Master and Slaves

“…Lord Hiroyuki, the humans have entered the forest.”

Auri reported that to me, but I could not see it.

“Even if you say that, I can’t see it.”

“I see. Lord Hiroyuki can still only go that far…”

“? …What is it?”

“No, nothing is happening at the moment.”

Auri had probably said that to reassure me, but the content seemed different from a moment ago…

“Lord Hiroyuki’s Dules also look well.”

The moment Auri said that, I concentrated my consciousness.

“Are they all there?”

“I do not know if it is all of them. The only Dule of Lord Hiroyuki I know is Sophia. However there are people around dressed as Dules, so I thought that was probably the case.”

Ah, that’s right.

Of course.

“Then how many are there?”

“…Including Sophia, perhaps seven.”

Um, Muriel, Sara, Rina, Sophia, Cathy, Tiria, Helma, Ilma… one short?

“Is something the matter?”

“Ah, is there a girl nearby? Dressed normally.”

“…Yes, there is. Two of them. They appear to be sisters.”

Rina and Rine.

Fuu.

Come to think of it, I had them dress normally.

“Are they all safe?”

“Safe meaning… um, there is one girl who is not safe… two?”

Eeh?!

“H-how are they not safe?!”

“…I am sorry, a loud voice is a bit… Sylph is startled.”

“Eh? Ah, I’m sorry.”

Out of worry I had apparently raised my voice unconsciously.

I honestly apologized to Auri.

However my desire to know the Dules’ condition had not changed.

“S-so…”

“Yes, a girl without arms… as for the legs… that is… a demonic insect?! There’s a demonic tree too! Why are they here?!”

When Auri cried that out, they leapt from that spot.

“N-no, Auri! That’s fine! Auri! Can you hear me!”

A bad premonition rose, and I called Auri.

I was also impatient, so no honorifics.

“Auri! Stop! Auriii!!”

I called Auri with all my strength, but there was no reply at all.

Even when I concentrated and tried to see, they had apparently gone outside the range; I could not find them.

Damn it!

What should I do?

Think.

…I’ll get out.

Force my way out of here… and then what?

Persuade Auri for now?

But in the worst case fight Auri…

And then an all-out war with the elves?

This is enemy territory…

Damn it!

What should I…

Aah, enough!

I walked by feel through the darkness.

Then my hand hit a wooden lattice.

This might break.

I clenched my fist and punched one of the lattice bars with all my strength.

The lattice snapped with a poki.

When I broke one more, a space one person could go in and out of was made… probably.

It was too dark to tell, but I could slip through there, so the purpose was achieved.

I was outside the prison, so maybe I could use magic.

Illuminate the four directions with light.

“Illumination.”

I chanted lighting magic.

However that magic slipped from my hand and was absorbed by the ceiling, the ground, and the walls on all four sides.

Apparently I had to get out of here.

Unable even to “see” the surroundings from the extreme darkness, I advanced by feel.

…

Light could be seen ahead.

It was light I had not seen in a while, so my eyes dazzled.

When I blinked a little and narrowed my eyes, the scenery around me came into view.

There elves were lined up sideways aiming arrows at me.

“Please return to the prison.”

A male elf who seemed to be the leader stepped one step forward and warned me.

“Stop Auri.”

“You! Calling Lady Auri without an honorific!”

A male elf behind the leader-like male elf suddenly got angry.

No, there was no time for questions and answers here.

I went toward the elves drawing their bows and leapt over them.

At that time two or three arrows flew, but I arched my body and dodged them.

Then I ran just like that in the direction where Auri would likely be.

Arrows flew from behind, but none caught up to me.

…

I ran through the forest as fast as I could.

I avoided trees, leapt roots, passed through thickets, and hurried toward the Dules.

Even then I concentrated and watched ahead.

Was Auri there? The Dules?

…There!

The elves at Auri’s side were arguing with Muriel and Sophia.

Ilma and Helma were hiding behind Tiria’s back looking frightened.

Helene was also standing on Muriel’s side.

However sooner was better.

Leaving my impatience as it was, I raised my speed further and rushed to where Muriel and the others were.

…

A little after that.

When I arrived, something had changed.

The ones arguing were Sophia and a male elf.

Ah, Sophia’s brother.

“You, and you still call yourself a proud elf!”

“My Master is human. Then I also have to follow human customs.”

“In the first place being led astray by a human man is the problem!”

“Hiroyuki is not human!”

“You said human just now.”

“He is human, but he is not human.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Anyway, I want to stay in this outfit! I don’t want to fall behind the other Dules!”

“What are you competing with humans for! You are an elf so have more pride!”

…I had walked in on a sibling fight.

While frowning I approached Auri’s side so no one would notice.

“As I thought, you came.”

Auri also covered their face with a hand as if exasperated, yet noticed me and spoke.

“…Did you expect it?”

“Yes. I wanted you to come this far. The demonic tree and demonic insect were unexpected, but well, it is fine.”

Auri turned toward me.

“…So what are you doing?”

“…This was unexpected.”

When I, who had been looking at Auri, looked toward Sophia and the others, Auri also sighed and looked the same way.

The cause was… probably Sophia’s outfit.

Like Muriel and the others she was wearing a short tunic with no cloth on the chest part.

Because of that her chest was completely exposed.

And Sophia was not wearing trousers.

Her rear was only barely hidden by the short tunic.

Her long, white, beautiful legs were fully exposed from near the base.

…She was wearing panties, right?

At any rate, that seemed to be why Sophia and her elder brother were arguing.

“Don’t appear in public in that outfit!”

“Whatever outfit I wear has nothing to do with you, Elder Brother!”

…Haa.

“So is it all right? The demonic tree and demonic insect.”

I asked Auri beside me.

Even now, no one but Auri had noticed I was here.