NOVEL WEB Chapter 26: part 1 - Nem
If you watch anime Nem is doing the cute nanodesu at the end of her sentences… Patreon in case you suddenly feel like a pledge lol,
“Who are you?”
“I’m Masamune. Who are you?”
“Nem, Nem is Nem.”
Her ears were like snow, her hair too, everything was white like snow.
“Nem huh…. Alright Nem let’s get out of here before someone comes.”
“OK.”
She clasped my hand in her’s, the tiny hand shaking slightly. I guess she was still scared.
Without talking I walked to the exit and stepped out of the warehouse together with a scared Nem. The sunlight hit our eyes hard as we found Toa and Sierra there waiting for us.
“Masamune-dono!”
“Did anyone come?”
“That guy we saw on the street came back but he’s over there.”
Sierra pointed over to where Toa was waving. Beside her sat a fat man hanging his head unconscious, the same man that brought Nem here.
“So this is the beast person that guy brought here earlier right?”
“Her name is Nem.”
Sierra knelt and stared at Nem a while before nodding.
“Nice to meet you Nem-dono, my name is Sierra. I see you have white ears and a white tail, are you perhaps from the white cat tribe?”
“Yes.”
Nem seemed nervous about her meeting with Sierra and grabbed hold of my robe’s hem.
“Where do you live?”
“With sister.”
“I see, as I thought she’s probably from the church.”
Sierra stood finished with her questions.
“The church?”
Toa had left her lookout and come to join us.
“It’s an orphanage, they temporarily take care of children. It seems that’s where Nem is from.”
We decided to bring Nem to the church located here in the city for the time being.
〇
“Sister! Sister!”
When we arrived at the church Nem ran and opened the door, the three of us followed her inside.
It was quiet when we entered with no reception to speak of. We could see a large staircase, the building seemed more like an old mansion than a church.
“Nem!”
A single woman appeared dressed in white and navy blue monastery clothes.
“Sister!”
Nem ran up and hugged the woman.
“Where have you been! I was worried sick!”
“I’m sorry. I was caught by a scary person but Masamune saved me.”
I was impressed she remembered my name. Confused, the sister gave a bow and led us to a common room.
“Thank you for saving Nem from such a dangerous place.”
As we sat Sierra had explained the circumstances to the sister.
“Oh no we’re just happy she’s safe.”
“Nem sometimes doesn’t say when she’s going to visit her friends. The capital is at peace and there aren’t many people who discriminate against beast people here. With the slave trade being illegal here as well I thought she’s be OK but to think that…”
Apparently Nem had a habit of wandering off, but since she came back OK each time the sister didn’t worry.
While we spoke Nem played with the other children. She must have been scared but she looked fine now, she was a tough little girl. Thinking that as I watched a smiling Nem, I noticed something strange on her arm.
“Uhm hey… Excuse me sister. What’s that on Nem’s arm?”
It appeared to be a circular tattoo on her left bicep.
“That’s, a slave crest!?”
The sister was at a loss for words as tears flowed from her eyes. According to Sierra the brand was created by pressing hot iron into the skin. Seeing this the sister ran over and hugged the playing Nem as she cried. However Nem seemed to be oblivious and was confused by the sister’s actions.
It’s said that branding chains the soul so that the one who is marked stops trying to run away. The crest is primarily used on men while not so much on women. Sierra guessed that it was probably because she was a beast person that Nem was branded.
“I knew it, I should have killed them all. I shouldn’t have even left one of them alive.”
I felt a murderous rage from the bottom of my heart, I regretted agreeing to leave it to the white knights.
“Masamune, are you OK?”
Toa looked up at my face.
“Your expression seems dark.”
“Masamune dono, it’s ok. We’ll take care of the rest, I’ve already contacted Annette. It’s not something you should worry about, please leave it to us.”
Looking at my appearance she said once again. “It’s ok.”
In front of the orphanage Sierra parted with us to go help with the cleanup. And we said goodbye to the sister and Nem.
“Nem be careful for the time being OK? Goodbye.”
“You’re going home already?”
Nem’s expression turned sad.
“Yeah, but well come to play again. Don’t sneak off on your own OK?”
“OK, see you tomorrow.”
We bow to the sister and leave the orphanage glancing back at Nem’s face.
“We’re coming back tomorrow?”
“I don’t know.”
“But Nem said see you tomorrow.”
“She said that didn’t she, she’ll probably forget about me by tomorrow though.”
I didn’t think too deeply about what Nem said. However the next day when I woke up at Sierra’s house I came to know the meaning behind her words.
〇
“Good morning Masamune sir, this morning a guest has come to see you.”
“Huh? I have a guest?”
“Yes sir, they are waiting over there.”
After waking up I was guided to the room where my guest waited.
“Master!”
“Master?”
As soon as I opened the door someone jumped at me. Looking down at my feet I saw Nem, seeing her white ears and tail I understood.
“Nem, why are you here so early? And why are you calling me Master?”
“Momma taught me this! She said that if someone saves your life, love them for as long as you live. And master saved Nem! So master is Nem’s master!”
Without understanding I listened to the child’s logic. But more importantly was what she was calling me, if Toa and Sierra heard her call me master it would complicate things.
” Morning Masamune. ”
” Masamune – dono, you’re up first this time. You woke up early today.”
But those two had exquisite timing.
“Master where are you going today? Nem wants to go with Master.”
“ーmaster?” The two of them said at the same time.
Their eyes opened wide in shock but in the next moment were filled with contempt.
“Wa, wait a minute! It’s not like that! There’s a reason!”
“Master, you’re an adventurer right? Are you going to the guild today?”
Nemu, please shut up for a while.
I tried to explain to the two who stared at me suspiciously but Nem called me master enough times that my excuses were useless.
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