"Master, why...? Why must you go this far to torture me?".
"Are you really asking, Solution? Get back to work, I don't want to see you slacking".
"But master, my plans–"
"I don't give a fuck about your plans, do what I am ordering you, Solution".
"Y-Yes, master".
I was stern, harsh, didn't want to be... but I had to be. Because although such a transgression was not an issue to me, what Haku said was the truth. Not only Solution didn't listen to me more than three times, but she even put my life in danger (although it was never in danger) to score a point on Kurumi.
So as her master, I had to punish her, and not in a good way. Naturally, I had never been a pet owner, so I didn't really know what to do in these circumstances. So I asked an expert.
...
[Ray: What do you say?].
[Grayfia: It is a difficult question you're asking, Ray-sama. What could possibly torture a maid... you're not planning on doing this to me, do you?].
[Ray: It is not for you, Grayfia it is for someone else–].
[Grayfia: ...Do you have another maid other than me, Ray-sama?].
'When did you become my maid!?' I wanted to scream, but that would be the most foolish thing a man could do.
[Ray: It is for Solution, she did something she should not and now I have to punish her].
[Grayfia: Uh-huh, I see...]
[Ray: Will you help me?].
[Grayfia: And what do I get for helping you, Ray-sama? Or could it be... are you ordering me to help you... as your maid and your pet?~].
[Ray:...]
Now I have no choice but to acknowledge it. The end of that conversation was me promising Grayfia a massage and acknowledging her as my pet and maid formally... it wasn't the plan, but that's how it went.
...
For Solution, there was no possible physical torture that could work for her. Her black goo was capable of swallowing a singularity and she couldn't feel pain, what could I possibly do? There wasn't really much I could do to cause her physical pain, and I also didn't want to. That was not my style.
And so the plan worked and I killed two birds with one stone. Solution is capable of creating independent clones of herself which can sort out the manpower issue we have in the moonlight mist.
Although we had Lucilla and some of the guys and girls, they were far from enough to cover the required personnel to organise everyone. Moreover, she had a particular characteristic... if people remained inside her slime, she could easily heal them and also influence their minds... so she worked similarly with Katsuyu although she wasn't such a good healer.
It was apotheosic but even though she and Kurumi hated each other, the two of them together were exactly what I needed to run this operation smoothly. With Solution inside the mist and Kurumi outside, this would be done in no time.
But she still had to be punished.
"Master..." She nagged me like a begging little cat, but I remained stern.
While subjecting her to hundreds of copies of all the work, I had Disruption (my own summoned copy of Solution) help me while I focused on my therapies.
According to Grayfia, there was no worse torture for a maid than to see their master be tended to by another maid while their efforts are rejected. She described the experience as: infuriating, never-wrecking, frustrating, despairing and ultimately depressing.
I saw one of Solution's copies looking at us from the corner and she was fuming... it was as if she'd devour Disruption any time if I wasn't present. Grayfia was right and Solution was suffering and shrieking inside.
I didn't enjoy it, but I was glad this was all I had to do to punish her.
Disruption stood on my side rubbing my shoulders, caressing me... I didn't need any of that but I appreciated it as I told her to be as much servicial as possible. This slime went as far as to grim towards Solution with each caress.
"Do you need me to rub your back, master?" Solution asked me while peeking at the tent, her killing intent was soaring.
"I'm okay".
"Should I get you some water, do you want anything?"
"I just brought Master some aperitifs, you can mind your own business" Disruption hissed.
!!!
That did it. I felt darkness loom all over before Solution realised where we were and reigned herself in, but her gaze told me she was not going to tolerate disruption another second.
"Bitch, I will!–"
"..." All I had to do was frown her way for her to shut her mouth.
"*cough!* then I will be back in a bit, master".
**
**
I know I made a mistake, I have already apologised a dozen times, but did he have to go this far?!
I am a creature that does not derive pleasure from physicality. I can't feel, I can't smell, I can't taste... even when I devour, the only pleasure I feel is the one of getting stronger and nourished as I do, the stronger they make me, the 'tastier' they are. I can't truly distinguished between the taste of blood and water.
And so my pleasure derives from the consequences of my actions; slaughtering my enemies, torturing them, playing with them and eventually devouring them. Their despair is so pleasurable.
But there is something I enjoy even more; carrying orders and pleasing my supreme being. Ray-sama is my supreme being, my everything. Although my actions may have been wrong, I certainly used him to fuel my ultimate confidence in him. I was confident nothing Nightmare could do would be able to damage or even so much as scratch him, that's how powerful and mighty my master is.
And I am right. It didn't do anything to him... but it was still an act of disrespect in which I wouldn't have partook if my wrath towards Nightmare was not so acute.
I also know he is not punishing me on his own desires, it is all due to that shameless slut grinning in the corner as she regards me suffer, Haku Lux or Hasshaku-sama.
It was my first time seeing her personally, but I knew she was an entity as powerful or even worse than the golden fox that destroyed Nazarick.
She told him to punish me for my 'disrespect' and that's why Master is even bothering to punish me this way.
'You dirty slut' I cursed inwardly and exhaled deeply, removing my anger as it wouldn't do well as master may get even angrier at me for exerting my pressure over these pitiful slaves.
'How does it feel?~ to be so neglected for your transgressions, you naughty pet' She dared to transmit in my mind.
'What do you want?' I growled back, trying my best to tend to these peasants as my master requested. I couldn't care less about their lives if not for my master's orders.
'You know... not to brag but I'm master's favourite pet–'
'Isn't that Yasaka Okami?'.
I felt an ominous feeling well up on me so strong even the slaves around me began to sweat. I felt the urge to grim.
'It seems I am right. What are you trying to accomplish? I was with Master once; while he was inside my goo I could see the depth of his feelings. Although his love is boundless, there are a select few for whom his feelings are even stronger. Neither you nor I are in there. So skip your nonsense and tell me what you want, we're not besties'.
I knew this woman was way stronger than me, but I didn't have to be kind to her at all; there was no need for it. Master should have realised by now that the relationship between us pets is anything but harmonious. As long as we don't fight each other, he wouldn't have an issue, but unlike Haku, Nightmare was someone I desired to kill.
'You love to get in trouble with the wrong people, Solution Epsilon'.
'Am I not right?~ if I had to guess, things are not as smooth between you girls from the other world and you come to me seeking an agreement with me still being under you. That is not going to happen, sweetheart'.
'...'
'But we can work together to achieve our objectives~ never have I intended to have an ominous relationship with you all. I only wish to serve my master and accomplish his objectives, nothing else'.
I wouldn't dream of monopolising master's attention, but she and I probably have the same train of thought. The more of us in the same place, the more master will have to focus on us.
'Hmph, don't act as if that's all you're interested in, slime'.
'I want his massages of course, but as his pet, isn't it normal for him to spoil me?~'
'After you get your due punishment, get in the queue; master only has two hands–'.
'What if I told you we can work together to make sure we get due priority~'.
'... Tell me more'.
If I sell this woman my plans properly, perhaps things will go smoother. You can punish me now, master... but I will make sure to taste you properly later. As for Nightmare, no, that Kurumi.
I'll allow her the victory for now, but who knows about later~
**
**
[Kurumi: Hello everyone~ nice to meet you!].
[Solution:...]
[Grayfia: Nice to meet you, Kurumi-san. Are you a maid by any chance?].
[Kurumi: No? I'm not sure I understand your question?].
[Grayfia: It is okay, Kurumi-san~ as long as you are not a maid, we don't need more maids over here].
[Haku: Actually we don't need more pets over here].
[Kuroka: Master is just picking up animals from the streets at this point -nya].
[Yasaka: The only animal who was picked up from the streets was you though?]
[Kuroka: Stop bullying me for being the weakest -nya! Once I get my massage I'll become stronger and there will be a lot of payback -nya!].
[Kurumi: Oh my, you're all so fun and have a great sense of humour unlike that pitiful and dirty slime over there].
[Solution: You wanna do it?].
[Ray: Solution... hop off the chat and get to work]
[Solution: I'm sorry master, right away!].
[Yasaka: Dear, how many pets do you intend to get? Aren't we enough already?].
[Ray: I am not picking up pets, Yasaka... pets are picking me up].
[Grayfia: I think Ray-kun should get as many pets as he wants~ as long as master is happy].
[Yasaka: The more pets and wives there are... the less attention and massages we get, Grayfia].
[Grayfia: Oh my, that's a problem...]
[Yasaka: I am having a diplomatic meeting in the Kunlun Mountains, would you like to come over for tea?].
[Grayfia: Is this a diplomatic meeting? Should I bring Sirzechs-sama?]
[Yasaka: It is about master...]
[Grayfia: Then I shall come on my own, do you mind if I bring Millicas to look around?~]
[Yasaka: Not at all, I have Kunou-chan here, they can play together].
[Grayfia: Wonderful!~]
[Haku: Stop pulling your strings and stretching your tails, Yasaka!].
[Yasaka: I don't know what you're talking about, I'm just inviting her to have tea~].
[Ray: You're so sweet Yasaka, I miss you].
[Yasaka: I miss you too dear, but I can wait... I will wait until you come back to me and then you will have to fill up this void you have left in many ways~].
[Kurumi: So romantic, mind if I join?]
[Yasaka: Any of you that wants to join can join us for tea and then some more~]