Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 209: The Collar and the Brand

But in order to save him from that fate...

Rocco had to be the one to take away his freedom.

He had to fall to the same level as the slave traders he despised the most.

He had to shackle Ragar, to chain him down.

Could someone as weak-willed as him even do such a thing?

Even now, he was terrified—his whole body trembled uncontrollably.

He was so afraid of seeing the expression on Ragar’s face that he couldn’t even lift his head.

"...I-I’m sorry... I’m so sorry, Ragar... Please forgive me..."

It didn’t matter if he was never forgiven.

He just couldn’t bear to be rejected.

He wanted Ragar to give up on true freedom.

Rocco nearly voiced those selfish, despicable thoughts, but he bit his tongue at the last second.

He couldn’t let those words slip.

They were too disgusting, even for him.

The mere thought of them filled him with self-loathing.

He clung to Ragar desperately while wrapping his arms and legs around him.

He bit his lip to hold back the cowardly tears that was threatening to spill.

If Ragar saw him crying, his ever-loyal servant would accept his request without hesitation.

He wouldn’t even have time to process his true feelings before granting his wishes.

That was something Rocco absolutely couldn’t allow.

Ragar’s true feelings had to come first.

If he truly hated the idea, then Rocco would find another way—one that would respect his wishes as much as possible.

Seconds passed in heavy silence.

Then, at last, Ragar shifted, moving slowly before wrapping his arms tightly around Rocco.

And in a small voice, he murmured: "Master... In other words, you wish to place a collar on me of your choosing... and brand me with your own hand?"

"...! Y-Yeah... that’s... exactly right. I know how awful it is... And yet, I—"

"—I’m so happy."

His voice was calm and unreadable.

Even as tears streamed down his face, Rocco nodded frantically, expecting resentment, hatred—anything.

And yet, in the next moment, his eyes widened in disbelief.

Wait... Had he just imagined that?

Because for some reason... he could have sworn Ragar had just said something impossible.

"To receive a collar and brand from Master...! I’m so happy, I feel like I could ascend to heaven at any moment!"

That wasn’t my imagination!!

Rocco’s face twisted in shock as he threw his arms up in a dramatic pose of utter disbelief.

Wait, wait, had Ragar really been listening to a single word he had said?

Had he actually heard the conversation just now?

A collar and a brand—he was talking about that kind of collar and that kind of brand!

The kind that marked someone unmistakably as a slave!

It was painful! It was unbearably cruel!

Yet here Ragar was, hugging him tightly, looking absolutely ecstatic.

He was so happy that Rocco could almost see imaginary flowers floating around him.

...No, no, no!

This wasn’t supposed to be a situation that made someone this happy!

"H-Hey, Ragar! You need to listen properly when someone is talking! I was just saying that—"

"The collar and the brand, right? I heard you loud and clear. And I’m very happy about it."

Whyyy? Why is this happeninggg?!?!

Rocco was so baffled that he actually started crying.

Why?

Why was Ragar so overjoyed by this?

This wasn’t just unexpected—it was beyond comprehension.

His tears weren’t just from confusion; at this point, he was actually shaking.

Ragar was starting to seem more terrifying than anything else.

Being collared, being painfully branded—that was something he was happy about?

There was only one possible conclusion to be drawn from this.

—Ragar was extremely masochistic.

"R-Ragar! I... if I were to, say... ask you, ’Can I strangle you?’ would you... actually let me do it? Wouldn’t you at least say, ’No, that would hurt’?"

"...? Anything that comes from Master is an honor. It would be the highest blessing. If you wished to press your hands around my throat, I would savor the luxury of having my airway constricted at your will and pass away with the utmost gratitude."

"...W-Wow..."

Rocco cried again.

For years, he had believed Ragar was the normal one.

He had trusted him.

And now this betrayal—!

Where was the normal, rational Ragar he had always known?!

For several long seconds, Rocco could do nothing but silently weep over the shocking revelation of Ragar’s true nature.

But then—suddenly, a thought struck him.

Wait a minute...

If—hypothetically—Ragar was indeed an extreme masochist, then maybe... just maybe... the whole collar and branding situation wasn’t as hopelessly tragic as Rocco had originally thought. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

The mere fact that such a horrible thought had crossed his mind made him reflexively punch himself in self-reproach.

But still, he cautiously decided to test the waters.

"H-Hey... um... so, listen. Right now, technically, your master is still that awful guy from before. But... if you got a new collar and a brand from me instead, then you’d officially be part of my family—"

"I would glad by that!"

"I-I wasn’t even finished talking yet!"

Before Rocco could even finish saying "be part of my family", Ragar’s overwhelmingly joyful smile cut him off.

Fine.

Rocco wasn’t even going to be surprised anymore.

Ragar was a big masochist.

He had come to fully understand and accept this now—at least, he wasn’t some perfectly normal, rational person.

That said, even if Ragar was completely out of his mind, Rocco still couldn’t just go all in and say, "Alright, you’re mine now! I’ll put the collar on and brand you without mercy!"

No matter how much of a masochist Ragar was, to Rocco, he was still family.

That fact wouldn’t change.

First, he had to make sure Ragar truly understood that.

Then, they could move forward.

Yes, that was the plan.

"S-So... I’ll do the collar and the branding, but... it doesn’t really change anything, okay? You and I will always be family."

"Yes. Master and I will remain family, no matter what."

"Do you really get it? I’m not going to force you into anything or brainwash you. The collar... I’ll pick something as cute as possible, so it doesn’t look too much like a pet collar. And as for the branding..."

The branding...