| Author: Himezaki Shiu | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Jiro | English Source: Re:Library |
“That must’ve been tough,” I said, responding sincerely to Tsunoe’s story.
It really must have been. What she’d gone through wasn’t something a normal Japanese high school girl should ever experience. That said, she’d brought some of it upon herself, thinking she was special.
I just couldn’t muster any real sympathy for her. What really stood out to me was the fact that she’d been sold as a slave. I didn’t expect her to feel remorse, but hearing her talk about it left me in a bit of a bind. Even though she had reflected on her actions, I wasn’t going to forgive her.
If I were still just an ordinary person, I’d probably be furious by now. After all, she still didn’t understand her current situation and was acting hostile toward me. I could understand her struggling to accept being a slave, but I couldn’t wrap my head around the hatred she had for someone she’d never even met before.
She probably wanted me to kill her, but I wasn’t going to do that.
Nevertheless, her attitude was starting to get under my skin.
“If you really think that, then let me go!” she shouted.
“I don’t want to,” I replied calmly.
“Why? Why won’t you listen to me?”
“Probably because your Skill doesn’t work on me.”
“S-Skill?”
She looked stunned, as if she’d forgotten that Skills even existed.
It seemed she didn’t consciously activate or deactivate her Skill, which meant it was always on. That probably led her to mistake the influence of her Skill, Incitement, for her own popularity and charisma.
She likely believed that everyone under the effect of Incitement was genuinely her friend. In her mind, anyone who agreed with her was being honest, not manipulated by her Skill.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared visit the princess alone. Her vanity had tricked her into believing she was always in the right because people had supported her actions.
She was a victim of her own arrogance.
Meanwhile, the way Topersion1 manipulated the narrative—portraying Tsunoe’s use of Incitement as a plot to brainwash the servants and stage a coup—was masterful.
Even if Tsunoe herself had no clue what she was doing, she could’ve unknowingly created a faction that opposed the royal family’s decisions. Having lived in Japan her whole life, she had no way of understanding the gravity such actions carried in a monarchy.
“From what I’ve heard, it seems like you had it coming. Didn’t all of you kill the one you were supposed to protect? Of course, things would go south after that.”
I tried to smile mockingly, but it didn’t come naturally. Back in junior high, I’d practiced cunning smiles, but I’d never mastered an elegant one that concealed deeper emotions.
It reminded me of how, despite being able to sing a whole song by an English singer I admired, my English grades were barely above average.
“What do you mean, protect?” she asked, confusion in her voice.
“You really don’t get it?” I said, genuinely surprised. “Didn’t things get worse after someone died? That should’ve told you how important it was to protect him, no matter what.”
“Well, yeah, but… H-He didn’t say anything!”
(I see. She doesn’t want to admit it. She refuses to acknowledge that what’s happening now is her fault.)
Tsunoe backed away, crossing her arms over her chest as if to shield herself.
“I believe most of the rumors were your doing,” I continued. “So what do you hope to gain by saying he didn’t tell you anything? Isn’t that something you should’ve asked him directly before he died? Shouldn’t you have sought out the reason behind his actions?”
“That’s…” she faltered, tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.
(I wonder if there’s a market for delinquent high school girls who cry because of someone younger than them?)
“All you can do now is accept it,” I said. “At the end of the day, you’re just a slave I bought. If I’m going to feel sorry for someone, it won’t be you. I’d rather pity the girls who were sold off by their families. At least they had no choice. They were born because of their parents’ selfishness and discarded when they were no longer needed.”
“You, on the other hand, could’ve lived a comfortable life if you’d just protected one person. Of course, I can’t claim to know what makes someone truly happy, so it wouldn’t be right for me to judge. But in your case, I think I have every right to.”
I had said everything I wanted, but Tsunoe gave no response. Silence. Things had gotten so overwhelming for her that she’d just curled up into herself.
(Though it’s hard to believe, someone might mistake Tsunoe for a politician!)
“Come to think of it, you asked me why I helped you, right? Why do you think I did it?”
“I was going to be disposed of anyway, so maybe you didn’t want that to ha—”
“No, no. Don’t fool yourself. I didn’t buy you to help you. But, oddly enough, I ended up helping you. After all, I gave you a weapon to take your life.”
I pointed to the sword she had discarded earlier.
“Huh? Are you telling me to die?!”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to die? Besides, it’s not like I’m telling you to die. I just thought it might be easier for you to die now rather than live on.”
“W-What are you going to do to me?”
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan to do anything to you. For now, I just need you to promise me three things. First, you won’t tell anyone about me. Second, once you leave this house, you won’t speak without my permission2. Third, you won’t take your own life3. Naturally, you have no choice but to agree.”
“O-Okay.”
With that, the Contract was sealed. Having a slave as the other party made the process much easier. The Contract had the same effect as the slave collar, so I figured I’d toss the collar away later.
“In that case, I’m setting you free. Do as you please from now on.”
I touched Tsunoe’s collar, severing my ownership rights and releasing her as an abandoned slave. Abandoned slaves could become the property of anyone who picked them up, but they were also considered defective.
After all, if someone abandoned a slave, there must’ve been something wrong with them. No one discards something they paid good money for unless there’s a reason. Finding such a slave wouldn’t exactly be seen as good fortune.
At any rate, this house was pretty sturdy—I even thought it might survive the collapse of the world.
From here, it was up to Tsunoe. She could either live in loneliness, venture into town and get caught, or be killed on the way. The choice was hers.
“Well then, goodbye.”
I gave her a casual wave and left the house. With the Contract in place, she wouldn’t be able to speak.
As I walked away, I noticed monsters gathering around the house where Tsunoe was.
(Oh, right. I put up a barrier like the one in the capital to keep us from being disturbed. Looks like they’re pounding on it pretty hard. They’re really going wild. But it seems like the barrier will hold. I guess I can leave now.)
