60 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

Episode 60 "Huh? Grim Reaper? What's that all of a sudden? Stop babbling nonsense. Got any fish? If not, get out." "Eek! Gr-Reaper! Never mention that word in front of me again, you cunning foreigner!" "Saw... a Reaper... Huge scythe. When it cut, th-the soul floated away... Quack." The cat person foamed at the mouth and fainted. This reaction, I've lost count of how many times I've seen it. Some say they've never seen a Grim Reaper. Some shudder at the mere mention of the word. And some just faint. Determining that no more information could be gleaned, I sighed and exited the alley. Seira relayed the situation with a composed expression. "Although the cat people claim to have been attacked by a Grim Reaper, there seems to be little actual damage beyond mental shock." "Is that so..." "Normally, it's a relief that there's no damage, yet the reaction is quite complex. Did I miss something?" "No, it's just that I'm tired." I gave Seira a vaguely deceptive response, but I knew something she didn't. "All the contracts have been severed." The soul contracts with the cat people were completely severed. They are no longer my slaves. Since they can't be liberated, I can't gain any points either. The fish I've invested up until now have become nothing more than a voluntary resource to fill their bellies. In an already point-deficient situation, this was a painful loss, yet it wasn't a matter of life or death. I wasn't yet at the stage of struggling with finances. It's fortunate that the connection with Rin wasn't severed. I learned early on that you can't re-establish a contract once you've liberated someone. The problem was elsewhere altogether. "Fully liberate your main slaves. Current count: 1/5" This is the sole quest assigned to me, having transcended into this foreign world. After liberating Mirabel and Arpia, the count that was once 2 has now decreased to 1. This shouldn't happen. At the very least, this shouldn't change. "Why did the number decrease?" I don't think it's a bug. Here, I can't think in game terms. Essentially, something must have occurred with the two people I liberated. Mirabel. Or perhaps Arpia. "It's highly likely to be Mirabel." It's too much of a coincidence that a Reaper appeared, removed the shackles from the slaves, and the liberation count decreased overnight. I don't believe in such coincidences. Something must have happened with Mirabel. What could be the problem? Being a witch, Mirabel can handle all sorts of magic. Having more time now, she can likely handle even more than when we were together. So could she have reestablished a contract somehow? ..... "Does that even make sense?" Where in the world would you find someone who wants to become a slave again? In my confusion, I entertain all sorts of absurd thoughts. Re-establishing a contract is obviously not the case. Then considering the next possibility available. ... I can't figure it out. What should I do? Should I go and check Mirabel's status? But there's no way to find her, and if she seeks revenge... It's dizzying. My thoughts aren't functioning as they should. Tug, tug. Someone pulled at my hand. Looking down, I saw Rin gazing up at me. Despite fleeing on all fours, she knows how to walk on two legs. ...Yes, right. I shouldn't be swayed by variables. What matters at the moment is Rin. Worrying over an issue not fully understood is pointless. I should resolve things with Rin first and then deal with the rest. Think positively. Thanks to the Reaper's appearance, my bond with Rin has strengthened, allowing me to proceed to the next phase. "Rin, there's somewhere we need to go." *** [Fox of Misfortune] Though it seems redundant to explain, Rin is a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox from legends. She doesn’t consume human livers and lacks a desire to become human. In that aspect, she's quite unique. The condition for Rin's complete liberation. Is to address the trials brought by the misfortune she passively carries and nurture her into a dignified gumiho. Ultimately, freeing her from misfortune. The first phase is the basic growth of Rin. "Rin, take down the slime." How to nurture Rin. As a beastman and simultaneously classified as a yokai, when Rin defeats monsters, she can absorb their strength. Absorbing their essence increases her source of power, yokai energy. As her yokai energy increases, she grows stronger. In short, for Rin to grow, it's all about hunting. That's why I brought Rin to the swamp where slimes inhabit. "Kyeng?" But Rin just stared at the slime without making a move. A look as if to ask, 'Why should I?' Although her affinity towards me has increased, she doesn't follow commands unconditionally. But worry not. "For every ten slimes, pork." “......” “...Beef.” "Kyeng!" Only upon offering rewards did Rin react. Her fox ears perked up as if exclamation marks sprang up. She has quite the taste for beef. Having pampered her with the good stuff must have refined her palate to a noble's standard. Rin lowered herself, ready to hunt. Well, as long as you follow my lead, that's all that matters. If you're enthusiastic, I will match that resolve. I thrust my arm forward with determination. "Go, Rin. Quick as lightning!" "Kyeng!" "Crunch and crush!" "Kyeng!" "Wind scar!" "Kyeng!" Together with Rin, we dashed across the swamp. As we scoured the swamp, tearing apart every slime we encountered and crushing their cores, the essence escaping from the monsters flowed into Rin. It was perhaps Rin's first time absorbing such energy, as she seemed bewildered. However, as she absorbed more essence, she became accustomed, and soon she hunted the slimes on her own accord without needing my commands. I suspect it was an instinctual response. And so, as we hunted, Rin defeated up to 30 slimes. "Time to head back." Even though I wanted to hunt more, we had already taken out all the nearby slimes. Since we can't use magic, we had to rely on Rin's sense of smell, and slimes are odorless. Today isn't the only day, so there's no need to exhaust ourselves searching the woods. "Let's return." "Kyeng." Just as I was about to turn around, Rin started barking, looking in one direction. A rabbit was munching on some grass. Though its size was a bit unusual. Its teeth were massive, and it even had a horn on its head. This wasn't an ordinary rabbit; it was a horned rabbit beast. Known for its aggressive nature and the high piercing power of its horn, those who underestimate it often end up skewered. Of course, Rin could handle it easily, given her superior basic stats. "Let's head back. There's no need to catch it." However, I decided to ignore it. Rin's current hunting style involves directly using her physical body. If she caught that thing, it would splatter blood, and I'd have to clean it up. I'm squeamish about blood. But what I overlooked was that the more monsters Rin caught, the more her hunting instincts awakened. Previously content just to flee, Rin now discovered the thrill of the chase. In her eyes, the horned rabbit equated to meat, which equaled a toy. Pounce! "Oh, wait─" I didn't have time to stop her. Rin dashed forward like a bullet. The horned rabbit leisurely munching on grass turned its head towards Rin in a startled manner, but it was already too late. Rin was rapidly approaching, her claws honed and poised. Slash. As her claws met the horned rabbit's flesh, it was as though the wind passed by, slicing cleanly with no resistance. The horned rabbit was caught in Rin's grasp without even a scream, reduced to meat chunks. Rin approached me, her tail wagging wildly. She looked up with a gaze that seemed to say, "Did I do well? Praise me!" Should I commend her for this, or scold her for bolting off on her own? After deliberating, I chose to pat her on the head. Rin lifted her chin confidently and placed her hands on her hips. Seeing her puffed-up expression, I couldn't help but chuckle. "I guess we'll need to get new clothes." Her blood-splattered white dress could be seen as a piece of art, like paint on a sketchbook. It surprisingly suited the fox Rin more than expected. But I wouldn't let her wear such a bloody garment. It's beyond washing. Next time I shop, I'll buy several identical outfits. *** "Kyahhh!" "Hiss, stay still. If you run around like that in the house, Ms. Seira will kick us out." In Seira's house bathroom. With bubbles frothing, I continued washing Rin. From the slime mucus to blood, everything was stuck to her fur. It was embarrassing how people stared as I brought her here. Even when I tried distancing myself, Rin stuck close like a ghost. I appreciated her following me, but I wished she had pretended not to know me this once. I completely understood parents who had to escort children in princess dresses. "Eeeng…." Rin whined, clearly averse to the bath. I'd love to finish quickly, but it's not as easy as it sounds. In the meantime, the slime's mucus had hardened like gum, sticking fast to her tail fur. "Ugh, it won't wash out. Should I try hot water? Or just cut it off…." "Keeng?!" "Oops?" Startled, Rin jumped. Water and bubbles splashed everywhere as she kicked against the bathroom walls. Despite her acrobatic attempts to escape here, Rin already had soap on her paws. She slipped and fell with a splash into the bathtub. "Splash!" Soaked, Rin bounced up again and darted into the living room. "Wait, let me dry you first!" My voice didn’t reach Rin. By the time she darted around the house leaving chaos in her wake, the door opened. "I'm back. They were selling skewers at the market. Not that I bought them for myself, but for Ms. Rin…?" "Ah." Seira and I locked eyes. Her eyes widened in surprise. Thud. She dropped the bag she was holding. Out spilled dozens of skewers. Her tail, gently swaying side to side, gradually slowed until it stopped entirely. "Keeng, keeng…!" Rin clung to Seira, tearfully pointing at me. Seira glanced down at Rin before looking back at me. This wasn't going to end well for me. I rapidly brainstormed and devised the perfect plan to deflect blame. "It was her. It's all her fault." *** "Soak her in hot water with soap to slowly dissolve it, then gently comb through to avoid damaging the tail." "Kyeng." "He's a bad slave trader. Who knows what weird things he'd do. Ms. Rin, since you're a young lady, you should learn to manage on your own." "Haha, what do you take me for? Where else can you find a kind slave trader like me…." "Put your ears back and sit properly." "Yes, ma’am." My brilliant plan was futile. Kneeling in the corner, I endured my punishment. When translating dialogues or titles, certain parts might be sensitive, so I will focus on the list and storyline you mentioned: 1. Commentary on the Rogue Rabbit's hunt is given, where Rin showcases her developing hunting instincts and playful nature, much to the protagonist's initial reluctance. 2. As Rin bolts off, there's the realization of her newfound affinity for hunting, further emphasized by her impressive takedown of the horned rabbit. 3. The narrative shifts to a charming domestic scene where Rin is reluctantly getting a bath, hinting at the protagonist's challenges in looking after her. 4. Seira's surprise at the scene and her gentle reprimand serves to underscore the whimsical and light-hearted dynamic of their interactions. 5. The protagonist finds themselves in a humorous predicament, deflecting blame even in a fantasy context with rogue-like humor. 6. Lastly, the humor is built upon through their playful banter, establishing a sense of community and playful antics amongst the characters. This maintains the light-hearted tone while adhering to the themes set within.