Chapter 48 Enclosure
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After isolating the Saint, we all huddled together for warmth in the kotatsu¹, snacking on sweets and sipping tea.
”Where did this even come from…?” Yui asked, hugging the kotatsu quilt to her chest.
”I made it. My skill is honestly a cheat code – super high-spec. Though, compared to the legendary Hero gear you guys probably have, maybe it’s not that impressive,” I said.
”No… I really don’t think that’s true,” Yamada replied. “At the very least, we couldn’t dream of doing something like this.”
”Exactly! What was with that? That magic was absolutely insane!!” Yui added.
The two of them began recounting the events on the battlefield.
”Whoa, hold on. That wasn’t magic. Those were items I’d pre-crafted and tucked away in my Storage. It’s not like I can just snap my fingers and do that without prep time, you know?” I explained.
”Most people couldn’t even manage the ‘prep’ part…” Yui said with a troubled look. My girls all nodded in solemn agreement.
”Anyway, let’s look ahead. We should talk about what comes next,” I said, changing the subject. I didn’t want them digging too deep into the mechanics of my skills.
I started by explaining what I knew about the demi-humans. When I reached the point that they were fundamentally no different from humans, the two of them turned deathly pale.
”So it’s true… just as I feared…” Yamada looked like he’d seen a ghost.
”Wait… you guys haven’t actually seen combat yet, have you? Did something happen?” I asked.
At my question, they both turned a look of pure dread toward me.
”I… I’ve done something unforgivable…” Yamada groaned, burying his face in his hands as he slumped over.
”Yui, can you tell me what happened?” I asked quietly.
”…They forced us to kill people,” Yui replied. “They told us that if we were going to war, we had to do it or we’ll die. We tried to fight back, but they just kept layering on the orders… we couldn’t hold out forever…”
”Ah, I see.” I felt a wave of relief once I understood the source of their agony. If they were compelled by Binding Magic², then they weren’t the ones at fault.
To help them process it, I grabbed Yui’s hand and used it to give Charlotte a quick thwack on the head.
”Ow! Master, what was that for?!” Charlotte cried out, looking at me in shock.
”Sorry, sorry,” I said, before turning back to the others. “See? It’s like that.”
”W-What do you mean…?” Yamada asked, his brain still clearly stalled out.
”Look, even if someone uses your hands, if your heart isn’t in sync with the action, the blame lies solely with the one pulling the strings. That’s just common sense. It’s okay to be furious with the Kingdom of Dole, and it’s okay to hate that your bodies were used like tools, but you didn’t do it. Understand?”
”B-But…” Yui looked up at me, her eyes brimming with tears.
”No ‘buts.’ Don’t get it twisted. For the record, I’ve killed people of my own free will,” I said.
Both of them snapped their heads up in unison. “What…?”
”The difference is, I have a cause that my people acknowledge, so it doesn’t weigh on my conscience. But as for you two? I’m certain you’re innocent.”
As I spoke, I glanced at my girls. Shirley stepped up with a piercing gaze.
”Crimes committed under Binding Magic are the sins of the master. That is an absolute truth across all nations. If we allowed that to be overturned, justice would vanish from the world. Please, you must let go of this guilt,” Shirley said firmly.
She spoke with such conviction that she bowed deeply to the two of them.
”But even if you say that… the victims are still dead,” Yamada whispered powerlessly.
”Look, the victims might lash out in pain and anger, sure. But that doesn’t make you the villain. If you aren’t the culprit, you have to stand your ground. Letting a victim treat an innocent person like a criminal is just creating a second victim. In that scenario, the ‘victim’ becomes a perpetrator of a false accusation.”
Under local law, things might get messy if slaves are held liable, but I wasn’t about to accept that. That’s just a garbage law.
”B-But my hands were the ones that-!”
”That’s exactly what I’m telling you is wrong! If I put a knife in the hand of a sleeping person and force them to stab someone, the one who moved them is the murderer. Enslavement, where your will is stripped away, is no different. Even by Japanese legal standards, you’d be found not guilty,” I argued.
I told them that even “temporary insanity” or “lack of capacity” can result in zero negligence. They seemed to give a quiet, hesitant nod of acceptance.
”Anyway, why were there demi-humans there? Did they catch some migrant workers?” I asked, pivoting the conversation.
”…It seems they were taking prisoners during the war. There were so many slaves. And every single one of them was a woman…” Yui said.
Wait, what? What are they even doing with prisoners?
…Oh, slaves. Of course. It always comes back to that.
”Ahahaha! Classic Dole! Same as always! They call demi-humans ‘demons’ but they’ll go out of their way to drag them back just to do that?! Give me a break!!”
I let my anger flare, the words spilling out raw. Charlotte and the others looked at me with sudden apprehension.
”Ibuki-sama, give the word and I shall go and annihilate them,” Shirley said, dropping into a formal seiza³ at my side. For some reason, the others all scrambled out of the kotatsu and followed suit, sitting in rigid, formal rows.
”Uh, what happened?” I asked Charlotte, startled by the sudden shift in the room’s energy.
”Please don’t be angry…” Charlotte whispered.
”Ibuki-kun… did you just do something on purpose?” Yui asked.
”Eh? What do you mean? I didn’t do anything…”
Yui explained it then. They had felt a localized pressure – a killing intent so heavy it felt like their spines had turned to ice.
”O-Oh. Was it that? Like when you run into a high-level boss monster… Sorry for killing the vibe, everyone,” I said.
”No, you have every right to be angry,” Yamada said. “I couldn’t stand it either… I’ve had a pounding headache ever since I saw them.”
Despite having no personal stake in it, Yamada was actually tearing up from the sheer weight of the tragedy.
”Then let’s go save them. It’ll be the perfect way to show the world that you guys were just puppets and didn’t have a malicious bone in your bodies, right?” I suggested.
Hehehe. This is going to be some top-tier PR.
Yui was watching me with a suspicious squint. “Ibuki-kun… are you plotting something evil again?” She reached out under the kotatsu and squeezed my hand.
”H-How rude! I’m only thinking about what’s best for us!”
”Ahaha, you’re as reliable as ever,” Yamada said, finally breaking into a smile.
I led the two of them up to the surface mansion. I kept the Saint isolated in the basement. She was staying there until I handed her back to the Kingdom of Dole. I wasn’t giving that woman a single scrap of intel.
”Wait… we were underground this whole time?” Yamada muttered, stunned.
”Yeah. The Human Race is technically at war with us, after all. I’ve made friends with the locals, but I can’t afford to be careless,” I said.
I led them into the living room, where the staff were already busily preparing tea. I gathered the girls to introduce the newcomers.
”Right, let me introduce them. Uh, Senpai, what was your name again?”
”It’s Yamada! Yamada!”
”Right, right. The ‘Yamada, Get a Job’ guy.”
”Quit it!! I’m a student! The whole ‘Yamada won’t work’ meme makes no sense!”
”And this is Yui-chan. We’re officially a thing now,” I said.
”I’m Yui. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Yui said, bowing.
When Yui bowed, the staff were so startled they doubled over in deep, respectful bows and didn’t come back up for a while.
”See? This is why you need to relax, Yui,” I said.
”Is it… really okay?” she asked.
”Yeah. You two aren’t the arrogant types, so just be yourselves. You want to be friends with them, right? It’s easier if you don’t overthink the formalities.”
The servant girls all nodded vigorously in agreement.
”Then… I look forward to getting to know you?” Yui tried.
”””Yes, ma’am!””” they chirped happily.
However, the Heroes’ eyes were absolutely glued to the ears and tails of the staff.
”Pretty cute, right?” I said, voicing their thoughts.
”I-It’s… yeah. I’m worried it’s rude to stare, but they’re incredibly cute…” Yamada said.
”Oh? Is Yamada-senpai secretly a furry?” I teased.
”No! I mean, I’m not, but look at them!”
Yui crossed her arms and gave them a flat look. “Rude. Stop gawking.”
”Yui-san… you were staring too,” Yamada pointed out.
”He’s right, Yui! Just admit it! This is like a live-action healing video!” I said.
”It’s not a video… but I get what you mean,” she muttered.
”By the way, this senpai over here is a Hero but totally single. If any of you want to try and sweep him off his feet, feel free to shoot your shot,” I told the staff.
”Pfft! Ibuki-kun, what are you saying?!” Yamada sputtered.
”Hey, if you’re hooked up with someone, I can flirt with Yui without feeling guilty. Plus, if I tie you down with a local girl, I can use your Hero credentials whenever I want,” I joked.
”Wait! Stop trying to set up a honey trap!” Yamada yelled.
”I’m joking, I’m joking. Mostly. But seriously, Senpai, you’re the type to take responsibility, right? I mean, look at them. Are you really going to say you’re not interested in such cute girls…?”
I was already a familiar face⁴ in the village – I didn’t even need an introduction. I made my way toward Nyan’s house with Sarasa in tow.
”Hey, it’s Ibuki!” one of the villagers called out. I raised a hand and tossed back a casual “Yo!”
I kept up the pace, trading greetings as we walked. Beside me, Yui was staring wide-eyed at the dwarves; to her, they all looked like a bunch of kids.
”How are they all so friendly with you?” she asked. “You’re… like, way too at home here, aren’t you?”
”I just told them we should look out for each other if things got tough, then gave them some actual support,” I said. “It’s not just this place, either. I try to keep in touch with all the good people I come across. This is just one of the stops on the map.”
”It’s… it’s not just here?” Yui squeezed my hand. “I knew it. You really are incredible, Ibuki.”
I squeezed her hand back as we finally came to a stop in front of the village chief’s house.
—
Summary:
Ibuki comforts Yamada and Yui after they reveal they were forced to kill using Binding Magic. He uses pragmatic logic to absolve them of guilt and decides to rescue demi-human prisoners to improve his own public standing. The scene ends with a shift in mood as the group moves to the surface mansion and interacts with Ibuki’s demi-human staff.
Afater that, Ibuki departs for the dwarf village alongside Yui and Sarasa to coordinate with the local leadership. Along the way, Yui is shocked by the casual, respectful rapport Ibuki has built with the villagers. The chapter concludes as they arrive at the Village Chief’s residence to discuss current events and potential alliances.
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Trivia:
- The Saint-senpai is currently isolated in the basement.
- Ibuki openly admits to killing people of his own will, unlike the Heroes.
- Binding Magic removes legal and moral liability for the victim in this world’s common sense.
- The Kingdom of Dole is hypocritical, enslaving the demi-humans they claim are demons.
- Ibuki’s killing intent was unintentional and subconsciously felt by the others.
- The ‘Yamada’ joke refers to the ‘Working!!’ (Wagnaria!!) anime/manga meme.
- The dwarves in this setting have the physical appearance of human children.
- Ibuki uses a custom ‘pseudo-automobile’ for travel, making trips very fast.
- Sarasa’s loyalty was literally bought with a high-quality Pork Bowl.
- Ibuki is purposely showing Yui his influence to help her understand their current standing in this world
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Character Insight:
Ibuki demonstrates a mix of genuine empathy for his fellow students and a cold, calculating nature that treats them as political assets. Yamada and Yui show their fundamental ‘goodness’ through their trauma, which Ibuki exploits to ‘enclose’ them into his faction.
Yui is moving from a state of being an ‘outsider’ to recognizing Ibuki’s genuine power and kindness, deepening her emotional reliance on him. Ibuki shows his pragmatic side, prioritizing relationships and ‘soft power’ over pure force.
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Behind the Scenes:
The author uses Ibuki’s modern legal knowledge to bridge the gap between isekai world morality and the protagonists’ modern sensibilities.
The ‘face-pass’ (kao-pasu) is a common Japanese term for being a VIP or regular who doesn’t need to show ID, often used in nightlife or exclusive clubs.
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TL Notes:
Notes:
• Yui – Female student from Earth—one of the summoned companions, upperclassman designated as the Sage. She expresses deep romantic feelings for Ibuki despite the polygamous culture.
• Hero – Ibuki’s upperclassman from Earth—summoned as the naive Hero with emotional, mentally fragile personality. Empathetic yet reluctant and inadequate-feeling, lacking survival instincts and political skills. Currently in despair and terrified by his situation.
• Yamada – The Hero summoned from Japan. Currently forced into a subservient role by the Kingdom of Dole through magical enslavement. Possesses high combat stats comparable to a Knight Commander after intensive training. Wears armor and carries a sword.
• Charlotte – Short, skinny late‑teen slave girl with messy brown hair, feline eyes, and a soft, slender body. Was an Ex‑Level 8 farmer, now Level 10 and bound to Ibuki, who she calls “Master” and calls herself his wife. Wears rags at first, then pretty clothes he makes, plus his bat‑wing hairband. Blushy, clingy, protective, and easily emotional, she follows him on runs, fights, and flights while always worrying if she’s useful enough.
• Shirley – 14yo ex-knight family swordswoman, Ibuki’s 2nd slave (8-gold scapegoat from Karl), rocking long red hair, dignified cool beauty in tight white dress—shocked by the chill vibes at first. Fanatic loyalist, weapon tester, security guard, blunt questioner of his slave game, one of his 3 wives, combat/sales pro but can’t cook.
• Ibuki – Broke high‑schooler from Earth who got tossed into another world with the “Crafter” class he first thought was useless—turns out it’s totally busted. Black‑haired, germaphobic, and low‑key bitter but sharp as hell. Uses Synthesis, Processing, and Inventory skills to survive, craft gear, and haul loot while exploring. Currently a Level 10 otherworlder, wielding a stone axe, traveling the frontier forest with Charlotte, and just trying to stay alive long enough to find a bit of peace.
• Sarasa – A female dwarf and friend of Nyan-chan. She is high-spirited, energetic, and extremely enthusiastic about food, specifically pork bowls. She views the protagonist’s cooking as ‘God-tier’. A young native girl accompanied by Nyan-chan. She is stunned by the protagonist’s ability to produce food.
• Nyan – A Dwarf girl, daughter of Doran. 20 years old but looks like a child. Dark-skinned, cat-like vibe. From the mountains.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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