Published: January 4, 2026
“Why is the chieftain’s daughter here, sold like part of a pile? Answer me.”
“Ugh…”
The girl, Peiyu, hesitated, but since the absolute obedience magic had already been cast on her, she couldn’t go against my orders.
With a bitter expression, she slowly answered my questions.
“My father let me escape.”
“Your father? But if you are the chieftain’s daughter, you should be a high-priority target among the spoils. He shouldn’t have let you go so easily, and even if you escaped, it’s strange that you were sold like this.”
“My father, along with my mother, killed another child and then committed suicide.”
“I see.”
That made sense.
Looking towards His Majesty, who had reigned at the pinnacle of the empire for many years and sometimes led campaigns himself, he quietly nodded.
The chieftain probably realized defeat and staged a family suicide.
That was common.
The fate of the defeated in war was usually tragic.
Rather than suffer that fate themselves, and have their children suffer it, leaders who realized defeat often took their own families’ lives.
Most likely, the chieftain did just that, and the investigation confirmed the numbers matched, so it was processed as such.
“So, she was let escape but failed to get away, was caught, and sold to a slave trader.”
“…”
Peiyu quietly nodded.
“She was told to abandon her name and live quietly somewhere…”
“I see.”
Now the story was clear.
“Noah, what will you do with this girl?”
His Majesty asked, and Peiyu trembled.
As the Prince Minister of Legal Affairs, I pulled up the imperial law ingrained in my mind.
“The Sahei Tribe never submitted to the empire and thus this is not a rebellion. Therefore, if of the chieftain’s bloodline, males are to be beheaded, while females are to be granted as slaves to those with achievements.”
“So there’s no need to take special action, then?”
“Exactly.”
Peiyu was already a slave.
With absolute obedience magic cast, she could not disobey my orders no matter what.
If I ordered her to die, she would cry and scream but her body would obey.
Our eyes met.
She looked scared and quickly averted her gaze.
She clearly understood that the man before her held the power over her life and death, and was frightened because of it.
“In that case, I will take that girl for myself, Noah.”
“I am deeply honored.”
I knelt on the spot and bowed my head.
Formally, it became a grant from His Majesty.
I stood up and looked at Peiyu.
“So, from now on, you are my slave. You’ll work as a maid in the mansion.”
“A maid?”
“Yes.”
“You won’t kill me?”
“There’s no need.”
People are treasures.
Having just heard of Jerry’s exploits and knowing Peiyu was under absolute obedience magic, I had no intention of killing her.
“…Um.”
After a brief hesitation, Peiyu gathered courage and spoke.
“Can everyone… all of them… come too?”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
Peiyu nodded timidly and looked around.
There were still many burlap sacks nearby.
“They’re all friends who grew up in the same village…”
“I see.”
I nodded and looked at the slave trader who had been silent.
“I will buy all of them here.”
“Thank you for your purchase!”
“And you heard our conversation just now?”
Saying this, I took out money and handed it to the slave trader.
I gave 1,000 Lien in cash, carried in a sack.
“If there are any other Sahei Tribe survivors, don’t sell them—send them to Prince Thirteen’s Residence.”
“Y-Your Highness the prince!?”
The slave trader feigned great surprise.
“Understood. Leave everything to me.”
“Is this acceptable?”
“—! Yes! Thank you very much!”
Peiyu was deeply moved and smiled brightly.
That smile was beautiful, and it made my heart flutter a little—but more than that—
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Alarate
Prince Minister of Legal Affairs
Gender: Male
Level: 15/∞
HP: C + D Fire: E + A
MP: E + D Water: C + S
Strength: C + A Wind: E + F
Endurance: D + D Earth: E + D
Intelligence: E + D Light: E + C