Slave Card
I brought Yuria back into the manor.
On the way back, she kept her hand on the base of her neck.
Gently, like touching something precious and breakable.
"Yuria, show me that."
"Yes."
Facing me, she answered with a command tone, and without hesitation, moved her hand away.
A reaction that said: being ordered is normal. Refusal? Impossible.
I studied her collar closely.
Previously, it had been a leather one with gems—elegant, but ordinary.
But now—
"Stuck to it… no, this is—"
I reached out and touched it. No gap between neck and collar. What was once an object had fused into skin.
The word 'assimilation' flickered through my mind.
"Is this really safe? Any pain?"
"No."
Yuria answered immediately.
"How the hell do you even remove something like this?"
"I don't think it can be removed."
"Why would you think that?"
"Because I’m your slave forever."
"Is that so."
Repeating it made it click. That’s what it meant.
So I declared it, and Yuria—overhearing by chance—got happy, and the collar evolved like this.
Evolution. Yeah, evolution.
Two million units of magical charge. The collar’s fusion.
“Evolution” fits better than anything else.
But there’s still a question.
"I’ve always said you’d be my slave forever. I’ve told Risha and the others the same. Why only now?"
"..."
Yuria looked away.
Her face was faintly red. Like she was embarrassed.
That’s… familiar.
"Yuria."
"Yes."
"What happened? Answer me."
"Yes."
Yuria placed a hand on the collar and replied.
"A man named Saint Night told his slave something… and I overheard."
"Saint Night? What did he say?"
"‘You’re a useless slave. Next time you’re no use, I’ll really ditch you.’"
"Typical of her."
She wasn’t there, but I could easily picture how she’d speak—and what she’d do—just from the tone.
Probably kicked and punched her own slave again, just like always.
Yuria heard that.
It’s only natural the master discards a slave. That’s just how masters and slaves are. If a slave is discarded, they must be discarded properly.
“Hmph.”
“But if I’m discarded, I’m no longer a slave. If I can serve forever, that’s the best. Eternal slave, after all.”
Touching the collar again, as if to emphasize the point.
Ah, I see.
I get it all now.
Yes
Yuria nods, her hand brushing the collar growing more tender with each touch.
"Master"
Welcome back.
Hearing a voice from inside the manor, Risha and Mira stepped out.
Two slaves. Two Eternal Slaves.
One of them—Risha—spotted Yuria’s collar right away.
“Yuria… that’s…?”
“…Yeah.”
“That? Wait—attached! Why? Did your master do something?”
“Slaves… get to be slaves forever.”
That’s a pretty big shortcut. Does it actually get the point across?
“Mm.”
“Jealous!”
Seems like it did.
“Master’s amazing—giving you eternal servitude.”
“Yeah! Amazing! Just like our Master!”
Risha lifted it with full force, then glanced sideways at me. Mira stared straight at me, eyes wide, clinging.
Silent begging.
They wanted their collar back—returned, after I’d taken it away as punishment.
Fine, I could give it back. But… I felt like playing a little.
I pulled out the collar and held it up in front of both of them.
Hand it back, sure—but if you don’t end up like Yuria, I’m taking it again.
she said.
Just a little playful mischief—wanted to tease the cute little slaves a bit.
Well, what now—was the thought drifting through her mind.
Without hesitation, the two took the collars and slipped them around their own necks.
She finishes winding it up and looks at me together.
"My Lady"
"Please keep me as your slave."
she said.
The next instant, the collars around both their necks flared with light.
The same light as Yuria.
The light of the collar fusing with the skin.
When the light settled, the collar had become part of her body—just like Yuria.
"Wow..."
"Yata!"
—Charged eight thousand units of mana.
— Charged 120,000 units of magic.
Two women delightedly fiddling with a collar—this is the happiest they’ve been yet. Even the numbers show it.
Yuria, watching from the side, also let out a faint smile. That kind of joy doesn’t show up in the numbers unless it’s real—probably not wrong.
The next instant, DORECA glowed inside the pocket.
I stared at it, thinking—another card? After gold, maybe platinum next?
“…Huh?”
The light faded. Still gold. No change.
“Doesn’t change.”
Risha murmured.
She’s the only one among the three who’s been around since the normal card days. Probably thinking the same thing I was.
Why’d it glow just now?
“Menu open.”
Holding the card, I opened the menu and checked everything.
Card type still gold. Magic charge was fully registered. Number of slaves unchanged.
Just… glowed?
I kept looking—then found it.
Right above Eternal Slave on the creation list, there was a new entry.
Slave Card (Normal).
Slave Card… Normal.
Like a family credit card, maybe?
"Alright, let's make one."
"What are we making, Master?"
"Anything you say!"
"Anything at all."
Three leaning in, eager.
I drew a magic circle on the ground. Three copies of Slave Card (Normal).
Material: "Slave’s DNA."
The arrows in the circle pointed at each of them. All three glowed from head to toe.
"Is it us? What should we do, Master?"
"...Hair, I guess. Just one strand."
That’s what I figured, given the label.
Each pulled a single hair and dropped it into the circle.
Correct. The magic light wrapped around the hair, shaped it into a card.
Exactly like DORECA—just like the original Normal cards, back in the day.
"M-me, menu open..."
Risha, the one who’d been with the cards the longest, said it hesitantly.
“N-no… I’ll go in cloth robes…”
She said, drawing a magic circle on the ground.
Exactly the same function as my DORECA.
And now, the magic circle I just drew was draining power from my DORECA.
Just like a credit card family card.
“Master’s strength…”
Risha cradled her slave card carefully. Mira did the same. Yuria too.
☆
I’ve gained new power.
Slave card (Normal).
No bronze or higher, so the only thing I can make is the same as what I made at first.
Still, being able to use a slave I trust? Definitely new power.