Chapter 121 That Kind of Woman
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
What I remember is white, I suppose. It is the memory of a blizzard that erases everything in sight and rages through the mind. The homeland of our clan was in a land of particularly harsh cold and snow within the Coalmine Kingdom¹.
At the same time, it was a beautiful land. The dancing crystals of snow, the air so clear it felt endless. Do you know? Around here too, during this season, your breath turns white when you step outside. Well, when it is truly cold, your very breath freezes solid. It is beautiful—though, to be honest, it is so cold it hurts, so you do not really have the luxury of admiring it.
What else is there? Perhaps the beauty of the lush greenery that sprouts during the brief summer. For some reason, I always preferred the harsh and painful winters, though…
Monsters? Of course, there were many. Since it is a remote frontier with few people, the main characters of that land were not us humans, but those monsters.
There were Blizzard Bears with pure white fur and massive bodies, packs of Snow Wolves that insidiously stalked their prey, Big Mouths beneath one’s feet that would swallow everything along with the snow, and from the skies, the Snow Owl—the Wise Elder of the Snow—would strike even in the worst weather. And many others…
However, to speak truthfully, I am not that well-acquainted with that land. After all, by the time I reached ten years of age, I was severed from that place.
In that clan, there were people called ‘the shameless’ who left the homeland to live in the cities. The clansmen living in the homeland looked down on them and loathed them. Yet, it was also true that they looked forward to the urban goods and culture that the ‘shameless’ brought back. In exchange, young children were handed over from the clan.
Yes, I was one of those children handed over. For some reason, I had no parents for as long as I could remember, and I lived with the family of a woman who called herself my aunt. I do not know the details, but sometimes people called me the ‘Child of a Hero’ or the ‘Child of the Winter King.’
However, my aunt did not approve of that. There were times she would brutally beat anyone who called me those names. Before leaving that land, she said, “You must not return. If you stay here, you too will be captivated by the winter.”
She also told me, “Once those ‘shameless’ fools are no longer necessary, run away immediately and live as you please.” I could never quite tell if she was a sensible person or a completely reckless one.
When I was taken away, I was placed in a carriage where I could not see outside. So even now, I do not know where that land is or if it truly even existed. And so, I came to live in Mynar², the royal capital of the Coalmine Kingdom.
Our clan seemed to be held in relatively high regard. We even held a peerage of sorts. Unfortunately, however, it seemed that ‘power’ did not dwell within those who had left the land and whose blood had thinned.
That is likely why the ‘shameless’ sought the children from the homeland. Had I remained there, I expect I would have been made to give birth to the children of the ‘shameless’ or the clan.
Yes, regarding the ‘power.’ How should I put this… It seems we have a ‘power’ that allows us to mimic the strength of our opponents. This applies to humans, animals, and even monsters. Therefore, the truly strong ones are the battle-hardened veterans who continued to fight the monsters of that land, on that land.
Still, even children receive training from warriors who have mimicked the power of monsters, so they are treated as capable combatants in the outside world. Children are easier to control, and we could even mimic magic—something that was not used much in that homeland.
At any rate, it seems our clan has served Coalmine since ancient times because of this ‘power.’ One theory I heard was that our clan lived in that land even before the birth of that nation. It is said that at some point, we met by chance, some were tamed, and then we were driven onto the battlefield.
My days in the royal capital, Mynar, were safe and affluent, even if they were not beautiful. That is, if one defines affluence as not freezing in the cold, never worrying about food, and being surrounded by man-made things. No, that is a spoiled way of thinking, isn’t it?
However, the training was grueling. From morning until night, I was forced to fight adults, and every conceivable way of combat was hammered into me. It seems the ‘shameless’ wanted to raise me into a berserker who could rain blood upon a battlefield single-handedly.
Yes, as you might guess, if everything had gone according to plan, I would have been deployed in this war against the Canaria Kingdom³. Preparations for that had been underway for ten years. But, well, perhaps it is just my nature, but I hated both killing and being killed. Eh? Ah, yes. For a normal human, that is only natural, isn’t it?
In the midst of all that, during a skirmish with the Canaria Kingdom, the head of the ‘shameless’ house passed away. After that, well, it was the usual story—an inheritance dispute broke out, and I ran away because I did not want to be dragged into it. Even if I say so myself, that was quite a good decision.
And so I fled to this country, but I was at a loss as to how to make a living. After all, I had been taught nothing but how to fight. Oh, I suppose I was also drilled in etiquette and manners. But that is useless knowledge for a drifter to survive, isn’t it?
It seemed that while the ‘shameless’ sought a berserker, they also took pride in a cultured lifestyle. Things one could not eat, clothes one could not wear, and books one could not read if one lived in that remote land. They seemed to especially treasure those things…
Despite having been away from that land for a long time, they were people who could not shake off their nouveau riche tastes. They would even say to me, “How could I let you breed with a barbarian!” and were desperate to drill all sorts of things into me. In truth, they probably wanted to marry a young lady born in the royal capital. But to be unable to do that while clinging to the blood of the clan… it is either pathetic or something else entirely.
Eh? What is it? Well, yes, I was technically treated like a young lady… Eh? The reason why I was so keen on playing ‘Young Lady and Butler’? …Is there really a need to ask that now? …Fine, yes, it was! It was just the easiest thing to imagine! Do you have a problem with that!?
Ahem! Well, anyway, I thought about becoming an adventurer, but if I stood out too much, I might be recognized as a member of the clan. After all, this hair color is quite distinctive.
Then, I thought I might be able to manage being a make-believe maid in some noble house using my etiquette training, but apparently, you cannot get hired for those roles unless your background is clear.
I tried several other jobs, but my background would be checked, or the owner would take a liking to me, or they would try to promote me… Every time I felt out of place or likely to stand out, I would change jobs, until finally, I had nowhere left to go.
After much thought, I decided that becoming a slave was the best way to hide my identity and still live a reasonably good life. Fortunately, I believe I have an eye for people. I was looking for a master who was soft on slaves, seemed to have money, and was harmless to humans.
Yes, that is you, Master. Unfortunately, I missed the mark on one of those three conditions. I certainly thought I smelled the scent of money, but to think I would end up staving off hunger with weed soup…
Well, you know how to increase your wealth, and as things stand now, we are certainly not in trouble, so it turned out to be a win in the end. Most of all, the fact that you are so incredibly soft on your slave more than makes up for it.
Um, being cherished like this… it was a first for me. My aunt was a kind person, but she was not my real parent, after all… Living so peacefully is also a first. To not have to shiver in the cold, to not have to grip a sword, and to only need to be settled within your arms.
Eh? Did you put me through hardships? Oh, the weed soup was strangely delicious, and the meals I ate while bowing my head in thanks were also wonderful. Certainly, the Tremble-Ddo-Buddy⁴ burst inside me, and the Hot-Hot Ddo Buddy⁵ nearly burned my insides… but well, that is just a funny story now.
By the way, regarding my existence, Her Majesty the Queen is aware of it. It was around the time sales of the Ddo-Buddy⁶ really took off. I thought I was doing a good job of hiding, but Muse-san, the maid, paid a visit to confirm things.
I have entered into a magic contract, with conditions such as not running wild within the Canaria Kingdom and not causing harm to the nation, and in exchange, Her Majesty has granted me permission to reside here. You need not worry about that.
So, well, that is the kind of woman I am. A barbarian born on the frontier, a woman who might have rampaged through this country, a woman of a clan that has killed many people. Even as a slave, I am a calculating woman using her master as a shield to live an easy life.
Ah, also, I believe the ‘shameless’ are still looking for me since I fled. I am a troublesome woman. I believe I am a woman suited neither for marriage nor for bearing children.
Hehe, yes, yes. Indeed, I thought you would say that, Master. I return those words to you exactly as they are. Please be prepared—even if you say you hate it, I have no intention of letting you go… ♡
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Summary:
The slave girl reveals her past as a member of a specialized warrior clan from the frozen frontier of the Coalmine Kingdom. She explains how she was raised as a ‘berserker’ to mimic the powers of monsters and humans alike. She details her escape from a family dispute to the Canaria Kingdom, where she chose slavery as a means to hide her identity. Finally, she confesses that the Queen’s maid, Muse, has already vetted her, and she reaffirms her devotion to Master despite her ‘troublesome’ nature.
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Character Insight:
This chapter provides deep vulnerability for the slave girl, moving past her role as a mere assistant to showing her as a survivor of a brutal, eugenics-focused clan. Her choice of slavery is revealed not as a sign of weakness, but as a calculated survival strategy from a woman who ‘has an eye for people.’ Her final teasing lines mask a deep-seated fear of being unworthy of love due to her violent upbringing.
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Behind the Scene:
The setting of the Coalmine Kingdom adds a ‘northern’ or ‘arctic’ fantasy element to the world-building, contrasting the more temperate Canaria Kingdom. The mention of the ‘Shameless’ provides a classic trope of traditionalists vs. urbanites in fantasy clans.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Muse – Cecile’s trusted attendant and chief maid, Muse handles sensitive, discreet tasks like espionage and product acquisition. Have sharp, black eyes, wearing maid uniform, and have expressionless face.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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