Chapter 4 — Beastkin Wearing Slave Collars of Subjugation
I replaced the soiled sheets, then wrapped the naked man in a blanket and laid him down on my bed.
He hadn’t even really done anything, yet he looked utterly exhausted. Soon his breathing evened out, and he slipped into sleep. Seeing that he no longer wore that suffocated, gasping expression he had in the cage made me quietly relieved.
When I carried the dirty sheets downstairs, I happened to run into Mansel and Klamp right in front of the inn’s entrance, as if they had just returned from outside.
“Welcome back, Mansel, Klamp.”
At my greeting, the two of them broke into matching grins.
“We’re home—”
Mansel was a cat beastkin, and Klamp was a wolf beastkin. The two of them got along remarkably well. It hadn’t always been like that—I remembered clearly how badly they used to clash when I first bought them—but now they were inseparable, like close friends.
Around the necks of the two young men were slave collars of subjugation.
I had purchased them as slaves eight years ago. Even now, I was still registered as their owner.
But even so, they were precious companions to me.
Mansel noticed that my expression wasn’t great.
“…Hey, Eve, what’s wrong?”
“I bought a new slave. I’ll introduce him to you later.”
““Huh?””
Both Mansel and Klamp raised their voices in shock.
“No way.”
“Eve bought a slave? Weren’t we supposed to be the last ones?”
“…There were some circumstances. He’s injured and in bad shape, so be gentle with him.”
They exchanged a look, both clearly confused.
“Alright… but why now?”
Mansel asked. I replied, “There was leftover money from the recent reward. I thought I’d put him to work in the manor.”
They looked like they understood—but also like they didn’t fully accept it.
“He’s upstairs?”
“Yes. For now, I’ve put him in my bed.”
“….”
Klamp’s expression darkened slightly with displeasure.
“Eve, I’m against putting a new guy in your bed. It doesn’t set a good precedent.”
“I told you he’s injured. Your beds are too narrow for him.”
“Hey, hey, wait—you’re actually planning to sleep with him?”
“I said he’s injured. He can’t do anything.”
His hamstrings had been cut, he had been whipped, and even his eyes had been gouged out. There was no way he had the strength to lay a hand on anyone.
Besides, I was a female adventurer. If anything, I could easily overpower him myself.
Mansel and Klamp exchanged looks again.
—
When they entered the room and saw the slave still asleep, both of them fell silent.
“…Huh? Huh? Huh? Is this guy even going to be useful?”
“Be quiet. You’ll wake him.”
At my warning, Mansel stared at me in disbelief.
“Bandages over both eyes… he can’t see, right? And you’re saying he can still work? Even if it’s at the manor, what is he supposed to do?”
“…That’s something I’ll teach him after bringing him back.”
“Eve, this guy’s useless. Bringing him here won’t change anything. You should just take him back to the slave merchant right now.”
“Mansel.”
I shot him a sharp look.
He stiffened slightly.
With a sigh, I said, “I’m the one who decided to buy him. I am your master. Don’t argue with my decisions. I made my choice.”
“…………………………………………Alright.”
Mansel finally nodded—though his expression was filled with obvious dissatisfaction.
