Pov Rakan:
Today was another hellish night where I needed to hear the screams of the women that this Devil made the soldiers kidnap in the streets on the way back, unfortunately, I can't do anything but listen to their screams, no matter how many years go by, it never gets easier, at first I even tried to kill myself, but I couldn't because of the mark of slavery that prevents me every time.
This bastard knows how repulsive I find that, yet he always makes me watch the door to make me listen.
It is only when he finishes and leaves to go to sleep in his room and the soldiers come in to collect the dead bodies of the women that I can get out of my position, after so many years I have learned to avoid looking at the state these bodies are in, that It will only torment me even more.
I was sitting staring at the wall thinking how a real Mage, a Mage who was so happy spreading magic among people ended up in this deplorable state serving a Demon.
"It would be better to be dead…" (I)
"Why do I have to keep suffering like this…" (I)
I looked at my hands and the images of the people this Demon made me kill to come to mind, the images of the atrocities they are doing in that place haunt my mind whenever I try to sleep.
"Are you a thief or a murderer?" (I)
"Maybe a little of both or there could be a third option."
"Then why are you standing at the window for so long?" (I)
"I was hoping you were in a better condition as your eyes look like someone dead."
"I wish I was dead, but apparently it won't be today unfortunately or you would have already done something." (I)
"I don't think it would be that simple, your traps and barriers would be a problem."
"I am obliged to defend myself if necessary." (I)
"(He is different from the spies who normally watch over us.)" (I)
I had already noticed the presence of this person the moment I entered the room, I was hoping he would kill me, unfortunately, I had to activate the traps and barriers that I installed in the room, the orders to defend myself if attacked are one of the reasons I can't die even wanting so much.
I turned to the window where a small figure of someone in black clothes, a hood, and a mask was sitting at the window.
His voice was probably being modified by some magic in the mask, but I was still able to hear his calm in this situation.
I know he wants to talk to me, but I don't understand why since I'm just a slave, nothing he asks me will be answered as much as I would like to share this Demon's information, nothing he asks me I will be able to do since I am a slave to that Devil.
"Say what you want or leave, I'm in a bad mood." (I)
"I just wanted to ask you a question, do you want to be free?"
"…" (I)
"Maybe you can't answer, so I'll just say this, I can give you your freedom, but you'll have to serve me."
"I will give you the choice."
"You'll have until tomorrow night to think of an answer, I hope it's positive."
He fell backward out of my vision, I'm sure if I get to the window he won't be there anymore.
Sigh
"How many times do you think I've been made that kind of promise, setting me free is not so simple." (I)
———-
I spent the rest of the night thinking about what the masked man had said, I know I shouldn't get my hopes up, but my hope was the only torture I still do to myself.
I know I may never get rid of this miserable life, but it's not so easy to control your emotions.
It would be great if that person could free me, but I don't know if I would be able to serve him, it's no use getting rid of a Demon to fall into the hands of another Demon.
The next morning I got up from the chair where I had been sitting awake all night, then walked out of my room to start another unpleasant day.
This Realm has many mansions for rent since many nobles from other Realms come here, the Devil rented one of these mansions which are where we are.
As usual, I go out and wait for the Demon outside near the carriage, we don't have a cook as he killed the cook we brought for letting the food get cold, because of that we are eating at the same restaurant every day until we get back to the Kingdom in some days, this was the most expensive restaurant in this city.
After leaving the mansion in the fancy carriage he likes, the soldiers follow us on foot close behind until we reach the restaurant.
The Devil and I enter the restaurant along with two more soldiers while the others wait outside along with many other soldiers who must be escorting nobles from other Realms.
"What do you want that day, gentlemen." (waiter)
"I want the same soup I had yesterday, a big Stormfish and bring me a pitcher of cold beer too." (Prince Henry)
"As you wish sir, it will be ready in minutes." (waiter)
"What would the other gentleman like to eat?" (waiter)
"Some sandwich." (I)
"Are you sure you just want this, sir?" (waiter)
"Leave him alone, he's in a bad mood, as usual, go get my food." (Prince Henry)
"Right now sir." (waiter)
As soon as we enter we sit at the first empty table we see, the two soldiers are standing behind the Demon.
Soon the waiter approaches and the Demon asks for the food, I'm not hungry now so I don't order anything but a sandwich, in a few minutes the waiter comes back bringing the food to a cart.
"Would you like me to taste the food?" (waiter)
"No need, one of my soldiers will do it." (Prince Henry)
"Please use that extra spoon to taste the soup." (waiter)
The Prince snaps his fingers and one of the soldiers steps forward and takes a piece of the fish, then takes a spoon that the waiter gave him to taste the soba, also takes some from the pitcher of beer, and even takes a piece of mine sandwich, all this to make sure it's not poisoned.
"I hope you like the food." (waiter)
Soon I see the Demon devour the fish with big bites, then he started to eat the soup, I slowly eat my sandwich in the meantime until I notice that the mana in my body has stopped circulating, I can't speak either and my consciousness is slowly darkening.
I try to look at the Demon but his head fell into the soup bowl, I noticed the two soldiers behind who were wearing helmets smiling, when I realized that a smile formed on my face before I lost consciousness.
———-
Pov Nolan:
This hairstyle is bothering me with the hair in front of my eyes, how do they want me to impersonate a waiter like that?
I don't even know why I was doing this, I was always very clear saying that I didn't want to participate in these dangerous tasks, now I have to do this show for a Demon and a famous Mage, the master is not trying to get rid of me, it is not?
I think all the times I've had to bluff at card games will finally be useful for something more than card games.
I was doing my best to stay calm and used everything Miss Freya had taught me over the past few months.
After bringing the food and seeing Jay dressed as a soldier tasting the food, it was all I could do to get the hell out of there before they realized I was sweating.
Even from a distance I kept watching from afar as those two ate their food, the man who should have been the Demon the master spoke of, he was happily eating quickly, but the middle-aged Runic man was eating despondently.
"(Caryna would be sad that someone was eating her food with a face like that.)" (I)
It didn't take long for the effect of the poison we put to take effect, the two lost consciousness and started being carried to the kitchen, I go after them and pull Caryna who was still cooking to leave through the back doors.
As soon as we leave we continue walking through some alleys to lose those who are following us until we reach a place with an illusion set up, as soon as we are no longer being watched a big mouth appears around us coming from the ground.
That's a horrible feeling, even though you know this is Nix's good and she's sending us to the Dungeon, it's still a horrible feeling to see a big jaw clench when you're inside.
"That was awful…" (I)
"Don't complain, at least you didn't have to eat poison." (Jay)
"You ate the antidote, nothing was going to happen to you." (I)
"Let's stop talking and get these two to the mansion." (Jay)
"I know we were in a hurry, but I forgot to take the pan off the heat, the food can burn…" (Caryna)
"Don't worry, as I was leaving the kitchen I threw a dagger to release one of the waiters, so he should release these cooks and the others." (Jay)
"It makes me feel calmer." (Caryna)
"Let's get these two before they wake up, I don't want to fight a Demon." (I)
"I don't want to fight either, but Lyra said they should sleep a whole day, so stop being a coward Nolan." (Jay)
"Cowards are the ones who survive, so that's a compliment to me." (Nolan)
"We'll be back soon, I want to prepare the soup recipe I learned for everyone." (Caryna)