The closer that I got to the siren, the louder the music became. It was more than that. Other instruments were added as well as other tones. The song became more intricate and more complicated the closer we got. Along with that, the compelling nature of the song grew too.

If it was just a sudden, unnatural urge, perhaps I could resist it. However, this was very subtle and grew ever so slightly until it took over. It was pretty scary, and it was perhaps that fear that kept me on the level.

The girls had formed a circle around me, keeping me trapped between them so that I couldn’t cause mischief. Since I was the support of the group, I was actually in the best position here. All of the girls were faster or stronger than me, or they had elemental abilities that could restrain me. In short, I really did have the safest configuration possible for this challenge.

“I’m doing good,” I said as we reached the halfway point.

The siren’s voice could now be heard. I didn’t know the language it was singing in, but the sound was undeniably beautiful. I had a feeling of happiness and giddiness emerging inside me. I almost felt like crying.

Fortunately, the good feelings weren’t to a point that I felt I’d leave my safe circle. Perhaps that was the advantage of being a bit of a shut-in. I wasn’t the adventurous type who would seek out something like the source of a voice no matter how alluring it was.

We continued to work our way forward. I didn’t realize my steps were starting to veer off course until I ran into Terra.

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“Master, please stay in the circle.”

“Y-yes…”

However, the closer we got, the more difficult I found it to keep my feet walking straight ahead. They kept wanting to move toward the voice.

At this point, the siren became visible. We were about three-fourths of the way along, and the siren appeared in an alcove. As described, she was supernaturally beautiful, with long green hair. She had lines on her neck that must have been gills, but that was the only part of her that looked monstrous. She had legs like a human, large breasts, and a voluptuous body.

When my eyes met hers, she gave a sad and regretful smile. My desire to run over and talk to her suddenly peaked. I felt a tugging at my heart and my soul. She was so beautiful and sweet, yet her song was so sad. I really wanted to make her laugh.

“It’s time we tie him up!” Shao whispered.

“What?” Celeste touched her ear, apparently having already forgotten she had something blocking her ears.

Shao rolled her eyes and then went to grab me. At that moment, my mind exploded with an overwhelming desire to speak to this siren. It became the most important thing in the world to me.

“Slave order. Back off and don’t stop me.”

At that moment, the calm expression on all of the girl’s sank. I had used the Slave Communication channel and gave such an order just as Shao tried to stand in my way. She froze when I gave this order.

“Slave order – Leave the room without me and don’t interrupt us.”

The girl’s bodies began to shake. A Slave Order could be resisted, but it caused extreme pain and was near impossible to defy. It wasn’t just a physical punishment. The order itself infected the person’s mind and gave them every reason to do what they were told. In order to resist it, it usually took a fear for your own life and perhaps a bit of psychosis mixed in. Even then, the best someone could do is becoming a quivering mess of pain on the floor.

In all of our preparation, we had made a single fatal mistake. We had forgotten one aspect about our party. I was their Master, and my orders were absolute!