Lapana ponders
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
The new slave of my master, Habermesia Saritribe-sama.
A current court mage who became our master’s possession during a mock battle held at the mansion in the imperial capital.
Yes, our master made a present-day court mage, who is still active, into a slave.
...It’s unbelievable.
Even I, not to mention anyone in the empire, know how crucial a court mage is as a strategic asset to the empire.
Each person in this individualistic group is an exceptional spellcaster, and their power is feared not only within the empire but also in neighboring nations. On the battlefield, they are ranked among those who are most dreaded, on par with the commanders of knight orders.
Yet, our master interacts with her as naturally and casually as if she were one of us, without any sense of awe.
...Habermesia-sama lives in a world far beyond anything I could ever imagine.
Despite her usual demeanor, when she remains silent, she possesses a beauty so surreal it seems like she stepped out of a painting, and a delicate grace that makes her appear as though she could shatter at a touch.
And yet...
And yet, someone who should be out of reach had her buttocks slapped hard by our master and jumped with a scream.
"...Pfft."
Just recalling it makes me laugh.
At that moment, Habermesia-sama seemed to regret having made some fatal mistake.
Her face, as she looked back, crumbled rapidly, as if she were about to burst into tears.
The person who had turned the village of the high lizardmen into a massive pit in no time at all didn’t look like the same person at all.
She was... weak, as if she were a different person.
Our master scolded her.
Without any hesitation, he walked straight, cutting through the heavy atmosphere and slapped her on the buttocks.
...Wasn’t he afraid?
Did he not consider that the magic capable of easily destroying everything, even life itself, might turn its fangs on him?
...I was scared.
Habermesia-sama, who suddenly became a fellow slave after the duel.
In the duel, our master didn’t let her do anything, but she was far stronger than me and could have been harmed by a trivial whim.
Of course, after spending a few days together, I understand that she didn’t have such intentions, but even so, there was still some fear of her deep inside.
But now... things are a little different.
Seeing Habermesia-sama protesting after being slapped on the buttocks, I felt a sense of familiarity.
Oh, she is just another woman being tossed around by our master, just like me.
Like me, Chris-nee, and Hilde-nee.
She had met our master, spent time with him, and before she knew it, or rather, was forcefully changed into someone else.
There is still fear of her.
But now it feels trivial.
Looking up at the clear sky, she turned her back on us and tried to act strong. She was just like us... undeniably one of our master’s slaves.
Still, I wonder why so many high-ranking individuals gather around our master.
Habermesia-sama is one example, but even Princess Razelia Luandor of the empire is the same.
Even though royalty were supposed to be above the clouds, she constantly approaches me with, "Oh, Lapana! You can call me 'Sister' like Christina and the others do! Come on, just try it! It’s fine! Do it!"
When I reluctantly called her "Razelia-nee" just once, she was so delighted that she acted like a child.
...Though I was terrified of the looks from the servants and knights who guarded her.
Since the day of the duel, the way people around our master looked at him had completely changed.
Previously, perhaps due to his bad reputation at the magic academy, he was avoided and only scorned behind his back, but now the perception had undeniably shifted.
The way people looked at us had changed.
What used to be pitying and contemptuous glances toward our status as slaves were now mixed with looks of awe and envy, though occasionally.
It seemed that simply being close to our master drew attention.
But strangely, it didn’t feel bad.
Before, I would have hated the intrusive stares and always wanted to escape, but now...
I felt a bit proud that our master’s power seemed to be recognized, even just a little.
Especially since our master fought for Chris-nee... he looked, just a little, quite impressive.
"Ge-geek, jag!"
...There was no time to think.
I shook my head from side to side, clearing unnecessary thoughts from my mind in the current situation.
Right now, I needed to focus entirely on the fight.
“There are many of them. However, they must not be allowed to reach Lapana and the others!”
“Blast them with Mud Shot! Hit them, blow them away!”
Chris-nee and Hilde-nee were holding back the high lizardmen emerging from the forest.
I had to provide as much support as possible!
“Ugh!”
The lightweight bow specially prepared for me by our master.
Even though I lack strength, I can easily draw this bow, which, though nameless, had already become my trusted companion.
Morning, noon, and night, it continues to fight alongside me, giving me strength.
...But I won't tell anyone because it's embarrassing.
“Gee!”
The arrows aimed at the joints of the high lizardmen were easily deflected.
Their scales, though seemingly thin, stop arrows from penetrating...
Then.
“G-gyah!?”
I aimed for the softer parts.
“Lapana, keep it up! Good job!”
Hilde-nee praised me for the arrow that pierced the single eye of a high lizardman.
The battle is frightening.
But being left behind is something I can’t stand anymore.
After all, I am one of our master’s slaves.
The battle continued.
The remnants of the high lizardmen relentlessly attacked us.
I had already defeated so many.
Though there were fewer of them from the warrior class, occasionally even from the priest class, many high lizardmen appeared from the forest with murderous intent.
Their silent corpses lay piled on the ground.
As the continuous fighting wore on, even Chris-nee, Hilde-nee, and Mayurerica-sama began to show signs of fatigue. At that moment, out of the bushes, a single high lizardman charged directly at me as if it had been targeting me all along.
“Lapana!”
“Lapana! Dodge!”
I couldn’t intercept with my bow... it was too late.
I desperately tried to veer off course, but my exhausted legs faltered and stumbled.
The shouts of Chris-nee and Hilde-nee seemed distant, and the sharp tip of the high lizardman’s spear drew closer and closer――――.
“This lizard! I won’t let you hurt Lapana! ———— Queen Fly!!”
It was Mayurerica-sama who shielded me.
She stood directly in front of the charging high lizardman warrior and cast a spell.
“Gyah!?”
It wasn’t the countless small flies Mayurerica-sama usually controlled — it was a gigantic fly.
A single fly over a meter in size.
Yet, the strength and malevolence it exuded were vastly different from Mayurerica-sama’ usual magic.
“Jah!!”
The high lizardman momentarily hesitated at the sight of the giant fly, then redirected its spear towards the enormous insect.
However...
“Ha, ha... It’s useless. This fly is a special one, created with a considerable amount of magical power from my spells. A queen fly. Don’t think it can be easily defeated.”
In the blink of an eye.
Before I could even take a breath, the spear’s tip had vanished.
Did that fly do something?
I could barely see any movement, but I didn’t see anything...
“The scales of the high lizardmen are quite hard. My black fly can only penetrate them from the inside. But this one is different... Well, goodbye.”
The giant fly devoured the high lizardman’s head.
It tore through those tough scales as if they were nothing.
As fresh blood gushed out like a spring and stained the ground red, Mayurerica-sama turned back with a smile that showed she was genuinely delighted that I was unharmed.
It was a bit... gruesome...
“Phew... Lapana, are you alright? Are you hurt?”
“...Ah, thank you.”
Even though she was breathless, Mayurerica-sama forced herself to use magic to help me.
She checked me carefully for injuries, patting over my clothes.
Yet... it was rude to call it gruesome.
I realized that I am still naive about the bloodshed that comes with battle.
But... well…
“Oh, Lapana, you have some minor scratches! Please wait. I’ll use a healing potion right away!”
“Um... I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”
“There’s no need to pretend to be okay... We’ve both escaped from the bandits together. You don’t need to thank me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ve told you many times not to be so formal with me, haven’t I? Lapana, please just treat me normally. We’re comrades who fought together, friends.”
I really wish he’d clear up this misunderstanding.
Mayurerica-sama still believes that I am Ashburn-sensei, who transformed into me to rescue us.
Ugh... I understand why our master sometimes looks at Ashburn-sensei with exasperation.
Why hasn’t anyone cleared up the misunderstanding?
Not only our master but also Mayurerica-sama should be told the truth.
...I’m sure they’re enjoying this.
Ashburn-sensei... well, it’s understandable given his age.
Our master really can be quite mean about these things!
...Speaking of which, I wonder how our master and the others are doing.
The forest, which had been noisy with the high lizardmen attacking me earlier, had become completely silent.
Our master and the others, who had been accompanied by the Chimera Treant, had moved away from the lakeside.
They must be safe... right?
As Mayurerica-sama continued to check for injuries by lifting my clothes and Chris-nee and Hilde-nee came over to thank me for their support, I prayed for our master’s safety.
With the three of them, they are far stronger and more terrifying than any high lizardman, and I believed they could defeat the Chimera Treant.
That was my hope.