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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: My Master's Obsession is Like the Heavens
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The soft feel of the pillow and blanket registered against my skin. The distinct scent of logs subtly pricked at my nose.
Sure enough. When I opened my eyes, I saw the familiar ceiling.
'Ah, right. I passed out.'
As my consciousness returned, the situation began to clarify.
'I had a backlash after fighting Dunkel.'
The moment I was forced to use the power of the 'Vessel of Sin.'
My Master appeared like the wind and turned Dunkel into ashes.
And then she asked. If I had brought a woman into the house.
"..."
My eyes reflexively closed. For some reason, I felt like I shouldn't get up right now.
Sure enough, I sensed a presence outside the door, and faint voices reached my ears.
"...It seems the explanation of the situation is mostly done. Here, take this. You've experienced it once, so you should handle it well, but this might help in unforeseen circumstances."
It was my Master's normal tone, which I hadn't heard in a long time. Who was she talking to?
'Ah, what about Rose?'
I had left Rose sleeping at home and gone out to deal with Dunkel.
But now I was lying here. This meant that Rose, who was asleep, and my Master had met.
Gulp, I swallowed dryly.
Because my Master had always earnestly warned me to abide by two rules.
First, never reveal the log cabin's location to anyone.
Second, always keep away from women other than herself.
I had asked her once. The house's location was one thing, but why did I have to keep away from women?
-"Uh... Haven't I told you that my disciple's body was forged from the Vessel of Sin?"
-"If your body and mind are not yet mature... and you get too close to women... you will be consumed by 'Lust,' one of the sins."
It was a very plausible answer, aside from her wavering pupils and slightly trembling voice.
It wasn't that I didn't feel rebellious.
But I was young, and more importantly, I had no reason to get involved with women, so I just went along with it.
But then.
Daphne had caught me as I was collapsing and asked in a voice that seemed to be suppressing something:
-"Did you, by any chance, bring a woman into our house?"
It was hard to imagine. What kind of reaction my Master would have had upon seeing Rose sleeping soundly in my bed.
'Surely not this woman?'
She wouldn't have harmed Rose, would she?
"How can I ever repay this kindness, Your Grace...? If it weren't for Your Grace, my family..."
As my imagination strayed into the realm of fiction, a familiar voice reached my ears.
It was Viscount Darmian. That meant my Master had brought the Viscount here.
"Th-thank you, Master!"
Immediately after, Rose's small, trembling voice followed.
Seeing that she was expressing gratitude, it seemed that what I had imagined fortunately hadn't happened.
"Right. But why am I *your* Master?"
I flinched, my body instinctively recoiling at the clearly displeased voice.
"I heard you're Camel's Master. So wouldn't you also be my savior and Master? Thank you so much, Master."
"Hah... I've dispelled all the illusion magic and given all the help needed, so I'd appreciate it if you could leave now. I'm a bit tired, you see."
Regardless of my anxiety, Rose answered brightly, and my Master overtly showed her displeasure, issuing an order to leave.
"We were inconsiderate. It's late, and we've been a great imposition. We won't forget this kindness. If you ever need help..."
"It's fine, just make sure the aftermath is handled cleanly. Especially the remnants of chaos, it would be good to submit them as evidence in an official capacity. And..."
Even though she had just issued an order for them to leave.
My Master began giving Viscount Darmian various pieces of advice that would help with the aftermath.
"...That way, it will be considered self-defense. Oh, and I'll say it again: my disciple and I have nothing to do with this incident. Understood?"
"I'll keep that in mind. Then, we'll be heading down now. Rose? Rose, say goodbye to Lady Daphne and let's go."
Just as the pleasant conversation ended and they were about to leave.
"Th-thank you. But Master, I..."
"What, do you have something to say to me?"
Rose hesitated, trailing off, and my Master asked again in a strangely sharp tone.
"N-no, it's not that. If it's not too rude, I'd like to say goodbye to Camel too..."
"Yes. That is rude. What kind of goodbye are you going to say to a kid who's unconscious..."
"Even so..."
"Hah, do whatever you want."
"Thank you, Master!"
Didn't I tell you not to call me Master?
With a gruff remark, the door opened, and I sensed a presence.
As Rose's small, light footsteps approached, I squeezed my eyes shut and pretended to be asleep.
It was the right choice. Soon after, I began to sense my Master's presence behind Rose.
"Camel."
A small, delicate hand took mine.
"Thank you. And I promise."
A warm, squishy sensation touched my hand. It was soft like mochi, so it seemed Rose had placed my hand against her cheek.
"Just as Camel said, I won't hurt anymore. I won't hurt myself either."
"Because I realized that if I do, precious people like you might hurt even more."
"So instead of hurting, I'll choose to protect."
Even though she was rubbing my hand all over her cheek.
Rose spoke to me in a surprisingly serious tone.
'Such a thoughtful child.'
Although I was pretending to be asleep.
Listening to the monologue of a child who wanted to overcome hardships and stand up on her own, my heart was touched.
Honestly, I felt like getting up right away, stroking her head, and showering her with praise.
"Alright, are you done? Now, if you'd just..."
If only my Master wasn't there, barely concealing her displeasure.
Meanwhile, Rose continued speaking to me, completely unfazed by my Master's discomfort.
"It's the same for you. Next time, I'll protect you, Camel."
"Hah!"
My Master finally let out a click of her tongue.
The moment I thought something might happen and was about to open my eyes.
-*Smooch.*
A moist and soft sensation on my cheek.
For a moment, my mind went blank.
-*Whoosh.*
I heard the sound of something vanishing.
"..."
I slowly opened my eyes. Wondering what had happened.
Sure enough, there was no one left in the room.
It seemed my Master had used teleportation to take Rose and Viscount Darmian away.
"...Why am I being so cautious?"
A wave of self-reproach washed over me. I hadn't done anything wrong, yet I was being cautious.
"Hah."
I sighed and sat up. Perhaps it was due to the tension, but I felt thirsty.
So I gulped down the water I saw next to the bed.
Gulp, gulp, as the cold water quenched my throat, I finally felt a little alive again.
"What should I say to Master..."
Separate from the momentary coolness, worry began to creep in again.
I had broken the rules my Master had earnestly laid out, and I had even been caught red-handed.
It was a situation where I couldn't escape a severe scolding.
"For now, let's just sleep."
Tomorrow's me would deal with the scolding.
Just as I thought that and was about to lie back down.
A voice that sent shivers down my spine came from beside me.
"My disciple has become quite cunning, hasn't he? Even pretending to be asleep."
"Puh-ha!"
Turning my head towards the source of the voice, I spat out all the water I had in my mouth.
"Haha..."
My Master, who had just received a face wash from that water, let out a chuckle, her eyes wide.
"It seems a little discipline is in order."
She stood up and began channeling her mana.
"Master."
Feeling a great sense of crisis, I shot up from the bed and calmly called out to her.
"Yes. Speak. Let's hear what excuses my disciple will ramble on about..."
"Master!"
No, I had to call out to her urgently.
"Are you alright?"
Because my Master, who had been channeling her mana, suddenly collapsed.
****
It was the first time. Seeing my Master so vulnerable.
My Master had suddenly collapsed earlier. I quickly laid her on the bed and was watching over her, wanting to nurse her.
'What on earth is that?'
Invisible chains, visible only through my All-seeing Eye, moved and bound Daphne more tightly than usual.
It was always like that, but today, it was much worse.
I tried infusing mana, and I tried to touch the chains, but the invisible chains only bound her more tightly.
"H-huh, huhh."
Was she having a nightmare?
Daphne groaned, then eventually began to sob and murmur.
"Don't go..."
"No... please..."
"Why... why on earth..."
"This kind of contract, you just... on your own..."
I didn't know what she was saying. But for some reason, my heart ached as if it were tearing apart.
I saw Daphne's face.
A pale face stained with tears,
A sorrowful expression, as if she had lost the world.
What kind of story did she carry to be able to hurt so deeply?
"..."
Unable to bear the pity, I clasped her hands with both of mine.
Hoping that her unknown pain would subside, if only a little.
This was all I could do for Daphne.
"...Camel."
Had I dozed off for a moment? My Master's soft voice reached my ears.
"Are you alright? You scared me a lot..."
It was just as I was speaking, feeling that the invisible chains had calmed down.
My hand was pulled, and my body was drawn in.
"Gah!"
Suddenly, my face was buried somewhere, and I felt a soft, yielding pressure.
Startled, I tried to pull away, but couldn't.
"Just, just stay like this for a moment."
"...Okay."
Because I felt my Master's body, which had always seemed so overpowered, trembling slightly.
"Did I collapse?"
"Yes, I was very surprised. Are you perhaps hurt..."
"I'm fine."
"But why..."
"It's just that I paid a price, just as you deceived the scales and paid yours."
What did that mean? I had questions, but I didn't press further.
For some reason, it felt like I shouldn't.
So I carefully patted her back.
"Pfft, my disciple is quite cunning after all. He even knows how to pat his Master's back."
Then Daphne let out a chuckle and pulled me into a stronger embrace.
It was a strange feeling. It felt like only yesterday Daphne was threatening to kill me, but now we were at a point where we could comfort each other.
"Disciple."
Did she feel my heart pounding?
"From now on."
Daphne whispered to me in a warm tone.
"Don't even dream of staying out overnight. Unless you want to die."
A curfew, then.
****
I had experienced many things.
I had learned many things.
And so, I turned seventeen.