Chapter 23

“Huff, huff... C-can we take a short break?”

In a small, nameless village just a bit away from Frakshu, we were climbing a small mountain located behind it—Mirabel’s hometown.

For someone like me, who found it tough just to walk to the convenience store in front of my house, this was nothing short of torture. The pain Harold felt... well, saying it’s similar would be unfair, even to myself.

Objectively, this was a bit less painful than that.

“Are we taking another break?”

“Another break? I’m only doing this out of concern for you, Mirabel. Look how kind of a master I am, worrying about my slave’s well-being.”

“I’m fine, though? There wasn’t much to do in the village except running around, so I’m not tired from something like this. Let’s keep going?”

So that’s how you’re going to play it, huh?

Well, I don’t care. Karamir can’t go any further. Mirabel can carry me if she wants.

I sat down on the ground. Mirabel had no choice but to stop as well, casting a pitying look down at me.

“…Sigh.”

“Huh?”

Did she just sigh?

Mirabel? At me?

The day has finally come when Mirabel sighs at me. That really hurt my feelings.

Mirabel, who had just dealt me a life-wounding blow, naturally sat between my legs, as if it were her designated spot. She didn’t hesitate at all, like it was normal.

Mirabel turned her head slightly, glancing at me. It was obvious she wanted something. Having spent enough time with her, I could tell exactly what she wanted, but I decided to play dumb. The revenge of an adult.

“……”

When I didn’t make a move, Mirabel puffed up her cheeks and narrowed her eyes, glaring at me like she was about to shoot lasers. Then, in an impatient move, she grabbed my arms and wrapped them around her waist.

Only when she seemed satisfied did she lean back against me, but that was it. I didn’t hold her tightly, just let my arms rest there.

She turned to look at me once more.

I kept feigning ignorance.

“So, is there something you’d like to say?”

“You’re so mean…”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“I wouldn’t know unless you tell me. I don’t have the ability to read minds.”

The basic rule of negotiation: whoever gets frustrated first, loses.

Mirabel, the world is cold and cruel. A little bit of cute behavior won’t make it go your way.

“Are you not going to hug me...?”

“……”

“Really?”

“...Huh?”

Before I knew it, I was hugging Mirabel.

When did this happen?

Was it a mental attack?

Using magic to cheat like this?

That thought naturally crossed my mind, but in reality, it just meant Mirabel’s cuteness was lethal.

She had figured out how to use her face to get what she wanted.

‘I could make a fortune with her.’

If I put Mirabel at a customer service desk, I’d rake in the clients. Too bad I can’t. Maybe I’ll give it a try before heading home.

As I entertained such thoughts, Mirabel conjured water for me. It was cool, with a hint of sweetness.

“Water made by Mirabel’s own hands is always delicious.”

“Hehe.”

Mirabel smiled, pleased.

I patted her head.

“Let’s get moving again.”

We had rested enough. It was time to move on.

We were almost there.

I stood up, brushing the dirt and fallen leaves off my pants.

Rustle.

‘Huh?’

Did I just see a flash of dark blue powder?

It looked like the kind that appears when Mirabel uses magic.

Maybe it’s because she just made water?

‘But has this ever happened when she conjured water before?’

I didn’t remember it happening with such simple magic.

Well, it’s probably nothing.

“Master, why are we climbing this mountain?”

Mirabel asked.

Now that I think about it, Mirabel’s questions always come late. She acts without hesitation when I tell her to do something, but then asks about it later.

It might seem like typical behavior for a servant, but we have a unique relationship. It’s better to say that Mirabel trusts me completely.

“We made a promise, didn’t we? I said I’d reunite you with your mother.”

Mirabel’s true ending: ‘Reunion.’

No one who’s played the game wouldn’t know who that reunion is with. It’s a classic storyline.

Her mother, Narredi, who was believed to have died that day, had escaped right before the knights caught her, using magic to swap herself with an identical doll. According to the original game, she’s still alive, hiding somewhere in the world.

To get to this point in the game, you’d have to attempt multiple times. Freeing her after revenge without fully understanding the situation would leave it unresolved.

There were clues, of course.

Harold’s final words:

“Daddy is always watching over Mirabel.”

It seems insignificant, but there’s a small hint hidden in that statement.

‘Daddy is always watching over Mirabel.’

Why only the father? Narredi died before Harold, so he should know as well. So why not say both mom and dad?

As if Narredi were still alive.

This isn’t even speculation. It’s practically a cliché. The father, presumed alive, is dead, and the mother, thought to be dead, is actually alive.

The only problem is finding out where she is.

You have to advance far enough in the game to discover Narredi’s location. But of course, I already know.

Initially, I thought, ‘Why not go find Narredi right from the start?’ In the game, you had to follow a set route, but here, I can meet her anytime I want.

But there’s a risk.

I didn’t know what would happen if I reunited them without building up any affection or seeking revenge first.

So I followed the standard route, gathering all the necessary pieces. I’ve solved all the problems I needed to, and now it’s just about assembling the final puzzle.

We’re climbing this mountain to fit those pieces together. Narredi is somewhere up here.

“Crowded places are difficult.”

“…That’s true. It would be hard to be in a crowded place.”

Mirabel has the Celestial Oath, but Narredi doesn’t. A witch like her has no choice but to live in an isolated area like this.

“We’re almost there now. You’re about to see your mother.”

“Yeah. The sky feels closer and closer...”

Why is she talking about the sky? More importantly, Mirabel seems downcast, even though we’re about to meet her mother.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you want to see her?”

“Of course I do. Just like when you first said you’d reunite us. But...”

“But what?”

“I don’t know... I just feel reluctant... like I want to delay the reunion a little...”

What?

You don’t want to be freed?

Why?

Has she had a change of heart?

“What are you reluctant about?”

“Well...”

Mirabel didn’t provide an answer. She just stared at me.

What’s going on?

Is the problem with me?

‘Has she grown so attached to me that she doesn’t want to leave?’

Given her recent attitude toward me, it almost made sense... but even I realized how ridiculous that thought was. I laughed at my own delusion.

Think logically.

Would she prefer her mom or a slave trader? It’s not even a choice worth pondering.

“Master, look, there’s a house over there.”

As I was lost in thought, Mirabel pointed ahead. There, in the middle of the mountain, stood a solitary cabin.

“Huh, someone’s living in such a remote place. How interesting. Shall we check it out?”

“We should be careful. Anyone living in such a place might be strange.”

“With you here, I’m not worried.”

“Hehe.”

We slowly approached the cabin. To be ready for any situation, Mirabel gripped the Celestial Oath tightly in her hands.

As we drew closer, the smell of cooking wafted through the air, as though someone was preparing a meal inside.

“…Huh?”

Mirabel was the one who reacted.

“What’s wrong?”

“T-this smell... No way...”

Muttering words I couldn’t quite understand, Mirabel lowered her staff and, as if enchanted by the scent, started walking toward the cabin. Her steps gradually quickened until she was running.

I followed behind, hands clasped leisurely behind my back.

“Huff, huff... huff...”

Mirabel reached the cabin in no time. Despite claiming the mountain climb was no big deal, she was now catching her breath heavily in front of the door. She stared at the door, her hand trembling as it grasped the knob and pushed.

Creaaaak—the wooden door creaked as it opened.

Inside, someone gasped in surprise and quickly turned their head.@@novelbin@@

A woman.

Her build was that of an adult woman, with short, light indigo hair, slightly lighter than Mirabel’s. Her face bore a striking resemblance to Mirabel’s, though she lacked the plumpness in her cheeks and looked rather gaunt.

The woman had been squatting in front of a pot, likely cooking.

Plunk.

The Celestial Oath fell from Mirabel’s hand, rolling across the floor. She stared at the woman, unable to tear her gaze away.

“…Mom?”

That’s what Mirabel called her.

“Mirabel...?”

The woman rose slowly, as if time itself had slowed down. Her blue eyes widened in shock, as if she were seeing something unbelievable.

Mirabel moved toward the woman. Her motion wasn’t quite like walking; it was more like her body was naturally drawn to the woman, as if pulled by some law of nature.

Standing in front of the woman now, the two looked at each other, frozen, unable to make the first move.

The woman opened her mouth several times, as if to say something, but couldn’t manage to speak. Finally, she managed to squeeze out a few words.

“Is it really... you, Mirabel? My daughter, Mirabel? I’m not just seeing things, am I?”

“It’s really her... My mother... my beautiful mother...”

Suddenly, the woman bit her lip, her body trembling. Then, with a quick movement, she threw her arms around Mirabel, holding her tightly as if she might break.

The woman’s name was Narredi.

Mirabel’s mother.

The one she was destined to reunite with in her true ending.

Mirabel embraced Narredi as well, letting out a loud wail, finally releasing all the emotions she had kept suppressed.

“Mom! It’s really you! My real mother!”

“Yes, yes... It’s me, my daughter. How did you get here?”

“Dad...! Dad died because of me...!”

“…It’s alright. As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters. Your father would be happy to know you’re okay.”

Narredi soothed Mirabel as she struggled to hold back her sobs.

But the trauma Mirabel had endured over the past few months couldn’t be soothed so easily. Even though Mirabel had become a great witch, inside she was still a fragile girl.

Mirabel choked on her tears, her grief compressed into an overwhelming outpour of emotion.

The vivid display of emotion she released was enough to make anyone’s heart ache just from watching.

After some time, Narredi managed to calm Mirabel down. She had cried so much that she seemed to have no more tears left to shed.

“By the way... who is this gentleman?”

Having pacified Mirabel, Narredi glanced over her shoulder at me.

When asked who I was, it was only proper to answer.

“Greetings. I’m Karamir, the slave trader. Mirabel’s master. Or should I say, her former master.”