家族
「そんなの......そんなの駄目です......!」
唐突に、ルルちゃんがそう叫んだ。叫んだというには、些か声は小さく、迫力も無かったけれど、僕にはそう思えるほどルルちゃんから切実な何かを感じた。
購入してから、ずっと何か思いつめた様にしていたルルちゃん。それでも少しづつ仲良くなっていければいいなと思っていたけれど、どうやら僕の思惑は失敗したらしい。
「......それは、何が駄目なのかな?」
エイラさんから貰った服をぎゅっと握りしめて、肩を振るわせるルルちゃん。
君は何を想い、何を抱えてるんだ。僕はなるべく君を奴隷として扱いたくはないんだけど、それは君にとって良いことではないの?
すると、ルルちゃんはあの青年に暴言を吐き捨てた時なんか足下にも及ばないくらい、怒りの感情を剥き出しにした表情で僕を見上げて来た。一瞬、気圧された様に僕は一歩、足を下げてしまった。『赤い夜』に出会って、何も怖くないと思っていた僕が、ほんの12歳程の少女に気圧されてしまった。
「きつね様は......優しすぎますっ!!」
「え......」
「なんで叱らないんですか......! 奴隷は主人よりも下の、家畜みたいに虐げられる存在です......手を握って貰うことや、頭を撫でてくれるなんてこと......そんなの悪い夢です! 本当なら暴言を吐かれて、主人に触ることすら罪になる筈です......! 普通奴隷が主人よりも眠っていたら叱られないといけないんです! 食事だって本当は与えられなくてもおかしくないんです......! 服だってあのボロ布のままでもおかしくないんです!」
優しくされるのは、おかしい。
それは奴隷にとって当たり前の常識で、叶う筈の無い夢、欲望。この世に生まれた瞬間にあるべき幸せで、奴隷になった時に失ったもの。
ルルちゃんは見た目通り、まだ幼くて純粋な子供だ。それでも、そのことだけはしっかりと心に刻み込まれている。自分は優しくされてはいけない存在だと、虐げられない人生はもう送れないのだと。
なのに、僕はその常識を悉く外れる行動を取っていたってわけか。
「それだけじゃないです......! 主人に絶対服従が当然の奴隷......なのになぜ私に命令して下さらないんですか! なぜ強制してくれないんですか......! やれと言われればなんでもします......攻撃の的にだってなります、不満をぶつける相手にだってなります、経験はないですけど......夜伽の相手にだってなります......! なのに、何故きつね様は言ってくれないんですか......! 命令に背いた私を......何故許してくれるんですか......!!」
それは、精一杯の感情だった。
ルルちゃんみたいに、幼い頃から奴隷として生きてきた子は、きっと虐げられない生活が怖いんだ。ずっと虐げられる人生を約束された奴隷、二度と優しくされることはあり得ないと決まっている奴隷。
なのに、昨日から僕は手を繋いで、頭を撫でて、褒めて、優しくして、あり得ないと思っていたことを連続してやっていたわけだ。
ルルちゃんにとって、それはあり得ない。あり得ないから怖い。不安になるんだね。
虐げられないことが、怖いだなんて......なんだかとっても可哀想だ。
「......ルルちゃん」
「っ......そうですよ......こんな風に反抗的な奴隷は虐げるんです......叩いて下さい、暴言を吐き捨ててください......それが私の生きる意味です......」
叩いて欲しい、暴言を吐いて欲しい、そんな気持ちの伝わる言葉。僕の呼び掛けに、肩を震わせて、眼を逸らしながら言うルルちゃんの姿は、酷く痛々しい。
「僕は君を叩かない、暴言も吐かない、虐げない。性欲の捌け口にもしない、命令も強制しないし、君を虐げる事は何一つしない。僕が君にしてあげるのは、手を繋いだり、頭を撫でたり、褒めたり、ご飯を一緒にとったり、一緒に寝たり、君に優しくすることだけだ」
「っ......まだ分からないんですか!? 私は奴隷です!!」
「君は奴隷だ、でも僕の仲間で、家族だ」
「なっ......」
そう、君は僕の奴隷だ。でも、僕の仲間で、友達で、家族だ。それが僕の君に対する扱いで、優しくする理由。
女の子を虐げるような趣味は、僕にはないからね。
「な......んで......」
「いいかいルルちゃん、君は僕の奴隷。でも、僕に買われたからには僕の意向に従って貰う」
「......」
「君は奴隷だ。でもね、君は優しくされてもいいんだよ。君が奴隷になった経緯は聞かないし、今まで優しくしてくれた人はいなかったかもしれない。でもこれからは違う、これからは僕が君に優しくするし、君を虐げる人は僕が許さない。」
虐められていた僕に優しくしてくれたしおりちゃんのように、今度は僕がルルちゃんに優しくする。僕は虐められる痛みを知っている、でも優しくされる喜びも知っている。
だからルルちゃん、君の常識は僕が打ち壊す。君の心は僕のものだ、僕が勝手に救わせてもらう。
「君は僕の家族だ、それじゃ駄目かな?」
「な、んですか......それ......だから首輪を付けなかったんですか?」
「家族に首輪を付ける人はいないだろう」
「だから......私に優しくするんですか?」
ルルちゃんは俯いて、ふるふると身体を震わせている。怒っちゃったかな? 奴隷としてそれは容認出来ない、みたいな?
まぁどちらにせよ、僕が主人だから譲るつもりは一切ないけどね。
「......じゃあ」
「じゃあ......私の髪、切って下さい。伸びすぎてるので」
「家族......なんですよね......我儘、聞いて下さい」
ルルちゃんは少し不安げな上目遣いでそう言ってきた。家族だから、我儘位言うだろう。なるほど、奴隷としての常識を捨てようとしてるのか、僕の言ったことを実践するために。
僕は髪を切るなんて経験ないけど、ルルちゃんが歩み寄ろうとしているのなら......僕も頑張ろう。
「うん、いいよ。宿に戻ったら、綺麗に切り揃えてあげる」
「......ありがとう、ございます」
そう言ったルルちゃんの表情には、少しだけ嬉々とした感情が浮かんでいるのが分かった。
「良かったねー、きつねさん」
「所で私がずっと空気だったんだけど、私も我儘聞いて欲しいなぁ!」
「うん、ごめん、フィニアちゃん。謝るから、忘れてたわけじゃないんだって、本当ごめん、許して、そんな怖い顔しないで」
ルルちゃんとの絆が深まったのは良いけれど、このフィニアちゃんの怒りをどう収めようか。魔力が迸ってる、不機嫌時のミアちゃんみたいな笑顔だよ。目が笑ってない。怖いって、ごめんって。
「......ふふっ」
あ、ルルちゃん笑った。
フィニアちゃんの怒りをなんとか収めて、ギルドへ戻ってきた。暴走するフィニアちゃんの魔法攻撃をルルちゃん抱えて避けるのはかなり大変だった。何体か流れ弾で魔獣倒してたし。
まぁなんとかボロボロになりながらもルルちゃんの取った薬草を持ってギルドへと戻ってきたわけだ。ミアちゃんがボロボロの僕を見てぎょっとしていたけど、いつも通り薄ら笑いで受付まで来ると、彼女もいつも通り営業スマイルを浮かべてくれた。
「またやけにボロボロですね、また強い魔獣にでも遭遇したんですか?」
『赤い夜』の件もあるから笑えないな。とはいえ、僕はそれに苦笑で返した。
「ルルちゃん」
ルルちゃんの方を向いて言うと、素直に持っていた薬草をカウンターに置いた。ルルちゃんの身長は低いから、カウンターに頭が出る程度だ。だから薬草が見えなかったのだろう、ミアちゃんは今納得したように僕達の受けた依頼の依頼書を取り出してきた。
「依頼達成ですね。一週間も期限があるのですからもう少しゆっくりやっても良かったのでは?」
「うん、まぁそうなんだけど......収穫はあったからいいかなって」
ルルちゃんの頭を撫でながらそう言う。気持ちよさそうに眼を細める彼女の表情は昨日よりも何処か愛くるしく見える。遠慮なく甘えてる感じがするからかな?
ミアちゃんにもそれが伝わったようで、微笑ましい物をみたようにクスッと笑った。美人が笑うとやっぱり絵になるね。
すると、ミアちゃんは依頼の達成処理を手早く済ませて、報酬をくれた。今回の報酬は銀貨1枚、まぁ得たものでいえば金貨3枚分のものが手に入ったからいいとしよう。
「きつね様」
「何かなミアちゃん」
「そろそろきつね様もランクアップの訓練を受けてみてはどうですか?」
ランクアップ......か。
いずれ周囲からこういう話を持ちかけられることもあるだろうとは思っていたけど、ミアちゃんが持ちかけてくるとは思わなかったぜ。
でも、僕は今の所Hランクから上に上がるつもりはない。というか、上がれる気がしない。だって腕力40だぜ? しかもこれ限界値だぜ? 無理に決まってんじゃん、奴隷だけどルルちゃんにだって負ける自信あるよ僕。だってこの子の方が腕力高いもん。しかも無自覚に
「あ、でも代わりにフィニアちゃん達を冒険者登録出来る?」
今思い付いたけれど、フィニアちゃんなら確実にもっと上のランクを取れる。ルルちゃんだって素質は良いし、獣人の性能ならもっと上のランクを取れる筈だ。冒険者登録した時はお金が無かったから僕しか登録しなかったけど、今ならフィニアちゃん達も登録出来る。
ランクを上げるのは別に僕じゃなくてもいいじゃないか。フィニアちゃんとルルちゃんが組んで魔獣討伐依頼を受ければレベルも上がるし、お金も稼げる。一石二鳥じゃないか。
「言っただろうフィニアちゃん、君にはとにかく強くなってほしい。それで、僕を護ってくれ」
「......うん! 分かった!」
「......それでは、フィニア様と......ルル、様ですか? の冒険者登録を行いますね」
「うん、よろしく」
少しづつ、強くなってる。レベルだって上がってる。もう少ししたら、時期を見て元の世界へ帰る方法を探そう。それで、しおりちゃんとの約束を果たすんだ。
でも、その時になったら......フィニアちゃんやルルちゃんは、どうすればいいんだろう―――
登録を終えて、僕とルルちゃんは宿に戻ってきた。フィニアちゃんは登録が終わった後、都合よく開かれていた訓練に参加してくるそうだ。まぁフィニアちゃんの実力なら余裕でFランクを取って来るだろう。ルルちゃんはまだレベル1で、戦闘経験も未熟なのでとりあえずは登録だけということになった。
「さて、ルルちゃん」
「君は冒険者になったわけで、これから魔獣とも戦って欲しい」
「家族とか言った手前言い辛いけど、最初は僕やフィニアちゃんが付いているから大丈夫、怪我一つさせないことを約束するよ」
ルルちゃんは......というか普通の人は魔獣を恐れる。戦う術を持っていないからやり合えば死ぬことが分かっているからだ。
でも、僕と一緒にいるっていうことは何かと戦うことになるってことだ。やっぱりそれなりに戦える力が必要だと思う。
「分かりました」
「うん、そこで......君にはこれをあげる」
「小剣、ですか?」
「うん、武器屋の人曰く女の人でも扱えるらしいから、多分ルルちゃんでも扱えるよ」
僕より腕力あるし。
「で、でも......これはきつね様の武器じゃ......」
「僕は正直扱える気がしないし、攻撃力でいうならルルちゃんが持ってた方が良い」
「うん。あ、そうだ髪切らないとね! ちょっと
「あ、はい」
約束を思い出して、小剣を貸して貰う。椅子に座って貰って、ルルちゃんの後ろに立った。座ると地面に付く位長い髪の毛、ボサボサだけど触れてみればまださらさらとした感触があって心地良い。
小剣を立てて、肩甲骨の辺りで切り揃えて行く。散髪の経験はないから、丁寧に、慎重に切っていった。そして、前髪など細かい所まで全部切り終えた時、ルルちゃんは見違えるように可愛くなった。
ボサボサだった髪はある程度整って、獣人の回復力から活力が少し戻った身体と合わされば、純粋清楚といった雰囲気のある少女になっていた。また、購入した時は活力の無かった瞳も大分生気を取り戻しており、綺麗な服も相まって奴隷とは思えないほどだ。
「うんうん、こんなもんかな。はい、ありがとう」
ルルちゃんに小剣を返し、切り落とした髪の毛を纏めてゴミ箱に捨てる。すると、ゴミ箱の中にある物を見つけた。奴隷商から譲り受けた、『隷属の首輪』だ。あの後、宿に帰って来た時に捨てたんだったか。
「あ、うん『隷属の首輪』だね。大丈夫、付けたりしないから」
「......いえ、付けてください」
え、何? ルルちゃんそんな趣味があったの? と思ったけど違うみたい。真剣なまなざしをしている。ふざける雰囲気じゃなかった。
「......どうして、かな?」
「きつね様は家族だと言ってくれました......それは嬉しいです、でも......私はあくまで奴隷です。それを忘れてはいけません......だから、もしも私を家族だと言ってくれるのなら......その首輪を付けてください」
「......奴隷としてじゃなく、家族の証としてこの首輪を付けて欲しいってこと?」
「......きつね様が嫌なら別に構いません......でも、私はそうしてほしいです」
奴隷、という立場はやはりそう簡単に捨てられる様な鎖ではないってことか。家族だと言い張っても、奴隷は奴隷、ステータスの称号にもあるように、その事実は変わらない。
ならば、奴隷という立場を忘れないことで、家族になろうということか。その為の首輪、その為の約束。ルルちゃんが僕と家族になるための首輪。
「......なら、その我儘を聞いてあげる」
この首輪は付けるだけで主従の契約が結ばれる。でも、主人が命令として言葉にしない限り『命令』にはならない。それに、こんな首輪程度で崩れるような関係が、家族といえるわけがないよね。
僕はルルちゃんに首輪を付けてあげた。そして、改めて命令を下す。
「ルルちゃん、君は僕の家族だ。嫌だと思ったら僕の命令を聞かなくても良い。出来ないことは教えるし、出来ないことをさせるつもりも無い。これは命令だよ」
「―――はい、きつね様」
Family
"Such a thing... such a thing is no good-desu...!"
Abruptly, Lulu-chan shouts like that. As a shout, her voices is somewhat small, and there's no force on it, but for me, when I think about such a thing I can feel a somewhat seriousness from Lulu-chan.
Even since I bought her, I already know that Lulu-chan was thinking about something. Even so, I thought that it would be good as long as we were able to getting along little by little, but it seems like my calculation is a failure.
"...that, what is no good?"
Grasping tightly the clothes she received from Ayla-san, Lulu-chan's shoulders are trembling.
What are you feeling, what are you shouldering? As much as possible I don't want to treat you as a slave though, is that something bad for you?
And then, Lulu-chan is looking at me with a somewhat angry expression similar like at the time she was shouting a reckless remark toward that youth. Suddenly, as if being overpowered, I unconsciously take a single step behind. The Me, who After my encounter with {Red Night} I think that there's nothing that would be able to frighten me, I'm being overpowered by a mere twelve years old girl.
"Kitsune-sama is... too kind-desu!!!"
"Eh...."
"Why did you never scold me...! Slaves are a livestock-like existence which exist to be persecuted by their master-desu... to get my hand being held, to get head my head being petted... those are an evil dream-desu! Normally we should receive many abusive words, and just by touching their master it would be referred as a crime-desu...! Normally, if a slave was waking up later than their master, they should be scolded-desu! Even the food, actually it wouldn't be strange for a slave to not receive it-desu...! Even the clothes, it won't be strange for a slave to use that ragged cloth-desu!"
Treating her kindly is, strange.
That is indeed an obvious common sense for a slave, a dream which supposed to be never come true, desire. A happiness which she got when she was born to this world, and lost at the time she became a slave.
Lulu-chan is, as per her appearance, still an immature and pure kid. Nevertheless, that sole thing is tightly carved at her heart. She is an existence that shouldn't receive any kindness, and couldn't be separated from persecuted life.
However, seems like my actions were entirely outside that common sense.
"Not just that-desu...! Absolute obedience to their master is a matter of course for a slave... but why did you never gave me any order...!? If you said to do it then I'll do anything... I even would become your attack target, I even would become the target to vent up your displeasure, I have no experience... but I even would become your night attendant...! However, why did Kitsune-sama never say it...! To me who disobeyed your order... why did you forgive me...!!"
That was, her whole feeling.
Similar like Lulu-chan, another childs who also become slave since they were still a kid, they must be scared to live a life without being persecuted. A slave that destined to live a persecuted life, they believed that receiving a kindness for the second time is something impossible.
However, since yesterday she was holding hands with me, got her head being petted, praised, treated kindly, that something which she thought to be impossible were happened to her consecutively.
For Lulu-chan, that was something impossible. Since that was impossible so it was scary. And made her uneasy.
To think that not being persecuted is, scary... somehow she is so pitiable.
"...Lulu-chan."
"...That's right... you should oppress a defiant slave like me... please hit me, please abuse me... that is my existence's value-desu...."
She want to be hit, she want to be abused, her words were containing those feelings. When she said that to me, her shoulders were trembling and she also averting her eyes, that kind of appearance of Lulu-chan is, terribly painful to look at.
"I won't hit you, I also won't abuse you, and I won't persecuting you either. I also won't vent my sexual desire to you, I won't force an order to you, and I won't do anything like oppressing you. The things I'm going to do to you are, holding your hand, petting your head, praising you, eating our meal together, sleeping together, I'm only going to treat you kindly."
"...do you still not understand it!? I'm a slave-desu!!"
"You're indeed a slave, but you're also my comrade, my family."
"Wha...."
Right, you're indeed my slave. However, you're also my comrade, my friend, my family. That is the reason why I treat you kindly.
And I have no such a hobby like persecuting a girl after all.
"...why...."
"Listen properly, Lulu-chan, you're my slave. But, since I've bought you so you should follow my idealism."
"...."
"You're indeed a slave. But, it's okay for you to be treated kindly. I won't ask the reason you become a slave either, and perhaps the peoples who treat you kindly thus far were already gone. But from here on is different, from here on I'll treat you kindly, I also won't forgive anyone who persecuting you."
Similar like Shiori-chan who treated the persecuted me kindly, now is my turn to treat Lulu-chan kindly. I know the pain for being persecuted, and I also know the happiness for being treated kindly.
That's why, Lulu-chan, I'm going to destroy that common sense of yours. Your heart is mine, I'll selfishly save you.
"You're my family, is that no good?"
"What,... is... that... that's why you didn't attach the choker?"
"There's no one who would attach a choker to their family right?"
"That's why... you treat me kindly?"
Lulu-chan hang her head, her body is trembling. Is she angry? As a slave that's something she can't accept, perhaps?
Well, either way, since I'm the master so I absolutely have no intention to backing off here though.
"...then."
"Then... my hair, please cut it. Since it's already too long."
"We're... family, right?... so please, listen to my selfishness."
Lulu-chan said that with a bit uneasy and upturn eyes. Since we're a family, at least they could say their selfishness. I see, does she knew my intention to overthrow her slavish common sense, and she's trying to implement what I just said to her.
I have no experience to cut someone's hair, but since Lulu-chan is trying to compromise... I should try my best too.
"Okay, fine by me. When we return to the inn, I'll cut your hair nicely."
"...Thank you, very much."
Lulu-chan's expression when she said that is, I can see a glimpse of happy emotion there. Just a bit, I have a hunch that her and our bonds are tightening.
"That's good right~, Kitsune-san."
"By the way just now I've been always become a background though, I also want you to listen to my selfishness!"
"Yes, sorry, Finia-chan. I'm very sorry, I'm not forgetting about you, I'm really sorry, please forgive me, please don't look at me with that scary face."
I'm glad that my bond with Lulu-chan is tightening, but what should I do to extinguish the anger of Finia-chan. Her magical energy is surging out, her smile is similar like Mia-chan's' when she was in bad mood. Her eyes aren't smiling at all. It's scary, I'm sorry.
"...fufu."
Ah, Lulu-chan is laughing.
After I was able to somehow extinguishing Finia-chan's anger, we returned to the guild. The magic attacks from the rampaging Finia-chan, who fired it while avoiding to entangling Lulu-chan in it, were indeed quite a disaster. Some of the stray bullets were killing some magical beasts after all.
Well, even while I'm become tattered, we somehow returned to the guild while bringing the medicinal herbs which had been collected by Lulu-chan. Mia-chan was startled when she saw my tattered shape, but when I arrived at her desk with my usual faint smile, she also float her usual business smile.
"You are awfully tattered again right, did you encounter a powerful magical beast again?"
Since there's also the case about "Red Night", I can't laugh here. Nonetheless, I reply her with a bitter smile.
"Lulu-chan."
When I turn my face toward Lulu-chan, she obediently put the medicinal herbs at the counter. Since Lulu-chan's stature is small, the counter is similarly height as her head. That's why perhaps she can't see the medicinal herbs, Mia-chan is currently taking out the application request in order to assenting the request which we took.
"The request has been achieved right. With one week time limit, wouldn't it be good to take it with more ease?"
"Umm, well, that's indeed right... since we have a week time limit so perhaps that should be okay."
I said that while caressing Lulu-chan's head. Her pleased expression -since she is feeling good and closing her eyes- is somehow lovelier than yesterday. Is it because she feels that she doesn't need to be reserved to be spoiled?
Because that's also transmitted to Mia-chan, she unintentionally smiling as if watching something charming. As expected, a smiling beautiful girl is sure would be a good picture right.
After that, Mia-chan nimbly finish the request achievement process, and give me the reward. Today's reward is one silver coin, well, talking about reward, since I get a part of three gold coins so let's call it a good reward.
"Kitsune-sama."
"What's up, Mia-chan."
"What would Kitsune-sama think about taking a rank up test?"
Rank up... huh.
I've thought that there would be someone who would talk and suggest me about it, but I never thought that Mia-chan would be the one who suggesting me.
But, right now I have no intention to raise my rank up from H rank. Or rather, I feel like I won't be able to. After all, my strength is just 40 you know? Moreover that is my limit you know? Of course that would be impossible, even if she's a slave, I'm fully confident that I even would lose against Lulu-chan. Her strength is higher than mine after all. Moreover, she unconsciously learned ball crusher, I absolutely don't want to fight against her.
"Ah, but in exchange can Finia-chan and Lulu-chan also register as an adventurer?"
I just aware of it, but if it's Finia-chan then she must be able to take a higher rank. Even Lulu-chan's quality isn't half bad, with her demi-human's ability she should be able to take a higher rank. At the time I registered, I only registered myself since I didn't have the money, but right now I can also register Finia-chan and Lulu-chan.
Isn't it fine even if the one whose rank is up isn't me? Together with Finia-chan and Lulu-chan, we should be able to take a subjugation request, with that our levels would be raised, and our income would be increased too. Isn't it like killing two birds with one stone.
"I've said it right, Finia-chan, at any case I want you to become stronger. So that, you can protect me."
"...Yes! Got it!"
"...well then, Finia-sama and... Lulu, right? I'm going to carry out the adventurer registration procedure."
"Yup, by all means."
Little by little, we become stronger. We must increase our level. For a bit longer, the time for me to search for a way to return to my former world would be arrived. After that, I would be able to fulfill my promise with Shiori-chan.
But, when that time arrived... what should I do with Finia-chan and Lulu-chan--
Finished the registration, I and Lulu-chan returned to the inn. After she finished the registration, seems like Finia-chan is currently taking the promotion test. Well, with Finia-chan's ability, at least she should be able to easily get to F rank right. Since Lulu-chan is still at Lv. 1, and she also have no experience in battle, so for now she only take the registration.
"Well then, Lulu-chan."
"Since you've become an adventurer, for now on I want you to fight against magical beast."
"It's a bit hard to say since I've said that we're a family, but for a starter since I and Finia-chan would be together with you so there won't be any problem, I promise you that I won't let anything to injury you."
Lulu-chan is... or rather, a normal person would be in fear against magical beast. Because they didn't have to power to fight it so they're aware that they would die if they fight against it.
But, to be together with me then it's already decided that they have no other choice than to fight together with me. As I thought, a considerable power sure is necessary.
"I understand."
"Yup, and so... I'll give you this."
"Small sword, right?"
"Yes, according to the person from the weapon shop, seems like even a girl would be able to use it, so perhaps Lulu-chan would be able to use it too."
She has a higher strength than mine after all.
"B, but... this is Kitsune-sama's weapon...."
"To tell you the truth, I think I can't use it, strength-wise it would be better if Lulu-chan is the one who use it."
"Yup. Ah, we must cut your hair right! May I borrow that (small sword) for a bit?"
"Ah, yes."
Remembering about the promise, I borrowed the small sword. Then I stood behind Lulu-chan who was sitting at the chair. Her hair was so long to the point it would reach the floor when she sat, it was unkempt but when I touch it, it was still pleasantly felt silky.
Raising the small sword, I start to cut her hair around her shoulder. Since I have no experience at hair-cutting, I cut it carefully and cautiously. And then, when I finished cutting her bangs and also some detail parts, Lulu-chan is becoming way cuter beyond recognition.
Her unkempt hair is somewhat put in order, with her demi-human's resilience, and with her vitality which gradually recovered, she's showing a genuine neat girl ambiance. Since her vitality is greatly recovered compared at the time I bought her, coupled with her wearing a cute clothes, there won't be anyone who would think that she's actually a slave.
"Yup yup, something like it perhaps. Here, thanks."
Returning Lulu-chan's small sword, I collect the cut hair and put it to the trash bin. After that, I discovered something inside the trash bin. The thing I received from the slave merchant, {Slave Choker} . At that time, did I throw it to the trash bin when we returned to the inn?
"Ah, yeah {Slave Choker}  right. No problem, I won't attach it to you after all."
"...no, please attach it."
Eh, what? Does Lulu-chan has that kind of fetish? Or so I thought but it seems like that isn't the case. She is looking seriously at me. It isn't a joking atmosphere.
"...why?"
"Kitsune-sama said that we're a family... I'm really happy to hear that-desu, but... in the end I'm a slave-desu. I shouldn't forget that... that is why, if Kitsune-sama really think me as a family... please attach that choker to me."
"...not as a slave, but you want me to attach this choker as a sign that you're my family?"
"...if Kitsune-sama do not want to do it then I also will not object it... but, I want it-desu."
Slave, seems like such standpoint isn't something that easy to be casted away, huh. Even if they're called as a family, a slave is a slave, like the title at her status, that fact hasn't changed.
If that's the case, without forgetting her position as a slave, she become my family, right. The choker for that reason, the promise for that reason. The choker to make Lulu-chan my Family.
"...if that's the case, I'll follow that selfishness."
With just attaching this choker, the slave-master contract would be established. But, as long as the master doesn't say a word of order, then it won't become an{order} . Moreover, a bond which would be crumbled by a mere choker, there's no way they could call themselves as a family right.
I attach the choker to Lulu-chan. And then, I revise my order to her.
"Lulu-chan, you're my family. If you think that you don't want to do it then it's okay to disobey my oder. If there's something you're unable to, I'll teach you, I don't have any intention to ask for something you can't do either. This is an order."
"--yes, Kitsune-sama."
I Kinda Came to Another World, but Where’s the Way Home?
【書籍化】異世界来ちゃったけど帰り道何処？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-kinda-came-to-another-world-but-wheres-the-way-home/
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Harem Shounen Slice of Life
Apathetic Protagonist Bullying Calm Protagonist Demi-Humans Demon Lord Demons Dense Protagonist Fairies Game Elements Ghosts Heterochromia Knights Level System Male Protagonist Murders Naive Protagonist R-15 Royalty R*pe S*aves Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2650bx/
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