Volume 1 Chapter 19 (1/2)

TLN: Have been staying at the hospital for these past 3 days...watching over someone... d.a.m.n lack of sleep...and also the reason for the late

Chapter 1 E 19 (Rest and The Future)

Third to the Fourth day after being summoned to a different world.

After disposing the slave trader, and leaving their bodies in the forest, Ryouma immediately return to the highway and head toward Aru town in a hurry, while carrying a box filled with gold coins and jewelry on his back.

Fortunately, there's no monster attack on their way toward Aru town, by 22 o'clock they have arrived in Aru town safely.

The restaurant in the town have already closed, and Ryouma only able to check in at the only inn in the town.

”Well then, shall we talk while eating? In that regard, how about you guys take a seat?”

In front of Ryouma and the girls, after asking a big favor toward the Inn master stew and bread have been prepared by the Inn master.

An expression of bewilderment floats on the face of the sisters who have been asked to sits down.

”?What's wrong? It will get cold you know?”

”We cannot afford to eat at the same table as the master. Please feed us later. ”

”Haa?”

After listening to Laura's words, Ryouma unconsciously asked back.

”A slave cannot eat together with the master. ”

”No... That's just impossible... even though there's a stew in front us already. It will get cold you know?”

”There's no need for a slave to have a warm meal. ”

(These girls, just what are they... Does a slave is someone belong to their master that much? Or rather, I'm their master, right? Hmm... Wait a minute, If that the case then...)

”Just to confirm. You guys will obey your master right?”

””Yes. To be of use by master is the duty of a slave. ””

The sisters immediately responded toward Ryouma.

”And I'm the master right?”

”Yes. With the exchange of the blood covenant, you're our master. ”

Toward Laura's words, Sara nodded her head.

”Then I order you as your master. Sit down, and let's eat the meal together. ”

””EH?””

The sisters looking at each other at the unexpected words.

”A food won't taste good if you eat it alone, see. Since I also want to talk about the future, now! Go ahead and sits down!”

The two were lost in thought for a while then responded back.

”... Understood. Excuse me. Come, Sara, it is master order you know? Hurry and sits down. ”

Laura who made up her mind then urged Sara to also sits down.

”Alright! Then let's talk while eating. ”

””Understood.””

For Ryouma, it was natural for him to eat happily together, yet the sisters seem to have found it uncomfortable instead.

One, two mouthfuls of stew had already consumed by Ryouma; however, the silence still presides over them.

(Somehow, this feels awkward... Well from the story I heard, a slave have always been treated quite poorly. So I guess, it was impossible to change their mind immediately huh? ”

Reluctantly Ryouma asked the question regarding the blood covenant.

He was aware that the issue is less suitable to be asked during meal; however, he cannot leave it alone forever either.

”Then, let me confirm the situation alright? I will ask for one more time, right now, I've become your master right?”

”Yes. A master-slave relations.h.i.+p has been established using blood covenant that we performed a while ago. ”

”That's it! That blood covenant thing, what is that about?”

Ryouma asked the question while stuffing his mouth with bread.

”A blood covenant has two meaning. One is where a knight vows their loyalty toward their Lord. In this case, there's no binding force, it was just a formal ceremony. And the other is to bind a war slave <battle slave=””>> toward their master. ”

Hearing that Ryouma stopped his hand holding a piece of bread.

”War slave, battle slave?”

”Yes. In addition to labor slave and s.e.x slave, there's a special slave that are called a war slave. Their purpose is just like the name implies, and that is to do battles for their masters, however, since it was obvious that they have the power to fight, there's also a chance for them to rebel against their own master. Thus, there's a seal to be placed on them which make them unable to fight unless their master gives them permissions. ”

An expression of aversion surfaced on Ryouma face.

After all, he's someone who does not like the thought of violating personal liberty.

This time as well, the story is at the end about human circ.u.mstance that force enslavement.

The thing called a slave rebelling can be treated as someone doing revolt like this.

”I see. Then the next question. Why did you guys decide to perform such thing?”

If we follow with Laura's explanation then, they should not know how to perform blood covenant.

There's also a reason as to why Ryouma thought of such a thing.

Although the possibility is small, this might be a trap set by the Empire.

Ryouma wondered if the empire purpose to let him help them is to make him trust them and get him to lower his guard down.

”A-About that...”

Sara who found it hard to say about it direct her gaze toward Laura, which she in return wink her eyes.

”It's fine Sara. It is natural for him to find it suspicious. I understand. I will try to explain everything. However, I want master to keep the story secret. ”

Being overpowered by her resolution and determined gaze Ryouma nodded his head.

Beside for Ryouma, he does not have the hobby to flaunt someone else secret either.

”Our surname is Marfisto,  originally it was the name of a high pedigree Knight lineage from the Kwiford Kingdom located on the west coast of the central continent. ”

(Knight lineage? By that means, a n.o.ble huh? Now that you mention it, they do have the beauty and the elegance. But still, why a n.o.ble lady ends up as a slave...??)

For Ryouma, Laura's story is beyond his expectation.

”If that the case then, your real name is actually Laura Marfisto is that it?”

”Yes. Marfisto family is a military lineage that serves the Kwiford Kingdom royal family since a long time ago. And now, this is the story from five years ago. The problem started with a trade tariff between the Kwiford Kingdom and its neighboring nation, the Queft Kingdom, which in the end escalated into war, and the Kwiford downfall become the result of it. Although my father's territory is situated on an island off the coast of the kingdom, the spark of war also ends up engulfing my father's territory as well. ”

Having recalled their home, tears appears from their eyes.

”My father desperately fought for the people and the kingdom. However, after the betrayal of the prime minister which resulted in the a.s.sa.s.sination of the king and the decline of the kingdom, my father decided to abandon the territory. ”

”Were you guys fleeing together then?”

The sisters nodded toward Ryouma question.

”Yes. We planned to run away toward another country with several escort soldiers. ”

In the end, Ryouma was unable to eat the stew on the table.

Even for Ryouma, he would be unable to eat, and stop eating if they end up listening to such heavy story.

”Then why a n.o.ble lady from a Knight family, having an escort as well, end up as a slave?”

”This is all due to us being over confident. ”

A bitter expression appears on Laura's face.

”We're unable to see through a human heart weakness. On the day when we arrived at another neighboring country by s.h.i.+p which we disguised it as a merchant s.h.i.+p from our territory. Our escort betrayed us and tied us, then sold us to the slave trader. Even though all of those escorts are the people that have served us many years...”

Being betrayed by the escort they have placed their trust with, and being sold as a slave.

There's nothing that can describe that other than as a tragedy.

Well, there's the saying that misfortune never comes singly, it's a common thing that when the situation deteriorating everything will always move toward the opposite ways.

”The slave trader, is it the one whom we meet this afternoon?”

”Yes. Because we can read and write, and also have been trained in the military art and magic art, they decided to educate us as a war slaves. ”

”I see. So, the reason why you guys know about the blood covenant is?”

”I heard how to perform the ceremony of blood covenant from our father. He said that sooner or later it would be necessary for us to know about it. ”

”So that's how it is...”

”Yes. However, blood covenant cannot be done between slaves. Although by all means, I want to perform blood covenant with someone no less than a commoner, however... ”

Toward Laura's explanation, Ryouma nodded his head.

That would be natural, or so he thought.

After all, if they can perform blood covenant between slaves the meaning of restriction would disappear.

”That's means all this time, you guys were looking for someone trustworthy huh?...  By that, is that means you guys trusting me?”

”Of course. Master have fought purely to protect us. I think such a person is suitable for us to serve. ”

”I also have the same thought. ”

Following Laura, Sara voiced her agreement.

”Fuuu...”

After hearing the situation from the two people, Ryouma heave a big sigh.

(Ah, I give up... )

That was Ryouma's honest thought.

The two girls gazes are directed toward Ryouma.

”I understand the situation. Then I will free the both of you. Fortunately, there's also the money we looted from the slave trader as well. With that, the both of you would be able to restart your life as a sisters no?”

”We can't do that!”

Laura's words contained such a clear intent.

”Although we had become a slave, we are from the proud Marfisto family. We had our life and purity saved by master while master has risked master's life in doing so. Please, let us serve master until this life of ours end. ”

A light of resolution can be seen from the eyes of the sisters.

”Well, you know, I helped you guys without expecting any grat.i.tude from it. Thus, you girls don't have to put it until that far, alright?”

Of course, he does not mean that they don't have to feel indebted entirely.

After all, he only wants a world of thanks from them, and something like this is going too far.

”No! Please let us serve you!”

Toward Laura's words, Sara nodded her head.

”This won't do... after all, I also have my own circ.u.mstance...”

Sara responded toward Ryouma who leaked something vague.

”Is that related to master for being a person from a different world?”

A smile appeared on Ryouma face as usual.

”What are you talking about?”

Although only a momentary, the feeling of unrest within Ryouma's heart is being transmitted to the sisters.

”Master do not have to worry. We won't tell the others. It just that, we also want to know about master circ.u.mstance. ”

For a second, silence ruled the place.

”Why?”

Ryouma began to talk.

”To serve Ryouma-sama, we have to understand the situation properly. That's why we want to know master circ.u.mstance by all means. ”

Silence once again has flown between them.

(What should I do? I can seal their mouth, but... no, that's just being stupid. I would rather get myself forsaken than doing that. Since I should have prepared for this by the time I decide to help them back then... If that's the case then... )

Various thoughts run through Ryouma's mind.

”Very well. ”

””Then!?””

The sisters immediately leaned their body forward in expectation of Ryouma's word, however, Ryouma pushed them by hand.

”I understand your feeling, but, I don't need any slave. So, after you listen to my situation and still decide to follow me, then I want both of you to come with me as a human with free will, not as a slave bound by blood covenant. ”

He doesn't want to feel forcing them following him, but let them decide as a human with free will.

This was the maximum compromise that Ryouma can give right now.

Hearing Ryouma words, the sisters looked at each other, nodded, then Laura makes a loud declaration.