Episode 25. Liberation of Slaves (2)
“Father, you said you didn’t have to send money?”
…… Are you threatening?
Even when I heard it, it was an unpleasant tone. I was about to shed tears at the unintentional immorality. Even if you don’t know the emperor, ask your father to make you a polite person.
“I also have a lot of money.”
I said, pointing to the money bag on the table. It was the money that Parocco earned while working as a butler. He will write for himself
“I know. The fact that His Majesty the Emperor bestowed 10,000 gold on you.”
Paroco answered with a sigh of tea, probably getting used to my tone. But it wasn’t the sergeant, it was the money I deserved?
“Then why are you here today?”
“Can’t you just come because you want to see your son?”
“…… There is nothing that can’t be done.”
“Until now, I have been hearing about you from the Marquis of Medith. He did a lot of dangerous things.”
I flinched and averted my gaze.
I couldn’t deny what Parocco said.
As I listed the things I had done while coming this far, I realized anew that I had crossed the line between life and death many times. To live in a tiger’s den? What a contradiction this is
“Oh, Master looked away. I must have been scared by my teacher’s father!”
“Tina, Master is not the kind of person who will turn a blind eye to your father when he scolds you. He is not one to be intimidated by.”
“Right. You talked and cursed in front of the emperor.”
“Still, Prause turned his eyes first. This is rare Shall we take it with surveillance magic?”
How can you say such unhelpful things? Can’t you all just shut up…… ?
“…… I couldn’t help it.”
That was the only excuse I could make.
“I will respect my son no matter what he does, and I will stand by your side. But I cannot allow you to die before me.”
Are you doing these things to avoid dying?
“…… Who dies, who dies do not worry.”
It seems that I have refined my words to the best of my ability.
“Master, it seems that you only grumble when talking to your father? Are you in puberty?”
“…… Shut up, Maria.”
“Neng.”
I think he’s getting more and more Tina.
Iris puts her index finger to her own lips, covering her Maria’s mouth. After all, she only has Iris.
“Then you are very fortunate.”
Paroco laughed as he watched our scuffle. I take a sip of my tea as if to ease the flow of the conversation.
I don’t know if it’s because I was a butler, but it seemed like years of experience were buried in every single action. It was a level to look at indifferently.
“Prause, I want to hear what happened. Would you?”
“Nothing special… ….”
“Then just tell me what you want to say. If you think it’s shameless to ask me, you can say no firmly.”
Smile kindly and calmly wait for my answer.
A comfortable atmosphere that feels like a real family tickles my mouth. It seemed like he was forcing me to say it was okay.
* * *
I told only the key points so that the explanation of the past journey would not be extended as much as possible. The whole time Paroko listened to my story, her smile stayed on her lips, and she nodded her head whenever appropriate.
Finally, he closed his mouth by saying that the other races would be liberated next week.
“I see. From next week, you will really be freed from slavery. I heard the story from the Marquis of Medis, but did you convince His Majesty the Emperor?”
“… Hey, what does your father think of the liberation of other races?”
“Of course, wouldn’t that be a good thing?”
With the answer protruding like an unconditional reflection, a smile is kept on the corner of the mouth.
“You really worked hard to get here.”
“…… !”
Is it because the words came from the heart? Or is it because the person who said that he had a hard time was Parocco?
To be honest, I was a little nervous.
[The skill [Expression Management] Is temporarily canceled.]
Ah… Is this again…….
It’s already the fifth. What the hell is the reason for the expression management skill to be released?
If you think about it, whenever the expression management skill was unlocked, I always felt ’emotions’ for the characters in this world.
As expected, is it released when I empathize with the characters in this world?
Honestly, it’s not confirmed, but I think it’s probably true with a high probability. But for now, I was going to focus on Parocco rather than this.
At this point, I decided to respond to Parocco’s words with a smile, taking advantage of the opportunity to cancel the facial expression control.
If he hadn’t continued to send me money, I wouldn’t have been able to realize my plan to gather heroes from the beginning.
In a way, the person who helped me the most to come this far is Parocco… No, it was my father.
“Thank you. Father.”
“!”
I convey it sincerely with many meanings. Then, tears welled up in Parocco’s eyes.
Do you think you have been forgiven by your son?
Personally, I hope you think so.
If I were the real Prause, even if his mother died because of Paroko’s wrong choice, I would have forgiven him now.
“Thank you.”
In a warm atmosphere, the warriors also watch us with a smile.
“Being an honest teacher… This is valuable.”
“Noisy.”
As soon as Tina says that, the expression management hologram disappears. I was just embarrassed and coughed.
“By the way…… When the slaves are freed, these children will also go to the village where the beasts lived or the forest of the elves.”
Parroco said to Iris and Maria, who were eating the freshly steamed corn. The two then stopped with their mouths glued to the corn. Iris’s tail, which had been swinging from side to side, also stopped.
“Ah… ….”
Two people with bewildered faces look at me.
“Well, we will be by Master’s side.”
Iris said belatedly as if to object.
“Why? Aren’t you longing for liberation from the Empire all this time?”
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“I might have thought that way when I didn’t know much about Master. But not anymore.”
She put down her corn and crept in as she grabbed my arm.
“My place is next to Master. My happiness is complete when I am with Master. And above all, Master promised me that he would not abandon me. We will be together for the rest of our lives until we die.”
Isn’t it a little Eva until I die?
It’s not like being officiated at a wedding…….
“That means…… Are you saying you want to marry Prause?”
“Oh!”
At Parocco’s remarks, the atmosphere changed in an instant. Tina and Maria jumped up from their seats in amazement.
As if Iris was also taken aback, her ears pricked up. But nothing came out right away. She glanced at me and seemed to be thinking about what to say.
“…… If I say that now, Master will feel burdened.”
He tries to overcome the situation with an awkward smile. Wow, you show such consideration?
“So. You are wise.”
“Thank you. Father.”
After hearing Iris’ answer, Parocco looked at Maria. Maria flinched when her eyes met.
“I-I… ….”
She purses her lips and clenches her fist.
“Honestly, humans…… I’m resentful. I will never forgive you for killing my family, my friends and my own people.”
Her anger was understandable.
On the contrary, I should have been thankful that I had endured according to my will until now. Now Maria is strong enough to destroy an empire.
“But I don’t blame all humans. Because I knew that there are so many good people among humans. I’m sure you’ll be able to meet good people in the future as long as you stay by Master’s side. If you meet humans like that, maybe the day will come when you forgive them.”
Maria looks at me and says. Is it a day to forgive people?
“I want to see that time with Master. So I’m not going back to the elven forest.”
“I see. When you see both of them talking like this, it sounds like my son has been really nice to me since we lived together.”
“Although sometimes I get a little angry when I turn a blind eye to another woman.”
“Ah, I think so too.”
I thought the story would end warmly this time too, but Maria disturbed her mood at once. She really knows who she’s dating.
“If you don’t, you should become adults soon.”
“Oh, did you say that?”
“Did you say that?”
Huh?
Maria and Iris look at me with their eyes wide open. Like a predator that has found its prey, it presses its face against me.
“No, I don’t mean that—”
“In just a few weeks, you will be one year older…… 5 Years left? You won’t fall from Master’s side anyway, so it doesn’t matter?”
“Yes. It will be fine. If you approach Master without knowing the subject, just tell him the subject.”
While the two were united, Tina, who had been calm, raised her hand.
“Master Daddy, why don’t you ask me?!”
“…… Huh? Tina is human.”
“Am I still going to marry my master?”
Tina said casually. At that moment, both Iris and Maria shouted at her at the same time.
“Tina~! I didn’t say anything out of consideration for Master! Are you going to keep doing that cowardly?!”
“I don’t notice Tina, really! So, you will be hated by Master someday?!”
“Eh… ….”
Tina was in tears at Iris and Maria’s offensive.
* * *
“Slaves… Liberation…… ?”
She nodded her head, looking at Leones’ yellow eyes, which were bigger than ever.
“Yes.”
“Eh, since when?”
“Five days until the official announcement. I’m planning to return the territory, so I’ll be able to become independent. Then you will be able to go to your hometown soon.”
“Wasn’t it just a rumor?”
She asks me over and over again if I can’t believe it. I nodded.
“The nobles have already known for several months. Of course me too.”
“What? Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was because I had to raise the resistance.”
The real reason is to take advantage of the resistance, but the essence has always been a law to hide.
“Why are you raising the resistance? When the slaves are freed, there will be no justification for rebellion.”
“There is no justification, but there are reasons to keep it.”
“What?”
“Currently, other races have been merged into the Empire and are completely mixed. At this time, when all other races are supposed to return to their hometowns, there is no one to lead them.”
“That’s right, it will be confusing right now, but if you go to visit your own people… ….”
It is a foolish idea.
Beasts and elves have as much intelligence as humans. It meant being able to learn and adapt.
And those with intelligence must ‘learn’.
“I’m sorry, but the four people of the past and the four people of the present are different. In the past, they may have followed the law of the jungle as the way of nature, but now they have learned human culture. They will definitely create forces to assert their rights and oppress someone.”
“What?”
“And the result will lead to civil war.”
“!”
“To prevent that from happening, we have no choice but to use the Resistance. The Empire will end its responsibility by releasing you.”
“Well, there is no guarantee that will happen.”
“There are no guarantees. But like you said, it will take a lot of time to make people of the same kind live together. So, first of all, we need a group to control and lead other races that have lost their way.”
“And that group is the Resistance?”
I shook my head.
It’s absurd, and there’s no confirmation that it will happen, but it’s too late to prepare for it after it happens.
I needed the power of another race.
Other races will become stronger in the future. They will increase their strength in order to strengthen their power and not to lose their dignity to humans again.
“…… Prause.”
“What is it?”
“Then you saw this aspect and told me not to move?”
“Okay. How is it I told you to control it with resistance, but there are too many variables. From there, it is left to your discretion.”
In fact, even without the resistance, other races will survive somehow. However, there was only a difference between a lot of blood and a little blood in the process.
“I see… ….”
“And one last thing.”
I raised my index finger.
“The demons will attack in the next few years.”
“What? Demons?!”
She involuntarily raised her voice and clamped her mouth shut. The beastmen around them focused their eyes on Leones.
“Oh, nothing! Do what you have to do.”
“Yes.”
Only after Leones beckons, they focus on their own business.
“Suddenly a demon. What do you mean?”
“Sooner or later, demons attack. And I will wipe out everything in this world, be it humans, elves, or beasts.”
“I can’t… ….”
“So, as soon as you become independent and find stability, prepare for the man-man war. Got it?”
“… ….”
Leones didn’t answer. When I looked to her side through her side of the eye, she was looking at me curiously.
“Hey Prause.”
She puts her hand on my shoulder and looks straight into her eyes.
“Are you…… Can you see the future?”