Episode 25. Liberation of Slaves (4)
“What are you doing here?”
The Urca, which landed lightly, is approaching. I turned to her. Even in the middle of winter, he is wearing a uniform.
It is known that Suin basically has a high body temperature, but she didn’t have fur covering her skin like an animal, so she couldn’t help but get cold if she didn’t wear clothes.
It must be thanks to Ignis, the fire spirit, that Urca doesn’t get cold.
“So what were you doing?”
“I was just looking at the moon. Because it’s so pretty.”
Urca casually walks beside me and puts her arm on her railing. The wind blew fiercely through her pink hair. Urka snorted as if she was in a good mood and glanced at me.
“Huh. Do you keep staring? Why? Is it because you’re pretty?”
“I never thought you were not pretty.”
“…… Hey, why is this kind of fastball…… On the topic of not wanting to do skinship even if I die…….”
Urca mumbles and shakes her head. Through her tousled hair, her ears are red. Are you shy? Wearing clothes like this?
“Do you have trouble sleeping?”
“Sure. I think I’ll fall asleep easily if someone lends me some warmth.”
“Why don’t you go to Tori?”
“Tori is my friend. And I didn’t touch married men.”
“Did you even care about that?”
“Never mind! I don’t pick and choose with several members of the opposite s*x like anyone else.”
“Who chooses to eat? ….”
If you wear vulgar clothes, does your mouth become vulgar?
“Oh my~ I guess I got stabbed~?”
I was briefly annoyed at Urca’s mockery, but she let it out with a sigh. I didn’t want to get angry on a day to celebrate like today.
I looked up. A huge full moon floated leisurely in the sky. The appearance of brightly illuminating the Physis continent, where the darkness came, brought a strange sense of uplift.
From noble mtl dot com
“…… Urca.”
“Huh?”
“I kept my promise.”
Imperial slavery did not disappear, but it was possible to free other races from slavery.
Several months ago, I asked the Emperor if it was okay to abolish slavery altogether.
The emperor feared that if slavery was eliminated, debtors might never pay their money. So it was slavery, he said, that made him pay his debts by forcing him to sell his life instead of money. Of course, if you pay back all the money, you can get out of slavery.
With that said, the emperor further explained, saying that because he had enslaved all other races, the meaning had changed and there were many misunderstandings. After all, that’s what you did.
However, apart from that, after listening to him explain it, I realized that it was more reasonable than I thought.
“Oh, we didn’t abolish slavery. No, I thought it would be better not to abolish it.”
“Why?”
“Because depending on how the system is used, positive effects can be expected.”
There are no records left like in modern times, and it was not impossible to wash your life if you wanted to. Depending on how the system was used, it also made sense.
Of course, the biggest reason I was convinced was that this era, this empire, was based on the caste system.
“If Prause thinks so, then I have no complaints. There is no change in the fact that other races will be freed from slavery and become independent anyway. But I really didn’t know that the slaves could be freed without killing the emperor.”
“Me too. I think I should have put the sword to the Emperor’s neck from the start.”
This is what he said, but in reality it would have been difficult without the overwhelming force of the warriors and the tax collector who was the material of persuasion.
The emperor and I had many conflicts.
With that in mind, he must have thought that accepting me would help the empire. No matter what anyone said, the person who cherished the empire the most was Emperor Rufen.
“Isn’t that possible because it was Prause?”
“…… Maybe.”
I said calmly.
“Wow, look at you admitting it. Unlucky.”
“Hmph, then why are you attached to that unlucky person?”
“Yeah…… You have a lot of power, you know how to lead people around you in the right direction, and you have a strong sense of responsibility?”
“… ….”
It was a distorted evaluation.
I have never led them in the right direction. I did it because I had no choice but to do it.
Not to mention the lack of responsibility. I was the most calculating and selfish human being in the world.
“Ah, but I think it would be better if you fix the tone a bit softer.”
“…… Maybe someday it will.”
I can feel the restrictions on the facial expression management skill gradually loosening.
I was very excited to see what would happen the moment this skill was fully released. Maybe the skill will disappear and it won’t end?
“Anyway…… I can now be independent. Are you going back to your hometown?”
I asked with my chin resting and looking sideways. Urca thought for a moment and then laughed.
“…… I can’t go.”
“Why?”
“You said it. Stay in the Aus Territory and keep protecting this city. My master, who has the right to do whatever he wants with me, says so. I have to listen.”
“…… Are you serious?”
“Did it sound like a lie when I said I lost the duel?”
Of course I thought it was a lie. I thought it was just kidding.
Those who so longed for freed slaves did not intend to become slaves themselves, and there was no reason to give me such a right.
“And now this is where I belong. Because I have to live my life being grateful to Tori.”
“Won’t you regret it?”
“No.”
It was an immediate answer. She was laughing
“I learned happiness from Tori here, and I got hope from you. I’m living a perfect life There’s no way you’ll regret it.”
“I see.”
If you don’t regret it, that’s it.
I would have regretted it if I had said that I would go to a place where other tribes lived. I’ve grown at best, but I wanted to fight together until the man-ma-daejeon.
“It’s finally tomorrow. Tomorrow, my dream will come true. You can actually see them live and live on an equal footing with humans.”
It took four years to get here.
Considering that it shortened the original time of nearly 10 years, it was an obvious feat. But for some reason, I thought it was really long.
That’s probably because my goal wasn’t to free the slaves. Because now it’s only ‘half’.
“You look excited.”
“Yeah… …. I really didn’t know you would keep that promise. Do you know how ridiculous it was when you first heard it?”
“Dreams should be absurd in the first place.”
“Are you saying that? Totally absurd! The subject that told me to give up.”
Urca pokes my cheek and says. It stung every time I poked it. Aren’t your cheeks bleeding?
“But I am sure I could never have achieved it alone.”
“I guess so.”
I answered as if it were natural. Even so, Urca was looking at me with a smile.
“Prause.”
“What is it?”
“Can I hug you just once?”
“…… The reason is?”
“Because it’s cold.”
“Isn’t it because you dress like that? Can you take off your clothes?”
“No.”
Urka shook her head as she hugged me. The arm that caresses my back is full of strength. I couldn’t get it off this way. Oh, I guess she’ll tell Iris that she stinks?
I was belatedly trying to push Urca down and move her hand. Urka put her face near her collarbone and cried.
“Thank you, Prause. Thank you for keeping your promise.”
When she heard that, she couldn’t bear to tear her away. I let out a silent sigh and patted Urca on the back.
“Yes.”
“Really… Thank you very much.”
I could feel my clothes getting slightly damp.
So until Urca calmed down, I patted her on the back and shared her body temperature for a while.
* * *
“I must go back soon.”
It’s too late.
The heroes will get angry if they find out that you came out to go to the bathroom, but you haven’t returned to your room yet.
You might think it was sucked into the toilet along with the poop.
…… I really won’t.
“Yes. Were you cuddling too long?”
“It’s okay. It’s because what I’ve been holding back for so long has exploded. I understand.”
“Really?”
She kept turning away from her gnawed heart. She tried hard to show a bright side, saying that it was okay, but in reality, she had to taste frustration dozens of times a day due to distrust towards herself.
She couldn’t tell anyone, couldn’t rely on her, and her heart festers over the years.
I have seen that feeling many times in the game. So you can be proud of it. I am the one who knows her inner thoughts better than anyone else. Even though it may be just illustrations and text.
“For some reason, talking to Prause really makes me feel understood.”
I gave him two final pats on the back and withdrew his hand.
“I’m going in.”
“Yes. Good night. See you tomorrow. Prause.”
“Yes.”
I left the terrace and headed for my room. Using the lamp hanging on the wall as a guide, I walk to my room Tori gave me.
I turned the doorknob and opened it as silently as possible. Step into the room by opening it only far enough for a person’s body to enter.
It was then.
“Master, there is no need to come in quietly.”
Iris flinched at her sharp tone. When I opened the door, the warriors were frowning with sleepy faces.
“Please explain why you are coming now.”
“Please explain.”
“That’s right. Please explain to clear up misunderstandings……. No, I don’t think there’s any need for that.”
Iris changes her words. She got up and walked slowly towards me. As they approached, I remained motionless.
She grabbed my arm and led me into her room and shut the door rather roughly.
Sniff sniff.
I put my nose right in my neck and sniff it. It was a little creepy.
“Master, it smells like Urca-sama.”
“Uh…… ?”
“Would you like to come and sit down? Since you are Master, I will not ask you to kneel.”
He leads me to the front of the bed.
I don’t know who the warriors will marry, but I thought I would never be able to cheat on them.
With that thought in mind, I sat down under the bed. And I had to listen to the sermon for about an hour.
A disciple educating a master…… Is this right?
* * *
The day has come.
The plaza in front of the imperial palace in Pretium was already crowded with countless people. Whether it was a human or a different race, the crowd of people seemed almost like watching a festival.
In a way, the content to be announced today will be like a festival for other races, so will there be any difference?
“Would you mind watching from here?”
Iris said, looking down at the crowd. I nodded.
“Wouldn’t this be the best?”
Me, the warriors, and Urca were sitting on the roof of a house close to the plaza. Tori was currently on her way to the imperial palace to assist the emperor.
“The Imperial Palace will be busy announcing the release of slaves now.”
I think it was like that for about 30 minutes.
“His Majesty is making an appearance!!”
As the knight shouted from the balcony, the tumultuous crowd stopped talking and raised their heads.
The emperor appears on the balcony. Walk slowly and stand in front of the people. He leisurely looked down at the plaza and then put his mouth on the loudspeaker.
“Dear people of the Empire, nice to meet you. He is the Emperor of Lufen Aether Pretium.”
The plaza became quiet with his introduction.
The sound of breathing through the loudspeaker gives us a sense of tension. Looking at him, I raised the corner of my mouth.
Let’s hear where and how it is announced.