Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Ideal Type (2)
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Isabel, the owner of the Lapis Lazuli Merchant House.
She was a woman famous enough to be known even in remote villages of enemy kingdoms.
One problem was that half of that fame came from notoriety.
A seductress who stole another woman's husband at a young age.
And afterward, suspicions lingered that she poisoned her husband and his children from his previous marriage.
In truth, the latter case was concluded to be revenge from the first wife.
It just so happened that the poisoned liquor she sent was used in the cooking, leading to the tragedy.
But most people firmly believed Isabel had framed the first wife to cover her own guilt.
Still, no one could deny that her business acumen surpassed that of her late husband.
After all, it was none other than Isabel who had grown the Lapis Lazuli Merchant House to its current scale.
"By the way, calling me the richest woman in the world? That's too much flattery."
Isabel gazed steadily at Lian, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"The world is wider than you think. There are several renowned noblewomen richer than me."
"But they're just women from wealthy families. It's different from you, Lady Isabel, who built her fortune with her own strength."
"Oh my. Your words are as pretty as your face."
Though rare in this world, in his previous life, there had been people like Isabel.
She was an ambitious woman.
Even at an age past forty, she retained her beauty, but to her, looks were just one of her weapons.
Praising that wouldn't get much in return.
"So, how much do you plan to sell this boy for?"
His face and personality both passed muster.
Isabel had no reason to refuse such a Lian.
"Three hundred dwarf gold coins."
"Oh my..."
Of course, if not for the barrier of price.
Isabel not only had that much money but plenty to spare.
But the rich weren't fools who threw money around carelessly.
"He set his own price, so staring at me won't help."
The bandit leader smirked, as if exasperated even after naming the price himself.
"Boy, if you wanted to haggle, just calling out a high price isn't the way."
The youthful impulsiveness of a naive boy ignorant of the world.
Isabel seemed to dismiss it lightly with a chuckle.
"His rare beauty is true enough. One hundred fifty gold coins. That's my assessment of his fair value."
It was slightly higher than the bandit leader had anticipated.
In truth, selling for that amount wouldn't be a big deal.
Even if they squeezed out more, no scraps would fall his way—it would just benefit the leader.
It was obvious the leader had half-accepted Lian's proposal out of amusement.
If a real deal happened, great; he didn't seriously intend to sell at that price.
For Lian too, becoming Isabel's slave was goal enough.
"Then I'll prove I have that much value to you."
But it sparked a strange stubbornness.
A desire to have his worth properly recognized.
Even if it was as a slave's price.
Math had been one of Lian's strong subjects even in his previous life.
Especially his talent for mental calculations on complex problems had even left his math teacher in awe.
"If a chest contains 32 sheepskins worth 12 silver coins each, and there are 9 such chests, what's the total?"
"57 gold coins and 36 silver coins."
"Oh? Already?"
On top of that, this world's currency system was a bit brutal.
25 copper coins made 1 silver coin, and 60 silver coins equaled 1 gold coin, and so on.
While counting in other numbers used decimal systems, the currency lacked intuition.
Of course, there were complicated historical reasons for it.
In any case, it was a well-known fact that even merchants often made calculation errors because of it.
"Uh, um. Correct."
Isabel's accountant, who had been busily clicking the abacus beside her, nodded.
Unlike Lian, who answered instantly upon hearing the problem, it had taken him about 5 seconds.
"Impressive. Your confidence in arithmetic wasn't just talk, then. Alright..."
Isabel gradually raised the difficulty of the problems.
Starting from simple ones needing only basic operations.
Then moving to complex calculations involving functions.
"...so what's the expected profit?"
"1,207 gold coins and 24 silver coins total."
And Lian answered without taking more than 5 seconds each time.
"Correct again?"
"P-Please wait a moment!"
Clack clack clack—
Meanwhile, Isabel's accountant rolled the abacus beads frantically for a long while.
The reception room filled only with the sound of the abacus.
"Ha, haha! Wrong this time! It's 1,088 gold coins and 38 silver coins total!"
The elderly accountant clenched his fist, shouting with a face full of triumph.
Hearing that, Lian seemed lost in thought for a moment before flashing a bright smile.
"Wasn't that where you multiplied by 7/12 but just halved it instead?"
"What? N-No way!"
"Check again. See if I'm right or wrong."
He was certain.
Lian had already double-checked in his head twice.
"Diego, verify it again."
"Y-Yes..."
The cowed accountant glanced cautiously at Isabel, but it was no use.
She wasn't one to go easy after a dozen years of service.
Clack clack—
In the end, only the quiet sound of the abacus rolling dejectedly echoed.
And after another long pause.
"I'm sorry. I miscalculated. The boy's right..."
The accountant bowed deeply, his face flushed with humiliation.
It wasn't really a contest, but it was his utter defeat.
"Then the final problem."
Isabel deliberately shifted her posture, turning her back to the accountant.
His face darkened further behind her shoulder.
"He takes 2 gold coins and 30 silver coins as monthly salary. So how long would you have to work to equal 300 gold coins?"
Face value: 150.
So as an accountant, he'd need 5 years to cover the remaining 150.
"I'll be Lady Isabel's slave until I die."
"Hehe. Correct."
Social life required quick wit and improvisation too.
Lian grimaced at the cold sensation around his neck.
A metal collar with a lock, marking him as a slave.
After handing its key to Isabel and signing the sales contract, Lian officially became a slave.
"Actually getting 300 gold coins off that vixen. This kid's a real madman."
The bandit leader tucked the box of 300 gold coins under his arm and whistled cheerfully.
Even selling all the kids who'd be going to the market now wouldn't fetch half this amount.
"Take care, kid. Hope we meet again."
"Pass. It was unpleasant meeting you—don't show your face again."
"Kek. Cheeky brat. Here, your share."
Ting! A gold coin flew in a neat arc with a clear ring.
"Huh? Wha—!?"
Lian caught the gold coin reflexively and stared at it blankly.
His first gold coin ever held in hand.
It was bittersweet money he couldn't just rejoice over, but gold was gold.
"No joke—you don't seem like you'll stay a slave forever. When that time comes, let's keep good business ties."
With that, the leader whistled off into the street.
"Forever, huh..."
The leader was right.
What he'd told Isabel was just lip service, of course.
Lian's dream was to become the pillar of this wealthy widow.
He had no intention of settling for slave alone.
'But it won't be easy. Not with my track record.'
Of course, he had no plans to kill Isabel and steal her fortune.
But regardless of Lian's intentions, Isabel wouldn't see it that way.
The moment she saw her past in him, he'd have to be prepared to lose his head.
'The instant I try to stand over her, it's over. Never forget to always play the obedient role.'
A young, beautiful trophy.
That was the duty Lian must never forget to fulfill.
"This will be your room from now on."
Lian was stunned in several ways.
A spacious room with a terrace offering a great sea view.
And pristine white bedding that looked a hassle to maintain.
It could rival a luxury resort hotel somewhere in the Mediterranean.
"Isn't this too much for a slave?"
"When you buy a jewel, you keep it in a fitting display case."
"But is it okay for a slave to live next door to the master?"
It even connected directly to Isabel's room without needing the hallway.
For Lian, planning to gradually close the distance, this treatment was a bit bewildering.
"Whatever the world says, if I decide it, that's how it is."
Click.
The door locked.
Soon Isabel approached, stroking Lian's hair with a suggestive touch.
"Shall we carefully check the quality of the part we haven't inspected yet?"
Her fingertips tickled his ear, then trailed down his nape.
Come to think of it, he hadn't been sold just as a doll for admiration.
Besides, this was a necessary step to become the pillar he'd dreamed of.
"L-Lady Isabel? You don't have to rush—I'm not going anywhere."
Lian flushed in panic.
His coming-of-age was months away, but still too early, wasn't it?
And though she looked youthful and beautiful, she was past forty.
Even with a vigorous pubescent body, mental preparation was needed in many ways.
"Quiet. Just do as I say."
But Isabel forcibly pulled Lian's head into her embrace.
"...!!?"
Before the overwhelming gravity of that suffocating mass, Lian's mind went blank.
A maternal presence he'd never felt in either life.
Even a seventy-year-old sage would regress to an infant before it.
'Right! If anything, I'm the older one!'
Physical age didn't matter.
By soul and spirit, combining past and present lives made him over fifty.
Thinking that way, Isabel started looking like a younger beauty.
"Well, you probably need time to adjust to a new place."
Just as his heart began to stir.
Isabel gently released her hold on his head.
"Rest well in this room tonight. That's an order."
"Yes...?"
Then she left the room without hesitation.
As if teasing the innocent boy had been her only intent from the start.
"Push and pull, huh..."
His surging adolescent blood suddenly had nowhere to go.
As a result, Lian's mind went blank differently than before.
He felt thoroughly toyed with.
That woman was indeed a vixen, just as the rumors said.