Reborn as the Psycho Villainess Who Ate Her Slave Beasts' Contracts

"I’m okay with survival." Elara walked slowly toward the bed, each step obviously painful. "Mahir consented because he values my survival more than his temporary discomfort. That’s his choice. I accepted his offer because the alternative was death. That’s my choice. Both choices were informed. Both were documented. Both were legal."

She sat on the bed carefully.

"If you want to judge the ethics of a system where Beast Knights serve with such absolute loyalty that they’ll consent to physical harm to save their masters, fine. Judge the system. But don’t accuse me of violating consent when I followed every legal protocol specifically to ’avoid’ that violation."

The System floated silently for a long moment.

"The goddess isn’t going to care about legal protocols," it said finally. "She’s going to care that you hurt someone. That you treated him like a tool."

"He ’is’ a tool. A willing one. Who volunteered." Elara lay back down, exhausted. "The goddess can express her opinions when I die. Until then, I survive using whatever resources are legally and consensually available. Including Beast Knights who explicitly agree to be used that way."

"You really don’t see the problem."

"I see a problem with a system that makes people so loyal they’ll consent to harm. I don’t see a problem with utilizing that system once it exists. I didn’t create it. I’m just working within it."

The System stared at her. "You’re impossible."

"I’ve been told." Elara closed her eyes. "Now either help me or leave. I need rest and your moral outrage isn’t useful."

The System faded from view, unable to continue the conversation.

And Elara lay alone, body aching, conscience clear, having followed every rule precisely to get exactly what she needed.