Is there that much affection for us?
As I mentioned leaving, Colton’s kind expression turned pale. It was reminiscent of someone who received a breakup notice from a lover.
“W-what do you mean by leaving all of a sudden?”
“I believe your current level of magic is sufficient.”
“Sufficient? That child is destined to become a great mage! There’s still a mountain of things she needs to learn!”
I know. To be precise, she’s not just a great mage but a powerful witch.
But would you really entrust such a talented child to someone like you? To a mere guild leader? There are countless people who want to take her away. You’re just a passing stop, not her final destination.
Since I couldn’t say that, I buried it deep in my heart and spoke up again.
“Haha, but there’s something more important I want to discuss. As this child’s master, I will help her achieve her desires.”
“Are you talking about the revenge you mentioned earlier?”
“Ah, you know quite well. Lady Mirabel’s father is the source of her current situation. To move forward, she must cut ties with her past misfortunes, don’t you think?”
Colton shook his head violently as if he disagreed.
“Not at all. Revenge breeds more revenge, and it ends in emptiness. Let alone killing someone who is kin, it is absolutely unacceptable. Lady Mirabel, do not fall for his tricks. Come here. I will break the shackles of your soul.”
Can he really do that?
I want to applaud Colton’s magical skills, but that would be troublesome for me. If the shackles are removed, she would be free to do as she pleases.
Mirabel, caught between us, looked unsure. I placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear.
“People often say that revenge only leads to emptiness. They say that one should not seek revenge, as it brings about more revenge.”
“That’s obvious—”
I cut off Colton’s impending words and continued.
“But think about it, Lady Mirabel. If a mosquito sucks your blood, don’t you have to swat it? Would you allow the pest that steals your blood and makes you itch to go free?”
“You have to catch it… right?”
Of course. What’s the point of just catching it? You should dismember it and post about your achievement to the heavens.
“That’s right. You must catch it. Would you feel emptiness after swatting the irritating mosquito? No. What you gain is pleasure, and you can focus on other matters with ease.”
“That’s a logical fallacy! It’s a bug, not a person, and moreover, it’s her family!”
“The fact that it’s a person and not a bug is of little importance. What matters is that he has caused harm, and Lady Mirabel has suffered irreparable wounds. Lady Mirabel is simply administering just punishment. And since it’s the affected party making the judgment, how just is that?”
“Lady Mirabel! Don’t listen to him!”
“Lady Mirabel isn’t in the wrong. It’s all his fault. Do you really think he would repent if left alone? A man who sold his own daughter wouldn’t hesitate to sell another’s daughter, would he? She must take action before someone else suffers. Lady Mirabel is on the right path.”
The skill of negotiation is in full swing.
I firmly instilled plausible reasoning directly into Mirabel’s ears.
Revenge against her father is Mirabel’s life goal. It signifies that even the cute and kind Mirabel has been wounded deeply enough that it eclipses the fact that her target is family.
Do not foolishly deny the depth of darkness she possesses, you mere NPC.
Mirabel, who had been listening absentmindedly, finally made a decision. She bowed to Colton.
“Thank you for teaching me until now.”
“M-Mirabel?!”
Oh my, our Mirabel. Who raised such a polite child?
Colton, flustered, gazed at me with murderous intent. His eyes seemed ready to kill as his thoughts escaped him.
“I see. So it’s true. No matter how much talent one hones, one should never interfere with her soul… You aren’t just an ordinary slave merchant, you’re a dark sorcerer.”
What?
“I am certain after hearing your earlier words. Your speech contains some unknown force that hides in it. You surely manipulated Lady Mirabel’s mind and incited her. Right now, Lady Mirabel is under mental coercion.”
What are you talking about?
This guy’s behind on things and is throwing out nonsense.
As if that wasn’t enough, Colton began casting a spell. Ice crystals formed around him.
“Just wait a moment, Lady Mirabel. Though it may take a while, I’m sure you and I can break the spell.”
After saying those words, Colton launched his spell. Ice shards shot towards me, scattering coldness in all directions.
Wow, as much as I want Mirabel, I did not expect him to cast magic recklessly like this.
But on my side, there’s a meticulously invested cute witch maid. As Mirabel pushed her wand forward, a translucent barrier blocked our path.
Ka-thump!
“What?!”
Colton’s magic shattered against the barrier. While he was stunned, Mirabel calmly continued her spell.
Fireball!
A fireball formed in the air. However, it was more like a volcanic rock than a fireball. It was large enough to blow up a building in one go.
The potency of a fireball can become that of a meteor depending on who wields it. And that was exactly what was happening now, as Mirabel aimed her wand at Colton.
I swiped my arms dramatically!
“Go, Lady Mirabel! Direct attack! Fireball!”
But Mirabel did not move. She glanced back at me.
“I… I don’t think it’s right to cast magic on an innocent person…”
“Ah.”
I’m all for killing dad, but this won’t do. She has her own unique convictions even if I instilled them.
If it can’t be done, it can’t be done.
I will just have to follow her wishes.
“Colton, considering the good will shown until now, I won’t harm you. However, if you stop us any further, you will pay the price.”
“Ugh…”
Colton gritted his teeth.
He must be frustrated. I would be too.
His life was negated by a child who learned magic less than a month ago. But what can I say? That’s life.
If Colton had been my slave, I would have comforted him and sought a way to help him grow, but he isn’t, and I never intended to make him one.
“I appreciate all your effort until now, Colton.”
I left Colton behind, stepping out of the guild building without lowering my guard. It wasn’t until we were out of the visibility range of the magic guild that Mirabel put away her wand.
“You must have been tense, but thank you for your hard work.”
Considering it was her first real situation, she handled it quite smoothly. Colton taught her well.
Feeling proud, I patted her head, but this time Mirabel didn’t resist. She just lowered her head, displaying an embarrassed expression.
Oh, I should take this opportunity to pet her as much as I want. I petted her soft, warm hair to my heart’s content. But perhaps I was too excessive, as Mirabel ducked her head and slipped away.
She tidied up her tousled hair.
It’s a pity, but I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with this for today. Since I’ve gotten permission once, there will be more opportunities in the future.
“Where are we going now?”
“We’re heading to a city called Delophin nearby.”
Delophin has a beginner dungeon.
Later on, it will be ignored, but it’s still the only dungeon for initial exploration. It’s truly beginner-friendly, and just a few regular slaves could clear it.
With Mirabel wearing the heavenly pledge, it would be a one-hit situation.
‘Let’s go get a magic book, sell some magic stone, and level up Mirabel.’
The growth plan is set!
*
“Who does a slave merchant think he is trying to come here? Get lost!”
What the hell.
I’ve heard that soldiers are underpaid, but that doesn’t justify trying to steal from others. Every person we encounter seems to want to extort money. It’s just highway robbery under the guise of knights.
If you think about it, the knights were like the natural enemies of slave merchants in the game.
What do I mean by that? From the start of the game until the end, they come for taxes. If you can’t pay, sometimes you had to give up a slave.
I was robbed during my game days and being in this body doesn’t change that. My view of the knights couldn’t possibly be good.
I pulled out one gold coin from my pouch. Handing out 20 gold every time would quickly deplete my purse. I had given too much back in Livia. I was trying to show off in front of Mirabel.
Maybe because they were soldiers in a rural town, they were satisfied with that and let us pass.
“Shall we stop by the tavern to grab a bite to eat first?”
Usually, I would look for an inn first, but I’m too hungry. We settled down at the biggest tavern in Delophin.
We ordered cornbread, lamb steak, and mushroom stew. It was a meal more than sufficient for commoners, let alone slaves, but Mirabel, who was used to it now, ate without reservation.
That’s right, eat well. We’re heading to the dungeon from now on.
I thought it would be a smooth mealtime.
“Julius, shall we have a drink before we go?”
“You had one yesterday too.”
“Yesterday was yesterday, and today is today. You have to take a drink a day to keep your spirits up, you know?”
This was before the clerics entered the tavern.
