The Honor of a Slave

Inside the lord’s manor, Risha returned with her report.

“Master, I’ve returned from the forest.”

“Good work. What’s the situation?”

“The animals are multiplying faster than ever. We’re still fine for now, but I think we should expand the forest eventually.”

“Understood. And separately—Yuria.”

She turned to Yuria, her secretary, and gave her instructions.

“Another thirty residents have arrived in Akito’s town. We’ll need to build the foundation for them.”

“That’s the gist. Also, a request came in about adjusting Neetka’s layout. That town’s in your hands. Go there and sort it out—make it work.”

“Understood!”

Risha started to leave for her duties.

Then Mira rushed in.

“Master!”

“What is it?”

“A message from Meya. She says food supplies are running low—she’s asking for a resupply.”

“Shit, I forgot.”

The reminder snapped Risha back to memory.

Meya and the others are out fighting all over the place, so we need resupply every time they move.

I was asked to do it earlier, but I completely forgot.

"Where are Meya and the others now?"

"Near Akito’s town, apparently."

"Ah."

Nodding, Risha turned toward the door, already stepping out.

"Then I’ll leave that to you too. Take enough Pshinyi for everyone to the wooden house—lift the whole warehouse and carry it there."

"Understood."

Risha nodded.

Now that she could use her slave card, she had the same power as me—able to lift and carry whatever she’d made.

That meant she could now lift the wooden house—entire warehouse and all—and transport it.

"Then I’m off."

"Yeah."

Nodding, I watched Risha leave.

Wait—did I assign too much work?

I just handed it to Risha without thinking, since she was already handling Akito’s town. But now that I think about it… that’s pretty heavy lifting.

Can you handle it, Risha?

"Master."

"What is it, Yuria?"

"Yuria. We received a message from Kazan. They want to arrange a meeting with the leader of another nearby settlement."

"Hmm. Another aid request? Or just a courtesy visit? Either way, I got it—tell them we'll meet."

"Yes. Also, the town's commerce is booming. The amount of coin we have is running low."

"Ah. Got it. I'll go hunt another dragon."

Yuria kept piling on the duties, and I ended up swamped.

Swamped. Forgot all about Risha.

☆

"Risha!"

I’d just returned from the town to the lord’s manor when I heard Risha had collapsed. I rushed to her room.

The usually gentle slave lay on the bed, face twisted in pain, sweat beading on her forehead.

"Yuria. What happened to Risha?"

I asked Yuria, who’d followed me in.

"Overwork."

"Overwork?"

Yeah, work’s been crazy. Came back and just collapsed.

"Overwork..."

I saw Risha.

Her complexion was definitely off—those telltale signs of a human collapsing from exhaustion.

Honestly.

"Guess I really took on too much work..."

I’ve reflected on it.

She’d always thought slaves were something to be loved—yet here she was, reflecting on how thoughtlessly she’d piled on task after task.

Let’s think about this a bit more.

“U…n”

Risha slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes couldn’t focus, drifting across the room.

She jolts upright, startled.

"W-why am I...?"

She staggered up, but immediately fell again, dizziness seizing her.

Anemia from overwork, most likely.

I pushed Risha back onto the bed and said.

Don’t push yourself. Take a break for a bit.

"Me... why?"

She asks in a voice so weak it barely makes it past her lips.

"Seems she collapsed from overwork. Sorry, I just threw work at you without thinking—"

"Overwork?!"

Risha shouted. A voice so loud it startled me.

Her face was still pale, but her eyes lit up in an instant.

That look— I knew it. The same look she had when I gave her the collar.

And then—

——Magic power charged: 5,000,000.

"Huh?!"

I nearly gasped out loud.

Stunned. My mind rang with the usual voice announcing a magic charge.

And the highest number yet.

The absolute peak among all the magic I’d ever drawn from a slave.

"I… I’m the one who collapsed…?"

"Wait a second. What’s with that reaction? You collapsed from overwork, remember?"

"From a slave’s point of view,"

Yuria spoke up.

"Being given work so intense it makes you collapse is a great honor. Proof that your master trusts you completely."

"...Huh?"

For a moment, I didn’t understand what she was saying at all.

Being felled by work is an honor? No way. That’s insane.

“…You’re kidding, right?”

“No, it’s true—”

Before Yuria could finish, the door burst open with a crash, slamming into the wall.

There stood Mira. One of the slaves, just like Risha and Yuria.

“Risha-san!? Is it true Risha collapsed from overwork?”

Mira, already prone to wild emotions, now had eyes shining brighter than ever.

“Looks like it.”

“Wow! That’s amazing! Risha’s so lucky!”

Mira bounced up and down like a child, practically drooling with envy.

She was actually jealous… of being worn out. Jealous of exhaustion.

…Wait. Is this real?

“Master!”

“Uh… yeah? What is it?”

“Please give me more work! I want more work too!”

She shoved right up close.

More work, huh. That’s not “give me work until I collapse,” is it?

Before I could even process it, Yuria spoke again.

“Mira-senpai. That’s not right.”

“Huh?”

“Begging for work from us? That’s slave-level failure. You have to earn trust through actions—make it natural for us to hand you tasks. Otherwise, it’s not honor.”

“S-sure… I get it!”

Mira slumped down with a heavy thud.

Hands and knees on the floor. Head hanging low.

…Seriously, that much?

“Yeah… I was wrong.”

“Just saying. Wanting punishment here? Also slave-level failure.”

“I know. I’ll show you through actions!”

She bolted out of the room.

She said “show through actions,” so she probably went back to the task assigned to her.

“Master, I’ll be excused too.”

Yuria left as well.

It’s a bit hard to follow, but judging from the conversation, she’s doing the same thing as Mira.

And so, the room was just the two of us—me and Risha.

Somehow, still not quite catching up.

Slave dignity, I suppose.

I looked at Risha. She was still pale, gently stroking her collar with affection.

"Um, Master..."

"What?"

"I’m glad I’m your slave. You’re the best master in the world."

"...Huh."

Guess I’ve just got to believe it now.

And believing it, I said:

"...Risha."

"Yes?"

"Order: rest today."

"...Understood."

Risha made a little disappointed face.

"I’ll leave a universal remedy here. Rest well tonight. Drink it tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning?"

Risha looked surprised.

"Yeah. Drink it tomorrow morning. Rest tonight. Work again tomorrow."

"---Yes!"

A beat passed. Then Risha smiled—finally understood my kindness.

—Charged magic power: 10,000.

Charged at the usual level this time.

Pleasing a slave was far beneath the dignity of a slave, but oh well—let it pass.