CDWR Vol.01 Chapter 17

Eleanor’s POV

My name is Eleanor. I’m a 15-year-old canine beastman. I was born in a regional city called Luzobul in the Kingdom of Fermilan. I am currently a slave.

Not long after I was born, my mother passed away. By the time I became aware of the world, only my father was left. Grief-stricken by the loss of his wife, he took to drinking heavily. While I was young, we still had some money, but by the time I turned ten, my father told me, “We’re out of money, go earn some,” and I started hunting in the nearby forest to earn our daily living.

That way of life ended when I turned thirteen. My father died, leaving behind debts. Slave traders came to our home almost immediately after his death. In lieu of my father’s debt, I was made a slave. At the age of fourteen, after receiving some education as a slave, I was bought by a merchant named Olan-sama. 

Life as a slave was much worse in terms of the quality and quantity of food, sleep, and living conditions. However, as long as I assisted with his business, there was no violence. I thought it was better than the life I’d heard about from others. About a year had passed like that when we were attacked by a group of around 100 bandits while visiting a village for work. 

Olan-sama, being a merchant with valuable goods, was targeted first and was killed. At that moment, a wave of despair washed over me as I realized what my future held. According to the slave law, if the owner dies, ownership transfers to the killer. If the killer is captured, the ownership moves to the local lord. Given the devastation of the village, it seemed unlikely that anyone would catch or kill these bandits.

Olan-sama had never laid a hand on me as long as I did my work, but with bandits, who knows? I already had a pretty good idea of what awaited me. At least, I wished it was someone I liked.

Yes, I’m a girl after all.

“Sigh, reminiscing about my life doesn’t bring up any happy memories,” I muttered unconsciously. “Was there any point to me being born? What purpose do I have? Was I born just to be used and abused by bandits?” 

No one would answer, I knew, but I asked anyway. But then, as I watched the village being ransacked in despair, I noticed that the bandits were getting killed, one by one, by a silver-haired man. Before I knew it, the so-called leader of the bandits was also dead. The remaining bandits fled, and just like that, my heart lightened as if my previous despair was a lie.

It seemed my next owner would be this silver-haired man. I became nervous.

He’s strong and cool… Oh no, this is bad! I’d heard that many beastmen are drawn to strong individuals. Was I like that too? I’m certain my eyes are heart-shaped right now! I absolutely want to remain his sl@ve! 

Taking a deep breath, I decided to approach the silver-haired man.

“Ma-Ma-Master, please treat me well.”

Ah, I stuttered because I was nervous. What have I done? But it’s not just about appearance and strength; personality is important too if we’re going to be together. I’ll watch and see! And if he’s also a good person… I want to devote everything to him!

◆◆◆

Rui’s POV

It has been a little over a year and a half since Dan and Sara passed away. —Sometimes I suddenly remember Dan and Sara’s smiles, and the way they lovingly called me “Rui-chan” and “Rui.” 

While I can’t say I’m completely fine recalling those moments now, a sense of calm prevails. I recently realized that I’m gradually coming to terms with their deaths, though the sadness never truly goes away. Perhaps because I tried not to think about them consciously, it took me a while to realize this.

I chuckled wryly at myself. 

That said, it’s been about ten days since I cleared the Labyrinth of Time’s Sorrow. As I went on, I easily defeated the monsters that occasionally attacked. 

Various thoughts occupied my mind as I moved forward. Having experienced bullying in my previous life, and unjust events like the stampede and Alfred’s misdeeds in this world, I decided to resist injustice at all costs. 

Speaking of which, I haven’t met anyone in a long while… As I thought this, I spotted a village. 

I didn’t know anything about this village as the map in Dallas’s library only had large towns marked. However, the smell of blood wafted over from the village, prompting me to rush in. 

Then, I could see a group of bandits attacking the village. When I used [Detection], I found that there were quite a lot of bandits, around 100 or so. 

They also attacked me. 

As I had never killed a person before, I first acquired [Mental Resistance] using [Creation].

+++

[Mental Resistance]

– Ability to reduce mental burden at will. 

– Choose what to lessen. 

– Can also ward off mental attacks and charms caused by [Dark Magic].

+++

Having acquired this skill, I swiftly took down the attackers.

I had felled about 40 of them when the bandits began to flee.

They likely had this village as their original target. Chasing after them would be a hassle. Should I let them be?

As I pondered, various exclamations came from the villagers:

“Chase them! Finish them off!”

“We’re saved!”

“Take down more bandits!”

“Protect our village!”

“Why didn’t you arrive sooner?”

Such remarks made me frown. ‘These people feel so entitled.’

As I tried to ignore them, a girl approached me.

Dressed in tattered clothing, she wore a black collar, and there were animal ears atop her head.

Could she be a beastman? I had never encountered one before.

She bowed and stammered, “Ma-Ma-Master, please be kind to me.”

For a moment, even with my [High-Speed Parallel Processing], my thoughts halted.

Regaining my composure, I engaged in conversation with her.

She revealed she had been a merchant’s slave; her master was slain by the bandits. By defeating them, I inadvertently became her new owner.

Upon examining her collar with [Appraise], I found it was named “Collar of Subjugation.”

As the villagers grew louder with their demands, I assured the beastman girl I had no interest in keeping a slave.

Yet, she persisted, “It’s the law of slavery.”

Her tenacity began to wear on me.

Reflecting on the need to abide by the rules if I intended to stay in this realm, a voice broke my reverie, “I’m Garo, the village chief. Pursue those bandits before they get away! Wipe them out!”

Others in the crowd echoed, “Hurry! Go now!”

What’s with these people?

I declined, assisting the collapsed beastman girl to her feet.

As insults from the villagers escalated, my patience waned.

Taking the beastman girl with me, I exited the village.

Before departing, realizing my pockets were empty, I took some coins from the defeated bandits.

I longed for the comfort of a bed, but not in a village with such hostility.

Once a safe distance away, we paused to rest.

It was then that I chose to listen to the beastman girl’s tale.