Master and Slaves

"Dules do not die."

"But earlier you said the method to break the contract is for the Dule to die......"

"Yes. I did say that. In principle Dules do not die, but there is one way to kill them. That is for the master to kill them."

"The master...?"

"Yes."

I see. That is why when I asked about returning to my original world, Mateus mentioned killing Tiria.

Well, I won’t do that.

"Ah, and one more thing. Dules do not grow."

"......Um, what does that mean......"

What... does that mean?

"In other words, they do not age. Nene may look young, but she is the same age as me. Hahaha."

"......Eh?"

......Eh?

Ah... uu... eh......

"Hahaha. It is only natural to be surprised. From the outside she looks like an eighteen-year-old girl."

Yes, I was surprised.

No, I am still surprised.

Or rather, I am panicking.

"Um, Mateus-san, how old are you again?"

"I turn sixty-seven this year. Did I not mention it before?"

"Yes. I heard it. Then Helene is also, no, Helene-san is also......"

"Sixty-seven."

When Mateus revealed Helene’s age, a murderous aura drifted from the direction of the dining room.

"Ma～ster～?"

A very frightening voice.

When I turned toward it, a Hannya was standing there smiling.

No, Hannya do not smile... ah, what am I saying.

Anyway, the person in question was standing in front of the dining-room door with a terrifying smile.

"Oh, Nene. We were just talking about you. Come here."

I wonder if it is all right for me to respect Mateus for casually ignoring that.

"Honestly, Master. You must not talk about a woman’s age."

Saying that, she leaned coquettishly against Mateus.

Where did that murderous aura go......

"Um, Master."

Tiria brought a tray with teacups and saucers.

"Oh, thank you."

"Teacher as well, please."

"Mm."

She placed a saucer in front of each of us and set the teacups on them.

Tea had already been poured into them.

"Tiria prepared it."

Helene explained while moving behind Mateus.

When I took a sip, a sweet, fruity aroma spread through my mouth.

"Mmm. It’s good, Tiria."

"Ehehe. Thank you very much, Master."

Tiria blushed and kissed the top of my foot.

Yes. You’re cute, Tiria.

Um, I feel like I am forgetting something important......

"Well, that is how it is. Continuing the discussion, Dules can also receive a portion of their master’s power. For example, after becoming a Dule, Nene’s muscular strength, stamina, and speed increased, and her magic power became slightly denser. The amount of magic power also increased a little. Is that right, Nene?"

"Yes. My strength and stamina are superior even to most men. I originally had almost no magic or magic power, but now I can use a little magic."

"I see. Huh? But Mateus-san does not look as if he has much muscular strength or stamina."

"Hahaha. Exactly. I am not suited to physical labor. Even now we do not fully understand the balance. What we do know is that if the master possesses some kind of power, the Dule will become stronger in some way."

"If the master has no power, the Dule does not become stronger?"

"Yes. That is correct. Therefore, regarding how much stronger Tiria, as Hiroyuki-dono’s Dule, has become..."

"How is it, Tiria?"

"Ah, yes. My magic power has increased tremendously. Before I could only fire one Purgatory Flame Bullet, but now I think I can fire about three."

"Three times as much. That is impressive. As expected of Hiroyuki-dono. What about the rest?"

Mateus asked with great interest.

"The rest? Um, my stamina has also increased. When I was pulled by the carriage to come here, I ran at nearly full speed for a long time."

Ah, that time.

So that was Tiria’s full effort.

If she hadn’t had the stamina, what would have happened?

The anger from that time wells up again.

"But my strength hasn’t increased much. Heavy things are still heavy."

Tiria’s adorable smile soothed me, and the anger faded.

I really am easily swayed.

"Well, that is how it is. In exchange for swearing loyalty to the master, they obtain such power."

I see—give and take.

But it still feels as if the Dule is giving more.

"Also, Dules cannot have children."

Helene added from the side—or rather, from behind Mateus.

"Dules do not grow. Therefore they do not menstruate, cannot conceive, and cannot raise a child."

"Ah, I see."

So that is why Tiria said she could not have children back then.

"Then Helene and Tiria can no longer have children."

"That is not entirely the case."

"Eh?"

"I do not wish to think about it, but if Master were to pass away and I ceased to be a Dule, I would be able to have children."

"I see."

In other words, a Dule cannot bear the master’s child.

Sensing a gaze, I turned and saw Tiria looking at me sorrowfully.

"What’s wrong, Tiria?"

"Um, I... want to bear Master’s child."

No, if you say something like that... as a man it is my dearest wish.

But according to what we just heard, it is impossible.

Not knowing how to answer, I looked at Helene.

"I also want to bear Master’s child."

Helene looked at Mateus’s face.

Then she came beside me and Mateus, slightly spread her legs, and, blushing, slowly lifted her skirt.

"That is why I am storing Master’s seed inside my womb like this."

When she hiked up her skirt, Helene’s private parts were exposed.

Just like yesterday, a golden chain with a brown jewel about the size of my thumb at the tip hung from her vagina.

"This is connected to a peg that seals the entrance to the womb. By sealing the womb, Master’s seed is prevented from leaving."

......I had thought it was some kind of sanitary item, but it was something so elaborate.

However......

"Is that all right?"

Doesn’t the semen spoil?

"Yes. As long as it is the master’s seed there is no problem. There have been many cases in the past of children being born that way."

There is precedent.

And Tiria is looking this way.

"What is it, Tiria?"

"I also want Master’s seed."

Tiria pleaded with a red face.

"Ah, ah. I’m not going to die yet. It doesn’t have to be right now, right?"

"Hahaha. Saying such things makes it sound as if my death is near."

"Th-That’s right, Hiroyuki-sama. Please do not say such ominous things."

"Ah, you’re right. I’m sorry."

I apologized to Mateus.

"Not at all, not at all. We still have a long way to go. Hahaha."

Mateus laughed.

I laughed along with him.

Helene adjusted her skirt and smiled modestly.

But Tiria kept looking at my face.

Her eyes were teary.

"Master’s seed......"

"Ah, I understand, I understand. We’ll talk about that later."

I roughly tousled Tiria’s hair.

"Tiria."

Helene called Tiria in a small voice, then firmly clenched her right fist in front of her chest.

Tiria nodded with a serious expression.

......What is this about?

......Come to think of it, I had asked Mateus for a favor.

I wonder what became of that.

"Mateus-san. The magic-infused item, was it? Have you finished analyzing it?"