Two hours after beating up the old man.
Lilith and I were walking down the road.
I am currently, troubled…
For a while now, Lilith had been holding my hand and wouldn’t leave me alone.
She was holding my hand like lovers do, or clinging to me. There was nothing more annoying.
“Lilith?”
“Lute said it. That I’m a person you… treasure.”
“No, well, I did say you were one of the people I treasure, though?”
“… Kufu~… Kufufu~ I am… a person Lute treasures… Kufufu…”
“Lilith?”
“Lute said it. Definitely said it. That I am… a person he treasures… Kufu~… Kufufufufu~… kufufu~…”
Seriously, Lilith’s state was weird.
In fact, it was a bit scary.
Well, leaving that aside for the time being…
“What should we do about the slave mark? It’s a magic seal that can completely render the target’s abilities useless. Even Lilith, who can be called a superhuman, had no choice but to listen to a small fry. Should we get it removed in the town?”
“Ever since I left for the dragon village, I had never even seen the current owner’s face before. I’m in favor of removing their mark. But I’m against removing the slave mark itself.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m saying you can buy me back with ten gold coins. That way, Lute would become my master. Rather, I’ll even pay the ten gold myself.”
Lilith nods with a very serious face.
I tilted my neck at this point.
“What are you even saying? Saying you’ll pay the gold coins yourself. I really can’t understand what you’re saying.”
Even as I watched, Lilith’s cheeks turn red like apples.
“Blockhead…”
Her entire face was dyed red.
And then, as though she had made a huge decision, Lilith said.
“The slave mark, I want it to be Lute’s.”
“No, I really don’t get it.”
“I don’t need you to understand it. However, that’s how I want it to be, I just need you to understand that.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Is that so, do as you like. However, I’ll leave most of the restraints as blank, okay?”
Restraints.
It is something along the lines of a sort of conditions for using a slave, with labor slaves being a bit better off, and sex slaves having the worst form of treatment.
Essentially how much of a mess you can make, it’s like a fundamental promise in that regard.
Lilith puffed up her cheeks and shoulders.
“I want Lute… to restrict me… restrain me… strongly. That way, I can feel the bond between us…”
“Hmm? Did you say something? Well, I heard something that sounded like a landmine.”
“No, I didn’t say anything. If Lute wants to do so. I am fine with it.”
At that time, her voice was too quiet and even I didn’t hear it clearly, but Lilith definitely whispered something.
“But, this is truly a windfall. Best timing. With this, against that hero girl, I have a one-step lead.”
At this point in time, I should have noticed.
Since the incident with the zombie dragon, Lilith and I had been together.
But, I didn’t notice that.
Already, Lilith’s spirit was completely dependant on me. Various things would become like that from now on.
That said, I could’ve given her my reasons for what happened, but I didn’t notice.
Well, leaving that aside, we paid ten gold coins in the next town.
Once the paperwork was complete, the original owner would be given quite a hefty return, it seemed.
In Lilith’s case, although she was a runaway slave, she ought to have been considered dead along with the slave merchant.
That’s why, her owners would probably find this to be a lucky break.
— Thus, I became Lilith’s owner in both name and reality.
After walking for another four days, we finally reached the Artena Magic Academy.
On that day I met Cordelia again.