A Temporary Break

Having spoken, she took two steps back, distancing herself from Albert, and then added,

“Moreover, I am also a s*ave.”

“You…!”

Albert glared at Fú Nī Yà, his face contorted in anger, utterly astonished that she would utter such words.

Throughout their acquaintance, he had never once regarded Fú Nī Yà as a lowly demi-human, akin to a half-elf or a barbarian.

After all, if a supposedly inferior demi-human possessed a talent he had never known, and had utterly crushed him in defeat, what then did that make him?

Pigs and dogs?

The issue Albert had consistently ignored was now laid bare by Fú Nī Yà.

Fú Nī Yà offered a serene smile and pressed on with her question.

“Then, Your Imperial Highness, Fourth Prince, what fundamental difference do you perceive between me, a demi-human s*ave, and yourself, a noble? I feel sorrow, I feel joy, I feel anger—and so do those demi-humans, those slaves. Yet with a single, simple sentence, you dismiss their very worth. What does that make you?”

…

Albert held Fú Nī Yà’s gaze for a long moment. Finally, with a sigh, he addressed the young woman.

“I cannot argue with you… Kǎ Dá Lā, I will warn him to release the slaves. However, the Swan Knights cannot be stopped. There are too many landless, starving peasants within Holy Lohiris Empire; without newly seized land from the barbarians, they will all starve to death.”

“Must we truly seize land from the barbarians?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Whoever took the land they rightfully owned, that is where we should reclaim it, isn’t it?” Fú Nī Yà said, a chilling smile playing on her lips, imbued with an icy coldness that cut to the bone. “Internal conflicts should never be thought of as merely transferable to external ones. Besides, even if the peasants acquire land from barbarian tribes, how long could it truly last?”

On this particular point, there was likely no one in this alternate world who understood more profoundly than Fú Nī Yà.

For in her past life, she had witnessed countless such examples.

Some individuals perpetually harbored the delusion that once their nation ascended to global hegemony, their own lives would inevitably improve.

But was that truly possible?

Human desires, much like boulders tumbling down a mountain, would never cease on their own accord unless met with a decisive blow.

Even if a nation achieved global dominance, securing all the world’s resources and markets, how much would that genuinely alter the lives of ordinary people?

A s*ave owner, seeing you as easily exploited, would still gradually resume their oppression.

The Sun Never Sets Empire (TL Note: A common Chinese idiom referring to the British Empire), as the first global hegemon in history, still harbored poverty, child labor, and starvation within its own borders.

During the Victorian era, even as the Sun Never Sets Empire reigned supreme, the mortality rate among child laborers in London was the highest in the world.

Its rise to global dominance was, in essence, built upon an even more brutal exploitation of the common populace.

As for those who clung to such notions, they were even more ludicrous.

Leaving aside the sheer cowardice of those who dared not resent their oppressors but instead turned their enmity towards a group of strangers, would s*ave owners truly spare you once they acquired new slaves to exploit?

Who would ever complain about having too many slaves?

To shrink from confronting those who bullied and exploited them, instead fantasizing that s*ave owners, upon gaining new slaves, would show mercy to their ‘old servants’ and allow them a slightly more decent life—such a notion was profoundly ignorant, childish, and utterly contemptible.

The Roman Empire conquered the Mediterranean, seizing countless slaves and immeasurable wealth. Logically, with new slaves to share the burden, the lives of the older slaves should have become easier, shouldn’t they? Yet, why then did Spartacus’s revolt still erupt?

Was it that not enough had been plundered, or that everything acquired had simply been devoured by the senators?

It was worth noting that Rome had only recently conquered Greece, plundering untold riches.

This principle held true even in this alternate world.

Suffering inevitably sought out the most defenseless.

If the peasants failed to resist, even if the Swan Knights seized land at the continent’s edge and the peasants flocked there to cultivate it, the very next moment, the nobles would follow them all the way to that same edge, stripping them of everything.

And where, then, could those peasants flee?

Ultimately, the fundamental contradiction would still need to be confronted.

Albert, though he did not comprehend the distinctions between ‘internal’ and ‘external’ conflicts, had certainly grasped the profound meaning behind Fú Nī Yà’s words.

After a long silence, he spoke, his voice raspy.

“You truly are a madwoman…”

“Mediocre, at best.”

As she spoke, Fú Nī Yà exhaled slowly, a resolution forming within her.

She was unwilling to simply assimilate into this world as it was.

She would raise her own voice, and reshape this world into her ideal vision.

Otherwise, possessing an SSS+ talent would be nothing short of a waste, better off fed to the dogs.

“I remember the kindness you showed by saving my life at the auction house. Therefore, I will repay the one hundred thousand ducats stipulated in the contract myself. Until it is fully repaid, I will continue to obey your commands. But once it is settled, I will embark on my own endeavors.”

“What will you do?” Albert frowned.

“I will do what a certain someone is unwilling to do for me,” Fú Nī Yà replied, stretching languidly. “As the saying goes, ‘rely on the mountain, the mountain falls; rely on the water, the water flows.’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom meaning that relying on others is unreliable; one must rely on oneself.) Since a certain someone cannot be depended upon, then one must rely solely on oneself…”

A cold glint flickered in Albert’s eyes as he asked, “Will it impede my affairs?”

“Perhaps, perhaps not… who can truly say what the future holds?”

Fú Nī Yà merely shrugged.

Upon hearing this, Albert’s fingers unconsciously clenched into fists, and his mind began to weigh the pros and cons of killing Fú Nī Yà right here.

After all, a Calamity Witch (TL Note: A powerful, destructive magic-user) beyond his control was truly terrifying.

The lessons from his past life remained etched in his memory.

As if sensing Albert’s thoughts, Fú Nī Yà smiled and spoke.

“I advise you to calm down, Albert. Firstly, Master Valentin holds me, his student, in rather high regard. Secondly, I possess the divine favor of Thoth (TL Note: The God of Knowledge), the Lord of Knowledge. Thirdly, these past few days, I’ve learned quite a few spells useful for escape. Otherwise, would I have come here to speak with you so candidly?”

“You…!”

“And here, I must also thank you, Albert, for helping me discover my SSS+ talent.”

Upon hearing her words, Albert couldn’t help but offer a wry smile.

He had never imagined that the actions he took half a month ago would lead to such an outcome.

“Well, don’t despair too much. At least for now, before I’ve repaid the one hundred thousand gold coins, I am still your maid, am I not, Your Imperial Highness, Fourth Prince?”

As Fú Nī Yà spoke, she lifted the hem of her maid’s dress with both hands and curtsied.

“Then, farewell, my master~”

“Wait!”

Albert called out, stopping Fú Nī Yà as she prepared to leave.

“Will you speak of my reincarnation?”

This was the greatest leverage he possessed in this life. If Fú Nī Yà intended to reveal it, then no matter the cost, he would attempt to keep her here today.

“Of course not.”

Fú Nī Yà shrugged. “Besides, even if I were to speak of it, who would believe me?”

“Indeed.”

Albert thought inwardly, then waved his hand, dismissing Fú Nī Yà.

Watching Fú Nī Yà’s receding figure, which seemed almost heartless in its departure, Albert felt a momentary daze.

The charming girl of days past seemed to be gone forever.

“Did I do something wrong?”

A trace of bewilderment crept into Albert’s voice.

Why would Fú Nī Yà take such an immense risk, to break ties with him for the sake of a group of lowly slaves and demi-humans?

Why had Fú Nī Yà’s personality undergone such an abrupt and profound transformation, her words so vehement that even he was nearly overwhelmed?

Was this truly the same Fú Nī Yà he had known before?

Albert shook his head in distress, then returned to his desk and picked up his quill.

“‘Lord Kǎ Dá Lā, it has recently come to my attention that you possess a penchant for mistreating female slaves…'”

Though he did not understand Fú Nī Yà’s motives, rescuing a few female slaves was a minor matter for him, and he resolved to fulfill his promise to her.

****

Meanwhile, Fú Nī Yà hired two carriages to return to the mage tower.

All the way, the young woman’s heart was filled with profound self-reproach.

She knew she had been somewhat harsh with Albert.

Albert was merely a native of this world, and his inability to grasp her perspective was entirely understandable.

Yet, she absolutely had to enact a complete severance of ties with Albert.

Otherwise, if she continued to indulge in Albert’s care, living a life nominally as a maid but truly as a young lady, she herself wouldn’t know how long her impractical ideals could endure.

After all, changing the world was an immensely difficult undertaking.

And with just one step back, the carefree life Albert offered awaited her.

She had to sever her own retreat.

Albert, to her, could only be a provider of employment, and nothing more.

Back on the fourth floor of the mage tower, Master Valentin observed Fú Nī Yà, whose spirit and demeanor were entirely transformed, for a while before chuckling and speaking.

“Excellent, excellent, you’re beginning to show your true self. Have you come to a realization?”

“I have indeed come to some realizations.”

“Is that so? It seems your path to becoming a legend is now unhindered…”

Master Valentin shook his head with a wistful sigh, recalling how his own journey to legend had been far more arduous.

His SS talent, though seemingly formidable, had only met the basic requirements for achieving legendary status.

“Is there anything you need your teacher’s help with, Fú Nī Yà?”

“Let us continue with our lessons, Master.”

Fú Nī Yà replied.