Chapter 318: Slave Experience (11)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 318: Slave Experience (11)
News of the Slave Reaper's disappearance didn't just affect the human realm.
The demon realm, home to vampires, devils, and all manner of beings commonly called demons. Ironically, the rumor had spread here as well.
In the Demon Lord's castle, at the very heart of the demon realm.
Two large horns rose from the head of the woman sitting on the black throne.
She was the Demon Lord, ruler of all demons.
Below her throne, countless demonic vassals stood in rows.
“You've all heard the news, I presume. The Slave Reaper has vanished.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
It might seem strange for the Slave Reaper to be a topic of discussion in the demon realm, but surprisingly, there was a reason.
There was once an age when the various races were far more hostile to one another than they are now, a time when war was a daily occurrence.
Back then, the demon race was powerful enough to threaten the entire world. Led by the Demon Lord, the demonic legions had threatened not only the human realm but the celestial realm as well.
They had come to the brink of placing the world at the Demon Lord's feet, but the war ended in defeat when the other races, faced with a common enemy, formed an alliance.
The Demon Lord was killed in the war, and the then-princess, Liliabel, became his successor.
Hundreds of years had passed since then.
Having now restored much of the military might lost in the war, the time had come to reclaim their past glory and become the rulers of all races.
But just as they were about to reassert the greatness of the demon race, the Slave Reaper appeared on the scene.
A mere human had usurped the Demon Lord's place as the most wicked being alive.
Unacceptable.
She longed to show him who was truly more evil, but it wasn't that simple.
The various races had rallied around him. And the countless slaves who protected him.
Each one was a powerhouse who defied common sense, making it impossible to even think of starting a fight.
Such was the current state of affairs in the demon realm. And now, that very Slave Reaper had disappeared.
His followers must be in utter chaos.
If the demons could secure the Slave Reaper first, he would make the perfect hostage.
She had despised him from the start. A mere human, daring to take the title of Reaper.
It was time to make him pay the price for his insolence.
*
Where there are demons, there are also angels.
On the opposite side of the demon realm.
In a separate dimension known as the celestial realm, a place whose existence was known to only a select few, lived the celestials with their pure white wings.
Considered a supreme race alongside dragons, the power of a single celestial rivaled that of a dragon.
They maintained a stance of non-interference, as their immense power could shatter the world's order if they were to descend rashly to the surface.
The last time they had revealed themselves was during the demons' war, and by now, humans considered the celestials to be a species of myth.
But the situation had changed.
The Slave Reaper.
The world had begun to fall into disarray since his appearance.
Beings who should have faded into the backstage of history were not only reappearing before the audience but were also bending the world to their will.
Worse, the demons were making a move to capture him. If they succeeded, the world could plunge into irreversible chaos.
They could no longer ignore it.
Zacariel, the leader of the celestials, gave the order.
“Secure the Slave Reaper, subdue his slaves, and restore balance to the world.”
The celestials unfurled their white wings and descended to the mortal plane.
*
And then there was House Lorencius.
Currently in possession of the world's hottest potato, they were racking their brains over what to do with him.
What should they do with the Slave Reaper?
The options were many.
They could hand him over to the Merchants of Death, the Holy Kingdom, the Celestial Pavilion, or the Great Forest.
Each choice was incredibly tempting.
Every one of these factions held immense power, promising a favorable deal. It was highly likely to lead to an amicable relationship down the line.
They mulled over their options like someone deciding what to eat at a buffet.
“Wouldn't the Holy Kingdom be the best choice? We already have a good relationship with them, and we might even be able to forge a deep connection with the Saint.”
“No, Mother. We should exclude them because our relationship is already good. If we choose the Great Forest, won't our own power grow stronger? Bringing an elf into the family means we can use them for a hundred, even a thousand years.”
The Duchess nodded at Isabel's sound reasoning.
The Celestial Pavilion and the Merchants of Death were also attractive, but one couldn't put a mere merchant group on the same level as a nation.
“Darling, let's contact the Great Forest. Tell them we have the Slave Reaper.”
“…”
“Darling?”
Duke Lorencius, lost in thought with his arms crossed, had a different idea.
“Why must we choose only one?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Slave Reaper is a slave of House Lorencius. That means the Merchants of Death he runs, as well as the elves and other slaves under his command, are all our property.”
“Of course…!”
“That's my father! I've never met anyone as wise as you, Dad!”
“Hmph. Contact everyone looking for the Slave Reaper. Tell them the Slave Reaper is a slave of House Lorencius, so they must offer up everything that is his.”
The three of them busied themselves with praising one another.
Claude watched the Duke carefully.
“Then, Father. What about Rami's punishment…?”
“We'll put it on hold for now. If we harm her unnecessarily, she might become defiant.”
“Speaking of which, wouldn't it be more efficient if she cooperated? Her people might protest, demanding her return, or even become hostile.”
“At worst, it would just be the Merchants of Death. And even so, a mere merchant group is no match for us.”
No matter if they were the greatest merchant group on the continent, their opponent was House Lorencius, a renowned family of mages.
It would be nothing more than a temporary struggle before they were absorbed completely.
However.
“There's no harm in trying,” he conceded.
Her slave status could be easily resolved by them, and while her commoner birth was a sticking point, she was flawless otherwise. She possessed great beauty, had a powerful backing, and must be brilliant to have grown a merchant group to such a scale. Her other qualities were outstanding enough to overlook her commoner status.
If they could form an amicable bond, perhaps she could even be… a daughter-in-law?
Color bloomed on Claude's face.
“I'll leave her to you, Claude—”
“Wait, Father! I was the one who brought Rami here! I'm the one responsible for her!”
“But you're both women…”
“As long as we can bring her into our family, it doesn't matter who does it, right?”
“Well, that's true, but…”
Violeta’s eyes were filled with determination.
“I will be the one to educate her.”
“No, I'll do it.”
“Hmm.”
Violeta, Claude, and now even Alberic. All of them were burning with enthusiasm to compete for Rami's affection.
*
The Holy Kingdom, Kassilon.
Having finished her long pilgrimage—a pretense for lazing about with the merchant group—Elize had returned to her role as the Saint.
For the sole purpose of finding her Master.
A report was brought to her.
“Your Holiness, House Lorencius claims to have the Slave Reaper!”
“That is wonderful news. I trust they contacted only us, as we discussed beforehand?”
“Well…”
The Holy Knight hesitated.
Elize tilted her head.
“What is it? Is there a problem?”
“They say the Slave Reaper is now a slave of House Lorencius, and since he is their property, they have no intention of handing him over…”
A vein throbbed on Elize's forehead.
“…I see. That is a very big problem indeed.”
A very, very big problem.
How dare they? To think they would not only take my Master, but even pose as his owners?
She couldn't just stand by and watch.
“I hear House Lorencius has requested a high priest be sent to them?”
“Yes. The youngest son of the family was gravely injured in a magical accident. His magic circuits are twisted, and they say only a high priest can heal him…”
“I will go myself.”
They will pay dearly for their insolence in coveting the position of my Master's master.
*
The news that Karami was in the Lorencius domain also reached Narsha's ears.
“So, Lorencius's demand is that since they are our master's master, we are to hand over the merchant group. Is that correct?”
“Yes, Lady Narsha.”
“…”
Tap. Tap.
A steady rhythm. Narsha tapped her fingernail against the table.
‘Lorencius.’
A house with which she had a very deep connection. And of all places, Karami was being held there as a slave.
If this wasn't fate, what was?
Narsha stood up.
She took the rapier hanging on the wall and fastened it to her hip.
“It seems it's time to pay my respects to the head of the house after so long. I should also check if that immature woman is doing well.”
*
This was the Great Forest.
The sharp-eared elves had also heard the news about the Slave Reaper.
Ivrelia read the letter sent from House Lorencius.
“They demand that we send the elves under the Slave Reaper's command to the duchy. They say they'll pass them down through the generations and make good use of them for a long, long time. And if we refuse, they can't guarantee the Slave Reaper's safety.”
“Wow.”
Alfia was genuinely impressed. To think someone that brave still existed in this world.
She offered them a tribute of respect.
“Should we consider this a declaration of war?”
“Pretty much. Since the Queen is his slave, too.”
A demand to send Karami's slaves was a demand to send the Elf Queen to them.
They may not have intended it that way, but that was the reality of the situation.
“We should give them what they want, then.”
“We should, shouldn't we?”
Alfia summoned her verdant bow.
They want us to send the Slave Reaper's elven slaves? If that's what they want, we have no choice but to oblige.
“Ah, Alfia.”
“Yes?”
“If you become that man's master, could you perhaps lend him to me for a bit?”
“Why?”
“There's quite a lot I've suffered at his hands.”
Alfia thought for a moment.
She didn't want to share Karami with anyone else, but.
“Alright. But only for a little while, okay?”
It wasn't Rin, it was Ivrelia. She could probably be trusted.
Ivrelia smiled in satisfaction.
“That will be more than enough.”
*
The Celestial Pavilion in Vestia.
Heukbi and Yuhwa were gazing up at the sky from a window.
The unusual currents in the air were a sign that something big was about to happen.
“The heavens are about to make their move.”
“I suppose so. A single human has altered the Mandate of Heaven for so many. They will try to restore order.”
Their target, of course, was Karami.
“Honestly, everyone's just itching to get their hands on my Master.”
Rin jumped to her feet.
“Are you going?”
“Of course! They made a fearless provocation. Did you think Rin would just sit still?”
In her hand was a letter. Like the others, it was from House Lorencius.
Fwoosh.
It vanished in a burst of blue fox fire, not even leaving ash behind.
Meanwhile, the members of House Lorencius, oblivious to the fact that they were now in the eye of the storm…
Claude was on one knee, holding out a ring to Rami.
“Rami, will you marry me!”
“Eh.”