Master and Slaves

Now then, what to do with Lily.

I sat in a chair and looked down at Lily, sitting formally.

This room was my bedroom, borrowed from Freit.

The Dules were in whatever places they liked in this room.

The To-Dule group, Tiria and the others, and the Te-Dule group, Helma and the others, knelt by the wall, and the Ji-Dule group, Sara and the others, stood by the wall.

Sophia, Gejia, Birga, and Ito stood leaning their backs on the wall near the door, and Rosina, Lilli, and Sheena stood near the window on standby.

The A-Dule group had probably taken positions at the door and window so Lily would not run.

And Muriel waited behind me, spilling killing intent.

I smiled wryly, feeling that aimed at the girl in front of me with my back, and thought about what came next.

There were several problems.

First, Lily was a master-killer.

No, from Lily’s side they were not masters at all, but even so it became murder.

Maybe she had killed a noble.

That meant she had to be punished as a criminal.

At most, no one knew that Lily and Hexa were split personalities, no, holders of split souls.

We could keep it secret as things were, but there would be times Lily had to be brought out.

If it was known then, it might become troublesome.

...Better to ask Freit about this matter.

Freit was a notable of this city, for form.

He might teach some way out, or rather, a good method.

But when I returned, the night was quite late, so Freit seemed to have been asleep.

The door had been opened by one of Freit’s guards.

That guard too seemed to have been told by Freit to open the door when I returned, and it was opened smoothly.

And until I entered this room I had not met Freit.

Tomorrow I would consult Freit.

Next, Lily was not yet my Dule.

Even if Hexa was my Dule, leave her beside me, and I would not know when my throat would be cut in sleep again.

"After all, let us dispose of her."

From behind, a voice pregnant with anger could be heard.

Lily glared this way.

No, the one glaring was probably Muriel.

But when I averted my gaze and looked at her, she lowered her face with an expression frustrated, pathetic, and somehow alluring.

Disposal meant killing Lily.

Killing Lily meant killing Hexa.

Do that, and what I had first thought would be resolved too.

That is, dispose of her in the name of punishment.

But...

Emotionally, I did not want to kill her.

Hexa, of course, and Lily too.

From today’s events one could tell, but Hexa was basically a kind girl.

And I thought there had been a connection in her becoming my Dule.

And Lily was fond of her little sister.

The method was wrong, but killing Hexa’s masters until now had probably been from thinking of her little sister.

"...I oppose."

I thought in silence for a while, then turned and said it to Muriel.

A wrinkle formed between Muriel’s brows.

"But as things are..."

I understood what Muriel wanted to say.

"Lily, you understand as things are will not do."

I turned toward Lily and asked her.

"...I understand."

Lily glanced this way, then soon lowered her face and muttered.

She was answering somewhat more obediently than before she ran.

Since I brought her to this room, I first had Rosina treat Lily, then talked.

By killing Hexa’s masters until now, Lily had put Hexa in a hard place.

Because of the absolute restriction that a Dule could not kill her master, it had been established that Hexa was not the culprit, but that had been overturned.

This too I could suppress with one word, but a knot would remain with Muriel and the others.

I disliked friction among the Dules.

"...Lily, what do you think you should do?"

I stood from the chair and knelt in front of Lily.

Lily raised her face, and maybe because my face was right there, she arched back.

Then when our eyes met, she turned aside with a huff.

"...I think disposal is good."

She faced a little down and muttered.

"I... caused Hexa trouble... so... I think it is better if I am gone."

Lily monologued slowly.

But when she said that much, Lily looked up at me.

"But! Then Hexa!"

Tears floated in her eyes.

"Yeah. Hexa dies too."

I said what Lily wanted to say.

There was no escape for her.

Lily probably understood that too.

"You mean... I should become a Dule too?"

Lily muttered, as if resigned.

I could not say yes.

I could not force Lily into a Dule.

Lily’s readiness mattered, but if it was with no choice, she could not become a Dule.

But Muriel’s thinking did not seem to be there.

"You are a criminal. If you become a Dule, you will trouble Master."

"Muriel!"

"I am sorry, but let me say this much. Lily, Master is kind. Truly, dispose of you and everything settles round. But Master is trying to save you. You understand."

Muriel put in a word to me and explained to Lily.

Lily nodded without a word.

"Then, what should you do. On top of that, what should be done. Think. And Hexa. You are listening. Knowing about Lily and leaving it was a crime that should be punished. You think about what should be done too."

Hearing Muriel’s words, Lily nodded again.

Then she lowered her face and fell silent.

I returned and sat in the chair.

For a while a silent time flowed.

"You, still..."

"Muriel, let us wait a little more."

Muriel grew impatient and moved to press in on Lily, still face down, but I held Muriel back.

She had said that if Hexa had consciousness, even if Lily was out she could tell the surroundings.

Lily, who had heard Muriel’s talk to Hexa, had nodded.

Well, she had been talking to Lily, so maybe only Lily had nodded.

But if Hexa had heard Muriel’s talk too, right now Lily and Hexa might be consulting.

Then I only had to wait for the result.

After that about another thirty minutes passed, and at last Lily raised her face.

"Please... make me a Dule... please."

Then she set her hands on the floor and bowed her head.

"Got it. This is fine, Muriel."

"Yes."

I turned, and Muriel nodded with a solemn face.

I would have to give Muriel a reward.

"Thank you, Muriel."

"N-no..."

I stood and whispered at Muriel’s ear, and Muriel trembled for some reason.

I wondered and looked at Muriel’s face, and I could tell her face was red and flushed.

...W-well, good that she agreed.

So, I looked at the time.

3:12:43...

Do it from now, and I might not be able to sleep...

Well, fine.

Miss now, and Lily’s thinking might change.

"Can we do it from now?"