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Chapter 36 – To Unlock the Door
The risk of unlocking the Ring of Subjugation depends on the accuracy of the magic. Based on the detection magic and Selena’s vision, this time it was judged that it was not that advanced. In other words, it was at a level where it was possible to control the magic realistically.
After receiving instructions on how to chant and how to unlock it, Clare decided to try it out right away.
“Even though it’s a risk, it’s not something that will only cause immediate pain and will last a long time. However, painkillers and other methods won’t work. You may fail a few times, but you’ll just have to get used to it and be prepared to do it.”
“I think I’m pretty tolerant of pain, but… I don’t know. There are some things you won’t know until you try.”
Clare said, recalling her memories of her past life when she was hospitalized.
Facing each other through the birdcage, Star Owl closed his eyes and bowed to Clare. Was it a request for help, or gratitude and apology for unlocking it even though it was painful?
“…That’s fine. It’s tough when you can’t act according to your own will.”
Clare narrowed her eyes slightly as she saw Star Owl and said this with her own mouth.
“The one who receives it is a prayer. It depends on the circumstances under which the ring of subservience was placed, but if it was unjust or the desire to be released is strong, it will be easier to remove.”
Rona said to Star Owl, and he nodded vigorously.
“Well then, let’s go.”
And then–Clare stretched out both arms toward Star Owl, and right under the birdcage… a glowing magic circle was drawn in the air. It was a magic circle made of thread.
Clare began to chant loudly.
“I offer my pain and his prayers in return, and I will break this ring of commandment…”
The magic circle grew brighter as she chanted. Star Owl blinked his big eyes, and his body was enveloped in light.
Clare’s body was also enveloped in light. To Selena’s eyes, it looked like thorn-like magical powers extending from the ring of subjugation were entwining Clare’s whole body. However, there was no change in Clare’s expression. There was no sign of any disturbance in the disguise she was deploying or the magical powers that covered her.
“…You’re resistant to pain for a reason. Even if it’s not advanced, it should still hurt quite a bit.”
“Probably like being stabbed with a needle. That’s the impression I get…”
“What does it look like to you?”
“It looks like thorns are entangled and piercing her whole body… If I know it’s painful, I don’t really want to look at Clare-sama enduring it…”
“It’s true… it doesn’t look like a pleasant sight.”
Rona and Selena, who are watching the situation, exchange words in a low voice. There’s nothing they can do to help. If they get involved in something strange, it will lead to disrupting the spell and concentration.
Clare continues to maintain the spell, and Star Owl continues to pray. As the light surrounding them both increases, the ring of subordination on Star Owl’s foot also begins to glow. And then…
The ring of subordination breaks and falls with a sound like shattering glass.
“…Whew.”
Clare sat down exhausted, and Selena rushed over to her.
“Clare-sama, are you okay…!?”
“Well…the moment I unlocked it, the pain went away like a lie…it was pretty tough…I’m glad I was able to remove it in one go.”
The girl doll exhales deeply in relief.
“It’s true that doing it multiple times can be a burden. Well, doing it once will be a reference for when it happens again.”
“It’s possible that the circumstances under which the ring of subordination was attached were unfair…”
After this conversation, the birdcage made of thread disappears, leaving only the perch on the foothold. Star Owl tilts his head in surprise and looks at Clare.
“The fact that you were able to open the lock properly… I can see that you wanted to be freed from them. Just to be sure, you have no intention of harming us, the people of the kingdom, or the Adventurer’s Guild, right?”
Clare asked, and Star Owl nodded. Then he got down on the floor, hopped up and down to Clare’s feet, and bowed deeply as if to say thank you. Seeing this, Clare laughed softly.
“I’m glad that you were able to open the lock properly. You’re free now, so you can go wherever you want. It’s not right to suddenly say you’re free in the Great Sea of Trees, so it might be better if we go together when we go to the capital city.”
Clare said, but Star Owl nodded and sat down next to Clare.
“…Does that mean you want to be close to Clare?”
Rona asked, and Star Owl spoke up in affirmation.
“I want to repay Clare-sama for her kindness.”
“Hmm… that’s your choice, too. That’s true.”
The girl doll responded with a wry smile.
“… If you say it’s because you were saved, then that’s fine. If that’s why you want to stay here, then that’s fine.”
“Then… I’ll take care of your shelter and food.”
“Yeah. Well, let’s get along.”
Rona said, waving her hand.
“Well, then we need to think about finding a place to live, but… do you have a name?”
The girl doll tilted her head and asked, and Star Owl shook her head – or rather her body. Even if the monster user who was doing espionage gave her a name, it’s easy to imagine that she didn’t have any good memories of that name.
“Well, if you don’t mind, can I give you a name? It would be weird to call you Star Owl by your species name, after all.”
When Star Owl heard this, he let out a howling cry and shook his body vertically. Clare and the others saw that he was somehow excited.
“Is this a boy? Or a girl?”
“Let’s ask him.”
Clare and Selena asked questions to confirm the gender, and found out that it was a female.
“Hmm… How about Spica…?”
Clare had a star name in mind from her memories of her past life, but when she suggested it, Star Owl cried happily as he shook his body vertically and spread his wings and flapped them. Since it is an owl, the sound of its wings is quiet.
“You seem to like it.”
“Now let’s think about where to live.”
“Well… You can build it next to the goat shed or next to your room as an extension.”
“Okay. I’ll listen to what Spica wants and think about it.”
“That sounds fun. I’ll help you.”
“Thank you, Selena.”
And so Clare and Selena left the hut with Spica, who was shouting, and started building the house.
After a while of work on the extension — the completed house for Spica was a small room attached to the outer wall of Clare’s room, as if it were an extension. Spica can look directly into Clare’s room, and can also go outside through the extension.
It was quite spacious, and even Spica, who is large for an owl, could relax in the space. Spica seemed pleased with the extension, and immediately began collecting fallen leaves and branches to build a cozy nest inside the house.
Building a home for Spica and magically treating the container for the gravekeeper’s remains to safely store them… For a few days, Clare and the others had been cleaning up after the ruins incident in addition to their daily lives and training, but eventually that was over.
The investigation team had also arrived at the capital, and as they would be making progress in reporting and cleaning up after the incident, Clare and the others decided to head there as well.
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