kscans

Chapter 6 - Sleeping In and a Slave

I gathered herbs at the same place as yesterday, waiting for monsters to appear.

I had forgotten that I was planning to change my weapon.

Thanks to my level up, defeating slimes had become easier, so it wasn't a problem.

I also encountered a goblin. Its weapon was tricky, but I was able to defeat it.

There was no Mana Seed harvest. It was a short-lived fever. The sun began to set, so I headed back to town.

It was only my second day of gathering herbs, and today was only half a day at that.

But I was already bored. The solitary, monotonous work was tough.

At my job in my original world, I also worked alone and silently. In fact, I preferred being alone.

I felt like the loneliness in this world was different. There were generally few people here, and the night was deep and dark.

No, maybe the liveliness of Laciel and Mizuki had changed me.

Anyway, there's a limit to what I can do alone. Sooner or later, I'll need companions.

However, it's impossible for me to gain companions through communication like Mizuki.

Mizuki would probably let me join if I bowed my head, but I just can't with that party.

I guess hiring a slave is the quickest way.

I was walking to see the dog-eared slaves Mateo had mentioned.

A cute, bubbly dog-eared girl, get! I thought, imagining the delightful events to follow as I walked. I found the caravan in a vacant lot on the outskirts of town.

Several caravan wagons were lined up, and next to them was a huge, circus-like tent. The slaves were displayed inside. The tent was shabby, and it didn't look like a place where transactions of over 100 gold coins took place.

Combined with the desertedness of the evening, it had an eerie atmosphere.

I observed for a while, but no one went in or out.

Buying a slave might be normal in this world, but I still felt a sense of guilt. I had been taught that robbing people of their freedom and making them slaves was a sinful act. The psychological shackles dampened my spirits.

My motivation completely withered, and I couldn't bring myself to go inside the tent.

So, I walked around, looking for a place where I could peek inside, but there were no openings.

Then, as I went to check on the wagons, a foul stench hit my nose.

"It stinks."

It was coming from a square box, an iron-barred cage about 150 centimeters in size, that had been unloaded from a wagon.

It looked empty, but at the bottom, something that looked like a gaunt person in tattered clothes was lying down. Looking closer, it was a dog-eared girl. It was hard to see because she was so dirty, but I could see a Slave Mark on her arm.

"That one's not for sale!"

There was no sign of anyone, so I was scared to death when someone spoke to me.

A bald old man who looked like he'd be swinging a metal bat with nails in it and shouting 'Hyah-ha!' was standing behind me.

"If you want a slave, they're inside the tent."

The bald old man jutted his chin.

"This one's dead."

"Huh?"

When I said that, the bald old man kicked the cage. The dog-eared girl twitched.

"Tch, just die already!"

The bald old man kicked the cage again. He was scary.

"I bought a set of slaves in the last town, and this one came with them. They just wanted to get rid of her. She's sick. It's a cursed disease, so I can't sell her. Even if they're slaves, you get punished if you kill them. So I'm just waiting."

"Uuh, uuuu..."

The dog-eared girl woke up. She looked at me with dead eyes. No, she had just opened her eyes; she wasn't seeing anything.

If left alone, she looked like she'd be dead by morning. This was a bad feeling.

"Come on, to the tent."

The bald old man put his hand on my shoulder and tried to lead me to the tent.

"How much for this dog-eared girl?"

"What did you say?"

"I want to buy this dog-eared girl,"

I said, words I hadn't even thought of myself.

"Hmph, you're into that sort of thing? Don't. You'll get cursed too. But well, how about 100 gold coins?"

That was the same price as the female warrior. Too high.

"Don't rip me off. I'm trying to do you a favor and take her off your hands."

"Then 90."

"50."

"No way, 80."

The bald old man was smirking at me. I was completely being played with.

"Sorry, but I don't have the cash on me. I have five Mana Seeds. How about that?"

"...Let me see 'em."

I took the Mana Seeds out of my storage. The bald old man held his hand over them.

"I see, they're real."

Despite his meathead appearance, he had an appraisal skill? Can't underestimate him.

The bald old man thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright. I'll sell her to you."

He opened the cage door and dragged the dog-eared girl out. He was treating her like complete trash.

"I'll rewrite the contract to you as the master. Show me your character sheet."

"No, just remove the Slave Mark."

"It costs taxes to make her a commoner, but well, fine. I'll cover it for you."

Of course he would. A piece of trash was about to become worth 75 gold coins. He must be laughing on the inside.

The bald old man chanted the contract spell. The Slave Mark disappeared from the dog-eared girl's arm.

"Enjoy yourself."

"Yeah, I will."

I picked up the dog-eared girl; she was surprisingly light.

I bought her on impulse without any knowledge. If I leave her, she might die today.

The dog-eared girl was limp and completely silent. She might be a race that can't communicate with language.

I had no idea what to do next. I couldn't even explain to myself why I had taken on a responsibility I couldn't handle.

I felt a sense of panic, as if the weight of the dog-eared girl in my arms was getting lighter and lighter.

I should have followed the bald old man into the tent and bought a healthy, sexy slave.

For now, the inn. I'll wipe her down. Then, a hospital.

As I was about to head to the inn, a dwarf man blocked my path.

"I saw what just happened. Where are you going?"

I must have been watched because of my suspicious behavior in front of the tent.

"To the inn. I'm in a hurry. Don't get in my way."

"Not the Great Ape Inn. Non-humans can't stay there."

"Is that so?"

The dwarf nodded. I didn't know. Is there racial discrimination?

"Go to the Asuka Inn. But before that, let's go to the church. I'll introduce you to Myra."

"Yeah, but what are we going to do at the church? Sing hymns?"

"That can wait for another time. We'll have the dog-eared girl treated and healed."

I remembered they said the woman attacked by goblins would be treated at the church, too.

It seemed my panic had made me blind to my surroundings.

In any case, this dwarf exuded an aura of strength. He looked like he could defeat the bald old man from earlier with a single finger.

I nodded and decided to follow him.

"Also, wrap this around the dog-eared girl's arm."

He handed me a bandage.

"Hmm? This is like a drop in the ocean, isn't it?"

It was true that she had countless bruises.

"It's not for treatment. You understand that there's discrimination against non-human races in this city, right? Wrap this around her arm to make it look like you're hiding a Slave Mark, and act like you're her master."

I didn't know, but it seemed better to pretend I did. The idea was to make it harder for people to mess with her by making her seem like my property, a human's property.

"Got it."

I nodded.

I wrapped the bandage around the dog-eared girl's arm and followed the dwarf to the church.

At the church, I was led to a small room.

In the room was a busty priestess.

"Oh, Aira-san, was it?"

"Hmm? You know Aira? I'm her older sister, Myra."

They looked very similar, but Myra had the air of a mature woman, which was different.

"In town, Myra's more famous than Aira. 'Cause she's bigger,"

the dwarf said with a meaningful laugh. So Aira's breasts were all-natural and not nurtured by Reed.

"Hmm. This is the girl, I see. Let me take a look."

Myra placed her hand over the dog-eared girl lying on the bed and muttered an incantation.

The dog-eared girl was as limp as if she were dead. Only her chest moved slightly with shallow, short breaths.

"Phew, it's possible to restore her weakened stamina. I can also temporarily suppress the curse. She should be able to live a normal life. However, it will require the miracle of the Priest's divine power."

Myra finished her incantation and looked troubled.

"The Priest's divine power?"

"The Priest particularly dislikes other races. It all depends on this,"

the dwarf said to my question, making a circle with his fingers. Money, huh?

"Can't the curse be removed?"

"Unfortunately, it's beyond the power of the church in this city. But in the Imperial Capital..."

Myra replied.

"The discrimination in the Imperial Capital is even worse. You'll just be turned away at the gates."

"Then the church in the city of Miglutt to the east."

"Hmm. They would probably see her there,"

the dwarf nodded.

"But we have to get through today. How much of a donation is needed?"

Myra looked me up and down from head to toe, her expression becoming even more troubled. She's judging me as a poor man.

"There's no set amount. It all depends on the Priest's mood, and if he refuses your offer once, there won't be a second chance."

He was a completely corrupt priest. And yet, he possessed the greatest miracle-working power in this church. What a pain. I'll have to complain to Laciel about this next time.

"I'll provide the money,"

the dwarf offered. I couldn't understand why he would go so far for a stranger like me.

"No. I'll pay."

I took out the five remaining Mana Seeds from my storage. I had just gotten them by luck. I wasn't attached to them.

"Will this be enough?"

Myra trembled in surprise. It was a shame her chest didn't jiggle with it.

"Are these real? With this much, a hymn to God will fill this church, and a divine miracle will be seen!"

Was this church worshipping money? Of course, I kept that to myself.

"Please. Can I leave the negotiations to you as well?"

"Leave it to me,"

Myra said, puffing out her chest.

"And, could you have someone wipe her body and dress her in some appropriate clothes?"

"You can leave that to me, too!"

Boing. I had witnessed a divine miracle.

I wasn't able to witness the Priest's divine power.

The dwarf said he had 'an errand' and left. I tried to thank him, but he waved it away with one hand.

As I was waiting in the small room, the dog-eared girl was brought back, carried by several priests.

The dog-eared girl seemed to be sleeping. Her face had regained its color, and she even looked like she had put on some weight. The bruises and scars were gone, and she looked no different from a healthy person.

It was truly a divine miracle.

She had brown, shoulder-length hair, with ears like a Labrador retriever's drooping among it. A tail poked out from her behind. Above all, the dog-eared girl was beautiful.

"She's been put to sleep with magic. She should wake up tomorrow morning."

"Thank you. I don't know how to thank you."

"No, it is your faith. I will return this. You will need it when you completely remove the curse."

I received one Mana Seed. It seemed she had negotiated with the Priest on our behalf.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. Also, I've prepared a change of clothes and other things a girl needs."

"I had no idea, so this is a huge help."

I took the bag and put it in my storage.

"Fufu."

Myra responded with a smile. She must be a good priestess, well-liked by her followers.

"I want to do something to thank you, Myra."

"You can thank me with prayers and donations to God."

I tried to pick up the dog-eared girl, but she had gained weight from being healthy, and it was impossible for me to walk to the inn.

Myra helped me carry her on my back.

"Don't forget that the disease will return if you don't remove the curse."

"Will it return soon?"

"No, it should be suppressed for several years."

I nodded.

"You've been a great help."

"If you see Aira, please tell her that I said to return to the church."

The sun had set. A crescent moon, just like in my original world, hung in the night sky.

I left the church and headed for the inn.

I passed by the slave market from earlier. A crowd had gathered. Do more customers come at night?

I passed by from a distance.

The looks I got from the people passing by were completely suspicious.

The scene was of a pervert abducting a sleeping girl.

I arrived at the Asuka Inn. The building was similar in structure to the Great Ape Inn. But this one had a kitchen for guests, so you could cook for yourself.

"Hmm? Two of you? A double, then."

I didn't know what the innkeeper was saying, but I nodded for now.

"Then that'll be 10 silver coins."

"I'll take a meal."

The dog-eared girl wouldn't wake up until morning, so she didn't need one.

"That's an extra coin."

I paid the money, received the room key, and went to the room on the top floor, the fifth floor. The stairs were a pain.

The room was larger than the one at the Great Ape Inn, probably because it was a double. But there was only one bed.

I had no choice but to sleep in the same bed.

Since she wouldn't wake up until morning, I wanted to play a little prank, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I settled for groping her slightly budding chest. Its softness, a first-time sensation, felt like my brain was melting.

That night, the sound of the dog-eared girl's breathing excited me, and I had a hard time falling asleep.