Chapter 87

We arrived at Crane's house.

The guide had the key and opened it, leading us inside and up to a room.

I don't like this.

He looks like the kid who helped us... but he has very cold eyes, and he moves with a beautiful, graceful demeanor. His name is Granos... he's Crane's brother.

He's in charge of the situation, giving orders as if he's in charge... despite putting Crane in danger, he's relied on and trusted by Crane.

He smiled kindly at Crane, but now he's looking at us with a cold, expressionless face, as if sizing us up.

"First, I apologize for changing the conditions, but instead of being Crane's slaves, you will be the slaves of the Medici family. I'm sorry, but I can't change this condition."

"Wait a minute. We discussed it and agreed to become slaves! Don't just change it without talking to us! We owe Crane, but we have no reason to follow you!"

We went to Crane's house, made tea, sat down, and he explained the situation. The discussion was about becoming slaves and joining the party. It seems Crane gave a brief explanation, but he didn't explain it to us before changing the conditions.

"First, I want you to hear me out before making a judgment. Can you listen to me, both of you?"

"Yeah, I want a convincing explanation."

"I agree."

I was about to stand up and protest, but Crow told me to sit down, and I was seated next to Tiga. Tiga also told me to listen, and I nodded.

It seems they don't intend to comply, but they will listen. I don't think I need to hear this, though.

"First, the premise. Crane is a viscount's daughter. Is that clear?"

"Huh? She's a noble?"

"You've met Crane's master, a famous pharmacist who was granted a viscount's title for his achievements. We are his adopted children, so we have a status similar to nobles."

"But she doesn't seem to want to live as a noble, does she?"

That's right. As Crow said. When we met, I thought she was an adventurer. She didn't seem like a noble. Even her master, the old pharmacist, doesn't act like a noble.

This guy, on the other hand... he acts like a noble who is used to giving orders, without considering our opinions. If this is what a noble is like, Crane is different. I can't imagine her wanting to live that way.

"Yeah. I want her to live as she pleases, but there's a possibility that nobles will want her and involve her in their power struggles. I want to prevent that."

"What does that have to do with us?"

"The treatment of slaves differs depending on whether they are owned by an individual or a family. In short, if you become Crane's slaves, you will be her property. I understand that you might want that, but I won't allow it."

I tried to stand up and bang the table, but Crow and Tiga stopped me by holding my arms, preventing me from standing.

"Why do you want them to be owned by the family?"

"Crane is a pharmacist, and there's a high possibility that she will save lives like you. Her master also saved adventurers and kept them as slaves until they could pay for the medicine. At one point, he had 172 slaves. Of course, the number of those who paid off their debts and were freed was more than double that."

"If those people were to pay off their debts as adventurers, they could be seen as a threat due to their combined strength."

Tiga's words made me realize. Even if it's just us now, there's a possibility that more will join... that's possible. I understand that it would be difficult to pay off that amount of money.

Since Crane's collection isn't strict, it could take years, and the number of slaves could increase.

"Indeed, if they are owned by an individual, they could be seen as a threat."

"Yes. If Crane were to keep the people she saves as her slaves, it would form a significant force. Do you think the nobles would let that go unchecked?"

"But still!"

"For nobles, a wife's property is the husband's. If someone gets their hands on Crane, the slaves would be theirs. Especially for foreigners, they would be under the management of the royal family and out of reach... but if Crane is compromised, you could easily get your hands on them. With a viscount's title, she can't protect herself from being forced into marriage and confinement... or even death. Even as a concubine of a high-ranking noble, it would be the same."

"...But!"

"I don't really care about your situation. I don't intend to order you around. I just want to eliminate the possibility of danger to her... do you understand?"

I felt a chill.

He's smiling, but I can sense the madness in his eyes. I realized that he genuinely doesn't care about us. If we refuse, what will happen to us?

"Can I ask a few questions?"

"Sure, what do you want to know?"

"She's an excellent pharmacist and healer. Isn't there a possibility that she could be desired for those skills rather than as a force?"

"Yes. I've already taken steps in that direction. I've proposed to the Duke's third son that Crane be his bride. The Duke's second son is ill, and the need for a pharmacist is well-known in this country."

"What? You're selling Crane?"

To a high-ranking official?

If being a brother means he can do anything... my fingers tighten, but Tiga holds me back with even more force.

"In the noble hierarchy, the difference in rank is only two levels... for the Duke to accept her, the Medici family's rank needs to be raised or a further adoption needs to be arranged. This will take years, giving us time to prepare. Other nobles would risk a lot to snatch her from a higher position. As a pharmacist, she's needed the most... of course, offending the Duke isn't something that can be done easily. If she finds someone else during this time, she can run away. She can survive anywhere."

"...But!"

"It's not that I don't care about you. I don't intend to order you around. I just want to eliminate the possibility of danger to her... do you understand?"

I felt a chill.

He's smiling, but I can sense the madness in his eyes. I realized that he genuinely doesn't care about us. If we refuse, what will happen to us?

"Can I ask a few questions?"

"Sure, what do you want to know?"

"She's an excellent pharmacist and healer. Isn't there a possibility that she could be desired for those skills rather than as a force?"

"Yes. I've already taken steps in that direction. I've proposed to the Duke's third son that Crane be his bride. The Duke's second son is ill, and the need for a pharmacist is well-known in this country."

"What? You're selling Crane?"

To a high-ranking official?

If being a brother means he can do anything... my fingers tighten, but Tiga holds me back with even more force.

"In the noble hierarchy, the difference in rank is only two levels... for the Duke to accept her, the Medici family's rank needs to be raised or a further adoption needs to be arranged. This will take years, giving us time to prepare. Other nobles would risk a lot to snatch her from a higher position. As a pharmacist, she's needed the most... of course, offending the Duke isn't something that can be done easily. If she finds someone else during this time, she can run away. She can survive anywhere."

"...But!"

"It's not that I don't care about you. I don't intend to order you around. I just want to eliminate the possibility of danger to her... do you understand?"

Crow shook his head and muttered softly.

"It seems he's not lying. He doesn't intend to order us around, and he genuinely cares about Crane's safety."

I don't like him, but I can understand why Tiga and Crow are accepting him, unlike me.

Silence filled the room.

For a while, no one spoke... it might have been a few minutes, but it felt like a long time.

Crow can tell when someone is lying, and if he says this guy is telling the truth, then he must be.

Crow and Tiga lowered their eyes, thinking about something.

I didn't understand. Even if he's not doing something terrible, arranging a marriage without her consent is a cruel thing to do.

His tone is annoying, and his expression is frozen, so it's hard to tell if he's serious.

"I want to be owned by the family. I don't want to put her in danger... I've accepted your resolve. I will serve you... I really do want to serve a cute girl, but that's beside the point."

"Yeah... I don't like following Crow, but I agree. Nice to meet you, Master."

"Hey!? Both of you!?"

The hands holding me down were released, and they both stood up, then knelt before Granos, bowing their heads.

They called him "Master." They were swearing their allegiance as slaves to him.

The man's eyes were very cold. It might not matter to him. He noticed me looking and met my gaze.

"Is that so... what about you?"

"...I don't really understand. You say you're doing this for Crane, but it seems like you're treating her terribly."

When I said what I was thinking, his expression changed for the first time since we arrived.

"Ha ha ha... You're right. I'm acting on my own to reduce the danger, and I'm putting a burden on you. It's fine if you don't like it or forgive me. What matters is that you think about Crane's safety."

This was the first time his expression changed since we arrived. He laughed happily, even with tears in his eyes... and then he smiled, a different expression from before. I felt relieved...

Before, his cold eyes made it hard to tell what he was thinking... his appearance added a mysterious and cruel air... I didn't like him. But suddenly, he looked like a normal, friendly guy, and it was clear that he cared about Crane.

"You're really trying hard... are you willing to become a noble you despise to protect her?"

"What would you do? Would you not do what you can?"

"?"

Crow's gaze seemed to be asking him, and Crow looked a bit confused.

I glanced at Tiga, who was smiling wryly, so it seemed they understood something I didn't.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, think about it carefully later. Just hearing the answer and going along with it might not help you survive. You have to take care of yourself, kid."

"I'm not a kid, you know?"

"Say that when your actions match your words. Anyway... if our goals align, we should work together. I'll handle the defense against the nobles. I won't force you, but if Crane is in danger, I'd appreciate it if you could help."

"That's fine, but will you be around to protect her?"

"I'll come back to town sometimes... but I need to establish a base, so I have a lot of miscellaneous tasks to do."

It seems Tiga and the others understand his plans better than I do.

It's not just about being around to protect her, right? ...I don't think Crane is that weak... she's stronger than me.

"...If you have plans, can you tell us?"

Tiga nodded and smiled. It seemed they understood each other.

"I'll receive land when I inherit the title. I plan to develop it from scratch... since our values differ, I want to secure a place where we can keep our distance."

"That's a good idea... but it seems like a lot of work. Are you sure you can handle it? If more people join, the danger will increase. The chances of success are low."

"Ha ha... You seem to have a rough idea of why we were summoned."

Crow and Tiga nodded, but I was still confused.

I understood that he plans to leave this town eventually and that he's talking about the reason for our summoning, which I don't understand.

"I can't follow you."

"Yeah. I'll have to explain it to Crane and Naga as well, so I'll wait until everyone is together. ...Take your time and be yourself."

He said this and started preparing a meal in the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and starting to cook.

"Leus. You need to make a decision. Preferably before she returns."

Tiga smiled, but it made me feel uneasy. I looked at Crow, but he just shrugged and shook his head.

"Ugh... I didn't want to work, but it seems I have no choice."

"Crow, what are you saying? We need to pay Crane back, right?"

"Yeah, we'll pay it back in a few decades."

"Don't be like that, Leus."

"What do you mean, Tiga?"

"It's not good to burden young people, is it?"

Hmm. Becoming a slave is inevitable, and it's either to Crane or the family... or to the old pharmacist and the kids called Naga and Crane.

Well, if he's not as cold as before... and if it helps Crane, I don't mind, I guess.

But I want a clearer explanation... not just complicated stuff.