Chapter 40

I came to the slave trader.

A large mansion quietly stands in the back alleys of the capital city.

When I entered, I was led to a spacious reception room at the end of a thick carpet.

I sat on the fluffy sofa offered at the table.

The middle-aged man with sharp eyes, the slave trader, opened his mouth.

"Welcome. What brings you here today?"

"I have a question for the old witch. I'll pay. Also, I want the cheapest unconditional slave you have. Even if they're on the verge of death, it's fine."

It seems I need an unconditional slave for the shop.

There are too many secrets I don't want to be exposed right now.

Besides, I have a little elixir and Liricia, who can fully recover from injuries or illness, so it shouldn't be a problem.

However, the slave trader grimaced.

"Cordelia's price depends on the negotiation, so I'll call her. However, unconditional slaves are currently...?"

"Is something wrong?"

"They're all sold out. You see, there's someone who buys them regularly..."

"But isn't it strange to buy them regularly? Buying so many slaves..."

Liricia, sitting next to me, frowned and asked.

The slave trader spoke in a heavy tone.

"They say they send them to their villas or as gifts to other countries... I had someone investigate, but it seems to be true, and there's nothing we can do about it..."

"Can't you tell me the name of the person?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't disclose personal information."

"Well, I expected as much. I wanted to negotiate directly for one, but it can't be helped. Call the old lady—Cordelia."

"Yes, sir."

The slave trader stood up and went to the old butler standing by the wall.

He whispered something, and the butler quickly left the reception room.

The slave trader didn't return to the table but went to the entrance.

I waited, sipping tea.

The double doors opened, and the witch Cordelia entered.

With green hair and silver streaks, she walked, swaying her hat's brim.

She sat across the table and grinned.

"Good to see you, Alec. It seems you've found a way to get the money? Hehehe."

"Sure. I want to consult about the rejuvenation potion. How much does it cost?"

"Just the potion? What about the sword? —Well, for Alec, 100,000 goats should be fine. Hehe."

"Sword?"

"Are you not troubled?"

She looked at me, surprised.

Liricia, wearing a monocle, looked at the sword hanging from her waist.

"Oh, Master! It says 'Demon Sword Lungreid.'"

"Ah, you know about it. It's a demon of greed, and it continues to absorb magic power even after death... But it seems to have met a terrible master, hehehe."

"I see. Well, it's a consultation fee—here you go."

I took a large gold coin from the bag and handed it to her.

Cordelia, with her withered fingers, grabbed it and put it in her pocket.

"So, what's the consultation about?"

"First, can you tell me the ingredients for the rejuvenation potion? If we can gather them ourselves, it will be cheaper."

"Pfff! I won't reveal a secret that can make a fortune so easily. If you want to know, prepare 500 trillion goats! Hehehe!"

Cordelia burst out laughing, mocking me.

—Well, it was the answer I expected.

I calmly spoke.

"I thought so. I just wanted to confirm before getting to the main point."

"Hmm?"

Cordelia stopped laughing and stared at me.

I leaned forward and said,

"Is there an item you don't have that could make the rejuvenation potion cheaper? If there is, I'll get it, so please tell me."

Cordelia's cloudy eyes widened in surprise, then she laughed.

"Indeed, you are the man I expected! You see the bigger picture!"

"Sure, I'll pay and use it multiple times. But I want it to benefit both of us."

"Agreed. ...But it's a legendary item that may not even exist. Are you sure?"

"Sure. If there's a possibility."

Cordelia nodded deeply, her hat swaying.

"Actually, there are three items I don't have. One is the ultimate dark item of alchemy, the 'Philosopher's Stone.'"

"I've heard of it. Alchemists continue their research to obtain the Philosopher's Stone."

"That's right. But no one has obtained it yet. They either run out of strength or reach the end of their lives."

"Hmm... If someone has obtained it, they must have lived a very long time."

Living a long time might be a clue.

But it's a weak clue.

Cordelia nodded and continued.

"The second is the legendary item 'Orb of Light,' said to contain the light of the world's creation, passed down by the dragon race."

"Oh, that's straightforward. Can't you just ask the dragons?"

"I've already tried that. That's why I'm in trouble."

"I see. So the last one is?"

"The third is the 'Idol of the Evil God,' said to be the symbol of death and the source of all curses."

"Evil God... Liricia, do you know anything about it?"

I asked Liricia, thinking an angel might know about gods.

But Liricia looked sad and lowered her eyebrows.

"Sorry, Master. There are multiple evil gods, and there might be unnamed ones. I can't tell immediately."

"I see... Even Liricia can't figure it out."

This is a tough one.

Indeed, they are legendary items.

Cordelia smiled thinly and said,

"I didn't expect much, but..."

"If I have all three, how much would it cost?"

"I'm using inferior substitutes now, so the material costs are higher. Including my expenses, it would be 25 million for one-tenth of the original price."

"25 million goats... That's doable with some effort."

I already had about 6.7 million goats. Plus, I had the little elixir.

Since Liricia and I would be together for a long time, I needed to use it multiple times.

So, the cheaper, the better.

Cordelia grinned wickedly.

"If you can bring them, I'll give you five free uses for each item."

If I bring all three, I get 15 free uses.

225 years' worth. At the original price, that's 3.75 billion goats.

In other words, it's that valuable.

I shook my head.

"Sorry, but I'm not selling. I apologize."

"Well, I expected as much. I would do the same—anything else?"

At that, I took out a bottle of industrial little elixir from the bag.

"Since I can produce this in large quantities, can you lower the price of the potion?"

"What's this big bottle?"

Cordelia's wrinkled face twisted as she took the bottle.

She peered inside, widened her eyes, and licked a drop with her finger.

Then she coughed.

"Ugh! A potion with the effect of a holy wave! ...Hmm, I see."

"I plan to sell it as a little elixir... What's wrong?"

"You said you can produce it in large quantities. How much?"

"Any amount. Even tons."

"Hmm. I see... Well, if you can give me one ton, I'll lower the price by 10 million goats for the first time."

"15 million, then. Thanks. I was thinking of selling 100cc for 10,000 goats."

"Too cheap. 30,000 to 50,000 goats should be fine. Just so you know, the high price is due to the storage costs for one ton."

"I see. You're a shrewd old lady."

I shrugged, amused.

—But this should establish a regular connection.

There's a possibility of direct transactions without the slave trader's commission.

That means further price reductions are possible.

Cordelia chuckled.

"Anything else?"

"No, that's about it. If you can produce the little elixir, contact this shop. —Thanks."

I handed her a note with the shop's map and stood up.

Suddenly, Cordelia spoke.

"Oh, right. I almost forgot."

"What is it?"

"Someone said to stop by the back door on your way out."

"Back door? Who said that?"

"An elf girl."

She said it as if she already knew.

So, it must be a beautiful elf or a young elf.

"...I see. I'll stop by."

I have no urgent business today. The collection quest can be done around the forest mansion.

I'll meet the elf, whichever one it is.

If it's too much trouble, I can always decline.

I left the mansion and went to the back.

There, the back door was slightly open, and an elf was peeking out, looking around the deserted back alley.

It was the tall and beautiful Cheryl.

As I approached, she spoke in a serious tone.

"I'm sorry to trouble you, Hero."

"I'm a former hero. What's up?"

"I know it's wrong to ask a former hero, but... Tety, the elf girl who was an unconditional slave before..."

"What about her?"

"She was bought two days ago, and it seems she's suffering terribly."

"Karma. Besides, violence is forbidden."

"It seems to be happening..."

"Huh?"

Cheryl bowed her well-structured face and spoke painfully.

"Indeed, she did something wrong. But there must have been a reason."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because the spirits haven't abandoned her."

"What do you mean?"

"Elves are born in the forest and live with the spirits. If they do something wrong, the spirits will abandon them, and they will lose all their elf powers. Since she hasn't lost them..."

"I remember she used spirit telepathy... Do you know where she is?"

"I tried to find her with the spirits, but it seems she's hidden. Our spirit telepathy connection is also cut off. It seems she's been moved to a secret place... I'm sorry I couldn't help."

"I see. I'll try to find her when I have time... It's a tough one."

"Thank you. Then..."

She shook her golden hair and bowed deeply before closing the door.

In the deserted back alley, I shrugged.

"There are so many unknowns."

"But it's concerning. It's wrong to make slaves suffer..."

"You're right. I want to take care of Liricia. In fact, I want her to be equal and not a slave."

"That's wonderful... But there's a contract... I think it's about 16 years."

"Even if it's 160 years or 160 million years, I want to be with you forever."

"Yes..."

Liricia blushed and looked down, but she firmly held my hand.

Holding hands, Liricia and I returned to our shop.

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→ 41. Assassin Edgar's Dedication