Chapter 25

“Mirabel’s Master? What does that mean?”

Naredi’s gaze, glaring at me, feels chilling.

Although she doesn’t possess the same presence as Mirabel, Naredi certainly exudes an aura that’s anything but ordinary, being a witch by nature. If it were the old me, I would have been trembling like a fawn.

But who am I?

Even if considering the synchronization of souls, I am someone who has survived in a world where it wouldn’t be strange to die at any moment for over a year.

I maintain a calm demeanor without backing down.

“What is there to explain? Literally, Mirabel is a slave, and it means I am her master.”

“Are you the slave merchant who entrusted Mirabel to him?”

“That’s not completely wrong. I did receive a word from Mr. Harold requesting that I take good care of Mirabel.”

“Is that so…?”

Naredi looks at me with a disbelieving expression.

I would feel the same. A daughter whose life and death were uncertain has returned as a slave. Moreover, her husband is a recognized slave merchant. It must seem like nonsensical words to her.

But what can I do? It’s the truth.

“More than that, I’ve gotten hungry climbing the mountain. I noticed you seem to be preparing a meal; would it be alright if I was treated to a meal?”

“…….”

Naredi continues to cast doubtful glances, but just then, Mirabel, regaining her composure, chimes in at the right moment.

“Um, mom. I’m hungry too. I want to eat the stew you made.”

“Oh my, I lost my mind for a moment. Mirabel must have been tired, and I got distracted. Just wait a moment. I’ll make you something delicious.”

With a gentle maman smile for Mirabel, Naredi’s expression vanishes the moment her gaze lands on me.

“You should sit down too.”

“I won’t refuse.”

We sat down on wooden chairs.

However, a problem arose.

“Mirabel…? Why, why are you sitting there?”

“…Ah.”

As expected, Mirabel is sitting on my lap. She seems to have completely forgotten about her mother’s presence and did so instinctively.

Naredi, still wary of me, notices her precious daughter, whom she hasn’t seen in a long time, sitting on the lap of an unfamiliar man. As a mother, I can imagine she must be quite distressed.

Look.

Her eyes are quivering in confusion.

It must feel the same as a childhood friend being taken away by a baseball team member with a buzz cut.

I need to make a swift defense.

“Ha-ha, it seems that Mirabel developed a dependency since she was alone in the outside world. Even at night, she doesn’t want to leave my side. Truly, how spoiled she is.”

“At night…? You’re not serious!”

“Don’t misunderstand. I swear by the god of the slave merchant that I did nothing.”

I don’t even know if the god of the slave merchant exists, and even if he does, I’m not sure if I’m the kind of person who can swear, but I swear anyway.

All I’ve done is hug her like a body pillow and take in her scent. I’m innocent.

“Anyway, it’s no longer necessary! Now, Mirabel? Would you like to come to your mom?”

“Um….”

Mirabel hesitated to move, contemplating in my embrace. That was a great shock for Naredi. Her expression fell as if hit by a rock.

Such Naredi shoots a glancing gaze filled with hostility at me.

I admit, it feels unjust, but it doesn’t really matter. The gaze of the defeated only enhances the flavor of victory. I smirked slightly.

Of course, it was only for a brief moment.

Being too ostentatious could lead to adverse effects. The feelings of the defeated? Enjoyed it thoroughly.

“Lady Mirabel, it’s a special day to reunite with your mother, so go to her.”

“Hmm….”

Mirabel hesitated for a moment.

Soon enough, she dashed over to Naredi, as if she thought that was the right thing to do and embraced her.

That became yet another great shock for Naredi. While she doesn’t listen to her mother, she obediently listens to what I say. Even while holding Mirabel, she felt no joy.

***

“So, the cleric sister….”

Mirabel apparently didn’t even glance at the stew cooling before her and began telling the tale of her experiences.

With an expression far too lively to be called timid. As if she were reminiscing about a fun journey.

Naredi wore a content smile, listening to her daughter’s story.

As the story progressed, the way she viewed me began to change as well. From the thief who stole her daughter to feeling like a classmate her daughter brought along? That’s quite the elevation.

‘But this is delicious.’

Feeling reluctant to interrupt the heartwarming reunion of mother and daughter, I kept spooning the stew—this is genuinely delicious.

The stew made by Naredi,

It’s an item that also appears in the game.

While it has no effects, it’s a symbolic item, obtainable only by seeing Mirabel’s true ending.

In the game, I had never used it once. It’s common sense to keep single-use consumable items as mementos.

But I never expected a day would come when I could taste it for real.

“You really eat well. For no reason.”

“It’s quite delicious. Your cooking skills are remarkable, mother.”

“I’m grateful for the compliment, but who exactly made you call me mother?”

“Because I was told by your husband to take good care of Lady Mirabel, so you are indeed my mother.”

While Naredi shot a dissatisfied glare at me, she didn’t express it verbally. After all, I was in a position of a benefactor who saved her daughter and brought her here.

Even if the world berates me, she cannot do anything but stay silent.

“Mom, you’re listening, right?”

“Of course, of course. Absolutely.”

Naredi turned her head back to Mirabel with a motherly smile once more.

***

Night falls quickly in the mountains.

Even though the sun had set long ago, Mirabel’s stories showed no signs of ending. I couldn’t help but think, ‘How can that small mouth produce such a volume of words?’

By the time Naredi, who listened intently, began to show signs of fatigue, she finally reached her limit and felt compelled to urge Mirabel.

“Dear, shall we finish our stories tomorrow? It’s about time to sleep. You need to sleep early for you to grow tall.”

“Eh? Um… okay.”

It was a phrase I hadn’t heard in quite a while.

I used to think of it as nagging, but now Mirabel realized how precious such mundane days were. She didn’t argue, though I knew it wouldn’t last long.

“Where will you sleep?”

“Let’s sleep together in the bed with mom.”

“Will the Master sleep with us too?”

“What are you talking about? That guy should sleep in the living room.”

Mirabel looked worriedly at Carami, for she had become someone who couldn’t sleep without Carami.

Carami smiled softly.

“Tonight, let’s sleep with your mother.”

“Um… okay.”

Mirabel nodded obediently.

After all, it’s been a long time since she’s slept with her mom. She can sleep with Carami starting tomorrow.

The two of them entered the room. However, shortly after, Mirabel peeked her face out.

“Master, good night. See you tomorrow.”

Carami was silent.

With an almost wistful gaze, she watched Mirabel.

“Master?”

“You must be tired, so Lady Mirabel, sleep well.”

“Yes, hehe.”

With a cute smile, Mirabel waved her hand as she retreated into the room.

Naredi laid Mirabel down and pulled the blanket over her. Lying next to her, she gently patted her with a soft rhythm.

Grasping the blankets pulled up to her neck, Mirabel beamed up at the ceiling.

“Mom, I’m really happy right now.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Master is right next to me, and I met you too.”

“Do you really like that master? He’s a slave merchant, you know.”

Mirabel smiled brightly and replied.

“Master is different from ordinary slave merchants. He’s a bit strange and does unexpected things, but… he hugs me when I cry and always stands by my side when people say things. He didn’t even care that I’m a witch. He was the first to ever treat me that way, aside from mom and dad.”

He was there for her during the hardest times of her life.

He supported her when she felt like she might crumble.

“What a peculiar slave merchant.”

“Exactly. He knows so many amazing things and even introduced me to you. He introduced me to dad too….”

That’s something Naredi was also curious about.

How on earth did he know?

That they were each in this secluded mountain.

He had also constantly mentioned that he’d let Mirabel meet her mother. It was as if he knew. That he was alive.

‘It seems suspicious, but…’

Regardless, the fact that I met Mirabel in good health does not change. Just that alone, I owe Carami a debt I can never repay for a lifetime.

“Tomorrow… I’ll show you the magic I learned….”

“Sure, I understand, so hurry and sleep.”

Mirabel mumbled as she began to doze off and, with Naredi’s lullaby, fell into a deep slumber, one where she wouldn’t notice if someone carried her away.

Pat, pat.

As Naredi gently patted her in a steady rhythm, she decided that it was enough and carefully rose, ensuring not to wake Mirabel.

Although the old bed creaked, thankfully, the deeply sleeping Mirabel didn’t awaken.

Exiting the hut,

In a space that could scarcely be called a living room, Carami was absent. Whether the door had been opened and closed, the cold mountain air swirled around the hut.

Naredi stepped outside and saw Carami making his way down the mountain.

Naredi quickly followed him.

“Where are you going in the middle of the night?”

“I have matters to attend to. Don’t worry; I’ll lift the spell that’s been placed on Lady Mirabel.”

Carami continued walking without stopping; only when Naredi blocked his path did he halt.

Naredi glared at him with her head held high.

“A slave merchant releasing a slave without any compensation? You expect me to believe that?”

“I’ll return her exactly as stated. I am a slave merchant, and I do not suffer losses. This is beneficial to me.”

“Where on earth is the benefit?”

“In many ways. Plus… I’ve seen something I wanted to see.”

Carami recalled the sight of Mirabel and Naredi hugging and crying. It was something he had seen dozens of times, yet at the same time, it felt like the first.

There are feelings that can’t be perceived through a screen. The waves of emotions that knocked on the soul left a profound resonance.

“So, do not doubt.”

“But if you leave like this, Mirabel will be disheartened….”

“Your family members are all peculiar people, aren’t they? A man who lets his daughter stay with a slave merchant, and you, who hold onto a slave merchant as he’s leaving.”

“What can I do? Mirabel has relied on him a lot.”

“Then you should leave now. If you go during the day, Mirabel will want to follow, won’t she? It’d be more comfortable for you too.”

“For me, perhaps….”

Carami passed by the hesitating Naredi and waved his hand dismissively without looking back.

“Please tell Mirabel appropriately. I will leave that much to you.”

Naredi stared at Carami, who acted as if he were a guardian, as he prepared to leave.

“It’s about the time when monsters and wild beasts come out.”

At her words, Carami halted suddenly, turning his head back with a creaking sound.

“Do you perhaps have a spell? A spell that wards off wild beasts?”

***

I went back down the mountain, encumbered by Naredi’s magic.

The lingering scent of the witch scared off any half-hearted beasts from approaching. Since there weren’t many of them, they would likely dissipate into the air by the time I reached the base of the mountain. Even if I were to encounter a cleric, there would be no cause for suspicion.

Looking back at the path I had taken.

A lot had happened. Some things flowed as expected, while others did not. Ultimately, it was all okay, but there are many areas that need improvement.

Watching them struggle makes my heart tight, but knowing the ending brings me great comfort.

When they smile in the end, the things that felt heavy in my chest are washed away in an instant.

Looking back at the path I’ve walked.

The hut where Mirabel resides is no longer in sight. With how far I’ve come, she wouldn’t be able to chase after me, even if she were to wake up.

I don’t have to worry about retaliations for treating her like a slave. Presently, Mirabel probably wouldn’t do that, but you never know how the world works.

“From now on, you must not get caught by bad people and should live happily with mom.”

Snap!

I snapped my fingers.

A cheerful sound echoed through the mountains.

The chains binding Mirabel’s soul shattered, and they were reclaimed.

When they had entirely disappeared, a status window appeared.

[Release of the Abandoned Witch Mirabel Complete]

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The Abandoned Witch Mirabel.

Born in a nameless small village, Mirabel was a cute girl you could find anywhere in the world. However, on the day a cleric visited, the girl’s life fell into a chasm of darkness.

Her beloved mother died, and, abandoned by her father, Mirabel was sold into slavery. She faced the fate of being displayed at the Slave Carnival to be sold to pedophilic nobles. To such a girl, you threw down a lifeline without a second thought.

You dug into her tightly closed heart, pulling Mirabel, who was curled in darkness, towards you. Having acknowledged a girl who denied her own existence, Mirabel decided to trust others one more time.

You helped Mirabel grow into a witch, resolved her trauma, and reached her hidden secrets, safely returning her to a family’s embrace.

Mirabel realized that she, who had thought of herself as abandoned, was a precious daughter loved by her parents, and that she was a witch who would bring miracles.

The Abandoned Witch Mirabel.

The girl was not abandoned.

Because she was chosen by you.

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Mirabel’s liberation value is 100%.

Reward: 50,000 points will be issued.

[Soul’s Chains] skill will be enhanced.

You have obtained a new skill [Generous Master].

[Fully liberate the main slaves. Current count 1/5]