I Only Summon Villainesses

As Kassie’s overhead kick landed on whoever it was, the building shook again. They slammed right into the ground and her leg hooked them there, pinning them flat.

I was already standing. Kassie threw her head towards the window and I caught the meaning instantly: more were coming. I had no time to note the face of the person on the floor, but I caught a glimpse of blonde hair scattered across the boards like spilled grain.

As the second figure flew through the window, I lunged with a spear kick, intercepting their trajectory mid-air and driving straight into them with my hand guiding their head. I slammed it against the wall. The impact sent a crack spidering through the plaster. They dropped to the ground while I stepped back, dusting my hands with a tight frown settling on my face.

The person I’d handled was a man. Old, weathered, with the kind of face that looked like it had spent decades bullying anyone younger and weaker than him. Deep-set eyes, low rough black hair going grey at the temples.

Kassie held the woman in place with her foot planted on her back while the man lay unconscious from the force I’d put into that attack.

I turned to look at her and she nodded.

I hauled the man up and bound him to a chair, summoning my white chains to wrap around his torso and arms, locking him in place. The chains hummed faintly as they tightened.

Then we turned to the woman who was sobbing on the ground. I bound her arms to her body with the chains, leaving her legs free.

After binding her, Kassie lifted her foot. The woman scrambled up immediately, hands pressed together in front of her chest.

“Please! Save me from that wicked man!”

As she begged, the first thing I noticed about her were her breasts.

’Damn it.’

She wore a grey linen dress, though it had probably been white once before being stained grey from layers of dirt and grime. Her face and the exposed parts of her body were equally filthy, like she’d been working in a mine.

But her breasts.

They were full and round. Not large like the fox lady’s, not exactly, but full. Very full. Looking like they might spill out at any moment, and in fact they were already spilling out for the most part because the linen holding them together was barely doing its job.

’Focus.’

The woman had long pointed ears and amber eyes. I observed those pointed ears and a dark frown settled across my brow.

’An elf…’

I couldn’t be mistaken. I had spent a better part of my life sitting in front of a monitor and, well, appreciating Elf-san wa Yaserarenai, so yes, I knew exactly what I was seeing.

Plus, I had many reliable sources of how an elf should look. Extensive research. Very thorough. And in all honesty, I was happy not to be disappointed by the reality.

I shook my head quickly.

’That’s not the point now, asshole!’

I glared at the woman on the ground and spoke, letting irritation sharpen my voice.

“Who are you? Who the hell flies into someone’s window in the middle of the night?! Is this how Recimiras greets visitors?!”

The woman kept sobbing even after I asked her a question. She crawled closer on her knees, her bound hands still pressed together in supplication, but Kassie dropped a dead glare on her that made her shiver like she’d been dumped in Antarctica.

“Please! That man… that man…” She pointed at the unconscious figure bound to the chair, and I could hear the raw fear threading through her voice.

“That doesn’t answer my question. I asked who…”

I paused the moment I noticed the black collar on her neck.

It had been hidden beneath her thick, overflowing hair. I’d caught only a glimpse of it before and thought it was merely some necklace. But because I’d seen something similar on Po when he was trying to deceive the police, I recognized the resemblance immediately.

I frowned and looked at the man, then back at the woman.

“Are you a slave?”

Her sobbing calmed. She lowered her head. Her shoulders still trembled as she cried silently, but something in her posture shifted. Shame, maybe. Or resignation.

Then she raised her head suddenly and shook it frantically.

“Please! Please! This is absurd! I had a life! I came here looking for my sister! I was captured and enslaved against my consent! I have a better life than this, to fall and become a slave is beneath me! Please sir! Help me! I’ll pay you back anything! Help me escape this life!”

’Oh…’

I stayed silent for a moment, then looked at Kassie and gave a sign with my eyes. We both stepped back a few paces, putting distance between us and the woman.

“Do you believe her?” I whispered.

Kassie glanced back at the elf with an airtight expression, then turned to me. Her voice was flat, but something lurked beneath it.

“Slave trading has existed since even my time. Back then, consent did not matter. But I’m guessing that the fact she makes it a thing means law ought to have been crafted around it.”

I looked at Kassie dubiously, keeping my voice low.

“Really? Who would consent to being a slave?”

Kassie’s jaw tightened. Just slightly. Most people wouldn’t notice. She responded in that same flat tone, but it felt heavier now.

“In worlds like these, you have more people suffering than people who aren’t. When someone suffers to a level where ownership of their own life no longer matters, but they still cling stubbornly to living, they can decide to trade away that ownership and become a slave. Others become slaves for debt. There are war slaves. And many sell their right to own their lives to fund or protect people they love.”

She paused.

“There are various reasons.”

Kassie sounded like she was holding a grudge with me for even asking that question. Something personal flickered behind her eyes before she shuttered it away.

I belatedly realized how thoughtless I had been. But it also seemed too late to apologize.

“So what do you say we do?”

She raised a brow at me.

“How would I know? You’re the one in charge, remember?”

I released a dry chuckle.

“I was drunk, okay? I thought it was the best move at the time. I mean, it wasn’t exactly looking great that I’m your summoner and you were trying to dominate me at every minute you got.”

Kassie glared at me. “And now?”

I shrugged, scratching the back of my neck. “Well, I know now… you kinda maybe like me. And even though I’m your summoner, I respect your greatness.” I caught myself. “Grateness? Greatness. Whatever. I think our relationship at this point portrays that much, so yeah… I value your opinion.”

Kassie looked at me with a strange expression. Her lips twitched.

“Huh… why are you looking like that?”

’She seems to be suppressing herself from laughing?’

She turned away and I could swear I saw her shoulder shake. When she turned back, her voice was carefully even, but there was warmth hiding somewhere in it.

“It doesn’t matter if we believe her or not. If she claims to be a slave without consent, let’s work with that. Besides…”

She turned to the man, who was slowly letting out a groan as consciousness crept back into him.

“Her pursuer is here. We can also hear his part of the story.”

I frowned. “Men like that are bound to lie. Besides, isn’t this supposed to be a criminal city? Won’t it be dumb to believe anyone?”

Kassie folded her arms and tapped one finger against her bicep, diving deep into thought. Then she spoke:

“Well, you can just ask your fire wizard for help.”

“Maggie? Why would I do that?”

“She has a chain that is said to bind whoever it touches to speak only truth. At least that was what people said about the weapon she wielded.”

I opened my mouth slightly, surprised.

“Oh… interesting.”

The man was stirring now, his groans growing louder. I inhaled deeply and made a decision.

Time to call upon Maggie.

’Am I going to like this?’