The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Rabies (3)

"Woof woof..."

The last remaining wolf collapsed, losing its life after a few final desperate bites.

Since those infected with dark energy didn't disperse even after their leader's death but became even more frenzied.

Eliminating them all took longer than expected.

I helped the soldiers by shooting arrows to cripple each wolf's legs one by one.

Though they thrashed about madly as if unaware of the arrows in their legs.

Regardless of the pain, they couldn't control their legs properly with muscles and bones pierced by arrows.

I took pride in having helped the soldiers who had faced the wolves head-on.

When the situation ended, Siabel stood before the corpse most heavily corrupted by dark energy among those eliminated.

Her penetrating gaze examined the wolf's cold body.

The corpse emanated an ominous aura, its fur turned black and eyes unable to close peacefully.

"Let's take some of the corpses with us. We should have the priests examine them."

At Siabel's words, the soldiers took turns picking up the three corpses most severely corrupted by magi.

As expected of a noble.

Siabel just quietly watched the orderly soldiers without lifting a finger.

The task of carrying the heavy wolves fell entirely to the common soldiers.

She remained in place, seemingly unwilling to even touch wolves tainted by magi.

Meanwhile, Sione walked slowly toward me.

Thump thump.

"What a state you're in."

Sione was covered in blood as if she'd fought a life-or-death battle with the wolves.

Moreover, though all the wolves were dead and no opponents remained.

It was quite something to see her approaching while still gripping her sword tightly.

When I took in Sione's appearance, she immediately gave a faint smile.

...Honestly, it was a bit frightening.

Like a madwoman.

Approaching with a smile while covered in blood from head down, sword gripped tightly in her right hand.

How could it not be scary?

Sione, whose appearance could evoke such chilling emotions, kindly asked after my wellbeing.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Of course not. But are you alright yourself, Lady Sione?"

"This much is nothing. After all, didn't I say I'm a Sword User knight?"

"But your current state..."

...She seemed to have struggled too much killing one wolf for a Sword User.

At my words, Sione checked her appearance.

Realizing her appearance wasn't particularly pleasant even to herself, she made an "oops" expression.

But that was brief as she noticed my concern and relaxed her expression.

"I told you not to worry. Though I look quite a mess... it's not my blood anyway."

"...You're much bolder than when facing those cultists before."

"It's wolf blood, not human blood, isn't it?"

Sione began trying to clean the sticky blood off her sword by shaking it.

"Moreover, they were creatures tainted by magi. Even I won't hesitate against such monsters."

As she said this, Sione frowned at how the blood wouldn't easily come off her blade.

"Pardon me for a moment."

"Ah."

Finding her clumsy actions rather frustrating, I practically snatched the sword from her hands.

Whoosh!

I skillfully flicked the sword in a half-moon motion to clean off the blood.

For the blood clots that remained stuck and hardened, I roughly wiped them off with cloth and my hand.

Well, the clothes.

We'd return tomorrow, so I could just change from this leather armor back to my servant's uniform.

Though blood stains would be troublesome to wash out.

But laundry wasn't my job but another servant's, so it didn't matter.

I examined the sword.

Though there still seemed to be slight red tints since I'd only roughly cleaned it.

Since it would be used many more times, this much should be sufficient.

As I walked slowly toward Sione with the sword, she flinched.

I stopped only after getting close enough to almost embrace her.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Please wait a moment."

I resheathed her sword at her waist.

Now that I'd properly returned it to its scabbard, I felt relieved not having to see Sione's appearance with a dripping bloody sword anymore.

However, the problem was Sione.

Whatever was bothering her now.

Even after I helped her, Sione glared at me with that inadequate expression.

"Ray... you're doing this on purpose, aren't you."

"On purpose?"

On purpose?

All I'd done was help clumsy Sione.

I tilted my head at Sione's incomprehensible words while expressing my opinion.

She finally seemed to give up, shaking her head repeatedly.

"Hah... it's nothing."

I quietly stood beside her as she spoke to herself with a tired expression.

Then, as if on cue, Siabel's voice rang out.

"Return to camp. Get ready for a brief reorganization, then we'll search this area."

At her words, we slowly began descending the mountain.

Sione and I walked slightly separated from the line of soldiers.

We had nothing to discuss with those people anyway.

And recently, being the only man here, I felt their gazes following me like Siabel's.

It was more comfortable walking separately with Sione like this.

Moreover, since the soldiers were currently struggling down the mountain carrying the wolves.

Hovering nearby would only earn their resentment if I got in the way.

At times like this, it was better to tactfully stay back.

As we walked behind.

Sione subtly began speaking to me.

"Um..."

Why was she hemming and hawing like this?

I didn't think anything had happened to make Sione react this way.

"What is it?"

Only after my question did she seem to make up her mind.

Gathering a bit of courage, Sione spoke:

"You seem to have gotten quite close with Sister Siabel... could you explain how that happened?"

"Ah, about that."

I looked at the soldiers' backs ahead of us.

Though Siabel was the only knight with keen hearing, there were many soldiers.

Though we were walking some distance behind, and they were busy carrying heavy wolves.

Someone with good hearing could still eavesdrop on our conversation if they tried.

I gently gripped Sione's wrist.

"Since someone with keen ears might hear, I'll tell you after we get a bit further from them."

"...Is this something that needs to be kept so secret?"

"Yes, it's not something that would be good for other ears to hear."

"Just what happened?"

Sione's expression darkened at my words.

Her shadowed countenance felt somewhat ominous.

"...Since you say that. Let's fall back a bit more."

We slowed our pace to create more distance from the line.

This should be far enough that regular soldiers, not being knights, couldn't eavesdrop no matter how good their hearing.

"So what is this reason?"

Sione also seemed to think so as she began pressing for my answer again.

If she'd just wait quietly, I would explain properly.

Why was she so impatient?

I slowly began speaking in response to her question.

"Lady Siabel Sianella discovered that I can use magic."

Sione's expression instantly hardened at my words.

"She discovered you can use magic."

"Yes, though Lady Siabel swore on the Sianella name to keep it secret..."

"If she swore on the Sianella name, given her personality, your magic won't reach other ears."

Sione brushed her hair back.

Judging by the small wrinkle visible on her forehead.

Even though it was her sister, she didn't seem particularly pleased about her knowing my secret.

"I'll talk to Sister about this separately."

Whew... Sione let out a small sigh.

"Do you know how she found out you can use magic?"

"When the orc charged at you, my lady."

"Ah."

"I used magic since I couldn't save you in time without it. Though I tried to use it as discreetly as possible... I still couldn't fool an Expert's eyes."

"...So it was because of me."

Wrinkles formed between Sione's brows.

"I'll take responsibility and resolve this cleanly."

"Thank you."

"It's only natural."

After saying this and flashing me a quick smile.

Sione muttered something while looking at the distant soldiers.

...Aren't you my slave?

"...Pardon?"

"What is it?"

"Didn't you just say something to me?"

"Fufu, you must be hearing things."

Saying this, Sione began walking ahead with lighter steps than before.

That subtly brighter appearance of hers continued even during our brief rest after reaching camp.

And it lasted until we began searching the area where we'd killed the wolves again.

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