Chapter 32: Thorny Vines
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 32: Thorny Vines
My archery practice continued until the sunset had bled deep into the sky.
To get straight to the point, the arrows never even landed near the target.
As if they had a will of their own, they would either refuse to fly at all, drop to the ground after a short distance, or soar up into the sky. They flew wherever they pleased.
Even if Alfia was an elf, and my slave at that, it was a tall order for her to become a master archer in half a day.
But contrary to the disastrous results, Alfia’s expression wasn’t half-bad as we returned to the castle. Perhaps because she’d gotten to shoot a bow to her heart’s content for the first time, she even looked somewhat refreshed.
“Hmm…”
“What is it?”
Alfia was staring down at her own hands.
“I’ve got blisters.”
“It’s because you were firing so rapidly. We should put some medicine on them when we get back.”
“It’s fine. I’m used to pain. Besides, if I’m going to use a real bow, I’ll need to develop calluses anyway.”
“If you say so.”
We returned directly to The Peacock’s Night Gathering. By then, the sun had completely set, and business was in full swing. We avoided the crowds and headed down to the basement.
Down below were four familiar faces.
Victor’s granddaughter, Emily.
Matthew.
And the twin sisters, Lili and Lala.
“D-do they really give you food here…?”
“I told you! They give you breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they buy you clothes and toys!”
“But I heard they beat slaves and make them do hard work…”
“Don’t worry! Karami-hyung won’t do anything like that.”
And one new face.
Blonde hair and tan skin. From the disheveled appearance, it was obvious the child roamed the back alleys. But the face visible between the strands of short, golden hair was quite pretty.
With such a delicate frame, they’d grow up to be a real beauty.
“So, what do you think, hyung! I brought a girl, just like I promised! This is good enough, right?”
“You didn’t drag them here by force, did you?”
“What do you take me for! I even confirmed that she wants to be a slave.”
I had ordered it, but I couldn’t believe there was actually a kid who wanted to become a slave. Then again, it was probably better than starving to death.
“She passes. You’ve done well, Matthew. As promised, I’ll buy you a sword.”
“Awesome!”
I casually pushed aside Matthew, who was dancing with joy, and crouched down in front of the child.
“A pleasure to meet you. I hear you wish to become my slave?”
“Y-Yes…”
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Yes, I’m okay…”
“Very well. Then before we make the contract, we should introduce ourselves. What’s your name?”
“I-It’s Hanni.”
Hanni.
Sounded like a name that could run fast.
Not bad.
“Alright, Miss Hanni. I look forward to working with you.”
I had no intention of throwing away points that had just rolled in. I used Soul Shackles to place a shackle on Hanni’s soul—
“I-I look forward to working with you, Karami-hyung… Hup.”
—or I was about to.
“…Hyung?”
Why ‘hyung’?
What, is she a tomboy or something?
Or one of those Japanese ‘bokugirls’?
The youngest child who grew up with only brothers?
Something felt off.
“Miss Hanni… no, Hanni. What is your gender?”
“……I-I’m a boy…”
Son of a bitch.
Not a pretty girl, but a femboy?
He wasn’t a beautiful, tanned maiden, but the makings of a golden-haired, tan-skinned heartbreaker!
“I’m pretty sure I said I was only accepting girls. Didn’t Matthew explain that to you?”
“H-He did… but he said you’d fall for it if I said I was a girl…”
He was right. I almost fell for it.
I’d come this close to forming a soul contract with a boy.
“Ah, I’m so tired from playing all day. Maybe I’ll just go to sleep?”
Matthew suddenly turned his back and tried to crawl into his room.
“Matthew?”
“What?”
“A word, if you please.”
“But I’m sleepy.”
“Hmm, it’s starting to get a little crowded in here. Maybe it’s time we implemented a first-in, first-out policy…”
Only then did Matthew turn back to me.
But his eyes were darting to the upper-diagonal.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
“Uh, well… I don’t know what you mean, but the older guys in the neighborhood said it doesn’t matter as long as they’re cute?”
Matthew spouted such nonsense.
This ungrateful little shit tried to pull a fast one on me. How dare he try to plant a pepper in my garden? And a golden-tanned one at that?
You’ve crossed the line.
“Matthew gets no dinner tomorrow.”
“What?”
“And from now on, Matthew is in charge of all the cleaning in the basement.”
The other children cheered.
In contrast, Matthew, who had just been sentenced to unpaid community service, protested his unfair treatment.
“You can’t do that!”
“And why can’t I? I’m the law around here. If you have a problem with it, you can leave.”
“I’m gonna tell my grandpa!”
“Be my guest.”
He seems to be under some delusion. Victor provides the space for a fee; I’m the one paying for all of you to live.
Leaving the wailing Matthew, I stood up. Alfia, who had been watching the situation, sighed and shook her head.
Tug, tug.
Someone pulled on my pants. It was the one who had gone from Miss Hanni to Master Hanni—the future heartbreaker.
“Does this mean… I don’t get to eat?”
His voice was on the verge of tears.
His eyes were welling up.
His needlessly pretty features only amplified the pity he evoked.
I can’t be swayed. With a face like that, I could already see the future, where he’d be taunting me, ‘Heh heh☆ Guess who’s with Mirabelle now?’
I can’t be swayed…
“Am I… getting kicked out again?”
Seeing his pathetic state, all I could do was let out a weary sigh.
“Hah, it’s dinnertime anyway, so let’s eat and then think about it. But first, you need to wash up.”
I called over to Matthew, who was still lying face down on the floor, screaming.
“Give Hanni a good wash. If you do, I’ll let you join us for dinner.”
Matthew’s head shot up.
“Okay! Hanni, let’s go!”
He took Hanni’s hand and they disappeared together. They seemed close, which wasn’t a bad thing, but don’t boys usually not hold hands, even when they’re young?
Don’t tell me he brought him here because he’s his type?
Beside me, Alfia was giggling. My head was spinning, so I stopped thinking about it.
*
“I’m telling you! Isn’t this weird?!”
“It’s nighttime. Please lower your voice.”
“Do I look like I’m in any state to lower my voice?”
The middle of the night.
In other words, time for sleep.
I was already having trouble sleeping these days without Mirabelle to hug, and now Alfia was shouting, making me sigh.
There were four rooms in the basement.
Victor and Emily’s room.
Matthew and Hanni’s room.
Lili and Lala’s room.
The last one was my and Alfia’s room. Which is to say, Alfia was not happy about sleeping in the same room as me.
“Why do you and I have to sleep in the same room? There’s even the twins’ room, for crying out loud.”
“You never know what might happen. I need to be nearby to respond to an emergency.”
“Is that your way of saying you think I might run away?”
“That’s a possibility.”
Alfia glared at me from the opposite bed. Even in the darkness, her green eyes shone fiercely. I knew what she was worried about, but I may not look it, but I’m a gentleman of a slave owner, you know?
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything. You woke up perfectly fine just yesterday, didn’t you?”
“……”
My words didn’t seem to reassure her at all. After staring at me with suspicion for a while longer, Alfia finally turned her back and lay down.
She pulled the blanket up to her shoulders, forming a barrier.
I let it be. It wasn’t enough that she’d been taken from the forest she’d lived in her whole life; now she had to sleep in the same room as a man she barely knew. How distraught must she be?
As her master, I had to show some magnanimity.
I lay down as well and pulled up my blanket.
“Have a good night.”
Hmm, still, having Alfia here makes the air in the room feel fresh.
It feels like sleeping in a forest. I think I’ll sleep well.
*
Alfia always had the same dream.
A curse by the name of nightmare.
A nightmare where thorny vines sprouted from the ground, wrapped around her entire body, and slowly constricted her. It didn’t just end as a dream, either; it carried over into reality.
“Keuk…”
In the pre-dawn room, a pained groan escaped her lips.
Thrashing on the bed, Alfia curled her body into a ball. She clutched her chest violently, as if self-harm would be less painful.
The spirits were sobering up.
And the moment they awoke, they began to run wild.
She wished they would all just get out of her body, but the mere thought seemed to provoke them, making them rampage even more fiercely.
Alcohol. I need alcohol.
Lying down, Alfia flailed her hand about, but it didn’t find any alcohol. Strange. She was sure she’d kept it within reach at all times.
Ah, this wasn’t her home.
She’d been captured as a slave.
The fortunate thing was that this place was a tavern. A single glass of strong liquor would be more than enough to put the spirits to sleep.
Alfia threw off the blanket and forced her body up. Her sweat-drenched body felt unbearably sticky. In her dazed state, she looked around and spotted Karami sleeping across from her.
In that moment, she recalled his stern warning.
—All sorts of people visit this place at dawn. Mages, skilled mercenaries. You might reveal your identity to them, so don’t go upstairs at dawn.
She didn’t quite know the reason why.
She could only vaguely guess that he didn’t want her existence to be discovered.
Should she just ignore him and go upstairs?
Was there any reason she had to care about Karami’s circumstances?
—It’s only natural for a master to trust his slave. Do you need any other reason?
…….
Why am I thinking of that now?
That man is a heinous criminal who kidnapped her and made her a slave. A murderer who drove countless elves to their deaths.
He enslaves and torments helpless children. A villain, by any common definition…
So why did the look in his eyes from earlier today keep coming to mind?
No matter how much she pondered, she couldn’t find the reason.
Alfia lay back down on the bed. Right, let’s just endure it for today. From now on, I’ll just have to bring alcohol to the room beforehand.
Just a little longer.
I’m used to pain.
The price for not drinking was severe.
The pain intensified.
The thorny vines tore at her mind and scraped at her soul.
Endure it.
Bear it.
I’m used to pain.
I’m used to pain….
She repeated it over and over, as if trying to hypnotize herself. It was a useless struggle, but it was all Alfia could do.
Stroke, stroke.
Then, she felt a strange sensation.
What was this feeling?
Hmm… right.
This must be what it feels like to have your head stroked. She wouldn’t know for sure, having never experienced it.
Tonight’s dream is a little strange. This has never happened before.
It felt a little rough.
And a little gentle.
The sensation was utterly awkward… but, well, the strange imbalance wasn’t so bad. It seemed to draw her attention, making the pain lessen.
Touching an elf’s body so carelessly is unspeakable, but just this once, I’ll permit this stroking.
….
And stop trying to sneakily touch my ears.
They’re sensitive.