[Mass Release: 10/10]
....
"Think carefully, Setsuna. You should still have your memories."
Sitting casually atop Setsuna's soft, fluffy back, Takumi spoke in a calm, guiding tone. The springy, fur-lined seat beneath him was so comfortable he almost didn't want to get up.
Setsuna, meanwhile, had begun to calm down. She focused on recalling what had happened. Memory fragments resurfaced, and realization dawned—Takumi wasn't her enemy.
Her small face flushed, she lowered her head and murmured, "I thought you were attacking me. I'm sorry for what I did just now."
Seeing how obedient she was, Takumi didn't hold it against her. Freed from his weight, Setsuna flipped over and sat up straight.
Freya immediately took the opportunity to introduce herself. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Freya, and this is my master, Lord Takumi."
"Slave?"
Hearing Freya refer to herself as a slave so naturally made Setsuna frown slightly, but she said nothing. She drew in a deep breath and replied with a steady voice: "I am Setsuna, a proud warrior of the Ice Wolf Tribe!"
After declaring her identity, she turned to Takumi. "The Ice Wolf Tribe always repays our debts. But I have somewhere I must go, so please step aside!"
She was grateful for his help but still remembered the scouts searching for her tribe's territory. She couldn't allow her people to be captured.
"You think you can just leave like that?"
Takumi stepped forward and casually crushed the icy claws in her hands. An overwhelming force bore down on her, pinning her to the bed in an instant.
Looking down at Setsuna, Takumi's voice dropped to a low, almost hypnotic tone. "Even if I let you go, what exactly can you do for your tribe?"
Tears welled in Setsuna's eyes as his words cut straight to the wound she'd been hiding—her weakness, her powerlessness.
"Setsuna is weak… but Setsuna… Setsuna—!"
"But you want to fight, don't you? You want to resist. You want to grow stronger."
Each word struck her like a hammer, breaking down the last of her defenses.
The crushing weight vanished. Takumi released her, flicking an appraisal sheet onto the floor before her.
Her ice-blue eyes trembled violently as she read it. "You're… a Hero?"
Takumi tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Of course I am. And I can make you stronger—give you the power to keep fighting."
"I'll also tell you some bad news," he continued. "The Jioral Kingdom army disguised as a mercenary group is already marching toward the Ice Wolf Tribe's territory. The outcome for your people? Death… or slavery."
"You don't want your tribe destroyed, do you, Setsuna?"
Her fists clenched tight, eyes turning red. "As long as I can become stronger—strong enough to protect everyone—Setsuna will do anything!!"
"Then sign a [Master–Servant Contract] with me. Become my slave, Setsuna."
The magic circle of the contract spread across the floor. This time, Takumi left the choice to her.
She didn't fully understand the meaning of such a contract, but she understood what Takumi wanted. Without hesitation, she said, "If you can make me stronger, I'll do anything. I'll even tell you my true name!"
A demi-human's true name was no small thing. To give it was to surrender total control.
"Your true name? It doesn't matter. The contract alone is enough."
Takumi shook his head, watching as the pink collar pattern appeared on her neck. Compared to the contract, controlling her name felt almost trivial.
The next moment, he placed a [Level Limit Breaker] in front of her.
"Setsuna, your source of power lies here—this is your [Future]. Will you seize your future, or give up this chance to grow stronger? Make your choice."
Setsuna's cheeks turned crimson. She swallowed hard, her breath uneven, heart pounding.
"Setsuna wants to become stronger. Setsuna doesn't want to be weak anymore. Setsuna… will seize her future!"
She extended her delicate hand, leaning in closer. Seeing her reach for it on her own, Takumi's lips curled into an excited smile.
"Setsuna, your future is in your hands now. Show me your determination!"
He stroked her head, kneading her fluffy wolf ears. Watching the tears brimming in her eyes from pain and effort, he reminded her gently, "To grow stronger, you can't be picky."
"Mmm…!"
Her eyes hardened with resolve, and she swallowed again.
Gulp!
Freya, her own cheeks flushed, stepped forward to assist. In the next moment, Setsuna felt power surge through her body.
"It's coming! So hot… Setsuna's getting stronger!"
Feeling the strength truly welling up inside her, Setsuna became more and more proactive. Her fluffy tail wagged furiously, prompting Takumi to grab it playfully.
Tears of excitement spilled from her eyes as she felt her level break through its limit.
"Mmm! Looks like all that experience you'd been saving didn't go to waste!"
Her level shot upward the moment the cap shattered, proof of all her effort.
"Now let me see just how far you can go. To protect your home, this still isn't enough."
Setsuna's head rose, her stubbornness burning brighter than ever.
"Setsuna… will become stronger… stronger than this!"
She wrapped her arms around Takumi, holding onto her hope, her future.
Watching her, Freya's heart trembled. She even took out a portion of the recovery potions Takumi had crafted to help Setsuna push through.
Two days passed. Through constant breakthroughs and the aid of the potions, Setsuna's level cap soared to 15.
[Level: 15 (Intermediate Ice Wolf Warrior)]
"You actually forced your way up an entire tier. Setsuna, you're amazing!"
Takumi's double praise filled her with joy. She touched her soft abdomen, feeling the strength coursing through her—ten times what it had been before.
"Setsuna's strong now… Setsuna's useful now!"
Her ice-blue eyes glowed with love and loyalty as she wagged her tail like an affectionate wolf pup, brushing against Takumi's cheek and hand.
If not for the urgent situation, she might've begged him for more already.
...
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