Chapter 59: The Slave Bracelet – Part 4
“That’s the house.”
Leaving the hideout behind, I made my way to a district near the city’s western gate. It wasn’t long before I spotted the girl’s home. The house was immediately recognizable, nestled right next to a small domestic workshop. The adjacency made it easy to find.
…Now, what to do…
I paused, letting my gaze sweep over the place as I considered my options. With that bracelet firmly on her wrist, forcing the girl to come with me would have been simple enough. Yet, given my subordinate’s earlier blunder, recklessness now could spell future complications I’d rather avoid.
I still had the advantage of anonymity with the city guards. Squandering that advantage here would be foolish.
Hmm?
At that very moment, a commotion stirred at the gate. I melted into the shadows, eyes narrowing as I observed.
“Thank you for having us!”
“Yeah… I’ll definitely return the favor.”
“Y-Yes! I’ll look forward to it! Well then…”
“Shifa-chan, see you tomorrow~”
After these words floated out, a brother and sister, both in their mid-teens, stepped out from the house. They walked away from me, heading straight to a nearby home. By the time they disappeared from view, my focus had already shifted entirely.
There she was. The target.
The girl with silvery hair watched the siblings leave. I caught the name “Shifa” just then—there was no doubt now.
And by sheer luck, with the siblings gone, she was completely alone. I seized the moment, springing from my hiding spot.
“You must be Shifa.”
“…?”
She turned to face me at my words.
Indeed… this was my first encounter with her, but there was no mistaking it. She was undeniably beautiful.
Her figure was graceful, her presence commanding. She was far too talented to be wasted as just another adventurer. I could see why the boss wanted her.
…And now, I have the power to make her bend to my will.
Handing her straight over to the boss might feel wasteful… a little indulgence first could be entertaining.
Heh heh… a little play before submission couldn’t hurt.
“Who… are you?”
She narrowed her eyes slightly, a flicker of caution passing over her face.
“I am the one who will be your master from now on.”
“…?”
Her expression was one of confusion, but that hardly mattered. With the bracelet of subjugation locked around her wrist, she could not possibly defy my command.
I spoke clearly, without hesitation.
“Now, come with me!”
“…Why?”
“Huh?”
What…?
She should have obeyed without question, yet she dared to ask why?
“J-Just come, that’s all!”
“…I refuse.”
No! How could she refuse!?
She should already be completely under my control…!
“Alright, then spin around three times and bark like a dog!”
“….”
This was impossible… the bracelet’s effect wasn’t working at all!
And then it hit me.
The bracelet isn’t on her wrist…
“Im-Impossible…”
Could it be that my subordinate had fed me a false report!?
There was no other explanation! This device, once fastened, was supposed to be irreversible!
They lied to me… to me!
Unforgivable… absolutely unforgivable!
“Hey, Shifa!”
“Huh, Papa?”
At that moment, a large, hairy man—nothing like the girl—approached.
“This bracelet… you don’t need it anymore, right?”
Th-That…!?
My subjugation bracelet! It had been in this house all along!
“Yeah.”
“You don’t mind if I melt it down, do you? A bracelet that can’t be removed once worn… there’s no way I could sell it anyway.”
W-Wait a second—melting it down is unthinkable!
“Wow! What a beautiful bracelet!”
“…? Who are you?”
“I-I’m just a passerby! But I’ve never seen anything so exquisite. I must give it to my wife! Please, let me have it!”
On instinct, I played the role of a caring passerby, reacting with practiced quick thinking. This bracelet was purchased at great expense; I couldn’t just hand it over.
The large man scrutinized me suspiciously.
“Sorry, but I can’t give this to you. It’s a dangerous bracelet. My daughter accidentally wore it once and couldn’t remove it. Fortunately, it was removed safely in the end, as you can see.”
“…Excuse me?”
Once worn, yet it was somehow removed…?
“That can’t be…”
Stare.
“….”
Shifa’s eyes fixed on me, doubt and suspicion shining in her gaze.
“…Do you know about this bracelet?”
“N-No, I don’t know anything!”
This was bad. She was completely suspicious now.
“I-I’m sorry for saying something weird! Well, then, I’ll be going!”
Reluctantly, I abandoned the bracelet and retreated, escaping the scene as quickly as possible.
Damn it! I spent a fortune on that thing!
◇ ◇
“Hey, Onii-chan~ let’s make lots of elixirs~”
“I told you, it’s impossible. It’s not something you can mass-produce.”
“But you said we could make as many as we want earlier~”
Ugh… even when he’s usually spaced-out, he remembers the important parts.
“That was just a fib, a little white lie. To convince Shifa-san.”
Well, he probably could mass-produce them if Merlin allowed it. But judging from what Denis said, even if it were possible, Merlin probably wouldn’t accept it.
“Boo… I thought we wouldn’t have to work anymore~”
“You’re still only fifteen… right?”
In truth, the sales from the harvests bought by Lilcarlia alone would be enough for them to live comfortably. Naturally, that was a secret I kept from my little sister.