Slave Water Tank (Prologue)
【Chapter 1: Safety Valve】
Master’s hand mercilessly presses down on Serina’s stomach.
Her throat twitches, and her belly ripples in pain…
“Gu… guh…”
gag… hurk… retch!
Household slave tanks.
That’s what we’re called.
In this dry country, both water and wood are very precious.
Normally, barrels would be made from wood, but here, almost none can be made that way.
So instead, slaves like us were chosen as substitutes.
Our masters use human stomachs and intestines as “water sacks.”
It’s cheaper this way, and if one breaks, they say it’s convenient because a new one can easily replace it.
We are nothing more than tools for storing water.
Serina collapsed onto the floor, and the spilled water spread across the ground.
Master said nothing, just glared at us as if to say, “Who’s next?”
“What are you standing around for?! Hurry up and get it out!!”
“P-please, Master…! gag! …hurk! …retch!“
Master’s foot mercilessly digs into Emma’s stomach.
In that instant, a huge gush of water bursts from her mouth.
“Hey!! Get it out, now!! Before your guts soak it all up!!”
“gag… hurk… retch… cough!“
Emma looks at me, her face a mess of water and tears.
Next… it’s my turn.
Master’s heavy footsteps slowly approach me.
My heart pounds loudly, and my whole body begins to tremble.
“A-ah… I’m sorry, I’m so sor— ugh!?”
I feel a strong pressure on my stomach.
But because of the magic, I can’t vomit the water out.
“It’s going to rain hard today. You will fulfill your role as the ‘safety valve.’”
Safety valve.
That’s the role that’s meant to break before everyone else.
The rainwater hose splits into three, so the water flows evenly to all of us.
On normal rainy days, there’s no problem.
But on days of heavy rain, my stomach—the safety valve—reaches its limit before the others.
That way, only the other two survive.
But that means…
My role is to be the one who doesn’t survive.
“Do you understand?!”
“Y-yes. As the safety valve, I will risk my life to protect Lady Serina and Lady Emma.”
Master went back inside the house.
Only the three of us are left outside.
“Rina! Emma! Are you okay?!”
Serina rushed over to us right away.
“Cough… cough… I’m… I’ll manage, but Rina is…”
Emma looked at me, worry written all over her face.
“…uh… hic…”
I couldn’t speak; tears just kept streaming down my cheeks.
My body wouldn’t stop trembling.
Master said there would be heavy rain today.
Maybe today will be the end for me.
I imagine my skin stretching thin, my stomach tearing apart from the inside—something bursting with a wet crunch deep in my belly, everything spilling out and spreading across the floor.
Unbearable pain that never ends, so strong I can’t even breathe, and then…
Scenes like that keep spinning through my mind until I feel like I might break.
I’m scared. I don’t know what to do… Why do I have to be given a role like this?
“…We’ll take as much as we can, Emma and I both. We won’t let you be sacrificed.”
Serina said quietly, looking straight at me.
