Chapter 259
I’m dreaming today. Or maybe I’ve been dreaming since yesterday.
“Master.”
Could it be that my whole life has actually just been one big dream? Was this life, which I thought was a possession, just a grand delusion?
Actually, a mad god could be stimulating my brain with mana. Enen, that wicked little brat.
“M-Master?”
Ah.
With the trembling voice of the Fourth Manager starting to crack, I forcibly snapped back to reality. If I’m feeling crazy just watching him, how must he be feeling? If I don’t react at all, he might just run away.
While still wearing the collar.
Shit.
I momentarily envisioned the Fourth Manager sprinting out of the Executive Manager’s office, collar snug around his neck, his face flushed red as he fumbled in a panic.
If that happens, my life is over. Not just my career as a civil servant—my entire social life will be ruined. That absolutely cannot happen.
So, with trembling hands, I took the handle that the Fourth Manager offered… Even while grabbing it, I couldn’t help but think if this was really the right choice. But anyway, I held on.
“Thank you, Master.”
At that moment, the anxious look on the Fourth Manager’s face brightened instantly. Come to think of it, at some point, he had started calling me “Master” instead of “Executive Manager.”
I’m dizzy. What on earth has happened over the past few days?
“…You’re saying you’ll entrust everything to me?”
“Yes, Master.”
As I opened my mouth lightly, he nodded vigorously, seemingly quite sincere. Instead of drawing lines and turning away, he was genuinely determined to follow my wishes.
Well, that’s good. It’s a solid decision. Finally, he’s choosing to face me boldly instead of running away.
But why did he have to dramatize it with a collar performance?
“That’s quite an impressive vow.”
With that thought in mind, I cautiously asked, just what was going through his head to come to such a conclusion. If anyone were to see this, my social life would be royally ruined.
“Um, Erziebe said that if I do this, the rest will be handled by you, Master.”
The Fourth Manager blushed while saying it, looking abashed.
I’m in disbelief. I never expected there could be a spy lurking in the ranks. If she was going to give advice, why couldn’t it be something more ordinary, of all things?
Is it some twisted form of friendship where she can’t keep her own embarrassment a secret? Did she think if she had to sob on the floor and wallow in disgrace, her friend should wear a collar?
That terrifying brat from the First Division.
“What do you want me to do about it?”
And I played a little trick on the Fourth Manager, who was just following the strange advice.
To someone who had the courage to come with a collar, I felt a bit bad, but I also wanted him to consider how I felt watching this all unfold.
“Uh, um…”
I could see him freeze at my words. Unlike the vague advice that implied I would handle the rest, he looked baffled now that I was genuinely asking what he wanted.
I wanted to tease him further, but I held back. Provoking him to run away would only hurt me. Of course, holding onto the handle gives me an upper hand, but controlling someone with a collar was uncomfortable.
“I’m just kidding. I know everything without you saying it.”
“Th-Thank you…”
As I gave a light pat on the Fourth Manager’s head, he murmured in a barely audible voice.
Let’s think positively. Although he put on a peculiar performance, the Fourth Manager came closer and erased the line he had drawn. Even though there’s a side note about entrusting everything to me, I can consider that just a quirk of his personality.
Isn’t this a bold confession of sorts? There’s something about offering a half of oneself, and asking for the other half in return.
“Let’s take that off for now. It’s scary thinking about who might see.”
I reached for the end of the collar around the Fourth Manager’s neck. Having finished the confession dramatically, I thought I could speedily remove that hideous thing—
“Um—!”
“Oh.”
This being my first time handling a collar, I accidentally tightened it. Like anyone would practice collar-wearing before this situation.
“Master… if you want—”
Suddenly, the Fourth Manager, who was being choked, turned red and stumbled through his words.
But what he managed to utter through the chokehold was horrifying. I’m not that sort of person. Don’t turn the Executive Manager into a collar-wearing pervert out of nowhere.
Now that I notice it, the initials are the same. Damn it.
“…I don’t have that kind of preference, so don’t misunderstand.”
I hurriedly unfastened the collar and tossed it away. It made things dirty, and I never wanted to see it again.
“Why wear something like this when there are much better options?”
I pulled out (half) Ring #6 from my pocket.
If he wanted to prove he would entrust everything to me, he could do it with a ring instead. Putting evidence around his neck makes him a perverted lunatic, but putting it on a finger would make him just an ordinary lover.
I am definitely not a mutant who wants the former.
“Think of it as my other half. I will think of this as Penelia’s half too.”
“Ha-half…”
I slid the (half) ring onto the Fourth Manager’s finger while putting another (half) ring on my finger.
Fortunately, the phrase “other half” seemed to resonate deeply with the Fourth Manager as he nodded repeatedly. Admittedly, I wanted to hand it over in a less rushed manner, but the collar made it hard to keep my cool.
But no matter how the process goes, if it makes us happy, that’s what matters, right? I decided to just think that way.
*
As soon as the Fourth Manager left, I summoned the First Manager.
He cautiously came in, as if he had some lingering guilt. Seeing him like that only annoyed me more. He must have known this advice would cause a stir with the Fourth Manager.
“Did everything go smoothly?”
As soon as he stepped into the Executive Manager’s office and spotted the collar shoved in the corner, the First Manager forced a smile and asked.
“It went smoothly.”
I showed him the rings on both hands in response. Now six rings adorned my fingers entirely, having three on each hand.
It’s a slightly shameful sight, but thinking of the Legendary Twelve Golden Dukes gives me the strength to endure. Still, being able to cover all ten fingers is a blessing…
“Right? The advice I gave you was purely genius! If I had just stayed silent, you’d still be fidgeting around!”
Observing him suddenly boast after noticing the rings was infuriating.
To call it “good advice” is nonsense. Couldn’t he have provided it a bit more normally?
“Yeah, you did well. Now sit.”
I bit back my rage and tapped my knee, signaling for him to sit. It was not the time for retribution, so hasty movements were off the table.
Upon being told to sit on my lap, the First Manager’s eyes widened, and he dashed over. If he looked like a prey drawn to bait, that must just be my imagination.
“Hehe, I didn’t expect a reward~”
The First Manager, with an overly bright smile, instantly embraced me once seated. It wasn’t painful, but it was tight enough that escaping would be difficult.
“This isn’t a reward.”
“Okay?”
As soon as I hugged him, the First Manager’s ears turned red as if he was questioning me.
Regrettably, it truly isn’t a reward. They do say the road to hell is beautifully paved, after all.
“I’m sorry for messing around all this time, and for doing only weird things.”
I whispered softly into the First Manager’s ear, and his body immediately stiffened.
Naturally. The things I whisper are words he won’t forget until the day he dies.
“I’m sorry… I’ll listen to you from now on…”
I deliberately stammered my words, and the First Manager began to tremble in a pitiful way. Confirmed. Attacking with a matter of black history works wonders.
Anyway, the First Manager struggled madly, but escaping was impossible. Honestly, even if ten First Managers clung to me, I’d have full confidence in subduing them, especially someone like the First Manager who got caught off-guard.
“Please just once…”
“Ah, aah! N-NO!!”
“Just one chance…”
“I-I’m sorry! I was wrong!”
I thought if I tormented him too much, he might cry, so I let him go after two minutes.
Clearly effective.
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