Chapter 14
Elves hoping to become slaves? It was true that elf slaves were popular among the nobility. They had pretty faces, toned and slender figures honed by life in nature, and by human standards, they barely aged. On top of that, they possessed the rarity that nobles prized above all else. Despite it being illegal, nobles listed elf slaves as their most desired possession.
What about Franz? He was a noble too, but he had no particular interest in elf slaves.
'Can't live breaking the law.'
Having lived in this world for over twenty years, he felt almost no aversion to the institution of slavery itself. But elf slaves were still illegal. He had no desire to take on that risk just for one.
That aside—what kind of twisted logic led someone to become a slave to save other slaves?
He was dying to know what was going on in Hera's head.
Franz pulled his hand away from his forehead and spoke.
"Enough. What slave nonsense is this?"
"But if I don't do something like this, won't I never be able to repay the debt I owe you?"
"I told you, it's just a favor."
"Franz, this is a matter of my pride. Even if it's a favor from you, I want to repay it properly."
This is driving me crazy. Franz clicked his tongue at Hera's old-fashioned stubbornness.
If it were a massive debt, he might understand. Like saving her life, or stopping the World Tree from burning. But no—it was just a casual commission, like a light outing, and she was acting like this. It was absurd.
Yet it was hard to flatly refuse.
'Her intentions are good.'
Repaying someone's kindness. How pure and beautiful an intent. The problem was that the repayment involved illegal activity.
"Hera, elf slaves are illegal. And a master-servant contract leaves evidence on your neck—what about that?"
The master-servant contract. A kind of pact between slave and owner. The slave couldn't harm the master, had to obey orders, and so on. Once made, a special tattoo appeared on the neck. There was no way to hide it forever, so eventually, Hera's status as a slave would be exposed. And if it came out that Franz was the owner?
'...Straight to prison.'
No matter how he thought about it, there was no reason to take that risk and accept Hera as a slave. He could hire workers by the dozen at the Magic Tower—they'd line up for the job.
But Hera wouldn't budge from her stubbornness.
"You must not know yet. That mark from the master-servant contract—it can be placed somewhere other than the neck."
"Somewhere else?"
"Yes. Looking at the elves captured as slaves, they always had it right here." Hera pointed with both hands to a spot just below her lower abdomen.
The classic spot for tattoos in fantasy worlds.
Franz let out an involuntary hah of disbelief.
Of all the places, why there? Sure, it was the first spot that came to mind for tattoos. And the most alluring one. Plus, even if you bared your belly, it wasn't easy to spot....
'Surprisingly practical?'
A tattoo that was an eyesore on the neck became alluring there, and the risk of exposure was low. It caught two rabbits with one stone. This had to be the work of the Contract Magic Association. Once the dispatch ended, he'd visit and praise them....
'No, no.' Franz snapped his wandering thoughts back on track. The important thing now was stopping Hera from becoming a slave.
A firm voice came from his mouth.
"Still no. Laws exist to be followed."
"Franz, I've learned something while trying to save the slaves."
"What?"
"Whether there's a law or not, as long as you don't get caught, it's fine. And me becoming a slave doesn't inconvenience anyone, does it?"
Even the lesson she learned was in the worst direction—fitting for a villainess who could destroy the world. No words for that.
Haa-. A sigh escaped Franz's lips. Their conversation was running parallel, no conclusion in sight. If it dragged on like this, it might never end. And if Hera truly turned into a villainess in the process....
'Better a slave than that....'
In the end, Franz compromised with reality.
That was when it happened.
Elf Archer Hera's emotions are rampaging!
If left alone, it may negatively affect the ending!
In Franz's eyes, Hera was gradually losing her will. Her head drooped weakly, the light fading from her eyes.
"If not as a slave, then where do I belong...."
"Fine. Do whatever you want."
"Really...?!"
"Yeah, slave or whatever—do as you please."
Franz watched the guide window vanish before him, chuckling inwardly. It was too ridiculous—her falling to corruption because he wouldn't make her a slave.
'At least I have a plan.'
Hera's condition was only after saving all elf slaves. There were over a hundred in the world, scattered across the continent. By the time she did, Franz might not even be around anymore.
A misconception born from the lifespan gap between humans and elves. He'd realize something was wrong in the near future, but for now, he knew nothing.
The sun that had lit the world dipped beyond the mountain ridge, and darkness fell. Only the new moon hung idly in the sky, showing off its slender form.
In that gloom, two figures stood before a massive mansion.
Franz, the mage of the hero party, and Hera, the elf archer.
The plan was simple. Franz would disarm the traps, then they'd storm in, rescue the elf slaves. Gidric, Rat Trap, and any witnesses—all executed.
Their gazes met in the air.
'Let's get started.'
Franz slowly extended his hand forward. Mana waves began radiating from him, like a pebble dropped into still water.
Trees, animals, people, magic circles. His mana detected foreign mana signatures.
It wasn't fancy magic—just mana detection. But its range and precision were overwhelming because it was Franz.
'They really went all out.'
Step and teleport elsewhere, flames erupting, powerful water jets—traps filled the mansion densely.
Rat Trap wasn't the diligent type, so Gidric must have paid handsomely.
'The elf slaves....'
Clustered mana lumps in the basement. Boosting the output, he clearly sensed their long ears.
As Hera had said, these were the elves.
'Gidric and our Rat Trap....'
Gidric and Rat Trap were together on the top floor, probably talking.
Not that chit-chat would save them.
Everyone has a plan—until they get punched.
'Alright, let's start by disarming the traps.'
Stupid Rat Trap—you should've picked your bullying targets better.
Franz smirked and snapped his fingers.
Snap-.
A short, crisp sound echoed in the silence, and every trap in the mansion deactivated at once.
They were probably jumping in shock right now. Days of work gone in an instant.
And to protect their pride, they'd keep it secret from Gidric.
Just imagining it made Franz grin.
"Hera, let's go. Elves are in the basement."
"Understood."
At Franz's signal, Hera shot forward like an arrow, effortlessly vaulting the high wall.
That was baseline physical ability? Impressive every time.
That aside.
'Time for me to get to work too.'
Finally, time to meet the esteemed senior Rat Trap.
Rat Trap—no, trap mage Derin. Dining with Gidric in the mansion's dining hall, he sensed something off.
'The traps are disarmed...?'
If they'd been undone one by one, he'd suspect intruders. But all at once? Bizarre.
Something was happening, but he couldn't tell Gidric. A year out of the Magic Tower, he'd finally landed a big job—couldn't back out now.
"Hm? Derin, something wrong?"
"Ah, just a stomachache...."
"Oh, that's bad. Go handle it."
Derin left to check visually. Hurrying along—
A voice echoed in his mind.
> Ahh-, Did you like the gift from your senior, Rat Trap?