62 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

Chapter 62: The Liberated Slaves Become Obsessed "Th-this pink fox! A fox that brings misfortune. No doubt about it!" "Hongho? That cursed fox?" "That's right!" Adventurers babbling on their own with Rin right in front of them. Rin, who had been waiting for praise with a triumphant expression, suddenly had her face stiffen. Her expression gradually disappeared, replaced by bewilderment. She hadn't expected that after she had saved them, she would hear such words. Frowning, I spoke up. "You owe your lives to my slave, yet you speak so harshly." "Survive, what are you talking about surviving? If it weren't for Hongho, this wouldn't have happened!" "I was wondering why Triphidian, which usually emerges from deep, dark forests, appeared suddenly. It must be due to Hongho's misfortune." The beastmen nodded, as if realizing some unknown truth. They seemed to have erased from their minds the fact that they had received Rin's help. They were now convinced it was all Rin's fault that Triphidian appeared. "Thanks to Hongho, today's hunt failed, and the equipment was destroyed! You said you're the master of that creature, right? You should take responsibility!" "Don't be absurd. There's no evidence that it's Rin's fault." "Evidence, what evidence? With Hongho right in front of us, what more proof do we need? Shall we go to the city and let the people there decide?" The lizardman's confidence was blatant. They know what the outcome will be. And I do too. Every single person would blame Rin. Of course, Rin is a creature that brings misfortune. It was the same this morning, and whenever you start Rin's story in the game, all sorts of setbacks occur. Like a storm would blow and ruin the shop. Or the ingredients needed for cooking would all spoil. The slaves' conditions would suddenly drop, and such. But in life, there are bound to be days like that, and moreover, I know better than anyone the extent of the misfortune Rin brings with just one tail. It's not enough to harm anyone yet. In other words, Triphidian was mere coincidence, and it was due to their incompetence that such a thing happened. They are merely projecting their incapability onto Rin. 'That's the problem with misfortune, it's so damned unprovable.' It's invisible and there's no way to prove anything. All they have to do is throw around Rin's color, and it's an invincible logic. Even Rin, the person involved, seemed to believe without a doubt that it was all because of her, her tail drooping. "Oh, my back and neck are stiff." "Really? Must be because of the Triphidian." "Exactly. I should go to the sanctuary for treatment. Give me 3 gold to cover the treatment fee, today's failed hunt, and the damaged equipment, and I'll let it go." Adventurers playing their own drums and cymbals while grinning slyly. Demanding 3 gold just because they passed by, it's nothing short of insurance fraud. I do have money. No matter how short I am on points, I can more than afford 3 gold. "Why should I?" But why the hell should I pay? "What do you mean, why? You're responsible for what happened because of your slave." "I think you're misunderstanding something. What can you do if I don't pay? Could you even win if you were to fight my slave, being the ones who struggled against just one Triphidian?" "What?" "It's not uncommon for adventurers who ventured out to not return, especially low-level ones without a title." Only then did the adventurers, realizing what I meant, lose their laughter. Someone turned pale. I stole their smiles. Those who can't be grateful for the kindness Rin showed have no right to live. "Meeting Hongho itself was your misfortune, not the Triphidian." *** We returned to the city after finishing our tasks. Those adventurers, who acted all high and mighty, ended up as food for Rin after the shooting~ 'Of course not.' I let them go. I don't care if they live or die, but it would ultimately be Rin who would have to kill them. Firstly, I don't want to make Rin kill. Secondly, there's a concern that Rin's fur might remain at the scene. I left, fervently praying that misfortune would haunt them for the rest of their lives. Rin, still in shock, was drooping. Her footsteps lacked energy. "You don’t need to worry about what just happened, Rin. The world has its share of shameless people like that." "……." No response. It seems my words provided no comfort. "Hey, look at that. It's Hongho." "Let's go inside quickly, kids, before we catch misfortune!" Residents glanced in our direction, whispering, and grabbed their kids to avoid us like we were the plague. Was it because of what Seira said this morning? Or because of what happened earlier? Words she had often heard seemed to pierce into her like daggers today. And for Rin, who has enhanced hearing, those words must have been even louder. As expected, Rin walked with her head bowed under the people's glares as if she were a criminal. Her ears drooped, and she hugged her tail to her chest, trying to conceal its pink hue. It seemed like it wouldn't be easy for her to shake it off. That evening, Rin did not eat. She shut herself in her room as soon as we arrived home and didn't come out. I never expected Rin to skip a meal. A girl who normally eats at least three plates at each meal. Seira was understandably taken aback. "Is something wrong?" "Well…." I explained what happened during the day. After understanding the situation fully, Seira fell into serious contemplation. "I see. That must have hurt her deeply." "Probably, yes." She is still so young, just a little girl. It's highly possible she won't be able to withstand or overturn other's blatant criticisms. "Please go and comfort her." "Of course, I intend to… But who will comfort me?" "Pardon?" "I face racial discrimination daily and have grown weary. Someone needs to comfort me, don't you think…?" Seira gripped her knife. "Won't the devil comfort you in hell?" "I'll go and bring her back right away." I hastily fled to Rin's room. "Rin, you must be hungry. You need to eat, especially at times like these..." The moment I saw the condition of her room, my eyes widened in shock. The room was a mess. Pink fur fluttered here and there, and in one corner, Rin was tearing apart her clothes. For a moment, I wondered if this was an outcry, but it wasn't. She was trying to wrap the torn cloth around her tail. Her previously lush tail bore signs of being yanked and pulled. Unable to pluck out all the fur, she intended to cover it instead. My heart ached. Letting out a small sigh, I sat down on the edge of the bed. "Rin." "……." "Rin." Rin resolutely ignored me, refusing to look my way despite my proximity, and continued her task in stubborn silence. With no other choice, I swiftly snatched the cloth Rin was holding. When she lunged to get it back, I calmly issued a command to halt her. "This is not okay." "Kyahhh!!!" "It's not okay." Covering or dyeing Rin's tail is out of the question. That would imply agreement that her pink hue is a brand of shame to be hidden. This is the same reason I didn't pay the adventurers. Rin's face bore a look of sheer distress. Her odd-colored eyes shimmered with tears. On the verge of breaking into sobs. I sighed again and pulled Rin closer, seating her between my legs. Using the brush Seira had given us, I gently began brushing through her tangled tail. "Really, these people have no eye for beauty. This pink hue is so pretty and looks so fluffy." "……." "Do people's words bother you that much?" "……." "There's no need to heed their words. When Rin becomes beautiful, they'll be the ones quick to change their tune like bats." Rin showed no reaction. One harsh remark often leaves a deeper impression than a hundred words of comfort. But what can I do? If a hundred times is not enough, then I'll say it a thousand, ten thousand times until it is. "Think about it. If Rin wasn't precious, why would I keep you with me? I'm no fool, and as a slave trader, there's no one more shrewd about profits than me." "…." "It's all because you're lovely, Rin. Others might not see it, but to me, you're nothing but a cute fox that I want to see and touch all day." Rin's ears moved slightly. "Rin, pay no mind to others, just listen to me. After all, there's no one who knows Rin better than me." Eventually, Rin's ears fully unfolded and turned slightly in my direction. This is why beastfolk are wonderful. Even without hearing their answers or seeing their expressions, you can vaguely guess what they're feeling. "One day, Rin will become a magnificent fox that captivates everyone. I assure you of that." "…." "So please, don't cover up your tail. Don't think of it as something shameful. Because I really love your tail." "………Kyah." Rin responded briefly, but she responded nonetheless. The little one, worrying her master like this. I ruffled her hair roughly and stood up from the bed. "Let's go have a meal. If you don't want to eat, that's okay. I'll eat it all for you." "Kyaaaaang!" Rin, seemingly releasing her stress, devoured as many as six plates. A new record. *** Since the Grim Reaper's attack, Rin has been sleeping on my stomach. She curls up and lies there. As Seira puts it, it's the spot she feels safest beside me. So, the weight on my abdomen right now is definitely Rin, though she feels slightly heavier than yesterday. Not exactly 'heavy,' just like there's a slight increase in weight. 'Did I feed her too much last night?' I'm worried she might start rolling around. "I'm hungry. Feed me." In a half-asleep state, I hear a voice. "Just five more minutes…." "Get uuuup. Fe-e-e-ed me!" Why is her voice so loud in the morning? I tried to ignore it and sleep, but it was so loud, I couldn't resist and got up. "I mean, considering how much you ate last night, isn't that enough? You're going to turn into a pig rather than a fox…?" The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Rin glaring at me with a pout. She seemed ready to pounce at any moment. Everything felt quite normal until I noticed behind her, three pink tails were swaying gently. "Feeeed meeeeee!" Roar~ Feed me!!! --- Chapter 62: The Liberated Slaves Become Obsessed In these adventures and stories that captivate readers weekly, our chapter still ranks high among the favorites, alongside other intriguing tales. As I reflect on the events that transpired, I see an emergence of Rin’s spirit—a reminder of her resilience despite the hardships. While her voice echoes a playful demand for food, it resonates with the essence of life's struggles, echoing both weakness and strength. Returning to the list of engaging narratives, remember that every tale you weave leaves a thread in the tapestry of imagination. These narratives, including our beloved story of obsession and liberation, bind us together in a fabric of diverse storytelling. From magical schools to unexpected love stories, each story holds its unique charm. Let’s continue to explore these worlds where the confines of reality meld beautifully with the limitless bounds of fantasy.