It Seems That the Slave Girl Is Actually a Count's Daughter. - Episode 24: Reunion

Episode 24: Reunion 

After successfully and temporarily nullifying the slave contract, we immediately set out for the Reinach territory. I made sure to lock up the house properly and reinforce it with protective magic before using teleportation magic to reach our destination in an instant. 

The entire time, Pamela clung tightly to my arm. Does she not trust me that much? That kind of stings… Though, I can’t deny that having her hold onto me like this makes me feel pretty happy. 

Her parents must be worried too. In a way, this is the perfect opportunity for her to visit home. 

I had been to the Reinach territory once before. At that time, I was merely passing through. But that was enough for teleportation magic. After all, I can only teleport to places I’ve been to before. 

Even though the request letter had been addressed to me directly, it wouldn’t be appropriate to show up at Count Reinach’s doorstep unannounced. I originally planned to stop by the nearest Adventurers’ Guild first for an introduction. But then I remembered—Pamela was with me. Would it be fine to just go directly? 

“It’s fine. As long as I announce my return, they’ll let us through without issue.”

“I see. That makes things easier. I’ll leave it to you.” 

With a firm nod, Pamela tightened her expression. Alright, we should be good. With that, we headed straight to the Reinach estate in the capital of the territory. 

Rather than a mansion, the place looked more like a fortress. 

It was surrounded by towering stone walls. It was nearly twice the height of an average man. And the gates were guarded by spear-wielding sentries who carefully scanned their surroundings. 

“That’s one hell of a stronghold.” 

“A long time ago, this area was the frontline of the border with a neighboring country. Because of that, the estate was built like a fortress. But despite its appearance, it’s quite livable. The interior was designed with comfort in mind.”

Pamela seemed delighted to be introducing her home to me. Practically skipping with excitement, she grabbed my hand and pulled me along. 

Meanwhile, I was feeling a bit uneasy. After all, I was about to meet Pamela’s parents. Wasn’t that terrifying? I was pretty sure they already knew about our relationship. But there was no guarantee they’d approve. 

The gate guards noticed us and immediately took a defensive stance. Clearly, they weren’t just for show—they were properly trained. However, as Pamela stepped forward, recognition dawned on their faces. 

Their eyes widened in shock, and one of them shouted, 

“M-My Lady! Lady Pamela has returned!” 

That single announcement triggered an uproar. People inside the fortress began buzzing with excitement. The news spread rapidly. And before we knew it, people were pouring out of the estate like a rushing river. 

“Pamela… is this okay?” 

“Probably…?” 

Even Pamela seemed caught off guard by the commotion. She furrowed her brows and gave me a puzzled look. 

As we exchanged glances, a man rushed out. He was visibly flustered. He had slicked-back white hair and wore a formal black uniform—clearly the head butler. After quickly assessing the situation, he signaled toward the estate. 

Following his signal, a woman appeared. She was accompanied by several servants. 

She had the same soft blonde hair as Pamela. It was shimmering with a faint blue hue. And she had deep ocean-blue eyes. 

Without a doubt, she was Pamela’s mother. 

That face. That figure. Pamela was already impressive, but her mother… was on another level. Was Pamela’s chest still growing? I felt like women everywhere would resent her if that were the case. 

“Pamela!” 

“Mother!” 

The two embraced tightly. 

As they did, their chests pressed together, shifting their shape dramatically. So that’s what happens……. A true spectacle. And I wasn’t the only one appreciating it—the guards who had rushed out also found themselves staring. 

…Just so you all know, one of those belongs to *me*. 

Not wanting to interrupt their moment, I, along with my two animal companions, stepped back to observe from a distance. 

Before long, the commotion at the gates flared up again. 

When I turned to look, I saw a man with chestnut-colored hair and a neatly trimmed mustache approaching. 

The moment he appeared, the soldiers and servants fell silent. 

He carried an overwhelming presence. He commanded the atmosphere with just his existence. 

This must be Count Reinach. 

Pamela turned toward him and called out, 

“Father!” 

“Pamela… I’m relieved to see you well.” 

His voice carried genuine relief. 

Realizing how much she had worried her parents, Pamela’s expression twisted with guilt. Her eyebrows curved into a sorrowful shape as she bowed her head. 

“I’m so sorry for making you worry.” 

“It’s nothing you need to apologize for. Worrying about one’s daughter is a father’s duty.”

Ugh… my heart hurts. I did *this* and *that* with such a precious daughter of theirs. 

We took baths together. And even though she was half-asleep, I did some rather improper things… If they ever found out about the naked apron or the ribbon-only outfit, they’d definitely be furious. 

Yeah……… this is one of those secrets I’ll have to take to the grave. 

“Now, Pamela, isn’t there someone you’d like to introduce?” 

Pamela’s mother had a gentle smile and tears still faintly in her eyes. She turned her gaze toward me. …It didn’t seem like she was angry. Her expression was calm, even warm. The Count followed her lead. He also looked over—no anger there either. In fact, the corners of his mouth were slightly lifted. 

“Oh, right. This is Platinum-ranked adventurer Ernest-sama. And this White Tiger here is his summoned beast, Shiro-chan. The Fenrir next to him is my summoned beast, Orto. We’ve come as part of a request from the Adventurer’s Guild…” 

“Hold it, Pamela. Just now, I feel like I heard a word I really *shouldn’t* have.” 

Right?! As expected of the Count—sharp eyes and ears. The Countess also widened her eyes. She quickly covered her mouth with a fan. I mean, their daughter coming home after so long, casually bringing a legendary creature like a Fenrir… of course that’d get a reaction. 

“Huh? Wasn’t it you, Father, who requested Ernest-sama to take this mission?” 

“That’s not what I meant. Yes, I did send the request to Sir Ernest—no mistake there. But… ugh, never mind. We shouldn’t talk about this out here. Let’s go inside first.” 

Yeah, he’s right. Everyone around us is staring. I can hear whispers: “Platinum-ranked adventurer?”, “White Tiger?”, “Fenrir?”, and “My lady…?” from all directions. This isn’t the best place for this conversation. 

After briefly exchanging introductions with the Count, we were led into the guest room inside the fortress.