Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Ch. 10 Chapter 10
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Even I, who was blessed with magic, had to observe her for a while before realizing it, so it would have been difficult for an ordinary priest to detect.
I found it astonishing.
A curse that torments a person for a year and ultimately leads to death.
Moreover, an ordinary priest couldn’t even discover it.
‘A Warlock capable of casting such a curse exists in this remote area?’
To be honest, the possibility wasn’t zero.
‘Could it be that even the monster wave…’
No, that couldn’t be.
If it were a Warlock capable of causing an incident of that scale, they would likely belong to the Black Star of the Southern Great Forest or be a recognized Warlock.
‘In the first place, would a Warlock of that level fail to notice my existence?’
In my first life, my first encounter with a truly high-ranking Warlock was my master. In other words, based on my experience, there was no high-ranking Warlock in the area that I couldn’t handle. Even if there was in the past, at least currently, there was none, as far as I could deduce.
‘It couldn’t be contact with a high-level undead… Was it contact with a cursed object?’
I needed to investigate.
“…Sir Jimnis?”
“Ah, yes. My apologies.”
“In any case, I wouldn’t recommend that child. The illness isn’t contagious, but she probably won’t live long.”
They were keeping her because of the possibility, but they didn’t want to recommend her.
“Hmm… Then the price won’t be very high.”
“…That is true, but…”
“Still, she’ll last at least a year, won’t she? By then, I’ll have more funds, and I can just buy a new slave. With her lack of strength, she won’t run away.”
“But she probably won’t be able to work well.”
“Well, I won’t have her do anything significant. There are many drawbacks, but from my perspective, there’s nothing bad about it.”
Perhaps because I was oddly fixated on her, Albert looked at me strangely.
“Well, she’s not unpleasant to look at. If it’s a face I’ll see often, it’s better than an ugly one.”
“…Is that so? I understand.”
I didn’t like saying such things about a child, but there was no better excuse.
And so, the cost of purchasing Thea was 30 silver.
If she were healthy, she would have been sold for at least double that, or perhaps even in gold units.
Because of her illness and the fact that I was helping Kuman, I received various discounts, resulting in that price.
‘Tsk. It’s still expensive.’
“Hmm, we need to stamp the slave seal…”
“You don’t have a seal?”
“Yes. It seems like she might die if we stamp it.”
‘That’s good.’
“Then let’s skip it. Give me a chain or something thick. I have the certificate, and you said she won’t live long anyway.”
The chain already had a seal engraved on it.
“Having a slave without a seal on their body is illegal, but… Hmm. Well. It’s a special case, and considering her health… All right.”
In the first place, capturing commoners and turning them into slaves was illegal itself.
Moreover, in this world, the law favored those who had power, and as long as you weren’t caught, that was the end of it.
‘Even if you get caught, most of it is resolved with power, connections, and money.’
Therefore, I was able to take custody of Thea without much difficulty.
As soon as I received Thea, I asked Albert.
“When will Sir Kuman return?”
“He said it would take about a month. The closest territory with a Magic Tower is Siglen…”
“I see. Understood.”
“When the master returns, I will send someone separately.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll stop by from time to time. I may not capture, but I’ll continue hunting regularly.”
“Is that so? I understand. Have a safe trip.”
After finishing my conversation with Albert, I led Thea out of the development castle.
Although I had put a traveler’s robe on her, my presence still attracted the attention of many people, but I ignored it appropriately.
Until we left the development castle, Thea didn’t open her mouth even once.
However, she was sending glances my way, observing me knowingly or unknowingly.
It was natural, if it could be called natural. She needed to quickly figure out what kind of person her new owner was.
She had to respond accordingly to minimize her suffering.
We walked in silence for a long time even after leaving the development castle.
Thea, lacking in stamina, began to pant slightly, and I finally opened my mouth, thinking it would be fine at this distance.
“Thea.”
“Yes, Master.”
Since I learned her name during the contract process, it wasn’t strange for me to suddenly call her name.
However, at my next words, she couldn’t hide her astonishment.
“Your sister’s name is Athena, right?”
Thea looked up at me with wide eyes.
“Your answer?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Thea quickly apologized and immediately answered.
“My sister’s name is indeed Athena.”
She was rapidly moving her eyes as if she couldn’t understand how I knew Athena’s name.
However, given her status, she couldn’t ask me first, and her expression quickly became anxious.
It seemed like she was having unfavorable imaginations.
“Athena sent me.”
“…Pardon?”
“Athena joined my team. As a condition for joining the team, we agreed to get you out.”
For a moment, Thea seemed unable to understand my words.
However, it didn’t take long for her to realize what I was saying, and soon tears began to flow from Thea’s eyes.
Perhaps it was a habit. Throughout her crying, Thea didn’t let out a single groan.
Only after she had calmed down to some extent did I speak to Thea.
“I want to remove the chains, but I don’t have the tools right now. I’ll remove them later. For now, we need to move quickly, so get on my back.”
As I crouched down in front of her, she hesitated for a moment before climbing onto my back.
She indeed looked slender, and even with a collar and chains, she was still light.
As I walked a bit faster with Thea on my back, she buried her head against my back and muttered softly.
“Thank you.”
“It’s just a deal.”
That was the truth.
To the extent that I had saved her, no, even more than that, Athena would work for me.
“Still, thank you.”
“If you say so.”
After that, Thea fell silent.
During that time, I analyzed the curse that had been placed on her through the parts of our bodies that were in contact.
‘It’s persistently vicious.’
Honestly, it was surprising that she had endured for a year in this body.
The curse itself was simple.
It just weakened the body.
However, its range was wide.
It seemed to weaken not only the muscles but also the immune system itself.
‘She must have died quite horribly in the previous round.’
As Athena’s leash, she would have received a lot of care, yet there was a reason she couldn’t survive.
‘Still, lifting the curse itself isn’t impossible.’
It would just take a long time.
Moreover, it was impossible at my current level.
‘But what matters is that it can be cured.’
If I revealed this fact, Athena would be even more bound to me.
‘Even a decent Warlock can’t cure it. The temple’s diagnosis was accurate.’
A high-ranking priest would be needed just to detect it.
Curing it was a separate matter, and I believed that even a high-ranking priest would find it impossible to cure.
‘Her body can’t endure it.’
It was difficult to receive such a curse in the first place.
‘I definitely need to investigate it later.’
I needed to find out where she had received such a curse.
In the distance, my house came into view.
At the entrance, a woman was moving restlessly, looking anxious.
It was Athena.
‘She really cherishes her.’
I newly realized Thea’s high value.
“Thea!”
Athena, who had spotted us, ran over quickly.
“Sister!”
Thea responded with a bright smile.
I immediately let Thea down, and Athena strongly embraced her.
Curse
Although the two hugged and cried for a long time, they couldn’t stay there forever.
I handed the slave documents to Athena, and she immediately tore them to shreds.
I took them to the warehouse and used the tools for making traps to cut off Thea’s collar.
Normally, it wasn’t this easy to cut off a collar.
It required quite a delicate process, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t do with my enhanced senses after obtaining magic.
“The slave seal…”
“It’s not there. We were lucky.”
It was practically complete liberation.
Upon realizing that, Athena was overjoyed.
However, that joy was short-lived, as she belatedly realized that Thea’s condition was quite poor.
She noticed that Thea wasn’t just struggling due to a lack of nutrients from being captured by the slave trader, but was actually sick.
Thea seemed reluctant to worry Athena, but under Athena’s gaze directed at me, I readily answered that she was indeed ill.
“I’m fine, Sister. I never thought I’d see you again…”
“It’s okay. It’ll be okay. You’re no longer a slave, so I’ll earn money and take you to a doctor, no, a priest. I’ve awakened mana too? Just hold on a little longer, and I’ll take you to the temple. I promise, Sister.”
“Okay. Thank you, Sister.”
Thea didn’t bother to reveal the fact that she had already been to the temple.
I also didn’t mention it now, as it would only prolong the conversation, so I suggested we eat.
Athena seemed eager to feed Thea more, noticing her small portions, but I stopped her.
“I’m full, Sister.”
“But you only ate that much…”
“Eating too quickly will upset your stomach. Take it slow. We have plenty of time now.”
It was better to gradually increase the amount of food.
Noticing Thea’s fatigue, I suggested she rest, and Thea nodded somewhat awkwardly.
‘She still finds me uncomfortable, it seems.’
Well, it was natural, if it could be called natural.
Honestly, I thought this level of distance was sufficient.
After all, it was Athena, not Thea, who would be working with me.
As soon as Thea went to rest, I called Athena separately to my room.
As soon as she entered my room, she expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you. For keeping your promise.”
“That was the condition of the contract. Don’t tell Thea that I’m a Warlock. Make sure she can never access the basement.”
There was nothing good about her knowing.
Athena nodded at my words.
“Of course. But… how much did it cost? I’ll pay you back.”
I shook my head at her words.
“I’ll take care of that. Just don’t betray me.”
“I absolutely won’t. I even swore on mana, remember?”
“Just keep that in mind. More importantly…”
I immediately brought up the main topic.
“Your sister’s illness. It’s not an ordinary illness.”
“…What?”
“She said she had already been to the temple. She was told to seek a high-ranking priest.”
Athena’s face turned serious.
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