– Day 7 –

Midnight reflection

The carriage ride back is uneventful and short thanks to fewer travellers on the road. As the sun is fading, the crystals on the street lamps begin to glow a pale creamy white, lighting the immediate area around them. The busy sounds of the city have all but faded away as we finally arrive back at the manor.

Helen, the manor head slave, told me that Emily would not be able to sleep upstairs as slaves have their own quarters in the back of the manor. Unfortunately, this was a problem as well as no bed or space had been prepare for her as no one knew I would be collecting Emily today. 

As such, I was told she would need to sleep in the outhouse which I flat out refused to allow, so I insisted that she be allowed to sleep in my room with me. I wasn’t about to risk her health on such a cold night. 

Katharine first looked a little concerned by this, but it seems she’s decided she can’t object without stating something lewd and showing yet another lack in trust of me, so she allows it meekly.

As Helen shows Emily and myself to our room, she hands me a small purple chest.

“The master of the house requested to give you this once it had arrived”

I open it of course, no need for noble etiquette around Helen. Ah, it’s the money promised in the letter from Alexander, Katharine’s father.

“Thank you for delivering it and showing us to our room.”

“…Not at all. If you need anything during the night, please use the hanging bell cord beside the bed.”

Emily and I head into our room and close the door behind us.

*blink*

Inventory: 39 / 99

– Silver King Coin x11 –

– Copper King Coin x51 –

– Purple Coin Chest (203x Gold King Coins) –

“Shall I undress Master?”

She beings to slip out of her top.

“W-What? No. I have no intention of taking you.”

“Chet. Tease”

In what way? Cause I didn’t want you to freeze to death? Apologies, I’ll refrain from such thoughts in the future!

“*sigh* Sit, we need to talk about some things don’t you think?”

“Probably, but I don’t reckon now is the time, Master.”

Hmm. She’s right; walls have ears after all.

“..Okay, we’ll talk about those ‘things’ another time... I still have something I wish to discuss though.”

Emily looks at where my hand is and sits beside it.

“Tell me about yourself.”

She tilts her head to the left before brushing her hair behind her ear.

“Not much to tell. I'm Nineteen; Oldest child of a dead family.."

She gives an odd laugh, as if acting not to care.

"Mum and dad were minor nobles, so I've got an education. They were executed for treason though when I was thirteen, and I was sold into slavery last year. Borrowed money and failed to repay it. I got lucky though, I mean…well, Grade A and all.”

Emily’s voice started carefree but towards the end got a little emotional. I can see her eyes are watering; it’s clearly not a pleasant thing to remember, no matter how tough she acts.

She leans into my arm with a sullen head… I put my arm around her instinctively.

“…Ya really are a tease…”

She looks up at me with slightly reddened eyes…cute…too damn cute. Give over perversion!

“…Still not taking you.”

She laughs and sits up slowly.

“Fair enough, Mas~ta! but I wonder how long ya can hold out.”

Heh, so you want to be taken? Pretty sure trunky will be too much for you to handle on your maiden round!

“You’re very direct you know.”

“Eh? How else do you get what ya want? I didn’t think I’d hear that from Sir Master Direct himself though.”

..I guess she’s right. I do tend to speak plainly when I can.

“I guess you’ve got a point there. On the subject of speaking direct... I had planned to release you once I left the Capital. That’s unmistakably not possible now, but I will keep looking for a way. So in the meantime, I want you to do something for me and don’t consider yourself a slave. I won't order you to do anything, and I want you to tell me if you want to do something–”

“Master… Have ya considered that maybe I want to be ya slave?”

…No because that’s absurd. Why would–

“Why would anyone want to be a slave?”

“Spoken like a blind man…”

..Ah, I get it. 

Just because you're not a slave, doesn’t mean you're free. I’ve seen what happens to people on the highway after all. In this world…mine too I guess, freedom doesn’t necessarily mean free. I was a slave to my job because it earned so little but here, it’s worse. I can’t imagine the slums are a pretty place with no state welfare or education… As a slave, you only need to do what your master tells you. You get a roof, food and if you get a decent master, protection. In Emily’s eyes…I must be a jackpot win…

“No. I thought about it for a second and saw your point, but you're young, intelligent and clearly fearless. Why would someone with these qualities want to be a slave?”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“…”

“At the moment, this isn’t really relevant but should I find a way to free you; I will ask you on that day if you still want to be my slave.”

She straightens up and lets out a small sigh while looking to the ceiling.

“Fine, then let’s change the subject. Tell me about you.”

“Hmm, well, I get the feeling I can tell you everything but you were the one to state that now is not the best time, and I cannot tell you anything without telling you that, ‘At birth’ after all, wasn’t a lie.”

“What!? Seriously, since birth?”

I nod to her, and she returns a whisper about nobility which I don't understand so I shrug.

We agree that this is a talk to be had elsewhere and with that, she lays down to sleep.

I only slept yesterday, so I’m not tired in the slightest. Having a body that seems only to sleep every other day is nice and all, but it’s not normal. I have to lay here restlessly as wandering about the manor at midnight would be suspicious. 

Emily however, is curled up like a cat at the end of the bed, wrapped up tightly in the top blanket. She’s drooling with a perverted smile… Knowing her personality, it’s kinda what I expected from her. -Five cutey points, sorry.

Hunger: 12% Thirst: 31%

Blood State: Dangerous

*blink*

Let’s take a look at the map I got earlier.

[Night Eye]

HP: 330 / 330 MP: 625 / 663 (670)

Damn. It’s not a full map of the continent but just this Kingdom. I was hoping to find the Desert Elves location with this but I guess that was hoping for too much. I guess I shouldn’t really be too concerned as kitten girl there will probably know where the Dark Elves live..

So if this is the Highway… Then that’s where I woke up in this body. That town the unclean lady told me to avoid was called Ta..kka, Takkai--

Hmm? Aslogia Dungeon? Why does that sound familiar.?

Known Skills:

Aslogain Language Lv 5 / 10 [>]

They’re too similar to just be a coincidence... I guess I have somewhere I need to visit. 

To be honest, there’s so much I want to do that I feel kinda lost. Maybe I should list things in order of importance… 

Nothing better to do anyway.

I put the map back in the leather bag and take out a journey. I proceed to take out the used pages and place them back into the bag. After a bit of rummaging, I find something similar to a pencil and begin my list.

After some careful thought, then lots of back and forth with myself, this is what I believe I should be working towards in order of priority.

> * Secure a base, preferably with shop

> * Make money, buy a shop, sell potions/gear

> * Join Adventures guild, gain fame.

> * Level up, train Emily, get stronger, build a party

> * Make powerful friends

> * Buy land, expand

> * Buy more land, build city

> * Harem…perversion!

> * Start a war… maybe? Could be fun?

That bulb knight still sits in my mind and brings me to thinking about war. I get the feeling something terrible is coming, and he’s at the centre of it, and I feel this is green boxy's doing. A type of early warning system that’s alerting me to a storyline threat that I can’t handle yet and need to work towards. Anyway, I can’t do anything about him in my current state.

I already have an idea for a base. The large house in a state of disrepair at the city centre. It would be perfect for my plans. I doubt it’s cheap though, but that brings us to the second point. Money.

After yesterday’s trip around town. I’ve learnt Alchemy isn’t big in the Capital. There are a couple of shops we past selling potions but my [Achelmy] and [Herbalism] skills told me at a glance they are seriously low quality at exuberant pricing. A simple health tonic, 5% recovery strength, cost 10 Silver Kings. 

With but a few of the simple ingredients I’ve gathered in the forest and some water, I believe I can comfortably make 2 litres of 50-60% strength tonic. If I sell these small tonics at 1 Gold King each… well, you can do the maths. I doubt money will be an issue if I can sell these somewhere.

The 'Adventures Guild' that I passed on the way into the city is still a mystery to me. I’m hoping it’s like the RPG’s I’ve played, offering quests, rewards and fame. If it’s not, well, I’m sure I can gain fame elsewhere.

Why is fame important? I’m not Human. If I want the chance to push for equality or aim for power, then having high achievements and social status is a given. People in this world are not going to change because they're asked nicely. I have to force them to change, and for that, I need fame and power. Starting my own Kingdom is not out of the question either though. It’s good to be King…right?

Training Emily... She deserves to be able to do whatever she wants without fear, and I’m hoping some martial training will instil some desire or dream that will make her want her freedom. If the time comes and she still wants to remain my slave… so be it, I’ll respect her wishes, but this is the least I can do considering the probable unending troubles I’m going to put her through.

The rest all go toward the half-joking Kingdom idea, and it’s requirements–

“*yawn~* Master, ya awake already?”

Ah, it’s dawn? Was I really that deep in thought. I hadn’t noticed due to night eye–

“Master, whatever magic that is, cancel it.”

Huh? Night eye must have a visual effect on my appearance..

[Night Eye Deactivate]

HP: 330 / 330 MP: 663 / 670

“Got any water in that magic trick?”

*blink*

I had her the water-skin. There’s barely anything left in it though. I will need to refill it at some point.

“Ah, thanks. Much better”

She hands it back, and I take the last drink out of it while I have it

*blink blink*

“What’s the plan for today?”

“I was thinking about that myself. I need to secure a base in the city and visit the Adventure and Mercenary Guilds.”

“Ya thinking that building in the centre of town right…?”

Hmm? I get the feeling that building holds meaning to her.

“That’s right. Is something wrong?”

“No, not wrong just… it was my parents.”

“Ah… I can look for another if it holds painful memories.”

She shakes her head once.

“Nothing like that. It’s… I guess it’s like that, but also it’s still empty because it’s got traitors history. Who would want to put their name to it? Ya should look elsewhere to–”

“Nah, I like that building. It’s big and will serve my needs well. Besides, I have a feeling people will flock to that building one day.”

If my tonics sell well that is.

“Well, it’s your money. It’s probably cheap considering how long it’s sat empty, but I still don’t think you’ll be able to buy it.”

“Why?”

“Ya ain’t human. There’s a chance though as it’s been empty for a long time and it’s history. Ya should talk to Katharine; she might be able to pull some strings.”

Stupid brain. You’ve known about how non-humans are treated in the Capital, what made you think they would sell the property to a non-human?

“You have a point. Anyway, let’s get breakfast–”

“You're forgetting your treatment.”

Emily speaks while taking her top off, her hand looking for the sword from yesterday. I can see the brand on her left breast is still visible but the cut from yesterday is completely closed. A pink line can be seen where it was though.

*blink*

“Indeed I am. Sorry to–”

She takes the sword from my hand

“Master, please stop apologising to me. Ya have nothing to apologise for- Atatah, ouchie!”

She cuts cleanly in the same place as yesterday and lays back on the bed waiting on me.

[Blood Absorb]

Hunger: 24% Thirst: 6%

Blood State: Normal

*blink*

Emily puts her top back on and stands up quickly–

“oo dizzy!”

“Did I take too much?”

“Whoa maybe, but I’m fine, take less next time though.”

Hmm. One slave isn’t going to be enough. I can’t drain Emily twice in one day. I’m going to need 2 or more slaves to maintain my needs…

“Shall we get breakfast now?”