07. It's Mine.
07. It's Mine.
"Take good care of them!!!"
It was right around dinnertime, so Sihwan along with Bari, Yu Ina, and Eleonore were all gathered at the table.
"These the new slaves?"
Yu Ina spoke as she watched the slaves bowing at a perfect ninety degrees, and the old man who had brought them replied.
"Yes, miss. These are the ones who will serve the young master."
"Not bad. They look about the right age."
"The gender mix sucks."
"Pardon?"
"Don't whine when you're the ones getting the consideration."
"Anyway, this won't do. I need to mention this when I contact the Clan Head."
"Haa... honey, can't you just think normally for once?"
Was her frustration at its peak? Yu Ina dropped her usual stiff instructor tone for something more like what a girl her age might say.
Of course, to Sihwan, even that felt pretty rigid.
"You still don't get it? I'm always, constantly normal. Because I'm the standard."
"...Fine... whatever you say."
She could tell there was no point arguing with him.
The so-called no-answer type.
Since he himself was the standard, he was always normal—and by extension, always right.
How do you even persuade someone who says crap like that?
Impossible.
Giving up, Yu Ina turned her gaze elsewhere.
"As you can see, this guy's the master you'll be serving. Just in case, I'm warning you: anyone who looks down on him because he's the same race as you will get a personal lesson from me, so watch yourselves."
"O... honey... saying that for my sake."
"...Shut up. I don't care if you get disrespected yourself, but disrespecting you is the same as disrespecting me, so I can't stand it."
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
Yu Ina pouted at his beaming, shit-eating grin, but she pressed on with the introductions.
"...The one next to him who looks human? She's literally a doll. She's like his exclusive companion, but that doesn't make her a slave, so don't treat her like one."
"Oh my. To think of me that way. I'm honored."
"...Do you two have to chime in every time?"
"Yup."
"..."
"Oh, and by the way, this elf next to me? She's my concubine."
"...I've never agreed to be your concubine, though?"
"Better than being a slave, right?"
"No..."
Eleonore shot Sihwan an incredulous look after getting blindsided out of nowhere.
Sure, just looking at the words, concubine did sound better than slave...
"Anyway, she's living here too, so treat her like you do us. And keep your eyes in check."
"Yes. Understood."
You'd think they'd be shocked by the total circus atmosphere, but the slaves stayed pretty calm.
"Can't keep his mouth shut in front of his wife, huh."
Yu Ina was seriously pissed.
No matter how wild he got, calling her a concubine right to her face?
On this front, Sihwan was just bulldozing ahead with zero mutual agreement.
She wanted to throw a fit, but held back—didn't want to hear him go, 'Jealous much?'
Of course, she didn't forget to give him an earful later.
"You always gotta make shit crystal clear."
"Ha. I'm so touched I'm about to cry."
Conversations with him were always mind-blowing and nose-running.
Always fresh and varied.
In the worst ways.
"Miss, I'll head back to the main house now."
"Alright. Give my regards to the Clan Head."
"Yes. Take care."
She nodded lightly.
"Luna, show them to their quarters."
"Y-Yes..."
At Yu Ina's order, Luna led the slaves out of the dining room, looking somehow flustered.
"I've got a question."
"What?"
After they all left, Sihwan spoke up.
"If I buy Luna, she won't serve you anymore, right?"
"Conceptually, yeah."
"Conceptually my ass— that's exactly what happens."
"...Yeah. So what're you wondering?"
"With one less slave serving you, they're sending a fresh batch from the main house?"
"Hmm."
She pondered it for a sec—never really thought about it before.
"Who knows? If it's just about headcount, maybe, but since the buyer's you, my husband, they might not bother."
"I see."
"Hell, you're already overstaffed. Three new slaves just for you, plus the ten I already had. They're not sending extras over one missing."
"Bummer."
"......What the hell's bumming you out?"
"Nah, forget it. Let's eat. Gotta feed my wife well so she pops out healthy babies."
"W-What?! What kinda nonsense is that!"
"Why not? Gotta have kids someday. My kids. How many? Fifteen?"
"Are you insane!!"
Fifteen?
Her face turned green.
Meanwhile, Luna guiding Jack and the others...
'Jack's here... what do I do?'
Her heart pounded, her mind all fluttery.
Back at the main house, she'd had feelings for him too.
And those feelings hadn't exploded into the open, but they'd definitely been burning.
If she hadn't come here with Yu Ina and stayed put, they'd probably be a couple by now, applying the slave couple rule.
'Thought I'd sorted it all out on the way here... but now...'
Her owner, Yu Ina, was Noblesse.
A fresh-out-the-womb thirty-something.
Unless something crazy happened, Luna would spend her whole life at the Academy with Yu Ina—no chance of reuniting with Jack.
Plus, on long assignments like this, they'd call in stallions for breeding, and she'd have to spread her legs for some other guy, bear his kid.
So she'd forced herself to move on coming here.
Because it could never happen.
But nope?
Yu Ina suddenly got married and needed male slaves, and of all people, 'Jack' ends up here.
A reunion she'd secretly hoped for.
And with male slaves here now, no need to call stallions for breeding—they'd breed the adult slaves among themselves.
Meaning, if things went right, she could have sex just with Jack!
As long as she didn't get sold to Sihwan.
In her eyes, getting sold to him was a matter of time.
From the chatter she'd overheard, it was basically locked in; prepping the payment was the only issue, but with that new cigarette invention or whatever, even that seemed sorted.
If she got sold?
She'd go from Yu Family dispatched slave to straight-up Sihwan's property.
No need to follow Yu Family policy, no orgies with the other Yu Family slaves.
The family might suggest it, sure. But would Sihwan allow it?
High chance he'd use her as a Sex Slave and not let his Sex Slave fool around with other slaves.
'Shoulda never come... why'd you have to show up...'
The heavens were heartless.
Why throw this trial her way?
She'd tried so hard to let go, so why parade him in front of her, tormenting her heart like this?
Why make her cling to something impossible!
"L-Luna... hi? Long time no see... you been good?"
Oblivious to her turmoil, Jack shyly greeted her.
He wouldn't dare speak up with others around, but it was just slaves here.
"...Yeah... been good... you?"
"Me too... yeah... been good."
It was a heart-wrenching scene, but the two other slaves watched warmly.
Was this slave solidarity?
"I'm... so happy to see you again. Feels like a dream."
Blushing as he confessed his heart, his face was like a girl in first love.
Luna's heart wavered too.
She'd harbored what might even be called 'love.'
But while her chest thumped, her head cooled rationally.
A wave of grief and sorrow hit.
Why was she born a slave, unable to be with the one she wanted?
For the first time, she resented her fate.
But she was just a slave.
A 'human slave' who couldn't survive the Tower on her own.
"This is your room."
The spot Luna showed them was small.
Yu Ina's mansion was huge, rooms galore, and her personality pretty lenient, but they were just lowly slaves.
Three cramming into a tiny room like this was already generous.
"Um... Luna..."
Before entering, Jack hesitated.
Like he had something huge to say,
Like a confession on the tip of his tongue,
Fidgeting until he caught her eye.
"What?"
"If it's okay... maybe we could..."
His face looked ready to burst.
Tomato-red, steam practically pouring off.
"We... we're adults now... so... like... togeth—"
"No can do."
As he mustered lifetime courage to finish, a cold voice shredded the pink atmosphere.
"B-Bari-ssi...!"
Click-clack.
No clue when she'd followed, but Bari's heels stopped right in front of the three male slaves and Luna.
"I can't allow it."
Calmly parted bangs, straight hair down to her waist.
Silk-smooth locks gleamed glossy black.
Snow-white skin, sharp features.
Pert nose, red lips holding chill and allure.
An otherworldly beauty you rarely encounter.
Earlier, with her head down, he hadn't seen properly, but damn.
She was a stunner not a whit behind Yu Family's granddaughter Yu Ina.
"...W-Who the hell are you?"
His reaction lagged a beat.
Irritation and rage hit late too.
"Who knows. Worth explaining to the likes of you?"
"What'd you say?"
"More's the pity. I personally like humans, but seeing you fallen to slavery breaks my heart."
"What the fuck are you talking about? And why butt in all sudden-like...!"
"Because you're plotting something I can't permit."
"What...?"
Bari wedged herself between Jack and Luna, splitting them.
"From what I know, the Yu Family doesn't allow love between slaves? Slave love and loyalty should go only to the master."
"That's..."
"I know. You slaves made your own 'couple rule,' and the family turns a blind eye. But turning a blind eye's just that—a blind eye. If it's right in front of them, they'd have to crack down, right?"
"..."
Jack ground his teeth silently.
She was insanely beautiful, sure, but hate sprouted fresh for her.
'Wait... wasn't she... called a doll?'
It hit him then.
Yu Ina had called her a 'doll.' Sure, with a warning not to mess with her, but right now, that was gone from his head.
All that lingered: she was a 'doll,' and this doll blocking his love pissed him off.
"Right now—"
"Calling me a doll just shows how pathetic you are. Not even funny. Don't people usually play it safe if they don't know?"
Bari's eyes started glowing red.
"Anyway, you, those two over there—none of you are touching Luna-ssi. No permission granted."
"Who the hell are you to say that!"
Jack finally blew up.
Her eyes were scary as hell, but he couldn't look weak in front of his love.
He was that pissed too.
"And not just Luna-ssi—hands off all the other female slaves too."
Bari didn't give a shit.
"U-Um, Bari-ssi..."
"Hah... look, we're Yu Family slaves. Why should we listen to you?!"
Luna fidgeting in the middle, Jack growling like he didn't know his place.
Bari smirked wickedly.
"Why? Because Luna-ssi's about to become Master's exclusive Sperm Receptacle, and the rest of the female slaves will soon be Master's property too."