Chapter 9: Confession (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 9: Confession (1)
Myra, a priestess in white clerical robes.
Julius, a holy knight in armor of the same color.
The two members of the clergy, who had been wandering the continent to spread their doctrine, stopped in the city of Delphine. They had sensed a concentration of demonic energy nearby, similar to that which precedes the appearance of a dungeon.
The demonic energy in the air was undeniably thick. A dungeon would emerge within a few days.
While dungeons were usually left to adventurers, one could never know what variables might arise. They might have to wait and enter if the situation called for it.
The two, needing to stay in Delphine until then, went to a tavern to get a bite to eat.
A waitress approached their table to take their order.
“You’re here again today?”
“Well, yes.”
“The same as yesterday?”
“Yes, please.”
Just as the waitress said, they had come yesterday and were back again today. The combination of salad with a side of potatoes and a cold ale had been a perfect match for Myra’s tastes.
As she waited for the food, Myra swung her feet back and forth. Her conduct was rather casual for a member of the clergy. It was a freedom she couldn't enjoy within her stiflingly rigid church, so she was more cheerful than usual.
Even the short wait felt pleasant, and the mundane sights were entertaining. It was like during an exam period, when anything is more fun than studying.
Myra glanced around.
“Hm?”
Suddenly, her eyes caught something strange.
At the next table sat a man and a maid. The girl was curled up like an armadillo, clutching her staff and trembling as if caught in a blizzard.
But the weather was perfectly temperate, as pleasant as could be. And if she were sick, her shaking was far too severe.
‘What’s wrong with her?’
The most likely explanation was that she had been scolded by the man, who appeared to be her master. After all, the man wasn't doing anything to help her, even as she trembled.
To take the speculation further, perhaps the girl had made some mistake, and he was planning to punish her when they returned to their estate.
The girl was trembling at the thought of the horrible future that awaited her.
Though she was constantly told by other priests that she lacked decorum, Myra was a priestess nonetheless. The sight of the girl, who looked like a squirrel facing a snake, stirred Myra’s protective instincts.
Finally, Myra stood up from her seat.
Julius’s head followed her upward.
“Lady Myra?”
Without answering, Myra walked straight to the next table.
“Hey, is something wrong?”
Karami replied with a slick smile.
“I wonder. I’m not quite sure myself.”
“How could you not know? She’s shaking like a leaf.”
Karami glanced back and forth between Myra and Mirabelle.
The reason Mirabelle was trembling?
Of course he knew.
‘It’s because of you people.’
A witch’s natural enemy.
The ones who killed her mother.
Of course, these specific clergy members likely hadn't murdered Mirabelle’s mother, but the details didn't matter to Mirabelle. Trauma is like that.
Someone bitten by a dog will develop a fear of dogs, and someone who nearly drowned will be afraid of swimming.
Moreover, with the blood of a witch flowing through her veins, Mirabelle’s fear would feel even more vivid. She hadn't yet awakened as a full-fledged witch, but her anxiety was unavoidable.
Karami decided he needed to get away from them as quickly as possible.
“Let’s go, Miss Mirabelle. You don’t seem to be feeling well.”
“Go? Where do you think you’re going? To do what? Whip her?”
As Karami reached for Mirabelle, Myra snatched his wrist.
Squeeze. His wrist was crushed in Myra’s grip. It was so strong that Karami, a grown man, couldn't resist. For a moment, he barely suppressed the urge to scream like a child and answered calmly.
“Haha, I cherish this child. How could I do something so cruel? Besides.”
Karami’s eyes curved into crescents.
“Even if that were the case, she is my slave and my property. Do you have any right to interfere?”
“As one who serves God, I cannot turn a blind eye to someone being tormented. I can at least educate you.”
For fuck’s sake, she’s doing this because of you.
Damn it. Because of my looks and the way I talk, nothing ever goes smoothly.
Besides, I hated watching these discriminatory bastards act all righteous, when they’d turn on a dime if they knew Mirabelle was a witch.
Look at slave traders.
They don’t care about race. As long as they judge you to have value, they treat you with care. How beautifully equal. At this point, aren’t slave traders the Martin Luther Kings of this era?
Ah, I have a dream. A dream that one day, the slaves of this world will not be judged by their race, but by the content of their value.
As the atmosphere grew tense, Julius, who had intended to just watch, approached Karami’s table. The other patrons, who would find it entertaining even if someone died, watched the situation with keen interest.
It was a powder keg waiting to explode.
But it was Mirabelle who broke the silence.
“I… I’m… all right…”
She managed to say, her head still bowed.
Myra knelt to meet Mirabelle’s eyes.
“If this bastard is bothering you, you can tell me. I’ll teach him a lesson so he never does it again—”
Smack!
Mirabelle slapped away Myra’s hand as she reached out to gently stroke her head, then clung to Karami. She trembled in his arms.
Myra was utterly bewildered. A faint, victorious smile appeared on Karami’s face.
“My, my. It seems a stranger touching you so carelessly gave you a fright. It’s all right now.”
Karami stood up, holding Mirabelle, and took out a gold coin, placing it on the table.
“My apologies for the disturbance. This is for the meal and as an apology.”
“Oh, don’t mention it! Feel free to cause a disturbance anytime.”
The tavern owner, perhaps afraid Karami would change his mind, quickly snatched the gold coin and tucked it away. The sour look on his face was replaced by a blooming smile.
As Karami passed by Myra, he whispered with a smirk.
“My, my. I’m not quite sure who’s harassing whom here. Though it seems everyone else in the world does.”
“…”
“Let me tell you one thing. My girl eats and lives better than you do.”
With a pointed look at the table, Karami left the tavern. Myra couldn't bring herself to stop him this time. What she saw instead were the dishes on the table.
There was leftover bread, soup, and even meat. It was a meal too lavish for a mere maid. She was even sharing a table with her master…
It wasn't something an abuser would do.
“Haah, fuck.”
Myra let out a sigh and a coarse curse. She had been completely mistaken, just as he’d said. But the girl had been trembling so pitifully.
If it wasn't because of the man, then what on earth was the reason? Myra thought about it for quite some time but couldn't figure it out.
“Um, your food is here…”
An employee brought out the dishes, eyeing her cautiously. A steaming potato salad and an ale with condensation beading on the mug.
It was Myra’s favorite combination, but for some reason, it didn’t look appetizing today.
*
I got a room while still holding Mirabelle.
I walked into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, but even then, Mirabelle showed no sign of letting go. She clung to me like a baby koala.
Her small body was still trembling, conveying the full force of the emotional turmoil she had experienced. It meant her fear of encountering the clergy was just that great.
In times like these, a master must stabilize his slave’s mental state.
“Haha, Miss Mirabelle. Do you like me that much?”
Fuck, why did it have to come out like that? How does “Are you okay?” turn into this?
Normally, Mirabelle would have glared at me for saying something like that, but this time, she didn’t even flinch. This is more serious than I thought.
If I could see Mirabelle’s status screen, I imagine it would be filled with all sorts of emotional debuffs.
[Fear]
[Anxiety]
[Panic]
[Mental Collapse]
How am I supposed to calm her down? Words will only make it worse. Should I buy an item with points?
The decision I came to after much deliberation was…
Pat, pat.
To gently pat her back.
In a steady rhythm.
Over and over, until her trembling stopped.
How much time had passed?
The sun was setting. The dim twilight glow filled the room. The shadow cast by the two of us stretched long, like that of a single person.
My arm, which had gone numb long ago, was barely moving. Only then did Mirabelle finally stop shaking. The now-quiet girl simply had her arms loosely wrapped around my waist.
‘Looks like she missed her chance to pull away, doesn’t it?’
After trembling for so long, she was probably too embarrassed to pretend she was fine now. Especially since she was in my arms.
To be honest, I didn’t mind this position. No, I actually liked it.
A pleasant weight. The small-framed Mirabelle fit perfectly in one arm, and she was soft, too. There was even a faint, pleasant scent wafting from the nape of her neck.
She was perfect for use as a body pillow, you could say.
‘Damn it. Mirabelle, are you telling me you’re the best even at being hugged?’
But if we stayed like this, I felt like Mirabelle might die of shame, so I decided it was time to let go.
“If you’ve calmed down, would you mind getting off? You’re heavy.”
As if she had been waiting for it, Mirabelle slid away with a smooth motion. She kept more distance than usual.
Her fair face, perhaps flushed by the sunset glow, was slightly rosy. She narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
“I-I’m not heavy.”
“You have been eating well lately, haven’t you?”
Gasp.
I could have sworn I heard a sound like that.
Mirabelle’s pupils darted left and right, as if this was a factor she hadn’t considered.
Just kidding.
I was just teasing, why are you taking it so seriously? If you’re heavy, the whole world would have sunk into the sea by now.
I gave her a slick smile, and Mirabelle, finally realizing I was joking, puffed out her cheeks in a pout. Then, as if her energy had drained, she let out a light sigh.
Mirabelle hesitantly came over and sat next to me. Her mood was subdued, her expression quite serious.
With that look on her face, she began to speak.
“You don’t understand why I acted that way earlier, do you?”
“No.”
Yes, I do.
“I have something I’ve been hiding.”
I know what it is.
“If you hear this… what will you do? You might abandon me. I’m sure you will.”
Not a chance.
The thoughts were in my head, but the words wouldn't come out.
Even without a response from me, Mirabelle continued to speak in a quiet voice.
“Huuu…”
Taking a deep breath to shed a layer of tension, Mirabelle spoke in a solemn tone.
“I’m… actually a witch.”
I know.