Vol 4 Chapter 9: Orluk and Fia

Felicia

...I was speechless.

To think Milord would do something like this.

I thought of him as a kinder soul, who could never bring himself to take the lives of others in cold blood.

I was ready to make myself his sword, doing everything dirty that was necessary for his happiness and safety, so he wouldn’t have to corrupt himself doing so.

And yet, here we are now, with him killing all these men on his own.

...I am glad. For these men, no, monsters, deserve nothing less. To feel no pity or remorse to a sickly little girl… this twisted world would be better off without them.

“Leave it to me, Milord.” I smiled at his return. “I shall free the girl while you free the ogre.”

I glanced at the foolish elf. Typical. She’s just a girl playing pretend. This is how you fight for justice. By leaving a trail of blood on your wake.

---------

Hugo

“Victoria, you alright?” I smiled at the knightness.

No response.

Ah, she really is in shock. But, this is a good experience for her. This is how you fight in the real world. Lots of blood and gore. In her mind, the villains probably just vanish into dust like in those children anime I used to watch.

“Just let it out.” I patted her back. “When I first killed someone, I too puked my guts out.”

“Oh, and you might want to stay away from the corpses. I’m going to burn them all. Don’t want them to turn undead after all.” In this continent, if you don’t properly burn dead corpses, there’s a chance the ambient demonic mana will reanimate said corpse into undead monsters.

She nodded quietly, still holding her hand over her mouth. She walked away without a word towards the encampment’s exit.

With a simple fire magic, I turned all the corpses into dust, leaving only their iron and steel weapons. I also made sure to use my wind magic to direct the smoke away, so no one would be choked by it. To finish, I gathered all the ash and any fire-resistant objects or clothing into one big lump before sending it as far as I could away from the camp, using a controlled miniature hurricane.

And just like that, it was as if the massacre never happened.

It’s funny, really, how I can be so nonchalant about this. I guess I really am acclimating to this world.

Good. I need to be tougher. My enemies would show no mercy. I should show nothing back.

As I walked towards the ogre’s cage, I saw the slaves eyeing me with fear. None of them dared to ask what would become of them, and when I looked at their direction, they would immediately run away.

Honestly, I have nothing to say to them. They’re free to do what they want, now that their master is dead. And since most of them seem to be content with passively accepting their fate…

It can’t be helped. Not everyone can be someone as noble as the ogre. Hell, even I used to be like them.

Arriving at the cage, there was not a single guard left. Makes sense. In the ruckus, they must have joined the fight as well.

When the ogre noticed my footsteps, he shifted his gaze at my direction.

"Why? Why did you do it?"

"Nothing much.” I smiled. “Because I can. Because I’m tired of seeing people like you and her being dealt a bad hand by fate.”

"I don't understand."

"Well, let's just say it's part of my redemption. I've failed to save a young girl before. And now, I have the chance to save another."

"...I see."

"Now please, stand back, if you would. I'm going to cut this thing right open."

I pointed my wand at the mithril lock keeping the cage closed. Pressing its tip right to the metal, I conjured what I would call a wind buzzsaw, made out of rapidly swirling tiny wind blades acting as the teeth.

Only to find that it was still not sharp enough to cut through.

"Find the key. One of those guards should have it. You're not cutting through mithril."

"Really?" I smirked. "I'm not just a mage, you know."

I drew my sword. Mithril vs mithril. I then tapped my wand onto the blade.

"Enchant! Kamaitachi!"

Kamaitachi. A myth from my old world about a wind demon who cuts its prey using blades of wind. Such a creature might actually exist in this world, though I had yet to hear about it.

The wind transferred itself onto the sword. Now, the mithril blade has tiny wind teeth vibrating rapidly around it. Normally, it wouldn’t be possible, doing something like this without a magic sword (a sword that can act as a wand as well). However, thanks to my extended mana reach, I can keep the spell going in a stable manner as long as the sword doesn’t get too far from the wand.

This should help with the sharpness.

I closed my eyes, focusing my aura to the edge of the blade.

"Staccato!"

With a single slice, I cut through the mithril lock like butter.

There you go!

As it fell to the ground, the cage door creaked open, freeing the ogre at last.

"...You surprise me. I never saw a technique like that."

"Well, you can come out now." I smiled, sheathing both my wand and sword. "You're free."

Still eyeing me warily, the ogre crawled outside.

...Yep, he's as stinky as Felicia said. Not that I blame him for it though.

Standing up, he towered over me like a giant. If I were to guess his height, he would be two meters tall, just like those foreign basketball players. Now that I got a better look at him, I noticed all the scars on his body, particularly on the back. Or so I thought, until I realized some of them were whip marks instead.

The mark of a slave. A far cry from the scars of a warrior.

"Thank you. You are the shadow witch's lord, I presume?"

Shadow witch? Ah, must be Felicia.

"That's right." I smiled. "My name is Hugo Greenwood. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Orluk." I bowed.

"And here I thought you would need my help, Milord."

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Felicia. And she was carrying a little girl in her arms. The dark elf.

The ogre walked towards her, looking at the little girl with a melancholic smile on his face. His hand gently patted her head, all the while his eyes moistened.

"Do not worry." Felicia smiled as well. "With proper treatment, I believe I can cure her. I might look like this, but I'm an alchemist as well."

"T-truly?" The ogre's voice shook.

"Truly. So please, rest easy."

The ogre let out a long sigh of relief before turning back to face me.

"I… I don't know what to say. I have never received such kindness from a stranger before. And from a human no less. I have horribly misjudged your kind, and for that, I am terribly sorry." He bowed as deeply as he could.

"Hmm?" I chuckled, crossing my arms. "What do you mean?"

"I-I thought all humans are just a cowardly, greedy race that arrogantly believe they are superior to us of the demon race. I see now that not all of them are like that. Especially not you, Master Hugo. So please! Allow me to repay this debt!" All of a sudden, he went to his knees and lowered his head to the ground.

"Uh, what?"

"Let me be your retainer! Your servant! Your sword and shield!"

...Ah, so that's what this is all about.

I smiled, kneeling down and resting my hand on his head. "I'm not doing this so you can be my slave next. You're free. Go wherever you want, do whatever you want."

He raised his head, moving back to a sitting position before chuckling. "...I don't have anywhere else to go, Master Hugo. My life, my dream, my future — they all have been taken from me. Even if you set me free, I don't have a place I can return to." He smiled darkly.

"What happened?" I asked. I couldn't halt my curiosity.

"A betrayal." He gritted his teeth. "I was betrayed by the woman I thought I would spend the rest of my life with."

Betrayal? You mean, she cheated on you? Ouch, that must hurt. I can't imagine how well I can handle my girlfriend cheating on me behind my back.

Heh, I probably will just take my own life earlier.

"Apologies, Milord, but I have to cut this conversation short." Felicia interrupted. "I have to treat her right away and I would need some help. We need to make a tent and a bed for her to sleep with."

"I will help." The ogre stood up with a determined expression. "Tell me whatever you need, Mistress Felicia, and I will make sure it gets delivered to you."

"Mistress… Felicia?" She paused.

"I am indebted to you just as much as I am indebted to Master Hugo. Not to mention the fact that you are his lover. So it's only proper for me to give the same respect I am giving to him." He bowed yet again.

“A-a lover?” Felicia stuttered, a tinge of redness creeping onto her cheeks. “Y-yes, that’s right! I am his lover!”

Seeing her reaction, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Are you really that proud to be my girlfriend?

...Oh great, I’m blushing as well. Come on, Hugo. You can’t keep being a loser who gets all excited just from a beautiful woman showing how much she loves being with you. You gotta keep it cool. Women like the cool types, not the awkward, virgin-smelling types.

"Master Hugo." The ogre turned to face me. "If I might ask, where is your other lover? I wish to thank her as well."

Other… lover?

Oh, he must be talking about Victoria.

"That elf isn't his lover!" Felicia yelled. "She's the fool we're escorting! I'm the only one who's his lover!"

"Oh, she is not? My apologies. I was under the impression that Master Hugo would have more than one lover. In my culture, the best of males would have many wives to bed with. Is it not so in the human world?"

Felicia fell silent as sadness swept her face. "...You're right. Milord also has a demoness as his other lover. She's not here though."

"Just two?" He frowned, looking back at me. "From what you did tonight, I expect five."

“F-five?” Felicia stuttered. “No! Absolutely not! That’s too many! Two is more than enough!”

Five? Ha! Now who would that be? Sherry, Felicia, Fiora, Anne, and Amelie?

...Wait, I just named five girls that are interested in me. Shit, I can get five after all.

...Hah, fat chance! Sherry will never agree! Nor will Felicia, judging by her reaction. And those two are better off with Anton instead of me. If only that guy would see them more than his little sisters…

"That's a terrible shame." The ogre shook his head. "You humans would be a stronger race if you allow strong, virtuous males like Master Hugo to have many wives."

...Okay. I don't know where the logic in that statement is and I can't be bothered to ask. Time to change the subject.

"How about you?" I smirked. "How many wives do you think you should have?"

A shadow blanketed his face. "...None. My heart died that day."

My heart died that day? Really? Are you going to be this melodramatic?

I understand though. Betrayal by a girl you love, it must sting. If it happens to me, I'm sure I'll just be as melodramatic as he is, if not more.

"U-uuhhh…"

A tiny groan came from Felicia's arms. The dark elf child was shifting in her sleep.

"Alright, enough chat. Ogre, help me with the tent. As for you, Milord, can you get some fever herbs from the medicine wagon? You know which one, right?" I nodded. "Don't worry. Leave it to me." I patted my chest. Seeing her going into doctor-mode like this, I couldn't help but smile.

Now that's the Felicia I like. Smart, motherly, and determined. I don't want her to just be a clingy girlfriend who's prone to tears. She just needs a chance to prove herself.

When we get married and settle down, I'll make sure she has her own alchemist workshop and clinic. I'm sure I can find good money selling my strength to some noble or merchant.

Putting off my imagination of a nice two-story house for us (and Sherry), I made my way to said wagon, though not before I met Victoria on the way.

"Feeling better?" I patted her shoulder.

"D-did you… did you have to kill all those people?"

A thin smile formed on my face.

"...I suppose I didn't. But I chose to. I don't want them hounding me in the future for stealing their slaves. And I don't like them anyway. Not only were they gleefully helping a slaver that puts people in cages like animals, they were letting a sickly little girl die, punishing the only person who stood by her. You might disagree, but I believe those are good enough reasons to kill someone. You can say that this is my justice. Dark justice, if you will." I chuckled. A chuuni term to talk to a chuuni.

"Dark… justice?"

"This world is too messed up for ordinary justice to fix. A dark justice is necessary — justice that is willing to do unpleasant things from time to time. Let your soul be burdened by sin, if it will make the world just ever so slightly a better place."

Wow, that's a pretty good speech, Hugo. I'm surprised you can come up with it on the spot.

"Does your beloved Lady Ashleen never take a life?" I asked.

"I… I don't know. The book never said that— ah!" She covered her mouth with her hands.

Bingo.

"A book, eh? Was it a book you read when you were little, perhaps?"

"...I-it was a legendary tome! It fell from the sky one day and I was chosen to be its bearer! The name 'Ashleen' is a title, given to every woman who walks in the path of justice!" She declared with a forced grin.

This girl… When will she ever face reality?

She must have been raised wrong by her parents.

"Well..." I put my hand on her shoulder. "I'll leave it up to you to decide what justice is. Everyone should decide that by themselves."

With a short handwave, I left the knightess to her own. I had some herbs to get after all.

------

When I returned to Felicia, she was already inside the tent, with her alchemical equipment being put outside. She had laid down the little girl on a pillow, wiping the sweat on her face gently with a wet towel.

Aah, mommy Felicia has returned.

"Here. I got the herbs you wanted." I put the pouch near her. "I also found some potions that were labeled anti-fevers. Brought them too just in case."

"Thank you, Milord." Felicia smiled. "Might I ask you to stay here and keep watch over her as I make the potion? Just make sure she’s comfortable. It won't take long. About an hour or so."

I nodded. “That sounds easy enough.”

"Then, if you would excuse me—"

The alchemist stood up, tiptoeing her way out of the tent. I sat down where she once was, which was just above the little girl’s head.

Ah, this reminds me of that incident. Once, Erika got a terrible fever, and she demanded that I stayed with her all night. Of course, that led to me catching the fever myself, but it was completely worth it, seeing her depend on me that much. I wanted to become the best big brother I could after all.

...Too bad I threw all that out of the window, thanks to my cowardice. She must hate me now. I’m sure of it. Marina was just lying for my sake.

"U-uuhhh…"

A small groan escaped the dark elf's lips, bringing me back from my thoughts. Slowly, I touched her forehead. That's hot! That's hotter than your average fever! Quickly, I grabbed the towel, conjured cold water into it, and placed it on said forehead. There. That should give her some comfort.

Hmm? The dress she's wearing— it wasn't the rags she wore before. Felicia must have changed it. And she smelled nice too. Felicia must have bathed her as well, probably by wiping her body all over with a towel, conjured water, and some soap.

She really would make a great mother.

------

Felicia

With Milord safely watching her, I can finally start my work.

First, the fever herbs. I need to brew them for maximum efficacy. These potions Milord got—they're not good enough. Whoever made them wasn't that great of an alchemist.

"I've finished setting it up, Mistress Felicia."

I was greeted by Orluk once I arrived at my makeshift lab. Using my Dimensional Storage, I could lug around all these heavy, fragile tools around. And after I brought them up, I instructed the ogre to put them up just the way I wanted. There was a wagon full of furniture in this caravan so he could use the tables from there. With those muscles of his, it shouldn't be hard to lift all that heavy wood.

"Well done." I smiled. "Now, leave the rest to me. How about you talk to those slaves that have been watching us?”

Oh yes, they did not escape my attention. Afraid of me and Milord’s actions, none of them had the bravery to talk to us. They instead watched at us from a distance, hiding behind the wagons. I suppose I cannot blame them, what with Milord being such a terrifying mage and all.

“It’s quite annoying, you see, and I would rather have them go out and talk to us. Or thank us. After all, Milord has freed them as well.” I smirked.

“At once, Milady.” He gave a short bow before he left.

Well, let's just hope he wouldn't scare them off as well.

Now back to the task at hand.

I started grinding the herbs with my mortar and pestle, making sure they would be at the correct state before I entered them into my cauldron. Speaking of that, I already filled it with water by my magic, before lightning up the firewood underneath. I needed the water to be at boiling point before I entered the herbs.

But, as fate would have it, I was interrupted before I could move on to that stage.

A crowd of twenty or so gathered around me, consisting of the slaves I was talking about before. Leading them was Orluk. It seemed they had concluded their talk.

And then, one by one, all of them lowered their heads to the ground.

“T-thank you! Thank you very much, o great mage! You and your partner both!” One of them spoke. He was another ogre, just like Orluk.

I halted my work, dampening the burning fire with a quick water spell before I walked over to them.

“Oh, really? Are you happy now that you are free at last?”

“Y-yes! Very much so!”

“Then, go away. Leave us alone. I have no desire to see the faces of those who saw a little girl being whipped and proceeded to do nothing.”

He couldn’t respond.

“Oh, you don’t think I didn’t see those scars on her back? Only the man standing over there is willing to help her. The rest of you simply abandoned her, all too content to fall in line with your master.”

“W-we’re sorry!” Another slave spoke. This time, she was a dark elf. “I-if we disobey, then he would punish us as well!” As she pleaded her case, her eyes locked into mine,

It was the beady eyes of a loser, of one that had given up their hopes and dreams.

I didn’t not know how this woman, or the other slaves, got broken like this, but just that one look was enough for my anger to swell into my chest.

I would’ve been just like them. If I didn’t cling into necromancy. Or if Lord Hugo didn’t save me.

“It’s not me whom you should ask for forgiveness. It’s him and Fia, the child you left to suffer.”

Their gaze traveled towards Orluk. He crossed his arms and shook his head. “I don’t care. And Fia wouldn’t care either. She’s still gravely ill and you’re disturbing the alchemist who’s trying to cure her. So leave. The goods in all these wagons — feel free to do whatever you want with them once my master and mistress are finished with them. All my mistress asks is for you bunch to leave her alone and not stare at her from a distance like a ravenous wolf. That’s alright with you, right?” He turned to look at me, presumably asking about the wagons.

“Yes, that will be fine.” I smiled. We can’t lug around everything here all by ourselves after all. “And, in exchange, I only ask for you all to keep your mouth shut. Never speak to anyone about us. You wouldn’t want me or Milord to come knocking on your doors, would you?” I put up the evilest smirk I could muster. And judging by the expression on their faces, it would seem to be sufficient.

“O-of course, Milady! N-none of us would dare to defy your command! Not after all you did for us!” The man bowed again.

“Now that’s settled, leave. Unless any of you wishes to volunteer to help me make the cure, that is.”

The crowd quickly dispersed, no one wanting to be with me for a second longer. And here I thought I would give them the chance for redemption. They really are cowards.

“I’ll keep watch on them,” the ogre declared. “I would help you with the cure, but I know I would only be getting in your way, Mistress Felicia.”

“You have no knowledge whatsoever about alchemy, I take it?”

“None whatsoever.” He sighed. “I should’ve studied more. Never cared about books, only how to swing my club. Maybe that’s why I got tricked by her. I am a fool. Always has been.” He chuckled.

“Then, you do that. I’ll handle things over here. Don’t worry. She’ll be fine. I promise.”

This is my redemption. For Leila.

I will not let another young girl die on my watch.