Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Modern Gaslighting
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As if even the time to eat was a luxury.
Levi ignored the growling from her stomach as best she could and was now wielding the broom.
Her small shoulders bobbed with every sweep of the floor, and it was plain as day that her breath was giving out before the dust did.
So I decided to play the villain even more, fanning the flames in this burning house.
"Levi. You're doing great."
"R-Really?"
Levi readjusted her grip on the broom, her face a mix of doubt and surprise.
It was the reaction of someone utterly unaccustomed to praise.
"Yeah. At this rate, you deserve a 'bonus'."
"A bo... bonus?"
At that moment, Levi's ears perked up.
Her eyes changed.
The pupils that had been hazy and unfocused just moments ago now gleamed like a beast spotting prey, locking onto me.
But it was only for a fleeting instant.
A question mark slowly formed on Levi's face.
Her expression froze in a strange mix of anticipation and confusion.
...Yeah.
In this world, that was inevitable.
Slaves were beings meant to work.
They did as they were told, and simply being allowed to live was enough for their station.
The very idea of rewarding a slave extra for doing their job well didn't exist.
So I opened my mouth as if explaining the most natural system in the world.
"In simple terms, it's a bonus."
Levi's eyes widened further.
"If you do well at the tasks assigned to you, on top of your regular pay, we give you extra."
"Th-There's something like that!?"
"Of course~ I'm a kind master, after all. I make sure my slaves have that level of 'welfare'."
Levi fell silent for a moment.
Her gaze shook in the air several times as she struggled to grasp the concept.
Then, a beat late—
"Th-Then I want it! I want the bonus!"
If she had a tail, it would have been wagging furiously right then.
Like a succubus stumbling upon unexpected prey, she couldn't hide the eager sparkle in her eyes.
But.
"Thing is."
I timed it perfectly, striking right when her anticipation peaked.
"You've been going nonstop without a break. Your body's shaking."
Levi flinched.
"I-I'm fine!"
The response came almost reflexively.
As if any hesitation would give her away.
"I can do more!"
But her body was honest, even if her words weren't.
Grrrrrowl.
This time, it rumbled loud and clear.
Levi heard it too and clamped her mouth shut, as if choked.
A brief silence.
Still, she tensed her stomach.
As if the sound had never happened, forcing her expression back to normal.
"M-My stomach doesn't hurt at all! Or... I can eat while I work!"
That tone was familiar.
In a world where enduring hunger was a skill and hiding weakness was survival, Levi had lived that way.
The demonic society's law of the jungle.
Starvation was routine, hunger just another trial to bear.
So I nodded with a smile.
The more she acted like this, the more satisfying it was to 'discipline' her.
"Alright. If you say so~."
Then, casually, I pointed down the hall she'd just swept past.
"In that case, could you do that area again? I noticed some dust on the way over."
Levi's eyes lit up.
"Of course! Leave it to me!"
No sooner had the words left her mouth than she clutched the broom to her chest and dashed off.
Without so much as a glance at Piel and Aira, who were watching her with concern.
As I followed behind, I glanced at the two of them.
"M-Master..."
"What are you planning? If she collapses like that—"
"She won't."
I cut her off with a low chuckle.
"More importantly, get ready. The real show's about to start."
"...Huh?"
A fox tail swished, and elven ears twitched.
And just as Levi began meticulously resweeping the area she'd already cleaned once...
Casually.
I approached under the pretense of supervising and nudged the expensive-looking potted plant beside her.
Crash!
Glass shards scattered across the floor, the single sound slicing through the hallway air.
And now, the real fun began.
Startled by the loud shatter, Levi whipped around.
"Eek?!"
A beat after the noise, I looked down at the ruined pot and muttered softly.
"Oh no!"
As if a completely unforeseen accident had just occurred.
"Levi."
I called her name in a calm voice.
"What are you doing?"
"Uh... huh?"
"Exactly. You should've stopped when Aira and Piel told you to rest!"
Levi froze solid.
Her eyes darted frantically between the broken pot and me.
I added logic that anyone would have to nod along to, with a sigh-mixed expression.
"You didn't eat, didn't rest properly, kept pushing yourself, and that's why your body shook and this happened!"
The moment I finished, the blood drained from Levi's face.
"I-I... broke this?"
"Yes."
I nodded firmly.
No room for mercy.
Levi opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it.
Probably thinking something like, 'But I didn't feel anything?'
So, to erase any chance of her saying it—
"Girls."
I suddenly looked up and called to Piel and Aira.
Like a truly wronged master.
"You saw that, right?!"
"Y-Yes?"
"Uh... well..."
"Levi just—"
I pointed at the shards on the floor and continued.
"Shattered a pot that's worth a whole year's wages for her!!"
"A-a year's worth!?"
Levi's eyes bulged.
Pure terror in her reaction.
"Th-This was that expensive...?"
No.
Honestly, not at all.
This wasn't some fancy noble mansion; it was the annex where the family's shameful bastard stayed.
A space with only the bare minimum decorative face-savers.
It looked decent enough at a glance, but nothing here was truly valuable.
Who in their right mind would put an expensive pot in an annex like this?
But no one present knew that for a fact.
So I shot Piel and Aira subtle, repeated winks.
The message was simple.
This is acting.
Play along.
Brief bewilderment crossed their faces.
Followed by inescapable guilt.
But.
'Girls. This is all for Levi.'
Reading my lips, they closed their eyes for a moment, then opened them with resolve.
"...I see."
"...Understood, Master Lucas."
Faces steeled.
And soon, they seamlessly joined the act as if nothing had happened.
"That's right! Levi, you pushed too hard and broke it!"
"Exactly! That's why we kept telling you that resting is part of the job!"
"N-No way...!"
The two senior maids, always so gentle, scolding her for the first time.
Levi froze completely on the spot.
Her eyes reddened in an instant, tears falling before she could catch them.
She looked utterly lost, on the verge of breaking down.
...Honestly.
'My conscience stings a bit.'
But this was a necessary trade-off.
For her health.
And to teach her, while living by our side, to cling to life.
Bitter medicine worked best.
This level of discipline was an unavoidable step.
"Master."
Then Piel spoke up, feigning caution.
"It was Levi's first time, so... could you let it slide just this once?"
"Agreed."
Aira nodded along, playing her part.
"But in exchange, we'll take the 'punishment'."
"Wh-What!?"
Levi jumped, looking back and forth between them.
"Piel sis, Aira sis! You don't need to get punished because of me—"
"No, Master Lucas."
Aira's face was quite serious.
"Levi's our junior who came after us. It's our responsibility for not teaching her properly."
Yeah. I get the direction you're going with this.
The lines are solid.
But why are you both subtly positioning yourselves at my sides, rubbing your hips against me so naturally?
I had no idea what kind of punishment they were imagining, and this wasn't the moment to ask.
Instead.
Thinking her seniors were getting scolded because of her, Levi sank to the floor and bowed her head.
I sighed theatrically and spoke in a slightly softer tone.
"Levi, why'd you do that? If you'd just rested when I told you to, you'd have recharged your energy, been in better shape, and none of this would've happened."
"Sniff... I'm sorry..."
"I even prepared a special meal just for you. But because you pushed yourself, this accident happened~."
Levi nodded.
Sobbing, but accepting my words.
So far, so good.
But I wanted to etch it deeper this time: that she must rest after work.
So I'd prepared.
The Korean-style 'salary receipt method'.
"The table's already set with food."
"Why didn't you eat?"
"Well..."
Levi stammered for a moment.
"I'm just a body meant to die anyway... Luxuries like that are a burden for trash like me..."
Yeah, yeah.
I get what you're saying.
But did you expect this?
"That."
I cut in quietly.
"Was all made from the meal expenses deducted from your salary."
".........Huh?"
In that instant, Levi's tear-streaked face froze like a jammed film reel.