The Necromancer Commands Slaves, Not Undeads

4 – The Death of a Wizard Does Not Benefit the Boy

“We’re almost there.”

I pocketed my smartphone. Upon doing so, Dorothy looked at me, her eyes filled with regret.

“I’ll play it a lot more at home from today.”

“Alright.”

So, we arrived at Elyaryeong. And then, we scouted for a professional clothing shop.

“What is it…”

The place where clothes were neatly displayed. The tailor had finished working and was resting. He was a chubby man wearing a robe made of green wool.

“Your right eye doesn’t look too good. Did you get cursed or something?”

Upon seeing the spider web engraved on my right eye, the tailor grimaced. Living in a cabin, I hadn’t realized how conspicuous the mark would be to others.

Given that Dorothy was the only person I had encountered since leaving the cabin, I covered my eye with my hand.

“This child is looking for clothes to wear. Do you have any eye patches?”

The man stared intensely at Dorothy. Feeling overwhelmed by his gaze, Dorothy subtly hid behind me.

“I’ve heard the rumors about you. Is this child your slave?”

“Yes. She is a child whom the wizard bought before he passed away.”

“I didn’t expect the rumors of the wizard’s death to be true. Where is his grave?”

“If I tell you, will you give us a discount?”

“Hardly.”

The tailor laughed it off as he pushed and pulled the displayed clothes here and there. He started looking for suitable clothes.

And then, he handed me a plain black robe made of wool. Even from my perspective, it wasn’t something a cute girl would wear.

It’s likely he handed it over with her slave status in mind. I wanted to gift her clothes that suited her.

“Give her a skirt and shirt as well, in addition to this.”

“Do you even have the money?”

“I have five gold coins.”

The tailor then handed over a red linen skirt and a white long-sleeved shirt typically worn by pretty country girls.

“The total is one gold coin.”

“Please give us undergarments as well. And do you have eye patches?”

“I have no eye patches. You should’ve asked for everything at once. Are you alright in those torn clothes?”

“It’ll be alright soon, I’ll get a new one then.”

“Come back then. I’ll give these undergarments for free.”

I paid the price in full and handed the clothes and undergarments to Dorothy.

“Change into these here.”

“Okay.”

Dorothy, with a joyful expression, accepted the clothes and disappeared inside the clothing store. She emerged after changing her clothes.

“Master, how do I look?”

The tailor seemed to have used quite high-quality fabric. Dorothy emerged from the shop and showed herself to me. The immaculate red linen skirt and long-sleeved white shirt suited her soft, warm, golden hair perfectly.

Like a model on a fashion ramp, she over-dramatically lifted the hem of her skirt and elegantly twirled around.

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“You look beautiful.”

I smiled at her.It fit her perfectly. Seeing her happy made me smile unknowingly.

Dorothy seemed delighted with the skirt and shirt she received as gifts, she was busy admiring herself in front of the mirror.

Then the owner of the clothing store, who had been watching her quietly, asked me with a puzzled look.

“I’m curious about something. Why are you being so courteous to a slave?”

“Hmm?”

“She’s your property, isn’t it? I can understand treating her nicely because she’s pretty, but as an adult, let me warn you that a slave might rise against you if you don’t keep them aware of their status.”

I listened to the owner’s words. His words were not strange. Most people in the empire use slaves as tools.

It was rare for someone to treat a slave kindly, as I did.

“Thanks for your advice. But, I’m not sure how well I can control a slave, I think the relationship between an employer and an employee is sufficient for me now.”

“I see. I won’t meddle beyond this then.”

I called Dorothy who had finished admiring her reflection in the mirror and was looking at the other clothes in the store.

“Dorothy, let’s go now.”

“Ok, Master.”

We left the clothing store and stopped at a grocery shop. We bought bread and jam and also vegetables from street vendors.

I packed the purchased food and Dorothy’s black robe in the backpack. I looked at the remaining gold and silver coins in my pocket, as we prepared to return home.

“Master, I need an eyepatch.”

“Hmm?”

While counting the remaining gold and silver, Dorothy suddenly spoke.

“I need an eyepatch.”

She covered her right eye with one hand. It seemed she was bothered by the conversation I had with the clothing shop owner.

“You need one?”

“No, I just plan to make one later.”

“You can make it?”

“It’s simple. A piece of cloth and thread should be enough to make a rough one. I know how to sew.”

“Can I ask you for a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Great, thank you.”

Then Dorothy nodded her head vigorously with enthusiasm.

We had finished all our tasks in Elyaleing and started walking back to the hut.

***

We looked up at the setting sun. To get back to the hut from Elyaleing, Dorothy and I walked through the densely growing forest.

Forests are dangerous at night. While this forest doesn’t have monsters like other dangerous forests, wolves live here.

Also, even during the afternoon when the sun is out, the forests are dark, and at night they become places where you can’t see anything around you.

Since this was a route I had frequented delivering errands for my grandpa since I was young, I wasn’t worried about getting lost, but it’s best to hurry.

Dorothy, who was following me, gently held my sleeve with her index and thumb.

“Master.”

“Yes?”

With an appearance that seemed to have something to say, Dorothy asked me.

“Music.”

“I’ll play some for you when we get to the hut. We need to hurry now.”

“Oh….”

Dorothy let go of my sleeve with a disappointed look. It made me think that if I had a younger sister, it would feel like this. Of course, for people who have siblings, they must be tired of such stories.

“There’s something I’ve been wondering about Dorothy.”

“Hmm?”

“How did Dorothy…”

Just then, I shut up and stopped in my tracks. I began to look around carefully. Dorothy looked at me in bewilderment.

“There’s someone following us”

I’ve been hearing unusually loud rustling in the grass since earlier. I’ve often heard the sound of grass being stepped on. But the ‘rustling’ noise I’m now hearing in my ears was different.The rustling wasn’t made by Dorothy nor by me.

As soon as we stopped moving, the sound of someone quickly trampling behind us echoed from afar. I instantly grabbed Dorothy’s hand and sprinted ahead.

“Wait, master!”

“Someone is following us.”

However, the unknown pursuer seemed accustomed to the forest and was rapidly closing the distance. Dorothy and I, still not fully grown, were at a disadvantage.

Even if we knew the path well, it was impossible to outrun an adult male. If he was familiar with the forest, it was doubly difficult.

As our distance with the unidentifiable pursuer dwindled, we could see his figure when we turned around. The man drew something out and flung it at me. ‘A dagger-! ‘

“Ah!”

I stumbled forward and fell, feeling a searing pain in my leg. When I moved my gaze, I found the thrown dagger lodged in my thigh.

“Master!”

When I tried to get up, my stiff leg would not cooperate. On seeing me topple, Dorothy, who had been haphazardly sprinting ahead, instantly turned around and came back.

“Blood…”

My thigh had a deep wound, from which blood was flowing out. Dorothy was helplessly panicking.

As we stopped, our pursuer approached. Only then could I see his exposed face.

The pursuer was a huge figure, measuring around eight feet. Despite wearing a black hood that hid most of his body, his muscles were still visibly prominent. He had a scar on his face, looking like a slash mark.

I could tell he was a man who had been through a lot.

Why was he following us? Why did he attack me? As these questions filled my mind, the close pursuer opened his mouth.

“I know you are Reed White’s assistant.”

He drew another dagger from his clothing and glared at me with a bloodthirsty expression.

“I already heard that Reed White is dead. Answer my questions obediently from now on. Then, I’ll kill you painlessly.”

“Who… who are you?”

With great difficulty due to the pain, I managed to utter the question. The man stared at me as if he just saw something extremely displeasing.

“I’m Morse from the Excitium Clan. I have no personal grievances with Reed White, but I’m interested in the stuff he owned. I’d appreciate it if you guide me to his place.”

“So you’re trying to kill a 13-year-old kid who just lost his guardian, just for that…?”

“The Excitium Clan leaves no traces behind. You’re the only existing trace now, and that’s reason enough for your death.”

For the first time, I felt the desire to kill. Despite his target being a child, Morse seemed to have no hesitation in killing.

Overwhelmed by his intimidating aura I’d experienced for the first time, I was frozen still. I didn’t even feel the painful throbbing in my leg.

Dorothy looked terrified, but for some reason, she didn’t run away. Instead, she stood in front of me and spread her arms wide in desperation.

“Dorothy, run…”

“I won’t….”

With a sense of resignation, I told her, but she shook her head firmly, biting her lower lip.

“I have to… repay my debt….”

All the while facing forward, she was desperately resisting her fear.