Chapter 9

Service Round

Service, service!

"No, it's not that I can't be happy..."

It's not that it's impossible, but it's wrong to say it's impossible, you know.

This is an underground punishment room surrounded by stone walls, equipped with torture instruments.

A combat slave strikes my bare back, which is bound and hanging in iron shackles. This is the sixth time, I think. Ah, my back must be red for sure.

The head of the slaves is overseeing the whipping.

Today it's fifteen times. Good job, a new record.

When I first received the whipping, this punishment room was stained with someone's blood, but now that I'm almost the only one being whipped, it's clean. I clean it myself, you know.

"Ugh, rahhhhhh!"

The combat slave Yokuza shouts with determination and strikes again. It's not as bad as Tataruk, but it still hurts.

"What did you do this time? I heard that ten out of the fifteen times were added by the young lady."

Man, that kid.

"No, I didn't do anything. I was told to go to a school in the capital, but I said it was impossible..."

"Seaaaaah!"

"Ah, that's impossible. That school is only for nobles and talented commoners or those from big merchant families, you know."

"Right?"

"Well, the young lady getting angry at you isn't something new... but this time she must be really mad."

"Oriyaahhhhh!"

How unreasonable.

I started talking to the head of the slaves in the punishment room at some point. Usually, it's about why I'm getting whipped or messages from the young lady, but it's mostly just to pass the time.

In Tataruk's case, it was quite painful, and I had to tense my body to endure it, so I didn't have much spare time. The number of whips was also fewer. Recently, it's painful, but not that bad. My back will definitely be red after fifteen whips, though.

The topic then shifted to tomorrow's work, and by the time it was finished, the whipping was over.

"Then, tomorrow you'll carry that stone pillar. Finish it before chopping wood."

"Understood."

"Haa, haa"

As we finish discussing tomorrow's work, the head of the slaves removes the iron shackles. Yokuza is breathing heavily and looking at the head of the slaves with a blue face. What's wrong with him?

The head of the slaves waves his hand lightly in response.

"It's fine. I properly supervised. You didn't hold back or show any mercy, and I saw that the punishment was properly carried out."

"Haa, so, haa, is that right? Haa, haa"

"Want some water?"

I extend my hand to comfort Yokuza, who is looking at me with wide eyes. Is he okay?

He's a new arrival who came two days ago, and it seems he might be sold because they might sell Allen. Today's events seem to have solidified the head of the slaves' decision. Allen usually does the whipping, but the master makes the final decision based on the head of the slaves' report. So, it's probably a done deal. Allen has issues, after all.

"No, I'm fine."

Finally, Yokuza stands up without my help, his breathing having steadied.

Well, after a day's work, swinging this big whip is bound to do that.

The whip used for whipping is made of leather, with several thick, flexible whips growing from the base where it's held. It's about as tall as me, so lifting it and swinging it with all my might is quite a task.

As the head of the slaves and I quickly clean up, the door to the punishment room opens.

The head maid, Keira, enters.

We immediately kneel and bow. Yokuza follows, and the head of the slaves steps forward to bow beside Keira.

"It's fine."

"Hai"

The head of the slaves is the one who speaks, so only he raises his head, but Yokuza starts to raise his head and quickly lowers it again.

"Is the punishment over?"

"Hai, without any issues."

"Then, follow me. The master has called for you."

"Hai, I understand."

"Ah, you should come too."

Huh? Yokuza?

I wait for a moment, but he doesn't move. Hey, Yokuza, it's you. Hurry up.

"Can't you hear? Raise your head."

"Hey"

Nudged by the head of the slaves, Yokuza finally realizes he's being called. Sorry, Yokuza.

I look up at Keira's stern face.

"The master has called for you too. Come with us."

"Hai, I understand."

I answer the same way as the head of the slaves. If I said no, I'd probably get whipped again. I've learned.

I follow the head of the slaves, a little behind Keira. We go up from the basement of the slave quarters, through the dining room, and outside. This side only has individual rooms for the head of the slaves and combat slaves. No maids come near the slave quarters, except for Keira.

Keira disappears through a side door that the head of the slaves often uses, and the head of the slaves follows. I stop.

From here on, it's the main house. Slaves aren't allowed to enter. Even though I was told to follow, I hesitate.

"Hey, what are you doing? Hurry up."

After a while, the head of the slaves returns and pokes his head out of the side door.

"No, well..."

I can't. I'm not allowed to enter here.

My gaze naturally falls to my bare feet. My hands are dirty, and so are my clothes and hair. The head of the slaves is neatly dressed and wearing shoes, but I'm not.

I always try to avoid touching the young lady and make an effort not to get dirty.

Slaves and those above commoners are different. Not in terms of what they wear or eat, but in the world they live in. Slaves must not intrude into the world of those above commoners.

If I enter the main house here, all my efforts will be for nothing.

I'll lose my head.

"...Ah, right..."

"What are you doing?"

The head of the slaves also notices my gaze and is at a loss. Keira returns to the slaves.

Keira also notices the head of the slaves and my gaze.

"I forgot. You can't appear before the master in this state."

Right. So, can I go back?

Of course not. Keira calls a servant from inside the house to bring hot water, and I'm stripped naked.

Stripped... What the hell, Sadome. I'm not happy at all. I kind of want to die. The value of my head has probably halved.

Being immersed in a big bucket was fine, but when Keira ordered a young maid to wash me, she showed reluctance. It seemed to be an instinctive reaction.

"I'll wash myself."

Please, spare me. I want to die.

"That won't do. If you wash yourself, you'll definitely miss spots. I'll have to do it."

Oh God.

After a desperate struggle, I ended up having my hair and back washed, but I was allowed to wash the rest myself. It was the first time I strongly protested. I bowed and said I'd take a hundred whips. The head of the slaves also backed me up.

So, in the cold, with the head of the slaves holding a lamp, I had my first bath.

"When you were a baby, I washed you a few times."

Really?

Keira, who was scrubbing my hair and rinsing it with water, muttered.

I ask the head of the slaves with my eyes, and he nods, laughing. It seems I had experienced this before, even though I thought it was my first time.

"...You've grown. You and the young lady."

I don't know how to respond to that.

But I was grateful. It was probably the head maid and the head of the slaves who helped me. The fact that my head is still attached is proof of that.

After being thoroughly washed and dried, I put on the clothes provided and slipped into the shoes. What a refreshing feeling. This is great.

"...Huh?"

"Oh, right, Sadome said something like that."

The maid who was reluctant to wash me looks surprised, and the head of the slaves sounds pleased.

What did Sadome say?

Keira, who was combing my hair, hands the comb to the maid, saying it's fine like this.

"Then, follow me. The master is waiting."

I slip past the frozen maid and follow Keira with the head of the slaves.

We climb several stairs and cross a wide corridor, and I start to wonder if we're really inside. Keira knocks on a double door.

After a brief exchange with Keira and the maid, the door slowly opens.

This is the first time I'm meeting the master, I realize.

Complaints are not accepted.