them. For that, I needed Delpiari, not our own people."
"Aah~ So you deliberately recreated the same situation. Joyeon, you're more ruthless than I thought?"
"Ruthless, my foot. Those bastards nearly killed me for real. It's just karma."
Joyeon had simply wanted to repay them in kind.
Clack…?
"A new follower… Does that mean we might be discarded…?"
When May asked Tiasia in a worried voice, she shook her head. Yet her expression remained far too dark for anyone to feel relieved by the denial.
"…… Pawn, please tell everyone what you saw."
"Kuaa? Quou. Quouu."
At Tiasia's request, Pawn eagerly explained everything he had witnessed through gestures. Thanks to his efforts, the followers' mood grew even heavier.
Clack?
"Did the master truly…?"
Tap…
"To order them back to death right after commanding them to complete the mission…"
"… Pawn saw it happen right beside him, and House was there as well. The master deliberately showed us this. And the reason is obvious."
Clack…
"An example… is it?"
When Jack finally managed to answer Tiasia's question, she bit her lip and slowly nodded.
"That's right. The master was sending us a final warning: if we disappoint him again, he will not let it pass as quietly as this time."
The followers trembled at what they perceived as their Dominator's cold, final warning.
"But Delpiari died by your hand, right? Does he follow your orders properly?"
"Hmm~ I don't really know why, but he follows me fanatically."
"Then it's fine. You gained a capable follower."
"No, after dealing with Kelts Pitra, I got rid of him too."
"What?! You got rid of him? Why? He should've been really strong since you resurrected him with your magic."
"No matter how careless I am… I'm not mentally strong enough to keep someone like that around. Would you be okay with it? Living with a guy who tried to assault you?"
"… No."
"See? That's why."
Joyeon had simply disliked Delpiari.
The followers, still laboring under their massive misunderstanding, continued their discussion in a grave atmosphere.
"… Everyone. We are the master's followers. We were resurrected by his blessing and strive to be of help to him… But striving alone is not enough. Delpiari, who became a fellow follower thanks to the master's mercy this time, was clearly once his enemy. Yet after being resurrected by the master, he cleanly severed all past ties for his sake alone. Even when ordered to return to nothingness, he obeyed without a single word of protest and vanished while praising the master until his final moment… We must be the same."
Tiasia stepped in front of the line of followers.
"The master did not punish us, but we cannot simply let this pass. I will administer the punishment in his stead."
When Tiasia raised her right hand, Karl—who stood closest—gave a slight nod and stepped forward.
Whoosh!
Tiasia's right hand, brimming with power, shot toward Karl's cheek.
Smack!!
Even Karl, resurrected by the same blessing as Joyeon, could not withstand Tiasia's monstrous strength. His waist bent and he crashed to the floor.
"Get up! I did not permit you to fall! Would you collapse like this if the master were in danger?!"
Clack!
"I'm sorry! Please punish me again!"
His skull cracked from the powerful impact, yet Karl quickly pushed himself up and asked for another punishment. Tiasia showed no intention of going easy and struck him with equal force once more.
Smack!
Tiasia's palm slammed into Karl's cheekbone again. This time his head snapped to the side and his waist bent slightly, but he did not fall.
"Next. Ron."
Tap!
"Yes!"
Karl stepped back and Ron came forward. Tiasia raised her hand.
"Will you helplessly let monsters threaten the master again?"
Smack!!
"Never again! I swear it will never happen!"
Having seen what happened to Karl, Ron managed to endure Tiasia's blow.
"Next. Jack!"
Clack.
"I will accept the master's stern punishment gladly."
"I am disappointed in you. To think a former butler of the Larasia family could do nothing against the bandits' petty threats!"
Clack.
"From now on, even if I must sell my soul to a demon, I swear I will live only for the master."
"Very well."
Smack!
Jack received the same full-powered slap as the others. His neck and waist bent completely, yet he did not fall.
"Next! May!"
Clack!
"Yes!"
"I'll give you a choice. Will you be punished as a maid, or as the master's follower?"
Clack!
"I am also the master's follower, just like everyone else!"
"Good resolve!"
Smack!!
Tiasia struck May with the same force she had used on the others. May could not withstand it and collapsed, but she immediately pushed herself up, ready to receive another blow. Her loyalty to Joyeon was plain to see. Tiasia struck her once more, this time holding back slightly.
Smack!
May staggered badly but managed to stay on her feet.
"Next are House and Pawn."
- Ready.
"Koo, Kuwoo!"
Tiasia shook her head at the two who were already prepared to be struck.
"House, you certainly made a grave mistake this time. However, that is because you have not yet learned many things—because you are still young. Learn more. Gain wisdom. Only then will you become your master's eyes and ears."
- Understood.
"And Pawn. Since you have only just become our comrade, there is no need for you to be punished. Still, I hope you will keep this in your heart. We were resurrected by the master's mercy to serve him. You must become his strength. I trust you will teach this firmly to your subordinates as well."
"Kuuuoo!!"
"Good. Now, finally, only my own punishment remains."
Tiasia walked up to May.
"May, I am also one of the master's followers, just like you. You wouldn't bring up something as pointless as our former master-servant relationship, would you?"
… Clack.
"… No."
May raised her hand just as Tiasia had done and struck her cheek with all her might.
Smack!!
Tiasia's head snapped violently to the side from the impact. Without showing any sign of pain, she moved to stand beside Jack.
"Jack, you must hit harder than May did. Otherwise, I will have you keep striking until you get it right."
Clack.
"Yes. I understand."
Smack!
Jack struck Tiasia's cheek with full force, just as May had. Ron and Karl followed suit. Obeying Tiasia's instruction to hit harder than they had hit the previous followers, they put everything into their slaps. By the time Karl's blow landed, it was powerful enough to send Tiasia's mask flying.
Tiasia picked up the fallen mask and covered part of her grotesque face once more.
"Everyone, you must never forget today."
The followers engraved Tiasia's words deep in their hearts and nodded.
At the same time, in Joyeon's room.
"It's not like I'm particularly disappointed. After all, even without those bandit guys, I managed to recruit Pawn and the Wartrolls as subordinates thanks to this incident."
"Yeah… Mm-hmm…"
"On top of that, I even got beast-type undead this time. I was already looking for undead to ride anyway."
"Th… at's true… Mm…"
"… Arty?"
"Hngh… Kuul…"
Less than ten minutes into their conversation, Arty had already fallen asleep leaning against Joyeon. Seeing that the very person who had insisted he stay awake had dozed off first, Joyeon stared at her in disbelief.
"Arty. Hey, what is this situation?"
He gave her shoulder a light shake just in case, but she showed no sign of waking.
"Are you seriously asleep?"
"Kuul~"
"… So the whole 'I can't sleep' thing was a lie after all."
Convinced that Arty had tricked him, Joyeon let out a deep sigh and laid her down on his bed. Even while being moved, she remained fast asleep.
"I'll have to scold her later. How can she be this defenseless? Someone could carry her off and she wouldn't even notice. Does she really not see me as a man?"
Grumbling, Joyeon still tucked the blanket neatly over her before heading to the nearby cot to sleep himself.