Maou no Hajimekata

Translator: DarkHeartedAlchemist

Yup, it looks great! Thank you so much, Aur!

All I did was restore them a little, so theres no need for you to thank me.

Aur says to Froro, who had sparkles in her eyes.

Y-You want me to read all of this at once?

I dont mind if you do it separately, but yeah, pretty much.

With a cool expression Aur replied to Sarnak, who stares at the thick bundle of papers in front of him with a tormented expression and his forehead wet with greasy sweat.

Hmpf! I know I did swear Id serve you, and we made the arrangement, but it doesnt mean that Im going to allow you to whatever the hell you want with me.

Sarnak folded his arms on his chest and looked away from the pile of contracts before he ostentatiously threw one of them on the ground.

Oh, now this ones interesting: a contract by which Sarnak will have his body turned into that of a womans by using magic if he ever decides to disobey Aur

Froro picked the paper of the ground and read its contents, causing Sarnak to snatch it away from her in a feat of panic.

.. Ill be sure to read all of them today.

Very well, that would be greatly appreciated. By the way, there is one thing that I would like to you to do as soon as possible.

What is it? Ill do it, just as long as it doesnt have anything to do with me turning into a woman.

Sarnak frowned, but took a serious look at the paper handed to him by Aur.

I want to release Froro from slavery. Think you can do it?

Of course I can.

He answered with a smile of a ferocious beast.

Lord Sarnak, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with someone as lowly as I

Stop with the pointless flattery. We have more important things to talk about.

Sarnak gazed at Froros owner, Courteau, with a condescending look.

I will cut right to the chase. That demon woman you own. Hand her over to me.

E-Even if you order me to do so

Courteau scrambled for the right answer to Sarnaks order.

Courteau scrambled for the right answer to Sarnaks order.

I beg you to forgive me, Lord Sarnak, but that girl is the only slave in my possession, and you cant intrude on my right of her ownership

The Bottom has no properly established legal system. However, It was decided that only slaves and Skills should not be unilaterally robbed off one another unless such an action was justified, even if the other party was a slave. And Sarnak is the man who takes pride in always obeying the law.

Of course, Im not saying you are to do so for free. A reasonable compensation shall be provided to you.

At Sarnaks signal, Nagia produced a number of heavy bags and placed them at Courteaus feet. Each and every bag was filled to the brim with food jewels and various miscellaneous goods. In total, they contained enough money to buy more than one slave here at the Bottom.

I refuse.

What?

Sarnak frowned when Courteau refused his generous offer with a nasty smile on his face.

As I said, she is the only slave that I have. I cannot give her away, no matter the price.

What did you just say to me?!

Sarnak bared his teeth and squinted his eyes like a predator waiting to pounce on its prey. Corteau whimpered and took a few steps back, but did not take back his words.

How strange, Sarnak thought. Corteau should not know that Froro was the daughter of a former Demon Lord. Moreover, the residents of the Bottom did not even know the face of the Demon Lord. Even Sarnak knew only that the Demon Lord was someone who possessed the {Ruler} Skill. But Corteaus attitude signified that Froro was someone whom he valued a great deal.

As you wish. After all, there is more than one way to free a slave from the shackles of its owner.

Sarnaks hand inadvenently went towards the handle of the sword attached to his waist.

L-Lord Sarnak. I am. I am no longer under your control.

Say that again!?

Sarnaks eyes went back to Corteau, who desperately tried to keep his humble smile on. Most of the people who lived at the Bottom are under Sarnaks control. That is to say, all those who are not slaves of another figure in power.

I am now a slave to Yueloy. So even if you do decide to hurt me, Lord Sarnak Im afraid that even your life will be threathened.

Yueloy?! Impossible! Why would you!!!!

Looks like something quite unexpected has happened. But when Aur, who was watching the entire scene from the next room stood up to intervene, Sarnak lifted his hand to signal that hes got this covered. Looks like he wants to deal with it by himself.

Who is this Yueloy bastard.

A member of one of the more influential Wall Tribes living in the Middle layer, although normally the dwellers of the higher layers do not concern themselves with those living at the Bottom, but

Aur asked Froro who stood beside him the entire time for an explanation, and she answered to the best of her ability despite being a little confused herself.

Anyway, thats how it is. No matter what you might say, I will be taking my property back with me. Hey, you! I know youre there, so get your ass here this instant!

When she heard Courteaus scream, Froros shoulders began to tremble. Not because his words held power over her because he is her owner, but because of the countless whippings she received from him, her body developed an instinctive fear of him.

But now, she stopped shaking shortly after the sudden attack started, because Aurs eyes were closely watching her.

He leaned against the wall of the room with his arms folded, staring at Froro without saying anything. But she understood what was the point of it very well. So she calmed her heart, wore a stoic expression, straightened her back and left the room. She couldnt have seen it, but behind her back Aur was smiling.

You called for me, master?

Dont make me wait! You! You foul-blodded.!

When Froro entered the room, Courteau had an insult at the tip of his tongue, but he didnt spat it out of his mouth. Part of the reason was that the memory of what Aur did to him the last time he tried to do something like that was still fresh, but the biggest reason behind why he stopped was that Froro was looking at him in a completely different way than he was used to.

Courteau always knew her as a fearful, gloomy girl who was always casting her gaze downwards and and curling into a ball in the corner whenever she was afraid of anything. And now that very same girl was looking him straight in the eyes, but the part that got him the most concerned was not something that could be realized immediately. Her current appearance was so dignified that she could hardly be called the same person he knew all this time.

Courteau

Up until today she always titled him as Master Courteau, but no more.

I am sorry, but I cannot be your slave anymore. Please, release me.

Wha!?

Due to the phrasing she used, it took Courteau a few good seconds to realize that she announced that she wants to abandon him.

What what are you gong on about, you dimwit?! After everything I have done for you?! I picked you up when no one else would, and this is how you repay me?!

Yes, but please, do not misunderstand. I appreciate everything you have done for me so far.

Thanks to Courteau, Froro, who lost everything and was driven to the very Bottom, was able to survive by living a poor and uncomfortable life, but a life nonetheless. He had numerous occasions where he could easily kill her, but he didnt do it, and instead of ugly scars, the only thing his whip imprinted on her was the burning pain.

There were numerous demons who lost their lives simply because they became a property of a cruel and ruthless master, or at least that is what Froro heard about. But Froros intention was not to hold a grudge against Courteau, but to thank him instead.

Let me say it once more. I cannot afford to be your slave anymore. So as a Demon Lord I order you: release me from my slavery.

Under any other circumstances, Sarnak would have deemed such an attempt at persuasion as failed if he heard it with the ears of his old self, but in the case of the current Froro, who was standing tall and actually faced the man she was once afraid of, she might just be able to pull it off.

Demon Lord? You you are a Lord?! A dirt-blood like you?!!!

However, Courteau only groaned and looked at Froro as if she was something that he scrapped off of his shoe.

Youre the one whos misunderstanding! The time when demons ruled the wall world was long ago! Now you are nothing but a slave, the lowest existence of the low! And yet you dare going on and on about some bullshit Demon Lord?! Know your fucking place, you goddamned dirt-blood!!!!!

Courteau reached for the whip with his hand, but stopped it halfway.

..!!!!!!

Because Sarnak slashed the space right above his fingertips.

By all means, go ahead, swing that whip of yours if you feel like it.

He said with an eerily calm voice.

But the moment you do so, your fucking head will roll on in the dirt where it belongs.

B B-B-B-But I am Lord Yueloys!

Excellent.

Sarnak answers with a fierce smile and brandished blade.

I am the one who aims to rule everything from atop the Upper layer, so dealing with some Middle layer small fry might actually be a good warm-up for me.

That was a proof that Sarnak was truly determined to take Froro away from him.

Now then, little piggy, time to make your choice: will you let me have your slave, or your neck? Which is it going to be?

Hyiiiiiiii.! All right, fine, FINE! Ill release her! Ill release Froro from being my slave!!!!

Sarnak swung his blade and cut Courteaus cheek open, causing him to scream in pain and terror.

At the same time, the collar-shaped mark on Froros neck shattered into pieces as if it was made of glass.

D.dont you dare thinking youll get away with it! This isnt over yet!

With that empty threat Courteau rushed out of the room.

Thank you, Sarnak.

Ha! Im not in the position to accept words of gratitude from someone like you. But just this once Im going to make an exception.

Sarnak glanced at Froro while sheathing his sword.

Let me make one thing clear: I detest demons. I am repulsed by the thought of working under one, and I will probably never accept you as a ruler.

Disgust was clearly visible in his eyes.

But sticking with you and Aur seems to be the best course of action, at least for now. No matter what methods Ill have to utilize, I will get at the top of the hierarchy of the Wall Tribes. So. So for now, Im going to lend you my aid. Thats it.

Yes! And I will do the same for you!

Even though he could cut her with his glare alone, something in Froros attitude and smiling face touched him.

Hou? No matter what methods youll have to utilize, huh?

At that time, Aurs voice rand out throughout the room. He didnt came from the next room where he was waiting with Froro, but from the passage that Courteau ran off into.

If you really mean it, then it would be too bad to let such a delicious prey escape, dont you think?

There, at the entrance to the chamber

Stood a sorcerer with an evil smile on his face, lifting the terrified Courteau as if he was nothing more than a wild rabbit caught by a hunter.