The Exiled Slave Becomes the Master

Prologue

In a damp iron cage where not a single ray of light enters, I spend painful hours curled up with my body screaming and creaking in agony.

Leon de Normann of the glorious Normann Duchy of the Empire has now become a slave, rotting away in an iron cage day after day, waiting to be sold to someone.

‘No longer a noble but a slave… How much time has passed? When was it that I sent that child away from the duke’s mansion?’

Suddenly, remembering my situation, I thought of Alice, whom I once considered like a little sister.

“Alice, from now on, you are no longer a maid of our family.”

“M-Master? What are you suddenly saying?”

The young girl with blonde hair and purple eyes looked at me with a confused expression.

And I tore up her slave contract right in front of Alice’s eyes.

“Now you are no longer a slave but a commoner, and you can leave this mansion and live freely.”

I threw her a pouch filled with gold coins and said:

“You can read and write, and you’ve received various education, so you’ll be able to live on your own outside just fine.”

“Why are you sending me away…”

“Leave quickly. I won’t take any more questions. Alfred! Please escort Alice out of the mansion!”

“No! No! Master, why are you sending me away? Let go of me! Please!”

“…”

It was an inevitable choice. Perhaps if I hadn’t sent her away then, I wouldn’t be like I am now…

Bang, bang, bang!!

“Hey, Number 17, get up! A customer has come to buy you!”

“…”

I raised my head to look outside the iron cage, and there she was—the girl I had driven away years ago, grabbing the bars with trembling hands, staring at me with tearful eyes.

“Ah… I’ve finally found you…!”

“Shopkeeper! Please take that slave out of the cage for me.”

“This is a slave who was once sold and then returned damaged. Are you sure this is alright?”

“He was sold before? To whom?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you about the previous buyer due to confidentiality agreements. If you’ve changed your mind, I can introduce you to other slaves.”

“No! I absolutely must buy this slave!”

“Then I’ll prepare the slave contract and contract seal for you.”

After a moment, the slave merchant brought Alice the contract documents and branding tools.

“What’s a contract seal? I understand the slave document, but…”

“It seems this is your first time purchasing a slave. Almost all slaves have contract seals engraved on them for the owner’s safety and convenience, allowing them to obey any command.”

“A-Any command…?”

“Yes, anything. You can make them die if you order it, or make them do terrible things they would never do in their right mind. Of course, you don’t have to use a contract seal if you don’t want to.”

“Gulp…”

‘With this contract seal, I could make Leon do whatever I want… make him pat my head, or whisper words of love to me every night… and then we might kiss and even get married…?’

As Alice imagined what she could do with the contract seal, she suddenly remembered when she first met Leon.

‘But why didn’t I have a contract seal when I was a slave before?’

“Ah…!”

With tears now welling up in her eyes, Alice clutched her constricting chest.

“Leon never engraved a contract seal on me when he was my master. Leon truly cherished me when I was a slave…”

“And yet, I didn’t care about Leon’s feelings at all and only thought about controlling him with a contract seal… If I do this, I’m no different from those other disgusting people who abuse their slaves.”

She smiled as she looked at the contract seal, then opened her mouth.

“…I’ll use it anyway.”

“Let’s make the contract now!”

Chapter 1

If one day you woke up and found yourself as another person, could you accept that fact?

Or more precisely, if one day your memories of a past life suddenly came back to you, revealing that you were once a modern person, and now you’re in what would be considered the primitive medieval era by your past life’s standards.

A few fragmented memories are all mixed up, causing confusion.

Perhaps the past life is false, and I’m just a madman who thinks he remembers a past life.

My name in my past life… I can’t remember, but what comes to mind is only my current name, Leon.

I’m 9 years old. I was told that my parents abandoned me at an orphanage when I was too young to remember.

I don’t know whether I’ve gone mad or if I’ve really recalled a past life, but what’s important is that I’m an extraordinary person for a 9-year-old.

Whatever the case, now that I have knowledge, why wouldn’t I use it?

“Director! Leon is definitely a genius!”

“What is it, Sister Lizette?”

“His comprehension and learning speed are exceptional compared to other children his age.”

“Isn’t that a bit insufficient to call him a genius?”

“His understanding of arithmetic and numbers is also incredible, and above all, he can do mental calculations extremely fast.”

“Hmm… He might have a talent for magic. Let’s check his mana sensitivity and observe him further.”

Recently, an orphan who stood out appeared at an orphanage in the Normann Duchy.

For a while, this orphan was expected to have inherent magical talent, but when his mana sensitivity was tested, his mana capacity was found to be just slightly above that of an average magician.

However, while he might not become a great magician, he still had talent, so Leon received fairly good treatment within the orphanage.

Even so, these were minor benefits like getting food earlier or doing fewer chores.

Three years passed, and Leon turned 12. One day, a splendid and luxurious-looking carriage visited the orphanage.

Early in the morning, other orphans and I were in the dining hall, dipping rock-hard bread pieces that could break our teeth into bland, watery porridge.

Although it’s an orphanage supported by the Duke’s family and the church, in this harsh medieval era, orphans receive just enough support to avoid starvation.

Of course, even this much is something to be thankful for.

If there were no orphanage, I would have already starved to death or been living day to day stealing in the slums.

I’d like to leave this tiresome orphanage and become independent as soon as possible, but I’m still too young.

After finishing my meal and washing the dishes, a nun approached and called for me.

“Leon, a very important guest has arrived today, so make yourself presentable and come to the director’s office.”

“Yes, Sister Lizette.”

After cleaning up and making myself presentable, I went to the director’s office where Sister Lizette was waiting in front of the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Director, I’ve brought Leon.”

“Come in.”

Creak…

As the old hinges squeaked weakly and the door opened, a middle-aged noble man with a sharp appearance was sitting in the director’s seat.

There was such an intimidating pressure just from looking at him that my knees felt weak, but contrary to his strong appearance, one corner of his face showed deep fatigue.

It was like looking at a wounded beast.

“Gulp…”

Just making eye contact for a moment gave me goosebumps.

I swallowed and instinctively lowered my gaze, bowing to the man.

Not knowing proper etiquette, I tried my best to appear respectful.

“…You’re perceptive, and seem quite clever.”

After a suffocating silence, the man who completely dominated the atmosphere of the room finally spoke calmly while tapping his finger on the table.

“His mana capacity is ordinary, but he shows talent in arithmetic and mathematics, so he has quite a talent for magic as well. He’s more quick-witted and mature than others his age, Duke.”

“I see. Indeed, it would be difficult to find a child with such conditions.”

‘Duke? Such a high-ranking person has come to the orphanage to meet me in person?’

Perhaps magicians are extremely valuable personnel.

“I originally planned to test his qualities, but I don’t have much time left, and it doesn’t seem necessary. I’ll take him with me right away.”

“Yes, we will complete the paperwork on our end.”

The seemingly hurried Duke rose from his seat and approached me.

“Follow me.”

“Yes, yes!”

Following the Duke outside the orphanage, a splendid and luxurious-looking carriage was waiting, with armed knights standing in disciplined postures around it.

As the Duke came out, a middle-aged man dressed in fine formal attire, looking like a butler, paid his respects to the Duke.

“Have you found the child you were looking for, Your Grace?”

“Yes, let’s depart immediately. And this child will ride in the same carriage as me.”

“As you wish.”

I followed the Duke and boarded the luxurious carriage.

Cautiously watching the Duke, I sat across from him. After a moment, the Duke stared intensely into my eyes and spoke.

“Do you know why I’m taking you?”

It feels like a pressure interview at a company from my past life.

‘I should probably give a safe answer here.’

“…Because I’m the talent Your Grace needs?”

“Of course I’m taking you because I need you. Besides such an obvious reason, tell me your thoughts. Let me give you a hint: I’m not very interested in your magical talent.”

“Hmm…”

Let me organize my thoughts for a moment.

One, the Duke isn’t very interested in my magical talent.

Two, he said in the director’s office that he doesn’t have much time.

Three, he said I’m a child who meets his conditions.

Four, I’m an orphan, so no one would look for me if I died.

‘Does that mean… Could it be that he wants to turn me into some kind of elixir to extend his lifespan?’

I’m screwed!

No, that’s ridiculous. That can’t be it. But just in case, I should test the waters…

“Are you going to eat me to extend your lifesp—”

After watching the Duke’s expression briefly and seeing a slight disappointment in his eyes, I quickly changed my words.

“…of course not. That was a joke. I don’t know the details, but I understand it has something to do with an heir.”

“Correct. You really are different from other children. You pass. But you don’t have talent for jokes.”

“…Thank you.”

It was an attempt to lighten the mood, but it seems that was futile.

“I intend to adopt you as my son and make you my heir.”

Twelve-year-old orphan Leon now has a father.

My father from my past life, the father who gave birth to me and abandoned me in this life, and now the Duke of Normann as my father…

Perhaps I’ll go down in history as the “Fatherless God.”