Munchkin Disciple Wants to Stop Being Obsessed Over

The soft sensation of pillows and blankets runs along my skin. The distinctive scent of logs subtly pricks my nose.

Sure enough, when I open my eyes, I see the now-familiar ceiling.

‘Ah, right. I had fainted.’

As consciousness returns, I begin to grasp the situation.

‘I was fighting Dunkel and the backlash came.’

At the moment when I was about to inevitably use the ability of the ‘Vessel of Sin’.

Master appeared like the wind and turned Dunkel to ashes.

And then she asked. If I had brought a woman home.

“…”

My eyes reflexively close. Somehow, it feels like I shouldn’t get up right now.

Sure enough, I sense someone outside the door and hear voices faintly.

“…I think I’ve explained the situation well enough. Here, take this. You probably know what to do since you’ve been through it once, but it might help in any unforeseen situation.”

It’s been a while since I heard Master’s normal tone. Who is she talking to?

‘Ah, what about Rose?’

I had left Rose sleeping at home when I went to face Dunkel.

But now I’m lying here. This means that Master must have encountered Rose who was sleeping.

Gulp, I involuntarily swallow dry saliva.

This is because Master has always earnestly implored me to observe two things without fail.

First, never disclose the location of the log cabin to anyone.
Second, always keep away from women other than herself.

I had asked once. I can understand about the location of the house, but why must I stay away from women?

-“Um… Didn’t I tell you that you are molded as a Vessel of Sin?”

-“If you, whose body and mind are not yet… mature, get close to women, you will be devoured by one of the sins, ‘Lust’.”

It was a very plausible answer, except for the wavering pupils and the slightly trembling voice.

It’s not that I didn’t feel rebellious.

But since I was young and, above all, had no occasions to get entangled with women, I just lived with it.

But then.

Daphne caught me as I was collapsing and asked in a voice that seemed to be suppressing something.

-“Did you perhaps bring a woman into our home?”

It’s not easy to predict. How Master would have reacted seeing Rose, who was probably sleeping soundly in my bed.

‘Surely she didn’t?’

She wouldn’t have harmed Rose, would she?

“I don’t know how to repay this favor to your lordship… If it weren’t for you, our family…”

As my imagination was crossing into the realm of fiction, a familiar voice is heard.

It’s Baron Darmian. Does that mean Master brought the Baron here?

“Th-Thank you, Master!”

Following that, Rose’s tiny voice, with a noticeable trembling.

Judging by her expression of gratitude, fortunately, what I was imagining didn’t happen.

“Yes. But why am I your master?”

Flinch, at the voice that clearly conveyed displeasure, my body reflexively shrinks.

“I heard you’re Kamel’s master. Then aren’t you also my lifesaver and master? Thank you so much, Master.”

“Sigh… I’ve dispelled all the illusion magic and given you all the help I can, so I’d appreciate it if you’d leave now. I’m a bit tired, you see.”

Despite my anxiety, Rose answered cheerfully, and Master overtly showed her discomfort as she issued a dismissal.

“We’ve been insensitive. It’s late, and we’ve been impolite. We won’t forget this favor. If you ever need help…”

“It’s fine, just make sure to clean up thoroughly afterwards. Especially, it’s good to present the remnants of chaos as evidence in an official setting. And…”

Despite having issued a dismissal just moments ago.

Master began giving various pieces of advice to Baron Darmian that would help with the cleanup.

“…That would make it self-defense. Oh, and I’ll say it again, my disciple and I have nothing to do with this incident. Understood?”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Well, it’s time for us to head down. Rose? Rose, say goodbye to Lady Daphne and let’s go.”

Just as the warm conversation was ending and the meeting was about to conclude.

“Th-Thank you. But Master, I…”

“What, do you have something to say to me?”

Rose hesitated and trailed off, and Master asked back in a strangely sharp voice.

“N-No, it’s not that. If it’s not impolite, I would like to say goodbye to Kamel…”

“Hmm. That’s impolite. What kind of goodbye are you trying to say to someone who’s unconscious…”

“Even so…”

“Hah, do as you please.”

“Thank you, Master!”

I told you not to call me Master?

With that acerbic afterword, the door opens and I sense movement.

Amid the sound of Rose’s small, light footsteps, I kept my eyes tightly closed, pretending to be asleep.

It was the right choice. Soon after, I began to sense Master’s presence behind Rose.

“Kamel.”

A small, delicate hand grasps mine.

“Thank you. And I promise.”

I feel a warm and soft sensation on my hand. Given how soft it is, like rice cake, Rose probably placed my hand on her cheek.

“As you said, I won’t get hurt from now on. I won’t let myself suffer either.”

“I realized that if I do, precious people like you might suffer more, just like now.”

“So I’ll choose to protect rather than to suffer.”

Despite rubbing my hand all over her cheek.

Rose spoke to me in a rather serious tone.

‘How admirable.’

Though I’m pretending to be asleep.

Listening to the monologue of a young child trying to overcome hardship and stand on their own, my heart was touched.

To be honest, I wanted to get up right away, stroke her head, and shower her with praise.

“Well, are you done? Now…”

If only Master, who wasn’t hiding her discomfort, wasn’t there.

Meanwhile, Rose continued speaking to me, disregarding Master’s discomfort.

“The same goes for you. Next time, I’ll protect you. Kamel.”

“Ha!”

Master finally makes a clicking sound with her tongue.

Just as I was about to open my eyes, worried that something might happen.

-Smooch.

A moist and soft sensation on my cheek.

In that moment, as my mind goes blank.

-Whoosh.

The sound of something disappearing was heard.

“…”

I gently opened my eyes. Wondering what had happened.

Sure enough, there was no one in the room.

It seems Master used teleportation to take Rose and Baron Darmian away.

“…Why am I being cautious?”

A sense of self-loathing suddenly washes over me. I hadn’t done anything wrong, yet I was being cautious.

“Hah.”

I sighed and got up. Perhaps due to the tension, I felt thirsty.

So I drank the water visible next to the bed.

Gulp, gulp, as the cold water moistens my throat, I finally feel a bit alive.

“What should I say to Master…”

Apart from the momentary refreshment, worry begins to rise again.

I had broken what Master had earnestly asked of me, and I had even been caught in the act.

It was a situation where I would inevitably be scolded with no way out.

“For now, let’s sleep.”

Tomorrow’s me will handle the scolding.

Thinking that, just as I was about to lie back down.

A voice that gave me chills came from beside me.

“Our disciple has become quite cunning. Even knowing how to pretend to be asleep.”

“Pfft!”

Turning my head toward the source of the voice, I spat out all the water I had been holding.

“Haha…”

Master, who had received a face wash with that water, made a laughing sound with her eyes wide open.

“It seems some discipline is needed.”

She got up and began to draw mana.

“Master.”

Feeling a great sense of crisis, I jumped up from my seat and calmly called her.

“Yes. Speak. Let me hear what kind of excuse our disciple will spout…”

“Master!”

No, I had to call urgently.

“Are you okay?”

Because Master, who had been drawing mana, suddenly collapsed.

This is a first. Seeing Master in such a weak state.

Master suddenly collapsed earlier. I quickly laid her on the bed and am watching over her, trying to provide some care.

‘What on earth is that?’

Intangible chains, visible only through the Penetrating Eye, are moving and binding Daphne more tightly than usual.

It was like that normally too, but today it was particularly severe.

I tried infusing mana and even tried to touch the chains, but the intangible chains only bound her more tightly.

“Hic, hick.”

Is she having a nightmare?

Daphne groaned, and eventually even began to sob and mutter.

“Don’t go…”
“No… Please…”
“Why… Why on earth…”
“Such a contract on your own…”

I don’t know what she’s saying. But strangely, my heart feels like it’s being torn apart.

I can see Daphne’s face.

A pale face stained with tears,
A sorrowful expression as if she’s lost the world.

What kind of history must she have, to be able to suffer so deeply?

“…”

Unable to bear the pity, I wrapped both my hands around hers.

Hoping that her pain, whatever it might be, would subside even a little.

This was all I could do for Daphne.

“…Kamel.”

Had I dozed off for a moment? Master’s gentle voice reached me.

“Are you okay? I was very worr…”

Just as I was about to continue speaking, sensing that the intangible chains had quieted down.

My hand was pulled and my body was drawn in.

“Umph!”

Suddenly, my face is buried somewhere, and I feel a soft, yielding pressure.

Startled, I tried to get up but couldn’t.

“Just, just stay like this for a while.”

“…Yes.”

Because I could feel the slight trembling of Master’s body, who had always appeared as a munchkin to me.

“Did I collapse?”

“Yes, it was quite alarming. Are you hurt some…”

“I’m fine.”

“But why…”

“Just as you deceived the Scale and paid the price, I too have just paid a price.”

What does this mean? I wondered, but didn’t inquire further.

Somehow, it felt like I shouldn’t.

So I carefully patted her back.

“Pfft, our disciple is indeed cunning. Even knowing how to pat Master’s back.”

At that, Daphne chuckled and embraced me more strongly.

It’s a strange feeling. It seems like just yesterday that Daphne was threatening to kill me, but now we’ve become close enough to comfort each other.

“My disciple.”

Did she notice my heart pounding?

“From now on.”

Daphne whispered to me in a warm tone.

“Don’t even dream of staying out overnight. If you don’t want to die.”

Overnight control, she says.

I’ve experienced many things.
I’ve learned a lot.

And so, I turned seventeen.