Chapter 10

Maia, the priestess in a white habit.

Julius, the knight in matching armor.

The two clerics, wandering the continent to spread doctrine, stopped by the city of Delophin. This was because they felt a magical aura similar to when a dungeon was appearing around Delophin.

Certainly, the magic concentration in the dense atmosphere was high. A dungeon would emerge within a few days.

Dungeons are generally left to adventurers, but one can never predict what variables might arise. They may have to enter if something happens while waiting.

Having to stay in Delophin until then, the two went to a tavern to grab a bite.

A waitress approached their table to take their order.

“You’re here again today?”

“Well, yes.”

“Should I bring you the same as yesterday?”

“Yes, please.”

As the waitress said, the two had come again today, just as they had yesterday. The combination of salad with potatoes and refreshing ale was a hit with Maia.

Maia shook her feet back and forth as she waited for the food to arrive. A light demeanor for a cleric. She was more cheerful than usual, enjoying what she couldn’t in the rigid clergy.

Even the small wait was pleasant, and even trivial sights were entertaining. Like how anything was interesting when one was studying during exam periods.

Maia looked around her.

“Um?”

Suddenly, she spotted something unusual.

At a nearby table sat a man and a maid. The girl was curled up like an armadillo, trembling as if she was facing a cold breeze, clutching her wand tightly.

The weather couldn’t be more pleasant, and if she were in pain, it seemed too severe.

‘What’s going on?’

What was expected was that the girl had been scolded by the man who appeared to be her master. Despite her trembling, the man took no action.

If one were to speculate further, perhaps the girl had made a mistake, and they were returning home to punish her?

It was likely that the girl was trembling at the dreadful future ahead.

Maia, who was often told she lacked decorum by the priests, was nonetheless a priestess. The sight of the girl, reminiscent of a squirrel facing a snake, stimulated Maia’s protective instincts.

In the end, Maia stood up.

Julius lifted his head in surprise.

“Maia?”

Maia walked directly to the nearby table without answering.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

Carami greeted them with a sly smile.

“Well, I’m not quite sure myself.”

“How could you not know? She’s shaking like this.”

Carami alternately glanced between Maia and Mirabel.

The reason Mirabel was trembling?

He knew full well.

‘It’s because of you guys.’

The nemeses of witches.

The ones who killed her mother.

Of course, these clerics hadn’t murdered Mirabel’s mother, but the specifics didn’t matter to Mirabel. That’s how trauma works.

A person bitten by a dog inevitably develops a fear of dogs, and someone nearly drowned naturally fears swimming.

Especially since Mirabel had witch blood flowing through her; her fear must feel even more pronounced. Even if she hadn’t awakened as a full witch yet, anxiety was unavoidable.

Carami decided that it was time to increase the distance between them.

“Let’s go, Mirabel. You seem to be in pretty poor condition.”

“Go where? What do you plan to do there? Swing a whip at me?”

As Carami reached out to Mirabel, Maia grabbed his wrist.

With a strong grip, Maia crushed his wrist. So strong, that even an adult man like Carami couldn’t resist. Holding back a scream like a young child, Carami replied calmly.

“Haha, how could I do something so cruel to a child I cherish? And,”

Carami’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

“Even if I wanted to, she’s my slave and my property, so you have no right to interfere, do you?”

“As someone who serves the divine, I can’t just ignore someone being tormented. I can at least provide some discipline.”

It’s because of you guys that this is happening.

Well, that guy’s looks and demeanor surely won’t let things be easy.

If they find out Mirabel is a witch, these racist bastards will change in an instant. I wouldn’t want to see that, pretending to be righteous.

Just look at the slave trader.

They care little for species and treat individuals with worth as precious. How equal-minded. At this point, isn’t the slave trader the Martin Luther King of this era?

Ah, I have a dream. A dream that all slaves will be valued for their worth rather than their species.

As the atmosphere turned strange, Julius, who had been watching quietly, also approached Carami. Those who thought it was fine for people to die for entertainment watched the unfolding situation with excitement.

The tension was palpable.

At that moment, it was Mirabel who broke the silence.

“I… I’m… okay…”

Still keeping her head down, she spoke with great difficulty.

Bending her knees to meet Mirabel’s gaze, Maia said.

“If this guy is bothering you, you can tell me. I’ll give him a thorough scolding so he won’t do it again—”

Thwack!

Mirabel slapped away Maia’s hand that was reaching out kindly and clung to Carami. In his arms, Mirabel trembled.

Maia was taken aback, and a victorious smile appeared on Carami’s face.

“Oh dear, oh dear. Did the suspicious person scare you by touching you? It’s okay.”

With Mirabel in his arms, Carami stood and placed a gold coin on the table.

“I apologize for causing a disturbance. Here’s for the meal and my apology.”

“Oh, no need to mention it. It’s perfectly fine if you cause a ruckus.”

Worried he might return the coin, the innkeeper quickly pocketed the gold. His face, once sour, was suddenly filled with a smile.

As Carami brushed past Maia, he whispered with a smirk.

“Geez, I’m not sure who’s bothering whom. It seems everyone else knows, though.”

“……”

“If I may add, my girl is living better than you.”

As Carami threw a glance toward the table, he left the tavern, and Maia couldn’t stop him this time. What she found on the table were the leftover dishes.

Bread and soup, even meat. These were dishes far too plentiful for a mere maid. And they were even sharing a table with their master…

It was hard to believe that someone who abused would provide such.

“Ha, damn it.”

Maia sighed and cursed. Just as he said, she had firmly misjudged things. It was out of pity that the girl had trembled so.

If it wasn’t because of the man, then what could it be? Maia thought for a long time but couldn’t figure it out.

“Um, your order is ready…”

The staff brought out the dishes, glancing nervously. Steaming potato salad and misted ale.

It was Maia’s favorite combination, but today it appeared unappetizing.

***

I found accommodations while holding Mirabel.

Entering the bedroom, I sat on the edge of the bed, but until that moment, Mirabel showed no signs of wanting to leave me. She clung to me like a baby koala.

Her small body still trembled, transmitting the emotional turmoil she had experienced without filters. This meant the fear of facing a cleric was significant.

As a master, I needed to calm my slave’s mental state in this moment.

“Haha, Mirabel. Am I really that appealing to you?”

Damn, I could only say that. How could a “Are you okay?” turn into this?

But usually, Mirabel would have glared at me if I spoke like this, yet this time she remained still. Her state might be worse than I thought.

If I could see Mirabel’s status, it would probably look something like this:

[Fear]

[Anxiety]

[Panic]

[Mental Breakdown]

It seemed like she was under every emotional debuff imaginable.

How should I soothe her? Words only seemed to worsen the situation. Should I buy some item with points or something?

After much deliberation, I made my decision.

Pat, pat.

I gently patted her back.

With a steady rhythm.

I continued until her trembling ceased.

How much time had passed?

The sun began to set, and the dim dusk light filled the room. The shadow of the two merged into one.

My arm, which had been numb for a while, felt like it was moving, and only then did Mirabel stop trembling. The now calm girl loosely wrapped her arms around my waist.

‘This, she seems to have missed the timing to pull away, doesn’t she?’

After a while of clinging, now pretending to be okay feels embarrassing, especially since she’s nestled against me.

Honestly, I didn’t mind this position. No, I actually liked it.

The weight was just right. The small Mirabel fit perfectly in one arm, and she felt soft. Even the faint scent wafting from her nape was pleasant.

Wasn’t it just perfect to use her as a hugging pillow?

‘Damn it. Mirabel, are you the greatest even when it comes to hugs?’

But if this continued, I felt like Mirabel would be embarrassed, so I decided it was time to let go.

“Are you calm now? Could you gradually let go? It’s heavy.”

As if she had been prepared, Mirabel smoothly detached herself from me. She maintained a distance greater than usual.

Her fair face, slightly flushed by the sunset light, appeared a bit redder. With her eyelids half-open, she glared at me.

“I’m…not heavy.”

“You haven’t been taking care of yourself, have you?”

I thought I heard a tiny gasp.

Perhaps it was an unexpected factor, as Mirabel’s eyes darted left and right.

She thought I was joking.

I was just saying it casually, but why take it so seriously? If she were heavy, the world would’ve already sunk into the sea long ago.

I wore a mischievous smile, and only then did Mirabel realize I was joking, puffing her cheeks in displeasure. Then, seeming deflated, she let out a light sigh.

Cautiously approaching, Mirabel sat down beside me. The atmosphere around her had lowered. Her expression was quite serious.

She began to speak with that same serious expression.

“You don’t understand why I acted like that earlier, do you?”

“Yes.”

Actually, no.

“I have something I’ve been hiding.”

I know what it is.

“If you hear this… what will you do? You might abandon me. You surely will, right?”

No way.

I think that, but the words don’t come out of my mouth.

Even without a response, Mirabel continued speaking her mind.

“Huuh….”

Taking a long breath, Mirabel eased some of her tension and spoke in a solemn voice.

“I… am actually a witch.”

Well, I know.

---