Chapter 34: Interlude – Thus Spoke the Cat-Eared Girl

I was born in a remote village so poor that even traveling merchants rarely visited, and when I came of age to think about marriage, I was sold as a slave. For the sake of my family, for the sake of my siblings... no matter how much they explained it to me, the fact remained that I was being sold. But I never once intended to hold a grudge against my parents.

After all, it was because I was sold that I was able to live such a comfortable life now.

□■>>Thus Spoke the Cat-Eared Girl._

The place I was taken to as merchandise was a slave trader’s establishment in a city of the Kingdom of Fourlitz, one known for being full of adventurers. When I first arrived, I braced myself for hell, but perhaps because of what was called my “well-proportioned appearance,” or perhaps because I was expected to fetch a high price... I was placed in a relatively clean room used for general-purpose slaves.

There, I was shown a "scene" of what happens to the cheap slaves being trained. They were beaten with whips and cried out in agony. Those were slaves who were either plain-looking, sickly, or belonged to unpopular races. All of them had some kind of flaw and were slated to be sold off cheaply.

The slave traders would show us that and say, “If you don’t get bought, you’ll end up the same.” Hearing that, everyone naturally nodded. Anyone would want at least a halfway decent life. No one wanted to go through something like that.

If a good master were to buy us, even if we didn’t find conventional happiness, at least we could live in peace. We all desperately observed the visiting customers, hoping to be chosen by someone even slightly promising.

And then, one day in that routine, I met Lord Shuya. A young man with a refined, if somewhat plain face, calm demeanor, and an aura of kindness. He also wore high-quality clothes.

According to the merchants, he was a rising star who had become a mid-tier adventurer in just a few months, and this time he had come to purchase a slave for sexual service.

I could feel the other slaves’ eyes change. If we were told to serve some repulsive man as sex slaves, it would be a nightmare. But he was visually appealing and, in terms of success, a very desirable choice. If I could catch his eye, maybe I could become his concubine... and maybe I’d even be allowed to bear and raise his child.

Naturally, a fierce competition among the girls erupted—and by sheer luck, I came out on top.

He took me to a house. To my surprise, he actually owned it. Even regular citizens struggled to get by, and yet here he was, already owning a home at his age. I was genuinely shocked.

On the way, he mentioned that he already had a senior slave, which made me wary. I imagined what kind of stunning beauty or lovely girl was waiting there, and I was terrified. But when I finally met the so-called senior, it completely deflated my expectations.

She was a pretty girl, to be sure. Her cheeks held a faint blush that traced along soft-looking contours. Her silky blonde hair was well-groomed, and her big, clear blue eyes sparkled like the sky. She looked just like a doll, with ears that sharply pointed and asserted her non-human nature.

But more than anything, even though she was beautiful, she looked far too young to be viewed as a woman. Without thinking, I acted a bit intimidating toward her. Looking back now, I wonder just how foolish I must have been.

Now, of course, I understand that Lord Shuya is completely taken with her, and there’s no room for anyone else. Back then, I was so desperate I didn’t even notice.

What saved me was that she—the “senior”—was incredibly tolerant. She even laughed and forgave my rude behavior. Not only that, but when I foolishly challenged her, thinking I could steal her place by outperforming her in bed, I ended up fleeing in humiliation... and she still helped me, even at her own expense. You could call her a soft-hearted fool, honestly.

Watching our master devour her body like a beast made me realize I had no chance alone, and I gave up on competing. After that, life became easier. I spent my days relaxing with her, doing housework and enjoying tea and sweets.

When I went out shopping, I could feel the envious gazes of other slaves. That was when I truly realized just how fortunate I was.

Although... even with the two of us, taking care of him at night was still tough.

The longer I lived with Master Shuya, the more I realized just how amazing he really was. He possessed powers I had never even heard of, could wield a wide variety of magic, and created all sorts of convenient tools.

Even Yuria, who joined us partway through as another slave, remarked that we were living far more luxuriously than most nobles. And that was all thanks to Master Shuya’s abilities. Which is why, when he said we’d be leaving the country in search of a new land, I didn’t feel even a hint of worry.

If anything, I was excited about the new adventure. Yuria seemed to feel the same way, and our instincts turned out to be spot on. In no time at all, Master Shuya built a gorgeous house at an unbelievable pace, and once again, we slaves were each given our own rooms.

At that point, if I dared complain about my treatment, I wouldn’t be surprised if the other slaves in town stabbed me to death—I’d deserve it. So, out of gratitude, I cleaned my precious new room today as soon as it was finished, then changed into something casual and headed outside to get a bit of exercise.

Amid the scent of the trees, I caught the familiar smells of Master Shuya and Sora-senpai. I thought they might be flirting again, so I went around to the back of the house. But to my surprise, I found Senpai, her hair tied back, charging at Master Shuya with a wooden sword in hand.

“Lulu, here to train too?”

He spoke without even looking at me, effortlessly parrying a surprisingly sharp strike from Senpai.

“Yes, I just felt like moving around a little. It’s rare to see you holding a weapon, Senpai.”

“She apparently watched my match with Makoto the other day and started thinking she could beat me too.”

“Ugaah! Why won’t I land a hit!? You’re my master—stop acting so smug!!”

Strangely enough, Senpai’s swings weren’t completely unrefined. But she was clearly too short and too weak, so she lacked both speed and power. Honestly, it looked more like the sword was swinging her.

Her attack trajectories were so straightforward, it was obvious just from watching how easy they were to handle. Every time I saw it, I was amazed at how little talent she had. It looked more like a form of exercise than actual combat training.

Which is precisely why she couldn’t even graze Master Shuya. He, of course, didn’t take a single hit. Senpai either didn’t realize that, or refused to accept it, and her swings grew increasingly wild.

“Here.”

“Ukyaa!?”

Just as she stepped in, he hooked her foot, and she nearly fell—only for Master Shuya to catch her with one hand. …That was kind of enviable.

“My win—oof!?”

As Master Shuya declared his victory with a smug smile, he suddenly let out a cry of pain and doubled over, clutching his groin. It looked seriously painful. And yet, even in that moment, he gently laid Senpai on the ground instead of tossing her aside, which showed how much he cared about her.

“F-fufufu… The moment your opponent thinks they’ve won—that’s when your real chance emerges! At last, I’ve done it! I, I have delivered divine punishment upon this pervert!!”

Apparently, Senpai had pulled something on Master Shuya the moment he let his guard down. As he crouched there, trembling in pain, she kicked his back with her bare foot—she had taken off her shoes first. …The fact that she bothered to remove them just shows how timid she really is, doesn’t it?

Senpai often gets teased by our master. She must be really stressed out because today she was way too full of herself.

Normally, no one would dare treat Master like that. I wonder if Senpai even notices that he’s trembling with anger, not pain.

“It’s the price you pay for always getting cocky and tormenting me! How does it feel to be bested by someone you looked down on? Tell me, how does it feel?”

She’s probably too carried away to realize it.

“Hey, you loser—serves you right! Wait, what are you doing!? Grabbing my leg and lifting me up like that is dangerous! I’m not a chicken! Put me down right now!”

Suddenly standing up, Master Shuya grabbed Senpai’s leg and, holding her up like a captured prize, opened a hidden door at the back of the storage shed next to the house, just beneath her feet.

“Hey, where are you taking me? Hey! What’s with those stairs? No, wait, please! I’m sorry, it’s my fault! I got way too cocky! So, please, not the basement! No, no, nooooooo—!”

Without changing his expression, Master Shuya carried Senpai down the stairs, and the moment the door shut, her screams vanished entirely.

I decided not to see anything, exercised just enough to work up a light sweat, and returned to the house. When lunchtime came, only Master Shuya was back, and Senpai didn’t show up for the rest of the day.

The next day, in the room that served as our living area, I saw Senpai wearing a hefty collar with a leash, clinging tightly to Master Shuya. Apparently, that was the theme for today.

Completely unlike yesterday, she was meek and shy, blushing deeply and moistening her eyes as she begged to be held. I’m sure they had made up.

It makes me happy that they get along, but honestly, I’m still a little jealous.

Biting into a freshly baked cookie with a satisfying crunch, I sighed quietly to myself.