Mental Rebirth: The World's Savior Was Not Me, but My Childhood Friend and Stalker - Chapter 9: An Inch Ahead is Slavery

While at the guild, I decided to browse through the available jobs. They involved collecting or defeating various things… it felt like being a jack-of-all-trades. Gathering stuff seemed doable for me, but given the dangers of this monster-infested world, it’s risky for ordinary people.

“Yusha, you’ve been here way past the promised time. Is everything okay?”

I was engrossed in the guild’s unusual requests, but a considerable time had passed. Mei mentioned something about an ‘ikoku’ earlier.

“How long is an ‘ikoku’ again?”

“30 minutes. You’ve been here for about 2 hours now. That maid must be worried sick looking for you.”

That’s not good… I need to hurry back. But… I was caught up in a pinball game at the guild. The ball was still in play, and I couldn’t leave it!

“Sorry, Touko! Can you go back first and tell Mei? I’ll follow right away!”

“Fine… But you owe me one, okay?”

I owed Touko a favor. Thinking about it, I’ve been due her a lot. The fact that she now acknowledges this debt is frightening. What will she ask for? I almost asked her to wait, but Touko had already left the guild.

“Hey, can you end this pinball game for me? I’m done with it!”

“Sorry, big brother, you can’t quit mid-game. No substitutes either. You have to finish all the balls.”

“Damn it! I’ve been trapped!!”

I lost repeatedly, draining considerable money in the name of play charges. The Lord gave me a lot of money, but this is painful…

“Haa… Haa…!”

I was running through the city. The more I delayed, the heavier Touko’s “favor” felt. In this world, I’ve only been accumulating debts to Touko. I might accept whatever she asks of me. That’s how big a favor I owe her. So, as my utmost resistance, I ran as fast as I could.

“Please stop. I am looking for my master.”

I heard a familiar voice. It came from an alley. I knew I should’ve stayed away but went towards the alley.

“Master, huh? Heh… How about I become your new master?”

“No, thank you. I am in a hurry.”

“Wait, why not forget your master and have fun with us? A cutie like you shouldn’t be left alone.”

“Please do not disrespect my master. Could you correct your words immediately?”

“Correct, huh? Hehe, what should we do~?”

It was Mei. As Touko said, she went out to look for me as I was late.

“Hey, leave Mei alone!”

“Who the heck are you?”

I reacted before thinking. Three thugs, no match for me. But I couldn’t just walk away.

“I am Mei’s Ma-, Mal-, Masterr! Back off now!”

“What? Don’t know you, man. Get lost before we let you off.”

Ignoring me, one thug roughly grabbed Mei’s arm. I grabbed his arm.

“What the hell, man?”

“Let her go. Can’t you see she’s not comfortable?”

Suddenly, everything went white. I was punched hard in the face and fell to the ground.

“Annoying… What are you, a prince trying to save the princess? I hate that kind of crap the most!”

The thug kicked me hard. I felt a sour taste in my throat and heard Mei’s scream.

“What a weakling. Hehe, maid-chan, you can do better than thi-“

My legs were wobbly, and I felt sick. Probably bleeding from the nose, breathing was difficult. But I couldn’t fall. I had to stop them at all costs, and that determination got me back on my feet.

“Ah… Seriously annoying. Just drop dead already!”

He swung a telephone punch with all his might. I could dodge it, deflect it. Despite having almost no strength left, I grabbed his wild punch.

“Haa haa… Stop it, I said… that kind of thing…”

“Shut up!”

I was kicked and sent flying, rolling on the ground, coughing. I might have damaged a bone or two.

“So annoying… I should just kill this guy.”

One of the thugs pulled out a knife and swung it down at me. His eyes were completely void of sanity. I was done for. Ah… what an unlucky life. Even after reincarnating to another world, I end up dying at the hands of some thugs. I closed my eyes and braced myself.

…

……

Huh? Strange. The knife didn’t stab me. I timidly opened my eyes. The thug had dropped his knife, standing there dumbfounded. His fingers were bent in an unnatural direction.

“W-what’s this? What happened to my fingers?”

Just as he realized and screamed, one of the thugs was slammed against the wall, cracking it. His face was unrecognizable, covered in blood. Mei stood beside him.

“Even if they are thugs, they’re still valued citizens… I wanted to settle this peacefully. But when it comes to my master’s life, you’re not even worth comparing.”

Mei dusted off her clothes and turned her gaze to the remaining thugs with an air of nonchalance.

“Y-you! What did you do?!”

The thugs, unshaken by the sight, attacked Mei. One had his arm broken and was thrown to the ground, writhing in pain. The other suffered worse, stabbed in the stomach with his own knife. Despite being incapacitated, he tried to fight back and ended up getting hit in the groin. He foamed at the mouth and passed out.

“Master, are you okay? Don’t worry about me. I’m a servant. I’ve mastered some self-defense techniques for guarding, so I’m not weak enough to lose to thugs or even certain monsters.”

“Ah, I see… Was I just meddling unnecessarily?”

An awkward silence followed. I felt like a fool and blushed in embarrassment.

“So, what’s this ‘master’ thing about?”

“I was instructed to hide my identity. ‘Master’ isn’t exactly wrong. I can change it if it’s unpleasant for you.”

Now that she mentioned it, it made sense. I’ve been trying to hide the fact that I’m the savior, so being called ‘Savior-sama’ would defeat the purpose. But Mei’s doubtful gaze bothered me. There was no excuse for my earlier embarrassment.

“…Master. Forgive my boldness, but may I ask…”

“Yes, what is it?”

I bit my tongue in nervousness. Pathetic.

“Do you truly possess the power to defeat the Demon Lord?”

“That’s… I’m unable to use my full strength against ordinary people to control my overwhelming power…”

“One with power should also know how to hold back. And they wouldn’t flinch or get hurt from an ordinary person’s attack.”

I was cornered. There was no excuse. My secret was out.

“What if… I’m not really the savior?”

“I’d detain you immediately and turn you into a slave, as per the laws of Rudon.”

Rudon must have a grudge against reincarnated people, damn it… Should I run? No, I can’t. My legs won’t move after being beaten up. Cold sweat broke out.

“Why did you pretend to be the savior when you’re weak?”

“I didn’t pretend! Somehow everyone started saying that… I got caught up in it before I even knew what was happening!”

“But you did defeat a Demon Lord’s general. I witnessed it once. How do you explain that?”

“It was Touko! She’s the real savior! But for some reason, she also calls me the savior…!”

“Touko-sama… I see, so that’s why she was the only one fighting in the forest…”

Mei nodded as if she understood. Then she closed the distance between us.

“So you’re a parasite clinging to the savior.”

Her expression indicated she wouldn’t go easy on me depending on my answer. I swallowed hard. It seemed I had to reveal my true purpose here and now.

“No! Like I said, Touko treats me as the savior for some reason! I’m just being dragged around by her! Believe me!”

I bowed my head, hoping to gain her trust. I had no desire to become a slave. Perhaps my earnestness reached her, as Mei told me to raise my head, acknowledging my words.

“One last question… Why did you challenge someone you couldn’t beat, knowing you’d expose yourself? There’s no benefit for you as the ‘master.'”

“Uh… well… It’s natural to help a comrade in trouble, especially when I’m the cause of it.”

Mei seemed flustered, something rare for her. She realized I had acted without any ulterior motive, simply wanting to help. There was no lie in my expression. I was speaking from the bottom of my heart, as if it was the most natural thing.

Growing up serving the lord, Mei had seen the adult world and factional disputes alongside her brother. Naturally, she had learned how to survive in such a society, leading her brother to become an envoy and herself a direct servant of the lord. For a common-born woman of her age, this was a prestigious position.

Therefore, she couldn’t understand my way of thinking. It seemed childish to her that someone my age could act without considering the consequences. Yet, she found this naivety enviable and worth cherishing. The inherent goodness everyone possesses, often lost over time, was something irreplaceable.

“I see… I understand your thoughts, master. I won’t turn you over to the lord. I’ll keep this to myself. You still have things to do. Let’s return to the inn. Everyone is waiting. Oh, and you need treatment.”

Mei smiled as she spoke.

That meant… she now had something on me to use as leverage! Her smile seemed sadistic, as if she was plotting what to make me do next.

She took out gauze and medicine from her bag, applied it to my wounds, and I couldn’t help but cry out in pain.

“It might hurt a bit, but bear with it. Ignoring it could lead to infection.”

Mei’s face came close as she treated my face and mouth injuries, even fixing a gauze inside my nose. She was skilled at this.

I endured the pain, and Mei kept smiling throughout the treatment. Although I was grateful, it felt somewhat frightening, like glimpsing her sadistic side.

“Thank you for enduring it. Let’s head to the inn.”

“Y-yes… Understood… Uh, Mei-san, can I carry your bag?”

“…? No, it’s inappropriate for a servant to let their master carry their luggage. Thank you for your consideration.”

Shaking, I tried to stay in Mei’s good graces as we headed to the inn.