Satina took Katan outside the mansion.The snow that had fallen at dawn was still not completely cleared, leaving the road a mess.She walked carefully, avoiding the puddles where the snow had melted."Excuse me."At that moment, Katan suddenly grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up.Startled, she looked at him, and he spoke with an expressionless face."The snow has melted, and the road is dirty. If you're not careful, your feet might freeze.""You'll get wet too.""I'm fine. I'm used to this."His worn-out shoes quickly became soaked and messy, but he didn't seem to mind much.Only after he passed the puddle did Katan carefully set Satina down on the ground.Satina looked at his shoes with a dissatisfied expression."Don't do that again.""Was it uncomfortable for you?""No, your feet got all wet. What if you get frostbite?""The human body is more resilient than you think. I won't get frostbite from this.""Still.""Does it bother you?""Yes.""Why?"Satina looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes and responded."Because I'm taking care of you now."From Satina's perspective, it was frustrating to see someone she was taking care of in such a state, but Katan seemed to interpret her words differently."I understand. I did not intend to damage my master's property."[Katan's affection increased by 1.]Satina pondered whether she should correct his words, but since his affection had increased, she decided to let it go.Soon, the two arrived at a weapon shop.Katan looked puzzled as he saw the swords and shields lined up everywhere.His gaze moved to Satina's arms, which were too slender to wield even a single sword.It was clear he had no idea why she had come to this place, but as a slave, he seemed to have decided it was not his place to question his master's decisions and remained silent.Satina looked at the swords and spoke."Pick one.""Me?""Yes, you're the one who's going to use it, so of course you should choose.""...Are you saying you're going to buy me a weapon?"Katan asked, looking as if he couldn't believe it.It was understandable.Normally, slaves were not allowed to have weapons like swords, as they could use them to attack their masters if they ever had rebellious thoughts.Of course, Katan had powerful magic engraved on him that could take his life at any moment, but the idea of giving a slave a weapon was still not something a typical person would think of."And I'll buy you a training manual too, so on the days I don't give you other tasks, you'll train with the sword.""Train with the sword?""Yes, you're talented in combat, so you'll probably learn it quickly."It would have been ideal to place him in the family's knight order to receive proper training, but Sharan would never allow that.'So, let's start with self-training and aim to get him into the knight order later.'For a regular person, self-training with a sword to join the knight order would be impossible, but given Katan's talents, which Satina had seen in the game, it should be feasible."I've never used a sword before.""I know you're strong even without a weapon, Katan, but you need to get used to using a sword from now on.""Why?"Katan asked with innocent eyes."Because I plan to make you a knight."A flicker of light appeared in Katan's eyes.He asked again, as if he couldn't believe it."A knight? Me?""Yes.""Becoming a knight required more than just physical strength.""To be a knight, one needed not only martial prowess but also mastery of strategy, etiquette, and loyalty to a noble family, earning their endorsement.""The process was so demanding, but the rewards were equally great, including the prestigious status of a semi-noble from the moment one became a knight.""If one distinguished themselves in battle and caught the attention of the emperor or a high-ranking noble, they could even become a true noble.""In other words, becoming a knight was the fastest and simplest way for a commoner to rise to nobility."The more Satina spoke, the more confused Katan seemed.His eyes reflected his inability to understand why she would do such a thing for a mere slave like him.However, Satina wasn't acting thoughtlessly.'After all, whether he has a sword or not, if Katan ever decides to kill me, I'm dead.'She recalled the image of Katan, who could snap a grown man's neck with his bare hands.The noblewoman and the slave.At first glance, it was clear who had the upper hand, but Satina knew her position well.'In this relationship, I'm the weaker one.'Satina needed to win Katan's favor to survive. She had to increase his affection and win him over.'I know that the reason Katan follows my orders now is because he sees some benefit in doing so.'He was not a loyal dog to his master, but a wild beast that couldn't be tamed.If by any chance Sharan recognized his talents and took him in, or if someone promised him freedom, Katan would leave her without hesitation, just as he did in the game.'So I need to keep showing him that following my orders is still to his advantage.'The promise of more than just freedom, but a path to a noble title-a rare opportunity for a slave like Katan.'And I can use this for the events too.'"...May I ask why you want to make me a knight?" Katan asked in a low voice.His voice was low and rough, like the growl of a beast bound by a leash.'What should I say is the reason?''Because I don't want to die by your hand, because I don't want you to betray me, because I...'None of these could be answered honestly.So, Satina decided to act like the haughty noblewoman she often pretended to be."I want to see the jewel I picked rise to the top.""I am a slave. I was born a slave. I am not someone worthy of being called a jewel.""Isn't it boring to only consider what everyone else calls a jewel as valuable?"Satina whispered to Katan."How many of the knights in the Duke's household could you not defeat?"There were probably only a few, if any. That's how exceptional Katan's abilities were."Become a knight. Defeat those arrogant knights and prove that my choice was right."She reached out and gently stroked Katan's cheek."You can do it, right, Katan?"Katan remained silent for a while, deep in thought.Then, he slowly pressed his cheek into her hand."Yes, if that is what my master commands."***The two left the weapon shop after buying a sword."I will work hard to not disappoint you, master."It wasn't an expensive item, but Katan held the sword she bought for him as if it were a holy relic, cradling it close to his chest."Shall we return to the mansion now?""Hmm... No. I still need to buy you a training manual."'I also have someone to meet. They should be showing up soon...'As Satina slowly started walking again, Katan spoke."Master, I sense someone watching us.""How many?""One person. They've been following us since we left the weapon shop."'Good, looks like the guest I've been waiting for has arrived.'"Can you defeat them?""If I don't use a sword, yes.""Then let's lure them into that alley we scouted earlier.""Understood."Satina and Katan changed their course, heading into a narrow alleyway instead of toward the bookstore.The alley was dark and narrow, with little sunlight, and much of the snow had yet to be cleared.Satina ventured deeper into the alley.The busy streets grew quieter, and soon, it was just the two of them alone. Somewhere in the distance, they heard the faint squeaking of rats.BANG!Before Satina could even react, something slammed into the wall beside her with a loud crash.She turned her head and saw a rat beastman, wearing a large hunting cap, pinned against the wall.In his hand was a thin, sharp dagger, about 30 centimeters long.It seemed he had attempted to attack Satina, only to be thwarted by Katan's quick reflexes."Damn it! I heard he was strong, but this is ridiculous.""Who are you? Why are you attacking my master?"Katan stood protectively in front of Satina."Who am I? This is why I hate nobles. They forget all the things they've done and then act all high and mighty with us."He tightened his grip on the dagger.In the process, the cap that had been hiding his face briefly revealed his features.Gray hair, brown eyes.A large scar ran across his face, giving him a rough, mean look, though without it, he might have looked quite cute-reminding Satina of someone back at the mansion."That face...""Ah, so you recognize me now? Guess you know why I'm here then."He spat on the ground."Running won't help you. No matter how great you nobles think you are, you only have one life. And this is our territory."From the narrow gaps between the buildings, more ratmen began to appear, one by one."Give me back my brother, you bastards."Want To Read Ahead?
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