I Tamed the Slave Male Lead Chapter 40

‘In a way, he might be even more frightening than Sota.’

Thinking that, I answered his question as calmly as possible.

“She’s a quarter-elf. Her name is Alin.”

“A quarter-elf. Why are you trying to take such a creature? What do you intend to use her for?”

As expected, the Duke questioned me relentlessly.

I decided to answer this question honestly.

After all, the best way to tell a perfect lie was to mix in half the truth.

“She’s actually a slave I accidentally sold. She has a different owner, but due to my mistake, she was sent here and is deeply distressed. So I want to take Alin back and return her to her owner. She’s a very important person to me.”

“Hmm… So you’re saying you were the one who sold that slave to the Magic Tower in the first place?”

“That’s right.”

“I thoroughly checked the transaction records for other-race test subjects. Yet I swear I don’t remember seeing your name anywhere in those records.”

As expected, the Duke wasn’t easy to fool.

But I had already prepared an explanation for this part.

“I made the transaction anonymously. Publicly buying and selling slaves isn’t exactly an honorable thing for a noble lady to do.”

That was true as well.

After all, both Sota, who had originally planned this, and the original Arabella, who carried it out, had wanted to keep the matter secret.

“If I ask who the slave’s original owner is, will you answer me?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I see.”

The Master of the Magic Tower reached out and picked up his teacup.

His fingers were astonishingly delicate and beautiful.

After taking a sip of tea, he spoke in a thoughtful tone.

“A noble lady, especially one as famously frail as yourself, willingly entering a dangerous labyrinth means you are prepared to risk your life. I am truly curious who could possibly wield enough influence over you to make you go that far.”

“……”

I remained silent.

As though that fictional person truly existed, and I was keeping my mouth shut out of loyalty to him.

As expected, the Duke looked as though his curiosity was killing him.

But perhaps realizing that I wouldn’t answer, he changed the subject for now.

“Do you actually understand what kind of place the labyrinth is? Even the formidable Golden Eagle Knights are reluctant to enter it.”

His words were true.

The sealed labyrinth—the rift that contained the seed of the apocalypse—had appeared in this world over a hundred years ago.

If Emperor Kalita and Count Maiona hadn’t closed the labyrinth at the cost of countless lives, this place would have already become hell.

But starting more than a decade ago, monsters began emerging once again from the sealed labyrinth.

Fear spread throughout the people that the great catastrophe they had thought was over might be returning.

At the same time, the Imperial Family and the Temple were becoming corrupt, the land was growing barren, and magic was entering its decline.

It was truly an era under the dark clouds of an approaching apocalypse.

As far as I knew, the only hope in this hopeless world was two people: Yusiliph and Dorothea.

“I know. That’s why this person will be going with me.”

I pointed toward Yusiliph.

“Surely you already know who this person is, Your Grace.”

“Hmm. The winner of the Emperor’s birthday gladiatorial tournament. A former slave who developed sword aura through self-training, despite his origins?”

Duke Ameshika recited Yusiliph’s background in a monotonous voice.

As expected, he had known from the very beginning.

“There is no doubt that he possesses exceptional fighting ability. But while he may be capable of protecting himself, I believe the chances of him surviving the labyrinth while protecting someone as physically weak as you are extremely low.”

“……”

There was nothing wrong with his assessment, so I remained silent.

The Master of the Magic Tower took a sip of tea and paused, as though giving me a chance to reconsider his offer.

But when I remained silent to the end, the Master of the Magic Tower finally reached his conclusion in a languid voice.

“In any case, this isn’t a bad deal for me. If anything, if you succeed and return alive, you will become a benefactor to both me and my daughter.”

As he spoke, the Duke glanced at Ririen sitting beside me.

For the briefest moment, a trace of warmth passed through his dry, black eyes as they swept over her.

“Very well. I’ll open the labyrinth for you. Three days from now, come to the place I designate with that man.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“There is no need to thank me for opening a path that may lead you to your death.”

“I will definitely return, Master of the Magic Tower.”

I deliberately addressed him as the Master of the Magic Tower rather than Duke, speaking with absolute confidence.

He stared at me for a moment before opening his mouth.

“I consider wishing someone good luck to be a futile act, but today, exceptionally, I find myself wanting to wish you luck.”

I bowed my head in gratitude.

“If you succeed in this and save my daughter’s life, House Ameshika will not forget its debt to you.”

He extended his long hand toward me for a handshake.

His hand, when I clasped it, was warmer and softer than I had expected.

“Then, in three days.”

“I’ll see you in three days.”

I politely bid the Duke farewell before leaving his study.

 

***

 

“Arabella. I’m sure you have your reasons, but the labyrinth really is a dangerous place. Are you sure you’ll be all right?”

Ririen, who had come out to see me off, had genuine concern written all over her face.

It seemed she had grown quite close to me after only our second meeting.

‘She said I was the first person she’d ever invited here, too.’

Perhaps shy people like Ririen tended to give everything once they opened their hearts to someone.

I didn’t dislike her either, so I answered sincerely.

“To be honest, I am scared. But I’ll be all right. At least as long as this person is by my side.”

I subtly indicated Yusiliph with my eyes.

He stood a short distance away, silently looking up at the Magic Tower in front of him.

‘Is he thinking about Alin?’

He probably wanted nothing more than to cut down those magicians right now and rescue Alin.

Seeing him patiently endure it all in silence made me feel sorry for him.

“Is he really that incredible of a swordsman?”

Ririen whispered to me in a small voice.

“Just wait and see. He’s going to become the greatest swordsman in the world.”

“Oh my. Even though His Highness Crown Prince Sota has already become a Swordmaster?”

“Even so. Yusiliph will definitely become a much greater swordsman than the Crown Prince.”

Ririen tilted her head as she looked at me whispering back to her.

“You like him?”

“…What?”

“You like Arabella, don’t you? This bodyguard of yours.”

Ririen’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“N-No. It’s not like that.”

I stammered in my embarrassment.

I must have been too excited after successfully making a deal with the Master of the Magic Tower.

I had said something unnecessary and made Ririen misunderstand.

“Anyway, Ririen, don’t worry too much and wait for me. I’ll definitely come back with good news.”

When I changed the subject, Ririen played along as though she hadn’t noticed anything.

“You don’t have to bring good news. Just come back safely.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll bring good news, and I’ll come back safely, too.”

“…I owe you in so many ways, Arabella. I’ll definitely repay you someday.”

“You don’t have to.”

“No, I do. And about that quarter-elf woman I mentioned earlier, I’ll make sure she is released regardless of whether the two of you succeed in your labyrinth mission.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Starting today, I’ll personally make sure she has everything she needs and is comfortable while staying here, so don’t worry.”

“You’ll really do that?”

“Of course. You saved my life. This is the least I can do.”

Ririen said that firmly as she took my hand.

Yusiliph stood a little distance away, pointedly looking elsewhere.

He was pretending not to hear us, but with his extraordinary hearing, he had undoubtedly overheard our entire conversation.

My visit to the Magic Tower had been successful in many ways.

I climbed into the carriage with a much lighter heart and waved at Ririen.

 

***

 

“Here. A present.”

That evening, as usual, I handed Yusiliph a notebook when he returned from training in the forest.

“What is this?”

He took the notebook while rubbing his sweat-damp hair with a towel.

“These are the monsters we’ll encounter in the labyrinth. I wrote down everything I could remember about each monster’s appearance, behavior, and weaknesses.”

Yusiliph flipped through the notebook and glanced at me.

“Is this what you saw in the diary of your great-great-grandfather, the first Count Maiona?”

“…Yes.”

I answered calmly while pretending to look at the notebook to avoid his eyes.

I had lied quite skillfully to the Master of the Magic Tower, but for some reason, deceiving Yusiliph made me feel guilty.

He was the sort of person who seemed to see right through everything, after all.

“What an incredible memory. To remember the contents of a diary you read several years ago in such detail.”

As he said that, he snapped the notebook shut.

“Yes, that’s right.”

I answered confidently, lifting my chin.

“It’s one of my few strengths. I remember everything I see and hear.”

Since this was the truth, I had no hesitation whatsoever in saying it.

Even before I transmigrated, my memory had been my one natural talent.

I had such a good memory that I could remember the colors and flavors of breakfasts I had eaten as a child down to the smallest detail.

It was a memory ability commonly referred to as eidetic memory.

“Hmm.”

When he gave an indifferent snort, I became annoyed for no reason.

“I’m serious. I told you, I remember everything.”

“Is that so? Then answer this as well.”

He suddenly bent slightly at the waist until our eyes were level.

His scent, reminiscent of pine, wafted over me, making me dizzy for a moment.

“W-What?”

“The day you and I first met. What you said to me then. Do you remember that too?”

“…!”

Yusiliph stared intently into my trembling eyes, his gaze quiet yet fierce.