Chapter 4

“Ah, right. Mirabel, what do you think?”

The moment the man gave her a new name, the girl with dead eyes lifted her head, and her pupils dilated greatly.

Because it was Mirabel’s original name.

A name that her parents had spent sleepless nights coming up with, a name made just for her in the world.

However, as a slave, Mirabel would never be called by her name again. The slave merchant had no interest in her name and simply assigned her the classification number 17 after determining her market value.

Mirabel also chose not to reveal her name. She resolved to abandon it in this instance. The mother who had given her that name was gone, and her father had forsaken her.

For Mirabel, her name was akin to a curse.

Yet, the curse she thought she had discarded clung to her once more. Through a man she had just met. The so-called Death God wore a cunning smile.

“Do you… know?”

“What do you mean?”

“That just now… it’s my name.”

The original name and the name the man had invented were the same. Could this be mere coincidence?

Such fateful occurrences do not happen easily. Mirabel was convinced that this man must know her. So, he probably invested a huge sum of gold to acquire her. Where could he have seen her? A local, perhaps?

“Yes, that is your name. I just gave it to you.”

But the man smiled in a way that made it hard to discern his true feelings and evaded her question. She couldn’t be swayed here. Mirabel squeezed out her voice.

“That’s not what I mean. My name has always been Mirabel, even before you named me.”

“That’s strange. Didn’t you say just a moment ago that you didn’t have a name?”

“Tha—that wasn’t……”

Mirabel couldn’t answer. The lie she had carelessly blurted out came back to bite her like a boomerang.

It felt like she was caught in a trap.

She was deeply flustered.

With her head spinning, Mirabel couldn’t find the right question and repeated her earlier statement.

“Do you… know?”

“Impossible. Do you know me, Lady Mirabel?”

Mirabel shook her head vigorously.

“This is the first time I have seen Lady Mirabel.”

In the flesh.

She had always seen her through a monitor. She hadn’t told a lie; she had just omitted some details.

Naturally, Mirabel didn’t easily trust him. Scared to meet his eyes, she looked at Carami with a gaze full of suspicion.

Just when it seemed he might say something else, Carami took the initiative.

“There’s no significant reason I gave you the name Mirabel. I just thought it suited you best.”

“It suited me, you say?”

“The name Mirabel is derived from the word miracle. A miracle is indeed something that cannot be grasped by human thought. That mystical aura emanated from you, Lady Mirabel. I’ve seen mages, clerics, and even elves while living as a slave merchant, but I’ve never felt such a vibe before.”

Once again, Mirabel showed a look of disbelief. She had once asked her mother why she was given that name, and her mother had said it came from the word “miracle.”

Of course, the detailed reason was different. Her mother had said it was merely a miracle that she was born beautiful and healthy.

Despite the plausible explanation, Mirabel seemed to accept it while still harboring doubts. She didn’t like this name either.

“B—but I dislike the name Mirabel.”

“What was it you said before? Anything would be fine.”

“I dislike it.”

Carami stroked his chin as if troubled.

“Well, if you really dislike it, I can give you another name. I have no interest in tormenting others. Hmm, your hair is black, how about Kkamdungi?”

“……What?”

“Actually, now that I see it, you look like a cat. Then why not Kim Chun-bae?”

Mirabel’s pupils trembled side to side. Carami was deep in thought, wearing a serious expression. He uttered nonsensical names like “Butterfly” and “Twinkle.” He wasn’t joking; he genuinely believed those were good names.

If this continued, something strange would be stuck to her. Given that her soul was already in his grasp, Mirabel had no way to resist.

In that case, better to—

“I’ll just stick with Mirabel. I like this one.”

“Right? I think this one suits you best too, Lady Mirabel.”

As if he had been waiting for that, Carami accepted the name without reservation.

The lengthy self-introduction was over.

The tense atmosphere had eased somewhat, so it was time to move on to the next stage.

Grrr.

However, a cute sound of a growling stomach came from somewhere. Mirabel quickly indicated her belly with a whoosh! sound and glanced at Carami, who wore a sly smile.

***

Gobble gobble.

What had the wariness she held meant all this time? Mirabel inhaled the food laid out in front of her without even chewing.

‘Is this food for humans? It’s like for cats.’

It was just like a cat bringing a can of tuna and happily gobbling it down when its eyes once glared at you. But if you tried to take it away, it would unsheathe its claws.

Well, it was understandable. Since becoming a slave, she probably hadn’t been able to eat well. What I had ordered for her were the special menu items from the innkeeper.

‘That brat is growing fat to eat me up.’ Even if I had no memory of ordering such, I took it as a heartfelt service and accepted it gratefully.

Her lifespan had increased by three years.

Had she forgotten that I was watching her? Mirabel devoured the food like a vacuum cleaner, without a single word.

She cleaned her bowl to the very bottom with a delightful sound and sat the dish down with a clap!

Then, she gulped down a glass of water.

With the happiest expression in the world. It was quite the sight.

“Was it that delicious?”

“Yes…. It’s the most delicious thing I’ve had so far… uh, it was awful.”

“Haha, is that so? I bought it at a high price, and to hear it was awful. I’ll have to mention it to the innkeeper. Our slave had terrible taste. Even if you paid, she wouldn’t eat it.”

“Wait, hold on! I didn’t say it like that!”

Mirabel urgently grabbed my arm as I was about to get up. What was this? I feigned ignorance, looking at her expression.

Mirabel stared at the ground intensely, her lips twitching as she finally spoke hesitantly.

“It, it was delicious. The best among the things I’ve had recently. So, um, please don’t do that.”

“If the innkeeper hears that, he will be very pleased. I need to tell him later.”

It was just one meal, but the mood had definitely lightened compared to before.

Indeed, there is no better way to win someone over than to buy them a meal. Once her stomach was full, the walls around her heart visibly softened.

“Since your belly is full, it’s time to change your clothes.”

“Clothes?”

“Yes.”

I swept my gaze up and down Mirabel’s appearance.

Since she was an expensive slave sold at the Slave Carnival, she was fairly clean for a slave. However, the makeshift rag she was wearing could hardly be called clothes, so new ones seemed necessary.

“Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“I may not know the ways of the world, but usually, slaves aren’t given such meals, nor are their dirty clothes changed.”

“Not necessarily. The noblewoman who tried to buy you at the auction earlier would have treated you the same way.”

“But you are… a De… Death God, right? The Death God wouldn’t treat me well without a reason.”

“You’re right. As a merchant, there are no favors without compensation. You understand that well. Don’t forget it going forward. That kind of wariness is very good.”

I didn’t refute and nodded willingly. Mirabel’s care was undoubtedly an act in my own interest.

And so was what would soon follow.

I grinned slyly.

“Lady Mirabel, you will have to fulfill my personal desires.”

***

“Eeeh!”

Mirabel let out an adorable cry.

I chuckled at her attire.

The clothes I handed to Mirabel were a maid outfit. Not just any maid outfit, but one that exposed her thighs all the way to her ankles! And white garter belts!

Because of the short length, Mirabel tugged at the hem of her skirt, but it was of no use.

‘I specifically chose a short one.’

I had prepared it long ago to have her wear. I roughly guessed her size from the in-game information. I hadn’t expected it to suit her so well.

Mirabel looked like a character from an erotic game. The embodiment of timidity, Mirabel glared at me with disgust.

“Why, why did you have to make me wear such clothes? What are you planning to do…?”

“I just dressed you up.”

“Huh?”

“It’s just my preference.”

There’s no other reason.

I wasn’t going to make someone who had suffered enough take on chores, let alone become a sex slave. How could I possibly resist dressing a beautiful girl in a maid outfit?

This isn’t some 2D illustration; it’s the complete 3D version?

And she’s a shy, adorable girl to boot?

‘Beautiful girl witch maid. Oh shit. I absolutely can’t resist.’

That was the reason.

“Now, we’ve finished everything we needed to do, so let’s go.”

Narsha liberation.

Mirabel rescue.

There was no more reason to be in Kalia.

“Go where?”

The next destination had been decided from the start. There was no need to decide again; once I rescued Mirabel, there was an absolute place I had to go.

“To the city of magic and mystery, Livria.”

The project to make Mirabel a great witch begins now.