Chapter 2: Let’s get along, Master.

Translated and Edited by: ynlucca.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you’re close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it’s cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one’s older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

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My name is Izuru Orikata, and I’ve returned from hell itself. Namely, another world.

In truth, I am an unfortunate man who couldn’t experience the adventurous days as some dazzling young hero, as portrayed in fiction, or live out the harem dream of a lot of people. Instead, I was thrown into that hellhole without any powerful skills or weapons. After a gut-wrenching period in my life, I returned to my normal life.

To my surprise, however, only one month had passed since I was taken to another world. Today was September 1st of my freshman high school year. In other words…

“…Did my summer vacation just go poof?”

“Master, would you walk with a tad more energy, please?”

Miriya, a sl*ve I had bought in that other world, reprimanded my slouch as we walked to school. Her hair, purple as the most fragrant of Lavender flowers, reached down to just above her waist. And as if sculpted to a pair, her violet eyes were definitely something you wouldn’t find in a Japanese person. As if that wasn’t enough, her figure turned heads to a crack. Definitely befitting of the heaps and heaps of money I had to shill to get her.

So, why was this otherworldly beauty — literally — here with me? Apparently, she didn’t want to be separated from her Master, so she just jumped into that goddess’ magic circle.

Yeah, if you just listen to her words, she’s as lovely as can be. Though I myself could never just disregard this nagging feeling that she had something going on in the dark, and it scared me.

Even back in that tar pit, she frequently threw criticism and remarked on anything I ever did in a way that didn’t fit a Servant. Almost as if she didn’t even consider me her master… Well, I say that, but it’s never led to any negative consequences, though.

“Hey, can’t you be a little nicer to me, your master? Do you hate me or something?”

“Oh, I do. What kind of Master doesn’t treat their sl*ves like sl*ves?”

“…Your words never cease to cut me.”

Ugh, what’s this about treating a slave like a slave, huh?! I’ve been treating you like one just fine! During battles with monsters, I’ve always put you on the front lines while I timidly attack from behind!

Sigh, whatever. This is the kind of relationship we both have. We had clear boundaries: while I’m her Master, she was my Servant. That’s how far our bond goes, and it’s pointless to try and guess what goes on in that weird head of hers.

Besides, I’ve got a ton to think about already…

“Miriya, what are you going to do now? Remember our talk yesterday? It won’t be easy for you to live here without an ID and stuff like that…”

By the way, even though I disappeared for a whole month, my parents just went like, “Oh, are you done running away from home now?”

…What a breezy, unbothered bunch. Well, I say that, but only my little sister got worried about my unannounced absence. And she wasn’t even surprised by this sudden purple-haired beauty’s appearance. Instead, she threw me a, “Landed yourself a pretty girl, hey? How much did she cost?”

Hahaha, I still chuckle at that. Well, she had a point: how much did she cost, exactly? As soon as I was about to pop off Math style, Miriya stopped me with a faint smile.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Hm?”

In response to my question earlier, she snapped her fingers. What followed was her mere presence being bathed in a faint glow, followed by a change so sudden my mind could barely process it.

“W-Wait, is that—?”

“Yes, your school’s uniform.”

“Hold up, no way…”

Clad in her magic-woven uniform, Miriya narrowed her eyes with a faintly smug smile.

“I, Miriya, am the new transfer student that has come to attend classes today. Let’s get along as classmates from now on, Master.”

“W-What?! And what about the procedures?”

“Altering documents is as easy as breathing for me. There’s nothing I can’t do in this world where magic hasn’t advanced.”

“Is that so…”

My head was starting to hurt from this crazy development. As I hunched over to appease the sudden headache, Miriya spoke up in a graver tone.

“More importantly, Master. Will you really carry out yesterday’s plan?”

As we walked to school, I replied briefly. “Yeah. Since I’m finally back here, I’ll indulge in it to my heart’s content.”

“…Revenge, is it?”

“Yeah. It’s a common theme in stories of this world, you know? Rising from the bottom by using cheat skills.”

“But you don’t have any, Master.”

“…Yup, that’s an L for me.”

“…”

Sure, we were bantered, but I was still very much serious about it. Back in school, I’m nothing more than an introverted outcast. I’ve got no friends, and much less a girlfriend to speak of. Just another loner to fill in the gaps. In fact, that’s why even though I disappeared for a whole month in their eyes, no problems arose. Sad, isn’t it?

“By the way, if I may ask, who is the target of your revenge, Master?”

“Well, everyone in my class, for starters. Plus, the teachers who looked down on me. And the senior who spread lies about me back in May. Oh, and the one who bullied me back in elementary school… Ah, and I can’t forget—”

“That’s enough. Wow, it seems you’ve got enemies everywhere, Master. Just as I expected.”

“Are you sure about that last part?”

She sighed for a moment, then firmly took hold of my hand. Her grip was so tight I could swear I heard my bones crack. But that wasn’t what called my attention. Her eyes, locked on mine, had a clear message to convey: she wouldn’t tolerate any deception.

“Tell me, Master, what’s the name of the person who killed you…?!”

“…”

For her words to make sense, you need to know something. I’ve been reincarnated to that hellscape. Yes, reincarnated. The trigger for my transfer there was death, plain and simple.

My answer was steadfast, but I still didn’t look her in the eye. “I won’t say it… What do you plan to do if you hear it?”

“Do I need to say so you’ll understand?”

“I won’t say it because I do.”

“…”

Her eyes were fierce as they pierced into me, yet she fell silent. I looked at her once more, but no matter how much of a scary face she’d throw at me, I wouldn’t budge. I could never tell her, because she would certainly go and kill that person. However, taking a life in this world was never justified.

Things are different here, and I don’t want her to become a criminal…

Despite constantly showing disgust, contempt, disdain, and other endless negative emotions toward me, whom I even doubted she considered her Master, there was one feeling I couldn’t deny. It was just one, and it brought me the most joy of all.

—It was unwavering loyalty.

Still, I couldn’t. “Miriya, that’s a command.”

“—! …Okay.”

A command was something a sl*ve could never hope to break. If she ever disobeyed, the collar of subjugation she wore would sever her neck. It wouldn’t tighten immediately, but I’ve heard the slow suffocation it brought was excruciating, to say the least.

So please, Miriya… Never break it.

“Even if you do find the culprit without me, Miriya, never kill them. I will accomplish my revenge myself, on my own terms.”

“…Can you really do it, Master?”

“Do I look that soft to you?”

“Yes. You did, even back there—”

“Stop, you don’t have to complete that. Besides, you go way overboard, exterminating everything and everyone in your path. Too overkill, I tell ya.”

“It’s only natural. Your enemies are my enemies.”

“Trying to be an edgelord or something?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Heh, when I called others out on it back in that place, people looked at me strangely. Now that I’m back here, though, Miriya was the one who stood out as unusual, not me.

But boy has she mocked me to hell and back all this time. Now, I’ve completed my own revenge against her. One for one!

“…Your face looks very punchable, Master.”

“Oh, was I grinning? Well, it’s starting to hurt, so let’s go already. We need to hurry on to school.”

“…Yes.”

Even though she replied like that, Miriya never let go of my hand. Still, while her eyes bore the back of my head like daggers, we passed by the school gates. It’s been two years for me, so I couldn’t help but—

—Before I could complete that thought, I caught the sight of the woman who killed me in the corner of my eye.

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