Volume 6 Chapter 18 Slave Liberation？
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ms. Uruu led me through the Wolf Forest toward the Ant Castle.
I thought about using the teleportation gate at the Beast God’s temple to reach the old Toyata village, but I decided not to use the wolves’ sanctuary so casually. I wasn’t sure too if the teleportation gate there was still safe.
Also, I wanted to give gifts to Ms. Ant and the others—special power rings. I tried to keep the design simple so the Antfolk’s handwork wouldn’t be disturbed. I made other kinds of rings too, but since this was the first time, I gave everyone the same one to be fair.
It felt a little awkward, but I put the rings directly on them. Their reactions were weak, but somehow I could tell they were happy inside. It was worth the effort.
Because the Antfolk are naturally strong, power-up items work very well on them. This definitely helps by making their strength even better. But I felt uneasy watching them lift giant rocks with their slender arms. What if their arms break if they get too strong?
Of course, these items should prevent such problems, but it looked reckless, so I worried. What if they drop the rocks and get hurt? It would be helpful if an Antfolk could use healing magic. Maybe a suitable child could apprentice with Ms. Hóa or Uno.
I had other worries too. Someone had sneaked into the supposedly impregnable Ant Castle. That someone was Yakou, the female ninja.
Even Ms. Ant and the others could not sense Yakou’s presence. The ninja’s stealth skill was that good. This was a big concern for defense.
In the end, this kind of thing is like a cat-and-mouse game. No matter how much defense you add, if an opponent is strong enough, it’s hopeless. I know that, but actually seeing someone sneak in still worries me.
On the other hand, not having anything valuable might help. Thieves risk their lives for high-value, low-risk prey. Poor villages get attacked if they are defenseless, so balance matters.
Right now, there is nothing worth risking a break-in at the Ant Castle, so there is little to worry about. Oh, the extra power rings are quite expensive. Among summoned heroes, there might be fools who want to massacre and loot the Antfolk. If I think about everyone’s safety, maybe giving out rings was unnecessary. But since they are happy, I can’t ask for them back now. Maybe I should tell Ms. Ant and the others to never show the rings to anyone.
”I also made one for Ms. Claire. It’s a ring version of the subjugation skill seal.”
The collar she wears now is still noticeable. A ring is more convenient. Technically, it is several levels stronger, with better mana circuit integration. But the effect is the same.
”And I made this for the young lady.”
It is admirable that Ms. Claire stays loyal to her original master, Ms. Joa, even after becoming a slave. Ms. Joa’s father is powerful, and Ms. Claire’s parents serve him. It’s not a formal knight-master relationship, but it feels more like close sisters. While she is bound by the subjugation skill, her loyalty should be to me, but I have never forced it because I feel sorry for her.
”Of course, I made one for Ms. Joa too.”
Ms. Joa seemed afraid of humans, especially men. I put Ms. Nina in charge and kept my distance. Seeing Ms. Claire and me get along, I feel Ms. Joa has started to open up to me a little. I don’t know what happened to her with humans, but I won’t force her to tell me. I will wait patiently until she can truly trust me.
When I showed Ms. Claire the two rings, she looked relieved and accepted them. The old collar was removed and returned. Looking at it now, the craftsmanship was sloppy and embarrassing. I thought about destroying it but decided to keep it in my magic bag as a keepsake.
The good thing about my magic bag is that I can put many things inside side by side. I tend to keep everything, so in games, I always run out of item space quickly and get in trouble.
I have stuffed many boring items into the magic bag. I used an editor skill to list them by content, but I need a better system or I will lose track. Most of the items will probably never come out again.
After leaving Ms. Ant and the others, I set out for Toyata Village. For us, it was a short trip. At this distance, I could use new teleportation magic to summon Ms. Ant instantly to Toyata Village—at least in theory.
First, an animal test. I put a live quail in a cage to see how much it resists. The magic is basically the same as the magic bag, so it should be safe, but I want to be sure. The radar scan can reach far if stretched thin, so if resistance is low enough, I might catch quails freely.
The biggest flaw of this teleportation magic is that I cannot teleport myself. Since I am the starting point, it’s impossible. If there were two spellcaster, we could teleport each other anywhere instantly, but…
Anyway, I arrived at Toyata Village while thinking about this. I could shift my center of gravity on horseback without thinking. I am quite used to riding now. I nodded lightly to a gatekeeper I knew. The gatekeepers worked in shifts of about three people, all from the village head faction. But they were not unkind. Only Mr. Chaa’s group was openly hostile. Ani-Ani was surprisingly quiet.
To increase ally unity, distributing meat was still effective. While in the royal capital, Ms. Claire seemed busy hunting quail.
Quail taste good this time of year. If I meet Mr. Zenom, maybe I will hunt until evening.
I was away for a few days, but no one seemed to care much. That was a little anticlimactic. If so, I could have stayed longer with Uno.
Mr. Zenom was fixing a pot in the workshop. As expected, his skill was amazing. I noticed many advanced techniques I hadn’t seen before. Just because I can understand by watching doesn’t mean I can do it myself, but if I try, I feel I can learn. Even a single pot shows great skill.
That reminds me, I must give Ms. Joa her ring before I forget.
In a room remodeled from a stable, Ms. Joa was having Ms. Claire comb her hair. They were very affectionate after being apart for days. It felt more like close sisters than master and servant.
”I have a present for you, Ms. Joa. Is that okay?”
Ms. Joa stopped smiling and looked at me without expression. She seemed friendly with Ms. Nina but not open to me yet. I hadn’t talked to her much, so maybe sealing the subjugation skill would help us become friends.
I put the ring on her outstretched hand. Her expression slowly changed… then suddenly, she kicked me down. Without special training from Mr. Escalion, I might have broken my neck.
”Young lady!”
”I spare your life only because of Claire. Be thankful!”
She kicked the door and jumped outside. She shouldn’t be able to use skills, but her raw strength was amazing.
”We will chase her!”
”Ah, okay.”
I was stunned, but Ms. Claire’s voice snapped me out of it. Even she seemed surprised. Ms. Joa must hate me deeply. I don’t remember doing anything that bad, but people hate for reasons you can’t guess.
She was aggressive, which would be a problem if villagers got hurt. I grabbed Ms. Claire and ran after her.
Luckily, it was nap time and the streets were empty. Ms. Joa ran to the gate without meeting anyone. The gatekeeper was flustered and stepped aside. Good—he would have been trampled if he tried to stop her.
Ms. Joa ran out of the village and through the grassland.
”Where is she going?”
”Probably to our hometown.”
”Is it far?”
”Yes. Alone, she could be hunted by bad guys again.”
Ms. Claire wanted to go with her too. I couldn’t stop her. I took out Ms. Claire’s bow and arrow set from the magic bag and handed it to her, along with my wallet.
”I will never forget your kindness…”
When I jumped off the horse, Ms. Claire bowed and ran after Ms. Joa. Ms. Joa slowed, then the two ran side by side until they were small on the horizon.
Even so, I was far from the village now. If I walked back, it would get dark. But I didn’t mind. I would hunt quail on the way.
I took out a quail for revenge, then regretted it. Even if I planned to eat all the meat, I killed the quail roughly. I was not calm—I was out of control. When you’re bad, nothing works. This was my fault too, because of Ms. Joa. I must reflect.
Losing two slaves didn’t really matter. I thought maybe I would free them someday. What shocked me was not knowing Ms. Joa hated me all along. I thought I was a good master, and that they were grateful.
I felt a bond with Ms. Claire, but that was naive. Being forcibly made slaves, they naturally hated humans enough to want to kill. They did a brave thing, but I gave them a ring sealing their subjugation skill, which could have led to disaster.
It was my naive thinking, but maybe it was the right choice. Now, I can only pray they reach home safely. If we had discussed, I could have sent them close using the dwarf teleportation gate.
* * *
By the time I reached Toyata Village, the sun had fully set, and it was very dark. But I could see clearly, so night didn’t matter. The big creatures here were mostly quail or mice, so no real danger.
The dangerous monsters here include slimes, spirits, man-eating fish, big crabs, poison frogs, carnivorous rabbits, foxes, wild dogs, wild pigs, bears, and wolves. Slimes, spirits, foxes, and wolves are basically my allies. Bears and wild dogs are neutral. Pigs and rabbits might be minor enemies. Bears and pigs are tough, but animals aren’t stupid. Unless seriously provoked, they won’t attack armed adult men.
Man-eating fish and big crabs are good food, so they’re overfished and now called phantom monsters. The poison frog is probably the biggest problem. I once saw one swallow a quail whole. It’s an ambush predator and a glutton. It bites anything near but doesn’t chase prey. For Searchingskill users, it’s not a threat.
For village kids, poison frogs are dangerous, but when Ani-Ani and the others find them, they throw rocks and kill them easily. Poison frogs only produce deadly poison sweat from their warty backs, so if you keep distance, even kids can hunt them. It might be good for villagers to level up.
Normal frogs are a delicacy in Toyata Village, but super-large poison frogs can’t be eaten. Maybe if prepared like fugu, but no one has tried. They’re sometimes used for poison, but putting poison on arrowheads is forbidden. The poison is so deadly the prey can’t eat the meat.
This season, poison frogs are hibernating, so it is peaceful. But villagers don’t know if a monster hides in the dark. That’s why the village gates are tightly closed.
Normally, if residents don’t return by sunset, a search party forms. But I’m not worried. I am a Hero, after all. Recently, I seem to be considered quite strong.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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