Chapter 230: Once a Slave, Always a Slave
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 230: Once a Slave, Always a Slave
Victor, the Shadow Peacock.
He was once the renowned guild master of the Assassin's Guild. After retiring, he ran a tavern in Noctar called "The Peacock's Night Gathering."
His only blood relative, his granddaughter Emily, was afflicted with an incurable disease, and he spent his days in constant anxiety.
Ironically, the one who saved Emily was neither a clergyman nor a doctor, but a slave trader.
Karami, the Slave Reaper.
Victor could never forget him.
Not only was he Emily's savior, but the combination of an assassin and a slave trader worked surprisingly well. They were friends who transcended age.
A little over a year had passed since Karami left Noctar.
Judging by his actions, Victor had thought he might not return alive, but miraculously, he came back with all his limbs intact.
He had planned to close the tavern early to catch up, share stories from the journey, and have a quiet drink with Karami.
“Ughhhhh…”
“Seriously, what in the world is wrong with you?”
His limbs and life were fine, but pitifully, it seemed his mind had gone haywire.
Karami had seemed out of his mind from the moment Victor saw him.
Victor assumed it was some aftereffect of his long journey, having returned only recently.
He'd brought him to the tavern, thinking a drink would help him relax, but Karami just sat there blankly, letting strange noises drone from his mouth.
He'd been in this state for several days now.
“I was the master… I worked so hard… but the slaves… the master…”
From these words, which were more like mumbles, Victor could roughly guess that the slaves had done something.
Victor had also caught glimpses of the women who had come with Karami, though he hadn't seen them all.
'Why slaves?'
That was his first thought.
Had the definition of the word "slave" changed? Or was he just getting old and forgetful?
Victor, who prided himself on his skills, was confident he would die without making a peep if he faced them.
He simply couldn't comprehend how such powerful beings could all be Karami's slaves.
Well, Karami was the type to treat even children well, so they were likely "slaves" in name only. Victor figured there must be some circumstances between them that others didn't know about.
And judging by Karami's current state, it seemed there was a problem with that relationship.
“Hmph. So you're finally paying for your karma, Slave Reaper. I've been waiting for this day.”
The dark elf, Renard, smirked, clearly gloating.
“You're the one who started those ridiculous rumors about the Elf Queen, aren't you? This is your punishment for wagging that tongue of yours. Savor it.”
“Ughhh…”
Renard's taunts were meaningless. Karami downed another glass of liquor and slumped onto the table like a slime.
Tinkle~
The bell on the door chimed as it opened.
Alfia entered, cautiously looking around.
Seeing Karami slumped over, she sent a signal to Victor and Renard with her eyes.
It was a look that roughly meant, How is he?
Renard, showing no interest, left to get ready to go home. Victor just shook his head as if to say it was a lost cause.
Alfia sighed and approached Karami.
“Darling, everyone's waiting. Shall we go back?”
“…”
Karami, who had been slumped over, stood up. Then, without a single word, he walked out of the tavern.
He didn't react at all to Alfia's words. He didn't even meet her eyes.
He went straight to his room.
The door closed firmly.
A boundary a slave could not cross.
Alfia couldn't bring herself to open the door and turned away.
*
Late at night.
The perfect time for a secret conversation.
The six slaves gathered in one room.
It was obvious without having to point anyone out; they were all clearly anxious.
“How is the Master?”
“I don't know. Same as yesterday. I couldn't even meet his eyes.”
Alfia answered bluntly.
A chorus of sighs followed her words.
Karami was in this state because the slaves had forged a subjugation contract without his permission. Since then, he hadn't spoken a word to any of them.
For the slaves, it was a living hell.
Being treated as if they didn't exist while right beside him was more painful than being far away.
“Mirabelle, can't you find a solution in that book?”
Alfia's suggestion was to find an answer in the Book of Omniscience.
Surely a book containing knowledge that transcended common sense would have a way to break through their current situation.
But Mirabelle refused firmly.
“That would be no different from disrespecting the Master.”
Mirabelle knew exactly where to draw the line in matters like this.
Housework is fundamental for a maid.
Using magic to solve such problems would disqualify her as a maid, so Mirabelle never used magic for housework.
Of course, she had used the Book of Omniscience to uncover Karami's secrets before, but that had been a last resort when there was no other way.
This time, however, she couldn't do that.
Using magic to read someone's mind and react accordingly was no different from toying with them.
Furthermore, understanding the mind of the one she served was a basic skill a maid should possess.
“Besides, if we rely on magic this time, we'll become dependent on it every time something happens in the future.”
In the end, this was something the slaves had to solve themselves.
“Karami, when he's scary… I don't know.”
“Me neither.”
“Rin has seen it.”
“I have too, regrettably for the Master.”
“How did you see it?”
At Alfia's question, Mirabelle and Rin recalled unpleasant memories.
“Rin got scolded for secretly draining his essence.”
“I went berserk, drunk on power… The Master, when he's angry, is the scariest thing in the world.”
“How did you earn his forgiveness?”
“By bawling my eyes out and begging him not to hate me.”
“Me too…”
Rin read the minds of the others, who were thinking, 'Still, begging and crying... that's a bit much...'
“You'd all be clinging to him and crying too if you were in that situation.”
She declared.
In any case, it wasn't a very productive exchange. It wasn't like the six of them were going to go and beg him while crying as a group.
“So in the end, we have no choice but to change the Master's mind.”
“We know that, that's why we're all here.”
As they racked their brains fruitlessly, Narsha spoke up.
“The Master once said something. He said he can't trust people, but he can trust slaves.”
“Because of the shackles?”
“Correct. As long as the shackles exist, a slave has no choice but to obey. But what we did overturned that absolute rule.”
An uncontrollable slave is a being who could stab you in the back at any moment. That's why slaves are subject to absolute management and supervision.
But they had unilaterally forged a contract and even defied their master's command.
It wouldn't be strange for Karami to feel a sense of betrayal and fear.
“Then we must find a way to maintain the contract while quelling the Master's worries.”
More time passed in thought.
An idea sparked in Mirabelle's mind.
“I do have an idea…”
“What is it? Don't hesitate, just say it. It's not like anyone else has a better idea.”
Encouraged by Alfia, Mirabelle cautiously began to speak.
“Can all of you offer everything to the Master?”
*
Karami had never felt so powerless since his transmigration.
The goal of returning home.
The goal of liberating his pitiful slaves.
The two goals had merged into a single path, and he had walked it steadfastly.
But at the very end, it had all been overturned.
By the very slaves he had trusted implicitly.
The shock of betrayal was beyond words.
His goal was gone. What was he supposed to do now?
The master-slave relationship, reversed.
He was no different from a scarecrow king.
In the dark, unlit room, Karami quietly tipped back his glass.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Forgive me for disturbing you so late, Master. I have something urgent to discuss. May I come in?”
It was Mirabelle's voice.
Karami didn't answer.
“I know this is rude… but please excuse me for a moment.”
The firmly shut door opened.
The six slaves entered.
Mirabelle, Rin, Alfia.
Narsha, Azyeth, Elize.
They stood before Karami in that order.
Even those who usually bickered were silent at this moment.
Karami didn't spare them a single glance, merely swirling the liquor in his glass. He watched the liquid slosh, threatening to spill over.
“I don't recall inviting you in…”
“We have something we must tell you, Master.”
“If you wish to prioritize your selfish desires over your master's commands, then you can stop calling yourselves my slaves and leave.”
“…We're sorry. But as we've said time and again, we cannot be without you, Master.”
“Do as you please. There's nothing I can do to stop you, whatever you decide.”
Karami let out a self-deprecating laugh. As if to say the conversation was over, he took another sip of liquor.
The slaves exchanged glances, signaling one another, and then slowly began to move.
They knelt and prostrated themselves flat on the floor. They bowed until their foreheads touched the ground, exposing their backs to their master's gaze.
A humiliating posture of submission.
Yet they did not hesitate, nor did they feel shame. On the contrary, it gave them a strange sense of stability, as if they had laid down a heavy burden.
Karami's gaze fell upon them.
“What do you think you're doing?”
“We are your slaves, Master, your property. If we do not please you, you may remodel our bodies and our personalities into any form you desire. So please, just allow us to remain by your side.”
“Please… do.”
The slaves spoke in unison.
Any form would be fine.
It was alright if they were no longer themselves.
Even if their bodies died and only their souls remained, if they could remain his slaves, they would do so.
It was a plea to at least leave the contract intact.
“Your actions, this desire to be slaves, mean you intend to render all my efforts until now meaningless. Do you understand that?”
“We are sorry.”
“And yet you insist on being stubborn, is that it?”
“We are sorry.”
They all repeated "We are sorry" like machines.
A long silence flowed.
These women, who held the power to make the world tremble, cowered like mice.
A pressure heavier than anything they had ever felt.
The silence felt like it was strangling them, and a single moment felt like an eternity.
Then, Karami broke the quiet stillness and began to speak.
“I pride myself on having treated my slaves better than anyone else. I regarded and treated you not as slaves, but as individuals.”
“That's right.”
“You are the ones who have sullied that goodwill of mine. Even if I accept you, do not think I will treat you as I did before.”
“…”
“Therefore, this is the last mercy and the last chance I can offer you. Think carefully before you answer.”
He would give them a choice.
The first.
“If you wish to be free, terminate the contract right now and leave. Then we will remain on good terms, and we will live on with fond memories.”
It was quiet.
No one moved.
That wasn't what they wanted. They had never even considered such an option.
They waited with bated breath.
For his next words.
And then, the next.
The air grew cold.
A chilling gaze pierced the backs of their heads.
A cold voice, laced with disgust and contempt as if addressing something filthy, rang out.
“If you wish to abandon your humanity, to be tamed like livestock and end your days as base creatures, then show me your loyalty.”
To offer up oneself was something a person should not do.
A disqualification from being human.
They could not escape it, even in death.
But it was an irresistible pull.
They could not resist the subjugation that pressed down on their souls.
They needed no petty pride, no reason.
A blessing that only women of beautiful appearance could receive.
They were the chosen ones.
For if they abandoned their dignity as humans, they could live the best possible life as slaves.
A thrilling tightness gripped their chests.
A brightly blooming ecstasy.
And at the same time, relief.
Six souls rose from their bodies.
An indigo soul wearing a pointed hat.
The soul of a pink fox.
The soul of a fairy wearing a floral crown.
The soul of a frozen heart.
The soul of a bat drenched in blood.
And even the soul of a glittering gold coin.
All the souls were bound by black shackles.
“Our bodies, our hearts, and our souls. We offer everything to you, Master, and we swear here and now to live as your slaves, even in death.”
The souls passed over to Karami.
Looking at the souls in his hand, Karami twisted his lips into a smirk.
“You truly are… irredeemable slaves.”