Chapter 63
"'Why is the chief's daughter in this state? Answer me."
"Uuh. ..."
Peiyu tried to remain silent, but, since the magic of absolute obedience had already been cast, she could not disobey my orders.
She bit her lips and answered my question in a choppy voice.
"My father made me flee."
"The chief? But if you are the daughter of the chief, you must be a high priority as a target for the loot. It's not that easy to get away, and even if you could, you wouldn't be sold like this."
"My father killed a different child along with my mother, and then committed suicide."
"I see."
Then I understand the story.
I looked at His Majesty, who had reigned at the pinnacle of the Empire for many years and had even made the occasional procession, and nodded quietly.
The chief probably realized that he was losing and staged a family suicide.
It is a common occurrence.
The end of a defeated warrior is usually tragic.
They would prefer not to live to experience it, nor for their children to experience it.
It is very common for a defeated leader to personally kill his family.
Perhaps after the chief did this, the headcount was right when the crime scene was examined, so it was cleared out.
"So you escaped, but you couldn't manage to get away, so you were caught and sold to the slavers."
"..."
Peiyu nodded quietly.
"I was told to throw away my name and go live a quiet life somewhere ...."
"I see."
Well, now we know the story.
"Noah, what will you do with the girl?"
Peiyu shuddered when His Majesty asked.
As Minister of Justice, I pulled out the imperial laws that I've had all through my head.
"The Saeis were not originally part of the empire, so this was not a rebellion. Therefore, for the bloodline of the Chief, men are to be beheaded and women are to be given as slaves to those with merit."
"Are you saying that there is no need to do anything special?"
"It is exactly as you say, sir."
Peiyu is already a slave.
She can't disobey my orders no matter what, because of the magic of absolute obedience.
If I order her to die here, she will scream and cry, but her body will move on its own according to the order.
I looked at her, and our eyes met.
Her frightened look quickly made her avert her eyes and look away.
She looked frightened, and I looked at her expression.
It was a face that correctly understood that the man in front of her had the right to kill her and was therefore frightened.
"Then, I'll leave the girl to Noah."
"By your grace."
I dropped to my knees and bowed my head.
It seemed like a gift from His Majesty once again.
Standing up, I looked at Peiyu.
"So it is. From now on, you are my slave. You will be a maid in my house."
"Maid?"
"Yes, that's right."
"You're not going to kill me?"
"That won't be necessary."
People are treasures.
Because I had heard about Jerry's success just before, and because Peiyu was already under the spell of absolute obedience.
I have no intention of killing her.
"... Ah, um…"
After a slight hesitation, she summoned up the courage to speak up.
"Can everyone come ... together?"
"Everyone?"
"Yes."
Peiyu nodded nervously and looked around.
There were still many jute bags around her.
" Everyone is a friend who grew up in the same village. ..."
"I see."
After nodding, I turned to the slaver who had been silent for a while.
"Everything you have here has been purchased."
"Thank you for your patronage!"
"And did you catch our conversation?"
Then I took out the money and handed it to the slaver.
I gave him 1000 reens, the money I carry around in a bag.
"If there are any survivors of the Saei tribe, send them to the 13th Prince's residence instead of selling them."
"M-My Lord?!"
The slaver was exaggeratedly surprised.
"Understood. Please leave everything to me."
"Is that all?"
"—-! Yes, sir! Thank you very much!"
Peiyu looked very impressed and smiled a big smile.
Her smile, although small, it was beautiful, but…
More than that…
Name: Noah Ararat
Minister of Justice
Gender: Male
Level: 15 / ∞
HP C+D MP E+D Strength C+A Stamina D+D Intelligence E+D Spirit E+D Speed E+E Dexterity E+D Luck E+D Fire E+A Water C+S Wind E+F Earth E+D Light E+C Darkness E+C
It was more noticeable with the "+" in physical strength had gone up one step.
A few days later, in the capital of Almeria, Nisir's mansion.
I arrived in the early afternoon and called Zoe in the living room.
Zoe, the head maid. Her loyalty to me is proven, and I've entrusted her with the management of all my maids.
I called her up.
"I entrust you with all the slaves I brought back from the capital."
" Understood. So they are all maids, is that correct?"
"Yes. They're under a spell of absolute obedience, and I've told them to obey your commands unless I override them. They are all yours."
"I respectfully obey."
"And…"
As I was about to say a few more words just in case, the door opened and Audrey came into the room.
"Welcome back, Noah-sama."
"I'm home. Have you experienced any changes in the house while we were away?"
"Nothing changed at the residence. Everything is as usual."
"I see."
"I have something to tell you, Noah-sama."
"What it may be?"
"We're expecting a baby."
"...?"
I was a little surprised.
Standing up, I approached Audrey.
I knelt in front of her, though I couldn't see it, stared at her belly, touching it gently.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
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"I see. Well done. I'm glad."
It's strange.
After Audrey told me, this feeling came up from deep in my chest.
This feeling of being filled with all kinds of things.
It was interesting to see the change that had developed in my feelings.
"Thank you very much."
" We need to decide on a name."
"Yes please."
I stood up and thought for a moment.
Several names came to mind, and I narrowed them down to two.
"Sem if we have a boy."
"I think that's a great name.
"And if we have a girl then, Evis."
Right when I said that. It was the same moment.
The scene I was familiar with for quite some time changed for the first time.
Name: Noah Ararat
Minister of Justice
Gender: Male
Level: 15 + 1 / ∞
HP C+D MP E+D Strength C+A Stamina D+D Intelligence D+D Spirit E+D Speed E+E Dexterity E+D Luck E+D Fire E+A Water C+S Wind E+F Earth E+D Light E+C Darkness E+C
Not just abilities so far.
A " + " has been added to the level value as well.
"Did something happen?"
"Zoe, my status."
I didn't answer Audrey directly, but I ordered Zoe, who was standing at a slight distance from me in the middle of the conversation.
Zoe cast a spell on me in a familiar way, without bothering to ask me back.
Name: Noah Ararat
Minister of Justice
Gender: Male
Level: 16 / ∞
HP A MP C Strength SSS Stamina B Intelligence B Spirit C Speed D Dexterity C Luck C Fire S Water SSS Wind E Earth C Light B Darkness B
My outward status was displayed.
Audrey glanced at it and said.
"Your level has gone up. When did it go up?"
"Now."
"Eh?"
"I just named the baby in your belly and it went up."
"—!"
Audrey and Zoe both had a look of surprise on their faces.
These two know that my abilities increase every time I have more subordinates or fiefs.
Moreover,
"Your level also increases ...? Amazing ...."
The two of them were immensely surprised by this first-time phenomenon.