The Freed Slaves Are Obsessed

A peaceful morning.

In the office of the head of the Reaper's trade guild.

Karami sat in the master's chair while Lin, transformed into a young fox, frolicked on the table.

When Karami wiggled his fingers back and forth, Lin stretched out her paws to catch them like a cat playing with a toy.

When her fur was tickled, she lay on her back, fully exposing her belly, and enjoyed the gentle touch.

On the sofa, Ashes had brought bedding and was lazily sleeping in.

Mirabel was receiving maid training with her mother. Arpia was teaching young elves.

Elise was preaching for the Reaper's cult in the city’s cathedral.

It seemed odd externally for a saintess to be involved in the propaganda of another cult, but anyway.

Everyone was busy with their own tasks, but if one were to name the busiest person, it would undoubtedly be Narsha. She had just stopped by the office to report on her duties.

"As you commanded, master, I have brought the slaves. There are 42 in total, and we plan to gradually expand their area of activity."

"Well done. Make sure they lack nothing and are not anxious, and if anyone wants to leave, they may do so at any time. Only bring those who wish to stay to me."

"Understood."

If there was somewhere to return, they would leave; if not, they would stay. If they go, so be it; if they stay, so be it.

"As time passes, the number staying will likely increase."

"However, no matter how large this place is, there will come a time when it cannot accommodate all the slaves if their numbers keep increasing."

"We can always build more buildings, can't we?"

"I have thought about that, but what do you think about building a city instead?"

The funds were sufficient. With Mirabel’s magic actively utilized, many issues could be easily resolved.

"Furthermore, I heard that Doomheim owes you a debt of gratitude. With the help of the dwarves, it would be much easier."

"The scale is getting quite large. Isn't it too much?"

"No. It’s nonsensical to think of you confined within a small city, someone else's domain."

Knocktar is too small to contain Karami.

Be it a lord wanting to collect tribute or a royal family pressing for offerings, all are annoying.

How dare they, not knowing their place.

Karami developed the city and the trade guild for his own sake, not for others.

"Lin is in favor! How about creating a slave kingdom? Where the master is the king!"

Lin, having returned to human form, was enthusiastically in favor.

If someone else had brought it up, Karami might have dismissed it, but since Narsha suggested it, he considered it seriously.

He was indeed feeling restricted; there was a sense that the children needed more space to be active.

What if the city were filled with amusements to his taste?

'Not a bad idea.'

Why bother with subtleties now?

Just live doing what you want.

"Understood. I’ll leave it in Narsha’s hands to push forward. Use all resources and manpower freely."

"I will create a satisfactory result."

****

Although a peaceful night is usually a time for calming the body and mind, for Karami, these sensations had recently become more profound.

Slaves clung to him every moment until it was time to wake up.

He could order them away, but they would look so disheartened that he never did.

For Karami, this time alone was precious, though it was not long-lasting.

"Master, may I come in?"

Starting today, one slave per day could spend the night with Karami.

The first turn was Elise's.

"Come in."

Elise bowed politely and entered the bedroom.

She wore a rather revealing black negligee. Her pupils glowed redder than usual.

She was the first because she was scheduled to receive blood from Karami.

"If you don’t want to, you can just take the blood. If you want to sleep alone, you can. Don’t feel pressured."

"How playful of you. You know I wouldn’t turn back after coming all this way."

"I’m sorry. I’m oblivious. I really don’t understand unless you say it explicitly."

Karami looked genuinely clueless.

As if he had no idea.

Though it was clear he was teasing, but since Elise would regret turning back,

"I want to sleep with... the master."

She had to say it herself.

Only then did Karami grin satisfactorily.

"Very well. If Elise insists, then we shall sleep together. Come in."

Karami scooted over and tapped the spot where he had been sitting.

"Excuse me."

Elise sat down next to him and covered them with a blanket.

"Why did you move over?"

"I was warming it up for you. It’s warm, isn’t it?"

"..."

He smiled innocently, as if there were no other intentions.

At that moment, something snapped in Elise's mind, but

"It’s cozy."

She barely managed to hold herself back. She almost made a blunder on the first night.

Unaware of this fact, Karami continued to make light remarks.

"A saintess sleeping with a man. People would be shocked if they knew."

"How does it feel to sleep with a saintess?"

"It feels like I’m doing something naughty. It’s thrilling. What about you, Elise?"

"I feel the same."

Elise placed her hand over her heart. It was both thrilling and calm.

Two conflicting feelings coexisted.

A curious sensation. Not bad.

"Well, it’s really a needless question."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, didn’t you pounce on me twice? Once at the inn, once in the temple."

Memories of those days surfaced in Elise’s mind.

Not too long ago, just a month.

She had knocked Karami to the floor and pinned him down.

Then climbed on top of him.

Too late to claim precociousness.

"Elise who swore never to drink blood came running to my room for it. How cute someone so sly has become."

"I’m not human but a vampire, so it’s no problem if I change."

"Would you like to drink milk now? I know a place that serves fresh and tasty milk."

...Should I really pounce on him?

No, hold back.

Not yet.

"My body /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ won’t be satisfied with anything but your blood anymore. Is that enough?"

"That’s sufficient."

Having enjoyed enough, Karami stopped teasing.

“How is life here? Is it satisfactory?”

“Yes. I couldn’t be more satisfied.”

A bat that had never belonged anywhere had found its nest.

And there were slaves in the same situation as her. Some she didn’t like, and they bickered daily, but it was fun.

Belonging.

And a sense of kinship.

Here, there was no need to imitate anything or wear a mask. She could be her true self without pretending.

Here, she could live without any worries.

“That's a relief.”

“It's all thanks to you, Master.”

“I know without you saying.”

A laugh full of disbelief escaped him.

Then, it quieted down, and Elise wiggled her fingers.

“Master, now...”

Unable to wait any longer, Elise spoke up first. Despite the blood-red glow in her eyes, the way she looked at Karami was pitiful.

“Come here.”

Elise sluggishly moved and climbed on top of Karami. She sat on his thighs, facing him.

She tilted her head to make it easier to drink his blood, offering her neck.

Elise couldn’t take her eyes off Karami’s neck, then noticed something strange.

“The wound is gone?”

The wound from when Elise had bitten him before had disappeared without a trace.

“Mirabel healed it. After all, if something like that’s on the neck, people’s eyes won’t be kind.”

“...”

“You know healing magic, right? Maybe you could do it for me, Elise.”

Elise quickly turned her head.

“I don’t want to. Maybe you should ask Miss Mirabel.”

“What’s the issue now?”

“I don’t have an issue!”

Despite her words, her sulking expression was practically an advertisement for how upset she was.

Elise bit Karami’s neck. Her sharp fangs sank into his skin, creating a wound.

The wound was deep enough for her to feed, but Elise pressed her fangs deeper.

For some reason, she wanted to do it today.

“Ugh.”

A faint moan escaped.

The sensation of leaving a mark on her master’s body.

Though she felt guilty for hurting him, seeing him squint in pain and trembling gave her a dirty pleasure that flowed through her veins.

It felt like marking his body with her own trace.

To think it could be wiped away.

She didn’t like it.

If they could erase it, fine.

She’d carve it again and again.

****

Even after finishing the feeding, Elise sat on Karami’s thigh for a while.

She licked the blood that hadn’t been swallowed, dripping down.

She looked at the two holes in Karami’s neck, satisfied, before getting off.

Karami rubbed his sore neck.

“Today it feels more painful than last time...”

“I’m sorry. I must still be inexperienced at leaving wounds. I’ll try to make it less painful next time.”

“The process seems a bit troublesome. How about we just draw the blood in advance and store it?”

Mirabel’s magic could be used, or Ashes' ice could be used to store it in a chilled state.

It would be available whenever needed, and Karami wouldn’t be in pain.

A win-win for both of them.

“I don’t want to.”

But Elise firmly rejected it.

“Then I guess I’ll have to get a pain-reducing spell before doing it.”

“I don’t want that either. I want you to bite me and make me feel the pain.”

“...”

How casually she spoke such chilling words.

Karami wondered what was going on in the slaves' minds.

Their souls were bound, after all. Maybe he should ask Mirabel and find out.

Lost in his thoughts, he felt a gaze on him. Elise, lying face to face, was staring at him right up close.

“Do you have something you want to say?”

“I don’t know if it’s something I want to say or if it’s something I want to do.”

“What is it?”

“I want you to drink my blood, Master. Just like your blood flows through me, I want mine to flow through you.”

No, let’s not look.

What is going on in her head?

Who intentionally stares into the abyss like this?

Karami decided to give up on trying to understand it.