Eternal Slave
Another day, another mess from the start.
First stop: finished repairing the town’s outer wall, then moved on with Yuria.
“Where next?”
“South, just outside the town.”
“Outside?”
“We’ve been asked to build a water source—want to make a field.”
“A water source? Could we just use a large spring?”
“Risha and Mira are handling the material transport.”
“Ah. Efficient.”
I complimented Yuria. Touched her head while I was at it.
She didn’t pull away. Didn’t smile either.
It’s a little worrying—she doesn’t light up much, unlike Risha and Mira.
“Next?”
“Build another bathhouse from every town.”
“Every town?”
“Men’s and women’s.”
“…Ah, right. We didn’t separate them before.”
We’d only built them to keep an eye on the slaves. Forgot that part.
“Got it. I’ll build one. Um, the soul of Lava—”
"I asked Mira and the others to do it."
"Damn, you're efficient. Really."
Not because I was trying to please her or anything—just genuinely thought it that way now.
That's how I felt about Yuria, my slave, my super competent secretary.
☆
In the afternoon, I was resting inside the manor.
Leaning back with Risha kneading my head with her knees.
"Thank you for your hard work, master."
"Really tired... didn't expect to be running all over the place like that."
"Was it Yuria's fault?"
"If it weren't for her, things would've been worse."
Worse than just being a mess right now.
I remembered the three of us—Risha, Mira, and me—rushing around like crazy.
"You're really helping, Yuria."
"Yeah."
Risha stayed silent.
Still silent, she slowly fanned me with a fan.
Her thigh was soft, the breeze cool—pleasant.
Being made to do this kind of thing—my fatigue was vanishing fast.
Felt good. Drowsy. Drifting off.
"Master—"
"Shh."
Voice heard. Yuria had come in. Risha had whispered softly.
"Master just rested. Is there something urgent?"
Risha said.
If it’s not important, I’d rather just stay here, enjoying the softness and the cool breeze.
"Message from Mira and the others. A group attacked the town. We intercepted them. Captured everyone."
"Then it’s up to Master to decide."
"The leader’s a man with a slave. Name’s Seya."
Huh? Saint Night?
Saint Night came after Rebeck?
I cracked my eyes open. Risha was deep in thought. Yuria watched her quietly.
In terms of history with Saint Night, Risha was just like me.
Wondering how she’d decide—might as well see.
“Yuria. You go and ask those people to leave. They might get angry, even at the Master, but please ask them politely to go.”
“Are you sure? They attacked us.”
“About them, I think the Master would do the same.”
She looked at me.
I quickly shut my eyes.
Yeah, Risha’s right.
This is the fourth time since leaving the Goddess’s presence that I’ve tangled with Saint Night.
They’re getting more openly hostile lately. If I don’t leave, they’ll probably get even angrier.
But even if I do leave, they’ll end up letting them go anyway. Saint Night doesn’t really hold a grudge.
Smart of Risha—she’s got the longest history as a slave, so she knows how this works.
After a while, Yuria stepped out.
A softness followed, then coolness.
If this keeps up, I can just leave the whole break to her.
I stayed with my eyes shut, sinking into sleep on her lap.
☆
At night, I stepped outside the manor.
Most townspeople had returned to their homes. No human presence lingered in the streets.
I wandered aimlessly, strolling through the town.
Rebeck—just a little while ago, a town under Malart’s control.
Compared to then, the buildings had been repaired, new, the streets neatly laid out.
Some I fixed. Others I built from scratch.
I built it. I’m lord of it. My town.
“Ahahaha, Daddy’s such a joker.”
“No, really, I swear—I actually caught something—this big.”
“Sure, sure. Save the boasting for when you’ve actually brought the prey home.”
Laughter drifted from inside a house. Warm, familial sounds.
They’re laughing together, happy.
“Good.”
“Lord.”
A voice called from behind.
An older man, unfamiliar face.
“You?”
“Denis, sir.”
Another name I’ve never heard before.
Can’t recall much—been working too hard, even among the townsfolk gathering materials for the spell circle. Feels like I’ve never seen her before.
Then—
“Lord, you’d best be careful.”
Denis came in, all serious, like he had some weighty secret.
“Careful?”
“Yes. You’ve got a slave, don’t you? That little one.”
“Yuria?”
“Yes. You’d best keep an eye on her. That one’ll pull something reckless someday, using your name.”
“Evidence?”
“I’ve got it. She let those attackers go today—on her own.”
The Saint’s Night incident.
That was—
“She made the call while you were asleep. That kind of thing’s dangerous. I think you should do something fast. Banish her, maybe.”
“Is that so.”
I said it, and Denis broke into a smirk.
You know—like he’d just outsmarted me.
Not exactly a face that looks pleased.
“Thanks for the advice. Let me know if anything comes up.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure to—”
“Not about anything slave-related.”
Denis froze mid-sentence.
His face snapped rigid, like it had cracked with a sharp crack.
“Yuria is my slave.”
“No, but—”
“Betrayal? I could never discard her. A slave is forever a slave.”
He said it flatly. Then he made a little noise—“Ugh.”
In that instant—
——Magic power charged: 2,000,000.
The usual sound rang in my head. Behind me, a flash burst open.
I turned. There stood Yuria. Her collar glowed, bright and clear.
Her expression—no need to look. I already knew.