Chapter 61: If I Become a Slave, My Master Will Surely Treat Me Harshly, Right?
Chapter 61: If I Become a Slave, My Master Will Surely Treat Me Harshly, Right?
The Catkin were renowned for their nimble grace.
Blessed with keen senses and bodies coiled with explosive power, they possessed an instinctive talent for scouting—always alert, always poised to react at a moment’s notice. Favored children of the God of Assassins, they were the most prized scouts among all demi-human races, invariably sent to the front lines.
But… even so, in the face of this dreadful thing called “threat”—
The girl named Afuduo stood frozen, every muscle locked tight.
The strength she’d meant to unleash was abruptly shackled, as if invisible chains had bound her fast. The sly, lively spark in her face drained away, leaving only a pallid mask.
I’m dead, I’m dead, I’m dead! When did this man appear behind me?
Was I exposed?
Did I really just get caught that easily?
Ugh… I finally scraped together enough coin for a real meal, hoping to fill my belly after three days of hunger, and now even that chance is gone? Seriously, when did he sit down behind me?
Despair crept in. Ever since that accident forced her to flee the Imperial Capital’s Mage Academy, Afuduo’s life had become a string of disasters—one sleepless night after another, always on the run.
Not that life had ever been easy. She’d always skirted the edge of poverty, sleeping rough whenever her coin ran out.
But being broke was one thing. Losing her life was another. And for a Catkin, being discovered could be even worse than death.
Especially after he’d called her out in front of so many people. She didn’t need to imagine what that meant—the answer was obvious.
Back at the academy, he hadn’t shown mercy—he’d simply found it too much trouble to make a move in such a public place.
Now, though, with only the two of them outside school, his chance had finally come.
Otherwise, why would he say something so horribly threatening?
Dragged into an inn, stripped bare, branded with a slave’s mark!
Then, as a pretty, first-rate slave, she’d suffer all the twisted things depraved masters were rumored to do.
Ugh! So my dazzling, colorful life ends at just nineteen?
At the very least, I want a proper meal before that happens.
Even if I die, I won’t do it on an empty stomach.
“I get it, okay! No need to keep threatening me—I’ll go with you after I’ve eaten.”
Resigned, Afuduo slumped into her seat and started wolfing down food, cheeks bulging with every furious bite.
All the while, she plotted her escape.
After all, Catkin might be valuable, but they weren’t illegal. As long as she could slip away now, no one would bother to investigate her background or discover the truth behind her forged recommendation letter.
“Huh?”
What’s all this about threats and taking her away?
Lin Wei’s expression froze, his gaze growing perplexed at the woman’s utterly baffling words.
“I never planned to do anything to you. I just wanted to talk, that’s all.”
“Mhm, sure…”
You could say that to a dog and even it wouldn’t believe you.
Afuduo kept shoveling food into her mouth, all the while fine-tuning her escape plan.
Lin Wei, for his part, couldn’t shake the feeling that this woman was seriously misunderstanding something—but if she wasn’t trying to bolt, that was good enough for now.
After all, Catkin were rare and valuable. It wasn’t strange for her to be cautious, coming all the way to the human world.
“All right, eat first—then we’ll talk. Please, put my order over here, thanks.”
He motioned for the attendant to set his lunch down.
The already crowded table became nearly impossible to navigate.
Across from him, Afuduo—still in the same magus robes as yesterday—devoured her food as if she hadn’t eaten in years. Lin Wei, unhurried, began to eat as well.
More than ten minutes passed before Afuduo’s frenzied pace caught up with her, and she started choking right there at the table.
Lin Wei, acting out of simple decency, passed her the soup. Once she managed to swallow, he finally spoke.
“So, you’ve had enough to eat, right?”
To Afuduo’s ears, it sounded exactly like: Now that you’re full, you’ll come with me, heh heh heh…
“Yeah… I guess so…”
She couldn’t eat another bite.
Afuduo clenched her fists, eyes darting wildly as she braced herself to bolt at any moment—though, truth be told, she hadn’t figured out how to make her getaway.
Running straight for it would be risky. If he had connections in the Imperial Capital and called the guards, she’d be caught for sure.
Becoming a slave was the least of her worries; if they found out something was wrong with her forged recommendation letter, she’d be in even deeper trouble.
After all, I’m on a secret mission here in the Imperial Capital!
Becoming a slave would mean the mission’s a failure—and the punishment for that would be worse than death.
So even if I’m backed into a corner, I have to give it one last shot.
That’s who I am—Afuduo, the Catkin who never bows, making her final stand!
“Can I ask how you managed to get here from your homeland?” Lin Wei put down his utensils, wiped his mouth, and finally voiced the question that had nagged at him since last night.
Ever since the Northern Fortress had fallen under siege and was on the verge of collapse, the routes from the demon lands to the Human Empire should have been completely sealed.
So how had this Catkin girl reached the capital? It made no sense.
“You… You can do whatever you want to me, just please—at least spare my family!”
Her reply left Lin Wei utterly stunned.
A moment ago, Afuduo had been plotting her escape; now, her head snapped up, eyes shimmering with tears. She looked every bit the threatened, pitiable girl, her voice trembling as she begged with undisguised desperation.
“I have three little sisters, but they’re just children—the oldest is only about eight.”
“They can’t do anything useful; keeping them would only mean more mouths to feed, you wouldn’t profit at all.”
“Please, spare them… As long as you let them go, I’ll do whatever you want…”
Lin Wei was completely dumbfounded—he’d never expected to hear something so explosive.
Her words weren’t particularly loud, but the sheer gravity of what she’d said made them echo through the roadside eatery.
A passing waiter immediately shot a suspicious look their way.
Nearby diners seemed to catch wind of the commotion, glancing over and whispering about horrifying topics like “perverts,” “burn him,” and “someone call the Holy Church’s Judgement Knights.”
Lin Wei could even see a few elegantly dressed ladies—noble heiresses by the look of them—exchanging furtive hand signals, their eyes burning with righteous indignation as they kept glancing toward the city guards outside, clearly considering their next move.
“Do you really think I’m the kind of bastard who preys on minors?”
Stop, stop, just stop talking! If you keep this up, I’m going to be branded as some kind of deviant!
Trapped in this nightmare scenario, Lin Wei saw only one way out: fight fire with fire and clear up the misunderstanding with something even more dramatic.
The heat of all those accusing stares prickled at his back. He still had no idea what had gotten into her, but survival instincts took over. Scowling, he raised his voice, drowning out her plea:
“Look, Afuduo—even if you did steal all my money while I was asleep, I’m not so heartless as to go after your family. Just give me back what you took, and we can call off the engagement and part ways like civilized people!”
He pressed on, his voice ringing through the restaurant. “Afuduo, after all these years together, I still don’t get how I lost you to some pretty boy you’ve only known for three months.”
“But if you really want to be with him, at least break up with me first! And don’t use my money to support him—that’s just too much!”
What in the world is this man talking about?!
Afuduo had only meant to use her words as cover to create some chaos and slip away.
After all, Catkin might be valuable, but they were still just another demi-human race. As long as things didn’t escalate to the point of involving the city guards, she’d always have a shot at escaping.
But this guy’s reaction was nothing like she’d expected.
What was all that about dating and supporting some man—I have no idea what’s going on!
“I, uh…”
The avalanche of information left Afuduo’s brain completely fried.
She flailed helplessly, staring at Lin Wei, utterly lost for words.
“Sorry for bringing up something so personal in a place like this. It’s not fair to your reputation,” Lin Wei said, his tone oddly formal.
By now, the looks from those around them had completely changed.
Where before they’d eyed him like scum, now some regarded him as a wronged, upstanding man. Though, Lin Wei couldn’t help but notice a few glances that looked more like they were sizing up a dangerous beast than showing sympathy.
Still, to get out of this mess, a dramatic self-sacrifice was the only way.
“Let’s go somewhere private and talk, Afuduo.”
He slapped a few gold coins onto the table, then reached out and took her hand. Lin Wei’s face wore a calm, polite smile—but his eyes were fathomless, almost frightening in their depth.
“This has nothing to do with your family, but you and I need to have a real conversation.”
A subtle current of magic flowed from his fingertips, seeping quietly into her body.
It was an indescribable sensation—like a warm stream flooding her veins, suppressing her every movement with alarming ease.
Faced with a force she couldn’t hope to resist, a flicker of fear flashed in Afuduo’s eyes.
Then she heard his final, quietly menacing words:
“Don’t cause any more trouble for others here… Understand?”