Master and Slaves

"Then, first I will make Hexa a Ze-Dule, so wait a little."

Enrico said that and left the room.

I did not particularly need to make her a Ze-Dule.

But unlike the other Dules, it was not that she would stay a Dule until I died. Break the accessory with a trace of soul set in it, and she would no longer be a Dule, so she could also be freed from slavery.

I did not want to force it.

If there was one problem, it was whether it would cost money...

"Here, we attach the benefit of making the slaves you buy into Ze-Dules for free."

Enrico returned to the room holding a jewel box and explained.

"Then, please."

"Certainly."

Enrico bowed his head, took a ring from the box, and started chanting something.

Then he pressed the ring’s gem to Hexa’s brow.

In that moment the brow lit and was sucked into the gem.

A Ze-Dule, unlike an A-Dule, could be forced.

Because of that, the contract finished without confirming the person’s will.

Abuse this, and could anyone not be made a Ze-Dule?

For example, making the person one wanted a Ze-Dule while they slept.

Wake to find oneself a Dule. Not even a joke.

"There, done."

Enrico showed me the ring.

Inside the gem floated a crest I had never seen.

Then he lifted Hexa’s bangs.

On her brow too, a crest was carved the same as the one in the ring’s gem.

"Then, this."

And he held the ring out to me.

"Thanks."

I held the gem of the ring I received up to the light and checked it once more, then put it on the index finger of my right hand.

"P-please take care of me, Master!"

Hexa walked up beside me and bowed her head.

"Yeah. Likewise."

When I answered, Hexa raised her head and smiled.

It was an innocent smile like a girl’s, and also an alluring smile like a grown woman’s.

Come to think of it, I had not asked.

"Hexa, how old are you?"

Late as it was, I asked.

"I will be seven soon."

...Eh?

"The Bista beastkin age differently from humans. At seven, that is about the late twenties for a human."

Maybe because I was stunned, Muriel considerately told me.

I see. Then there was no problem... was there?

Lately I felt that sort of common-sense feeling was gradually going numb.

No. If I thought of it positively, as drawing closer to the common sense of this world, was that fine?

"Excuse me."

While I was twisting my head and worrying, the door was knocked, Enrico gave permission, and the door opened.

Then several women entered the room while pushing carts.

"Then let us eat. The Dules have preparations in another place. Hey, someone. Guide the Dules."

Enrico said that and moved to have one of the women who had entered guide Muriel and the others.

"No. Let’s eat here together."

But I stopped Enrico.

At that, not only Enrico, but Azret and the Dules who had been about to start serving went wide-eyed in surprise.

"R-right. I do not mind... Um, do you say that in other places too?"

"Yeah, I do."

To Enrico’s question, I tilted my head, wondering what was wrong with it.

"...I think it would be better to refrain from such things. Many dislike eating together with Dules. I do not mind..."

Enrico spoke carefully, choosing his words.

Then, at the end, he looked at Azret.

"Yes, that would be better. No, I do not mind, so this time is fine."

Maybe he thought the talk had been passed to him. Azret agreed with Enrico.

True, there had been those who did not make a good face.

But it seemed to me that those sorts in particular had not been decent people.

Even so, because they were those sorts they made their dislike plain, and good people might have disliked it inwardly.

...I should be careful from here on.

"...Got it. Let’s do that. Muriel."

"Yes, Master. Everyone, we are going. Lady Hexa too."

"Y-yes!"

"Then, follow me."

The woman who had been serving bowed to us, opened the door, and went out.

Muriel and the others bowed to us too, then left the room.

Sophia, last out, closed the door still wearing an unsatisfied face.

"Then let us begin the meal."

Enrico clapped his hands twice, and the women put soup in the plates set before us.

I scooped it with a spoon and brought it to my mouth to drink.

Without the Dules it was lonely, and a meal of only men was tasteless.

Well, the ones serving were women, but maybe because they were maids, they did not speak a word.

"The flowers are gone."

Maybe he thought the same. In the silence, Azret muttered it.

"W-well, shall we have talk that is only possible between men? Come to think of it, Lord Azret is searching for a certain slave. Was there some connection?"

Enrico, the cause of the flowers being gone, looked awkward but tried to liven things and turned the topic to Azret.

But he seemed to have stepped on a land mine. Azret smiled wryly, as if it was hard to say.

"N-no, you need not force yourself to say it... I am sorry."

Enrico wiped the sweat that sprang out and bowed his head to Azret in apology.

I thought a merchant should not enter private matters much.

The silent meal resumed.

A little later, when we had eaten about half the grilled fish that was the main dish, the door was knocked modestly.

"Enter."

"Excuse me."

When Enrico gave permission, a man opened the door and entered.

The servant called Ruhen, who had greeted us when we came here.

Ruhen came beside Enrico and whispered.

"What? Truly!?"

Enrico raised a loud voice in surprise.

"Understood. We will head there once the meal ends."

When Enrico said that, Ruhen bowed his head to Enrico, and when he left through the door he bowed once more, this time to us as well, and left the room.

"The girl from earlier has regained consciousness, I am told. Only, talk does not seem to get through, so once the meal ends I would like to ask Lord Asahi to trouble yourself, but how about it?"

"Yeah, I don’t mind. Could you tell Rosina and the others too?"

"Certainly. Hey..."

Enrico called a woman who was serving, told her to pass this on to my Dules, and sent her from the room.

"Then we should hurry."

Azret muttered.

We ended up continuing the meal in silence still.

...

We joined the Dules on the way and headed for the underground we had come to before lunch.

Maybe because she was awake, they had of course unlocked the door that had been locked, and we passed through.

In the cell nearby, the girl still wrapped in bandages all over her body sat up on the luxurious futon.