Caught Thief
Collar fused to body, green dress, slave card (bronze).
At the forest entrance near Rebec, Rirya beaming with delight, all set.
I felt a little thrill, watching her.
Risha, the oldest, had gathered hers bit by bit. Rirya, the newest, had snapped them all together at once.
Just like the old times, when we played.
“How’s it feel? Nothing off?”
I tapped my own neck.
“Not at all. Feels like it’s been with me since birth.”
“Really?”
“Yes indeed!”
Rirya beamed, eyes wide.
“Warm it up, please.”
“Yeah.”
I nodded.
Well then, time to head back to Rebec and get to work.
“Akito.”
A familiar voice. Mira appeared.
The others stayed back, waiting. Just Mira came over.
"Guess we’re lucky to run into each other here. What’re you doing out here?"
"Just passing through. You?"
"Patrolling."
Mira glanced over my shoulder at Rirya.
"New slave?"
"Yeah. Rirya."
"Nice to meet you. Fourth Slave Rirya, at your service."
"Call me Mira. I’m one of the girls who’ll be getting pregnant by Akito, soon as we’re all gathered."
"Pleased to meet you."
The two women smiled at each other.
I turned to Mira.
"Since I gave her the same power as Risha and the others, you can rely on her if you need anything."
"Same power?"
"Yeah."
I nodded. Mira blinked, surprised.
"Really? She’s a new slave. Looks like she’s already got a collar and a dress. You’re not… over-trusting, are you?"
"Is that a problem?"
I looked at Rirya.
Eternal Slave.
"Slaves are trustworthy just by being slaves."
"Ani-chan..."
"Huh..."
Rirya looked moved. Mira looked stunned.
"Still the same old Akitto, aren't you? Real manly."
"Is that so?"
"Yep."
"Is it?"
She tilted her head.
I don’t think so.
She’s a slave. An Eternal Slave.
After everything that’s happened since I got here, I know this race never rebels—no matter what their master goes through.
Even in the old world, people say dogs are loyal to their owners. But these are even more loyal.
They’re programmed with a loyalty rating of 100.
That has nothing to do with my so-called "manliness."
☆
"Master, it's an emergency!"
The next morning, I was asleep in the bedroom when Risha burst in, flustered.
"What’s wrong? It’s barely morning."
"Neetka's been stolen—Neetka's been stolen!"
"...what?"
The moment I heard it, drowsiness vanished completely.
"Stolen?"
Yes! Come here.
I nodded, changed my clothes, and stepped out of the lord's manor.
And following Risha, we arrive at the outskirts of town.
"Here, my lord!"
...Yeah, definitely stolen.
It was a spot where they’d stationed about twenty Neetka cannons for the town’s defense, but nearly half were gone.
"Thief... right?"
Ah
"Such... who exactly... could it be..."
……
Risha says that, but I knew the moment I saw the scene.
The NEET card is gone. The place where it was is surprisingly clean.
The pedestal below remains as is, but the upper part of the Niteka has vanished completely.
I pulled out my DORECA and lifted the remaining Neetka.
The pedestal of the raised Niteka looked exactly like the pedestal of the vanished Niteka.
"Master?"
"Anything made with a DORECA can be lifted by anyone holding a DORECA, no matter the weight. You know that, right?"
"Y-yes. Even my slave card can do the same."
"Then look—see what happens after it's lifted, and what happens after it's stolen."
"Eh... ah, it's the same."
"You’ve got a suspect now, don’t you?"
"...Saint Night?!"
I nodded.
Right now, only six people in the world have either a DORECA or a slave card.
Me, my four slaves, and Saint Night.
Saint Night’s slave hasn’t made a slave card yet—so she couldn’t have done it.
Slaves are unconditionally trustworthy. So it wasn’t any of my slaves.
That leaves only Saint Night, by process of elimination.
"...That idiot..."
☆
A desolate plain, common enough in this world, empty of people.
There, Saint Night and her slave stood.
Before them, ten Neetkas were laid out. Saint Night was grinning at them, eyes narrow, lips curling.
“Fuh… fufufufu. With this, with this kind of firepower, I—”
“…”
“Still, you’re really no good at this. Why can’t you lift it, when those slaves of his can?”
“Forgive me.”
“Hmph. Definitely a defective slave. Whatever. Right now, this. This’ll do for now—”
“For now, what?”
I stepped forward, speaking to Saint Night.
“Akito!? What are you doing here!?”
“Lucky break. Mira spotted a weird guy sneaking around with Neetkas. Though, even without that tip, I’d have found you.”
I pulled out DORECA and began drawing the magic circle.
Several arrows appeared, pointing to materials. One of them pointed straight at the Neetka before us.
A magic circle to create an improved Neetka.
“Damn…”
Saint Night groaned at the sight. I just stared, more baffled than ever.
“Saint Night… you really didn’t have to go this far.”
“What was that!?”
“What the hell’s that supposed to mean? Think about it—what you did was stealing. Stealing in the dead of night, sneaking in like a common thief.”
“Shut up! It’s not a big deal. There’s plenty of it. Just give a little to us, that’s all.”
“……”
I was speechless. Then I thought, wait a minute.
Steal something, then get angry about it?
“Anyway, hand it back. And come with me.”
“Why the hell should I?”
“This has already spread through the whole town of Rebeck. We can’t let this go without catching the culprit and dealing with them properly.”
“What the hell are you talking about? It’s your town, isn’t it? Why’re you acting so careful?”
“……”
No point arguing with her.
I slowly raised my hand.
“What’s that supposed to be, some kind of spell?”
“Look around, idiot.”
Saint Night looked around—and her face turned pale in an instant.
Maiya and the others circled Saint Night, all aiming the carts carrying Neetka directly at her.
Overwhelmed, Saint Night gritted her teeth—shaking, trembling.
☆
I threw Saint Night into the solitary cell in Rebeck’s dungeon.
“Damn you! Let me out of here!”
She barked, but I ignored her.
I spoke to the guard hired as lord’s jailer.
“Keep watch tight. She’ll probably struggle, but whatever happens—don’t open the cell.”
“Yes, sir!”
“And that girl over there—can you see the Eternal Slave?”
I pointed toward Saint Night’s slave, standing outside the cell, at a distance.
“Yes, sir!”
“Let her do whatever she wants—anything but open or break the cell. If she needs anything, tell her to ask Yuria.”
“Yes, sir!”
The guard snapped to attention, eyes sharp, ready to carry out the order.
I glanced at the slave of Saint Night.
Saint Night’s one thing— but the slave… honestly, pitiful.
Even with fresh wounds still bleeding, she’s still frowning like she’s worried about her master.
Pure Eternal Slave energy, all over.
Honestly… how can anyone treat such a wretched creature so casually?
To be frank, this pisses me off more than stealing the Nitecat.
“Shuuto!!! Get out of here right now!!! Or you’ll regret it!!! Shuutooooo!!!”
I just glared at her, said nothing.
With Saint Night’s voice—now nothing but a prisoner’s whine— echoing behind me, I walked away from the cell.
Eat some stinking rice, you idiot.