Slave or serf.
A class devoid of human rights and dignity, closer to a tool than a person. Categorized as property of their owner, they endure an unjust fate of working until death.
Rarely clothed, and even less often fed properly, most of them sleep in stables instead of beds. Rebellion brings hunger and the whip.
There was nothing strange about it.
In Taosle, which resembled a medieval-style world, such treatment was considered common knowledge.
What made Karami’s relationship with her slaves particularly unusual was that it resembled more the relationship between an employer and employee rather than a true master and servant.
Karami had to gain the slaves’ goodwill and solve their problems to lead to their complete liberation.
In this process, the slaves receive treatment better than an average commoner and are provided with the euphoric experience outside the system known as ‘liberation.’
In return, Karami receives points and rewards that greatly assist her progress, allowing her to advance significantly in her quest.
A mutual benefit.
Win-win!
…From Karami’s perspective that is. From Lin’s point of view, it simply felt like her master was abandoning her.
“Please, Master. Um? Lin will do well, don’t abandon Lin!”
“Well, it’s not abandoning you. Just because Lin ceases to be a slave, does the thread of our connected fate disappear?”
Is a master-servant relationship the only form of bond in this world?
People might meet in the workplace and become lovers or maintain strictly business relations that could develop into friendships. For Karami, Lin’s insistence on remaining a slave made no sense.
‘Is she a masochist?’
A high elf grand mage who became weary of their mundane life and sought to be a slave came to mind. They seemed odd when they began, too.
But at this point where liberation is almost complete, there’s no turning back even if issues arise. Karami has already moved on to finding the next slave.
“Then, if Lin isn’t a slave, can Lin still go with the master?”
“Ah, that’s a bit…”
Karami visibly looked uncomfortable.
Even when Lin was bound by shackles, she was uncontrollable. Now, without shackles, there’s no way to manage her. If Lin were to interfere with the next slave’s storyline, it would be disastrous.
To create a new slave contract now? That would be pointless.
The subjugation shackles skill is single-use. Liberation ends it. Magic artifacts or brands might help, but they wouldn’t be enough to control a yokai like Lin. Disobeying orders would be as easy as breathing.
‘If only she were a secondary slave like Narsha, I could have kept her bound without liberation.’
However, with the main storyline progressing in real-time, there’s no spare time or resources to gather and nurture a secondary slave. This was one of the reasons Karami insisted on going solo.
“What do you think about staying here? You’ll have Lord Chonho, Seira, and even Lady Anhpho. They’re all good people. Although, absolutely do not spend time with Mr. Bolt. His actions may be acceptable here, but frankly, the guy is somewhat…”
“Hmm, though you may transform into a nine-tailed fox, you still have much to improve. Polish yourself through practice, and meeting later won’t be too late. Experiencing separation sometimes helps people grow.”
“I agree with that young lady. Moreover, I too would like to converse with a contemporary nine-tailed fox. And being a slave as a nine-tailed fox is indeed…”
With reinforcements from Yuhwa and Hekbi,
Encouraged by the two yokai, Karami grew confident, while Lin bit her lower lip anxiously.
“What’s wrong? Is something strange with Lin?”
What’s wrong with being a slave?
Karami says being a slave isn’t good, but Lin can’t understand why.
Regardless of any training or anything else, Lin doesn’t want a single moment away from the master.
Lin doesn’t understand why Karami would leave her behind. If this is how it has to be, there’s another way.
“No matter what, are you going to leave Lin behind?”
“I’m afraid I must.”
“Is it to meet another woman?”
“At least it’s lucky that the crucial slave isn’t male; otherwise, I might have been stuck forever!”
Having a mandatory male slave? The mere thought is horrifying.
“Lin, can you understand that?”
Smiling gently, Karami sought Lin’s understanding.
Lin’s expression softened.
Her eyes bent like a crescent moon.
Then she spoke.
“Yes, I fully understand.”
“Of course, Lin. Then let’s go home, pack some things, and maybe also tell Seira…”
Thud.
Lin formed a seal.
Yuhwa and Hekbi flinched simultaneously.
Caught off guard by the sudden seal, Karami blinked in confusion.
“Lin?”
“So, the master means to leave Lin behind and go meet other women? I perfectly understand that.”
“Well… It’s not exactly wrong, but the tone…”
“There’s no way I can let that happen.”
Lin knows.
She remembers the brilliant, euphoric sensation she felt when saved by Karami.
Anyone who experiences that would inevitably be drawn to him. She couldn’t bear to see other females fawning over her master.
The world grew dark.
It wasn’t sunset.
A hemisphere of darkness began to envelop the entire city.
“I won’t let the master go anywhere.”
Not even a mouse could enter or escape through this perfect-sealing barrier.
Yuhwa and Hekbi hastily summoned their spirit powers, but Lin smirked, dismissing them as insignificant.
“I’m sorry, but the two of you can’t stop Lin. In fact, no one in this world can stop Lin.”
Yokai King.
Another title for a nine-tailed fox is Fox God.
A nine-tailed fox with all its powers restored is akin to a deity.
“The master will stay here with Lin, living peacefully forever.”
The wall that had been rising enveloped the city completely and vanished into darkness.
*
At the edge of the continent stood the Magic Tower.
Renowned as the gathering place of celebrated mages. However, inside it, it was a den of lunatics who would sell their souls for mysteries.
A place filled with outdated mages who know nothing but magic.
For the first time since the Magic Tower emerged, it brimmed with spring-like vitality.
All due to a single maid.
Swoosh swoosh.
A girl in maid attire sweeping the floor, her wavy navy hair shimmering faintly.
There is no one in the Magic Tower who doesn’t know this girl. The only thing the magic-addicted eccentrics are interested in apart from magic is this girl.
Even the arrogant mages who look down on others treat her respectfully.
For beneath the cute exterior lies a terrifying grand mage.
The master of the Magic Tower.
Mirabel.
That’s who the girl really is.
When Mirabel first became the Magic Tower’s master, no one paid attention. The mages were all absorbed in their own magic research, oblivious to the outside world.
However, the atmosphere began to change when Mirabel started wandering around the Magic Tower, reading magic books one by one.
At first, they thought it was just a child showing interest and knowledge she couldn’t possibly have. But when she finished reading a book hundreds of pages long in just a minute and flawlessly cast the magic within…
A month later,
That was how long it took for Mirabel to master all the Magic Tower’s spells.
What took others a lifetime, Mirabel took merely a month.
Cute, and exceptionally skilled in magic?
And this was their master?
Wandering around in a maid outfit?
Maid outfit-wearing, cute grand mage master?
“Long live the Magic Tower Master!”
“I love the Magic Tower Master!”
“Magic Tower Master, please look at me once!”
Mirabel smiled gently.
“KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
★She’s the idol of the Magic Tower★
It took no more than a few days for odes celebrating Mirabel to spread. She had captivated everyone in the Magic Tower and become its mascot.
Although the slave chains around her neck seemed odd, they dismissed it as part of her concept. After all, such a monstrous figure couldn’t possibly be someone’s slave, right?
“Master Mirabel~”
While Mirabel was cleaning,
A voice cheerfully called out. It was Morgana Cheriss, one of the five elders of the Magic Tower.
A figure clad in a tight-fitting dress accentuating her curvaceous figure, revealing a long navel line, and topped with a large witch’s hat, a quintessential witch accessory.
Her eyes, slanted and lazy, yet unreadable.
Morgana, who prioritized appearance over ability, followed the adorable Mirabel around whenever she got a chance.
Once, this led to friction when Edmund, who had recommended Mirabel as the Magic Tower Master, confronted Morgana, fearing she might take his position.
“How dare that bald-faced, ugly old man!”
Appearance-obsessed Morgana openly disliked Edmund.
To be able to stay close to Mirabel, she needed to remove Edmund from sight.
– Elder Edmund, are you a pedophile?
– Wh- what? What are you talking about, Elder Morgana?!
– You keep trailing behind the Magic Tower Master, sniffing around. Could it be…?
– It’s because of a cold!
That was the end of that.
An old, bald man sniffing behind an adorable young girl?
The truth was no longer important.
Faced with the scolding and curses from numerous Mirabel’s fanatic fans, Edmund was forced to retreat to a confined room.
Thanks to this, Morgana got to freely spend time with Mirabel.
“Cleaning again?”
“Yes, it’s such a large Magic Tower.”
“With magic, it could finish instantly!”
“Magic is undoubtedly convenient, but tools are just tools. It’s not good to rely on them too much. A maid should know how to do housework without magic.”
“Are you still keeping up with that concept?”
Initially, Mirabel spent all day reading books when she first arrived at the Magic Tower. Later, after a month, she spent her days only on housework.
Though her expertise in magic was unmatched, Mirabel’s housekeeping skills were less impressive, resulting in several casualties among the mages.
Still, those fools consumed the meals she prepared, calling it ‘a once-in-a-lifetime gourmet experience from the petite young lady,’ and relished them.
After some time, everyone expected her to tire of the housework and quit, but she was still clinging to the maid persona. To Morgana, she looked like a fanatic fixated on her concept.
Like an outdated game character grinding achievements after finishing the main content.
Clearly, she had nothing else to do, so she kept up the maid work.
‘Being a maid involves basic housekeeping skills.’
Of course, the truth was slightly different.
Mirabel was redefining herself as a true maid. Not just cleaning, but all sorts of housework.
To become a perfect maid, one must know the ins and outs of household chores so as not to inconvenience the master.
Even the titles of Magic Tower Master and grand mage were incidental to Mirabel — her true calling was being a maid.
If others found out the truth, they’d probably foam at the mouth and collapse, but anyway.
While Mirabel was leisurely cleaning the seemingly endless Magic Tower,
Thud.
A sensation akin to a thread being snapped.
Instantly, Mirabel’s attention sharpened.
“Master’s connection has been severed…?”
No, it was slightly different.
The shackles were still there.
The missing part was the other end.
The starting point of the chain Karami was supposed to hold had vanished. As if Karami had crossed into a two-dimensional space.
Morgana, too, sensed the anomaly. She stared intently at something far away.
“Something strange has appeared in the distant east.”
Despite the great distance, the presence was anything but ordinary.
Mirabel’s eyes narrowed.
“That fox monster has finally…”
A fox she once detected near Karami alongside Death God.
A menacing aura bundled in terror. She tried to eliminate it once, but Karami defended it, passing it off as an exception due to it being her slave. Forgive it because it was ‘Master’s property’ — but this was going too far.
“Morgana, prepare for an outing. We’ll depart immediately.”
“Are you going to that side?”
“Yes.”
As Mirabel tapped her broom on the ground, it transformed into a silver staff.
“I’m off to meet the Master.”
