The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

Which city is the most livable in the Kingdom of Traul?
The general consensus favored major cities like the capital, Calia, or a handful of other large urban centers. Recently, however, a new city had emerged as a hot topic.

The city of Noctar, once riddled with vagrants.
By all accounts, Noctar was a trash heap of a city, overflowing with drifters and outcasts. At first glance, it seemed absurd to think of it as a desirable place to live. But the world had changed.
Noctar was experiencing an unprecedented boom.

The drifters who once roamed its alleys now gripped pickaxes instead of rusty daggers. They had traded damp, narrow backstreets for small but well-kept homes.
The city bustled with activity day and night, radiating a newfound vitality.
The catalyst was the establishment of the Reaper's Trading Company.

Under the management of Deputy Merchant Narsha, an expansive network of trade routes was developed, bringing goods into the city. Utilizing elves and their spirit connections, the land was made fertile, creating jobs and opportunities for the populace.
To an outsider, it might look as though Narsha were a benevolent savior, rescuing a city and its people. But the truth was more nuanced.
"I can't let the master see such a wretched city."

Noctar had become the nest of the Reaper's Trading Company. Narsha found it frustrating that she had to host her master in a mere barony, but for now, she had no choice.
Replacing the local lord, founding a new city, or even establishing a kingdom—these were matters to be dealt with once Karami returned.
For now, Narsha was focused on building the trading company and preparing the city so that when Karami came back, he would find it clean and thriving.

If things continued as they were, the Reaper's Trading Company would soon stand as the continent's greatest.
This success was thanks in large part to the elves and their spirits.
"That's all well and good... but this is troubling."

Narsha sipped her coffee while reviewing transaction records. She recognized every item listed from memory—except for the eleventh and twelfth entries.
One was Aether Resin.
The other was Rachnia Pollen.
Aether Resin was a catalyst that greatly enhanced magical effects, commonly used in the production of mage herbs. It was expensive but not particularly unusual.

The problem lay with the second item: Rachnia Pollen.
Rachnia, also known as the "Flower of the Dead," was a poisonous plant. Its thorns secreted toxins that could paralyze or incapacitate.
While its pollen was sometimes used medicinally as a sedative, the line between medicine and poison was thin. It was more commonly processed into narcotics.
When refined and smoked, the pollen caused hallucinations, much like traditional drugs.

Highly addictive, it was almost impossible to quit once used. Repeated use weakened the mind, intensified hallucinations, and left the user unable to distinguish reality from fantasy. When the effects wore off, the user experienced extreme anxiety and emptiness.
On a danger scale of 1 to 10, Rachnia Pollen ranked at an 8.
If someone had brought such a substance into Noctar without Narsha’s approval...

Narsha's gaze settled on Arpia, lounging idly on the sofa.
"Miss Arpia, did you by chance purchase something without telling me again?"
"Hm? What did I buy?"

"Aether Resin and Rachnia Pollen."
"Hmm~ I don’t really know."
"Oh? Then I suppose I can just dispose of them with no issue?"

Narsha reached for the bell to summon someone, and Arpia let out a sigh. She narrowed her eyes in annoyance and stared at Narsha.
"I bought them. So what?"
"Why did you buy them? Do you know what they are?"

"I know exactly what they are, so you don’t need to worry."
"What do you mean, ‘don’t worry’? Rachnia is—"
"Even if it’s dangerous, it’s none of your business. You're not my master, are you?"

Arpia cut Narsha off sharply. The two women locked eyes, neither willing to back down.
The air between them grew cold, a heavy silence settling over the room.
Arpia was the first to break it, flashing a bright smile.

"Why are you staring at me so fiercely? Did you forget I’m an elf? Even if I eat poisonous plants raw, my body purifies them instantly. Rachnia is nothing more than a child’s toy to me. You don’t need to worry—it was just curiosity."
"..."
"By the way, did you hear the rumors? They say a Reaper cult has been founded in the Beastman Nation."

Arpia was clearly trying to change the subject.
Narsha hesitated.
Should she let this slide or not? She knew the secret hidden under the bandages wrapped around Arpia's arm.

But Narsha had neither the obligation nor the authority to intervene.
As Arpia had said, her master was Karami, and Narsha couldn’t reprimand her for making purchases. After all, half of the Reaper's Trading Company belonged to Arpia.
The elves' cooperation was entirely thanks to her. The trading company’s growth owed just as much to Arpia as it did to Narsha’s business acumen.

So Narsha chose to let it go.
She could only wonder how Karami would react to seeing Arpia like this when he returned.
"I heard. There's no need to investigate further—it's undoubtedly his doing."

A cult dedicated to the Reaper had appeared in the Beastman Nation of Bestia.
To fulfill their deal with Celestial Tower, a small group of elves had been sent to Bestia. The information they brought back confirmed the rise of a new cult devoted to the Reaper.
Bestia was the destination Karami had mentioned.
It had to be a cult venerating him.

Once again, it seemed Karami had brought liberation and joy to the downtrodden.
"What should we do? Should we join them?"
"I'm not interested for now. It won’t be too late once he returns. Until then, I’ll focus on my work."

"Alright. I guess I’ll wait too."
Arpia swung her legs idly.
"Since the work is done, he’ll be back soon, right?"
When he returned, they’d fulfill that thousand-year vow they couldn’t complete before.

A rare, genuine smile graced Arpia’s lips.
+++++
 

The day of Karami's return was drawing near.
Arpia entered the Great Forest with unusually light steps.
The ever-serene sanctuary of the elves.
Yet, today, the peaceful forest was bustling.

One might even call it chaotic.
Something was definitely amiss.
As Arpia wandered through the forest, she spotted Leon.

The commander of the sentinels.
The elite of the elite.
Before Arpia’s awakening, Leon had been a fixture as the champion of the Spirit Dancers' festival.
Yet now, Leon was rushing about, his usual composed demeanor replaced with a grave expression.
"Leon?"

"...What is it, Arpia?"
"What’s going on? The forest is unusually noisy, and your face is something else."
"..."

Leon shot Arpia a sharp, irritated glance.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It’s all because of your master."

"What? What did he do this time?"
"What did he do? Oh, he pulled off something spectacular. Something that’s shaking the entire world."
Leon shoved a piece of paper into Arpia’s face, startling her. Thinking it might be some sort of attack, she flinched before cautiously taking the paper.

Keeping an eye on Leon, she began reading.
A human with black hair and black eyes.
Formed a thousand-year pact with the Queen of the Elves.
Caught in an affair with the Princess of Snow in Aisengar.
Just three short lines.
But each one was more shocking than the last.

"What... what kind of nonsense is this?"
A human with black hair and black eyes.
As far as Arpia knew, Karami was the only one with such rare features.
But Karami formed a thousand-year pact with the Elf Queen?

And on top of that, he was having an affair with the Princess of Snow in the north?
It was pure absurdity.
Arpia’s face twisted in irritation.
"Who’s responsible for spreading such ridiculous rumors?"

"The Snowfield Elves sent it as an urgent report. Not just to the Great Forest, but to all elven elders across the continent."
"What...?"
"I was just on my way to the Queen to verify the truth when—"

FWOOOSH!
Arpia summoned her Wind Servant and leaped into the air, soaring toward the highest ancient tree. She arrived at the Queen's chambers at its summit in an instant.
Without hesitation, she swung the window open and entered.

"Your Majesty!"
"Eek! A-Arpia? Not through the window again! You startled me! If you wish to see me, please follow proper procedures—"
"This isn’t the time for that."

"It absolutely is! As Queen, my dignity—"
Ignoring the Queen’s protests, Arpia thrust the letter into Evrelia’s face, cutting her off entirely.
Evrelia hesitated, a wary expression crossing her face, before taking the letter to examine it.

"W-what is this?"
"That’s what I’m asking you. Is this true?"
"Suddenly asking me such a thing..."

Even if Arpia was the greatest elven warrior in history, this was no way to treat the Queen. Evrelia's dignity as royalty was being thoroughly ignored.
Muttering her discontent, Evrelia read the letter. As her eyes scanned the words, they grew wider and wider, her mouth falling open.
"No! It’s a lie! It’s not true!"

Her face turned bright red as she hastily denied it.
Her earlier concern for her dignity as Queen vanished in an instant.
"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yes! Absolutely sure! A thousand-year pact? And this black-haired, black-eyed human is your master, right? Why would I ever form a pact with—"
"With what?"
"N-no, why would I form a pact with someone like him? Besides, I’ve never even spoken to him! All I’ve ever done is watch him from afar!"

The letter’s contents were a scandal waiting to happen.
It seemed intent on ruining someone's chances of marriage.
"Who sent this? I need to have a word with them!"
"It came from the Snowfield Elves."

"The Snowfield Elves! Even if their branches have spread far, we are all one tree. How dare they slander the Queen of the Elves!"
"They sent it to the elven elders across the continent."
"…What?"

Evrelia blinked, dumbfounded, letting out a foolishly confused sound.
They sent this... to the elven elders... across the continent?
"To... all of them?"

"Probably?"
"Ah..."
Evrelia let out a deep sigh and collapsed onto her bed. It wasn’t from physical exhaustion, but from the mental blow of the situation.

She could already picture the elders, veins bulging with outrage, rushing to her doorstep. The thought alone made her head spin.
Arpia watched her silently, then asked once more, just in case.
"It’s really not true, right?"

"It’s not true... I’m the Queen, for goodness’ sake. Why is an elf more worried about her master than the Queen?"
Evrelia felt on the verge of tears.