"Ugh... Where am I?"
Laldus woke up. His entire body throbbed with pain, and every breath felt like a struggle.
"That's right... I..."
He remembered everything up until he was struck by that monster-like automata's tackle.
"...I lost, didn't I?"
A voice reached his ears.
"Oh, Laldus, you’re finally awake."
He strained to turn his aching neck and saw Bemiaruche standing there.
"Dogmaralud was the one who carried you all the way here after that automata wrecked you. You should show a little gratitude."
"...Yeah, I'm grateful. So, where is this?"
"The northern part of the Lauren Continent... some ruins, I suppose."
"Ruins?"
"That’s right."
Dogmaralud stepped into view as well.
"I am not entirely certain of the history, but it seems a perished race once lived here."
"I see."
"The concentration of free ether is high, so it should be comfortable for you, should it not?"
"I suppose so."
"There is still a light barrier active. As long as you remain inside, your mana will not be detected. Besides, we are quite far from that place now. No matter how formidable that automata might be, even it could not have pursued us this far."
"...Right."
"You were quite badly beaten. Neither Bemiaruche nor I can use Healing, so you would do well to recuperate slowly."
"Well, you have my thanks."
And so, battered and bruised, Laldus began his recovery in the ruins situated in the northern Lauren Continent.
The following day.
"I am leaving this one to tend to your needs. Neither Bemiaruche nor I can afford to wait around until your injuries are fully healed."
"What?"
Dogmaralud had brought a young woman with him. She was an emaciated girl of about fourteen or fifteen. Her dark brown hair was a tangled mess, and she wore frayed, tattered clothing. Her brown eyes were vacant and lifeless, clearly indicating she was under the influence of Master-Slave Magic.
"I snatched her from a village about two hundred kilometers away. I have placed her in a state of servitude with Divieniunschiavo (Debyeni An Skyabo), so she cannot defy you. I have also plundered plenty of food and water, so rest easy."
"Hey, wait."
"Hmm? Ah, there were no decent medicines to be found, so do not bother asking."
"No, that's not it."
"What then? Do you still want something else?"
"No, it's just... will it be just her and me?"
"Do you dislike the idea? Would you prefer a different slave?"
"It's not that, but..."
"Then deal with it. Farewell."
"Ah, hey!"
Dogmaralud used Teleportation and vanished on the spot. Laldus was left alone with the girl bound by Master-Slave Magic.
"Master, shall I bring you a meal?"
The girl asked in the flat, monotone voice characteristic of those under the magic's influence.
"O-Oh, yeah. If there's food, bring it."
"Yes."
The girl left the room and soon returned with a tray carrying porridge and water. This had become Laldus's daily fare.
"Yeah, alright. Put it there. You can go now."
"Yes."
Since Laldus could at least move his right arm, eating was manageable. As for his other needs, he used gravita—Gravity Magic—to reduce his weight to one-tenth, allowing him to take care of himself.
The next day.
The girl bringing his meal stumbled, nearly dropping the tray.
"Whoa!"
She managed to prevent the tray from falling, but the cup tipped over, spilling water everywhere.
"I am terribly sorry. I will go refill it."
The girl bowed her head and moved to leave the room with only the cup. Her gait was clearly unsteady.
"Wait."
"Yes."
At Laldus's command, the girl came to a halt.
"You, is there something wrong with you?"
"..."
Only silence followed. She was unable to answer such an ambiguous question.
It was then that Laldus finally realized.
"You... you haven't had any food or water, or even sleep, have you?"
"Yes. I have not been ordered to do so."
"Good grief..."
Depending on how the Master-Slave Magic was applied, a subject’s judgment and autonomy could be severely impaired. It seemed Dogmaralud, who had likely cast the spell, hadn't bothered to consider the details.
Laldus heaved a sigh.
"...It’s an order. After you fetch the water, you are to eat whatever food you need and go to sleep."
"Yes, I understand."
The girl fetched the water with unsteady steps, returned it to him, and then left the room again. This time, she did not immediately return. She had likely gone to eat and rest.
"...I suppose I'm the one doing the cleaning, then."
Laldus used his Gravity Magic once more to reduce his weight and the weight of the dishes to one-tenth, managing to tidy up the spill himself.
＊ ＊ ＊
A month passed. The date was now June 17.
Laldus's wounds had finally healed.
"Ah, I can finally move properly again. Damn that monster of an automata."
Laldus spat out a curse as he prepared to leave the hideout...
Then he noticed the girl standing there.
"Thanks for everything."
Saying only that, Laldus stepped out of the room.
"Ah, it’s been a while since I've breathed the outside air."
Bathed in the sunlight and feeling the breeze, he felt his spirits lift.
"Now then, what should I do next?"
Laldus took a few steps forward, but then his thoughts drifted back to the girl.
(That girl... unless the Master-Slave Magic is dispelled, her own will won't return. That means she can't survive on her own.)
He paused and shook his head.
"Tch, why should I care about a human or two?"
He spoke the words aloud, yet his feet refused to move forward.
(...Did I grow attached to her while she was looking after me?)
Laldus stood still for a long moment before eventually spinning around.
"...She's like a pet. Nothing more than a pet."
Muttering the excuse to no one in particular, Laldus returned to the hideout.
The girl was standing exactly where he had left her.
"Hey."
"Yes, Master."
"You're coming with me."
"Yes, I understand."
Taking the girl who remained bound by magic with him, Laldus vanished into the distance.