Reunion

(Adam the mage’s POV)

I finally got reunited with my sister. Though we meet up under such terrible circumstances, I must make it up to her for all the terrible things that befall, as it is not her fault, but a bad link from me. I got the key from the slave dealer’s peon that seems to move so slowly, like on purpose. I hurriedly open the gate of the cage, and go to my sister’s side. I noticed that she is shackled to weights at her ankle and wrist. I check the set of keys in hand and look for a suitable one among them, but I can see these keys are all different to the lock both in size and shape.

“You goons, this set of keys are not for opening the cuffs on her hand and feet! Give me the right one!” (Adam)

The peons each pass one set of keys to me, and I look at them. They don’t look that much different, and I just test out some of the keys that I find as closely resemble those for the shackles on my sister’s hand and feet.

One of the peons tried to lock me in the gate while I was busy concentrating on unlocking the shackles, but I already anticipated such a move. The torch I used to light the room is attached beside the hinge and lock, and he got his hands seared when he pushed the gate quickly and try to operate the hinge and lock of the gate. I give him a shot at his hand with my slingshot with an ordinary pebble as the ammo.

“That is what you get when you go against me. Try doing it again and see what I will do next.” (Adam)

The peons huddled among themselves.

“One of you, go get the right key for her cuffs. Don’t do anything foolish” (Adam)

They seem to push among themselves, saying “I will go”, “I will go”. I got furious and pick the fattest one among them to go fetch the key. I equip one lens on my eye, while keeping the other to room vision. I squat in a protective manner at my sister’s location. She hasn’t reacted to me so far. My heart is feeling heavy and guilty of not protecting her when she needs it the most. I removed my outer coat and wrap her with it. I remove my bottle and put her head tilted on my shoulder and feed her water. Her eyes were moist, but lifeless. I feel so remorseful to have put her in this condition. She didn’t move her throat, so the water is just kept in her mouth. I use my left index finger to slowly stroke her soft palate, and induce her esophagus to swallow the water. I ignore the strong stench. This wouldn’t happen if not because of my carelessness. She choked on herself, and vomited the water and some of her content. I softly patted her back, and wipe her lips with a handkerchief.

I noticed that the peon still hasn’t return. I check him up with my lens, and noticed that he has passed an area I believe stored the keys. I raise my slingshot, load it with a depleted magic bullet, and release a shot.

“Kuahhk!” (Peon Y)

That fat peon collapsed in my lens view. I aimed at his knee, and I tried suppressing my sharpshooting passive skill, and use my aim passive skill to get only the intended targeting without hitting the nearby peons. I asked the peon that got his buttocks shot earlier to drag the fat peon back with him, and place a threat that running away will forfeit his life. I decide to move my sister out of the prison cage gate. I tried shooting her shackles at the weakest point using my slingshot equipped with largest depleted magic stones. The depleted magic stone shatters into multiple pieces, but the shackles remain intact (shielded my sister with a metal plate). The physical aspect of the shackles is indeed very great.

I adjust my view to see the peon I sent out again, and the one who got his buttock shot at is now trying to go to a different direction. I shoot my slingshot armed with an ordinary pebble at his feet, and he decides to go to the intended path and grab the peon with the knee punctured. He slowly drags the peon back, so I shoot at the floor again to make him move faster.

I got tired of dealing with the slow progress, so I wrap the shackles’ weight around my shoulder, and carry my sister on my arm with a princess carry. I intend to put my sister outside of the cage, and then deal with the peons. However, the peon in this room, the one with his burnt hands, tried to dash at me when my back is turned and take my slingshot from me while my hands are occupied and my body tied down with the weights. The peon is larger than me and my head only reach his shoulders. I turned my body and raise my right foot into the air in an air chop style, and land a solid blow to his chin, and he ended up somersault in the air once before falling with his back on the wall behind. I retrieved my slingshot with my foot.

Both the peons that are outside came rushing to inside the room trying to tackle me while I’m still holding my sister, but I already placed my sister on the ground outside and armed my slingshot with pebbles. I shoot at their crotch, and they both fell and roll straight into the opened cage. I grab the peon that got kicked and burned by the collar, and drag him into the cage. I remove the wooden torch that I used to block the hinge and lock, and used the key in my hands to lock the cage’s gate.

“Hey, let us out you bastard SOB!” (Peon X,Y,Z)

Keeping the peons alive is more troublesome that what I thought. These people are keeping me from successfully rescuing my sister, but I don’t know the system here. Maybe it would be better to learn everything from scratch since their cooperation level is so terrible. I cover my sister properly, and then go to the place I saw the peon passed earlier that has a set of keys. I remember the shape of the keyhole, and I take two sets of keys that has the similar keyhole shape, but of different groove shape.

I returned to my sister’s side, and tried the first key I believe is the right one for the lock on her wrist. I heard the tick sound, but the lock didn’t become undone. I tried the same key on the lock on her ankle, but it doesn’t rotate well and there is no tick sound coming from it. I try the other key with he same keyhole shape. It rotates well and a tick sound can be heard. But the lock also is still undone. My worry has come true, that I will have to carry my sister all the way back with the chains and weight in tow, and probably cut it with proper tools.

“You will not escape here alive. You better start by releasing us and treat us better” (Peon X,Y,Z)

First, I plan to go get some proper clothes and food for my sister. I place and rotate the weights on my shoulder again so that the weights don’t put any pressure on my sister’s ankle and wrist by any means. I then proceed to carry her in my arms with a princess carry and rest her head on my chest. As I begin walking away, Lillie begins to whimper, and as I take another step, her voice gets louder and she begins trashing around on my chest while gripping my hands.

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“Nghhh!, Nghhhh!” (Lillie)

“What is happening, Lillie? Hey, goons. Tell me how to stop this and I will spare your life” (Adam)

“F**k you. You think we will tell you for free? You better release us and beg us on your knees and grovel in front of us, else your sister will lose her life” (Peon X,Y,Z)

As I turn to ask for an explanation for Lillie’s condition, I walk back a little to the cage’s location. Lillie’s condition got quieter, and she returns to a whimper. I think I know the gist of it. I have learned a little bit about slavery magic when I am learning magic in the capital during when I’m still a hero party’s candidate. There is a binding contract on the body of the contracted person that allows several settings possible. One of it is the binding of the soul between contractor and contracted. The contractor can place restrictions to the actions of the contracted, and can even pass some or all the authority to another person or object. What makes the slavery contract disgusting is that the contracted person cannot object any orders of the contractor.

I eliminated the slave dealer first to ensure the chain of command falls and I can make his subordinates subservient to me if I have to, but this has backfired so far. The slave dealer’s subordinates are still very uncooperative, even after their employer is dead. Now I believe the slave dealer is a shrewd person who keep another insurances in case the slave manage to break free by internal or external help. He must have given an item with some authority and set the command to never leave a certain distance away from the said item. It’s quite fortunate he didn’t set instant death as the cost of reprisal. Now, if I’m not mistaken, the slave seal must be located somewhere on her body, normally the chest area.

“Lillie, I’m sorry. I want to remove the seal that puts you in pain. Therefore, I will have to glance at your body. Please forgive me, ok?” (Adam)

“……” (Lillie)

Tears formed in her eyes. She shoves me away, and curls herself up in my arms.

I decide that I will try the alternative method, which may come with great risk. I put my sister near the wall properly with her shackles. I then use my lens and move the torch around to get a proper view, and saw something resembling a magic core attached to the ceiling. I arm my slingshot with a small stone pebble, and shoot it with a little strength. It hits the magic core without damaging it, only creating a little spark.

“Nghhhh!, Nghhhh!” (Lillie)

My beloved sister grasped her heart area right after I hit the magic core. This is quite a predicament. The slave dealer places such intricate instruction such that the slave can’t damage the tool with the authority over their slave seal, or they will suffer pain equal to the damage they deal to it. I raked my brain on what I can do in this situation. An idea came into my mind, but it is unprecedented, so I am worried about the outcome.

“Lillie, please find it in your heart to forgive this foolish brother” (Adam)

I removed my left glove and put it in my pocket. I then unbuckle two buttons of the outer coat at Lillie’s chest area. Her exposed chest is ample and snugly tugged in the coat. I focus my eyes to the heart area where she clutches. I touch her hands covering it, and move it aside gently. The repulsive mark of a slave seal is, indeed engraved there. The mark is still fresh. Although there is not much bleeding, there is the new red veins entwine around to form an ancient pattern that enforces obedience on the target. I place my palm on that patterned veins. The vein throbbed violently while slowly corrode, making Lillie squirm around in agony. I try invoking magic to hasten the corrosion rate.

“Kyaaaahhh!” (Lillie)

“Light Heal” (Adam)

“She’ll die if you forcefully try to remove her slave seal” (Peon X, Y, Z)

The invoked magic quickly drains the life out of the slave seal. It turns grey and brittle, and falls apart. Lillie’s complexion turns from pale to normal, and collapsed in my arms. I quickly close her buttons and checks her breathing. Yes, she is breathing all right. Luckily, my negative mana only affects the magically active slave seal.

“Hey, that’s cheating! How dare you forcefully break the seal! Only Boss can release or enforce the slave seal!” (Peon X, Y, Z)

“Now, what should I do with you guys?” (Adam)

“Have mercy. You have punished us enough. Just let us go and we will do you no harm. Doing good deed will bring you future prosperity” (Peon X, Y, Z)

“You guys just want to go report this to the imperial army right? You guys still really looked down on me. You guys are so terrible that I don’t know what else to do but to kill.” (Adam)

“Hiii!! You must not commit evil or you will become the Demon Lord!” (Peon X, Y, Z)

“Just stay there for tonight and reflect on your actions if you can” (Adam, sounded bored with their antics)

I noticed the shackles of Lillie’s ankle and wrist have become fully undone. So it is a physical and magical curse seal shackle. The slave dealer is a truly terrifyingly shrewd person. I carry my unconscious sister in a princess carry, this time much easier than before, and head towards outside. The other cages can be seen rattling loudly. I do feel pity for them, but I just ignore them for the moment, because I need to make it up to Lillie, who suffered greatly due to my powerlessness to stop the tragedy befalling my family.

I grab all the room keys, and then with the lens’ help, locate a room that seems to have most grandeur in it. I look at the set of keys, and pick a few that most probably can open the door. Each key only opens the lock partially, and in the end, all 5 keys are used to properly open the door to the room. The cupboard is very huge, and the bed is very grand and comfortable. I place Lillie down on the bed, and open the cupboard filled with clothes. All the clothes were male wear, so I have to sort through. I managed to find one trunk that has ladies clothes. Most of it was cosplay items, with bunny ears, very revealing low-cut dress, and micro mini skirt. Those things look similar to the one that exist in my past life’s memory. It’s a wonder where the slave dealer gets all these things.

With prayer and hope that it was not worn before by anybody, especially the slave dealer, I pick the most decent one with proper covers to avoid cold and exposed skin. I then have to choose the inner garments for ladies, which I’m not experienced. I try to recall the far off memory of my past life, and picked a pink pair for bottom and top, with proper straps and support. Please don’t let it be a failure, I prayed. I laid the items beside my sister.

Next, I look at the food served at the table. They are covered with small silver covers and looks elegant. I removed the covers and check the content. There are yellow strings like pasta, macaroni, and a plate of desert, like scone. There is also a slice of steak with sauce, and a bottle of wine. I take the water flask and fill the cup, and store the wine bottle in my pouch. I then shift my attention to his study table. There were parchments and parchments filled with inscriptions, probably slave contracts and documents dealing with slaves. I take them all and lock them away in a drawer. I noticed a book regarding slavery knowledge in that drawer, and decide to take it with me. While checking all that, I noticed Lillie has woken up, but stayed still on the bed. I quickly approached her and kneel by her bedside.

“You are all I got now, sis. Papa and mama, … it is my fault. Blame me! Scold me! Get angry at me!” (Adam)

Lillie just stares emptily into the bed ceiling. I got her to sit up, get a comb and comb her beautiful hair straight, and keep talking to her to encourage her will to live.

“You still have me. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you ever again. I will protect you till the day I die.” (Adam)

Slap!Slap!

My cheeks feel hot at left and right. I then feel a sharp pain on my chest. She keeps hitting my chest over and over again with her fist.

“You are irresponsible! Why dad and mum have to suffer? What did you do out there? Why do I have to suffer like this? You were not there when we need you the most!” (Lillie)

“Hit me till you are satisfied. Nothing I do can bring dad and mum back, but I will make it up to you any way I can.” (Adam)

“You think it’s so easy, huh? I hate you! Why do you come into my family and my life? I wish you can just perish, and never return to my life” (Lillie)

“I did a humongous mistake in making friends and misplaced trust in the kingdom. Yes, I have dedicated my life for you. If you need me to die now to satisfy your heart, I am most willing to do so. But I know doing so will not bring true happiness for you, so I have to hold on this matter. When the time is right, you can decide to take my life or use me as you desire.” (Adam)

“Get out! Out! Nowwww!!!!!” (Lillie)

Lillie starts throwing things from the table at me. One of the glassware broke and shatters on my forehead, and blood begins to trickle.

“I will excuse myself for a while. Please wear the clothes on the bed when I’m out. There is water and food on the table. Please eat something, Lillie” (Adam)

“OUUUTTT!!!!!” (Lillie)

I quickly go out and close the door. I use a cloth to patch the bleeding on my forehead, apply some ointment, and tie it up into a head wrap. I take a sip of water, and rest on the couch I saw nearby. I was extremely tired, but I can’t let myself to sleep yet. This is because I’m still in an unfamiliar enemy territory. I use my lens to scan my surroundings for any hidden enemy or traps. I decide to mark all the traps I can see, and disable those I think won’t be of any use. I then return to the couch and open up to read the book regarding slave dealings.