The Freed Slaves Are Obsessed

After the storm passed, a calm settled in.

The once chaotic room was now somewhat organized.

The atmosphere was roughly as follows:

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

“We’re fellow slaves now, so we’re all on the same starting line, right?”

“What starting line? We were first. We’re the queen’s seniors.”

There were those who felt a sense of solidarity and joy, realizing that the person they once looked up to had become a slave just like them.

“I’m a high elf... I’m a queen, how did I become a slave... What am I supposed to explain to the elders? If they find out, I’ll be immediately deposed. I can’t even let them find out after I’m dead.”

“Girl... a slave? Is this divine punishment for betraying the gumiho?”

“Scadia, to become a slave for a mere mortal’s smile... I’m sorry, goddess.”

“My daughter sold her mother into slavery... Ah...”

Some were unable to accept reality and, despairing, clutched their heads.

“Master, I can earn a reward too, right? That’s what this is about?”

“Joo-in, Lin is fine as long as it’s mating... Ugh! Why are you hitting me?”

“Sweetheart~ Mirabel’s shackles were so pretty. Could you make me a red one to wear around my neck?”

“Rami... ring...”

Some offered others as sacrifices, hoping for rewards.

And thus, there were three categories.

“Don’t worry. I will reward all of you. Just wait your turn. Before that, take those people back to their original places.”

Thinking about the reward, they left with light steps.

Only then did the room become quiet again.

Inside the room remained Asies, Mirabel, and her mother, Naredi, who could easily be sent inside Asies’ body.

“Master, can’t my mom stay here with us?”

“Is there any reason she can’t? Of course, she can.”

“Mirabel, what are you talking about? Now that you’ve found the master, we should go home.”

“Mom, the place for a slave is by the master. Now that Mom is a slave of the master, she has to live here.”

Mirabel tightly held Naredi’s hand.

“Mom, let’s both receive maid training and serve the master.”

“No...”

“Mirabel, there might be misunderstandings with the term ‘serve the master,’ so let’s say ‘serve’ instead.”

Despite that, Naredi’s wary gaze toward Karami didn’t disappear. Karami didn’t care and shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m not forcing you. If you don’t want to, you can leave.”

“How can a mother leave when her daughter is caught by a slave trader? I have to make sure you don’t do anything foolish.”

“Mom, you should be calling him Master, not me.”

“Ugh.”

“Mom!”

Naredi, grinding her teeth in frustration, kept opening and closing her mouth, but eventually gave up.

“Master...”

“Did you hear that, Master? Mom is staying here too!”

“I see. If she’s going to be a maid, Naredi should get clothes too. Mirabel?”

“Yes!”

Mirabel used magic, and Naredi’s clothes transformed into a maid outfit made just for her, similar to Mirabel’s.

When I say similar, I mean Karami personally selected it, a short maid outfit that revealed the thighs.

The feeling of air on her legs.

The air brushing against her ankles, calves, and thighs as it entered her skirt.

The cool sensation made Naredi gather her thighs and hastily pull down the hem of her skirt.

“W-wait! What’s with this outfit? The skirt is way too short!”

“How do you like it, Master? It suits her really well, right?”

“I think I understand who Mirabel resembles. By the way, Mirabel, is the inside...”

“Don’t worry. It’s white lace!”

“That’s exactly it.”

Karami gave a thumbs-up.

It took Naredi a moment to understand what they were talking about.

Then, when she realized what the white lace meant...

“Th-This...!”

Her face turned beet red as she could only mutter incomprehensible syllables.

****

“Here’s the list of key duties for the current Reaper’s faction.”

Narsha handed me a stack of papers.

The papers were filled with tightly packed writing.

The basics and core tasks were managing goods and transportation, running the tavern, and the faction’s main business of using elves and spirits for trade.

These were the main sources of income for the Reaper’s faction.

“Looks like the profit from spirits is the largest.”

“Yes. Spirits help enrich the land, and even in drought-stricken areas, they can be used. As long as we have spirits, we can farm in any barren land.”

This world has magic developed so deeply that it’s closely tied to daily life, but opening waterways and growing crops isn’t something just anyone can do.

Because of Mirabel, who is an extraordinary existence, it’s easy to lose touch with reality.

Even Mirabel, though, wouldn’t know nature as well as spirits do.

That’s why noble families are in such a rush to bring in elves.

That’s why armies are sent to kidnap elves from the Great Forest.

“Has there ever been an attempt to steal an elf sent on assignment?”

“A few times, but we’ve never suffered any damage. We don’t send elves alone. Since they still lack experience, Victor or Leonard usually accompany them.”

“Good response.”

Those two are residents of the shadow world. They know the dark side of the world very well. They’ll do well in protecting the innocent elves.

“It’s working fine as it is, but I do have something I’d like to add.”

“Please, tell me.”

“I’d like to send people out to the slave markets around the continent and bring in slaves.”

“Understood.”

Narsha responded immediately.

“Don’t you want to know why?”

“When Master gives an order, it’s a slave’s duty to obey. Of course, if I were to guess your intent, it seems like you want to collect slaves with no place to go.”

“That’s about right.”

It’s not for some grand reason.

‘I’ll raise slaves and have fun with them.’

I might not be good at managing the faction, but I’m good at raising slaves.

I set the documents down.

“There’s nothing else for me to do. As the faction leader, Narsha is far more capable than I am.”

I’ve played a lot of tycoon games, but that’s just a game. Reality is different.

Just because I suddenly got seated as the faction leader doesn’t mean I’ll unlock some crazy talent.

Narsha will continue managing the faction, and I’ll stick to being an advisor, throwing in ideas from the sidelines.

“You’ve worked hard to get this faction to this point. You must have been alone for the most part. I can only trust you, Narsha.”

“You flatter me. For a slave, there is no greater honor than being able to help Master. There’s no need to say it was difficult.”

She speaks so sweetly.

That’s why people need to learn.

“Oh, I forgot something. Keep an eye on the faction in the early morning hours.”

When her family came up, Narsha’s mood, which had brightened from the compliments, sank again.

“May I ask why?”

“The people who spoke against me said nothing good. I hope nothing happens, but I can’t help but worry about the Count.”

Lin twisted fate, so something is bound to happen.

For example, their family could fall.

“Narsha has many memories with the faction, and as a master, it hurts my heart to think those memories might be destroyed. If it were to fall into the hands of someone else...”

“I understand what you mean. What should we do about my parents?”

“Well, a peaceful life without worrying about old age would be a good end, wouldn’t it?”

A life of not working and living off a pension.

A life that everyone envies. I should give that to Narsha’s parents.

Giving a comfortable life to the people who tried to kill me instead of seeking revenge.

Once again, there’s no one like me in the world.

****

The faction was both a place of work and a residence.

The slaves, along with Victor, Leonard, and other figures, all slept here.

This was the same for the main slaves who had joined later. Each was assigned their own room, and Mirabel shared a room with Naredi.

Even though it was late at night, sleep didn't come easily. There were still many things left unsaid.

Naredi lightly hugged Mirabel as they chatted happily.

“Mom was really surprised. When did you learn such powerful magic?”

“I went to the Magician’s Tower. There are so many books there, and after reading them all, I was able to use the magic.”

“The Magician’s Tower? Isn’t that a place only powerful mages can enter? How did you...?”

“I’m the Master of the Magician’s Tower! People like me a lot.”

“Ah... I see.”

Naredi should be happy for her daughter’s growth, but she felt like she had gone too far.

Well, as long as Mirabel is happy, it doesn’t matter, right?

“And did you see the nun in her habit? She’s the Saintess, and she’s going to let witches live freely now.”

“Really? She sounds like a wonderful person.”

“Yeah. Everyone’s so unique. Especially the gumiho named Lin...”

Mirabel’s conversation went on until the early morning. It was only when dawn came that it quieted down.

Once Naredi was asleep, Mirabel checked to make sure, grabbed a pillow, and quietly left the room.

With careful, quiet steps, she made her way to Karami’s room. While her mother’s embrace was comforting, Mirabel preferred the warmth of her master.

It was a story Naredi would find shocking.

Eventually, Mirabel reached her destination in the dark and grabbed the doorknob.

Tap.

“Eek?”

Something collided with her hand.

“Whoa, Mirabel?”

“Arpia? What are you doing here at this time in Master’s room...?”

“I’d like to ask you the same thing?”

A moment of silence passed.

Their goals aligned.

Arpia smiled mischievously.

“You sly witch. Acting like you’re not interested in front of others, but sneaking around doing things like this?”

“A-Arpia, you’re the same. It’s a fair game.”

Mirabel hadn’t expected any competition.

“Why don’t you give up today? Mirabel can come tomorrow, right?”

“No, I’ve been alone with Master before we came to Bestia. It’s been so long since I’ve slept with Master. Arpia, you give up.”

“You little brat. I understand, but I won’t give up.”

“I won’t give up either. Shall we go together?”

“You think I’ll step down just because you said that? Don’t cry if you lose, okay?”

After whispering back and forth, they couldn’t find common ground. Both of them grabbed the doorknob and opened the door at the same time.

They both knew that when Karami woke up, they would have to leave. For now, they silently agreed on an unspoken pact and approached quietly, as if there had been no disturbance.

Karami slept soundly, unaware of the two’s stealthy approach.

Mirabel and Arpia nodded at each other and split to each side.

Arpia delicately climbed into the bed like petals falling from a flower. She positioned herself and was about to lie down beside Karami.

“...?”

It was then that Arpia felt something unusual.

The blanket near Karami’s stomach was raised like a small hill, round and swollen, resembling a pregnant woman’s belly.

But Karami was a man, so that shouldn’t be the case. Then...

Arpia lifted the blanket and lowered her head. Beneath the covers, she saw golden and dawn-colored eyes.

“There’s a draft. Close the blanket.”

Lin had curled up on Karami’s stomach, like a coil.

“What are you doing here?”

“Lin is Master’s pet. It’s only natural for a pet to sleep beside their master.”

“Since when have you been a pet──!”

Arpia, about to shout out in anger, quickly covered her mouth.

She was shocked.

She didn’t expect someone to get there first!

“This is cheating! Lin regularly receives energy from Master!”

“That’s one thing. This is another. Different calculations.”

“What do you mean by that? And you’re taking the best spot...!”

It became a fight for the best position.

As the competition heated ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ up, other things were being neglected. For example, the shaking of the bed or the sound of movement.

These small changes were enough to wake someone from a sound sleep.

“What’s going on?”

Karami opened his eyes.

“Well... Lin’s being sneaky and won’t give up...”

“Lin came first. It’s first come, first served!”

“You receive energy!”

Karami smiled faintly.

“Everyone, get out.”

****

In the end, they were kicked out.

With slow, heavy steps, they walked away, still bickering, blaming each other.

There was no time to relax.

Once Karami had kicked everyone out, he pulled the blanket up and closed his eyes again.

“......”

A few moments passed, and Karami opened his eyes again.

Lying down, he saw the ceiling of the room.

A medieval-style ceiling pattern, chandeliers, and...

A bat hanging upside down.

The bat’s red eyes met Karami’s.

“......”

“......”

They stared at each other silently until the bat sighed and flew down.

“Because of them, I got caught too.”

Elise trudged out of the room, still mumbling under her breath.

The next day.

“No one is allowed to enter my room without permission from now on.”

A new rule had been established.