Chapter 0: Become an exclusive servant

It’s been quite some time since I was thrown into this world without even knowing why.

I’ve somewhat adapted to staying by my master’s side as a wretched slave and servant.

As ordered by Ainell Sianella, the head of the Count Sianella family, I was constantly waiting by her side.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door to the office.

Ainell Sianella, who was handling several documents, shifted her gaze toward the door.

Her sleek silver hair shimmered, and her indifferent blue eyes seemed to pierce through the wall, sensing the person behind it.

“…They sure came quickly.”

Flinch.

I shuddered when I heard Ainell Sianella mutter those words.

No matter what I used to be, now I’m nothing but a weak male slave.

Even if her words weren’t directed at me, just hearing the voice of someone as powerful as the head of the Count’s family was enough to chip away at my mental strength.

…It feels like my stomach is starting to hurt.

I should just keep quiet.

“Come in.”

As soon as Ainell granted permission, a woman carefully opened the door and entered.

“…You called for me, Mother?”

“Yes. But Sione Sianella, your steps were slower than expected.”

“My apologies.”

Her head, already bowed, sank even lower toward the ground.

I glanced at Sione Sianella, Ainell’s second daughter.

Unlike Ainell, she looked pitiful.

While Ainell, a Sword Master nearing the pinnacle of her craft, exuded strength and beauty to the point of dominating the space around her…

Sione was the complete opposite of her mother.

Despite being born into a martial family, Sione’s figure was overweight, as if she had no regard for diet or movement.

The only things she inherited from her parents were her dull blue eyes and silver hair.

Her eyes were cloudy, and her silver hair was dry and lifeless — making it hard to believe she was Ainell Sianella’s daughter.

Of course, even if she looked like that, I wouldn’t dare to stare directly at her.

Making a mistake and being accused of disrespect could easily cost me my neck.

After all, I’m no longer the proud top-tier Hunter from Korea; I’m a male slave in a world where gender roles are reversed.

If I want to survive, I can’t afford to forget my status.

I shifted my gaze away from Sione and quietly listened to the conversation.

“Can I ask why you called for me…?”

“You should know the reason better than anyone else.”

“……”

“There hasn’t been a single person left in the Count’s household willing to serve you for quite some time, thanks to your petty outbursts and rude behavior.”

“…Yes.”

“And even when I forcibly assign a servant to you, they flee soon after due to your verbal abuse.”

Ainell’s voice was calm, merely stating the facts.

Sione’s shoulders shrunk under the weight of those words.

“I’ve wondered what I should do with you. And just as I was pondering that, I realized that your nineteenth birthday is approaching soon.”

Tap, tap.

The sound of Ainell tapping the armrest of her chair with her index finger echoed in the quiet office.

“It would be pointless to gift you a sword crafted by a renowned artisan from the territory, as your mediocre swordsmanship is far from deserving, and you have no passion for the blade.”

“Likewise, a gift related to holy powers wouldn’t suit you, as that is more fitting for the third child. And thanks to the bloodline’s affinity with swordsmanship, you lack even the slightest talent for magic.”

Ainell’s harsh criticism left Sione’s shoulders so slumped, it seemed they’d never straighten again.

Damn, she might not even be her real daughter…

Listening to Ainell mercilessly tear down her daughter’s pride, I began to grasp what kind of person Sione was.

She had no talent for the family’s traditional swordsmanship, and she couldn’t wield magic. In other words, she was a half-baked noble with nothing to her name but her birthright.

Perhaps because of this, she made no effort in anything, passing each day lazily and indulging in her noble status.

It was clear that this was the kind of person Sione was.

“So, as your birthday gift, I have prepared a personal servant for you.”

“A personal… servant?”

“Yes. Since his status is that of a slave, you won’t face any scandals, and though he’s a man, he knows how to handle mana, making him more capable than the other servants.”

“Are you perhaps referring to that man standing by your side as my personal servant?”

Sione glanced in my direction.

I quickly averted my gaze, lacking the courage to meet her eyes.

“That’s right. If not, why else would I have kept him by my side?”

Ainell nodded.

So all the training I’ve been receiving since being sold to the Count’s household was for this…

“His training as a servant is already complete, so from the moment you leave this office, he will begin working under you.”

Ainell, resting her chin on her hand, fixed her blue eyes on her daughter.

“He will be the one supporting you from now on, so don’t treat him poorly just because of his lowly birth. You wouldn’t dare mistreat a gift from your mother, would you, Sione?”

“…No, I will be careful.”

Her response was subdued, as though the pressure from Ainell’s sharp gaze and words had completely overpowered her.

At the very least, since Sione seemed to fear Ainell, I probably wouldn’t face any unreasonable bullying.

I felt relieved inside.

Even as a slave, no one likes being mistreated for no reason.

Ideally, I hoped our relationship would be one where I focused on my work, and Sione did hers—without any unnecessary conflict.

With the main discussion concluded, there wasn’t much conversation between the mother and daughter.

In the awkward silence, it was Sione who spoke first.

“Then, I’ll be taking my leave.”

“Go ahead.”

Ainell nodded quietly and then gave me a glance.

It was the kind of look that told me to follow her.

“Please take care of her from now on.”

“…Yes.”

I bowed my head and followed behind Sione.

After leaving Ainell’s office, we walked for a while, putting enough distance between us and the office before coming to a stop.

“Huff… huff…”

Sione had been walking at a fairly brisk pace, but it seemed like she was out of breath.

Given her rather overweight figure, it wasn’t surprising that she was struggling after walking so fast.

Sweat was pouring down her face, making it clear she wasn’t accustomed to physical activity, let alone sword training. She probably didn’t even walk much.

I kept a small distance and watched her back.

Once she caught her breath, she turned around and stared directly at me.

The moment her tired eyes locked onto mine, I couldn’t help but bow my head.

No point in starting a pointless staring contest and inflaming her pride—it would only cause trouble for me.

“…You.”

Her rough voice was tinged with thorns, as if there was a sharp edge to her words. It even carried a faint hint of hostility.

Seriously? What did I do wrong?

The first thing she said was dripping with disdain, and I couldn’t help but feel irritated.

“Don’t say anything unnecessary. Don’t repeat things I don’t want to hear. Don’t argue with me.”

“Excuse me?”

“Like the other servants, don’t bother me.”

……

The way she said, “don’t bother me,” in that snide tone, was surprisingly annoying.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit of defiance.

It almost made me want to mess with her just to see her reaction.

Ainell’s voice always had charisma, but Sione’s voice had a grating quality that could really get under someone’s skin.

“Yes, I understand.”

Though my thoughts were different, my answer couldn’t have been more polite.

“Hmph, I trust you’ve understood.”

She snorted and turned around, starting to walk again.

This time, her pace was much slower compared to before.

The quick strides from earlier had turned into a much more leisurely pace.

This must have been her usual walking speed.

At this rate, she probably wouldn’t be out of breath like before.

With each awkward, waddling step she took, I kept my distance, matching her pace with light, easy steps.

We walked like that for a while, in silence, with an odd atmosphere hanging between us.

Then suddenly—

Pop!

I began to see something I used to encounter every day when I was a hunter on Earth, before I fell into this cursed world.

[Sione Sianella’s personal servant contract has been confirmed.]

[Main Quest initiated, synced to your master, Sione Sianella.]

[Rehabilitate her and save the world.]

[Success: Save the world, return to Earth (optional)]

[Failure: World’s destruction.]

I stopped walking for a moment and stared at Sione Sianella’s back.

She had just told me not to bother her, yet now I had no choice but to.

A reason to “bother” her had just appeared.