Liberation of The Slaves

Chapter 102 – A Status After The Burn

The water around me was warm, still, and faintly scented with vanilla—probably a lingering trace of the liquid soap made by Selena. Steam curled lazily in the air, blurring the edges of the dimly lit bathroom like a dream not yet faded. My small frame leaned against her resting body, my head nestled carefully against her chest. The steady rise and fall of her breathing was the only sound aside from the gentle drip of water from the faucet.

For a moment, everything felt calm and safe. Almost like the world outside didn’t exist. And maybe, just maybe, I could let myself relax just for now.

<“Oh, right. I forgot to obtain the water element. Do you think I can get it now, Aza?”>

【Yes, Master. It should be easy for you now.】

Aza’s confidence was reassuring. Apparently, the key to acquiring the water element was simple—just absorb mana throughout my body while submerged in water. And right now… well, I was already soaking in a bathtub with Selena’s soft body behind me. The opportunity was perfect.

I shifted slightly, trying not to think too hard about the fact that my head was still gently resting between her chest. Her body was warm, even in her unconscious state, and the heat clung to us like a sleepy haze.

I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing, letting the warmth of the water wrap around me. Then, I began to pull. Not with my hands, but with my body—drawing in mana from the water, from the air, from everywhere. It felt like invisible pores opening across my skin, letting the energy seep in, slow and steady.

The bath rippled faintly.

A tingling sensation prickled at my arms and legs, rising toward my core like I was being wrapped in threads of liquid light. It wasn’t painful—more like the gentle brush of rain on bare skin.

And then—

【It’s done, Master. You’ve acquired the water element.】

My eyes opened slowly.

<“…That’s it? That was way too easy.”>

I leaned back slightly with a long exhale, letting my head rest against Selena’s shoulder.

<“To think I couldn’t even do this a few years ago… Haa…”>

【That’s because you weren’t ready back then. You earned this. Most children wouldn’t even dream of training 20 hours a day, you know?】

Tinkle!

Hmn!

Their cheerful congratulatory tones chimed in, and I couldn’t help but smile.

<“Thanks, guys.”>

They’re right. I worked hard. For over a year, I pushed myself past exhaustion—chasing Heavenfire, honing mana and aura until they bent to my will. I even cut down my sleep, surviving on just a few hours a night. While other kids played with sticks or trained for a few hours a day, I was basically living like a training-obsessed monk.

With my cheat skill Double Natural Growth Rate, every hour of mine was like two. And if Learning Acceleration kicked in too, then maybe my training was effectively eighty hours a day. No wonder this felt easy now.

I gazed at the rippling surface of the water, thinking.

<“…You know, in fantasy anime, the main character’s story usually begins when they’re teenagers, already strong from the start. If this world is my story, then… does that mean all of this has just been a prologue?”>

【Pfft. Main character, huh? Don’t flatter yourself too much, Master. But… I suppose if this were a story, you’d be the overworked side character who accidentally becomes the hero by grinding too hard.】

<“Hey! That still makes me the main character in the end, right?”>

I didn’t even know whether she teased or complimented me!

【Sure, sure. Let’s call it: That Time I Got Reincarnated As An Edgy Kid Who Accidentally Got a Harem. Very inspiring.】

What’s up with that long title?

<“…You’re just jealous of my growth arc.”>

【Not really. I’m just preparing myself for your inevitable tragic backstory monologue when you turn fifteen and unlock your ultra-edgy transformation. Let me know if you need theme music. I’m thinking a piano.】

…I did always like piano even though I can’t play it myself…. wait, no! That’s not the point! Ugh! Why am I even thinking about this!?

<“Haa… Five years left, huh... I can’t wait.”>

Fifteen years old is a coming of age in this world and now I’m ten years old.

【Technically, only two. Adventurer registration opens at twelve. That’s when your “true journey” begins, O Chosen One. Should I start narrating everything dramatically from now on?】

<“…I should ask that Goddess to make a protection of my memories for privacy.”>

I sighed and shifted again, carefully adjusting Selena so she stayed comfortably upright in the bath. Her breathing remained soft and steady, her skin glowing faintly beneath the dim bathroom light.

<“I hope she wakes up before then… It would be nice to register together.”>

I looked toward the window, where morning light poured in, scattering across the tiled floor.

Actually… I kinda need her to wake up. I don’t even know how to get out of this forest. No idea how far it is to the nearest town, or what direction to go. Plus, this place is crawling with monsters strong enough to make grown men wet their pants. Going solo would just get me killed.

I let my head fall back gently against her shoulder, closing my eyes again.

Still, the idea of it all filled me with a strange excitement. A future full of possibilities. New places. New challenges. New friends. And, hopefully, a new chapter with the people I’ve come to care about.

I couldn't help but smile.

Yeah... I was looking forward to it.

After draining the bathwater and wrapping a towel around myself, I carefully lifted Selena from the tub. Warm droplets still clung to her skin, glistening faintly in the soft light like dew on moonlit petals.

I carried her back into the living room—bridal-style, again. At this point, I was starting to feel like the world's most conflicted groom.

I gently laid her onto the sofa, her damp golden hair splaying across the cushion like silken threads. She looked… peaceful. Way too peaceful for the chaos she had just endured.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. But there was still one more thing to do: clothes

I went to the bedroom, wore clothes for myself, and scrambled to grab her pajamas and underwear, snatching whatever my panicked brain could recognize as "soft and wearable" from the pile.

Towel? Check.

Pajamas? Check.

Panties? Check. And for research purposes, I take a peek for a few seconds. It seems she likes cute bears.

With a towel in hand, I slowly and carefully dried her off—starting with her arms, then shoulders, moving down. Every now and then, my eyes would drift. Her skin was smooth, almost glowing now that the dried blood and grime were gone. My hands trembled a little—not from nerves, but from how hyper-aware I was of every inch of her skin. I was trying my hardest to stay composed, okay?

…Okay, maybe 40% composed. The remaining 60% was shamelessly savoring the softness brushing against my fingertips.

【Pervert, Master.】

Her voice echoed with dry amusement.

<"Didn’t you enjoy it too?">

【...Well, that’s true. Ehe~】

I let out the longest internal sigh known to man.

Tinkle!

Hmn…

A bright, bubbly chime rang out in my mind—Alfia’s voice bubbling with delight. “I like it!” she seemed to say, her presence bouncing with excitement.

A softer, mellow vibration followed—Nyxia’s tone calm but pleased. “It feels good…” came the quiet impression, like a satisfied purr curling through my soul.

<“Wait—hold on. You two can feel this too?”>

【They can't read your emotions like I can, but because they share your senses, they feel physical sensations through your body. When you experience pleasure, they do too.】

<“...So I should definitely stop doing anything remotely lewd from now on. It’s corrupting them by proxy.”>

【They’re technically adults, Master.】

Then suddenly, she explained something like a teacher giving a very questionable biology lesson to Alfia and Nyxia.

【Ah, right. Once you both get your own physical vessels, the sensations will be much more direct. Touch, warmth, comfort—it won’t be just secondhand anymore. You’ll feel everything for real. So… you might find yourself wanting to be touched by him directly. Because it’ll feel much better.】

“Oi! Why are you teaching them this, of all things?!” I shouted, ears burning like lava.

Tinkle!?

Hmn…?

A sudden flurry of emotion bloomed from within.

Alfia’s spirit fluttered brightly, like someone bouncing with both hands raised. I could practically imagine her eyes sparkling as she twirled midair in her spiritual space, radiating excitement.

“Really!? I wanna try it, big brother Freed! I bet it feels all warm and fuzzy and—ehehe!”

Nyxia’s response was more reserved but no less dangerous. A quiet hum filled with curiosity, like a cat eyeing something soft and cozy. I could feel her tail swaying with anticipation somewhere inside my soul.

“So if I get a body… and you pet my head… I’ll feel it? All of it?”

<“You two—no! Do not look forward to this! Don’t let Aza corrupt you like this!”>

【I’m just nurturing their curiosity. It’s healthy.】

Healthy, my ass!

These girls were already halfway to being corrupted, and Aza was fanning the flames like a proud big sister handing out forbidden candy.

I looked up at the ceiling, defeated.

How did I go from a lonely reincarnator to the full-time caretaker of three spiritual troublemakers?

I wanted to scream, but all I could do was pull the pajama top over her head and slip the pants onto her legs—and pretend I wasn’t blushing like a sinner in church.

After putting her pajamas on her—carefully, respectfully, and with only minor mental panic—I quietly made my way back to the bedroom.

<“Whoa... This place is a disaster.”>

The moment I stepped inside, I could finally see with a clear mind the aftermath of the purification ritual.

The bed was a battlefield. Charred holes scorched through the sheets and covers, blackened remnants from bursts of heavenfire and hellfire alike. Dried blood had soaked into the fabric like ink stains on parchment—thick, rusty-red patches smeared across the bedding like war paint. There were even burnt handprints on the headboard, warped from the sheer intensity of the magic that had raged here.

Then there was the floor. Crusted trails of dried blood marred the wooden boards in irregular lines and pools—the memory of Selena collapsing before we had started the ritual.

Dust, thick and undisturbed, coated the untouched corners of the room like grey snow. Cobwebs decorated the windows like nature’s curtains.

Come to think of it… we hadn’t cleaned the house in three whole months.

<“...This might actually qualify as a cursed zone at this point.”>

I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck.

【Fun fact, this house is actually a real safe zone. Don’t you think it’s weird that your skin was fine after being burned alive? It seems there’s a magic tool installed somewhere to help recovery over time.】

…Right. Now that she mentioned it, both our skins were still white as if those fires back then were just mere illusions.

Well, it’s not really surprising as I already know how amazing Selena was.

The problem right now is… that said magic tool doesn't seem to have a function to fix this bedroom.

<“Hey, Aza... think you can teach me cleaning magic?”>

【I could, Master. But wouldn’t it be better to take this chance to train your water manipulation? You did just acquire the element, after all.】

<“True… Haaah… fine. Let’s make this a workout.”>

Reluctantly, I turned back to the bathroom. I filled a bucket to the brim with water and grabbed a mop.

<“So I just channel water mana into the bucket and try to control it, right?”>

【Exactly. Picture it clearly. Flow your mana into the water—and guide it.】

I crouched beside the bucket, placed both hands on the rim, and focused.

Water mana surged from my core into the liquid. It responded like a faithful pet, rippling in a soft glow. With a gesture of my hand and a mental nudge, the water rose into the air—graceful and slow, like a floating serpent.

<“Whoa… that’s actually kind of satisfying.”>

I directed a portion of it to the floor and wrung the mop with precision. The moment it touched the wood, the filth began to vanish, scrubbed by my own hands. I repeated the process over and over—lift, soak, scrub, rinse.

It was slow, but kind of meditative. The room, once soaked in the aftermath of a supernatural purge, slowly began to resemble a proper bedroom again.

Since I’m already in cleaning mode, maybe I should just tackle the whole house. And while I’m doing it, I should check my growth.

<“Aza, open status window.”>

⟦ Status Window ⟧

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Name:Freed

Age:

10Race:Great Human

Title:Otherworlder

State:Hungry

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

⟬ Essence ⟭

Chaos:1575/1575

Mana:2800/2810

Aura:2105/2110

Vitality:1310

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

⟬ Attributes ⟭

Strength:1203

Magic Power:2640

Mental Power:2740

Agility:1413

Dexterity:1082

Magic Resistance:3820

Mental Resistance: 2327

Status Points:60

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

⟬ Element Affinity ⟭

Light, Dark, Fire, Wind, Water, Heavenfire, Hellfire

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

⟬ Skills ⟭

— Active —

Immortal Bonds, Appraisal (3), Element Manipulation, Elemental Ball, Elemental Blade, Silent Fury

— Passive —

Language Comprehension, Breeze Footwork (6), Parallel Thinking(4)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

⟬ Innate Talents ⟭

Immortal, Double Natural Growth Rate, Status Manipulation, Elementalist, Learning Acceleration

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

As the status window shimmered into view, I continued scrubbing the floorboards with one hand, mop sliding back and forth beneath my fingers. My eyes, however, stayed glued to the glowing panel hovering just above the bucket.

<“...Wait a minute.”>

I blinked in confusion, pausing just long enough to wring out the mop and glance back at my stats.

<“Weren’t my mana and aura both in the three-digit range before?”>

Now, both values had soared far beyond my physical stats. It was… weird.

【Are you seriously asking that after you spent an entire year training mana and aura for over 20 hours a day?】

<“…Ah. Right. That makes sense.”>

As I scooted over to a new patch of grime and resumed scrubbing, the realization sank in: I hadn’t done any physical training. Not even a single push-up. My whole existence for the past year had revolved around chasing heavenfire to save Selena.

<“Then how come my magic resistance’s higher than anything else?”>

【Because you kept blowing yourself up with failed magic experiments.】

I stopped mid-wipe and stared at the floor. That… actually tracked. My failures had leveled me up? That was equal parts tragic and hilarious.

<“What about these three skills—Elemental Ball, Elemental Blade, and Element Manipulation? Their format looks different now.”>

【I organized them for clarity. You’re welcome.】

<“Oh. Thanks.”>

I leaned back on my heels, wiped sweat from my brow, and mentally zoomed in on the descriptions.

⟬ Elemental Ball ⟭

A manifestation of elemental forces condensed into a spherical form. The magnitude of its size and effects scales with the infusion of mana.

Elements:

LightFire⟬ Elemental Blade ⟭

A crafted blade sculpted from the essence of elements. The magnitude of its size and effects scales with the infusion of mana or aura.

Elements:

LightFireWind⟬ Element Manipulation ⟭

The ability to create and control elemental forces. The magnitude of its size scales with the infusion of mana.

Elements:

LightFireWaterI nodded to myself as I cleaned around the sofa, mentally cataloging what I saw.

<“No major issues… looks clean and organized. Just a few missing elements, huh?”>

I only had a handful of them assigned so far. But that was fine.

<“Alright. Next training agenda is set—use all three skills with the elements I haven’t added yet. Shouldn’t take long, right?”>

I glanced around the living room, half-cleaned now, with dust still clinging to corners.

Well… maybe after I finish deep-cleaning this dusty house.