Save Log 5: Giving This Miserable Woman A Second Chance

“This is your torture room….”

“Yes, I made it myself. Isn’t it unique?”

Joro took me to the basement of the mansion and through a hidden door, Joro didn’t want the young maids to get inside it by accident, so he hid it behind a secret door. The room was gloomy dark. After lighting up the wall-torchs, the room was clear as daylight.

The room had a long dusty chalk-board on the left wall, a large tank of water and an empty tank both of them is are has cracks on some part of its body, a bag of rocks and a damaged bucket with an old broom beside it.

“This place is pretty cool. What kind of punishments are these?”

“Hanjiro-sama, what is this place? I don’t see any chains or whips or anything?” Zefira was puzzled seeing the room before us. She was expecting something else.

“Oh, I tell you them in details, that there is….”

After a long explanation and babbling later,

“Hohoho, now this is a perfect way to punish.”

“Isn’t that right? Instead of those whips and chained up stuff, I think this is more effective.” both of us started to laugh manically.

“What are we supposed to do here Hanjiro-sama?”

“Huh? Right, let me explain then. ‘Ahem’ First you see that long board there? Write ‘I won’t clean or touch my master’s property without permission.’ 5 hundred times or if you like you can grab that bucket over there and fill the empty tank with the water filled tank and refill the water full tank again once its empty repeat that 3 three times.”

“Wh-what?!”

“Or you can grab those rocks and stack ‘em. You have to stack all of them. If one of the parts falls, try again from the beginning. There are about hundreds of them and your final option is to clean the whole mansion from the attic to this very basement. If you are not up to it then clean this whole basement before the sun sets. Are we clear?”

“.......I-I, I am not sure. I thought you were going to tie me up and...never mind.” she was stunned by the punishments she is going to receive.

“I will leave you here. Pick any punishment you like. I will be at my room if you need anything. Goodbye for now.” I closed the door behind me. Right before I closed the door, I could see the pale face of Zefira.

“I have seen many cruelties from my lord, but you are way crueler than him Joro.” said Draken.

“Isn’t this the best medicine for discipline Hanjiro?”

“Yes, it is. I thank you for showing me this room Joro. You helped me out”

“It’s nothing. You fulfilled my dream to have 20 maids under this roof, this is my way to say thank you. Anyway, are you going to read the ancient picture-book now?”

“Yeah. I got nothing else to do anyway.”

“Alright then. I am going to leave you with that and continue with my training with Draken.”

Joro teleported from my back. I continued to walk toward my way to my room………...dammit, I forgot which way is out from this basement.

I laze as the time runs and its afternoon. It's 1:30 pm according to the clock.

"And, I am done reading this for the 100th time. Sweet. What do I do now. I can't go play with them anymore.."

"Hanjiro-sama, I am done with cleaning the basement."

"Oh, you picked the basement cleaning in the end. That was pretty faster than I though...what the heck are you doing?"

Right before my eyes, Zefira stands with clothes drenched with water. That's not the issue here. The water made it almost transparent.

"I cleaned the basement through and through. It should be sparkling now. Although this is not the kind of punishment I wante.."

"Forget what you wanted! Why the heck are you standing there like this? Your clothes are transparent now!"

She became confused and looked at her dress. Slowly, her cheeks turned red as rose while she covered her chest with her hands.

"I wi-will go change right away! I am terribly sorry again!"

She ran out of the room. My god, what was she thinking? I swear that was on purpose.

I bend down on the floor to get the manga I dropped during that incident while staying on the bed. While I was doing so, I heard some footsteps coming toward my room.

"Ha-Hanjiro-sama. Wi-will I get a pu-punishment for this?" said Zefira only showing her face from the side of the wall.

…...I have no idea what I should do with her now. Alright, I have decided.

“You are going back to your previous owner.”

“Huh?”

“You heard me. You are going to where you came from.”

“Bu-but but but..”

“I am not gonna hear anything. You are taking me there right now. Go get changed quickly.”

“.......yes, Hanjiro-sama. I will get ready right away.”

After Zefira finished changing her dress into a new pair of clothing, we headed for the house of Kernel-sama. When we got downstairs and about to open the door.

“Yo Hanji. Where ya taking Zefira to? A love hotel?

“For heck I am! I am going to return her to Lord Kernel. Now, don’t get in the way saying she was very handful and sweet.”

“Why are you giving her away! She was so helpful and sweet. I won’t allow this!” Lina blocked our path.

“Oi, let us go already or will pull that wiggling tail of yours.” Lina looked at her tail waving from left to right and flinched.

“It’s alright Lina-sama. I am okay with this. It was nice serving you all.” she gave an innocent smile which seems like to be filled with pain. Don’t smile like that?!

“I won’t stop myself from allowing you to take her back. How can you do that while she says something like….Aaahhhaaa! Stop it! It feels too good!”

Lina is unable to battle. She started to tremble lying on the ground face down after getting her smooth tail pulled. We walked over her body when Furara showed up in front of us.

“....What the heck do you want now?”

“I……..I..I want to go with you.”

“Really? You want to go with us? Alright, hop on then.”

Furara joined the party. Since there is no other obstacle, you can now continue your quest to return Zefira back to her real master.

“Fu-Furara how...how could you….betray me like this.”

“I am sorry Lina-san. I thought I might get treated with delicious food if we go to Kernel-sama’s mansion. I can’t wait to taste some more expensive food.”

So that was her intention to join me then. What a crazy food lover.

“Let’s go Hanjiro. We got some food waiting for us there. Ummm, just imagining it made me hungry.”

…..we decided to head to Kernel-sama’s house anyway leaving the trembling body of Lina on the ground behind us. We took a cart to go there. The cart driver knows Zefira and happily agreed to take us there without any money.

After we reach there, both I and Furara stared at the enormous building standing tall in front of us. It’s two times bigger than Joro’s mansion.

“This is the House of Kernel Hanjiro-sama. My previous master’s home.”

“Sugoi…..”

“This is way bigger than our house. Not even my father’s friend had this big mansion.”

“Huh? What? Oh, right. Your father is one of the royal mage of this country’s king. I forgot. You are a daughter of a roya..”

“I-I told you to not say that. We are not so royal and rich like you guys think. This is why I didn’t want to talk about my family.”

This is a good way to tease when she tries to mess with me in the future.

“Shall we go inside Hanjiro-sama?”

“Huh? Yes, we should. Lead the way then.”

We approached the metal-gate shining by the low golden sunlight of autumn. The weather is getting colder than the time I came to this world.

A guard was guarding the gate. The guard turned toward us after noticing us coming at the metal guard.

“Good afternoon. May I know why are you….Oh! Zefira-chan. It’s you.”

“Hello Beren. How are you doing?”

“I thought you left...I was so sad when I heard you lef...I am sorry. Who are they?” the guard stopped crying after realizing there are other people beside Zefira.

“Oh, this is Hanjiro-sama and Furara-sama. They are here to talk with Kernel-sama. Can we go inside?”

“Hmm, so they are the ones you are working for then.” the guard Beren glared at us with eyes filled with hatred and raging flame.

“Hey, Furara. I think that guy has some problem with us. He's looking at us with those murderous eyes.”

“Yes. I noticed just now. I think he likes Zefira.”

“Yeah, I guess so too. Maybe he is angry about that she left this place because of me.”

“Well, you can go in. Wait, let me inform Lord Kernel. Hey Gobi, tell Kernel-sama that Zefira and some other guys want to talk with him.”

Another from inside the territory saluted and went inside the mansion. We waited until the guard returned saying that we can go in. The gate-keeper opened the gate afterwards, we went inside and followed the guard that went into the mansion to inform.

The corridors are all bright and illuminated. They are going on for eternity. Where does the corridor end?

We are sitting in the nicely arranged sitting room. There is a polished low wooden table, a set of sofa with green covers and blue luxurious cushion, the lit fireplace burning sparkling like all of them are new. This place is heavenly to compare ours.

"I want to live in this place."

"Don't just leave your comrades alone." I sat on the comfy looking sofa. The sofa is softer like butter. You can easily fall asleep sitting on it.

"Please wait here Hanjiro-sama and Furara-sama. Kernel-sama is going to come here soon.”

“Why are you standing there? Come sit with us.”

“No, it’s okay. I am fine. I don’t need to sit. After all, I can’t just sit on those sofas without Lord Kernel’s permission.”

“You are now under Hanjiro. So it’s fine right? Come here and sit with us. It’s alright if she sits with us right?”

“...why do you think I told her to sit then?”

“Sorry, alright. You can sit now without hesitating. Come over here Zefira-san.” Furara pulled Zefira’s hand and put her on the sofa. Zefira’s face was painted with red as rose. She was hiding her flushed face looking at the ground.

“Good afternoon. I am sorry to keep you waiting….Why did you stood up from sitting all of a sudden Zefira?”

“It’s no-no-nothing Kernel-sama. Good afternoon to you as well.”

“You don’t have to bow to me like that. Go sit on the sofa. You are my guest as well. So, who are this gentleman and lady? I think I have seen you before.”

“Yes, in a gamble house to be precise. You lost to me a lot of time…”

“Oh right! You are the kid and the Hero of Midlofhin who beat me in gambling for the first time. Hahahah! I was pretty impressed know? Can you teach me how you did that?”

“No sorry I can’t.” I am not the one who did all that after all.

“Really? That’s a shame then. Anyway, how can I help you with?” He sat on the single sofa on our right.

“I would like to give back what you left to me.”

The old man put on a serious face. He was tapping his fingers both of his hands with each other holding them in front of his face.

“That’s right. Zefira, can you show around my place to this beautiful lady hiding her beautiful face behind the shadows? I know you don’t work under me..”

“Yes of course I can. If Hanjiro-sama insist.”

“Sure. I don’t mind.”

Furara looked at me and then Zefira, she finally decided to take a tour with Zefira around the mansion. After they left the room, Kernel-sama looked at me with the same serious face.

“I refuse.”

“You could just say it normally and why aren’t you going to return her back to you?”

“I have my reasons. No, not about her addiction to get punishment. Well….just a little but there is some other reason than that.”

“Alright. What is it then?”

Kernel stood up from the sofa and walked toward the burning fireplace emitting a low crimson light. I have never seen a fire like that. What is that wood used as fuel?

Kernel stopped beside the fireplace and looked at it. He grabbed the silver fire poker and turned over some woods with it. Hang on, I know where this is going..

“Let me tell you a bit about how I met Zefira.”

I knew this was going to end up with that. I guess I will just listen to it and find out why he didn’t want to take Zefira back.

“I went to the capital for a grand event by the king of this country. After the event ended I was heading back home and suddenly, I noticed a girl with dress torn apart walking down the streets. Her face was pale as paper. I stopped the carriage and told the guards to pick her up.”

“A quick question. Was one of those guard was that guy guarding your gate? I think his name was...baran?”

“Hmm. Oh yes Beren. He was there. How did you know?”

“Just a hunch. Please continue.”

“Anyway, after we took her on board, I asked her what happened and where is she from. She replied that her name was…..it’s a bit inappropriate. To make it short, she was a maid of a lord in the capital and ran away after she couldn’t handle the torture. I decided to keep her with me until her master comes looking for her. And it’s been almost one and a half year she was with me until you took her.”

“Hey! You are the one who made her my maid. That means she is not your maid? Well since you took her then take care of her yourself. I am leaving her here.” I stood up from the sofa slowly.

“Wait! Don’t just leave yet. I didn’t tell the reason why I am not taking her back with me.”

I again sat on the sofa and turned to Kernel.

“You see, the lord that owned her, I found him and bought her already. But, for some reason, he wants her back. He doesn’t want any money. I am not sure why but, I don’t think anything good will happen if I return her back there.”

“....I think I get the picture now. You just want me to take care and hide her for you?”

“I wasn’t in the mood to say please take care of her back when I lost gambling with you. Well, anyone would get mad if they lose to someone who never gambled before. I am gonna say it now, Hanjiro Fujuriya, will take care of Zefira Riverwood for me?”

Kernel said it to me with high hopes and standing tall. I thought about what to do. I guess I should just do it.

“No. I don’t want to, thanks. You can just give her to someone else if you like. I am tired of taking care of women…”

“Yo-you..after what I just. You still rejected? I see, I understand. You can leave if you like.”

“Thank you. I will be leaving. Thank you for having us.”

“Yes, yes. It was an honor to have you here. I will spread the news how terrible you were for a hero.” Kernel said with a mysterious tone.

“I am sorry, what did you just say.” this is not good. I think I have been into this situation before and I lost.

“The hero that protected this peaceful town is a gambler and a women-hater. He is not so kind as people think. He will let the poor and helpless person suffer without flinching. Yes, that kind of news that will go around the town after you leave this mansion.” A sinister smile was printed on that face which had an innocent old man smile.

…..I have been blackmailed again. What’s even worse, this time one of the higher ups of the society doing it. The outcome is already decided.

Zefira and Furara came back from the touring while I was drinking the cup of tea with my trembling hands. I can sense Furara being excited seeing the snacks on the table which offered to us.

“Finally, they are here.”

“Did you say something Furara-sama?”

“No-no. I didn’t say anything to you. Don’t mind it.”

“Aa, you two came back. Good, good. We just finished discussing. Please take a sit and enjoy help yourself.”

Furara sat where she sat before. Zefira stood beside her but got forcefully made to sit on the sofa by Furara. After that, she started to enjoy the food more politely than when she eats with us.

“So, Hanjiro will be saying what we discussed. “Ahem’ Hanjiro, if you will.”

“Hu-huh!? Oh ye-yes. Well, I ha-have changed my mind and Zefira i-is staying with us. I wi-will give her another chance to correct her behavior. Don’t mess up next time.”

“ ‘munch’ ‘munch’ Hmm? She is staying? Well, ‘munch’ ‘munch’ ‘munch’ that’s good I think.”

“I-I will do my best to serve you well.”

“Alright then. Its settled. Hope you look after her Hanjiro Fujuriya.”

I nodded in reply and drank half of the tea of my cup. I guess, I got myself a maid. I am pretty lucky. But, what about the others…

“No need to worry. It will go just fine. Congrats for getting a maid.” said Razahan-sama inside my head…..all I can do is trust him or not and, why does he always appear in my head all of sudden.

“Let’s hold a farewell ceremony for Zefira. Ruby! Gather all the maids right this instant!”

What happened after that is in short, there was a big fest with all the guards and maids of the owner of this mansion, Lord Kernel. Furara’s appetite rose to an ultimate form and ate with her heartest contest and kept saying to herself that it was a good idea to come here. After the feast ended, all the people of that place bade goodbye to Zefira, and we headed back home.

Furara is feeling drowsy in the carriage after eating too much and Zefira staring somewhere far distance. The sun was emitting the low crimson and setting at the southern sky. If this was a romantic anime the protagonist would look at Zefira and blush looking at the beautiful face which created by the illusion of the setting sun. But for me, I am in woe thinking about the pain coming in the future taking care of another person weird woman.

Zefira suddenly turned toward me. She looked kinda down with eyes wet and the lips curled. But, without any warning the face filled with sadness turned into a bright innocent smile,

“I am happy to have a nice young master like Hanjiro-sama. Hope I serve you the way you want me to.”

I quickly looked away hiding my which, I think is bright red. ….I guess it won’t be that bad having her with us. Furara was spying us both suspiciously.

“Hmm, this must be the so-called love between the servant and the master.”

“Why did you have to say that now all of a sudden?!”