My Master

“Understood――I will live as I please.”

In front of the grave, Rin looked at my dark eyes with determination in her purple eyes, as if she’d made up her mind.

“Is that so… yes… that’s fine.”

That’s fine.

I’ll continue my fated fight with the Holy Church.

Rin will obtain ordinary happiness in a peaceful land untouched by war.

My wish is for Rin to be happy, and whether I’m by her side or not doesn’t matter.

“(Sid――are you really okay with that?)”

Ekarraat looked at me with a solemn expression.

Because our minds are linked by Necromance, Ekarraat can see my true feelings plainly.

That’s precisely why I drove the point home.

“(Ekarraat, don’t say unnecessary things――whatever the outcome, I’ll respect Rin’s feelings)”

“Master, could you bring out Vanargand?”

“Mm, yeah.”

I summoned only Vanargand’s head, and Rin climbed into its mouth――emerging from the interspace with a small box.

“Please take this.”

When I opened the box――inside was the continent’s common currency.

I didn’t have to pay a slave wages, but I used to give Rin a salary every month.

Glancing over the money in the box, it seemed she’d hardly used any of it.

“With this――I want to buy my freedom back from you, Master.”

“You don’t have to do that; Ms. Rourou has prepared a sufficient sum, and it’s good to have savings for contingencies. Keep this.”

“No. I want to become free by my own hand…!”

Rin’s resolve appeared firm.

What came to mind was――the first time I met Rin.

‘Please don’t abandon me… I’ll do anything! An-anything! So, p-please don’t…!’

When I reached to remove that damned slave collar, Rin refused it.

The girl, who’d been a slave since childhood, was afraid of ceasing to be a slave.

――Like a tamed bird choosing a safe cage over open freedom.

But now Rin, by her own will, was trying to let go of the slave collar.

I couldn’t refuse such a wish.

To free oneself from slavery by one’s own will.

Her growth and resolve felt like a farewell gift to me.

“Alright. With this, you’re free.”

I reached for Rin’s collar and flowed mana into it.

The master-servant bond dissolved, and the collar came off the girl’s neck.

“The wind is cold…”

A gust of wind stole the warmth from Rin’s neck, exposed to the outside air for the first time in years.

――My name is Rinrin Ringland.

――M-Master, does it suit me? I hope it’s not an eyesore…

――What a lovely home, Master!

――I’ll work hard to grow vegetables for you, Master!

――Welcome home, Master!

――Because Master is here, I’m okay♪

――Master♪

――Master?

――――Master!

When I looked down at the removed collar, memories of Rin flooded back one after another.

“(Ah――how pathetic I am. Rin is taking a step forward of her own accord, and here I am clinging to regrets)”

Not wanting her to see my distorted face, I turned my back on Rin.

“Let’s return to Rondario.”

From here to the southern frontier city Rondario, it’s a day’s walk.

However――with Vanargand it’s instantaneous.

That convenient spatial-travel ability wouldn’t grant time to lament farewells.

“Master! I have one more request!”

As I was about to enter the rift created by Vanargand, Rin called out and stopped me.

She grabbed the hem of my long coat, her hand trembling.

“What is it?”

“Please――hire me as your maid!”

“…!?”

I reflexively turned around.

There was Rin, staring at me with a desperate expression.

Her breathing was ragged; as if suppressing her pounding heart, she clutched at the bodice of her maid’s outfit, eyes mixed with anxiety and determination locking onto me.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

Rin had asked to be freed of slavery by her own will.

And yet――why?

Why would Rin do this…?

“It’s not because I’m a slave. I… by my own will… want to be with you, Master! You told me to live as I like! So, so… I… want to be by your side, now and forever…!”

“Rin…!”

Tears fell from Rin’s large eyes in a steady stream.

“Truly――you’re an idiot, Sid. You wish for Rin’s happiness, yet you don’t understand what happiness Rin wants.”

“Ah, I understand. Rin… from now on, please take care of me.”

“Master!!”

Upon hearing my words, Rin launched herself into my chest as if leaping at me.

She wrapped her small hands around my back and hugged me tightly.

“Master! Please don’t ever say you’ll abandon me again! I have no intention of serving anyone but you! Always, forever… please keep me by your side!”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Rin… so please don’t cry.”

“Ugh… buh-buh-buh…! It’s because… Master was being mean… and said it…!”

“That’s not it… I was thinking of you… that’s all.”

“If you think of me… then never say something like that again!”

As Ekarraat said, I’m truly a great fool.

I’ve lived to make Rin happy, yet I made her cry.

I reached out and held the sobbing Rin’s head and back, embracing her.

Gently――so as not to break her.

Yet firmly――so as not to let go.

“I’m sorry, Rin. I won’t say something like that again, and I won’t let you go. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you. So… stay by my side forever.”

“…Yes.”

One more thing, I gained a new understanding.

The small girl nestled in my chest taught me that.

That even in this body, whose heart had stopped and through which no blood flows――tears still fall properly.