147 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

In the chief's tent of Lake Fortress, Darka exclaimed with excitement as the tiara obtained from the Snow Elves was handed over to her. She raised the tiara high and shouted joyfully. "Oh, without a doubt, it's a treasure of the kingdom!" "Who had this?" she asked. "It was the Snow Elves," Karami replied. "Snow Elves! The very existence of these elusive fairies was like something out of a fairy tale! While ancient people believed them to be mere stories, they indeed existed! They are living history and undoubtedly hold untold secrets of the kingdom!" Darka placed the tiara next to Zeke's ring. "Well done. Very well done! We're one step closer to fulfilling a long-held wish!" "Haha, I'm thinking of finding the next item soon." "Great. I'm eagerly waiting for its discovery." Darka's face was lit up with a broad smile and immense excitement. Whenever Karami brought back an item, her demeanor transformed entirely, giving the tribe the impression that any semblance of old age was momentarily conquered. Of course, this change was temporary—each time fading back to her usual self with time. Darka coughed dryly. “Cough, cough... Shouting has made my throat sore. I’m tired, so I’ll lie down for a while. Feel free to leave whenever you want.” “Darka... sleeping again...?” “Is Miss Ashies really one to say such a thing?” Karami looked at Ashies with cold eyes. No one could out-sleep Ashies. She would doze off even aboard a rough sled and was notoriously difficult to wake in the mornings. For Ashies to question Darka's need for more sleep was absurd. “You’ll understand when you reach my age, dear,” Darka said. “...?” Ashies tilted her head, not understanding Darka’s words. *** Evening descended upon Lake Fortress. Communal meals were customary for those living a tribal life. A massive pot was filled with a variety of ingredients, creating an endless stew that kept the bodies warm—the North's treasured stew. People gathered around in groups, receiving the stew in their bowls. Around the campfire, the Ferka, dwarves, and Northerners mingled and chatted loudly, but Ashies was absent. Her mere presence would extinguish the flames with an icy aura. Thus, in the corner of the village where the light could not reach, Ashies sat on a long log. In her hand was a bowl of cold stew. Denied any warmth, Ashies ate only cold foods to fill her belly. Although such a meal might be oppressive to others, it did not faze her at all. There was neither complaint nor dissatisfaction—just as someone who has never tasted an apple cannot describe its flavor, Ashies had never felt warmth. Hence, she felt no sense of loss or grievance. For Ashies, this was just normal life. “How is it? Does it taste good?” Karami sat on the log across from her, having just been served his meal. “...” “Isn't it fascinating? How something with such simple ingredients can taste so good.” “Hmm...” Karami was an unusual person. Countless people had approached Ashies, drawn by her appearance, regardless of gender or race. However, none stayed. The cold she emitted eventually pushed them away, despite her beauty initially drawing them in. Only a few, like the Ferka, came closer, but even then, an invisible line remained between them—a line unaffected by her chilling presence, unreachable and absolute. Karami, however, intruded persistently into Ashies’ zone, crossing the invisible boundary where no one dared to tread. Despite the frostbitten appearance of his coat and his legs trembling from the cold, Karami maintained his usual smile without showing any discomfort. Ashies tilted her head, puzzled by Karami's unique persistence in occupying the space no one else dared to enter. It left a lingering ripple in her mind. “Rami... why are you here...?” A question spontaneously arose, one she felt she had to ask. “Ashies, aren’t you here as well?” “I... must be here.” Ashies was aware of her unique constitution that set her apart from normal human life. “That's why I'm here. Because you are.” “...?” “A master must always be by their slave's side, after all. Who knows what the slave might do, so I have to keep watch.” “Ah... I see...” It made sense. Masters always stay by their slaves. Slavery... seemed like a good thing. Yet, people had told her Karami was a bad person. ‘Is being bad... good?’ Everything was confusing. Complicated matters were unwelcome. Ashies shook her head to dispel the cluttered thoughts. “We'll go after the next treasure soon. A huge serpent holds it, so we must capture it with a sword since magic won't work.” “A treasure...” Every time she saw a treasure, whether it was the ring or the tiara, Ashies felt a peculiar sensation. A sense of familiarity. A fleeting warmth in her chest. A feeling inexplicable even to herself. Perhaps Karami knew something about it. Her question was met with a gentle nod and a smile from Karami. “For some, seemingly insignificant things can be invaluable treasures filled with memories for others. Maybe those treasures mean something special to you, Ashies.” “A precious item...” Could that be it? Is that why she felt familiar warmth? Yet, the memories were still absent. “Perhaps speaking with the chief might spark something. Visit tomorrow.” “Okay...” Ashies took another bite of the stew. She did not feel the warmth. The next day, Ashies set out to find Darka. Unusually, she was alone. When she asked Karami if he would accompany her, he told her he had matters to attend to, suggesting she go by herself. She thought nothing of it. As Ashies approached the chief's tent, the guards stepped back to keep their distance. The flames of the torches outside the tent sputtered and froze as she drew near, only to relight once she passed beyond their reach. This had become a routine practice. "Darka." "Huh? Cough, cough... Who's there?" Lying down and coughing, Darka struggled to sit up, squinting her dim eyes to make out Ashies clearly. It took her some time to recognize her. "Oh! The young one is here! Where have you been all this time? You should visit your grandmother more often." "Yesterday... I helped." "You did? I forget things lately, you know. Come, don't just stand there. Sit beside me." Darka patted the spot next to her. Ashies perched delicately beside Darka, the space between them mere arm's length, limited by restraints that were never articulated but understood. "What brings you here? Do you want to hear some old stories from Grandma?" Ashies shook her head. "Today... something else... I'm curious about the treasure." "You want to hear an old story about the treasure!" "Hmm? Uh... Yeah, I guess." "Alright! Let me tell you one by one." Darka retrieved the tiara from beneath the carpet, which seemed to hold all sorts of treasures, leading Ashies to wonder if it was a magical carpet. "Now, this tiara! It was made for the princess’s birth by the king as a gift." "The king...?" "Yes, the king of the Ice Kingdom was a warm-hearted man. Though the day never came for the princess to wear it." "Because of the dragon?" "Indeed, because of a very wicked dragon." Once again, Ashies felt no particular emotion. Nor was she expected to. Yet, without realizing it, her brows furrowed. It felt as though a stone was pressing on her chest, making it difficult to breathe. She felt an urge to understand why. But the curse of the dragon did not permit it. The curse that bound Ashies was activated, and invisible thorns spread, crushing the budding emotions. Subtle disturbances on the brink of crossing the soul's threshold left no trace. Unauthorized emotions flickered at her fingertips, then vanished. The emotional gateway shut, leaving only a cold and clear stillness surrounding her. Ashies languidly blinked, her face composed as if nothing had happened. Her eyes returned to their icy, frigid state. "Achoo! It suddenly feels chilly. Is winter coming, I wonder? Are you alright, dear?" "Yeah..." "In this weather, when will Baskal return, I wonder." "Do you miss Baskal?" "It's such a strange feeling. Since he left, my heart longs for that rascal who used to just make me sigh..." A distant look filled Darka's eyes. Ashies quietly observed her for a time. *** "I want to bring Baskal." Ashies voiced this desire upon her return from meeting Darka. "Darka... she misses Baskal." "Indeed, she does." The loss of Baskal was the source of Darka's condition. Even in her altered state, she fervently wished to see Baskal again. The problem was that Baskal was already dead. However, there was an item related to Baskal. In fact, obtaining it was essential for complete liberation. Just that... "No... can't...?" Ashies unexpectedly made the request first. "It's not that we can't. Let's go find Baskal." Ashies nodded, exhaling slightly, feeling a faint sense of relief stir within her. *** "Ugh, I’m bored, bored, bored!" In the demon tower, the senior demon, Jakaryll Vernomor, rolled around the floor complaining. Although Mirabel, the tower master, used to entertain him occasionally, her recent departure to Pestia made his days dull. He regretted not accompanying them. It felt unfair that the witches had left together without him. "Isn't there anything fun to do?" Flapping his wings, Jakaryll searched for something to do. He didn't want to play with the temperamental Darl Eno or bother Edmund yet again. Suddenly~ "Huh?" A letter floated in through the high tower window, circling Jakaryll as if it were a bird following its master. The magic infused in the letter belonged to Morgana. With a flash, the letter burned away, releasing its contents as black smoke. -The magic of someone who was the master of the Tower Master. It might be in the North. That was all. A letter without purpose. "The master of the Tower Master! Who might that be? Are they strong? Are they interesting?" The content was enough to spark the mischievous curiosity of Jakaryll. Morgana knew him well enough to bait him expertly. With a flutter of his little wings, Jakaryll left the tower. The magic was weak, making the trace hard to follow. So, as instructed in the letter, he headed towards the North. If nothing amusing came from it... Well, he’d just kill them. **User Comments Section:** User: 피폐너무좋아 Date: 2025.01.13 01:18 Comment: ? Are you Japanese? Why laugh at it like that? LOL User: 미궁속으로 Date: 2024.12.15 00:49 Comment: Oh... they’re getting a slave themselves. User: 누나꼴려요 Date: 2024.12.15 03:18 Comment: Hehe, let’s enjoy some fun. User: Hking0848 Date: 2024.12.16 22:28 Comment: I'll make sure they can't live without my wealth! User: 아디쉐 Date: 2024.12.30 21:30 Comment: Going to collect a memento, huh. User: 개와고양이 Date: 2025.01.10 19:17 Comment: If you kill them, Mirabel will kill you. _Note: Login is required to post comments._ **Weekly Best Section** **Genres: Adult, BL/GL** 1. +3041 Even if I Fall into a Horror Tale, I Must Go to Work 2. +992 Mistaken for a War Legend 3. +363 Declared Breakup to the Heroine Who Loathes Me 4. +2884 How to Survive as a Wizard in a Magic School 5. +1245 The Released Slaves Obsess Over Me 6. +316 The Deranged Priest of the Slums 7. +937 Normalization of Dark Fantasy 8. +408 Mistaken for a Legendary Horror Temple 9. +809 I Want to Be a Former VTuber Again 10. +1910 The Heroine Took My Regression 11. +4011 Surviving in a Damned Fantasy World 12. +16812 The Genius Sorcerer Who Takes Medication 13. +17313 The Childhood Friend of the Supreme Leader 14. +1514 The Crown Prince Who Levels Up a Side Character 15. +7515 Martial Arts? 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