97 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

**Chapter 97: Captivated Former Slaves** Throughout history, foxes have been known as cunning creatures in both Eastern and Western traditions. There's the phrase "Hu Jia Hu Wei," which means a fox borrowing the power of a tiger to display its own might. Then, there's the Aesop's fable "The Old Lion and the Fox," among others. The Hoyo tribe, infused with such sly characteristics, is no different, and naturally, the Nine-tailed fox is included as well. Engaging with Hilde seemed unnecessary to her. Moreover, she, who considered herself a proud fox, despised mingling with lowly beings. So, as soon as Hilde set foot in Cheonsangru, she cast her illusion. A flower reflected in the mirror and the moon reflected on the water. The illusion spell, "Mirror Flower, Water Moon." With her Moon Shadow Eye resonating with her spirit, she managed without much difficulty. Although Hilde's Lion's Roar nearly shattered the illusionary space. Had Hilde realized it was an illusion and roared with the intent to break it, it would have shattered. Well, her failure to realize it was an illusion till the end led to her downfall. Paying dearly for failing to escape the illusion space, Hilde fell unconscious to the ground, unable to resist. The Nine-tailed fox pondered over quietly pressing down on the back of Hilde's head. "Should I just absorb her energy~" It was foolish, but she seemed quite powerful. Absorbing her energy would significantly help in restoring strength. Just as the Nine-tailed fox was about to siphon Hilde's energy... "Ah, that's not allowed." Karami's voice rang out, halting the Nine-tailed fox’s movements. She shot Karami a displeased glare. "Why? Wouldn't it be good for you if she's gone?" "Even if she's a wild one, if a princess of a kingdom were to suddenly disappear, the kingdom would fall into chaos. There’s nothing good in that." "If I let her go, she'll come after me again, right? Sorry, I don’t entertain meaningless battles." "True, but she would have to follow my orders regardless. Besides, I have something else in mind." Karami glanced at Hilde, revealing a meaningful smile. --- "Ugh..." Hilde opened her eyes drowsily, regaining her senses. Her head spun as if she were seasick. She pressed a hand to her forehead. 'What...?' She distinctly remembered going to Cheonsang to duel, but why was she in a guest room of Cheonsangru, lying on a bed? "Awake, are you?" Karami, seated on a chair beside her bed, spoke up. He was engrossed in a book. "Café owner...?" "You woke up sooner than expected. Big Rin said you wouldn't be able to get up for a day. Guess being a princess has its perks." Uncertain of the situation, Hilde blinked blankly, then sprang upright as her hazy, dream-like memories began to clarify. The memory of being ensnared by a peculiar sorcery, punching the air helplessly. "Where is that Nine-tailed b****?!" "Perhaps in conversation with Tangerine Fox Senior? They seemed to have much to discuss." "Daring to pull such tricks on me and leisurely converse? You’re dead, fu—" Just as Hilde was about to storm out, she threw off her blanket violently. "Hey, don’t move recklessly." Suddenly, Hilde froze in the position she was about to leap. Her hand stretched toward the doorknob, balanced on one foot awkwardly. Astonished, she took in her own stance. "What, what’s going on? Why can’t I move?" Could it be the Nine-tailed fox had cast some strange spell? Her body felt bound, as if caught in a binding magic. "You’ll cause trouble if you act out. Why not sit down calmly?" "What’s this nonsense? Who do you think you’re talking to, you—oh?" Despite the stream of curses, Hilde found herself obediently sitting on the bed, adopting an uncharacteristically demure posture. Her body wasn’t responding to her commands; it was as if following another’s instructions. Hilde’s bewilderment rose, step by step, like ascending stairs. "What’s happening? Why is my body doing this?" "Isn’t it obvious? Where in the world does a slave ignore their master’s orders?" "What rubbish is this? When did I become your slave? You've lost your mind, haven’t you?" "Hm, perhaps this slave has a high strength stat but a low intelligence stat..." "You low-life bastard!" Just as Hilde swung her fist with the intent to crush Karami's head entirely... "Wait." Once again, she stopped mid-punch, frozen in position. "Sit." Slowly lowering herself, Hilde crouched on the floor in a waiting position. "What... what is this?!" Though she desperately struggled to break free, she couldn't budge. Karami watched with an amused smile, legs casually crossed, and offered his hand. "Paw." "What the hell do you see me as?!" Reluctantly, Hilde placed her hand upon Karami's. Karami grinned, lifting the corner of his mouth. "Other paw." Reluctantly again. "Uh... uh?" Only then realizing something was disastrously wrong, Hilde’s gaze was filled with disbelief as she watched Karami nod in satisfaction. "Her words are harsh, but her body is honest. Seems this slave is of the tsundere type. However, I disapprove of swearing, so some training is necessary." Even without absorbing her energy, controlling Hilde was simple. 'Nothing tames better than an obedient slave,' he mused. By binding her soul and commanding it, everything worked effortlessly. Though he usually detested making someone a slave against their will, he would only use such power when necessary. Yet, Hilde was a rare exception. 'I still tear up thinking about my closed pet café because of her... sniff.' A personal vendetta. And another reason. ‘I haven’t ever tried raising her as a slave.’ Though a princess of Bestia, Hilde was merely a hindrance to Rin's liberation—a frequent extra but impossible to enslave till now. For a connoisseur of raising every kind of slave, the chance had come. There was no way he could pass it up. Reduced from a princess of a kingdom to a slave in a blink, Hilde, unable to accept reality, trembled with distraught pupils. "It seems you're still coming to terms with it. No worries! I know exactly how to strengthen the bond between master and slave." With that, Karami pulled a collar out from his pocket. Hilde looked up at him with apprehension. "Shall we go for a walk?" --- It was the early hours of the morning when everyone else was asleep. Cursing vehemently under her breath, Hilde wandered through the quiet streets. There wasn't anything unusual about this. Having an impatient nature, Hilde often roamed the city whenever she had the chance. When bored, she would beat up scavenger hyenas like they were playthings or hang sleeping sloths atop towers to watch them struggle down in the morning. But tonight, Hilde's stroll felt different. Firstly, her view. It was as low as an infant just learning to walk. Secondly, her stance. Instead of two points of contact on the chilly pavement, there were four. Like an animal, she used her arms as additional legs, crawling on all fours. And the last oddity... "The cool night breeze feels amazing, doesn’t it?" She wasn’t alone. Karami was, of course, her companion. In his grip was a leash, the other end attaching to Hilde's neck. There was Hilde, a princess, crawling on all fours through the town. Among slaves, the best way to bond, especially with beastfolk, was through a walk. It imprinted upon them the master-servant relationship like no other interaction. "Just wait until this spell vanishes. I'll tear you apart, piece by piece!" Sometimes a fierce slave comes along, but that makes the taming process even more thrilling—a core thrill of slave training, after all. Hilde’s growling was only amusement for Karami. "Are you sure you should shout like that? You might draw someone's attention. Oh, look, there's someone right ahead." "What...?" In front of an inn. A human, restlessly smoking outside, perhaps unable to sleep. From his lack of tail or ears, it was clear he was human. "Ugh!" Hilde couldn’t let someone witness her in such a humiliating state. She intended to change direction, but Karami tugged on the leash. "Ah ah, where are you going? The path is this way." "W-wait... just a moment...!" Karami, oblivious to Hilde's resistance, approached the man. Startled, the man, who had been gazing up at the moon while smoking, turned his head. "Hmm? Who goes there?" "Apologies for disturbing you. Just out for a little walk with my slave." Karami conspicuously raised the hand holding the leash, drawing the man's gaze downward. There, a beastfolk on all fours rested. Too embarrassed to lift her head, her face remained hidden from view. "Ah, a shy slave, is it?" "Indeed, a recent acquisition. We’re still in the bonding phase." "What sort is it? Looks like a cat, but at a glance, it resembles a lion." Lions, also known as the kings of beasts, reign as royalty in Bestia. If this slave were of feline descent, she might have royal blood. Could this slave possibly be of royal lineage? Such a scenario was unthinkable. Still, she was female, and her fur was conveniently dark. Her appearance matched that of Hilde, the princess of Bestia. Could she truly be a lion beastfolk...? As the man scrutinized her intensely, Karami laughed aloud. "Haha, a lion? Of course not. She's a cat." "Hmm, I suppose so." The man quickly accepted it. Hilde's infamy was well-known, even in other countries. The idea of her as a human's slave was absurd. Utterly ludicrous. "Would you like to pet her?" "I do love beastfolk, but won’t she scratch?" "Haha, worry not. Our little cat doesn’t bite." "Well, in that case..." The man crouched and began to stroke Hilde's head. Her hair was smooth and well-groomed, indicating thorough care. "Oh, seems like her owner cherishes her quite a bit." "A good master should naturally adore their slave." "You’ve found yourself a really good master, haven’t you? Make sure to listen well to your master." The man chuckled softly, ruffling her hair without a second thought. It was sheer luck that he couldn’t see Hilde’s face, hidden as she bowed her head.