Master and Slaves

Today too, I finished the breakfast piled on the table.

Then I sat on the sofa.

Under the table, Tiria, who had come out late from the bedroom, was eating breakfast in her usual outfit.

Her freshly washed butt was facing us, with two holes exposed.

Fumu, no matter how many times I see it... it’s lewd.

"Master Hiroyuki, the hand-washing preparation is ready, but how would you like to do it?"

"Hand-washing?"

I looked at the table and saw a bucket, a water pitcher, and a paper with salt arranged.

"Ah, ah... yes. Before that, I need to relieve myself."

"Ah, yes. Understood."

I asked Cathy’s permission and went to the toilet on the first floor, relieved myself, and came back to the room.

Sure enough, as expected, and just like yesterday, Helene was there.

This seems to be becoming the daily routine in this world.

When I entered the room, I hurriedly got dressed and headed toward the tower of Mateus.

...

By the way, since yesterday Tiria has been teasing me a lot.

It started from when we returned from the tower of Mateus, right?

Helene seemed to be getting involved too.

"Hey, Helene. Since yesterday, Tiria’s behavior has been weird. Did something happen?"

"Giku! ...N-nothing at all."

"What did you do?"

"P-p-p..."

"Don’t whistle while facing tomorrow."

In the end, with nothing clear, we arrived at Mateus’s room.

...

On the same seat as yesterday, I and Mateus sat down.

The location was in Mateus’s room.

On the sofa of the reception set.

I took a sip of the red tea that Helene had made from the table in front.

Fumu, it’s really delicious.

"Alright, let’s get straight to it. Regarding the ancient script ruins I mentioned yesterday, could you go there tomorrow?"

"Eh? Tomorrow?"

It’s sudden.

"Yes, I’m sorry for the sudden request, but there are things I must investigate urgently. Therefore, I would like you to go, Master Hiroyuki."

"Well, I don’t mind, but..."

I don’t know the location, and I don’t know how long it will take to get there.

Actually, I don’t know the geography around here at all.

"Ah, let’s have Helene guide you."

"Master! Please wait! I..."

"Helene! ...Could you go?"

"...Yes."

Mateus called her by name without using a nickname, and then asked gently.

Helene nodded with reluctance.

There’s an awkward atmosphere.

"Well, even if it’s someone else..."

"Hahaha. I showed you a shameful place. Only Helene can guide you that far. Nene, please."

"...Yes."

This time, Helene gave a firm reply, as if she had made up her mind.

"Well, how long do you think it will take?"

"So... I think it will take quite a while, depending on Master Hiroyuki. Maybe one month or two..."

"Is it that long?"

"Yes. There’s a town called Lübeck nearby, so it might be good to stop by there too."

"What kind of place is it?"

"It’s an autonomous city ruled by merchants. I haven’t been there recently, but from what I hear, it seems quite lively. Slave trading also seems to be flourishing, and it’s called the Slave Town."

It has a pretty dangerous-sounding name.

"Is it not dangerous?"

"The security seems good, at least inside the town."

"They say inspections to enter the town are strict. It’s unusual for a merchant-ruled town that bribes don’t go through."

Helene gave explanations to Mateus’s words.

Yeah.

Merchants have a dirty money image, but is this town proper?

"The mayor of the town, the one that handles things, seems skilled."

"Mayor? Not city mayor?"

"Ah, yes. Lübeck is a parliamentary system where powerful people gather to decide the city’s affairs, and the one who is the chairman is the mayor."

"I see."

It might be a republic.

I understood Helene’s explanation.

"Ah, outside the town, there seems to be a town made up of people who can’t enter the inside, and security here is quite bad. Be careful. I will write a letter to enter the town and give it to Helene. Nene, don’t lose it."

"Yes, Master."

"Well, since it’s like that, how about stopping by once and enjoying yourself? You can learn a lot about Dural too."

"Eh? Isn’t it an urgent matter..."

"Ah, yes. Just send me the result via communication magic or something. It probably won’t be in a village near the ruins, but asking the guild in Lübeck for communication magic would be faster than returning here."

Ah, the guild.

...It’s fantasy, huh.

"Alright, for the ruins, I’ll ask Nene later. Is there anything else you want to ask?"

Something I wanted to ask... Ah, that’s it.

"Mateus-san. Um, yesterday you told me about Dural, how to make them feel pleasure or pain, or not feel it. How do I do that?"

Tiria, who was sitting on the floor near me, looked anxious, so I gently stroked her head.

"Oh, yes. That’s what I was going to explain. I understand. I’ll teach you. Nene, can you move this table to the other side?"

"Understood."

"Ah, I’ll help too."

"Please."

I and Helene carried the table to the back.

"I’m sorry. After all, I’m an old man."

"Not at all."

"Then, please sit here."

I sat next to Mateus on the left.

"Nene, come here."

Helene came in front of Mateus and knelt.

"Tiria, go in front of Master Hiroyuki."

"Y-yes, Master."

Tiria, looking at Helene, knelt in the same posture in front of me.

"Alright, although I can explain with words, I think it’s better to see it actually."