The Broken Slave's Hidden Potential

The next day, Namgung Seojun visited the slave market again to fill the last open spot in his party. The merchant he'd made a deal with yesterday was waiting for him.

"There are a lot of 2nd Class Slaves here. Even some resident slaves. But as we discussed yesterday... their conditions might be pretty rough."

"That's fine."

Only after hearing his response did the merchant begin the tour. The two headed to a dim corner of the slave market, toward a large, gloomy tent shop in a street with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

"Welcome."

The shop owner greeted Namgung Seojun and his guide with a grating, unpleasant voice like metal scraping metal. His face was hidden behind a mask.

"Show me the 2nd Class Slaves, focused on residents."

"Of course. Everything in my shop is 2nd Class. Plenty of residents too—browse to your heart's content."

They pushed aside the tent flap at the entrance ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and stepped inside. Lining the walls were naked slaves bound and displayed. Over a hundred of them... all women. But their conditions were poor.

Scars on their bodies, or just in bad shape overall.

Namgung Seojun scanned them as he moved deeper inside. The merchant spoke up.

"The back has even worse ones."

Undeterred, Seojun pressed on. Further in, women slaves without arms or legs were on display.

"Ah... this place..."

"Yes, this is an Orc Bento specialty shop."

These limbless 2nd Class female slaves were what foreign race called "Orc Bentos" in slang.foreign race would buy human 2nd Class Slaves, amputate their limbs to reduce weight, strap them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to their backs for use as onaholes on a daily basis, and eat them as emergency rations—hence the name. Nowadays, some humans with twisted fetishes did the same to 2nd Class Slaves, turning them into custom onaholes.

The shop owner explained enthusiastically.

"Our shop specializes in Orc Bentos. We customize slaves to whatever form our customers desire. Kekeke."

This section had finished Orc Bentos—women without limbs—but if you picked another and requested it, they'd modify her into your preferred Orc Bento shape.

Having heard the explanation, Namgung Seojun examined the female slaves hanging in the shop again. Their eyes were lifeless. Devoid of hope. Designated as trash and sold here, these 2nd Class Slaves awaited only death, surviving as Orc Bentos and onaholes.

Past the complete Orc Bento women, he went even deeper. Now, even more severely trashed women appeared.

"Hehehe..."

Anyone could see she was insane. A woman who'd lost her mind was on display. Beside her were various 2nd Class Slaves in terrible states.

Wounds, tattoos, piercings, brands—the basics.

A variety of scars were common. Hideous burns and gashes too.

No arms or legs. That one's missing an eye. One breast sliced off?

Many had partial body ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠damage. The women were broken in all sorts of ways. 2nd Class Slaves were consumables. Abused relentlessly by previous owners, they accumulated permanent scars that devalued them over time. Such severe wounds, scars, or damage could be healed with a temple's Greater Restoration, but since the cost exceeded the slave's price... for economic reasons, these women awaited their fate as Orc Bentos.

"Kekeke. From here on are the resident-born 2nd Class Slaves."

There was a separate area for resident 2nd Class female slaves. Residents had inferior traits, abilities, and skills compared to Summoned, making them more prone to becoming trash. Even here, they were scorned more than Summoned ones.

Namgung Seojun scanned the resident 2nd Class Slaves with God's Eye. Their conditions were so dire his expression soured, prompting the guide to ask:

"Even with lots of residents, this place isn't great. I think I messed up."

"No. Hold on. I'll check them all."

Even so, Seojun examined the slaves with God's Eye. It was shocking, but he tried to get used to it. 2nd Class Slaves were beyond divine protection—no reason for him to save them. But if he spotted potential and bought one, it would be a small salvation. So he checked every resident 2nd Class Slave's status window.

Then, his eyes caught a cage with slaves not even properly displayed. These were trash among trash: insane, severely damaged, or untreatable. Sold to merchants heading to the 30th floor, destined to be shipped to foreign race as human meat.

Hm?

One woman in that cage stood out. A black-haired beauty. But her body was a canvas of scars, brands, and tattoos. Scars marred her face too, her eyes filled with despair. Missing fingers, nipples sliced from her huge breasts. Her anus torn, leaking a bit of shit. Worst of all, severe STDs—pus oozing from her pussy. Death was all that lay ahead.

Garyunmi's level 14, Charm 48.

Her name was Garyunmi. High Charm for a resident, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but no notable talents or skills. She'd endured hell as a 2nd Class Slave, then been discarded upon contracting a deadly STD. A temple Greater Restoration could save her, but it cost several times her price.

But she has a latent trait. Water Spirit Arts... mid-grade, no less.

She had value. A very rare trait: Water Spirit Arts, mid-grade latent.

Namgung Seojun pointed at Garyunmi.

"How much for that slave?"

His guide panicked first at the choice.

"Seojun-nim, these have serious wounds or damage."

Seojun knew, and asked the shop owner again.

"How much?"

"Kekeke. Unique tastes. Just 6 gold. With her bad STDs, not great for strangling while fucking her throat..."

Not wanting to hear the owner's twisted fantasies, he cut in.

"Here. Sold."

Namgung Seojun handed over 6 gold. The owner pocketed it eagerly.

"Take her right away. Kekeke."

Satisfied with selling Garyunmi for more than expected, the owner. With her severe STDs and half-dead state, she could barely walk. Seojun wrapped her in his cloak and carried her out.

"Seojun-nim... you sure about this?"

The guide felt genuinely sorry. Even with many 2nd Class, he regretted bringing him here.

Yet Namgung Seojun had chosen and bought Garyunmi.

"No, I'm grateful. You introduced plenty of slaves that satisfied me. Thank you."

Seojun thanked the merchant.

Namgung Seojun took Garyunmi straight to the temple.

"Greater Restoration, please."

The priest checked her state.

"For her... her womb's nearly rotted. 40 gold to save her life."

"Heal all wounds."

"Full body... 60 gold."

Namgung Seojun paid 60 gold immediately. The priest was surprised; Garyunmi, more so.

"Hoho... impressive. As expected of an Apostle."

The priest knew the world. Garyunmi wasn't worth 60 gold, yet Seojun spent anyway, taking a loss to save her.

A senior priest cast Greater Restoration, and Garyunmi's body gradually healed. Pus stopped flowing from her pussy; her torn anus mended. Scratches, tattoos, brands across her body faded and vanished. She wept as she recovered, her looks fully restored. Charm rose to 58. Now a fine woman.

To her, Namgung Seojun invested more.

"Low-grade Stamina trait, please."

Garyunmi gained a new low-grade Stamina trait.

"Random low-grade trait book too."

She read it, gaining low-grade Mana trait. Perfect synergy with her latent Water Spirit Arts.

His lavish investments—everything, even her life, which she'd forsaken. At first, too weak to react, she now had to ask, curiosity overwhelming.

"Why... treat me so well?"

No master did this for a mere 2nd Class Slave.

"Investing in you as your owner."

His words opened a new world to her.

Accepting Garyunmi, Namgung Seojun introduced her to the party.

"New porter, Garyunmi."

The regular members were puzzled seeing her. A beautiful 2nd Class Slave woman. As a porter...?

"First time as porter. Nice to meet you."

She said it herself, but it made no sense.

Namgung Seojun deliberately chose not to awaken her mid-grade Water Spirit Arts trait yet. She'd forsaken life; this unexpected salvation left her emotions in turmoil. Plus, a lifetime as a sex slave—sudden spirit summoner role would overwhelm her. So, he'd have her work as porter, build physical training and mental stability first.

"Party recruitment complete."

All agreed.

They'd completed a 25-person party.

"Final adaptation training tomorrow. Depart in three days."

Thus, the climb schedule was set.