Zaber gazed at his servants. The firelight danced across his face, deepening the shadows around his eyes.
"Fear is forcing them to obey," he said in an emotionless tone. "Unfortunately, that does not breed loyalty. The mont an opportunity arises, they will betray ."
His voice was cold, but the coldness stemd not from indifference—it was born of experience.
X pondered this. He weighed the situation in silence as well.
"That is correct. To make them loyal, another approach is needed. Naly, soften toward them. If you do that, they will forget their place."
Zaber sighed. It was neither exhaustion nor regret—it was responsibility.
"That is true. I must find the boundary. It is not easy," he said in a low voice. "They will not always be in my sight. None of them can be trusted."
A note of satisfaction crept into X’s voice.
"Do not worry. We will find the way."
Zaber did not reply. He remained silent, staring into the flas as though seeking an answer within them.
At that mont, Kargal approached Zaber. He placed his steps carefully, movents producing no excess noise.
"Master, the tent is ready. And the food."
Zaber examined Kargal closely. The skeleton’s bony form stirred curiosity in him.
He stood.
"Good work."
The praise was not spoken loudly, but it carried value.
Zaber began walking toward the tent. Halfway there, he glanced at the bee’s corpse. No expression crossed his eyes. Then he continued.
He sat by the fire. A hanging pot simred quietly, the liquid inside shifting without sound.
Luna poured soup into a bowl and brought it to Zaber. Her movents were gentle but cautious.
Zaber looked at the food, then at Luna.
"What kind of al is this?"
Luna bowed politely.
"It is soup, Master. I added more at for you."
Zaber glanced at the bowls in Kargal and Gobuto’s hands. He imdiately noticed the absence of at.
"Why did you not add at for them?" he asked, looking at Luna.
Luna hesitated. Her voice lowered.
"Master... servants do not eat at. Not until the master permits it."
Zaber set the bowl on the ground. The motion was not loud, but it was deliberate.
"From today, no more. From now on, serve everyone the sa. I am not separate. Being your master does not an I eat more than you."
Luna froze for a mont. Her eyes brightened, then dimd again with caution.
"Master... do you want to cook at?"
Zaber replied in a cold voice.
"Yes. Cook at. Then we will eat together."
Luna bowed.
"Thank you, Master."
She took the pot, set a smaller one, and began cooking at. The fire crackled as fat dripped into the flas, sending them higher.
Zaber sat silently, gazing into the fire. His gaze was distant.
Gobuto and Kargal set their bowls on the ground and sat quietly. No one hurried.
Luna seared the at briefly, added it to Kargal and Gobuto’s bowls, then poured soup for herself and looked at Zaber.
Zaber surveyed the group. Everyone was watching him.
He picked up his bowl from the ground.
"Eat," he said.
And he began drinking the soup first.
The others nodded and started eating after him.
After the al, Zaber entered the tent. Inside were a thin mattress, a blanket, and a small pillow.
He paused for a mont.
This is for ...
He looked back. The three were gathered outside, whispering. He paid no attention.
He sat on the mattress and lay back.
"I will not dean myself excessively," he thought, and settled in.
Outside, Kargal, Gobuto, and Luna spoke softly.
"Master doesn’t seem that bad..."
Gobuto added.
"From the looks of it, yes." Then he turned to Luna. "You said how servants should be. I thought we would live like that from now on."
Kargal said proudly.
"Though Master appears cold, he cares for his servants."
Luna spoke hesitantly.
"When he said ’I’ll kill you,’ I thought I would beco a slave again, just like before. But now I feel no pressure. The adventurers made do all the work. During als, they mocked for their amusent. Then I ate the leftovers and sat a little. But Master waited for us without eating himself..."
Inside the tent, lying down, Zaber allowed a dark smile.
This is how it should be. A little kindness—not with words, but with actions. Then they begin to devote themselves. But even this is not enough...
He continued listening to their conversation using his mana senses.
He fell asleep in that state without noticing.
Sunlight gradually began gilding the forest canopy in gold.
Kargal and Gobuto had fallen asleep outside. They had dozed off midway through watch duty and woke when sunlight touched their faces. Both rose, rubbing their eyes.
Kargal scanned the surroundings. Noticing Luna’s absence, he turned to Gobuto.
"Where did Luna go?"
Gobuto thought briefly.
"I don’t know where she is."
Kargal approached the tent. The mont he parted the curtain, he saw Luna sleeping beside Zaber and froze in shock.
Idiot... he thought.
He hurried to Luna and began waking her. Luna opened her eyes and, seeing Zaber lying there, flinched in alarm.
Kargal grabbed her shoulder and drew close.
Luna looked at Kargal.
Kargal placed his index finger to his lips.
"Shhh..."
Luna rubbed her eyes and slowly stood. Kargal whispered.
"Quietly, no noise."
They tried to tiptoe out. Luna glanced back at Zaber and followed Kargal. But both were still half-asleep.
Luna stumbled and fell onto Kargal. He barely caught her.
"I said quiet..." he whispered.
Luna straightened herself. As they were about to leave, a cold voice ca from behind.
"Where are you going?"
A chill ran through both their bodies instantly. They turned slowly.
The mont they t Zaber’s gaze, neither could speak.
Zaber rose calmly.
"This is rude, you know. You have earned punishnt."
Kargal trembled slightly.
"Master, forgive us... we woke you."
Zaber fixed his eyes on him.
"What were you doing in here that you tried to sneak out like thieves?"
Luna dropped her forehead to the ground in fear.
"Master, it is my fault. Last night, without realizing, I entered the tent and fell asleep. Kargal is not to bla."
Zaber fell silent for a mont. That silence felt like the punishnt itself to Kargal and Luna—they imagined what penalty they deserved.
Zaber stepped forward.
"Do not enter my bed without permission. This is strictly forbidden. To atone for your fault, prepare breakfast quickly. Then ready yourselves to depart."
Luna lifted her head. There was no anger in Zaber’s expression. Before joy could fully register at the absence of harsher punishnt, she said respectfully.
"Thank you, Master. I will prepare it at once."
She hurried out. As Kargal was about to follow, Zaber turned to him.
"You stay."
Kargal turned back, bowing on one knee.
"Yes, Master."
Zaber spoke in an emotionless voice.
"I understand you tried to save her. But you must be punished for trying to hide it from . Go. Await your penalty."
Kargal looked at Zaber trembling, then slowly exited.
Left alone in the tent, Zaber pondered.
Did I sleep with a girl...
He stepped outside and gazed at the rising sun.
"This was the first ti..." he murmured softly.
Then he looked at his servants.
Kargal sat in sullen silence; Gobuto beside him tried to learn what had happened. Luna prepared breakfast in a cheerful mood.
They ate breakfast and set out once more.
Zaber tried to appreciate the scenery around him as they walked. Luna carried the large bag and followed behind.
Zaber spotted a beehive hanging from a tree. It was small, about the size of a fist. He stopped and turned to Kargal.
"Kargal, bring that beehive."
He pointed to the hive.
Kargal, still in sullen silence, looked at Zaber.
"Yes, Master."
Zaber regarded Kargal.
"This is your punishnt."
Relief appeared on Kargal’s face. He exhaled lightly and ran toward the hive
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