Chapter 77 - Fang and Doris in the Dungeon
"What do you want?"
The werewolf, Fang, glared at me, his voice low and guttural. The guard beside him moved in a blur, striking him across the face before sweeping his legs out from under him. Fang shot a rebellious glare at the guard, who responded with an unhesitating kick to his face. It was a practiced motion. The guard performed his duty with a blank expression, a task devoid of any emotion I could read.
Beside them, the priest's daughter, Doris, watched with terrified eyes.
"Wait, please. We just came here to negotiate," I said, directing my words mainly at the guard. His casual brutality was unnerving, and I wanted him to stop.
"Negotiate?" Fang spat out a mouthful of blood as he pushed himself up.
"Yeah. But first, please sit down."
The guard hauled Fang to his feet and forced him into a chair. Doris, still trembling, hesitantly sat down in the other.
I took a moment to study them both. They looked to be in their late twenties, maybe around Maira's age.
Fang was at least a head taller than me. Pointed ears poked through his short, cropped hair, and he had sharp eyes and a pointed chin. Unlike when we fought, he was now dressed in what looked like dirty undergarments, but the muscles visible beneath were a testament to his strength as a warrior. I was impressed Mizuki had held her own against such a man, though most men in this world were fairly well-built.
Doris had a round face that gave her a slightly raccoon-like appearance, an impression perhaps enhanced by her chin-length brown hair. Her large, round eyes darted about restlessly, constantly surveying her surroundings even as she kept her head bowed. She was short, about Fam's height, though her chest was larger than Fam's. She wore the same kind of simple undergarments as Fang.
"I want to hire you both as my slaves."
At my words, Fang and Doris exchanged a look.
"What do you mean?" Doris asked.
"Exactly what I said. I believe that as slaves, you weren't in a position to defy Mii and the others. You were just following orders."
"So even if we get out of this cell, we'll still be your prisoners," Doris said with an air of resignation.
I glanced at the guard.
"Sorry, but could we speak with them alone?"
"Sir!"
He responded with a surprisingly crisp salute, bowed once, and left the room. I had expected him to argue, so his compliance was a surprise.
"It is because you are one sent by the goddess…" Maira murmured, her gaze fixed on the door the guard had just exited.
I nodded and turned back to Doris.
"The Citizen's Council has given me permission to take you as my slaves on the condition that you never set foot in this city again. I plan to… let's see… free you both once we reach the city of Flucht."
"Master," Fam interjected.
"Is that not acceptable? I pushed my own way when it came to Cecily and the others. With Lily, too, I decided things on my own. This time, I'll follow your judgment."
"…I do not mind them becoming your slaves, Master. But please do not forget that they raised their weapons against you. I cannot forgive them for that."
I nodded to Fam.
"You heard her. Your freedom will depend on your future conduct."
"And you expect us to believe that?" Doris replied.
"You don't have to. But if things stay as they are, you'll both be beaten to death by the guards here before you're executed."
"…"
Doris fell silent and glanced at Fang.
"Sorry, but I refuse," Fang stated.
"Why?"
"I do not like that woman over there," Fang said, jutting his chin toward Mizuki.
"Is it because she killed Task?"
He shook his head. "We fought. It cannot be helped that Task died."
"Then what is it you don't like?"
"That woman was at a disadvantage against Task and me, yet she fought on nearly equal footing. But after she defeated Task, she clearly held back against me. She insulted me."
"I didn't mean to! I was…" Mizuki cried out, but her words trailed off, unable to finish.
"On top of that, she tried to protect me from Mii's special skill. There is no greater humiliation."
He must have been talking about when Mii used his crystal core to fire that laser-like attack. Had Mizuki taken the hit trying to shield Fang?
"What a soft-hearted fool," I muttered. Fam, Mizuki, and Maira all turned to look at me.
"Well, that is one of his good points, I suppose…" Maira said. Was she talking about me? For some reason, her tone felt critical.
"In any case, I have no intention of accepting charity from any of you," Fang declared, cutting into our conversation.
"Are you saying you were annoyed that I saved you?" Mizuki asked.
"I am a warrior of the Werewolf Race. To fight more bravely than any other on the battlefield—that is our pride. In battle, defeat means death. That is how it should be."
"Don't be ridiculous! What pride is there in dragging the townspeople and us into your mess? We never wanted to fight!"
"I am a slave. I cannot escape my master's command. I simply carried out the orders I was given. But on the battlefield I was given, I fight in a way that does not shame the name of the Werewolf Race. You defiled that battle."
"I understand that you hate me," Mizuki said, clenching her teeth.
"Mizuki, you don't have to listen to him anymore. Slaves don't get a choice anyway. He doesn't have a concept of right and wrong. He's just trying to assert his existence on the battlefield. To use his own logic, he's the one at fault for being weaker than you. If he were stronger, his pride would never have been sullied. Let's just confirm what Doris wants and get out of here."
I'd long since realized that my and Mizuki's values didn't apply in this world. I also knew we wouldn't survive here unless we changed our way of thinking. If Fang had been the mastermind, fighting of his own free will, I might have been able to accept his argument. But as it was, his claims sounded like nothing more than baseless accusations.
"Wait. I hesitated to fight Fang because I was still reeling from having killed Task. I think… that hurt his pride. If we leave now, he'll really be executed."
"You…" Fang stared at Mizuki. But the furious glare from before seemed to have softened.
"We are trying to accept Fang as a slave. We do not require his consent in the first place. If you do not wish for him to be killed, shouldn't you simply command him as you and Mash see fit?" Maira interjected. Mizuki and I exchanged a glance at her words.
"I think Mizuki and I are the same in that we're hopelessly bound by the values of our old world. To put it simply: all people are equal; you shouldn't kill people; you can solve things by talking; there are certain emotions you shouldn't put into words…"
I listed off the first things that came to mind. If I thought harder, I was sure more would surface.
"What do you mean by emotions you should not put into words?" Maira asked.
"We believe words have a spiritual power. To speak something is to draw it closer. We call it the 'spirit of words'."
"I am sorry. I feel as though I understand, and yet I do not," Maira replied apologetically.
"No, it's fine. I'm not trying to force it on you, and I don't think it's necessarily correct. I understand that values change depending on where you live. It's just… not something you can easily cast aside."
"I kinda get it. Like, ya can't speak ill of the dead. Ya can't waste food. Ya can't sleep with yer head pointin' north, right?" Hyakka offered. She was from the same world, yet she only sort of understood. Her examples were a bit off, but the conversation was heading in a weird direction, so I decided to stay quiet.
Fam sidled up to me. "Master, I'm starting to understand what you mean, little by little."
"So that is why you so strongly dislike giving orders to Cecily and Aira, Mash," Maira said. I couldn't tell if her comment was meant as criticism or praise.
"That's not it. I just don't want them to hate me," I said honestly.
"All right," Fang said.
"Yeah?" I replied.
"I will accept your proposal. But I have one condition."
"I see. Let's hear it."
"I will not become your slave. I will become the slave of that woman… of Mizuki."
"What did you say?"
"I said, I will become Mizuki's slave."
I looked at Mizuki. Her face was a mask of surprise. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to a corner of the room. For some reason, Fam followed. Seeing this, Maira must have felt left out, because she puffed out her cheeks and came over as well. I had wanted to speak with Mizuki alone, but it couldn't be helped.
"Mizuki, what do you think of that guy?" I whispered in her ear. Fam and Maira leaned in close to listen.
"I don't really know what you're asking. What do you mean?"
"Older guys are off the table for you, right?"
"What's that supposed to— I have you, Mash. I can't even imagine being with anyone else!"
Mizuki was getting angry.
"That is only how you feel right now. Mizuki is very lewd," Fam cut in.
"Indeed. Even though Mash already has me and Fam, she used her charms on him and became his girlfriend," Maira added, nodding in agreement. What was she trying to accomplish?
"That's not true! He was the one who forced himself on me!"
"Does that mean it is acceptable so long as you are forced into it?" Maira provoked the flustered Mizuki. I needed her to stop riling Mizuki up in here. The backlash was likely to hit me, but I didn't know how to intervene.
"Maira, don't twist my words! That's not what I meant! That time… there was no other choice. Because it was… Mash!"
Mizuki shouted her reply. Hyakka had been trying to eavesdrop from a distance, but she could surely hear everything perfectly fine now. Fang remained expressionless, while Doris just looked dumbfounded.
"Master and Mizuki share similar values. This will be just the beginning. Mizuki will start collecting more and more men," Fam declared.
"Fam? Hold on, what are you saying? That's not part of the values from our world. Mash is the one who's been corrupted by this world! I hate that, and to be honest, I hate that part of Mash, too. But if I say that, I'll be the one who gets kicked out… so what am I supposed to do?!"
Mizuki screamed. Now our private conversation was on full display for everyone.
"I wanted to talk in private, but that's pointless now… Oh, well," I said, clearing my throat theatrically to stop their conversation. The atmosphere had become incredibly awkward, but I turned back to face Fang.
"We accept you as Mizuki's slave. Is that all right?"
Fang nodded at my words.
"Doris, what about you?"
She looked even more anxious than before, her gaze flickering toward the group of women behind me. I wondered what expressions they were making.
"…Understood. I do not wish to die here, either. I will serve you, Mash-sama. If I may, I would ask for your generous protection."
Doris bowed her head deeply.
"Right. And you can just call me Mash. And please, speak as you normally would."
I wasn't sure what she meant by 'generous protection,' but I nodded for the time being.
"One more thing. I'm afraid I can't let you out of this cell while we're still in the city. I'll give the guards some money to make sure you're treated well. Please bear with it."
"When… do you think we will be leaving?"
"It depends on the Mateo Trading Company, but I imagine we'll depart soon."
I'd have to get Claire's permission to bring them along. If she said no, I'd ask the Wandering People for help.
Thank you for reading. To everyone who has liked, bookmarked, or rated this story, thank you very much. It encourages me to keep going. I'll do my best. And thank you for pointing out the typos.