Slave Recruit: "Don't Buy Me, I'm Defective"
Li Zhangwei steeled himself for a brutal beating and opened his mouth.
"Don't buy me. I'm defective."
He was a 2nd Class Slave, a non-human commodity up for sale. Yet here he was, speaking out with his own will.
The clerk flew into a rage at his audacity.
"Shut your mouth!"
He moved to silence Li Zhangwei, but Seojun intervened, stopping the clerk cold.
"Pardon? What did you say?"
"Exactly what I said. I have no drive left. I just want to die quickly. So I can't do anything properly—don't buy me. I've already been returned twice."
Gisohee's curiosity piqued at his words. She made a suggestion.
"Could you tell us your story? Why it ended up like this?"
Something strange stirred in Li Zhangwei—a whim. These two, Namgung Seojun and Gisohee, were speaking politely to a 2nd Class Slave like him. He suddenly wanted to share his tale with them. And before dying, letting someone hear his life story didn't sound half bad. With that, he began.
Li Zhangwei had given up on everything. It was true he'd made mistakes that led to him becoming a slave twice over, turning him into a 2nd Class Slave. But he'd served diligently regardless. In time, his merchant master made him a promise: serve loyally for ten years, and he'd be freed.
Even as a 2nd Class Slave, the offer of freedom ignited him. He poured his soul into it, serving with utter devotion—like a dog for eight long years.
Then, two years ago, while traveling down from the 10th floor to the 8th with his master, bandits ambushed their caravan. His master died in the fight. Ownership passed to the widow, his master's heir, who promptly sold him off. The promise? Vanished into thin air.
After that, Li Zhangwei lost faith in the world. He'd swung his spear wildly in frustration, but recently, a small epiphany dawned. It brought relief rather than joy. Hope for life evaporated. He regretted not reaching greater heights with his spear, but he'd resolved to end it all. He'd stopped eating and drinking—four days now. Death was all he thought about. He wanted no more life as a hopeless slave in this Tower world.
Seojun understood his mindset after hearing the story. Still, he couldn't pass up a high-spec combatant with a Unique skill.
"I see. No hope left, so you don't want to live anymore."
"Yes. It's been 14 years since I became a 2nd Class Slave. Add the 10 years as a 1st Class Slave, and I've spent 24 out of 26 years in this Tower world as a slave. I'm done with a hopeless slave's life."
Trusting his Super Sense once more, Seojun followed the positive vibe flowing through their talk.
"What if there was hope? Hope worth living for?"
Li Zhangwei let out a wry chuckle.
"Hope no one can guarantee... I'm too worn out to chase that alone."
"Then how about hope someone does guarantee? Hope backed by a god?"
Li Zhangwei blinked in confusion, unsure of the meaning. Sensing the conversation heading the right way, Seojun pressed on.
"Become my slave. Serve well as a combatant, and I'll free you."
"Serve well... Sounds like my old master. But if you die, doesn't that promise vanish too?"
Seojun opened his pouch, revealing the contract paper. His Super Sense screamed, This is it!
"I'll put it in a God's Contract. Seven years after I buy you, you're free—no exceptions. And even if you're resold, this clause stays binding."
Li Zhangwei wavered at Seojun's words. Then came the clincher.
"Plus, this isn't a goddess's contract. It's the God of Contracts. Absolute and unbreakable."
With that, Li Zhangwei had no choice but to nod. It felt like a real shot.
"If the contract says that, I'll give it my all."
And so, the promising Dmitri and veteran Li Zhangwei joined the party.
By the time Seojun and Gisohee returned to the counter after finalizing the two combat slaves, Jo Jaehun was already there, his task complete.
"Leader, I prepped the three porter slaves with Low Vitality as you mentioned."
Samuka Juuzo: level 14, solid porter with Low Vitality. 1st Class Slave with 6 years left, but only 9 gold—great value.
Park Dobong: level 13, Low Vitality and Low Organization, porter specialist. 1st Class Slave with just 2 years remaining—5 gold for high efficiency.
Jin Soyoung: level 12, Low Vitality porter who could double as a sex slave with her 18 Charm stat. 1st Class Slave, 7 years left, 12 gold.
Jo Jaehun had prioritized cost-effectiveness first, resale value second. Earthling or not, he couldn't help pitying the slaves, but old business habits died hard.
"Perfect. You chose well."
Jo Jaehun felt relieved at the leader's praise.
Moments later, the clerk arrived with stacks of contracts—one for each slave.
"Five slaves: four 1st Class, one 2nd Class. Total 107 gold 50 silver, but we'll call it 107 gold even."
Seojun did the math, then turned to Gisohee and Jo Jaehun.
"Porters under the party's joint ownership. Combat slaves under my name."
Lee Guho would agree no question, so with these two on board, no issues. They both consented.
Payment made, signatures signed—ownership transferred. Seojun even drew up the extra contract with Li Zhangwei.
Li Zhangwei verified it himself: freedom in seven years, clause persists on resale.
"Thank you. I'll serve with everything I've got."
Thus, the high-level combat slave Li Zhangwei truly joined the party.
Leaving the slave shop, Seojun, Gisohee, and Jo Jaehun wandered the market more, picking up two more decent combat slaves.
Kayou Mitsuru: level 13, Low Vitality, Low Archery, decent attack skills, and porter-capable—high utility.
Wang Jahong: level 16, Low Agility, Low Mana, Rare-grade attack skills, solid bow proficiency. Just 2 years left—only 6 gold.
Seojun reassigned positions on the spot.
Li Zhangwei as freerol dealer, Dmitri sub-guard, Wang Jahong attacker, Kayou sub-attacker.
With one tail-biter slot open, most positions were solidly filled in Seojun's party.
Next up: sex slaves. Non-combat sex slaves were essential for any party. In the Tower world, humans retained peak-20s bodies with ramped-up libidos. Satisfying the male fighters' needs was a big issue.
Regular party members handled themselves. The problem was the slaves—masters had a duty to provide relief.
"Yuki alone won't cut it, right?"
Gisohee's question drew nods from the men.
"Five new male party members. Even a 2nd Class Slave can't handle ten-plus guys solo."
"They're risking life and limb on the road. Gotta handle their urges properly."
Party morale demanded it. 1st Class Slaves were like unpaid contractors from Earth's view—more restricted, but morale boosters like food and sex were key.
The commercial district had a dedicated sex slave zone. They headed there.
"1st Class or 2nd Class sex slaves?"
With Yuki around, consensus leaned cheap 1st Class.
"Value-wise, 1st Class makes sense."
2nd Class were permanent buys—even 20+ Charm women ran 30 gold minimum. 1st Class had terms, so short ones went for under 5 gold.
They entered through a tent-flap door.
"Whoa."
The street was lined with lavishly dolled-up women on both sides. Hundreds on display like merchandise—a spectacle. All seducing potential new masters with sultry makeup, body-hugging outfits, extreme exposure, fishnets revealing breasts and privates—every style imaginable.
They wanted to sell fast, escape this frustrating limbo under the merchant.
Rules kept it tame: light gestures and expressions only, no talking or touching.
The group gawked in admiration, strolling the lane. Each chair listed price and time remaining.
"Convenient shopping. Rational, no pressure."
As Jo Jaehun said, easy browsing, clear terms and prices—smart setup.
After a thorough look, they picked three.
Im Yumi: Charm over 40, stunning face, 5 years left—solid sex slave for 10 gold. Extra clause for merit point shares.
Leirin: Charm 30, killer curves, 6 years left. Had Sex Techniques skill—7 gold bargain.
Shin Borah: Charm 20, average looks, but 2 years left—mere 4 gold impulse buy.
"Good haul, right?"
Jo Jaehun beamed with satisfaction. Gisohee nodded, eyeing Seojun.
"Kinda matches our boyfriend's tastes, though?"
Seojun patted her ass.
"Don't worry."
"Still..."
Gisohee grumbled on, but it just sounded cute.
With sex slaves secured, they headed for the exit. There, at the last spot, sat a woman in leather armor—not sex slave garb.
What's this?
Average build: feminine curves, modestly sized chest and hips. But her face was breathtakingly beautiful. Small, fist-sized with long hair framing an idol-perfect visage.
Unlike the others in seductive exposures or flash, she wore plain leather armor. As Seojun activated God's Eye, a nearby merchant handed over a placard.
◈ Charm:40
◈ Term:6 Years
◈ Price:12 Gold
Hm? A slave worth Seojun's interest had appeared.