ill chapter 6

“Have her washed before she sees the master.”

“Yes, Head Maid.”

With that, Nayul was shoved into what appeared to be a washroom. She was expected to bathe herself; no one was willing to wait on a slave. Frankly, Nayul preferred it that way.

It’s been so long since I’ve had a proper bath.

Her purification skill had kept her reasonably clean, but she had longed for the simple luxury of hot water.

After bathing, Nayul dressed in the clean clothes and towel that had been left for her. The cotton tunic was simple and loose-fitting. There were no undergarments, so she kept her own on, changing only the outer layer. When she emerged, a maid she didn’t recognize told her, “The Head Maid has stepped out. Wait here.”

The Head Maid returned a moment later and gave Nayul a cursory glance. “A little better.”

Nayul had to agree. She’d worn the same outfit for months, and it was frayed and coming apart at the seams. It was a relief to be in clean, whole clothes again, even if she regretted having to discard her own, the last link to her world.

“You are now going to meet the master of the house. Watch your words and your behavior. Be very, very careful.”

“Yes.”

After a few more stern warnings, the Head Maid led her to the master’s office. The moment the door opened, the acrid smell of smoke hit her. Cigar smoke. Nayul let out a small cough, and without thinking, she lifted her head. Her gaze met that of Count Aurel, who was lounging in his chair, smoking.

For an instant, she felt a familiar energy from the Count—the same kind of aura that emanated from an Awakened.

Right, they said this world has Awakened, too.

She recalled what she’d overheard from the slavers. This world also had monsters—called “demonic beasts”—and Awakened who fought them. The main difference was the absence of a Tower. Instead, there were gates, called “Porta,” which unpredictably unleashed the beasts. Because of this ever-present danger, the slavers had hired Awakened mercenaries for protection, which is how Nayul had learned about them.

Perhaps due to the lack of a Tower, this world’s Awakened were born with their powers already manifested in a specific class. They could be distinguished from ordinary people by a mark on their body; a plant-like pattern on the chest or back signified an Awakened.

The moment she first heard about the plant pattern, Nayul had thought of her sister. Ha Ahra was a Buffer, a class that enhanced the skills of other Hunters. Whenever she cast a buff, a plant-like brand would temporarily appear on the recipient. This, combined with Ahra’s last message about a hidden quest for a new class, couldn’t be a coincidence. Following her sister’s trail had led her to a world with powers that mirrored her own. Her grueling life as a slave had made her forget, but she was certain of the connection.

“How insolent.”

The single word cut through her thoughts. Her focus snapped back to the present, to the Count’s impassive face, now tinged with clear displeasure. She realized with a start that she had been staring directly at him.

A well-trained slave did not meet the eyes of a superior. She’d had that rule drilled into her by the slavers and again upon arriving at the castle. The Count was right; for a slave, her behavior was presumptuous. Though Nayul was not truly a slave, she wasn’t foolish enough to deny her circumstances and start preaching about equality. One could claim to have rights, but one needed power for those rights to be acknowledged. This world, she was learning, ran on that cold, hard logic.

Nayul immediately dropped her gaze to the floor. Beside her, the Head Maid quickly spoke up.