Chapter 12

The day after narrowly preventing a catastrophe.

I told Mirabel.

“Let’s take a day off today.”

Both people and machines, as well as animals, all need appropriate rest.

It would surely be good if Mirabel swiftly fulfilled her role, but if pushed too hard, she would tire quickly. In fact, even in Taosel, every slave has a level of fatigue that increases the more work they’re given.

When fatigue is maxed out, it’s difficult to function, and the likelihood of accidents rises exponentially.

Given the nature of the tycoon genre, where everything meshes together like cogs, if one part goes wrong, it can lead to fatal issues elsewhere.

Only by properly distributing work and rest can operations run smoothly.

Since it seemed it would take time for the dungeon to appear, I decided to give Mirabel a break today. I was still concerned about yesterday’s events.

“Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

“Somewhere I want to go?”

“You’ve been working hard lately. It’s a reward.”

Mirabel tilted her head. Her expression implied that it was only natural for a slave to work diligently. I thought similarly, but it’s not always the case.

I realized this while nurturing beastman slaves. Some work hard, while others take advantage of others’ diligence and laze around.

Even though the game has become real, there are slackers among my slaves who fit the archetype of a salaryman who accomplishes nothing.

But who am I?

Am I not Korean?

I can’t get my mind off a situation where I don’t seek maximum efficiency, regardless of the environment. Especially when it’s in a tycoon setting?

“Oh shit. I can’t stand it.”

When efficiency drops, I get worked up.

Ruining efficiency is absolutely unacceptable. What I concluded in my contemplation is not punishment, but reward.

“Punishment is something only small-time proprietors do.”

So, I decided to reward the slaves who work hard. By giving them special meals or allowances. Then, the others will want to receive rewards and will work hard too.

In the same vein, since Mirabel has worked hard, it’s time to grant her a reward.

“Anywhere is fine. If you want to go somewhere or buy something, just say it freely.”

“Then new clothes….”

“Wait a moment. Let me ask the person in question. Miss Mirabel, do you like maid outfits?”

“No….”

“She says she likes them. The Mirabel in my head really wants to buy a few more outfits.”

“…….”

Mirabel looked at me with cold eyes.

You crossed the line first, Mirabel. This is something I can’t yield on. With nothing to lose, I stared back defiantly.

A staring contest that lasted for several seconds. The first to declare defeat was Mirabel. It seems this Mirabel also likes maid outfits.

Again, Mirabel thought seriously.

“Then….”

Eventually, the next words she spoke were.

***

Mirabel was walking around, snacking on something.

“Is it finally slime fritters?”

After buying a slime fritter at the market, we set off to explore the city.

As Mirabel chewed away on the slime fritter, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel. When she briefly encountered me, she hastily grabbed a bag and pulled out a fritter.

“Hehe.”

“That’s enough.”

Mirabel’s expression darkened.

Even with that pitiful expression, it wouldn’t work. I let it slide last time, but not this time. I just saw the fritter moving.

As we were exploring the city, we came across a magic tool shop. Ever since she started learning magic, Mirabel has taken an interest in magic tools.

While staying in Libria, she bought one or two but ended up disassembling and analyzing them. No wonder she’s a witch. There’s no doubt she’s like a techie from another world.

Mirabel was browsing the magic tools, moving around the shop with an expression filled with curiosity, like a baby just starting to see the world.

I remained waiting, holding a wand like a man waiting for his girlfriend to finish shopping.

“Little lady, you seem very interested in magic tools?”

“Yes, yes?”

“Oh my, I didn’t mean to surprise you. My apologies.”

Mirabel jumped in surprise at the shop owner’s grandma’s words. She had improved in front of me, but she still couldn’t shake off her timid demeanor in front of others.

That alone seemed cute, as the grandma smiled at her like she would at her granddaughter.

“Is that man your brother?”

“No, he’s my master.”

“Master?”

“I’m a slave.”

As the word slave left Mirabel’s lips, the grandma glared at me as if she wanted to kill me. Her eyes seemed to say, how could such a scoundrel make such a girl a slave?

What? Do you want to fight? I might not be able to win against Mirabel, but I feel like I could beat the grandma.

Perhaps sensing her own defeat, the grandma soon turned her gaze back to Mirabel. That’s a 2-0 victory for today.

The gaze that had been looking at the cute girl changed into one of pity for the unfortunate slave. The grandma clicked her tongue at Mirabel.

This caused Mirabel to pause momentarily. Soon after, she turned her back to the grandma. That expression of hers was only visible from my angle.

‘Huh…?’

It seemed like her expression had twisted just now. The moment our eyes met, she smiled sweetly, but then it vanished without a trace. Was it my imagination?

“Let’s go, Master.”

“Don’t you want to buy anything?”

“There’s nothing to buy in a place like this.”

“Oh, I see….”

In the end, we left without purchasing anything this time.

“Is there anywhere else you’d like to go? If not—”

“No, I have somewhere to go.”

Mirabel asserted clearly. With determined and slightly angry steps, she headed for a jewelry store.

‘Has she developed an interest in decorations?’

As far as I knew, Mirabel was far from interested in adornment. Being a witch, she often showed interest in ancient books that had a musty smell, or magic tools like before.

No, since she’s a girl, it wouldn’t be strange for her to develop an interest at any time. Maybe I should give her a little nudge?

“Haha, it seems like Miss Mirabel is also interested in adornment….”

The moment I turned to look at what she was browsing, I lost my words. What she was looking at was a set of shackles. Shackles meant for a slave.

…?

Why is she fiddling with that?

I hesitantly asked, “You’re not interested in the shackles, are you?”

“Just a little.”

What?

Of all the various decorations, why specifically shackles?

“I’m a slave, but I don’t have a tangible mark, right? That’s why people sometimes get confused, like earlier.”

“That doesn’t seem like a problem.”

“Everyone says things to my master.”

Well, in my case, it’s particularly severe.

We’re not living in modern times where there’s no slave system, and families with some money usually have at least one slave. Some families have more than ten.

Considering that, I only have Mirabel. Even accounting that I’m a slave trader, I’m strict about it.

The cause might be Mirabel.

She’s just too beautiful.

I want to dote on her, but being a slave invokes resistance.

But I don’t understand why Mirabel is worried about this. Regardless, I’m against it. As a slave enthusiast, I can’t be seen walking around with shackles.

“You don’t have to. I got used to negative attention a long time ago.”

But Mirabel shook her head vehemently, saying she shouldn’t be like that.

“You’re not someone who should be subjected to that gaze, Master. Don’t worry about someone like me and just pick one.”

“No….”

I felt dizzy. It was like a picture drawn by some feminist manga artist from the archipelago. Even if limbs were cut off, in the end, both men and women are happy…

“Hurry up.”

As I hesitated, Mirabel urged me.

Though my head was spinning, with Mirabel being so insistent, there was no choice. As I’ve said many times, Mirabel has the upper hand. I must not disturb her mood.

Which one would be good?

Red looks too flashy and like a collar, while gray looks too dull…

In the end, I chose black shackles. They were simple and suited Mirabel’s calm demeanor, making them look more like an accessory rather than shackles.

“This seems the best, but….”

“Then I’ll take that.”

Click.

With a prompt agreement, Mirabel swept her hair behind her shoulder and presented her small face. With her eyes closed, she waited like someone receiving a proposal.

The issue is that it’s a collar, not a finger ring.

‘Now I really don’t know.’

Whatever will be, will be. Cautiously, I locked the shackles around Mirabel’s slender neck, which seemed like it would shatter with a light touch. With a click, the shackles fastened shut.

“All done.”

Mirabel gently stroked the shackles around her neck, and it seemed she liked it as a soft smile appeared on her face.

***

Having visited all the places we could, we found ourselves at a loss for where to go next. We wandered the pedestrian path aimlessly.

Walking alongside me, Mirabel looked a bit different; it might be my imagination, but she seemed to hold her shoulders higher than before.

Sometimes, when other slaves passed by, she would glance at them with a look of superiority and a smile. It’s like how a rich lady would look while carrying an expensive designer bag.

I didn’t understand why she wore that expression, but nonetheless, it happened.

Watching that made my heart uneasy.

‘Am I raising her wrong?’

In the game, as I built up favorability, the slaves would often pursue me. After age validation, they would show sexual appeal without hesitation.

What I’m worried about is that it’s not the right time for that yet. We hadn’t spent enough time together to build up favorability, and the item I gave her was only the “Heaven’s Vow.”

Given that this is reality, not a game, it’s hard to think of ourselves as having built any favorability. After all, Mirabel had refused the relics of the deceased.

‘What the hell is this, really.’

A day spent trying to normalize Mirabel only ended up worsening things.

After several anxious days passed, finally, a dungeon appeared.

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