First, I wanted to secure my survival and find a way to return to my original world.
‘If this is the world created by that author, there might be some hint here.’
I even thought of searching for the famously mysterious things.
Magnus shook his head and hurriedly knelt on all fours under the bed at my words. Then he slowly crawled to my feet and shook his head.
“Lina, am I acting uncharacteristically like a dog… oof.”
Knowing what he was about to say, I quickly bent down and covered his mouth with my palm.
Magnus’s pretty eyes blinked in confusion.
Really, it made my head spin in various ways.
“No, you haven’t done anything wrong. Mag.”
It’s all my fault.
No, it’s Illyana Glaine’s fault.
When I slowly removed my hand, Mag lowered his head sorrowfully.
At this point, Illyana Glaine was becoming a bit resentful. I liked Illyana and Magnus the most when reading the novel.
“So, rest well today.”
“……Yes.”
Magnus seemed to have something to say, but he didn’t end up voicing it.
“And I told you not to kneel anymore.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Magnus stood up, his voice subdued. Perhaps because he was still young, all his emotions showed on his face.
Smiling slightly, I reached out and patted Magnus’s head a couple of times.
Naturally, my hand stroked his cheek before falling away.
Magnus rubbed his cheek against my hand with a more relaxed expression. He was no different from a dog or cat.
‘Habit is truly terrifying.’
The body remembers habits. I only intended to pat his head, but I ended up acting like Illyana Glaine before I realized it.
“See you next time.”
“…Yes.”
Hearing Magnus’s reply, I forced myself to turn away. I felt his persistent gaze on my back, but I tried my best to ignore it.
When I closed the cabin door and stepped outside, Carl was waiting for me.
“How is he?”
“It seems he’s addicted to ‘Rei.’”
I was a bit surprised inside. I hadn’t explained much about his condition, but he quickly figured out what drug he was addicted to.
I only told Carl that I had brought someone by coincidence without going into detail.
“It seems he’s been persistently trained over a long time. Despite that, he seems to be in better condition than expected, possibly due to careful dosage control.”
“In good condition?”
“Usually, once a drug takes effect, it causes multiple problems. ‘Rei’ is a particularly strong drug used to train slaves, so prolonged consumption melts the brain, making it increasingly difficult to think.”
“I suppose.”
“After three months of use, it leaves the person in a near-vegetative state. Usually, it’s not used for more than a month when training slaves. Excessive trauma can ruin a person. However, given his three-year addiction, he’s in relatively good condition.”
Carl, pressing down his robe, answered calmly.
It seems Illyana Glaine used it cautiously in her way.
Even a year later, Magnus would be fine, regain his senses, and escape.
“What about detoxification?”
“Administer the antidote steadily while gradually reducing the Rei dosage. He probably has developed a tolerance, so a small dose won’t affect him much.”
“How often do you need to check his condition?”
“Once a week should suffice.”
Carl answered my questions diligently.
I heard he rarely goes out because of the burn on his face. This time, he needed a large sum of money due to a problem concerning his only daughter.
Though I felt sorry, I could only consider it fortunate. If he wanted to continue his current life, he wouldn’t speak carelessly.
“So how long will the detoxification take?”
“There’s no perfect detoxification. It’s a matter of steadily administering the antidote and reducing the Rei intake over about six months. After that, it’s up to him to fight it.”
If it’s about fighting himself, Magnus would have no problem. He had a strong will to the point of escaping on his own.
Magnus would undoubtedly overcome it. As long as a foundation is set for him.
‘Six months.’
Six months is neither too long nor too short. Though it would shorten the time to return to the capital by a year and lose the chance to meet the heroine, destiny will find its way.
“Can you prepare six months’ worth of antidote? I’ll cover the cost. If you give me the necessary list, I’ll have it prepared.”
“I can do that.”
Carl answered. His firm, unwavering reply made me nod.
People who give such definite answers rarely make mistakes. That’s why I was more satisfied.
“Then let’s do that. The advance payment I promised will be delivered by my attendant.”
“Thank you.”
“I trust you’ll keep your promise.”
“I’ll remember it until I’m in my grave.”
Carl was quick-witted as he had experience. He easily caught onto what I wanted to hear. As I boarded the carriage, I saw Carl bowing.
“Shall I take you to the mansion, miss?”
“No. To the temple.”
“Yes, understood.”
The driver, who answered, closed the door. Soon, the carriage started moving.
*** *** *** *** *** ***
“From now on, close your eyes until I say it’s okay, Mag.”
A husky voice commanded me.
It felt like my mind was fogged, and I could only follow the command. If I didn’t, I would surely face a severe punishment.
Punishment was excruciating and torturous. No matter how much I cried and begged for mercy, my master wouldn’t touch me until I kissed her feet and pleaded.
At first, I couldn’t even do that and was left in nightmares for a long time.
Though I wanted to see more, I had to obey the command. For some unknown reason, not following the command would lead to something terrible.
In horrible dreams, I was repeatedly slashed.
I was abandoned multiple times, my master changed repeatedly, and in the end, I dried up and died in a trash heap.
In the darkness, the dreams repeated dozens of times. I hated the darkness. But I had to obey the command.
If I closed my eyes tightly, I couldn’t see. Though the darkness that enveloped me was no longer hazy, my mind remained foggy.
‘Lina hasn’t visited for a week.’
Did I do something wrong? Did I make a mistake? I don’t want to be abandoned…. I have nowhere else to go.
Once I started thinking, fear rushed in. I hated the darkness. I wanted to open my eyes immediately.
But if I opened my eyes, Lina would be angry. Thinking that, I clenched my eyes shut even tighter.
‘You’re such a nuisance.’
‘Live well, Magnus. You’ll be the first to become beast fodder. Hahaha!’
‘Brothers, why are you doing this to me? Please, save me, save me. I’ll behave! Don’t leave me….’
Sometimes, in the rare moments when I didn’t have nightmares, I had another strange dream.
Abandoned by unknown people, I wandered alone in a very quiet place.
How long must I endure the rough, hard touch on my body?
Please… quickly… I wanted to escape the maddening darkness. Eventually, the hands touching me everywhere pulled away.
“Carl, go outside first.”
“Yes.”
Carl? Who is Carl? Wasn’t he the one who came to check my health?
‘Carl the doctor.’
I was tense, waiting for permission to open my eyes……
“Mag, you can open your eyes now.”
I heard the word of permission.
I hesitated for a moment, but after confirming there were no additional words, I slowly opened my eyes.
The light stung my eyes, which had been tightly shut. I blinked several times to clear my vision.
Lina stood before me.
‘Lina’ was what she had directly commanded me to call her.
I didn’t think it was her real name, but I couldn’t ask for what she didn’t tell me.
I was Lina’s beast.
‘Beast….’
Was I originally a beast? Why did I become a beast?
Whenever such questions arose, I pushed them down, deep beneath the surface.
I only needed to receive her love.
To be affectionate, to plead for her commands like a beast….
“I’m going to leave now.”
I thought she would stay with me until dinner since it had been a while. It was my assumption, but I was a bit surprised when my expectations were betrayed.
“Are you leaving just like that?”
Have you lost interest in me? Who are you leaving with? Is it that Carl man from earlier? Are you going to tame a new beast? Why? Who…?
Despite the flood of questions, I couldn’t speak recklessly. A beast cannot speak without its master’s permission.
My master, wearing a mask, smiled faintly at my question.
For a moment, I was a bit shocked. She never smiled at me like that, but today she did.
Lina, who always visited me, usually had a stern expression.
She only smiled when I kissed her feet and cried, begging her to embrace me.
I craved warmth. I liked her gentle heat and scent. I liked her soft touch.
When Lina looked down at me wriggling on the floor, she always had a smile.
“Yes. I’ll send a book through the servant. Read it if you’re bored.”
Something felt wrong. Reflexively, I knelt on the floor.
You said I didn’t have to think about anything. You said I just needed to follow your commands and receive your love….
Did I make a mistake? I must have done something wrong.
My head was spinning. My mind felt hazy, then clear for a moment, and hazy again.
‘Yes, it’s my fault.’
Last time, I didn’t plead enough to satisfy Lina. I should have kissed her feet more desperately.
“Lina, did I do something unbecoming of a dog… oof.”
My mouth was suddenly covered.
I was only trying to say I would do better next time, but Lina looked very troubled.
The corners of her mouth, slightly raised, looked very uncomfortable.
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong, Mag. So just rest well today.”
If I didn’t do anything wrong, then why are you treating me like this? Who is this man named Carl? Why are you trying to abandon me…?
“…Yes.”
I swallowed my countless questions and barely managed to respond.
“And I told you not to kneel anymore.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Carefully standing up, I felt a hand smaller than mine placed on my head.
The warmth made my tension melt away. As usual, she patted my head, then her hand moved to stroke my cheek, which I rubbed against.
Lina’s hand, looking troubled, moved away.
“See you next time.”
“…Yes.”
I answered a bit late and watched her back. But Lina didn’t turn around to look at me again.
The door closed.
“My head hurts….”
The more I thought about it, the more my head hurt. I heard someone outside, and then the carriage moved away.
It was clear that Lina was leaving.
But why, how did I end up meeting Lina and being here?
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