Chapter 17

I learned about this world, <Lethisrill>, from Icule.

It is a story about people who possess a curse, which is not written in the common knowledge book given by the gods. The common knowledge book given by the gods contains information on how to calculate money, simple history, the continent, and similar countries and villages, as well as their geographical features. Additionally, it includes information about monsters that appear nearby. However, not a single word was written about the goddess Lethisrill.

The people who stole the precious "Gem Flower" from the goddess Lethisrill, and their descendants, have a curse etched on their chests, causing a decrease in status, inability to use attack magic skills, and the appearance of abnormal conditions.

There is only one way to remove the curse: to serve devotedly for five years.

Those who decide to serve for five years are called "cursed slaves," and cursed slave merchants mediate the contracts. The "service contract" is performed between the person who buys and the cursed slave who is bought. This is the contract I performed when I bought Icule. As a result, a five-year contract is made, and the curse disappears after five years.

People who have a curse but do not need to remove it do not become slaves and live their entire lives with the curse. Therefore, the number of people with curses does not decrease. If a person with a curse has a child, the child will also have a curse.

Why are they called "slaves" in such a dangerous way? It is because of the "goddess worship," a religion that exists everywhere. People with a curse are considered to be defying the goddess Lethisrill, and often do not receive good treatment. However, people whose curse has been removed are treated normally.

This is the slave system and institution in this world. The curse given by the goddess is called the "cursed slave system," and the buying and selling, as well as the contractual relationships, conducted by cursed slave merchants are called the "cursed slave institution." The guild manages the cursed slave institution. The "cursed slave village" where Icule lived is a common name given by people who practice goddess worship, meaning "a village where people who become cursed slaves live." People are called cursed slaves after they make a contract with a cursed slave merchant to be bought and sold.

I wish such a sad system would just disappear.

"Hinami-sama, it's burning..."

"Eh!?"

While I was organizing in my head what I heard from Icule, more time had passed than I thought. Looking at the frying pan in front of me, the meat I had bought at the market was burnt. I never thought that my first meat dish at home would be burnt... It was a big failure.

"Were you thinking about cursed slaves?"

"...Is it that obvious?"

"It's obvious. Besides, it's not something Hinami-sama needs to worry about, right?"

"Well, I guess... but..."

"But?"

"It's a sad story. After all, they stole something precious from the goddess... Is the goddess... gone now?"

I placed the burnt meat on a cutting board and tried to cut off the burnt parts with a knife. Icule was making soup next to me, chuckling. Well, my thoughts might be a bit naive. But, I want to help the goddess.

After all, if the curse still exists... it means the goddess is still sad, right?

"Really, Hinami-sama is so nosy. Well, the goddess is believed to be somewhere in this world. With your skills as a pharmacist, you might meet her someday."

"Eh!? The goddess... exists?"

"Well, that's what the church of goddess worship says. They say the goddess loves nature, so pharmacists who are close to nature are favored by the goddess."

What if the goddess still exists...! If it's true, I would like to meet her. But, I might be a bother... However, she must be sad. If I can meet her, I want to make her happy. And I wish this sad curse would disappear.

"Alright, the soup and salad are ready. Is the meat... okay, Hinami-sama?"

"Ugh...! No, it's fine!"

I quickly placed the meat on a plate and served the rice I had cooked in a pot into a bowl. In two years, my diet has become quite varied except for meat. When I get vegetable or fruit seeds through point exchanges, they come randomly. I realized this after a few times! I also exchanged some dishes for miscellaneous items that appeared through point exchanges. So, this house has become quite comfortable to live in.

Since there isn't much explanation, I have to think for myself. But, I lived a carefree life without thinking too deeply. However, from now on, I want to live my life seriously.

"Let's eat!"

We sat down and started eating! By the way, having a growling stomach is quite embarrassing. I'm sure everyone has experienced it, but it's still embarrassing! I would want to hide in a hole if there was one.

The menu is the meat I cooked (just grilled), rice (just cooked), the salad Icule made, and vegetable soup. Hey, isn't Icule more feminine...? No, that's not true. Absolutely not.

"Hmm... It's warming."

"Icule's soup is delicious...!"

"Really? I can only make soup."

"Fufu, I feel relieved that I seem to have more feminine qualities!"

"Why can you only make soup?"

"Well, the village wasn't that wealthy, so sometimes we just had soup for dinner. That's why I got better at making soup."

"Soup...! It might be good for a diet if you only have it at night."

"Hinami-sama is already slim, so you don't need to."

Mmm... Is that true?

I'm confident that I look normal, but I don't have a scale, so I don't know my exact weight. By the way, Icule is also quite slim. Oh, right, he's an idol. Icule, with his slender figure, might be more suited to be a model than an idol.

"......"

"...It's not that burnt, so it's fine. It's actually quite tasty with the pepper."

"Thank goodness!"

Seeing Icule eat the meat, I was relieved but still worried. I quickly took a bite and savored the deliciousness of the meat. I had bought a little extra, so I stored it in the basement. The basement is said to stop time, so the contents don't deteriorate.

"Oh, right!"

"What is it?"

"What is the goddess's 'Gem Flower'?"

"Ah... There are two main theories: one is that it's a mineral gem, and the other is that it's a flower because the goddess loves nature."

"Gems or flowers... Indeed, it sounds like something the goddess would have."

But, why was it stolen? It must have been very valuable.

Maybe the gods know something. I'll write about it in the exchange diary later.

"By the way, it's nice to eat with someone."

"What, all of a sudden?"

"Hmm, I just thought so."

After finishing the meal, I made tea for after the meal. Well, it's actually a health potion. But, as a Japanese person, you have to drink tea, right? Oh, Icule isn't Japanese. He's probably from Lethisrill.

After that, I will use points to expand and create Icule's room. We already have dishes from previous exchanges, so we don't need to add more. I'll think of anything else if it comes up.

By the way, that's right.

I had forgotten amidst the difficult journey and Icule's shocking story about the goddess, but from today, we will live together in this house. I understand that there's nothing special, but I'm still nervous.

...Looking at Icule, he seems calm. I'll stop thinking about this. I'll try to stay as calm as possible...!

"By the way, what about the snow rabbit?"

"What do you mean, a new family member...?"

"Actually, you don't know much about the snow rabbit, do you?"

"...Yes."

The most common expression I see is Icule's exasperated face.

"The snow rabbit is very rare and is a 'monster,' as I mentioned when we found it, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"But this snow rabbit is said to become a 'spirit' under certain conditions. However, due to its rarity, there are few examples or records, and the conditions are still unknown."

"A monster becoming a spirit..."

"Yes. I haven't seen it myself, but there are records. Of course, it's also possible that the records are false and it doesn't become a spirit."

I thought of the snow rabbit running around the yard when we first arrived. Come to think of it, it's a bit strange that such a cute creature is a monster. It's much easier to believe it could become a spirit. After all, it's so cute!

By the way, before making tea after the meal, I peeked outside the window and saw the snow rabbit playing with the chickens. Yes, it's very peaceful and good.

"Apparently, the snow rabbit has strong powers related to 'snow.' Well, that's about all I know."

"That's enough, thank you!"

"Well, it's already dark outside... Why don't we play with it together tomorrow?"

"Sure, I will. ...Oh!"

That's right, it's getting dark.

I need to expand the house to create a room for Icule.

"Sorry, I'll go prepare a room for Icule!"

"Do you have extra rooms? It's fine wherever, like here or in the basement."

"It's okay, leave it to me! I'll prepare it properly."

"Alright. I'll clean up the dishes then."

"Thank you! I'll be right back!"

I hurried to my room, took out the exchange diary, and looked at the list of point exchanges.

[Exchange Diary] = 3 points added

[Points: 31,193]

[Small Pot] 1

[Medium Pot] 10

[Large Pot] 20

[Vegetable Seed Set] 10

[Fruit Seed Set] 10

[Herb Seed Set] 10

[Wheat Seeds] 50

[Rice Seeds] 100

[Brick: 1] 5

[Fountain] 1,500

[Bottles: 100] 3

[Room] 50

[Bathroom - Expansion] 5,000

[Room - Expansion] 2,000

[Rooftop - Expansion] 10,000

[Basement - Expansion] 30,000

[Alchemy Room - Expansion] 15,000

[Box Garden Door] 50,000

"Hmm... My name is on the existing rooms. Did the gods make it clear? Anyway, for Icule... I'll add one room and expand it one level, please!"

[Room] = 50 points used

[Room - Expansion] = 1,000 points used

[Total: 1,050 points used]

[Points: 30,143]

Ah, now Icule's name is on the room. It's very clear.

Currently, on the second floor, there are my room and the alchemy room. Above that is the rooftop. The bathroom is on the first floor, and the basement is below. By the way, by expanding Icule's room one level, it will be in the same state as my room. I don't know what will happen with the next level of expansion, but the current room is about 10 tatami mats in size and has a bed. In other words, by expanding one level, the room becomes a bit larger and a bed appears automatically.

With a loud thud, a new room was added to the house.

I went out into the hallway from my room to check the new room... huh?

"There's a lock on my room...?"

There wasn't one before, but maybe the gods added it for privacy since there are now two residents. It's a small but very pleasant gesture.

By the way, when I went out into the hallway, there was a sign with "Hinami" on my room! This is also a thoughtful gesture from the gods, thank you! It feels like my own room, which is very comforting.

On the second floor, the alchemy room is immediately to the right of the stairs. Across from it is my room, and next to it is Icule's room. The door has a sign with "Icule" on it.

"Icule! The room is ready, come upstairs."

"Okay, I'm coming."

Icule, who had just finished cleaning up, came upstairs and was surprised by the second floor.

"Really, it's a mysterious house... It doesn't look like a house made of tree stumps."

"It's my pride and joy!"

Well, the gods made it.

Icule looked at the sign on his room and seemed surprised. I was surprised too.

I gently opened the door and went inside. It was a space of about 10 tatami mats, with a desk by the window, bookshelves, and a bed.

However, the atmosphere was clearly different from my room. My room is designed for a cute girl, but Icule's room is a rather calm and mature atmosphere. Maybe it's designed for a male.

"Wow... Can I really use such a nice room?"

"Yes, feel free to use it."

"...Okay. Thank you, Hinami-sama."

"You're welcome."

We both naturally smiled.

This peaceful feeling is very pleasant.

Thank you for all the comments!

I plan to make revisions based on the feedback I received tomorrow to make it easier to understand.

Thank you for always reading!

It makes me very happy!!