The Freed Slaves Are Obsessed-Chapter 165: Love?

Today was one of those rare days when Ashies was left alone. It was because Karami had left to take care of some other business, claiming there were many preparations to make.

"Don't wander around alone. If you need to go anywhere, make sure to take Ferca with you."

He hadn’t forgotten to emphasize this instruction before leaving.

Following Karami’s words, Ashies kept Ferca within sight at all times. Ferca, who didn’t have much to do either, simply sat on a bench and watched the others at work.

“Everyone looks busy. Feels like we’re the only ones with nothing to do in Doomheim.”

It was all a scene Karami had orchestrated.

Ferca had seen it too—the moment when Karami convinced the dwarves. His persuasive words had been so compelling that resistance was practically impossible.

The chills she felt while watching him command people like puppets—the shiver that ran down her spine—

Ferca had sensed it instinctively.

Not just admiration, but reverence.

And fear.

“I just can’t figure out what that man’s true intentions are.”

On the surface, he seemed to be doing everything for Ashies’ sake. Yet, in reality, he was a reaper who played with the lives of slaves.

The gap between rumors and what she had witnessed was so stark that it defied ordinary comprehension.

Ferca couldn’t help but worry about the fact that Karami was Ashies’ master. If he truly cared for Ashies, he would free her from slavery and treat her as an equal.

“He’s definitely up to something.”

There was no telling what someone like him might do to such an innocent soul.

It seemed Karami’s influence was already affecting Ashies. ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) She was touching and removing her hand from her chest repeatedly, tilting her head in confusion.

What’s wrong now?

Ferca asked, her voice laced with concern.

“What’s wrong?”

“This place... feels strange.”

“What?”

Ferca flinched.

The spot Ashies had been touching was right where her heart was.

Alarmed, Ferca pressed her ear against Ashies’ chest.

Thump... thump... thump....

Perhaps it was because her master’s personality was so calm—her heartbeat was slow, but steady.

“You seem fine. Are you feeling sick or something?”

Ashies shook her head. With her hand still pressed to her chest, she recalled the sensation she had felt yesterday.

“It was... fast. Thump-thump. My body felt hot too....”

When she’d felt that sensation, Ashies had swallowed her surprise. The warmth that had surged through her—a warmth she thought could never exist within someone who carried the cold—had flowed out from her own body.

“Could it be a cold? Wait, can a snow woman even catch a cold?”

The idea of Ashies catching a cold when she couldn’t feel the cold was amusing in its own way, but Ferca doubted that was the case.

“You’re not feeling like that now, right?”

“No.”

“When did it happen?”

“Yesterday... when I was looking at Rami....”

“Your heart sped up, and your face got hot when you looked at him?”

Ferca quickly came to a conclusion.

“That sounds like anger.”

“Anger...?”

“He’s the one who made you a slave, right? So seeing him probably made you mad.”

There was a collection of emotions Karami had once written down for Ashies—a guide to help her recognize her feelings.

Ashies mentally reviewed that guide as she recalled yesterday’s sensation.

Could it really be anger?

It seemed plausible, given how similar the symptoms were.

“Well, there is one more possibility....”

Uncertain, Ferca hesitated before carefully continuing.

“Love, maybe?”

“Love....”

Ashies softly echoed the word. The unfamiliar syllables lingered on her lips.

But unlike with anger, this time was different.

The word “love” didn’t scatter. It sank slowly, reaching the center of her chest.

A sensation tapped gently at her heart.

Her usually steady and cold heartbeat felt oddly irregular. She’d merely spoken the word, yet it unsettled her so much.

Ashies closed her eyes and took a deep breath. But the feeling didn’t fade as easily as breath. From the depths of her memory, a fairy tale resurfaced.

The prince who kissed the sleeping Snow White.

And then, scenes began replaying in her mind. The way he had looked at her—without asking for explanations—the tenderness, the smile, the tone of his voice, even the brush of his hand.

‘Ah....’

By the time she realized it, her heart was already reacting. The same feeling as yesterday. Her heart pounded loudly.

“Well, it’s probably nothing, so don’t think too much about it. Even if it’s true, Karami is off-limits.”

“...?”

As Ashies tried to process the gentle sensation spreading inside her, Ferca interrupted with a blunt statement.

“That man is a reaper. An evil villain who should be wiped out. You can’t like someone like that. You shouldn’t.”

“Is that... so?”

“Yes. Absolutely. Don’t forget it.”

Ferca’s stern expression left no room for argument.

Her harsh words seemed to smother the fragile feeling, yet Ashies carefully stored the lingering warmth deep in her heart before it could disappear completely.

*****

“So, love between a master and a slave can’t exist. No one would keep someone they love as a slave, right?”

Ferca’s sermon dragged on the entire way home.

If there had been an aptitude test, Ferca might have scored high enough to become a school principal.

Ashies had long since blocked out the endless lecture by covering her eardrums with a thin layer of ice.

“Karami suffers from chronic flirtation syndrome. He even tried it on me. With that face of his, most people would’ve fallen for it. Of course, I didn’t.”

“...Yeah.”

“I’m saying this for your own good. Just in case. Really, just in case. Keep it in mind.”

Ashies had developed enough sense of self-preservation to realize that agreeing was the fastest way to end Ferca’s nagging.

She nodded mechanically, her voice hollow.

As they walked, their house came into view. The sound of hammering echoed in the air.

They headed toward the forge, where Torvar was drenched in heat and sweat, pounding away with his hammer.

“What are you making?”

“A ring.”

“A ring? Who’s it for? Father, don’t tell me—”

“It’s not like that.”

A new stepmother?

Ferca’s imagination was swiftly shut down by Torvar’s blunt response.

Since Karami hadn’t asked him to keep it a secret, there was no reason to hide it.

“The reaper slave guy asked for it.”

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“What? Karami did?”

Ferca wasn’t surprised for no reason. Rings often carried special meanings beyond mere ornaments.

While they could symbolize decoration or friendship, they were most famously known as tokens of love.

Having just lectured Ashies about love (or rather, having delivered a one-sided sermon), Ferca couldn’t help but leap to conclusions upon hearing that Karami had ordered a ring.

“No way!”

Ferca whipped around to look at Ashies.

Could it be for her?

A proposal?

From a master to a slave?

A reaper slave owner, no less?

Was this supposed to be romantic or deranged? Was he trying to turn her into some kind of ghost bride?

Then again, maybe Ashies was too precious for Karami to let go, even as a reaper. Perhaps this was a genuine proposal, filled with sincerity.

“Sis. You can’t accept it. Understood?”

“Why...?”

“What do you mean why? Haven’t I explained this to you over and over? Did you already forget? This won’t do. I’ll explain again from the start.”

“──Ah.”

Ashies realized her mistake too late.

Ferca’s lecture had already begun.

*****

I returned home after finishing a strategy meeting with the dwarf warriors and artisans about how to approach the battle.

“What’s with the atmosphere in here?”

The house felt different from when I’d left.

Ashies sat with drooping shoulders, looking more deflated than a dog that got scolded by kids during a holiday. Her eyes sagged like she’d lost a fight.

Meanwhile, Ferca glared daggers at me, eyes ablaze.

What the hell is going on with them?

Then again, they were strange to begin with.

Was there anyone as normal as me in this world?

Thinking too hard about it would just tire me out. Better not to bother.

“Ashies, pack your things. We’re going on a trip.”

“A trip? In this situation?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not—”

“We’re not running away, so don’t even think about it.”

I cut off the nonsense before it could start.

Ferca clamped her mouth shut, probably having assumed I planned to flee with Ashies.

“Where are you going? I want to go too!”

But, of course, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut for long.

“Not this time. It’s just the two of us. Stay here and behave yourself.”

“What? That’s not fair! What, is this some kind of honeymoon or something?”

Where did that even come from?

Talking to her made me feel like my IQ was dropping, so I ignored it.

“Ashies, don’t you want to see your hometown?”

“My... hometown?”

“Wait, do you mean—?!”

As expected from a die-hard Snow White fan, Ferca caught on immediately.

“Yes, exactly what you’re thinking. We’re going to the Winter Kingdom—the one cursed by the dragon and turned into a living fairy tale.”

Ferca, who had seemed somewhat subdued, flared back up in excitement.

“The Winter Kingdom! I want to go too!”

I understood how she felt.

Ever since Lake Fortress, Ferca had practically lived and breathed stories about the kingdom. At first, she probably thought it was the delusions of a senile patient. But now, it had turned out to be real.

A fairy tale brought to life. Seeing it firsthand was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

“Still, no means no.”

But you’re not coming.

I couldn’t let her ruin the experience by yammering nonstop while Ashies took in the sights.

Besides, you glared at me like I was a pervert earlier, didn’t you?

I bet you were thinking something ridiculous, and this is payback.

I ignored Ferca’s whining about unfairness and turned to Ashies.

Her face, usually blank, showed a flicker of hesitation.

“What do you think? You’ll be able to see a lot if we go.”

Ashies, who had seemed frozen in thought, nodded as if hypnotized.