Master's Qualities
"Horikina, you know."
On the bridge of the warship Risha, returning to Rebeck.
The girl brought in greeted them with a bright tone.
Silver hair, tanned skin—exactly like Regret, but more cheerful than Mira, more childlike than Rirya.
"Akito."
"Akito-chan? Wait, are you the King's Akito-chan?"
"Chan...?"
For a moment, I thought we might’ve known each other.
"That’s right. The King’s Akito. You’re the Regret who came with Sveta, aren’t you?"
"That’s me! Yeah, Sveta—she’s okay, right?"
"Sveta-chan... Don’t worry, she’s—"
"Horikina!"
Sveta burst through the door mid-sentence.
She threw herself at Horikina, tears streaming down her face.
She’d sent a signal after finding Horikina, but couldn’t wait—came rushing over herself.
"Safe… thank goodness…"
"Not safe. Hurt like hell. Wait—why am I even alive? I was supposed to be torn apart."
What kind of death was that, anyway.
"Besides... Svechii?"
Horikina looked at Svetlana.
Pressed against her, she ran her hand through Svetlana’s hair, staring at it closely.
Comparing it to her own.
Svetlana’s golden strands. Horikina’s silver.
"Why’s Sve-chan back as an Eternal Slave?"
A perfectly reasonable question.
☆
After gently pulling Svetlana away, Horikina explained.
How, after defeating Schreivij, Svetlana had returned as an Eternal Slave. And how absolutely no one knew why.
"Yep."
"Yep, that’s right. You’re not even reacting."
"Anyway, Sve-chan—did you bring the letter of introduction?"
"Nope. Don’t have it."
Svetlana, having regained her composure, answers.
"I clung to it desperately the whole time when the monster attacked... but when I realized it, it was gone."
Yeah, right. You were a monkey by then.
A monkey wouldn’t be carrying a letter of introduction.
Probably threw it away somewhere when she turned into a shrew.
"Got it. I’ll get a new one. But can I talk to you first?"
She’s asking me.
"Sure. Ask away."
Until the letter arrives.
Some talks need prep. Knowing in advance isn’t a bad thing.
In the real world, delivering a letter of introduction is, in a way, ceremonial. The content’s usually known beforehand.
Of course. The sender would lose face if the letter was refused, and the recipient might end up stuck with something awkward to deal with.
Usually, you iron things out ahead of time—“I’ll send it,” “Yes, I’ll take it.”
“Anyway, what’s the deal?”
“First, I gotta talk about the Svechka thing.”
“Ugh.”
Svetlana flinched.
Why’s she tense—no, scared?
That’s not like her at all.
“What’s wrong with you, Svetlana?”
“Akito-chan can have a whole bunch of slaves, right?”
“Yeah, five now.”
“Are they all Eternal Slaves?”
“Yep.”
“Wowww!”
Holkina suddenly lit up with wide eyes.
No joke, no sarcasm—genuinely awed.
“Is that impressive?”
“Yeah! I mean, having Eternal Slave slaves means you gotta have tons of work ready for them, right?”
……ah, I see.
It clicked.
Eternal Slaves are creatures that crave their master’s commands—more work, especially if it pushes them to collapse, makes them happier.
“Normally, you can’t have that many. Eternal Slave slaves. One or two is about the limit.”
“So we… ended up regretting not finding a master.”
“I see.”
Now that I think about it, Shinga was alone with just Lisa. Only one slave she could manage.
And Yuria, sent from Kazan—was she sent here because of her competence, unable to find a master of her own?
“Five of them? That’s insane. Unheard of.”
“Take it as a compliment. So, what’s this got to do with Svetlana?”
“Yeah, I wanna make Svetlana Akito-chan’s slave.”
Holkina says it. Svetlana flinches.
“Is that related to the letter’s contents?”
“No, not at all.”
“Then…?”
“’Cause I ended up back as an Eternal Slave. Don’t know why, but… that means I can’t go back to the country anymore.”
“Huh?”
That can’t be right.
Looking at Svetlana, she nods hesitantly.
“In the Land of Regret, Eternal Slaves aren’t allowed.”
“…So there’s a rule like that?”
“It’s a law.”
More painful now.
So I’m exiled because I’m back as an Eternal Slave.
Looking at Svetlana, she looks away.
No need to, really. But still… I feel some guilt.
I think for a moment, then nod.
“Got it. I’ll make you my slave. But—”
“But?”
Holkina tilts her head.
“If you’re going to be my slave, there are a few conditions. Of course you’ll work. You’ll wear a collar. And if you have a daughter… she’ll be my slave too. That okay?”
Rirya’s words made Svetlana and Holkina both blink in surprise.
“W-why would you say that?”
“Not that it’s bad?”
“No, it’s not bad!”
Svetlana shouted her denial.
“But why would you say that?”
“Could it be… the previous slaves told Akito-chan about it?”
“Yeah.”
A nod.
It had been Rirya who’d first mentioned it, if she remembered right.
“Amazing, really. Congratulations, Svettch. You’ve got the ultimate master. The best master ever.”
“U-uh huh…”
Svetlana’s cheeks flushed.
Her glance at me was wetter than it had been right after she’d come back from the ape’s den.
“Explain it. I don’t get why you’re making such a fuss.”
“Mother-daughter slaves are the dream of Eternal Slaves. But usually no one talks about it. Most masters recoil.”
“Recoil?”
“Full-on horror, I mean.”
…Why?
This is such a cute, spirited creature.
Anyone would be thrilled to have a daughter as a slave.
What kind of reaction is “full-on horror” supposed to be?
I don’t get it.
"Congrats, you little servant."
I don’t get it, but since she seems happy, I guess it’s fine.