Chapter 328: Gag.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 328: Gag.
“Let’s drink to our hearts’ content today without worrying about getting drunk!”
A banquet was prepared in the city. It was a feast arranged by Karami for all those who had worked so hard to build it.
The drinking party was held outside the castle walls. Dwarves and humans mingled together, making no distinction between them. Among the crowd were several mages from the Magic Tower.
Dwarves, the epitome of extroversion, and mages, the epitome of introversion. And not just any mages, but those from the Magic Tower, who were rumored to be particularly eccentric.
Having forsaken all forms of exercise, they were all uniformly thin. Overwhelmed by the boisterous energy of the dwarves, they couldn't get their bearings and were tossed about here and there.
“You lot should eat properly. Are you a lass? What’s with these legs? One kick and they’d snap.”
“I’ll handle my own affairs, so mind your business! Besides, your legs are too short to even swing properly. More importantly, stop clinging to me! It's hot enough without you sticking to me!”
“The heat just makes the ale taste cooler. Stop whining like a girl.”
“Ugh…! I tried to be patient with you, dwarf, but it seems you think my words are a joke! I’ll carve into that stunted body of yours just what happens when you ignore Osbar, a high mage of the Magic Tower!”
Osbar shot to his feet, raising his staff and gathering his mana.
He looked ready to cast a spell at any moment.
“I’ll get angry if you cause a scene.”
“Ugh.”
But the moment Mirabelle gave him a look, he had to quickly disperse the mana he had so painstakingly gathered.
Right now, she was just a maid, busy serving drinks and food with the other servants. She grunted and groaned, carrying a tankard as big as her face in her small hands.
“B-But, Master of the Magic Tower! For you to be waiting on others… this is utterly absurd.”
“What’s absurd about it? I’m my Master’s slave.”
“But for the Master of the Magic Tower to be the slave of a slave trader…”
Mirabelle narrowed her eyes and shot him a fierce glare.
“Are you saying I’m not my Master’s slave?”
At the ferocious flow of mana she emanated, Osbar swallowed hard.
He spoke in a trembling voice.
“N-No, of course not. You are, without a doubt, the Slave Reaper’s slave. Yes… the finest slave there is.”
“Right? So, as my Master’s slave, I will not tolerate anyone causing a ruckus at the banquet my Master is hosting. Don’t fight. Get along.”
“Understood…”
Unable to even think of defying the maid girl, he sat back down. A dwarf immediately threw an arm around his shoulders.
“That’s right! Let’s get along, just like the little one said!”
“Do not call the Master of the Magic Tower a ‘little one’! She is the great master of the great Magic Tower!”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. You magic-users are as fussy as girls. Just like those pointy-ears. Hahaha!”
While it was boisterous outside, inside the castle, Karami and his slaves had gathered with the key figures of the construction project.
Among them was Turuntu, Guardian of Steel, one of the Seven Meisters and the head of this construction.
And then there was Edmund Alexius Wilmore, an elder of the Magic Tower.
Before the food was served, Edmund bowed his head to Karami, who sat at the head of the table.
“It is an honor to meet you, Slave Reaper. I have heard much about you from the Master of the Magic Tower.”
“A pleasure to meet you, the next Count Wilmore. Or perhaps, I should say the former.”
Edmund’s eyes flew open.
“H-How did you know that?”
“She is my slave. As her master, it’s only natural I know who surrounds her. I am aware of the other elders as well.”
There was no place as enigmatic as the Magic Tower, and no one as veiled in secrecy as its elders, yet he knew about them in detail.
Edmund had expected as much from the master of the Magic Tower Master, but this man was truly no ordinary person.
“I apologize for the matter concerning Zakaril. He threatened my life, so I could not simply let it pass.”
“…It’s fine. I always thought he would cause trouble someday. If he ran wild, it’s only right that he face the consequences of his actions.”
“I’m glad you see it that way.”
“Think nothing of it. More importantly, why is Elder Morgana here…?”
Edmund glanced at Morgana Seriseine, who was seated right next to him. She was one of his fellow elders from the Magic Tower but had not participated in this project.
Yet here she was, attending the banquet. Did she have some connection to the Slave Reaper?
Morgana didn’t answer Edmund’s question, staring straight ahead. Karami spoke with a smirk.
“He asked you a question, Morgana. Why don’t you answer him yourself?”
Morgana bit her lip.
She opened her mouth reluctantly.
“Because I… am the Slave Reaper’s slave.”
“……What?”
“What’s with you? Never seen a slave before?! This place is crawling with them. The Master of the Magic Tower herself is a slave, so what’s the big deal about me being one?”
“No, I didn’t say anything…”
“Shut it, baldy!”
“Hey, why bring my complex into this all of a sudden…”
Karami smiled faintly and chided her gently.
“You shouldn’t make fun of people’s weaknesses, Morgana.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Edmund gasped in astonishment at Morgana’s demure attitude.
That Morgana, the Great Witch, not only became a man’s slave, but she’s this obedient?
Was the sky about to split in two?
Just what kind of person was this Slave Reaper to have turned Morgana into a well-behaved pet? He was definitely not a normal human.
As they continued their trivial conversation, maids began to set dishes upon the long tables.
“The food is here. Let’s talk while we eat.”
After Karami took the first bite, his slaves began to eat.
Elize made the sign of the cross and said a prayer before her meal, while Rin, famished from playing tag, tore into a piece of meat.
Alfia ate her vegetarian meal, and Narsha cut her steak with an air of overflowing sophistication.
It seemed to be another peaceful mealtime, just like any other.
“Urp.”
Suddenly, the sound of someone gagging echoed through the room.
It was Azyeth, just as she was about to put food in her mouth.
As a former princess, Azyeth was as graceful as Narsha and quiet in all things. The sound was completely out of character for her.
She seemed surprised herself, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide.
“Are you alright?”
“Mmhmm. I’m fine.”
Why had she done that?
Puzzled, Azyeth tilted her head and tried to eat again.
“Gag.”
But once again, she couldn’t get the food into her mouth. Azyeth gagged loudly and dropped her fork.
In that instant, the slaves, who had been eating, all stopped moving at once, as if on cue. Their eyes, staring into the air, were wide.
Karami asked with a worried look.
“Are you sure you’re not feeling unwell? Summer must be hard on you, Azyeth.”
Having lived her entire life in the North and even harboring Skadia within her, she was a creature of cold. The summer heat must feel especially harsh for her.
But Azyeth shook her head, saying that wasn’t the reason.
“The food… it smells strange…”
“A strange smell? I don’t know. All I smell is something delicious.”
“……Master.”
“Yes?”
“May I examine her for a moment?”
Right.
The Saint was right here, so what was there to worry about?
“I’m sorry to interrupt the meal. Please, go ahead.”
Elize rose from her seat and approached Azyeth. All eyes were on them.
“Pardon me.”
As Elize reached out to place a hand on Azyeth’s chest, Azyeth twisted away to block her.
“Why are you stopping me? You think I want to do this? I have to examine you to find out what’s wrong! Stay still!”
“……”
For some reason, Elize seemed more agitated than the patient, Azyeth. Overpowered by her intensity, Azyeth gave up her resistance and stood still.
Elize placed her hand on Azyeth’s chest. A faint halo of light appeared.
After a moment, she let out a long sigh.
“…………Haaah.”
“What is it? Is something seriously wrong?”
“It’s not that…”
Elize hesitated to speak.
But she couldn’t stay silent forever.
She finally opened her mouth.
“It’s… a pregnancy. And from this energy, it’s likely a girl.”
“Ah…”
Narsha let out a soft gasp and put a hand to her forehead.
The other slaves had similar reactions, as if they had been expecting it. Only the two people directly involved failed to understand.
“A pregnancy? Azyeth is?”
“Preg…nant?”
“Yes, pregnant. The Master’s child is inside this woman’s belly. Do I really have to spell it out for you? Of all the many slaves, why did it have to be her…”
Elize gnawed on her lip in frustration. Even with her confirmation, it was hard to believe.
“So you mean… that was morning sickness just now.”
Azyeth placed a hand on her belly.
“Little princess…?”
“A princess is a princess, what’s this ‘little princess’ nonsense? The moment that child is born, you won’t be a princess anymore. You’ll be a queen. The evil queen who torments Snow White.”
“I don’t want that.”
“It’s not about what you want…”
“Stop trying to scare her for no reason.”
“Tch.”
Elize returned to her seat and began to chew angrily on a piece of meat that was still dripping with blood.
“What?! Our princess is with child? That son of a bitch finally went and did it!!!”
Turuntu shot up and roared. Hearing the shout, the dwarves outside stormed in as a group.
“What did you say, you bastard? The princess is with child?”
“Our princess?”
“With child?”
“Which bastard laid a hand on our princess?!”
Who else could it be?
Karami.
In an instant, the dwarves surrounded Karami. The hall descended into utter chaos.
“You twig!”
“You lanky bastard!”
“You bag of bones!”
“““How dare you touch our princess!”””
Karami pleaded with his slaves for help.
“Everyone, please get me out of here.”
“Hmph.”
But the slaves didn’t even pretend to notice.
If you do the crime, you do the time.
After being tormented for a good while, Karami finally managed to escape.
“This is wonderful. Congratulations, Azyeth.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Azyeth smiled faintly, stroking her belly.