Chapter 73

"Wh-What are you doing! Let go!"

Laokles had hoisted the angel onto his shoulder, so the angel couldn't descend to the ground. Yeah, there was no way to escape from Laokles' height and muscles.

"Is this okay?"

"Yeah! Thank you! Thank you!"

I thanked Laokles, then thanked the pipe fox that had so effectively detained the angel, and sent it back into my pocket.

"Damn it, what the hell are you guys!"

The angel continued to struggle, but Laokles didn't budge. Well, realistically, there's no way a kid could win against a statue of a plaster figure.

"Hey, don't peek carelessly."

When I tried to peek at the angel's face, the angel growled, and Laokles hurriedly pulled me away.

"...I'll hold him, but if you touch him carelessly, he'll bite you."

"Okay."

Then Laokles firmly held the angel, who was on his shoulder, by both hands and feet. So I could look at the angel's face with peace of mind.

"What, what! If you want to hand me over to the military, just do it!"

I looked at the boy's face. It was dirty with mud, soot, and grime, but I bet he would have a beautiful face if he were cleaned up. I couldn't tell the color of his hair. This kid was too dirty.

The aggressively twisted expression was a bit scary, but it stirred something in my heart, like... I was drawn to it.

And most of all... those bright blue eyes!

They were aggressive, clearly wary of me, and incredibly beautiful sky blue.

...Yeah. They were really good.

This wariness of humans was so angelic!

"What are you laughing at..."

"I'm just happy, can't help it."

The angel started to get scared. Yeah, sorry. You must have been startled. You were suddenly caught by a human.

So, I immediately started to scout the angel.

"Ceres, right?"

When I called the name, the angel shrank back. ...Ah, did I scare him even more? Yeah, it's probably scary to be caught in the afternoon by someone you failed to pickpocket in the morning and then be called by name. But we're not suspicious.

"Hey, Ceres. I want to hire you."

"...Huh?"

But the fear quickly turned to a blank expression. I didn't think I was saying anything that strange.

"I'm a painter. Still a beginner, though. I just really want to paint you."

"...I don't get it. You look like you have money. Why don't you buy a prettier one from that shop?"

"There wasn't anyone prettier than you."

When I told the truth, Ceres looked startled, then made a face that I couldn't tell if it was fear or embarrassment.

"I'll pay you properly. About a month... no, two weeks would be fine. If you come to my place and let me paint you, I'll provide all your food, clothing, and shelter during that time. I'll also pay you a salary. What do you think?"

Ceres blinked his long, thick lashes and looked confused.

"Huh? Why?"

"Well, I just really want to paint you..."

"...Do you have a hobby of painting dirty kids?"

"Um, I'll have to wash you. You'll definitely look like an angel when you're clean."

"An... angel..."

When called an angel, Ceres looked uncomfortable and fidgeted. Hmm, very angelic.

As I was satisfied with Ceres' angelic nature, Fey poked me from the side.

"...Tougo. You know, there are other things we should ask first, right?"

"Eh? Costume preferences?"

"Hold it. Before that. Before that... If this kid has parents, we need to talk to them, right? Got it?"

Ah, that's right.

If this kid has a 'guardian,' we need to talk to them too. Yeah. I understand that we need to get parental consent when using a child model.

"Um, then, Ceres. Your parents..."

But as soon as I said that, Ceres showed a tense expression again.

This is...

"...Dad would sell me if you paid him."

...Wow. That's... um... Well, this is convenient!

"Then let's go to your house right away!"

It seems there's a complicated family situation, but let's be positive. I can catch an angel. I can catch an angel. Yeah.

"Wait a minute."

But as I thought that, Ceres spoke up.

"About that, the salary talk isn't over yet!"

Ah, that's right. Yeah, parental consent is necessary, but the most important thing is the person's own will. If the salary is involved, we need to talk about it properly.

"How much are you going to pay?"

"Hmm..."

But I'm not good at salary negotiations. After all, Cloa's salary was paid in 'a house with interior.'

"Tougo. Step back a bit. I'll handle this."

When I was at a loss, Fey grinned and stepped forward... and crouched in front of Ceres.

Then.

"How much do you want?"

...That was a bold way to ask. As expected, a noble.

"...50 gold coins."

And Ceres answered immediately. Hmm, as expected, an angel...?

"Hmm. I see."

Fey showed a thoughtful expression... then asked Ceres again.

"If I offer you 50 gold coins to be a model for a painting, will you come?"

"I'll come."

What a brave angel. ...It also had a somewhat tragic feel.

"Huh. You need money for something, huh?"

...Ceres didn't answer this. And that was almost an answer.

"...Well, that's fine. So, 50 gold coins for you. And how much does your dad want?"

"I don't know. I owe a lot of money. I've borrowed from various places to avoid being enslaved..."

"Oh, debt, huh. And enough to be enslaved. That's a good one."

Fey grinned... then asked seriously.

"Do you like your dad?"

"I wish he'd die."

...Ceres' eyes at that moment are probably something I'll never forget.

"Alright. So... hmm."

Fey seemed to have an idea, then scratched his head and looked awkward.

"...Tougo, I have a suggestion."

"Okay."

"There's a legal way to catch this kid. If we pay off his dad's debt, we can get custody of him."

"Eh?"

...When I asked for details, apparently, people who can't repay their debts can become slaves. And if they choose to become slaves, the people they support also become slaves.

In other words, in this world, it's like being on welfare. I don't fully understand this yet, but...

"Offering a child as a slave to pay off debt is a reasonable request. You have money, and if I buy him in my name, there's a guarantee of status, so there won't be any complaints."

I see. It's like for the child's protection, right?

"Even Ceres' dad, if pressured to repay the debt quickly, would likely choose to become a slave."

"On the contrary, why hasn't he made that choice yet?"

"Maybe because as a slave, you can only drink when your master allows it, and you can't gamble. There are quite a few people who avoid becoming slaves for those reasons."

I see. Yeah. I kind of understand now, and the slavery system in this world isn't bad.

"Let's do it that way."

"Wait, wait. Do you understand? That means paying off this kid's dad's entire debt?"

Yeah. I'm not short on money. I'll do it. I'll draw 100 gems for it.

"...Depending on the negotiation, we might be able to pay the dad a fraction of the debt and get Ceres in exchange."

"Hmm... But I don't really see the point of doing that."

"Well, if you don't have to worry about money, that's fine... But for you, it would definitely be easier. Making someone who doesn't want to be a slave into a slave is a righteous act, but you'll also get unnecessary resentment. What do you think?"

I see. If I pay off the debt, I can legally get Ceres. Ceres' dad will also work as a slave, and in return, I'll get a guarantee of food, clothing, and shelter.

...But that means I'll be responsible for Ceres from now on, and Ceres' dad probably doesn't want to be a slave because he wants to drink and gamble. If I make both of them slaves, it will be, as Fey said, 'not light.'

Hmm...

"...Do you want to be away from your dad?"

"Of course."

When I asked Ceres, he answered without hesitation.

I see. ...Then, it's simple.

"Got it. Sorry, but I'll pay off your dad's entire debt and make both you and your dad slaves. And... um, will you temporarily become my slave?"

"I'll release you soon. When the painting is finished... um, in about two months. I'll pay you 50 gold coins during that time and provide food, clothing, and shelter. Living in the forest might be a bit inconvenient, but I'll try to make it as comfortable as possible."

I'll explain the conditions properly. I think it would be unfair otherwise.

"If you want to return to the capital after that, I'll send you back. If you want to live somewhere else, I can support that. ...If you want to stay in the forest, I'd be happy, but I won't force you. I'll help you do what you want. What do you think?"

When I asked, Ceres looked troubled and confused.

"What the hell, why are you so concerned about me? I'm just a kid you found a while ago, right? Besides, I'm a thief. Why would you care?"

...Hmm.

That's true when you put it that way.

I was happy to find a model, but more than that... um, what is it? It feels too insincere to just use someone as a model and say goodbye. I don't think of myself as an adult, but I can call this kid a 'child,' and I think children should be as happy as possible. Especially if a child wants to be away from their parents, I want to help...

...Most of all, I value this strong, beautiful-eyed angel as both a model and a child.

"I have someone who has been really kind to me. They share their meals, teach me things, and let me stay at their house... I was really happy to have a place to stay. They did this because they 'valued' me."

"They said I was 'the same kind' and 'interesting to watch.' They also 'valued' the things I draw."

I received a place to stay because I was valued.

Not out of pity or arrogance, but for a solid reason. I received a place to stay as a fair reward for being valued. I don't think it was entirely out of pity, but I'm truly glad I could stay there.

...I know what it's like to have nowhere to go.

"I value you too. You're a great model, and your eyes are really beautiful. That's why I want to help. Is that okay?"

Now it's my turn.

I also want to 'value' someone.

After that, Ceres was silent for a while. He looked down and stayed still... so I waited quietly.

Eventually, Laokles' grip loosened a bit. Ceres didn't try to escape, so we waited...

"...Look, if you're going to make both me and my dad slaves to pay off the debt, don't let us take advantage of you. That bastard dad will cause trouble if he thinks you're an easy target."

He gave us advice.

"...Um, so, is that a yes? Will you be my model?"

When I confirmed, Ceres glared at me as much as he could and said,

"If you pay me, sure. Of course, 50 gold coins, separate from the debt. That's the condition!"

...I was happy with this brave response.

This bravery! He's really an angel!

After that, we went around the capital, visiting various moneylenders to collect Ceres' dad's debts.

The money I had prepared to buy a model from a slave trader came in handy. Yeah.

...By nightfall, we managed to collect most of the debts.

"...You guys are really something."

"Right? This guy is like that. If you become his model, you're in for a ride."

Ceres worked hard on the debt collection. This kid seems to know the back alleys and moneylenders well, like Cloa.

...But if Cloa were here, it would have been faster, I guess...

"Excuse me."

So, we headed to Ceres' house.

It was a small, old house in a narrow alley in the back streets. It was a bit tilted, and the roof probably leaked.

"What the hell is all this noise..."

When we knocked on the door, someone came out and looked startled at us. Well, if a painter, a noble, and a plaster statue were standing there, you'd be surprised too.

"Who are you?"

"Nice to meet you. I'm Tougo. I'm a painter in the service of the Redgard domain's lord."

I introduced myself with a much more normal title than 'Forest Spirit' and greeted the man who seemed to be Ceres' dad. He looked suspiciously at us.

"...What does a painter want?"

"Um, I want to paint your son."

Ceres' dad glanced at Ceres, who was behind us, and then looked at me as if sizing me up.

"Hmm. So?"

...When he said 'So?' I was at a loss. But he's right. 'I want to paint' isn't enough to convey my intention.

"So, I've come to take your son."

So I stated it clearly. Fey muttered, "Is that the right way to say it...?" but I had no choice. I want to take him if I can.

"You can't do that. I'd be in trouble if you took Ceres away."

But Ceres' dad grinned.

"He's my only flesh and blood. I can't just let you take him away. How can I let you take my beloved son?"

The moment Ceres' dad said that, Ceres muttered, "What 'only flesh and blood'?"

...There's probably a story behind this, but I hesitated to ask about it here.

So... I remembered what Ceres said earlier.

"Don't let us take advantage of you."

"Right, if you want to borrow my beloved son, you need to show some sincerity. Depending on what you offer, I might consider it."

"...I see. Then, here it is."

I glared at Ceres' dad as much as I could. Then, recalling one of my teacher's arguments (with a client), I said,

"I've bought all your debts. Look. It's your signature. You can't deny it. I may seem mild, but I don't appreciate being taken lightly."

I pushed the debt documents, signed by Ceres' dad, in his face, and then pulled Ceres closer with my other hand.

"You and your son will become slaves. On that condition, I'll take him. If you have any complaints, say them now. I have the right on my side."

...Teacher.

Teacher was embarrassed to show me his arguments, but your arguments are really helpful now.