Karamir coldly tossed Mirabel's shackles aside and started walking away without a second glance.
Mirabel, standing as if struck by a hammer, barely regained her senses. She wanted to run after Karamir—
But first, she went to pick up the shackles that had flown far away.
She needed to grab them, but her hands were full.
In her right hand, she held her staff. In her left, the spellbook.
Even as she hesitated, Karamir was getting farther and farther away.
Mirabel threw the spellbook behind her and hurriedly picked up the shackles, quickly chasing after Karamir, who continued to walk away.
"Master? Master?"
She called out to him again and again, but he didn't stop. She even stood in his path, but he simply walked past her.
The dream of freedom was slipping away.
The fear of being alone once more took hold, spreading uncontrollably through her soul. The blood drained from her already pale skin, leaving her ashen and ghost-like.
As her vision began to darken, Mirabel realized that something had gone horribly wrong.
"Master—!"
She tried to run again but stumbled and fell to the ground. Without even brushing off the dirt, she scrambled to her feet, tossing aside everything that got in her way, and threw her arms around Karamir's waist, holding on with all her strength.
"Master, I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
"No, live as you wish from now on. You're no longer my slave."
"No! I want to be your slave! I'll be a good slave! I'll listen to everything you say from now on!"
But Karamir didn't stop walking. Mirabel, clinging to him, was dragged along the ground, sobbing and begging, tears and snot streaming down her face.
Could this really be the same girl who had just moments ago brought a city to its knees?
Even those who had feared for their lives moments ago clicked their tongues in pity, watching her with sympathetic eyes, as though she were a child abandoned by her parents.
"I was wrong! I just wanted you to like me! I won't overstep again!"
"..."
"Please, don't abandon me! I don't want to be alone again!"
At those words, Karamir finally stopped. He turned his head to look back.
Mirabel, still hanging on at a forty-five-degree angle from being dragged, looked up at him.
Their eyes met, albeit awkwardly.
"Will you really behave from now on?"
"Sniff... yes, I will... I'll behave."
"You won't use magic recklessly?"
"I won't..."
"Do you promise?"
"I... I promise..."
Karamir straightened her up and bent down, holding out his pinky finger.
"Promise."
"P-promise."
"Seal it."
"Seal it."
"Sign it."
"Sign...?"
Finally, Karamir, seemingly satisfied, chuckled softly.
"Well, since you're begging so much, I suppose I have no choice. Fine, I'll trust you one last time, Mirabel."
"Thank you, Master..."
From a distance, Myra, who had been watching, stared in shock. Meanwhile, Karamir waved lightly at her, clearly amused by her reaction.
Inwardly, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
'Wow, that actually worked.'
Mirabel's sudden awakening as a witch wasn't something I had planned for. Stopping her rampage was essentially impossible.
In a game, this would've been a guaranteed game over.
But this was reality now. There were no rigid rules to follow. There was limitless potential for interaction.
If something happens that didn't occur in the game, all you have to do is use a method that doesn't exist in the game.
That's what led me to use Mirabel's inherent trait.
[Abandoned Witch, Mirabel]@@@@
Having been abandoned before, Mirabel's dependency on her master was sky-high, enough to drill through the heavens.
Normally, it would take a long time for affection levels to reach that point, but for some reason, Mirabel's affection for me was already maxed out. So I used that to my advantage.
Operation:
–Mirabel, you'll stay here. I'm leaving.
The moment I enacted the plan, Mirabel reacted immediately. When she fell, it was like her heart was being torn apart.
I nearly broke and hugged her. The fact that I didn't was a miracle.
I looked over Mirabel's state. Her maid outfit was covered in dirt, and her face was a mess of tears and other fluids. With a wry smile, I brushed the dirt off her clothes.
Then, I took out a handkerchief and held it up to her nose.
"Blow."
"Sniff!"
"Good, now the other side."
"Two thousand gold coins. That should be more than enough to compensate everyone for their losses."
I now had 21,000 points left.
I'd had about 27,000 when I left the kingdom, but between buying items and staying in fancy inns with great food, it had vanished quickly.
'Good items sure are useful, but they're expensive.'
Spending 2,000 points was a painful expense, but trying to save money here would've made things worse.
By giving him more than enough, I was forcing the lord to settle.
When a child messes up, it's the guardian's duty to take responsibility. Besides, once I free Mirabel, I'll get plenty of points in return. This was an investment, so I had no reason to feel regret.
Though I'll have to be more frugal until then.
"This... with this amount... Yes, it should cover the damages..."
The lord trailed off, clearly wanting something more. Did he really think I wouldn't catch on?
"You can keep the extra gold, Lord. I'm sure you'll put it to good use."
"Hahaha! You do know a thing or two. If you insist, I'll put it toward something worthwhile."
The lord chuckled, patting the pouch as though it were his child.
With that, about 95% of the situation was resolved.
I finally had a moment to breathe.
I took Mirabel for a walk around the lord's estate.
Clearly still feeling guilty about the money I spent, Mirabel hung her head low like a criminal.
"I-I'm sorry. Because of me..."
"Haha, it's fine. A few gold coins are nothing. Mirabel, your value is worth so much more than that."
"But... two thousand gold coins is..."
"Look, I said it's fine."
Even with my reassurances, she couldn't shake the guilt.
I thought for a moment, and then a brilliant idea came to me.
"Mirabel, after spending so much time with me, don't you find it curious how I always seem to pull out gold pouches from nowhere?"
Mirabel nodded, realizing she'd never thought about it until now.
"This is a secret I'm only telling you, but... I know a gold-duplication spell."
"A gold-duplication spell?"
"Yes, watch carefully."
I showed her my empty hand, then made a fist. When I opened it again, there was a gold coin in my palm.
"Wow!"
"See? I can make as much gold as I want. So—"
I tossed the coin far away.
Goodbye, my precious money.
But for Mirabel's sake, I had to make the sacrifice.
"Even if I throw it away like that, it's no big deal. So, there's no need for you to feel guilty. Smile, Mirabel. I like it when my slaves are freed with a smile."
Mirabel nodded, her expression softening. She even gave me a shy smile.
'I remember where I threw it.'
Before I went to retrieve it, I still had one last thing to deal with.
I picked up the spellbook Mirabel had dropped. It looked like a book for soul magic.
When I opened it, there was an illustration of a goblin atop a mountain, wielding thunder and lightning.
"Do you know what this book is?"
"It's a guide for collecting the souls of high masters."
What?
What kind of book is this?
As Mirabel explained further, the book's description updated from [Goblin Shaman's Spellbook] to something about a high master.
High master?
'Who are you?'
Is this a goblin master?
It was an entirely different item with the same appearance. No wonder Mirabel had awakened as the Witch of Judgment.
It was my fault for not checking the book carefully before giving it to her. I'll have to buy her two bags of slime fries later.
I could've ruined everything with this dangerous piece of junk. Better make sure someone else ends up with it instead of Mirabel, just in case she goes on another rampage.
"Priestess Myra, I believe this is the spellbook you were looking for."
I immediately sought out Myra. After getting thoroughly beaten by Mirabel, she was in rough shape.
"Ah, Priestess. You've had a hard time because of my slave. It feels like just treating you to a meal isn't enough, huh?"
I addressed Myra with my usual playful tone, but instead of responding in kind, she looked incredibly serious.
Why the ominous mood?
I need to go get my gold before someone else finds it.
"Priestess?"
"You..."
Myra squinted her eyes, glaring past me—at Mirabel.
"You're a witch, aren't you?"
So much for finding that coin anytime soon.