A Twisted Gift and a Peculiar Pact

“Why! Why!!! How could you agree to cooperate with those bastards without my consent!!!”

“Ma…ster… you misunderst… *choke*—”

Kaelan’s knuckles, gripping the chain with excessive force, were already bruised a mottled purple. She once again poured all her magic into the chain, igniting the violet magical patterns etched upon Saranya’s body.

“Traitor!!! Traitor!!!”

Saranya was dragged to the ground before she could even whimper. The searing magic patterns tormented her beyond endurance, the magical light nearly engulfing her entire form. She writhed on the cold flagstone floor, her exposed back accidentally pressing against a sword blade, instantly carving a long, crimson line.

It was impossible to tell how long had passed since the commencement of this torment; both had lost all sense of time.

There was no pleasure, no thrill of pain, and certainly no mercy. Here, only agony reigned, a veritable act of ‘abuse.’

Kaelan understood that her decision to spare Saranya’s life was rooted in a desire for hatred and vengeance. Saranya was a s*ave, and a s*ave must fulfill every demand of their master.

When the master desired, the s*ave should wag their tail and obediently lick the master’s boots. If the s*ave pleased the master, the master would grant a small reward. And now, the master needed an outlet for her rage, so the s*ave naturally had to serve as a punching bag.

Therefore… this was right… this… of course, this was right…

“Put on that grey robe, pick up your sword!!! Get up!!! Stand up!!!”

Kaelan let tears stream down her cheeks, roaring her commands at Saranya.

Order, torment, then order again…

Kaelan had lost count of how many times she had repeated this cycle.

Yet, this time, Saranya did not move.

Kaelan choked back a sob, tentatively tugging at the chain.

Saranya remained utterly still.

Kaelan’s legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor.

“Saranya…?”

“……”

Kaelan waited for a long moment, believing that if she received no response, she might remain waiting forever.

Saranya’s head was bowed, her voice muffled and indistinct:

“Mmm… ugh… cough cough…”

“Master… I’m here…”

Kaelan leaned closer, trying to turn Saranya over by her shoulder.

*Clatter*

A small wooden box tumbled from Saranya’s embrace.

Kaelan picked up the box, examined it, and gently lifted the lid.

A pair of blood agate earrings, as smooth and round as teardrops, crimson and lustrous with pure quality, rested silently nestled within white velvet.

“I bought these… on the way back… in the sewer black market…”

“Eh?”

“The seller said… they were elven earrings…”

“What are you saying? I don’t understand…”

“Because… this color… it matches your eyes so well…”

Kaelan felt a sudden ringing in her ears, her vision blurring. She saw Saranya’s lips moving, but could hear nothing.

‘For me, a gift? Impossible…’

Kaelan whispered hoarsely, swaying unsteadily before toppling onto Saranya’s body. Two streams of nosebleed traced paths down her cheeks as her strength gradually ebbed away…

It was the result of using too much magic; her body was overloaded with magical energy.

In the last flickering second of her consciousness, she saw an disheveled Paresha rush in from the shadows of the cellar entrance, shouting, and then kneel to check on their condition.

Looking at Paresha’s anxious face, Kaelan struggled to open her mouth, voicing the last question that crossed her mind:

“Paresha… why… why are you pulling up your pants?”

****

“Master, I really can’t take it anymore!”

Saranya’s eyes snapped open, a terrifying scene from the cellar flashing through her mind, and she gasped aloud.

“Huh?”

She sat up from the bed, finding herself in a bedroom on the second floor of the tavern, a clean towel folded by her pillow.

A silver-haired girl appeared in her line of sight, her voice timid:

“You, you’re awake?”

“You’re Aquilis…”

Saranya stood up, surveying the room. “Where’s Master?”

“Next door…”

Saranya took a step, inadvertently aggravating the sword wound on her back, making her wince and gasp before she sank back onto the bed.

It had been absolutely terrifying; Master had almost killed her last night. Playing alphabet games (TL Note: A euphemism referring to BDSM or other sexual role-playing scenarios) with a witch was even more dangerous than playing with fire.

Nazareth was truly an utter scoundrel, inciting her to try and dominate Master in return. He must have a death wish. Now, it seemed the feasibility of her turning the tables from submissive to dominant was infinitesimally close to zero.

“Is Master… always like this?”

Aquilis quietly asked Saranya. She had been locked in a cage in the cellar last night, witnessing the entire ordeal, and likely felt her own future was bleak.

“Probably… not?”

Saranya sighed.

“As long as you’re well-behaved and don’t give her a reason…”

Aquilis swallowed, looking at the bloodstains on Saranya’s clothes, and nodded.

Saranya suddenly remembered something and patted her shirt.

“Aquilis, did you see a palm-sized box? It should be in the cellar.”

“No, I didn’t?”

“Are you sure?!”

“I’m sure…”

Aquilis blinked, a little nervous from Saranya’s questioning.

“The earrings, oh no!”

Could they have been lost?! Damn it, that was her hard-earned secret stash!

Saranya immediately became frantic, groaning as she clutched her head.

Just then, someone suddenly opened the door.

Saranya looked up at the sound.

Kaelan stood outside the door, her expression placid, her gaze settling on Saranya. Amidst the half-elf’s thick strands of hair, two crimson blood agate earrings swayed, reflecting the faint candlelight.

She was wearing them!

Saranya’s eyes lit up, her mood instantly brightening.

Admittedly, she knew her Master had just tormented her all night, but how to explain it? Seeing her Master wearing the gift she had bought made her so, so happy! Master must have liked them to wear them, which meant Saranya had good taste! Good taste, you see, that’s a skill!

What? A masochist?

This was not masochism! Absolutely not!

“How is it?”

“It looks great…”

“I meant, how is your body?”

“Great…”

Like an automaton, Saranya watched her Master stride closer, lift her shirt, and gently caress and examine her back with a soft, small hand.

Kaelan lowered Saranya’s shirt and raised a hand.

“Lift your head a little higher.”

Saranya slightly raised her head, revealing the dark purple, circular bruises on her neck.

Kaelan took a deep breath, cradled Saranya’s neck, and softly chanted a spell, performing a healing art.

Her neck felt tingly.

Master’s voice when she spoke Elvish… was so gentle.

The bruises gradually faded beneath her skin, leaving only a faint mark of the spell on Saranya’s neck.

“Master?”

Kaelan released Saranya, stepped back, and wiped away the fresh nosebleed with the back of her hand.

“It’s nothing…”

Saranya started to get up, but Kaelan suddenly embraced her, her hands slipping inside Saranya’s shirt to gently cover the sword wound on her back.

Warm magical energy flowed through Saranya’s body. She felt the sword wound on her back healing, and her strength rapidly recovering.

“Just… healing your wounds…”

Kaelan explained her actions, then deliberately pulled away from Saranya. This time, she had to lean on the bedpost to steady herself, her face now ashen.

“You can take revenge on me.”

“Huh?”

Kaelan suddenly pulled up her shirt, revealing her fair, slender abdomen, her navel as delicate as a flower bud, and higher still, the tender swell of her breasts…

“I was too heavy-handed, causing you undue suffering. The master-s*ave relationship is not a shield. I will bear the consequences of my mistakes, so… I permit you to take revenge on me.”

“No, wait—”

“Use your fists, or even that sword. As long as you don’t aim for my heart, I won’t die.”

Kaelan’s eyes were bright, tears welling within them.

“Saranya, I still need you… your loyalty.”

Saranya opened her mouth but no words came out. Finally, she just waved her hand and sighed.

“That’s not how it works, you don’t understand. Who does it like you…?”

Kaelan lowered her shirt, a hint of grievance surfacing in her tone:

“What do you mean…? What do you want, then…?”

Saranya folded her arms, her eyes darting playfully:

“How about this for the future! If you can’t control yourself and make a mistake, for every mistake you make, I’ll accumulate one instance of revenge. When I decide to cash it in, whether you like it or not, you’ll have to unconditionally obey me once!”

Faced with Saranya’s wheedling tone and expectant gaze, Kaelan bit her lower lip and fell silent.

“Master~ Please?”

“……”

“Ma~ster~”

“Then… fine…”