Soara stroked her chest with satisfaction.
I ended up becoming her master.
She is free to do what she wants, the contract is just a formality.
Although I should be happy to be able to help, I feel a strange weight on my shoulders.
I wonder if it was a bad idea to have told her about Nei's master-slave contract.
My order to Soara was "live," the same order I gave to Nei. But I doubt Soara needed it, as she showed no signs of wanting to commit suicide.
But I'm glad I did it.
Soara is a sensitive and kind woman.
She had quite the attitude, but never dared to show her true personality.
So why do I feel like I'm.... being enveloped by a snake?
It is strange. Really strange.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Yes, I'm sure God will forgive me."
I too would like to be forgiven by God.
I would not want to receive any punishment from him.
I mean, what kind of person would make a master-servant contract with a childhood friend of many years, right?
In Nei's case, it was inevitable, but in Soara's case?
It would have been wrong for me to refuse.
I think accepting it was the best thing I could have done.
"So… This is where we say goodbye."
"I'd like to stay longer, but we can't afford to waste any time."
"I'm going to give you some advice."
Soara whispers in my ear.
"Lisa is a traitor."
I frowned, not knowing what that meant.
Lisa is a traitor?
What does that mean?
"I've always felt it. She smells just like me."
"Smells?"
"Yeah, the 'smell' of a fake, like she's hiding something."
Soara's face didn't look like she was joking.
She was seriously wary of Lisa.
That's what it looked like to me.
"Do you remember the day she came to town?"
That was when I was 14 years old.
Lisa had moved to town.
Sain moved in at about the same time and we hit it off right away.
Both Lisa and Sain seemed to come from big cities, and I had the impression that they were very sophisticated. That's why I admired Sain so much.
He knew everything, did everything well and was more mature than we were.
Lisa was also very feminine, and I fell in love with her as soon as I met her.
So when we met, it was like I was in heaven.
I thought it was the best time of my life or something.
"From the moment I saw her, I knew she was 'just like me', and that's why I hesitated to be friends with her at first."
"Do you have any proof?"
"No."
Do you think Lisa is faking?
That's not possible.
...But could she have also realized Soara's true personality?
What if Lisa, like Soara, also has a true personality to hide?
I am insensitive. That much I'm aware of.
Therefore, even a lie can appear to be true.
"I'm sure Nei knew that. But she couldn't tell you to give up, could she?"
"But what if you two are wrong?"
"I know I'm not going to convince you otherwise. So you'll have to see for yourself. Look them up, and see with your own eyes what the woman Toru once loved really is."
Soara wraps both hands around my right hand.
"Don't forget. You have people by your side who believe in you and support you."
"...I will not forget."
Soara smiled, and quietly entered the church.
The warmth of her hands lingered in my right hand.
"Master～!"
Kaede looks at me with a smile as I lie down.
Panda also appeared at her side.
"What are you thinking?"
"About Soara."
"Is it because of the contract?"
I nodded in agreement.
She gently lifted my head and placed it in her lap.
There was a soft sensation in the back of the head.
"Master is a strong and kind man, and I'm sure Soara-san was spoiled by him. A contract is a deep connection."
"You say that from experience?"
"Yes. The master-slave contract, in itself, is a repugnant form of magic that embodies human desire. But at the same time, depending on how it is used, it has the potential to become something irreplaceable and wonderful."
Kaede gently places her hand on the seal on her chest.
"This is the bond I have with my master. Thanks to it, I have been able to get this far. I am sure I will remain strong because of it. That's how I think."
"A bond of trust..."
I had never thought of that.
I always thought that the master-slave contract was an old, abominable magic that made people obey.
There is always something new to discover when I am with Kaede.
Every time I am with Kaede, I see things in a different way.
"Hey, Kaede - do you smell something burning?"
"Eh!? AH!!!"
He puts my head on the ground and runs away.
Speaking of which, she was preparing lunch.
Looks like today's soup is going to be bitter.
What I told Kaede was true, but the truth is that I am also worried about Lisa.
Soara's words have stuck with me.
"From the moment I saw her, I knew she was 'just like me', and that's why I hesitated to be friends with her at first."
What if Lisa is not what I thought she was?
What should I do?
Should I accept her as she is?
Do I really miss her in the first place?
Most of all, I don't understand how Lisa is a traitor.
It is unclear who he is betraying and how.
Ah, shit.
I won't think about it anymore. I'll know it when I see it.
I won't get anywhere if I keep thinking this way.
"Master～！ The food is ready～"
"Thank you, here I come."
I stood up and walked toward Kaede and the others.
Sniff, sniff
It smells a little burnt.
But anything made by my pretty slave is delicious.
I don't mind if it's a little burnt.
The bowl I was given was full of a black liquid.
"Kaede, It's so dark in here!"
"I'm sorry. It got more burnt than I thought it would."
"Don't worry. We all make mistakes."
I put the soup in my mouth.
Ugh, it's so bitter.
It is a bitterness that numbs my tongue.
Still, I ate all the soup that was in the bowl.
I grabbed the pot, and poured in the rest of the remaining soup.
"Delicious! Kaede's cooking is always so good!"
"Master… Master~ !!!"
Kaede hugged me and rubbed her face against my chest.
When I stroked her head, her eyes were watery.
"Eww, it's too bitter. I don't know how the Lord could eat it."
Frau quoted these words as she drank her soup.
Then, to clean the roof of her mouth, she pulled a cracker out of her luggage and popped it in.
"It's because Master is Master."
"It still doesn't make sense."
"I'm not giving him to you, Lisa."
Kaede hugged me tightly.
I think it's his way of being strong.
Since that day, Kaede has been the one by my side.
Constantly trying to tell me that she will always be by my side. Not like Lisa.
Message received, Kaede.
I said I wanted you by my side until the day I die, and I will not change my mind.
If you want to follow me wherever I go. I'll make sure you do.
You are my pride and joy, and you are the sweetest slave I have ever known.
So I don't want you to get carried away with Lisa.
She probably thinks I'm going to throw her away, like they had done with her before.
"It's okay, I'm going to be with you always."
"Master..."
I went over and hugged her tightly.
Pat Pat Pat
Kaede's tail began to thump loudly.
I hear you.
I appreciate your honesty.
"Oh, I just remembered I have something for you, Master!"
Kaede, who ran off with great vigor, took something out of her backpack and hurried back.
She pulled out a large black object.
It doesn't look like a stone, but it's not food either.
"It's a candy called ChocoReito."
"Ho..."
I tried to take a bite.
It melts quickly and spreads its unique flavor with a moderate sweetness and a rich sticky texture.
What is this?
This is my first time trying something like this.
"What do you think?"
"It's surprisingly good."
Her expression became brighter.
Kaede grabbed another one and went to put it in my mouth.
But Frau rushed forward and put it in her mouth first.
She even stuck Kaede's fingers in her mouth and sucked them for a bit.
"Hey!"
"Hey, Frau!"
"You don't have to be stingy with me."
"Ugh."
Kaede chased Frau as she ran away.
Soara stroked her chest with satisfaction.
I ended up becoming her master.
She is free to do what she wants, the contract is just a formality.
Although I should be happy to be able to help, I feel a strange weight on my shoulders.
I wonder if it was a bad idea to have told her about Nei's master-slave contract.
My order to Soara was "live," the same order I gave to Nei. But I doubt Soara needed it, as she showed no signs of wanting to commit suicide.
But I'm glad I did it.
Soara is a sensitive and kind woman.
She had quite the attitude, but never dared to show her true personality.
So why do I feel like I'm.... being enveloped by a snake?
It is strange. Really strange.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Yes, I'm sure God will forgive me."
I too would like to be forgiven by God.
I would not want to receive any punishment from him.
I mean, what kind of person would make a master-servant contract with a childhood friend of many years, right?
In Nei's case, it was inevitable, but in Soara's case?
It would have been wrong for me to refuse.
I think accepting it was the best thing I could have done.
"So… This is where we say goodbye."
"I'd like to stay longer, but we can't afford to waste any time."
"I'm going to give you some advice."
Soara whispers in my ear.
"Lisa is a traitor."
I frowned, not knowing what that meant.
Lisa is a traitor?
What does that mean?
"I've always felt it. She smells just like me."
"Smells?"
"Yeah, the 'smell' of a fake, like she's hiding something."
Soara's face didn't look like she was joking.
She was seriously wary of Lisa.
That's what it looked like to me.
"Do you remember the day she came to town?"
That was when I was 14 years old.
Lisa had moved to town.
Sain moved in at about the same time and we hit it off right away.
Both Lisa and Sain seemed to come from big cities, and I had the impression that they were very sophisticated. That's why I admired Sain so much.
He knew everything, did everything well and was more mature than we were.
Lisa was also very feminine, and I fell in love with her as soon as I met her.
So when we met, it was like I was in heaven.
I thought it was the best time of my life or something.
"From the moment I saw her, I knew she was 'just like me', and that's why I hesitated to be friends with her at first."
"Do you have any proof?"
"No."
Do you think Lisa is faking?
That's not possible.
...But could she have also realized Soara's true personality?
What if Lisa, like Soara, also has a true personality to hide?
I am insensitive. That much I'm aware of.
Therefore, even a lie can appear to be true.
"I'm sure Nei knew that. But she couldn't tell you to give up, could she?"
"But what if you two are wrong?"
"I know I'm not going to convince you otherwise. So you'll have to see for yourself. Look them up, and see with your own eyes what the woman Toru once loved really is."
Soara wraps both hands around my right hand.
"Don't forget. You have people by your side who believe in you and support you."
"...I will not forget."
Soara smiled, and quietly entered the church.
The warmth of her hands lingered in my right hand.
"Master～!"
Kaede looks at me with a smile as I lie down.
Panda also appeared at her side.
"What are you thinking?"
"About Soara."
"Is it because of the contract?"
I nodded in agreement.
She gently lifted my head and placed it in her lap.
There was a soft sensation in the back of the head.
"Master is a strong and kind man, and I'm sure Soara-san was spoiled by him. A contract is a deep connection."
"You say that from experience?"
"Yes. The master-slave contract, in itself, is a repugnant form of magic that embodies human desire. But at the same time, depending on how it is used, it has the potential to become something irreplaceable and wonderful."
Kaede gently places her hand on the seal on her chest.
"This is the bond I have with my master. Thanks to it, I have been able to get this far. I am sure I will remain strong because of it. That's how I think."
"A bond of trust..."
I had never thought of that.
I always thought that the master-slave contract was an old, abominable magic that made people obey.
There is always something new to discover when I am with Kaede.
Every time I am with Kaede, I see things in a different way.
"Hey, Kaede - do you smell something burning?"
"Eh!? AH!!!"
He puts my head on the ground and runs away.
Speaking of which, she was preparing lunch.
Looks like today's soup is going to be bitter.
What I told Kaede was true, but the truth is that I am also worried about Lisa.
Soara's words have stuck with me.
"From the moment I saw her, I knew she was 'just like me', and that's why I hesitated to be friends with her at first."
What if Lisa is not what I thought she was?
What should I do?
Should I accept her as she is?
Do I really miss her in the first place?
Most of all, I don't understand how Lisa is a traitor.
It is unclear who he is betraying and how.
Ah, shit.
I won't think about it anymore. I'll know it when I see it.
I won't get anywhere if I keep thinking this way.
"Master～！ The food is ready～"
"Thank you, here I come."
I stood up and walked toward Kaede and the others.
Sniff, sniff
It smells a little burnt.
But anything made by my pretty slave is delicious.
I don't mind if it's a little burnt.
The bowl I was given was full of a black liquid.
"Kaede, It's so dark in here!"
"I'm sorry. It got more burnt than I thought it would."
"Don't worry. We all make mistakes."
I put the soup in my mouth.
Ugh, it's so bitter.
It is a bitterness that numbs my tongue.
Still, I ate all the soup that was in the bowl.
I grabbed the pot, and poured in the rest of the remaining soup.
"Delicious! Kaede's cooking is always so good!"
"Master… Master~ !!!"
Kaede hugged me and rubbed her face against my chest.
When I stroked her head, her eyes were watery.
"Eww, it's too bitter. I don't know how the Lord could eat it."
Frau quoted these words as she drank her soup.
Then, to clean the roof of her mouth, she pulled a cracker out of her luggage and popped it in.
"It's because Master is Master."
"It still doesn't make sense."
"I'm not giving him to you, Lisa."
Kaede hugged me tightly.
I think it's his way of being strong.
Since that day, Kaede has been the one by my side.
Constantly trying to tell me that she will always be by my side. Not like Lisa.
Message received, Kaede.
I said I wanted you by my side until the day I die, and I will not change my mind.
If you want to follow me wherever I go. I'll make sure you do.
You are my pride and joy, and you are the sweetest slave I have ever known.
So I don't want you to get carried away with Lisa.
She probably thinks I'm going to throw her away, like they had done with her before.
"It's okay, I'm going to be with you always."
"Master..."
I went over and hugged her tightly.
Pat Pat Pat
Kaede's tail began to thump loudly.
I hear you.
I appreciate your honesty.
"Oh, I just remembered I have something for you, Master!"
Kaede, who ran off with great vigor, took something out of her backpack and hurried back.
She pulled out a large black object.
It doesn't look like a stone, but it's not food either.
"It's a candy called ChocoReito."
"Ho..."
I tried to take a bite.
It melts quickly and spreads its unique flavor with a moderate sweetness and a rich sticky texture.
What is this?
This is my first time trying something like this.
"What do you think?"
"It's surprisingly good."
Her expression became brighter.
Kaede grabbed another one and went to put it in my mouth.
But Frau rushed forward and put it in her mouth first.
She even stuck Kaede's fingers in her mouth and sucked them for a bit.
"Hey!"
"Hey, Frau!"
"You don't have to be stingy with me."
"Ugh."
Kaede chased Frau as she ran away.
