Chapter 8

I was supposed to schedule this post, but I ended up posting it right away (sweat).

I handed Har over at Matthias's shop.

"Thank you, Master. Even though it was for a short while, it was nice to go outside for a change."

"I think I'll come to the guild again, so please take care of me then."

I bowed my head as well. Then, Har went inside, and Matthias came out.

"You're back early. From the looks of it, you didn't go to the dungeon, did you?"

"Of course not. Didn't you say, Matthias, that if I hurt her, I'd have to pay for the treatment?"

I said with a laugh.

"Well, Har seemed to want to go to the dungeon, but I think it's better for her to go with adventurers or something like that."

When I get strong enough to defeat rabbits and explore the dungeon, I might take Har with me.

It costs 120 cents a day, so I need to earn enough to make it worth it.

Still, I'm currently unemployed, and I'm weak, just a nobody.

I don't have the strength to protect her or the ability to impress her.

"I'm sorry, but that's not possible."

Matthias's response was unexpected.

"Huh?"

"In this country, life as a slave is relatively comfortable, and slaves can specify the type of master they want to some extent, such as gender or age. However, this is only for first-year slaves."

"First-year slaves?"

"It's a law to protect slave traders. If the conditions are too strict, it would be a problem if a slave doesn't want to be bought by anyone."

"Oh, I see."

In other words, once a slave, they try to find a good master within a year. But as time passes, they have to compromise.

By the time a year has passed, they might end up being bought by the type of master they dislike the most, so they try to be bought by someone.

"Um, I understand the system, but from what you said, does Har have some conditions?"

"Yes. Her condition is that she wants someone stronger than herself. The White Wolf Clan only swears loyalty to someone stronger than themselves; swearing loyalty to someone weaker is considered a humiliation worse than death."

...Even in that situation, she called me 'Master.' I feel bad.

"Um, but I still don't understand. How does that relate to her not being able to go to the dungeon with others?"

"Actually, there's a noble who wants to buy her, and that noble is a major supporter of the Adventurer's Guild."

...Ah, I get it.

So, if I try to recruit her into a party or something, I'll be in trouble with that important person.

That means my career as an adventurer will be over.

Maybe that's why, when I went to sell materials at the Adventurer's Guild, they made me wait outside?

"Of course, even a noble must follow the law. As long as she doesn't change her conditions, that noble can only buy Har if he defeats her in a match. However, this is only until a year has passed since she became a slave."

After a year, anyone can buy her.

"By the way, when does that year end?"

"Exactly 10 days from today, at noon."

Matthias said this and then added apologetically,

"I'm sorry, Ichinose-san. Knowing that you're not an adventurer and not under the influence of that noble, I thought it would be nice to let her go outside for a while. Slaves can't go outside without their masters."

So that's why she wanted to go to the dungeon so much.

If she's bought by a noble, she won't be able to go outside freely.

"Last question, what's her price?"

"Normally, someone as beautiful as her would cost 100,000 cents. However, if someone meets the conditions Har set, her seller has agreed to sell her for 30,000 cents."

30,000 cents... the same as the buyout price for a recruitment suit.

Of course, I won't buy her.

I have plans for that money, and if I start feeling sorry for everyone, I'd have to buy all the slaves in the world.

I stepped outside the shop and took a deep breath.

What are the benefits of buying her?

With my growth cheat, I can do fine solo.

If I need to use the Adventurer's Guild, I can just rent a slave like today. It's cheaper since I don't have to pay the head tax.

Sure, she's beautiful, but I only spent about an hour—no, actually just a few minutes—with her.

30,000 cents? 3 million yen?

Ha, thinking rationally, that's nonsense.

'Your motivation lacks enthusiasm.'

That was what the interviewer from the computer company said.

...Why am I thinking about the interviewer's words now?

'Your motivation is indeed rational and a model answer. But is there any of you in that motivation?'

At that time, I couldn't find the answer.

As a result, I received a rejection email.

Is there any of me in my current thoughts?

Of course, it's my own thoughts, so it must be.

What is the right answer, anyway?

What's wrong with being rational?

'Big brother, your way is too irrational. Why drop out of high school? You could definitely graduate if you used Dad's life insurance.'

...Why am I thinking about my sister's words now?

Using the life insurance, I could have graduated from high school. But I wanted to save the money for Mili's university education.

It might seem more rational for me to graduate and start earning, but I wanted to do it this way.

'...Big brother, do you have any regrets?'

Mili, on the verge of tears, asked me that. What did I answer then?

I don't have any regrets.

Even if it was a foolish choice, I'll prove that it was the right one.

That's the answer I came up with back then, my own thoughts.

So, what do I want?

Forget about rational thinking, what do I really want?

"I want to buy Har."

It might be selfish. Maybe she'd be happier living with a noble.

But at least I won't regret it.

That much is certain.

The deadline is 10... no, 9 days from now. I'll challenge Har and win.

I need to prepare and get stronger by then.

But I don't have enough information.

So, I know five people in this town.

I can't rely on the Adventurer's Guild. I don't know where the noble's eyes are.

I could explain it to Matthias, but I don't want to give Har false hope.

I might not get stronger.

The most reliable person is the gatekeeper lady, but she's working, and I don't want to bother her too much.

There's one person I can rely on, a former adventurer who might be able to teach me a lot.

So, I made up my mind and opened the door to the shop.

"Shop owner, make me a man!"

"Of course, I will!"

The shop owner, a flamboyant woman, charged at me with heavy breathing.

That was a poor choice of words.