Chapter 4

Flam and Milk walked down the street, holding hands.

They had no particular destination, but they just wanted to get away from the merchant's base.

Even though it was a road they had used many times, the people's gazes felt colder than usual.

Draped in tattered cloth, her face gaunt, her hair unkempt, and with the mark of a slave branded on her face, no one could imagine that this girl was the very Flam Apricot.

Occasionally, people would deliberately bump into them, smirking as they passed by.

"Hey, Milk. Is this how slaves are always treated?"

As they weaved through the crowd, Flam asked.

Milk tilted her head.

"Like what?"

That answer was enough.

For her, being unconditionally oppressed was a daily occurrence.

In other words, slaves, whether girls or boys, were beings that could be looked down upon.

Or rather, they were a class created to be looked down upon and to satisfy desires.

Flam couldn't help but stroke her own face with her free left hand.

The slight irregularities she felt on her fingertips, which shouldn't have been there.

Colored with a special paint, it would never fade away.

Touching it still hurt.

But when she became aware of the mark's existence, the mental pain was greater than the physical pain.

"Master, are you in pain somewhere?"

"…I was just confirming that this is what it means to be a slave."

"…?"

Though freed from the duty of slaying the demon king, she could no longer return to her hometown with this face.

In a sense, she was as good as dead.

But her life was still here, and Flam was walking with her own will, her feet firmly on the ground.

She wasn't alone.

There was someone who suffered alongside her, despite their differing values.

"We need to earn money first."

"Yes… Do we really have no choice but to sell our bodies? I have no experience with such things, so I'm worried if I can do it well."

The first idea that came to mind was prostitution.

Flam sighed deeply.

"Milk, you should take better care of your body."

"Take care? I don't understand."

"Selling your body is a last resort."

"Then what should we do?"

"Let's head to the center of the West District first. We should be able to find work there."

"Work that even slaves can take on…"

There was one way in this kingdom to earn money regardless of one's status.

It seemed Milk had no idea about it, but once they reached the building, she would understand.

Flam squeezed her hand a little and quickened her pace.

◇◇◇

The capital was divided into four districts: Central, East, West, and North.

The largest Central District was lined with various shops and a large number of residential buildings in areas off the main streets.

The East District was home to a high-end residential area where nobles and wealthy merchants lived.

The North District housed important facilities such as the royal castle and the cathedral.

The West District, on the other hand, was where the poor, who had been pushed out of the other districts, gathered.

The slave trader's base was located in the Central District, close to the West District, and it wasn't far from there to Flam's destination.

"Is this… the Adventurer's Guild?"

Stopping in front of a building, Milk looked up at the sign above the entrance and said.

As the name suggested, it was a facility where adventurers gathered, accepted jobs commissioned by the guild, and reported the results.

The term "adventurer" was a legacy from the time when the kingdom had many unexplored lands, and brave people were supported to clear the monster-infested lands.

"Well, I've heard that there are adventurers who were former slaves, and since I have the ability to fight, I thought I could handle simple quests."

The experience of killing ghouls and merchants gave Flam confidence.

While she felt she had crossed a fatal line, for someone who had strayed from the righteous path, it was only an advantage.

"By the way, Master, what's the logic behind your fighting ability? When you held the sword, your wounds healed, and you could wield such a large sword effortlessly, right?"

"Yeah, I think the merchant was right. This sword is probably epic equipment. The enchantments it has must enhance physical abilities."

"But the man who held it before you, his body melted and he died."

"That's true, but I don't have any magic power, so I can't use a scan…."

If magic was used on the sword, the name of the equipment and the enchantments it had could be confirmed.

"Hmm, wait. If my body is lighter, maybe my magic power has increased…?"

She had never used it, but she knew how to.

Flam, still holding Milk's hand, led her into a small alley next to the Adventurer's Guild. "Come here for a moment," she said.

In the dim, deserted alley, she focused and chanted, "Come out," and particles swirled and spread on her palm, forming the shape of a sword.

Surprised that it actually appeared, she took a breath and activated 'Scan' on the sword.

First, the basic of basics: feeling the magic power that filled her body, manipulating it, and concentrating it in a specific part.

Until now, no matter how many times she had tried, she couldn't grasp that sensation—but now, there was definitely an amorphous presence flowing inside her.

Flam couldn't help but smile.

To have something she couldn't reach no matter how hard she tried, now within her.

However, the slightest distraction in her thoughts made the magic power she had grasped seem to dissipate.

She quickly refocused, lifted it, brought it to her head, and held it around her eyes.

"Scan"

And the magic was activated.

--------------------

Name: Soul Devourer Zweihänder

Quality: Epic

[This equipment reduces your Strength by 318]

[This equipment reduces your Magic by 96]

[This equipment reduces your Vitality by 293]

[This equipment reduces your Agility by 181]

[This equipment reduces your Perception by 107]

[This equipment melts your body]

--------------------

"Soul Devourer…"

Flam couldn't help but say the ominous words that appeared in her vision.

A fitting prefix for a cursed piece of equipment.

It was probably originally just a two-handed sword.

But somehow it absorbed the grudges of the dead and the regrets of those who died holding it, turning into a sword that rejected its wielder.

"But why? If it has status reduction enchantments, I shouldn't be able to use such a large sword…"

"Is it reducing your stats?"

"Yeah, it looks like it. Why don't you try using Scan, Milk?"

"I can't use it."

That was impossible.

Unless someone had a special condition like Flam, who had her stats reduced to 0, anyone with even 1 magic power should be able to use Scan.

But she quickly realized.

While it was a basic magic, it wasn't something that could be used without being taught by someone.

In other words, no one had ever taught her the basics of using magic.

"Besides, even if I could see it, I wouldn't understand. I can't read the text."

Flam was fortunate.

She felt this acutely every time she heard Milk's words.

"Then, if you want to learn reading and writing, I can teach you. Let's study together when we have time?"

When Flam smiled at her, Milk remained silent for a few seconds, then slightly lowered her gaze.

The emotion in her eyes was confusion and bewilderment.

"If Master says it's necessary, I will comply."

"Great, it's settled. …Oh, by the way, we still haven't solved the mystery of the equipment. Why, despite the status reduction and the melting of the body, does it enhance physical abilities and heal wounds… reverse… flip…"

She had a hunch.

If this was due to the "reversal" of the enchantment's effects—

"My attribute? Could it be that?"

"Attribute?"

"Yeah, my attribute is 'reversal,' a rare attribute. I thought it was useless, making my stats 0 and rendering me useless… but, oh, so that's how it works…!"

In other words, reduction became enhancement, and the melting of the body became healing.

The curse turned into a blessing, one could say.

"I always wondered why I had such a useless power, but ha, of course, no one would think to use a cursed piece of equipment, so they wouldn't notice… hahaha, hahaha!"

Flam's laughter echoed as she danced alone.

Milk, not quite understanding, tilted her head.

"Sorry, I got carried away. In short, thanks to my attribute, the more I use cursed equipment, the stronger I become!"

"Is that so, Master is amazing."

The reaction was lukewarm.

Flam almost collapsed.

Of course, they hadn't known each other for long, and Milk seemed to be a person with little emotional expression.

It was a bit disappointing not to get any empathy, but if they lingered, it would get dark.

To secure a place to stay for the night, they needed to earn at least a minimal reward.

At the Adventurer's Guild, to register as an adventurer, one had to complete a simple F-rank quest first.

Completing it would grant a license and count as a completed quest, allowing them to earn enough money for a cheap inn.

The two returned to the guild and, regaining their composure, entered.

The facility, far from being clean, was filled with the smell of alcohol even in the middle of the day.

It had a bar attached, called an introduction center, where adventurers gathered to recruit companions.

Rough-looking, well-built adventurers loitered there.

When they saw the two girls enter, they confirmed the slave marks on their faces and smirked lewdly.

The reception window was directly opposite the entrance.

The receptionist, a woman with garish makeup who had been idly playing with her nails, frowned even more when she saw Flam.

"What does a slave want here? You don't look like a noble's maid or anything."

"I want to become an adventurer. Can you issue a license?"

Flam's words were met with derisive laughter from the receptionist and the drunk adventurers.

"Cut the jokes, are you wasting your life? You'd be better off as a prostitute. How about I introduce you to that job?"

Her words were filled with malice.

Flam tried to suppress her frustration, but an adventurer jeered at her.

"I might go for the brown-haired one. How about buying her tonight? Ah, the bandaged one is a no-go."

"Gross."

"Can you do the other one, then, with that monster-like appearance?"

"Probably not… but I've been holding back lately, so maybe."

"Hahaha, with you, even a stray dog would do!"

"Not much different, hahaha!"

Clenching her teeth and fists, Flam glared at the men—then Milk grabbed the hem of her dress and shook her head.

"Why…"

"Master will only lose. Don't do it."

"I'm not just angry about what they said to you, you know."

Though 90% of her anger was directed at the lewd comments about Milk.

Milk had noticed this, which was why she stopped Flam.

"Seriously, if they're offering to buy you, just take it. It's an easier way to earn money, you know?"

"I refuse."

"Whatever."

The receptionist, dismissively, returned to the paperwork she had been doing before Flam arrived.

"Um, I really want a license, though?"

"…"

"Hey, come on!"

"…Shut up, you slave. Just spread your legs for a man."

Half-smiling, the receptionist pushed Flam to her limit.

She leaned over the counter, ready to grab the woman by the collar.

"Hey, hey, hey, don't say such things."

A man came over from the introduction center.

He was a head taller than Flam, slender but with well-defined muscles, and his light brown hair was cut short.

He wasn't wearing adventurer gear, probably because it was off-duty, but he had a fancy one-handed sword at his waist.

"Sorry to interrupt, miss. My name is Dain Finias. I'm an A-rank adventurer here. Nice to meet you."

Flam, suspicious, shook his hand.

His hand was large, thick-skinned, and rough.

The scar on his cheek, the sharp look in his eyes, and his calm expression suggested he was a capable man.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have made it to A-rank.

Adventurers started at F-rank.

Their rank increased with the cumulative amount of rewards they received, but without the trust to repeatedly take on high-paying quests, reaching that level was difficult.

"Eira, since a new recruit has come to this crime-ridden West District guild, how can you not welcome them?"

"But…"

"Once they get their license, whether they survive or not is up to their ability. I believe the door should be open to all, regardless of their background, whether they're a slave or a noble."

"…If you say so, Dain."

This Dain must have had considerable authority.

Eira, who had been cursing just moments ago, gave in easily.

Dain leaned over the counter, reached for Eira's hand, and pointed to a quest. "How about this one?"

The document placed in front of Flam read, "Delivery of one werewolf fang." The quest rank was F.

A map was also provided, marking the location where the monster appeared.

"Here you go. You'll get your license as soon as you complete the task."

"Thanks."

Flam took the map with a low voice, and Eira made a visibly displeased face.

If she was going to be an adventurer, they would be working together for a long time.

Sighing inwardly at having made an enemy so soon, Flam turned to Dain before leaving the guild.

"Thank you, Dain. I appreciate it. It looks like we'll be able to get our licenses."

Dain said, "Don't worry about it," with a bright smile.

He then moved to the introduction center and returned to the table where his fellow adventurers were sitting.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Master."

Flam naturally took Milk's hand and left the guild, heading for the location marked on the map.

Dain watched them leave with a bright smile, and once they were out of sight, he chuckled.

"What did you do, Dain?"

A man at the same table asked him.

"Just let them take a license-issuing quest, I'm so kind."

"Don't be so fake. You must have rigged the quest."

"Well… I just made the wall a bit higher for the sake of their future."

He took a swig of the cloudy white alcohol in his glass.

"Phew! Haha, you know, the usual flow is to complete an F-rank quest to get a license, right?"

"That's how it's supposed to be."

With Dain's connections, even that could be skipped.

"But I gave them a higher one."

"How much higher?"

"Just a bit, just a bit. I told them it was an F-rank quest, but it was actually a D-rank one. If they really have talent, they should be able to take down a werewolf easily, I think."

"A D-rank quest is three to five times stronger than an F-rank one. They're dead."

"If they lack talent, it can't be helped. Unlike me, they just didn't have it."

"Haha, you're the best, Dain!"

The adventurers cheered, using the image of the slave girls being brutally killed as a drinking game.

—Dain Finias, the "Brave Coward."

He colluded with the guild, gathered the other adventurers in the West District, and treated part of their rewards as his own achievements, allowing him to unfairly reach A-rank despite his lack of ability.

Unaware of his true nature and malice, Flam and Milk held hands and headed for the location marked on the map.