The Male Slave of House Sianella - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Sione Sianella (1)

A Hunter's job was simple: clear and eliminate dungeons—remnants of ruined worlds from other dimensions.

Resources you could bring into dungeons were limited, and clearing conditions varied by type. The higher a dungeon's rank, the more treacherous and demanding it became.

Nevertheless, I had worked as a Hunter, clearing dungeon after dungeon. And this place—this world destined for destruction—was the last dungeon I had attempted and failed to clear.

Truth be told, since I was going to die anyway, suicide would have been the easiest choice after being reincarnated as a powerless man. Monsters roamed freely outside. Being a man who couldn't properly use mana was bad enough, but being a slave on top of that made life truly miserable. Yet no matter how difficult things got, I desperately wanted to live longer. The brief death I'd experienced in the dungeon had been more horrifying than anything—I never wanted to go through that again.

Then, as if showing me a path to survival, the status window that had been conspicuously absent until now returned.

I wanted to shout and dance with joy, but I held back. That kind of outburst would only get me beaten for being a crazy slave.

Instead, I stared intently at Sione Sianella.

Looking at her again, she was like a celestial maiden. Still, I swallowed my thoughts and quietly followed behind her.

"Huff..."

After walking for a while, an exhausted Sione stopped to catch her breath again.

Her weight was the issue. She appeared to carry quite a bit of it and clearly didn't exercise regularly.

No wonder she was out of breath after moving as quickly as if being chased by a crazed lizardman.

Anyone watching would think she'd left cookies in her room or something.

She turned to look at me again.

Why was she suddenly staring at me again?

While my face—from what I'd seen in mirrors—was handsome enough, it bore rather cold features.

I certainly didn't possess the kind of charm that warranted multiple glances.

...Was she looking for trouble?

Hoping to avoid unnecessary scolding, I bowed my head briefly before asking,

"Is something the matter, my lady?"

Sione's eyes narrowed slightly.

I maintained my composure, projecting the image of an unruffled servant.

Though her gaze felt like that of an irritating gold goblin, I couldn't risk showing any displeasure and getting on her bad side already.

After all, I'd be seeing her every day from now on.

"...It's nothing."

With those words, she truly resumed her way.

What was her deal?

After this brief incident, I finally followed her into her room.

"...Pardon my intrusion."

I took a quick look around Sione's room.

In a word, it was a disaster.

It was so disorganized that I questioned whether a human being actually lived here.

To put it bluntly, the kobold caves I'd encountered during dungeon raids had been cleaner.

Was this really fit for human habitation?

The air felt stale, as if the room hadn't been ventilated in ages.

"Finally made it..."

Regardless, Sione Sianella let out a relieved sigh as soon as she entered.

She naturally headed for the table.

Curious about her destination, I watched quietly as she picked up a cookie from a plate on the table and popped it into her mouth.

One wasn't enough—she grabbed all the remaining cookies and made her way to her bed, where she lay down.

She hid under the blanket and munched away at her snacks, heedless of the crumbs falling onto the bed.

So I was right—she did have food stashed in her room.

...And I would have to clean all that up.

I barely restrained the urge to smack some sense into her.

No matter how absurd this was, striking Sione would cost me my hands.

"Sigh..."

I let out a bitter sigh before asking,

"May I begin cleaning the room?"

Peek.

Her face poked out from under the blanket.

What kind of behavior was this?

She looked exactly like a goblin peeking out of its den to scan for threats.

Come on, I wasn't her natural predator.

Why was a noble of all people being so wary of me?

"Isn't that your duty? Get to cleaning already."

"...Yes, excuse me for a moment."

"I hate having commotion around me, so finish as quickly as possible."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Good, as long as you understand."

Could a person—a noble, no less—really speak with such spite?

Weren't nobles supposed to value courtesy above all else?

I'd better avoid talking to Sione as much as possible.

Otherwise, I might end up dead from either a blasphemy charge or simple frustration.

I opened the tightly sealed windows and began cleaning earnestly.

The state of the room was so dire, I wondered how previous servants had managed their cleaning duties.

It was less like a noble's chamber and more like an abandoned warehouse, with dust clouds rising everywhere I cleaned.

And here was the kicker—no matter how much I swept, cookie crumbs kept appearing. Just how many snacks had Sione Sianella eaten?

After exhausting myself with cleaning, only one spot remained.

Finally, it was time to clean the bed.

But who was my master? The waste of nobility, Sione Sianella.

She showed remarkable persistence in staying on the bed, completely ignoring my hints.

This was driving me crazy.

Not like I could just pick her up and throw her out the window.

Given my poor first impression, I couldn't help but view Sione unfavorably.

"Lady Sione Sianella, could you please vacate the bed so I may clean it?"

Peek.

There went that hobgoblin again.

She just stared silently, which was even more maddening.

"I'll finish as quickly as possible. Please."

"Haah—"

Sione sighed deeply enough to sink the ground.

She got up and trudged over.

Burying herself in the luxurious chair by the table, she cast a questioning glance my way.

"Why are you just standing there staring?"

"Pardon?"

"Clean it. The bed."

"...I'll finish as quickly as possible."

"Show it with actions, not words."

I couldn't take anymore of this—I'd go crazy if I kept listening.

Better to let it go in one ear and out the other.

I hurried to her bed.

As expected, its cleanliness was unspeakable.

Scattered cookie crumbs, her greasy hair strewn about.

Even stains from what must have been dropped food.

At this point, I'd need to change the sheets entirely.

But Sione Sianella remained the problem.

That look in her eyes—as if she was already criticizing how long this was taking, when she'd barely sat down.

She didn't seem likely to wait for me to change the sheets.

"Would it be alright if I changed the bedsheets?"

"I'm pretty sure I told you to finish quickly."

"But changing the sheets—"

"Who said not to change them?"

"...Pardon?"

"Hurry up and change them. The sheets."

She even jerked her chin as she said this.

I barely suppressed the urge to plant my fist in that chin.

Even when an orc spat at me in provocation, I hadn't been this angry.

The depths of this brat's ability to infuriate people seemed unfathomable.

When I stood dumbfounded by the absurdity, she took issue with that too and started in again.

"Do you have time to space out?"

"I'll go get them right away."

I hurried out of Sione's room.

While fetching new sheets, I quietly whispered in Korean for the first time in ages.

"Fuck..."

Of all people, I had to get stuck with a complete nutcase.

I had no idea how to even begin reforming someone like her.

"Hah... what's a slave got to worry about? Just do what you're told."

The corridor was empty, without a trace of anyone around, so this much muttering should be fine.

I just wished I had someone to commiserate with about my pitiful situation.

Having a companion to talk to would be nice at times like this.

I returned to Sione's room as quickly as possible with the fresh bedding.

Sure enough, she glared at me the moment I entered, clearly displeased.

"You're much later than expected. I'll overlook it this time since it's your first day."

"...I am grateful for Lady Sione Sianella's generous understanding."

No matter how annoying she was, I made sure to respond properly.

Fortunately, my response must have been correct, as Sione remained silent afterward and waited until I had completely finished making the bed.

"I'm finished. Thank you for your patience."

"Good work."

Sione immediately got up and dashed to the bed with rapid steps.

Well, 'dashed' might not be the right word—her weight made heavy thuds against the floor, but that was the general idea.

Once again, she burrowed under the blankets like a hermit.

I started on the final cleanup, ignoring her.

The room was sufficiently ventilated, so I closed the windows and gathered the cleaning supplies. Just as I was about to leave—

Peek.

That brat poked her head out of the blanket again to stare at the back of my head.

I couldn't ignore the feeling of her gaze.

I turned around once more to face Sione.

"Did you need something else?"

"You'll be coming back anyway. While you're out, bring some refreshments."

"As you wish."

Sione nodded with satisfaction.

Just as I grabbed the door handle to leave,

she peeked out from under the blanket again.

"You know to fill the plate completely, right?"

"...I'll do so."

This brat really was something else...

Walking down the corridor, I whispered in Korean again instead of the continent's common tongue.

"Goddammit..."

How the hell was I supposed to reform someone like Sione Sianella...?

I had absolutely no idea where to even begin.

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