Volume 15 Chapter 2 Home Visit
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I kept one eye on Lena, who was currently being re-educated by my other slave-wives, as I finished my preparations and headed out.
Just as Lydia-san had said, a lone carriage stood waiting in front of my house.
It was a modest thing, devoid of flashy gilding or a family crest, but the craftsmanship was undeniably superb.
It was exactly the kind of carriage a high-ranking noble would use for traveling incognito.
Well, after some careful deliberation, I made sure to prepare myself “appropriately” before climbing inside.
”Soyuz. Please tell me you aren’t actually planning to go dressed like that?”
Lydia-san froze for a heartbeat the moment she saw us.
When she finally spoke, her voice sounded like it was being squeezed out of a tightening throat.
”Of course I am. The Lord wants to meet ‘Adventurer Soyuz,’ doesn’t he?”
That was the conclusion I’d landed on after agonizing over it.
I’d geared up exactly like a man ready for a dungeon crawl.
I had my sword at my hip, every throwing dart holder was filled to capacity, and the lining of my cloak was a mobile pharmacy of various poisons. To me, this was my formal attire.
”And you’re bringing Lady Lena and the others, too?”
”Naturally. ‘Adventurer Soyuz’ isn’t complete without all of them. They are a part of me.”
At my words, Lena’s cheeks flushed as a small shiver ran through her. Vera gave me a radiant, adoring smile, while Georgia’s tail began to thud rhythmically against the floor. Lydia-san stared at us in stunned silence for a long moment, her mind clearly racing, before she finally let out a heavy sigh.
”Right. Okay. I guess that’s what it means to ’employ’ you…”
With a hollow look in her eyes, she beckoned us forward. And so, we began our journey to the estate of Margrave Verdaine.
* * *
”You know, I noticed this place doesn’t have a castle. Unusual for a town governed by a Margrave,” I remarked to Lydia-san as we traveled.
”Ah, that’s the Count’s personal philosophy,” Lydia-san replied. “He believes a castle is ultimately just a cage for defense. If an enemy has reached your keep, the war is already lost. He’d rather spend the coin on prevention than a last stand.”
”Hah. He’s a bold one, isn’t he?”
”People call him a warmonger, but he’s a pragmatist to the core,” Lydia-san said. “Instead of sinking a fortune into a fortress, he pours his budget into irrigation, land reclamation, and road maintenance to grow the economy. Once the foundation is solid, he builds a terrifyingly efficient knight order to keep the borders—what? Why the long face?”
”I don’t know,” I sighed. “It’s just… wouldn’t it be easier if the nobility were all just greedy, incompetent idiots? Dealing with a capable ‘Great Man’ is exhausting. He’s probably going to work me to death. Honestly, if you’re a Margrave, you should be doing Margrave things—like committing petty, backwater crimes while the Crown isn’t looking.”
Lydia-san looked like she wanted to argue, but she just shook her head and stared out the window with a look of profound pity. She was probably just moved by the sheer depth of my perspective and lamenting her own lack of insight.
Eventually, the carriage entered the city center. This was the administrative heart of the region, populated by bureaucrats and minor nobles—a place I rarely visited unless I was registering a new slave. In the dead center of the district sat a manor that, while not a castle, was undeniably imposing.
The carriage bypassed the main gates, however, taking a long detour around the perimeter to enter through a discreet back entrance. It felt appropriately shady. I couldn’t help but feel a little spark of excitement.
”…Soyuz, listen to me. No rudeness. No reckless behavior. Please.”
Lydia-san was hovering over me like I was a problem child. Honestly, what does she think of me? I’m forty-seven years old. I’ve seen enough of the world’s bitters and sweets to know how to behave myself. I can play the part of a “civilized guest” when I want to. She didn’t seem convinced. She kept lecturing me right until the carriage came to a halt. Inexplicable.
”Marinov-kyou, and… Master Soyuz, I assume? We have been expecting you.”
An older man who looked like the head of staff was waiting as we stepped down. He had the build of a veteran; the man was clearly no slouch. Of course, my girls could still take him down without breaking a sweat, but he was impressive for a butler. The man spared a brief glance at Lena and the others before fixing his eyes on me.
”Our invitation was for Marinov-kyou and Master Soyuz alone.”
”Yeah, I heard. But the Lord wants ‘Adventurer Soyuz,’ right? So I brought the rest of me. They’re part of the package.”
I met his gaze head-on, giving him no room to negotiate. If he turned us away now, that was fine by me. It would mean I didn’t pass their little test, and frankly, I’d rather go home than deal with a Lord. (Please, tell us to leave.)
”I see. Then, this way.”
(Tch.)
With a display of “polite insolence” that would have won awards, the man led us into the mansion. I couldn’t really blame him; my girls were, after all, wearing the prominent collars of slaves.
”Excuse us.”
”Coming in!”
I followed Lydia-san’s lead—she bowed perfectly—and made sure to give a polite greeting as I entered. Manners are important, even if you’re a cynic. The three girls followed suit, bowing deeply and silently, clearly aware of the “proper” behavior for their station. After a walk down a corridor that was entirely too long, we were shown into a drawing room.
”Please wait here for a moment.”
The butler vanished with a practiced, servant-like grace. I took the opportunity to survey the room. It was exactly what you’d expect from a martial noble. No gaudy gold or useless trinkets. The walls held the Kingdom’s banner, the family crest, and maps of the territory. The “decorations” were functional: a massive greatsword that had clearly seen its share of battle and a suit of armor with a heavy patina of age. No weird abstract art or tacky silverware here. Even the thick carpets and curtains were clearly chosen for soundproofing, and the furniture was built for durability over style.
”Impressive… he really doesn’t do anything halfway, does he?”
I was busy admiring a particularly wicked-looking sword on the wall when—
”Marinov-kyou! What is the meaning of this!?”
The door crashed against the wall with a violent bang, and a woman stormed into the room, screaming.
* * *
The intruder was a young noblewoman, probably not even twenty. She was dressed in masculine riding gear—flashy but practical—with a sword strapped to her hip. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. She had “high-maintenance tomboy” written all over her. She swept a disgusted look over me and my wives before turning her fury back on Lydia-san.
”I was told a master adventurer was coming, yet I find a mere brat! And he brings three slaves—one of them a filthy demi-human!? And they’re all just little girls! What do you take me for, My Lord? Did you think you could ignore me just because I’m the Lord’s daughter!?”
Her face was flushed bright red with rage. If she weren’t screaming, she might have been considered cute. But I wasn’t feeling particularly generous. She had just insulted my wives.
”Hey.”
I let my voice drop into a cold, flat register, fixing her with a gaze that usually made monsters turn tail. “You summon a man here, refuse to introduce yourself, call me a brat, insult my wives, and then start screaming at Lydia-san—who probably worked her tail off to make this meeting happen. My, my. The nobility sure has a strange definition of ‘polite’ these days.”
The girl’s eyes widened in pure shock. She stared at me for a second, her confusion rapidly morphing into indignation. “Y-you! Do you have any idea who I—”
”A spoiled, loud-mouthed noble brat?”
”What!?”
I cut her off with the blunt truth. Her face went from red to purple, and her hand began to tremble as it moved toward the hilt of her sword. “Lady Catherina! Please, stay calm! Soyuz, that’s enough—”
Lydia-san tried to step between us, but the moment she hit the wall of pure, unadulterated killing intent I was projecting at the brat, her voice failed. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed right there on the rug.
”You going to pull that? That sword?”
The girl took the full weight of my bloodlust. The color drained from her face instantly, leaving her pale and shaking, yet she still gripped her hilt with a pathetic kind of stubbornness. I’ll give her this: she had more spine than I expected. Which meant I was going to have to work harder to break it.
”I’m waiting, Princess. You going to draw? Just because someone hurt your feelings? Because if you do, I’m going to have to draw mine to protect myself and my wives. It’d be self-defense, really.”
I took a slow, deliberate step forward, sweeping my cloak back to reveal my blade. The hilt, forged from shimmering Mithril, caught the dim light of the row and glowed with a cold, predatory silver. Even she was enough of a swordsman to realize what she was looking at.
”A… a Magic Sword…”
”What’s it going to be? You want to dance with me? Actually… you want to dance with all of us?”
”Wha—!?”
While I’d been playing the “villain,” my girls had already moved. By the time Catherina looked around, they had perfectly encircled her. They hadn’t drawn their weapons yet, but their stances were tight, professional, and ready to end her life the moment I gave the word. They’d grown so much. It brought a tear to my eye. Time to turn the screws a little more on this brat.
”Well, ‘My Lady’? We’re waiting for an answer.”
”Y-you… you’d have slaves… point steel at me…?”
”Oh, they aren’t just slaves, Princess. The three women you just looked down on are all registered, high-ranking adventurers.”
Her eyes darted frantically between Lena, Vera, and Georgia. For the first time, the reality of her situation set in. She saw the look in their eyes—the cold, flat stare of predators who viewed her as nothing more than a target that hadn’t stopped moving yet. “Drawing a blade on a party of adventurers… do you really want to find out how that ends?”
I began to toy with the hilt of my sword, my fingers tapping rhythmically against the Mithril as I contemplated exactly how I was going to humiliate this girl. “So… Soyuz… please… stop…”
Lydia-san’s weak, trembling plea barely reached my ears, but it was drowned out by a different sound.
”What are you doing?”
A single sentence. It was short, but it carried a physical weight that seemed to turn the very air in the room to lead.
—
Summary:
Soyuz and his companions arrive at Margrave Verdaine’s estate under suspicious back-entrance conditions. A confrontation erupts in the drawing room when the Margrave’s daughter, Catherina, insults Soyuz’s slave-wives. Soyuz exerts terrifying killing intent and threatens her with his Mithril magic sword as his team surrounds her. A powerful new voice intervenes just as the tension reaches its breaking point
—
Trivia:
- The carriage being ‘incognito’ suggests the Margrave does not want the public knowing about Soyuz’s visit
- The drawing room’s utilitarian design reflects a lack of vanity in the Verdaine lineage
- Lydia’s collapse indicates that Soyuz’s ‘killing intent’ is a tangible, high-level skill, not just a scary loo
—
Character Insight:
Soyuz shows a ruthless protective streak, willing to threaten high-ranking nobility to defend the dignity of his slave-wives, while the girls show improved tactical coordination.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Lena – She is a young, early‑teen slave‑wife of Soyuz, brown‑skinned, long black hair in a black ponytail, scarred face with a blind left eye, wearing a black collar and tattered clothes. Often disciplined by the other women, she remains silent, blushing with devoted love for Soyuz, a rescued victim of severe abuse who plays with her image.
• Lydia – A poised noblewoman in flashy yet practical masculine riding attire, she blends gentle femininity with subtle masculine poise. As the protagonist’s mistress and Soyuz’s mediator, she guides him through elite circles, often exasperated by his bluntness.
• Soyuz – Forty‑seven‑year‑old adventurer trapped in a youthful body, he just bought a mansion and now role‑plays with Lena. Cloaked in a poison‑laden mantle and wielding a magic silver sword, he moves with a cynical, protective stance toward his companions.
• Georgia – A demi-human companion and slave-wife to Soyuz. She possesses a tail that she wags vigorously to express her emotions.
• Vera – One of Soyuz’s companions and slave-wives who displays a radiant and happy demeanor when praised by him.
• Verdaine – Verdaine’s capital, the region’s largest city, boasts towering stone walls and bustling markets. Ruled by the Margrave of the Verdaine house—renowned for a martial, pragmatic lineage that favors economic growth over fortifications. It shelters the Adventurers Guild and serves as the protagonist’s temporary base, just a short walk from the village where Lena was found.
• Marinov – The family name carried by Lydia, indicating her noble lineage and connection to the administrative structures of the region.
• Catherina – A young noblewoman and the daughter of the Margrave, likely under twenty years old with long blonde hair tied in a high ponytail. She wears masculine riding gear and a sword, possessing a haughty and short-tempered personality.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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