Chapter 24

"Ah, it's you, Sir Hero. What brings you here today?"

As I peeked into the tent, the slave trader, who was known for his gentlemanly demeanor, greeted us with a grand, formal pose.

"Oh?"

The slave trader stared intently at Raphatalia, his interest piqued.

"What a surprising transformation. I never expected her to grow into such a fine specimen."

As he said this, he seemed to sag slightly, as if disappointed.

"...What's wrong?"

"I thought you would be more like us, but you've disappointed me."

I tried to hold back from asking what he meant.

"Answer him by saying that keeping a slave alive and improving their quality is the true way of a slave master..."

I replied in a deep, commanding voice.

"Isn't a slave something you use and then discard?"

"Naofumi-sama?"

Raphatalia looked up at me with concern, her eyes wide.

I was aware that I was getting a bit carried away. I felt a bit more relaxed than before.

"...Hehehe. Is that so? I'm getting excited."

The slave trader seemed to enjoy my answer, his smile widening.

"So, the evaluation of this slave... Given her quality, even though she's not a virgin, I would say seven gold coins... How about that?"

"Why is it already decided that she will be sold! And I am a virgin!"

The slave trader's eyes widened in surprise at Raphatalia's words.

"Really! In that case, let's make it fifteen gold coins. Would you like me to verify if she is really a virgin?"

"Naofumi-sama!"

Raphatalia was shocked at the fifteen gold coins!

"Naofumi-sama!? Hey, say something!"

Fifteen gold coins, that's the price of a Level 75 wolfman! As I thought this, Raphatalia grabbed my shoulder tightly, her face twisted in anger.

"Naofumi-sama... If you keep playing around, I'll get angry."

"What's wrong? Why do you look so angry?"

"It's because you're not defending me while I'm being evaluated."

"I have to show confidence, or I'll be looked down upon."

I had to bluff. If my thoughts were seen through, Raphatalia might lose faith in me. I wouldn't sell the only person who believed in me in this world.

"Fifteen gold coins... "

I muttered, and Raphatalia's grip tightened.

"It hurts, it hurts!"

Raphatalia's attack power... it exceeds my defense. This is reassuring in a combat sense.

"...Can we just escape?"

"I'm joking. I was just thinking about how much Raphatalia has improved and is being highly valued."

"R-really... Naofumi-sama..."

Raphatalia became shy and docile. This behavior annoyed me. Why? I don't know why.

"Well, slave trader, I've decided not to sell her."

"Is that so... That's a shame. So, what brings you here?"

"Ah, you haven't heard? The commotion at the castle."

The slave trader smiled again in response to my question.

"I'm aware. The curse on the slaves has been lifted."

"If you know, then this will be quick... By the way, if you knew I was coming, why did you evaluate her?"

Mainly because I was about to be given up on by Raphatalia.

"Such a king's nonsense won't abolish the slave system in this country. Here."

"Huh? Aren't the nobles the ones who don't buy slaves?"

"No, that's not true. The wealthy often do. They have various uses. Here."

"What about that trash king, Motoki... If he sides with the Spear Hero and says such things, won't the nobles be resentful? I would be."

That would be ironic. But if it happened, it might improve the country.

"Well, this country isn't a monolith. If they did such a thing, the nobles who proposed it would suffer. Here."

"Does that old bearded man have that much power?"

Is this a dictatorial country? If so, it won't last ten years. Eventually, a rebellion will bring it down. After all, a trash king is ruling, and a bitchy princess is the heir.

"That's because in this country, the king is not the most powerful—"

"By the way, what about the slave mark?"

"Oh, right."

I had gone off-topic. Thinking about it, the trash king is irrelevant now.

"So, you're here to have a curse placed, right? Here."

"Can you do it?"

"Anytime."

The slave trader snapped his fingers, and a subordinate brought the jar used for slave certification. Raphatalia shyly removed her breastplate, exposing her chest.

"How does it look?"

"What do you mean?"

"...Sigh."

?

Why is she so embarrassed? She even sighed. Did I do something?

I applied the ink, which was mixed with my blood, to the place where Raphatalia's slave mark used to be.

"The pattern is destroyed, but it can be restored."

"Wow..."

The pattern that had disappeared reappeared and began to glow on Raphatalia's chest.

"Ugh..."

It must be painful. Raphatalia was enduring it. The slave icon reappeared in my vision. I checked the terms for commands and breaches. ...There are fewer than before, which should be fine. Raphatalia returned to being a slave to gain my trust. I need to trust her too.

"Well..."

As I thought about what to do, I noticed a dish with leftover ink.

"Hey, can I have some of that ink? I'll pay for it."

"Sure, no problem."

I poured the remaining ink from the dish onto my shield. The shield absorbed the ink with a hiss.

The conditions for the Slave Master's Shield have been unlocked.

The conditions for the Slave Master's Shield II have been unlocked.

Slave Master's Shield

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, Slave growth correction (small)

Slave Master's Shield II

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, Slave status correction (small)

The Slave Master's Shield... I can see why. The tree is unique and new, derived from the Small Shield. It's not very strong, but the equipment bonus is appealing.

Growth correction.

Why did two abilities unlock with just a little ink? I looked at Raphatalia.

"What is it?"

By the way, I remember letting the shield absorb some of Raphatalia's hair. At the time, I was focused on the Raccoon Shield, but this one might have been satisfied too. Probably, the Slave Master's Shield II was the one that unlocked. Since the tree was satisfied, it unlocked together.

That's my guess.

So...

"Raphatalia, can I have some of your blood?"

"What for?"

"Well, I want to do a little experiment."

Raphatalia tilted her head, then cut her finger slightly with a knife, just like when I mixed my blood with the ink, and dropped the blood on the shield I held out.

The conditions for the Slave Master's Shield III have been unlocked.

Slave Master's Shield III

Ability not unlocked... Equipment bonus, Slave growth correction (medium)

Great! My theory was correct!

"Naofumi-sama? You seem to be having fun."

"Yeah, I found an interesting shield."

"That's good to hear."

I decided to change my shield to the Slave Master's Shield and wait for the abilities to unlock.

"Well... Hmm?"

As I was about to leave, my eye caught a wooden box in the corner of the tent, containing eggs. I didn't recognize it. What is it?

"What's that?"

I asked the slave trader.

"Oh, that's our front business."

"What's your front business?"

"We're monster traders."

He answered with high spirits.

"Monsters? Are there monster trainers in this world too?"

"You're quick to understand. Haven't you met one, Sir Hero?"

"I don't think I have..."

"Naofumi-sama."

Raphatalia raised her hand.

"What is it?"

"Phylorials are monsters raised by monster trainers."

"What are those?"

"Large birds that pull carriages in town instead of horses."

"Oh, those."

They look like chickens to me. I thought they were unique animals in this world, but they're monsters.

"In the village I lived in, there were people who raised monsters for a living. They had a ranch full of meat monsters."

"Wow..."

Is it possible that ranching and similar activities in this world are categorized under monster training?

"So, what about those eggs?"

"Monsters won't bond with humans unless they hatch from eggs. That's why we trade eggs."

"I see."

"Do you want to see the cages of already raised monsters?"

If you want to buy one, he'll sell it. The slave trader is a shrewd businessman.

"No, not this time."

I have other business to attend to.

"So, what's the sign on top of the wooden box with the eggs?"

I couldn't read it, but there was an arrow pointing to the box and some numbers.

"100 silver coins for one try, a monster egg lottery!"

"100 silver coins is expensive."

We have 508 silver coins, which is a lot of money.

"Expensive monsters, you see."

"Just for reference, how much does a Phylorial cost on average?"

"...About 200 silver coins for an adult. It varies depending on the feathers and breed. Here."

"So, the chicks are cheaper. If we only consider the egg price and exclude the raising costs... Is it a good deal?"

"No, no, the eggs in that box are mixed with others."

"I see... You said it's a lottery."

So, there are both losers and winners. If you draw a loser, it's a disaster. If you draw a winner, it's a good deal.

"So, there are no winners in that box?"

"What! You think we're doing such an unfair business, Sir Hero!?"

"No, are you?"

"I have pride in my business. I enjoy deceiving customers with lies, but I don't like misrepresenting the products I sell."

"You enjoy deceiving but dislike misrepresenting... What kind of logic is that?"

I thought, half in exasperation.

"So, what's the prize?"

"To make it easy for you, Sir Hero, it's a wyvern."

A wyvern... probably a dragon that knights ride?

"A horse-like dragon?"

"This time, it's a flying type. It's popular, so noble customers often try their luck."

A flying dragon... That sounds exciting.

"Naofumi-sama?"

"If you draw a winner, it's worth about 20 gold coins."

"What's the probability? Just for the wyvern egg."

"The lottery has 250 eggs, and only one is a wyvern."

1 in 250.

"We've cast strong magic to prevent you from guessing by appearance or weight. You must accept the possibility of drawing a loser before purchasing."

"You have a good business model."

"Yes, if you buy ten, you can choose one from this box, which definitely has a winner. Here."

"Surely, the wyvern isn't in there?"

"Yes. But you'll definitely get something worth 300 silver coins."

I couldn't help but smile.

Wait... Isn't this a complete gacha? This is designed to make the company profit. I almost fell for it again.

"Hmm..."

But it's quite interesting.

Thinking about it, having only Raphatalia as a companion might be a bit lonely.

Is it better to buy a new slave or raise a monster?

It would be interesting to try out the new Slave Master's Shield. Raphatalia's level is high, so the growth correction might not be as effective.

But, I suddenly thought of Motoki and the others.

They were noisy about freeing slaves... Maybe because Raphatalia is a beautiful girl.

I've also felt that dealing with Raphatalia is troublesome.

After all, slaves need to be equipped, which is expensive for me.

"Alright, I'll try one."

"Thank you! This time, it includes the slave ritual fee."

"You're generous. I like that."

"Naofumi-sama!?"

"What is it?"

"Are you buying a monster egg?"

"Yes, I thought Raphatalia alone might be too much for the battles ahead. Buying a slave is expensive when you consider the equipment, and raising a monster might be interesting."

"Hmm... But raising a monster is also difficult."

"I understand that. Don't you want a pet, Raphatalia?"

"...Are you aiming for a dragon?"

"A rabbit would be fine too."

I don't dislike small animals. Even in online games, there are taming pets. It's the same feeling, a kind of refreshment. Most importantly, if they can follow orders like slaves, they should have more attack power than me.

I have a bit more money, so I'm a bit more willing to spend. But it shouldn't be a bad investment.

After all, if slaves can have shields, it's not strange for monsters to have them too.

"Selling a raised monster would be less painful than selling a slave."

"Ah, I see. That makes sense."

You can develop affection, but we don't have the money. We have to endure.

Slaves are harder to sell because they are human. I don't know if I could sell a slave who has grown attached to me.

Monsters, on the other hand, can't talk. No matter how attached they get, it's just a bit painful to sell them.

You can even push your own wishes onto them, like hoping they find a good owner.

"Do you do that kind of mediation too?"

"Your deep thinking gives me chills, Sir Hero! Here!"

The slave trader's mood was rising.

I looked at the row of eggs.

He said that searching is not allowed, so I'll just pick one randomly.

"Then, this one."

I chose one on the right side and took it out.

"Please drop your blood on the mark on this egg."

I followed his instructions, smearing blood on the pattern on the egg. It glowed red, and the monster taming icon appeared in my vision.

Like a slave, I can set prohibitions.

...I set it so that disobeying my orders results in punishment. I checked it more strictly than with Raphatalia.

After all, it's just a monster. I'm not sure if it understands my language, so it's better to be strict.

It hasn't hatched yet.

The slave trader opened an incubator with a grin, and I placed the egg inside.

"If it doesn't hatch, I'll come to claim a penalty."

"Even if you get a loser, you won't let it go, Sir Hero! I'm impressed!"

The slave trader was in high spirits. I wondered if he had some masochistic tendencies.

I don't have a taste for scolding men, but I would like to see other trash heroes suffer.

"Even a verbal promise, I'll come. If you lie, my violent slave will go wild."

"What do you want me to do!"

"I understand!"

The slave trader was in a great mood.

"When will it hatch?"

I asked, handing over 100 silver coins.

"It's written on the incubator."

"Hmm..."

Some numbers in this world's script were moving.

"Can Raphatalia read it?"

"Well, a little... The numbers seem to be