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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: What a Keeper
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Surgery was over, but that didn't mean recovery was right around the corner.
Aira's body was etched with scars from months—maybe even years—of torture.
We'd managed to restore her missing eyes and teeth, but that was just the beginning.
It was only during a close inspection of her mouth that we discovered more.
Her teeth had all been pulled out, which made it easy to overlook at first, but her tongue showed signs of being ripped out and crudely reattached.
Her vocal cords seemed damaged from overuse, trembling faintly with every breath.
On top of that, there were the countless injuries from years of being traded as a slave.
Fractures, bruises, old inflammations, and scars.
Even after treating every visible wound, the deep-seated fatigue lingered stubbornly.
The time she'd endured just to survive had already gnawed away at her body.
And maybe that's why.
Once treatment wrapped up, Aira slipped into a deep sleep, her face as blank and surrendered as Piel's had been when we first met—like she'd let go of everything.
A comatose slumber, devoid of dreams or awareness.
It felt like her body forcing rest when it could take no more.
The silver lining?
Princess Evelyn, who'd assisted with the surgery, had tossed in a vial of Water of Life like it was a bonus gift.
Thanks to that, her recovery was visibly speeding up.
"Here. Since she's asleep, dilute it in water and feed it to her bit by bit."
I couldn't help asking as she handed over the small glass bottle.
"Is it really okay to hand over the imperial family's treasured Water of Life so casually?"
Evelyn stared at me for a moment, then let out a short sigh.
"Sigh, Lucas Argent. You say that before asking for favors."
She shrugged once, then continued matter-of-factly.
"I've already gotten this far helping. Might as well see it through—that's just how I am."
"Thank you, Princess."
"Good. Then I'm off."
With that, she shifted into the form of a bluebird and vanished quietly.
Nursing her went smoothly after that, and three days passed.
"Mm...?"
It was the tiniest sound.
"Gasp?! M-Master! She's awake!"
Piel noticed the change first.
She'd been placing a damp cloth on Aira's feverish forehead, froze in disbelief for a few seconds, then bolted straight toward me.
Her fluffy fox tail wagged wildly, like a new nurse rushing into a hospital room.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Stepping into the room, I saw Aira lying in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Then, tentatively—as if confirming something—she began touching her face.
Her throat.
Her cheek.
And her eyes.
"You can... see?"
Slurred pronunciation.
But the meaning was clear.
Aira blinked vacantly for a moment, then her green eyes widened.
Her gaze sharpened with focus, sweeping the room before dropping to her hands.
And—
Drop.
Drop. Drop.
Without a word, thick teardrops fell from her eyes.
These weren't tears of pain.
They were the far-too-late realization of a child finally reclaiming what she'd lost for so long.
"Piel, hang on. Let's give her some space."
"Yes, Master...!"
When a patient who's been unconscious from physical trauma wakes up, they all react similarly upon realizing their body is back.
Joy, confusion, relief.
And an overwhelming wave of emotions.
In those moments, it's better to let them have time alone rather than explain anything.
Piel seemed to know from her own experience and didn't press.
We left the room and let time pass.
About ten minutes later, when we returned.
Aira was sitting up in bed, her face somewhat composed.
Her eyes flicked first to Piel's neck.
The slave collar there, identical to her own.
And to me standing beside her—the only one wearing nothing.
A faint wariness flickered in her green eyes.
Piel caught it too.
Did she think her master was in danger?
I sensed mana slowly gathering at Piel's fingertips.
But I gestured for her to stand down.
It was fine.
At least, the Aira I knew from the original story wouldn't pull something stupid on her life savior.
To clear up the misunderstanding, I spoke slowly.
Where this place was.
How she'd ended up here.
And most importantly, who had healed her eyes, teeth, and wounds.
By the end of my not-so-short explanation.
Aira bowed her head briefly, steadying her breath—
Then dipped into a restrained bow, emotions held in check.
"Thank you. Lucas Argent. Not only did you care for me... but you've bestowed an immense grace."
Even discarded for lacking high-elf talent, her ingrained poise screamed 'princess.'
I asked plainly.
"Any discomfort with your eyes or teeth?"
"No. If anything... it's just awkward because it's been so long. Being able to see and speak again... I couldn't be more grateful."
As she finished, she bowed deeply once more, forgetting her status.
"Argent, huh... I must have drifted all the way here."
"To be precise, the cart transporting you as monster fodder was delivering to our family. I found you there."
Argent.
A name infamous even in the distant elven kingdom.
The family that dominated the continent's underworld through slave trading.
Even with her savior right in front of her, hearing that name could only harden one's heart with caution.
Aira seemed aware of it herself, her words trailing off oddly.
Just then, as her anxious, guilty gaze lingered on me—
"Master is a good Argent!"
"Piel?"
Piel, who'd been listening quietly by my side, stepped forward with a face that said she couldn't hold back anymore.
Her cheeks puffed slightly as she stared straight at Aira.
"Our master! He's an Argent, sure, but he doesn't treat slaves like slaves—he treats us like family!"
"Fa... family?"
"Yeah! When I was first taken as a slave, my mom died right in front of me. I was so sad... I even tried to die with her."
The room's air froze for a moment.
"But."
Piel caught her breath, then continued.
"Master Lucas saved me. He told me to live—that it was okay to keep living."
This was just my take, but honestly, it was pretty embarrassing to hear.
Still, Piel barreled on undeterred, rattling off our story like it was a 'praise your master' contest.
Watching her, I felt like I'd suddenly gained a daughter somewhere—drawing an involuntary chuckle.
"That's surprising."
Aira ventured cautiously.
"In our elven kingdom, the Argent name is notorious... the worst sort of humans, ones we avoid even approaching."
"No need to worry about that!"
Piel jumped in instantly, like she'd been waiting.
"Master is an illegitimate child in the Argent family anyway, so his blood's only half-mixed! Like a 'defective product'!"
"..."
"They don't even acknowledge him—servants gossip behind his back. They all call him a good-for-nothing!"
Hold on.
Is this praise?
It kinda sounds like insults mixed in.
But whatever—it seemed effective enough.
"So don't worry... From now on, let's do our best as Master's slaves together. Aira!"
"Ah..."
The wariness in Aira's eyes gradually faded.
Confirming it, Piel straightened up with a fake cough—ahem!
Then, like the 'head maid' I'd half-jokingly appointed before, she tentatively extended a hand.
Aira hesitated briefly at the sight, then nodded.
And took it.
"Yes. Looking forward to it, Piel."
"Me too, Aira."
The two girls shared a brief smile.
But then.
"Um... but."
Aira hesitated.
"My head's still a bit of a mess. Could I have a little time alone?"
"Oh, sure?"
Piel glanced at me.
"Master...?"
"Yeah. Go ahead."
I nodded.
"Rest more. Come out when you're ready."
"Thank you."
Aira gave a small wave and smile.
We closed the door softly behind us as we left.
The moment it clicked shut—
"Wooooow!"
Piel started hopping around like she'd been holding it in.
"Yes! Finally, a junior as head maid! I'll teach her properly from now on!"
Teach her, huh.
Our pint-sized fox maid could barely cook—what she could teach was honestly questionable.
But now wasn't the time to point that out.
"Piel, this."
"Huh? What's that, Master?"
"A net."
"...Ne, net?"
The excitement drained from Piel's face bit by bit.
Her grinning mouth stilled, ears twitching back subtly.
Only then did I get to the point.
"In a bit, Aira's gonna burst out that door trying to run."
"Wha-what?!"
"So when the door opens, throw this right then."
"...Huh?"
I pointed to the setup by the door.
A fishing net.
A bedsheet spread to cushion falls.
And a crude but reliable simple trap along the path from door to bed.
For an impromptu rig, it was pretty thorough.
Not far off from gear for live-capturing a giant rat.
"M-Master..."
Piel still looked lost.
"Why would she run?"
"I'd explain, but no time."
I kept my eyes on the door and said curtly.
"Grab her first, talk later."
"O-Okay!"
Questions lingered, but as my one and only slave, she fell in line.
She gripped the net's edge tight and swallowed hard.
"But... when do I throw it?"
"5."
"In 5 minutes—"
"4... 3..."
"?????"
And as the countdown accelerated—
Click.
The doorknob turned sharply.
At that exact moment—
"Sh-She's really coming out?! Hiyah!"
Whoosh!
"Kyaa?!"
Thud.
Aira, bursting through the door on legs still weak from recovery, took a few steps before the perfectly timed net snared her.
She tumbled right onto the bedsheet.
The big one was hooked.
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