Chapter 49

"Hey, Christie, you're in a pretty bad state, aren't you?"

At the sound of the voice, Christie turned around to find Noein, as expected, standing there. Behind him, as usual, Matilda stood slightly to the side, and on either side of her were the sharp-eyed and the ugly servants—Pence and Radley—whom Christie had seen a few times before.

Seeing them, Christie felt a sense of relief.

Although her escape had failed, at least she wouldn't be toyed with and killed by the goblins here.

Being saved by Noein was humiliating, but she couldn't afford to be picky.

The goblins, seeing the sudden reinforcements, showed a wary expression, but... Noein and his group took no action. Lord Noein just grinned at Christie, Matilda didn't move a muscle, and neither Pence nor Radley drew their swords.

"...What? W-What do you mean, you're not going to help me?"

"Did I say I came to save you? Did anyone hear me say that?"

"No, Lord Noein."

"I haven't received any orders."

"Hey, I didn't hear anything."

Hearing their words, Christie's blood ran cold.

"What? Don't joke around at a time like this! Help me quickly!"

"Why? You decided to run, didn't you? Then you should keep running until the end. I'll watch over you, so do your best."

Noein's face, as he said this with a frivolous smile, looked very evil, very vulgar, and very cruel—Christie saw it as the smile of a demon.

The goblins, apparently deciding that Noein and his group had no intention of helping Christie or fighting, turned their backs on Noein and approached Christie again.

"No, no, no! I don't want to die! I really don't want to die!"

Christie, once again overwhelmed by the fear of death, mustered all her strength to stand up and push the goblin away. Taking advantage of the goblin's fall, she collapsed at Noein's feet, clinging to him.

"I can't do it anymore! I can't escape! I'll come back! Please help me! I'll work hard!"

To survive this situation, she had to cling to Noein. She had to gain his forgiveness.

"Ugh, how embarrassing. And to cling to my feet with those blood-covered hands, how dirty. My shoes are dirty now. Matilda."

"Yes, Lord Noein."

Even as Christie clung to him, Noein's face remained evil. As Matilda stepped forward at his command,

"Ugh!?"

She kicked Christie away as if she were kicking away trash.

By the time Christie fell to the ground, the goblin who had fallen earlier was already standing up.

"Ughh!"

The goblin, driven by the frustration of being thwarted and the desire to quickly devour its prey, let out a roar and approached.

"No! No, no, no! I don't want to die!"

As she was pinned down and the goblin's teeth were about to sink into her neck, she instinctively bit down on the goblin's arm with all her might.

The goblin's fangs tore through her skin and dug into her flesh.

"Ahh! It hurts! Help me!"

With her free hand, she swung it with all her strength and struck the goblin's head, pulling it away. Using the brief respite, she crawled back towards Noein.

"Please! I'll be serious! I'll be polite! I'm sorry for being rude! I'm sorry! Please help me!"

She was afraid of dying.

Thinking that "dying would be better" was such a shallow thought. She had never realized how terrifying death could be.

If she could live, she would do anything. She pleaded with Noein desperately.

However, his expression remained evil, and his eyes were cold.

"Oh, look at you, all teary and snot-nosed, crawling around so pitifully. Where's the proud Christie? Isn't pride important to you? Then you should work harder to protect it."

"Pride doesn't matter! I don't need it! I'll be honest from now on! Please, help me!"

Noein sighed and muttered, "Can't be helped," giving Christie a glimmer of hope.

"Matilda."

"Yes, Lord Noein."

"No, no, no, no, no!"

Christie was kicked away again and thrown in front of the goblin.

The goblin, raising its club to deliver the final blow, approached.

Christie, mustering an incredible amount of energy, stood up and shouted,

"Ughh!"

She charged at the goblin with a body slam. It was a clumsy attack, but the unexpected weight of Christie's body knocked the goblin down. Seizing the opportunity, Christie clung to Noein again.

She clung to Noein's leg and looked up at him.

Noein's eyes were still cold, not the eyes of a human.

...Ah, this is what it means to be a slave. Christie finally realized it in a true sense.

She was this man's slave. Her life and death were in his hands.

He was her master. Given her past attitude and words, he could have easily killed her.

Yet, how kind he had been until now. How much she had taken advantage of his kindness.

This was the price of that indulgence. She was learning, at the cost of her life, what position she was in and who had kept her alive.

"I swear my loyalty! I swear my loyalty to Lord Noein! I am yours! Please, have mercy! Have mercy!"

Her face was a mess of dirt, blood, tears, snot, and saliva. She couldn't see clearly, and her voice was hoarse.

Still, she turned her blurry gaze towards Noein's face and shouted with all her might.

"...Are those words true?"

"They're true! I swear! Lord Noein, please, save me!"

She clung to Noein's leg with her whole body. She wrapped her arms around his leg so tightly that even Matilda couldn't kick her away.

"...Alright. Radley."

"Right."

At Noein's command, Radley immediately drew his sword and ran. The goblin, caught off guard by the sudden attack, had its head severed.

After witnessing this, Noein knelt down and looked at Christie. He gently stroked her cheek, not minding the dirt and blood.

"I accept your loyalty, Christie. You are my precious slave and a beloved subject. As long as you remain loyal to me, I will love you as your lord and promise to give you a happy life."

Noein, smiling, looked like a god to Christie. Feeling an overwhelming sense of relief, she lost consciousness.