After picking up my new employee’s slave papers, and bringing them back to the shop, my first order was to tell them to take a bath and eat some proper meals. I had Meera help the Demi-Cats wash up. Not entirely sure what she saw in the bathroom, but when they came out, she had a very dark expression on her face. Ever since, she’s been treating the new employees with extra care and offering them snacks. Imagine that. Meera…being nice? It’s super weird. Tch…she never gives me any special treatment!

Anyways, both Demi-Cats were surprisingly cute and pretty underneath all the filth. Evidently, they really hadn’t been at the slave bazaar for long. Since they hadn’t been abused as much as the other slaves, I came in with great expectations. However, when I tried to train them to help run the shop…well, the results were a bit…lacking.

Okay…that’s an understatement.

The truth is…

These Demi-Cat’s are completely hopeless.

“What’s thirty coppers times three?” I ask Kisa. The older Demi-Cat sister struggles to answer.

“Errr…err…thirty…sixty…eighty…no…” she stammers. Her expression changes to great fear as I sigh. “W-Wait! It’s…it’s ninety! Ninety coppers, right?!”

“It is…but you’re taking too long. This should be easy.” I sigh, rubbing my temples. The big sister can do a bit of math. Barely. As for the little sister, she struggles to handle the fingers on her hands. I don’t want to believe it, but I think I made a mistake. Street slaves just aren’t suitable for running the shop. I should have bought a House Slave.

“M-Master?” Kisa notices my darkening mood and gulps. “Please, sir! I can do better! It’s just…the Demi-Berries…my head’s foggy. I-I can’t think clearly! Please, don’t send us back!”

“Gah…so this is why he was certain none of you could count.” Feeling annoyed, I fail to hide my displeasure from her. She shrinks back, and I feel bad. It’s not her fault that the slavers mixed Demi-Berries in their food. Apparently, this highly addictive substance will dull a Demi’s brain with pleasure and make them pliable. Worse, once you start, it’s impossible to stop. If you don’t eat more berries regularly, the withdrawal effects will be horrible. Low-class slavers use Demi-Berries as part of a carrot and stick routine to ensure obedience. Behave, and you get your fix. Disobey, and you’ll know a pain more awful than death itself. Or so I’m told, anyway. “Mmm…what to do…what to do…”

Ugh, I spent all that money…but if you can’t work for me…

Was it all for nothing?

What now?

Do I free you?

I suppose that’d be the right thing to do. Not that I care about your happiness or anything like that! It’s just…I mean from a business standpoint, it’d be more expensive to feed a bunch of freeloaders, right? Mhm. Don’t get the wrong idea, okay! Every second you’re my slave is lost profits so I better free you immediately. Tch…guess it’s your lucky day!

“Kisa…bring Nya in here.” I reach into my desk. Removing her and her sister’s slave paperwork, I smile reassuringly at her. “I’m going to set you free. Congratulations!”

“Hieeeee?!!!” To my surprise, Kisa’s tail stands up on end and she recoils from me. A second later though, she lunges forward and grabs my hand. Clutching my arm tightly to her chest, she shakes her head frantically and I notice she’s starting to transform a bit. “N-No! Please! ANYTHING BUT THAT! Don’t release us, Master!”

“Look, I’m not sending you back to the slavers, okay?” I tell her, not understanding her fear. Holding up the papers, I show them to her, “These are your papers. I’m setting you free. You can go wherever you want…”

“No no no!” Kisa frantically yowls. “In Merekeep, the papers mean nothing without a Master! They’ll just catch us again! And put us back in the bazaar…and then we’ll be separated! Please! I’ll do anything! Master pleeaaaase not the streets!”

“Um…” I’m a bit shocked by the sudden change. “Is it really that bad-?”

Kisa is too scared to notice my question. I don’t think she’s even listening anymore-

“Y-You can send me away if you must! But Nya hasn’t been taking Demi-berries for as long as me, she can definitely still learn! At the very least keep her with you!” Kisa’s tear-stained eyes find mine and I can’t look away. Have you ever had someone earnestly beg you like their life depended on it? Somehow it’s even worse when they beg you for someone else’s life. “Master please! I’ll…I’ll do anything if you let us stay here! Just give me a chance! One week! Give me one week to get clean! Or you can…give me back to the slaver…I-I’ll make him give you a refund!”

“You seriously…don’t want your freedom back, Kisa? Are you sure…?” I’m confused. It seems like she doesn’t want to leave. Look, I’m trying to give you your life back…protect my bottom line. But you’re making this difficult. Do I look like I’m running an orphanage? I’ll have you know, in my past life, the only time I ever gave to charity was for tax evasion! Still…I have to admit, your stubbornness IS impressive…

“Please! Just give me one week!” She begs, “I promise, afterwards I’ll be able to think better! Definitely, I’ll definitely be able to work! No matter what, I’ll work harder than anyone else!”

“Ummm, isn’t it impossible to get off of Demi-berries?” I stare at her, feeling confused. And just a tad bit doubtful. “Listen, from what I’ve heard, quitting those berries is like burning yourself alive. You sure you want to go through with that? Look, I have your papers right here. I’ll give you some money…and food-”

“No! I’ll quit! And then you’ll see that we can work for you!”

“A-Alright then…but I still think you should just take the papers…”

Demi-Cats really are strange.

Why do you even want to work here so bad?

#

*HURRRRRK*

*HURRRRRK*

“It hurts…” The little one pukes into a bucket. “Nya…hurts…Sis…please make it stop! Nya doesn’t want to do this anymore!”

“Tssss…” Her bigger sister has her teeth clenched. “J-Just hold on, Nya! It’ll be over soon!” Kisa doubles over, though she doesn’t have a bucket. She has the whole bathtub. Standing outside the doorway with Meera, I grimace as I see the contents inside. Kisa wasn’t kidding about being more addicted. The tub’s almost full of her puke. But she won’t give up. How bad are the streets if she’d rather take this instead? After the latest round of heaving is over, Kisa warbles weakly, “M-Master…please…I need to keep eating…”

“Errr..right. Meera, do you mind fetching more cheese?” I grimace, looking at her vomit-stained face. “Are you sure you need to keep eating? It seems really uncomfortable and you just end up puking it all up again after anyway…”

“I-It’s…necesssary.” Kisa groans, putting both hands over her mouth as the next wave comes. Meera takes one look and I swear she turns a bit green. She almost runs out of the room. I think even the Rainstopper assassin is appalled at the state of these Demi-Cats. “If…we…stop…eating…then…we’ll lose strength…and die…this is…the only way…”

Wait wait wait…you can die from this?

“Hold on, you didn’t tell me this could kill you!” I yelp. “Shouldn’t we call a Healer at the very least!”

“Nya’s…almost done…” Kisa grins, patting her sister on the back. “She’ll be fine…as for me…I-I’ll be okay…if I die…please take care of Nya though…”

“Nice try…but this isn’t an orphanage!” I look away as Meera returns and hands me a bunch of my specialty cheddar. I hastily unwrap the bars before slamming them down within paws-reach of the Demi-Cats. Exiting the room, I glare at Kisa, the whole way out. “Don’t even think about dying, Kisa! You hear me?! Take care of your sister yourself! I’m not doing it! If you die, she’ll be all alone! So you better not give up!”

…

Why is this idiotic girl so damn stubborn? She won’t even let me call a Healer. What if her organs fail or something? Ugh, just in case, I’ll pay someone to be on standby.

…

Gotta protect your investments, right?

…

Outside in the hallway with Meera, I can still hear the two Demi-Cats-

“Nya…eat…more…every time you puke…more of the poison comes out!”

“B-But…it hurts…Nya doesn’t want to eat anymore…”

“Kisa knows it hurts…but you’re so close! Such a good girl…just keep trying…okay? Soon, you’ll be able to stay here where it’s safe…with a good, rich Master…and…HURRRRK!”

The sound of vomiting overpowers their conversation. It’s gross, but I resist the urge to plug my ears in case they need me for something.

*Tap*

Meera touches my shoulder. When I turn to her, her eyes look a bit wet.

“Boss, is this really necessary?” She whispers to me so the Demi’s can’t hear. Not that it matters. Considering the sounds coming from that bathroom, I doubt the two girl’s inside can focus on anything but their stomachs right now. The ruthless assassin looks shaken. “I don’t like this. Not at all…this isn’t…right.”

“It’s not like I asked them to do this, okay!” I snap at her testily, “I wanted to free them. But she asked to stay. Just tell the damn Healer to be ready if something goes wrong. This isn’t our fault!”

“Still…Boss.” Meera’s face turns hard as a shrill cat-yowl fills the air and the sound of more puke hitting a bucket interrupts us. “Is this…really okay-?”

*Huurk*

*Splat Splat Splat*

Sighing, I hold up my hands.

“Look, Meera, Selena and the Daggas Clan are the ones that reinstated all these anti-Demi policies. We’re trying to stop them. So technically…we’re the good guys…right?”

…

…

…

Meera doesn’t respond for a long time. Just listens to the suffering of the two Demi-Cats from the hallway. Finally, she turns away from me. Her hands are balled up into fists as she goes to her room and slams the door.

“These honorless Merekeep cowards don’t know how to pick a fair fight! We’ll destroy them. This city is an insult to the name of assassins!”

Uhh…sure.

“That’s my girl.” Sighing, I walk out to the lobby and pick up a bottle of experimental wine I’ve been developing. Bringing it to the bathroom, I sit down and cross my legs. Biting the cork out, I take a swig. It’s sour.

One week, huh?

“Six more days to go.”

#

…

*Hurrrrk*

…

“Sis, are you okay!” Nya yells out. I have the little Demi-Cat next to me now that she’s been weaned off Demi-berries. I’m supposed to be training her to count, but in reality, we’re just listening to her sister puke. Unlike Nya…Kisa’s got a long way to go. “SIS!?”

“I’m fine, Nya.” Kisa groans, and even through the door I can hear the pain in her voice. “It’s just…a little bit longer…what day is it?”

“Wednesday!”

“...”

“Oh Yuel…is it really still that long?”

Three more days to go.

#

*Huuurk*

*Thud*

“What was that?! Kisa, are you okay?”

“N-Nothing…I just…slipped…”

“Should we send for a healer?!”

“No! Don’t waste money…they can’t do anything anyway…I can do this!”

“Ugh, do you have to be so stubborn!”

Two more days to go.

#

*Hurrrk*

“I…more food please…” Kisa’s voice is so weak I can barely hear her. She’s just tired…right? She’s going to make it. She HAS to make it!

“C-Coming!” I yell. Hustling to get more, I gently remove Nya’s sleeping head from my lap and get up. “Just one moment, Kisa! I’ll be right back!”

“Please…take your time…Master…I’m fine…really. But seriously…if I don’t make it…please watch over Nya-”

“Nope nope nope! I’m not listening! Take care of her yourself!”

Last day.

Almost there…

Please…be okay.

#

…

…

…

*Swish Swish*

Huh?

“K-Kisa?” I wake up to a suspicious noise coming from inside the bathroom. Nya’s drooling on my lap, holding a block of cheese. Carefully, I get up without waking her. Knocking on the door, I wait for Kisa’s reply. “How are you feeling?”

*Knock Knock*

…

…

…

*Swish Swish*

There’s no reply, just more strange swishing.

Oh crap.

Did she die?!

*Bang*

Immediately, I bust down the door, expecting the worst. However, to my surprise, I find a tired Demi-Cat inside, scrubbing the tub. W-What? Kisa turns to me, a dripping sponge in hand and smiles exhaustedly.

“Kisa…what are you doing?” I ask.

“Cleaning up, Master,” She replies cheerily. Holding up the sponge, she wrings it out. “I can think clearly again. Ask me a question…a hard one!”

“Uhhh…is this really necessary right now? Don’t you want to rest?” I run my eyes over her whole body, shocked that she’s standing. Kisa’s been writhing in the pits of hell for a week. Yet now…without a moment’s rest, this crazy girl has already begun to work as if nothing’s happened! How stubborn are you?! “Seriously, I think you should lie down! Let me get you some water-”

“No no no!” Kisa replies, holding that perfect smile. Her ears twitch demurely and she turns back to the tub, scrubbing extra hard. Her tail swishes merrily as she cleans. “I promised you that I’d work harder than anyone else if you let Nya and I stay! Now that I’m well, please allow me to show you my capabilities! Ask me a question! Anything you like!”

“O-Okay then…” I stammer, still worried for her, “How about…what’s 1000 minus seven?”

“993!” Kisa replies with a perfect answer. She looks over her shoulder and smiles triumphantly. Her shining cat-eyes are brilliantly clear. “See! I can do it! Look, I can keep going! 1000, 993. 986, 979-”

Abruptly Kisa freezes mid-scrub-

Kisa?

Her eyes roll up into her head-

Uh oh!!

Then she keels over into the bathtub!

*Donk*

“Eiii! Kisa!? Meera, quick get the Healer!”

#

Two Months Later...

“Nya, final question! Pay attention, this is important” I tell the tiny Demi-Cat. Her spiky hair still reminds me of Glacia from time to time. However, physically she really resembles a younger Natalia. Guiltily, I make a mental note to send my sister a letter later. I hope she’s not still mad at me for leaving. Oh God…I hope Natalia never sees the uniforms I designed for Kisa and Nya. I mean, come on…they wanted to go with the maid look! It wasn’t just my idea! I swear I’m not replacing you, okay Sis? “Alright, what’s ninety-nine minus thirty-seven?”

“Errr…nine minus seven…two…and then…” Nya’s eyes scrunch up as Kisa gives her an encouraging look. “Uhm…uhhh and then ninety minus thirty so…sixty…plus two..equals sixty-two!”

“Yesss!” Kisa and I clap for joy while Meera watches cooly in the background. It’s been two months, teaching Nya basic arithmetic as well as schooling Kisa on all the essentials of bookkeeping. “You did it, Sis!”

“I-I did?” Nya sees our smiles and can’t believe it herself. “I answered all the questions right!?”

“Yup.” I grin and rub her head fondly. Her ears are almost as soft as Natalia’s were. “I think…now that you can count…and Kisa’s mastered percentages…that we’re ready to open!”

“R-Reaally?!” All the girls, even Meera, are surprised by my announcement. I hold up a hand for silence.

…

…

…

“Yep.” Surveying the girls, I point out the custom glass display case which is chilled by my magic. It’s filled with cheese and runs all along the lobby. The previously bare floor is now covered in shelves and tables full of merchandise. Sure, we’re not at full capacity yet, but that’ll change as Elina sends in more shipments. “This is the beginning…of our cheese shop!”