The Freed Slaves Are Obsessed

[New System: The Church is Liberated.]

[Church Name]: Church of the Reaper

[High Priest]: Karami

[Followers]: 2,781 (+2,781/week)

“...What?”

“What’s wrong?”

We were in the middle of moving to Lake Fortress.

The sudden appearance of the status window made my thoughts and movements freeze entirely. Ferka and Ashies, who were walking ahead of me, turned around and stared, puzzled.

“It’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing; you seem flustered.”

How could I not be flustered when a screen suddenly popped up? And worse, I couldn’t explain or show it to anyone else.

What is this new system about religion?

And what is the Church of the Reaper?

Judging from the context, it seems to be derived from the “Reaper of Slaves.” Given that my name is clearly listed under “High Priest,” it appears to be a church dedicated to me.

‘But who?’

Who in the world would establish a church in my honor?

And with 2,781 followers, no less.

[New follower added.]

[Followers]: 3,121.

...Just now, the count jumped by 400 to reach 3,121. Followers are increasing in real-time, and the system even seems to have official certification. This wasn’t a feature in the game.

‘Who could be doing this?’

There is a main slave connected to the church, but that character doesn’t appear until much later. Other than that, I couldn’t think of anyone who might be behind this.

The church system’s activation seems to have unlocked additional hidden features, but unfortunately, now isn’t the time to explore them in detail.

“Welcome! I am Linbar from Doomheim, a scout. Welcome to Lake Fortress.”

A robust northern warrior with a bow slung across her back greeted us.

Today was the day we were scheduled to join Lake Fortress as agreed. Over the next month, we would need to gain the trust of Chief Darka to obtain the Lazulite.

Even if they aren’t key figures in the story, there’s no harm in getting close to the tribe members. I extended my hand to Linbar for a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. I didn’t see you yesterday. Allow me to reintroduce myself—I’m Karami, a slave trader.”

Because of the fate-twisting dice, we had been attacked by a swarm of wyverns. For the northerners, it had been a calamity. If we hadn’t dealt with it, the story would have ended then and there, but we managed to handle it with minimal damage.

As a result, the northerners’ attitude toward us had softened somewhat compared to yesterday.

Smack!

But apparently, I wasn’t included in “us.”

Linbar swatted my hand away.

“Sorry, but I’m not fond of merchants. Especially slave traders. The only person I’m interested in is the lady beside you.”

Ignoring me entirely, she approached Ashies.

“Hello, miss? I heard the story. You took down a pack of wyverns?”

“...?”

“Wow, I’m sorry I missed it. I was out on a scouting mission and only got back this morning. I’d love to see your skills in action sometime.”

I’m her owner.

She doesn’t even care about this.

I’m the one who made her do it.

“Haha, I guess I did a good job raising my slave.”

Go ahead, give me some credit.

“Why is your master so clueless? He doesn’t know when to step in or back off. Ugh, this is just annoying.”

A new addition to my list of people I want to enslave just appeared.

I’d love to train her until she’s singing, “Master, you’re amazing~!”

The Lake Fortress, which we returned to today, had been completely restored overnight. It must have been thanks to the sleepless effort poured into the reconstruction work.

We set up a tent we had brought along on an empty lot.

I can confidently say that no one in Lake Fortress—or perhaps all of Isengar—feels the cold as much as I do. Even though I lived in a country where it could be autumn one day and snow the next, surviving in the arctic conditions with daily blizzards is another matter entirely.

‘I wish I could burn coal. Or crank up an air conditioner.’

The thought of triggering catastrophic global warming to melt all the snow in Isengar crossed my mind. Alternatively, perhaps some women could rub the polar bears' habitats away for me.

Of course, neither option was feasible at the moment. All I could do was focus on keeping the temperature as high as possible. That’s why the tent I was staying in was prepared with thorough insulation.

Thank the dwarves for their unmatched craftsmanship. This is why I can’t help but keep dwarf slaves around.

Tuk-tuk.

I pulled out some corn we had brought and threw it onto the campfire. Roasted corn is an underrated delicacy, especially in the cold.

As the corn browned, releasing a mouthwatering aroma, I sensed movement outside the tent.

A rare sight appeared—village children, unable to resist the warmth radiating from the fire and the tent, gathered outside. Their snotty noses were both endearing and pitiful.

Sure, they’re resilient to the cold, having grown up in Isengar, but it’s still freezing. It seemed right to show some generosity as an adult.

“Alright, kids. You’re cold, aren’t you? Come on in and have some delicious roasted corn. And if you’re interested, I’ll even give you the opportunity to become my slaves—for free, of course.”

“Why would becoming a slave be free...?”

“Because you’d be slaves to a kind master like me. If everyone in this world had masters like me, the population would be divided into three groups: masters and slaves.”

“What’s the third group?”

“Those who want to become slaves. Of course, even if you become slaves, you can be freed whenever you want, and if you don’t want to be a slave, you can just have the corn.”

“You’d really give us the corn...?”

It seems I still haven’t earned their trust.

“There are two things I hate most in the world, and one of them is lying.”

“What’s the other one?”

“Did I say there were two? I don’t really remember.”

It seems these kids have been well-taught not to follow strangers. If it were me, I’d have snatched up the corn by now, but these kids just hesitated.

“What are you doing?”

As I was extending my generosity to the kids, Jorn stormed over with a harsh expression.

“I was just about to share some corn with the children.”

“Didn’t you mention something about slavery?”

“I said I’d give them the chance to become slaves if they wanted to.”

“You’d enslave the future of our tribe?”

“I understand your concerns, but I’m different. I treat my slaves with utmost care. I don’t force anyone. It would only be a loss for me if I did.”

Feeding them, clothing them, and sheltering them costs money. And I’m not even running a business that requires labor.

Releasing these kids as slaves wouldn’t earn me more than a speck of points. It’s pure volunteer work.

But Jorn, perhaps hardened by the cold climate, scowled fiercely and spoke in a voice as frigid as Isengar’s winds.

“Slave trader. I won’t deny the help we’ve received from your slaves. But if I catch you doing something foolish again, you’d better be prepared.”

“Suit yourself.”

Jorn’s gaze flicked to the children.

“You lot, go back home. And don’t approach this tent without permission.”

“Y-yes...”

The kids, startled, scurried away.

“Well, now I have all this roasted corn with no one to share it with.”

I picked up a perfectly roasted ear of corn. It was deliciously cooked.

That chief of theirs is so uptight.

Even in the game, I’d always wanted to kick his stubborn ass.

“Did you chase the kids away just so you could eat all the corn yourself? I’ve never seen anyone more wicked than this slave trader. If you wanted more, you could’ve just asked me to roast some.”

Jorn’s eyebrow twitched slightly. People usually make that face when they’re angry.

“Or not.”

I munched on the corn while observing the situation outside the tent. The Northguard, dressed like Eskimos, were inspecting their weapons and maps.

Their busy energy was unmistakable.

“Are you preparing for a hunt?”

“How did you know?”

“Never underestimate the intuition of a slave trader.”

[The North is a harsh environment for human survival. Food is always in short supply. Help the Northguard procure food!]

That was the gist of the quest, wasn’t it?

Whenever I stayed at Lake Fortress, these types of quests and events would pop up constantly. Completing them always increased favorability with the tribe members.

“This is a perfect opportunity. I’ll send Miss Ashies along with you.”

“We Northguard don’t accept help from outsiders.”

“Have you already forgotten that you received Miss Ashies’ help just yesterday?”

Jorn fell silent.

Once you crack through the first time, the second is much easier.

“Having Miss Ashies with you will make things significantly easier. It’ll also reduce the risk of accidents.”

“All of the Northguard are seasoned warriors. We never let our guard down. There won’t be any accidents.”

“That kind of attitude is letting your guard down. Don’t you know the battlefield is full of unforeseen variables?”

“....”

“As the chief of a tribe, you should prioritize the safety of your people over your pride. Even if you don’t trust me, you can trust Miss Ashies, can’t you?”

Jorn looked down at me, chewing on a kernel of corn, then turned away.

“...Do as you wish. But if she becomes a hindrance, we’ll leave her behind. Don’t blame us when that happens.”

Jorn threw those words out and disappeared.

‘Ah, the sweet victory of logic.’

Unable to argue, he fled!

Even as he left, his pride compelled him to toss in one last word—what a dramatic touch.

The warriors who protect the North are called the Northguard, but they could also be considered all-purpose laborers.

They handle everything from hunting beasts to procuring food.

Food procurement is especially critical in the barren North, where agriculture is unfeasible. They must hunt beasts or animals for meat and gather furs to endure the cold.

These activities are directly tied to survival.

Sending Ashies along on such tasks could yield significant gains in favorability.

“Don’t cause trouble, okay? Just follow them and only catch what they tell you to. If you get lost, find a high place and look for the ravine. Got it?”

“Rami... not coming... with me?”

“Everyone has their own role to play.”

I wasn’t sure if she fully understood, but Ashies nodded. She’s helpless on her own, but she’s great at following instructions, so there shouldn’t be any issues.

“Be careful!”

“Bring back lots of tasty meat!”

The hunting party left the village amidst cheers from the people.

As everyone returned to their respective tasks, the village grew noticeably quieter once the hunting party was gone.

‘Now, shall I get started?’

With the village security loosened, it was time to start working behind the scenes.