92 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

Chapter 92: The Freed Slaves Become Obsessed The owl hoots. When waking up, we should be hearing the chirps of birds announcing the morning, but instead, there's an owl. How strange. "...Is it morning?" Yet, another sound softly pierces through my semi-conscious haze, as if from a distant memory. I think perhaps I’m dreaming. "This is the last time. Wake up." However, the sharpness of the voice that follows is too vivid to be part of a dream. The irritation and faint anger embedded in the voice are unmistakable. I must accept this is reality, not a dream. I force my unwilling eyelids open. My blurry vision slowly focuses on the gray figure of a werewolf, and finally, Seira’s clear form stands before me. "Ugh... Seira?" "This is too much. You've been exhausted lately, so I thought to let you sleep in, but how can you still be sprawled out even after I returned from work?" "...What?" Work? With bleary eyes, I check outside the window. The sun is nowhere to be seen; only the moon is floating in the sky. I make eye contact with an owl beastman perched atop a roof across the way. The owl beastman tilts his head at an unnatural angle to look at me and hoots again. "What on earth did you do last night that you lost track of time and slept so soundly?" "Uh..." Last night? What did I do last night? ... I can't recall. It's as if a whole portion of my memory has been wiped clean, not just blacked out temporarily. What would I have done at night if not come straight to bed and slept? Recently, I'd been so tired that I must have fallen asleep the moment I hit the bed. ‘Even so, losing an entire day is unusual.’ Even after a heavy night of drinking, I'd always wake up at least by lunchtime, never in the evening. This had never happened in my entire life. What’s more surprising is that even after such a long sleep, I still feel tired. "Sigh... Since you're awake now, come down and have dinner. Rin is waiting." "I’m coming right away." I tried to get up from the bed to follow Seira but... “Oof.” I fell back onto the bed. “What’s wrong now?” “No, my body is just sore...” "You're really something." Looking at me with disdain, Seira leaves for the first floor. I stretched my particularly stiff back before heading downstairs after her. Rin was already seated politely, waiting at the table. Rin is currently experiencing a belated adolescence. It’s causing her to push me away more often. We've always had such a close bond, her growing distant makes me feel even more wistful. I should sort this out quickly if I want to proceed with the next story... "Oh, master! Did you sleep well? You woke up really late!" Contrary to my worries, Rin greets me with a beaming smile. Surprised by such a cheerful reception, I respond awkwardly. "Uh, yes, well..." "Hurry up and have dinner! Seira bought lots of delicious food!" I cautiously take a seat next to her. Rin, with a bright smile, leans over and cozies up to me. Her seven tails wag energetically. A familiar sight. That's why I often ended up finding her fur in my food. "We tried waking you, but you were in such a deep sleep! You didn’t get up even when I prodded you, so we decided to let you sleep. Master, you’re such a sleepyhead." "Seems like it. I’ve been tired lately, though I didn’t expect to sleep this long." "It’s because you're weak. How about exercising to get your body stronger and build some stamina? I checked, and you really need some endurance training." "I'm too busy now, but I’ll consider it slowly." "Just let me know anytime; Rin will help you!" Rin expresses her affection, rubbing her cheek against my shoulder. Up until yesterday, she was distant but it seems she’s suddenly grown closer again. It’s as if there’s a yo-yo effect, our closeness expanding and contracting. The rapid shift is awkward but... Unable to help my curiosity, I cautiously ask. "Uh, Rin? Aren’t we a bit too close?" "What are you talking about, Master? This is how we’ve always been." "Well, yes, but just yesterday you seemed uncomfortable with me, and now you’re incredibly close." "Oh, that?" Rin lets out a mischievous fox-like smile. "A girl’s secret." What the... Could it be, not adolescence but... her time of the month? I’m not knowledgeable in that area unless I’ve been transformed. "Anyway, you’re okay now, right?" "Yep. Feeling absolutely perfect." "Then I’m glad." No matter the outcome, as long as things turned out well, everything’s okay! *** A few days after vanquishing the fallen monk, people realized the curse had been completely lifted. Those who had secluded themselves at home came back to the streets, and merchants reopened their shops. Gradually, the city was returning to life. Seira, whose job required her to return to her duties, sighed with the resignation of a public officer. ‘It’s a shame.’ Of course, life hadn’t returned entirely to normal. The insidious aspect of the plague lay in the lingering psychological fear, even after it ended. What if it reemerges? What if I catch it in a crowded place? This caused people to stay inside more than they would otherwise, unless absolutely necessary. Realistically, it seemed as if only half of normalcy had been restored. ‘I must find a way to address this.’ I had to figure out how to make people forget about the plague and laugh without a care. There should be some way. Until then, as static returned, I took the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful walk with Rin. "Peace is good, isn’t it? Don’t you agree?" "Sure is~" Rin became a full-fledged nine-tailed fox, and our relationship was even closer. ‘Seems closer than before.’ There’s nothing to dislike about that. Except for the persistent tiredness that never seems to dissipate, even after resting. Still, at this rate, I might just have the ability to raise a mighty nine-tailed fox.... “Master, we’re surrounded.” "What?" Rin’s sudden statement startles me, so I quickly scan the surroundings but see nothing out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, Rin appears to detect something unseen to me. The atmosphere has become tense. The street is in an uproar. From a distance, the noise of a murmuring crowd reaches us. Whatever is happening is too far to make out clearly. "What is it?" "It's that one." "That one?" "The Lion Princess." The Lion Princess? In Vestia, when we say Lion Princess... "Hey, boss!" Barely had I begun to deduce her identity when a familiar and lively voice boomed through the air. As the crowd parted, Hilde, the lioness, strode forward with purpose. Behind her marched a formation of fully armored knights and soldiers. Hilde walked with a swagger, hands tucked casually in her pockets. At her feet, a tortoise beastman with its shell retracted, was being kicked around like a soccer ball. ‘Is this woman crazy?’ She's definitely crazy. "Wow, I was just planning to come find you, and here we meet by chance. It’s my lucky day." Lucky? Because of you, my luck has truly turned sour. I was once warned by Yuhwa that some suspect Rin might not be a nine-tailed fox. Although with Rin now a seven-tailed fox, there was no need to flee, meeting Hilde wouldn't bring anything good. Her capture wasn't crucial to Rin's complete liberation—she was just an obstacle. "Is that the red fox next to you? Much bigger than I imagined!" "Indeed. I didn't expect my slave to grow so quickly. But what brings a princess like you to find someone as lowly as myself?" "Oh, it's nothing big. I'm here to catch a fox." "What?" Hilde started revealing shocking news, as if sharing the latest gossip. "Lately, a string of misfortunes has been plaguing the kingdom, one strange event after another. I'm convinced the red fox is the cause. The timing of her appearance in the kingdom aligns too perfectly with these mishaps." "If you're referring to rumors about the red fox, it's simply not true. Look at me, standing right beside her. I'm perfectly fine." "That’s irrelevant. The fact that she's getting under my skin is reason enough, and it doesn't help that she's causing unrest among the people." Hilde gestured for me to observe our surroundings. Many eyes watched us, filled with apprehension. To them, it wasn't the fallen monk, but Rin who had brought the plague. "Hence, we will take custody of the red fox. You're bound to have some sort of enslavement mark, right? Hand it over. Cooperate, and I’ll guarantee your safety." Hilde condescendingly offered her terms. It's no exaggeration. She genuinely meant it as a favor; if it weren't so, knowing Hilde, her fists would have arrived first. ‘What should I do...’ Naturally, handing over Rin was not an option. That left fighting Hilde as my only course of action. I could sense that Rin was ready to enter battle mode as she glared at Hilde. However, fighting a princess in the heart of the city would likely brand me a terrorist, complicating matters afterward. "Hmm?" While I racked my brain for a way out, the sky suddenly darkened, as if by some unholy omen. Ominous clouds blanketed the clear sky. The entire city was cast into shadow. Clearly an unnatural phenomenon. People turned their gazes to the sky, murmuring anxiously. Boom! Thunder rumbled. Lightning danced through the storm clouds. And from within emerged a figure, descending like a god incarnate. Standing towering at around 2 meters. Draped in shimmering golden armor. A massive spear, taller than themselves. With hair as red as flames, flowing dramatically down to their feet. And bearing the ears and tail reminiscent of a horse. "It seems everyone is gathered together." One of the Twelve Zodiac Demons, particularly the one inspired by a horse. The Noon Spirit, a supernatural entity. ‘Why at this of all times.’ Following the lion with a horse. It's like I'm in an animal kingdom. ... Oh right, it is an animal kingdom.