Chapter 146: The Value of Five Platinum Coins
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 146: The Value of Five Platinum Coins
"Nice to meet you. I’m the buyer who just purchased you all."
Since a soundproof magic spell had been cast on the iron cage to prevent those inside from hearing the conversation outside, I stepped in and offered a bright, proper greeting to my newly acquired slaves.
No matter how they were treated elsewhere, they were now my property, bought for over 30 gold each. I needed to manage them well so I could get my money's worth for a long, long time. Maintaining a good relationship was essential, so I greeted them with an almost excessive amount of kindness.
"I don't know what you were talking about outside that cage, but I have no intention of following orders quietly."
"Ugh... I want to go home..."
"Signal hijacking... pirate broadcasts... restore the transmission tower..."
"This is driving me crazy."
Despite my friendly greeting, the lizardwoman was incredibly defiant, the Alraune was weeping like a kidnap victim, and the Dreamer was spouting nonsense about signal hijacking—stuff that didn't fit this world at all.
Are all three of them out of their minds? Should I have haggled for a lower price?
I guess I didn't push hard enough on the price because I was thinking about how cheaply I got Olivia and Marin. The quality of these goods is a mess.
I immediately glared at the slave trader. I gave him a look that could kill.
"N-now, wait! They might talk like that, but they’ll do what they’re told once you put them to work."
"You’re sure they’re worth the price, right?"
"I’m telling you, they are! Slaves are supposed to have a bit of a rebellious streak at first. Isn't that right?"
"Hmm."
I’d already been warned that the Dreamer was like that, so I’d let that slide for now. The Alraune and the lizardwoman were the real problems.
"Hey, Telen. You shouldn't act so unlikable from the very first meeting."
"Hmph. Why should I care about making a good impression? I’m a slave anyway. No matter what I do, I have no freedom. It’s all over!"
"This girl... Hey. Didn't you crawl in here voluntarily?"
The slave shops in the black market usually dealt with people who had gone bankrupt, those who couldn't find work because of a criminal record, or those who couldn't survive on their own due to a curse.
Because of that, the proportion of people who became "voluntary slaves" was higher here than elsewhere.
"Voluntary? Do you have any idea what it feels like to lose your home overnight and end up on the streets? This rotten city... I should never have come to a place like this in the first place..."
Telen began to vent her frustrations as if she’d been waiting for the chance.
"I can't even leave the city looking like this. If I go out, I’ll be hunted down as a monster. And who would hire me? Nobody hires a lizard! It’s speciesism! My only choices were to starve to death or go to the Magic Tower to become an experimental subject. In a situation with only those two rotten options... voluntary? I was practically dragged here."
She had no money to dispel the curse. No one would properly hire those afflicted by the Curse of Transformation, and the moment they stepped outside the city, they were hunted.
I’d heard it was especially difficult for those who turned into reptiles or insects to find work, as opposed to mammals.
In that situation, her home—the only thing protecting her from the elements—was forcibly demolished. Faced with the immediate reality of not knowing where her next meal would come from, her only paths were starvation, becoming a lab rat for the Magic Tower, or becoming a slave.
"So in the end, you came here because you thought being a slave was the better option, didn't you?"
"I became a slave to stay alive, but I didn't realize there was no way out of it. Once a slave, always a slave until death. If I had known the path to improving my status was completely blocked, I would have rather died."
It was true that once you became a slave, there was virtually no way to be freed. That was why she was in despair.
"What is it you want?"
"Freedom. And liberation."
"But you can't have freedom or liberation in that state. You didn't have the money to break the Curse of Transformation."
"Because it’s as expensive as resurrection. I wasn't wealthy like you."
"Let’s say I gave you your freedom. What would you do then?"
"I’d go back to my hometown. I’d leave this city. I’d never step foot in the Labyrinth ever again."
"So your dream is to go home."
It was a modest dream.
It was hard to read her expression since she was a lizard, but for some reason, her eyes looked incredibly sorrowful.
Ever since the Curse of Transformation turned her into a lizard, she must have been dreaming of going back to her hometown.
"I can't grant you both freedom and liberation right now. But since your situation is pitiful, I’ll try to make things as comfortable as possible. I’ll even let you write letters to your family back home."
"Letters? Haha. Sure. Letters are great."
"Don't be sarcastic. You have to follow my orders anyway. You know that."
"Tch."
"Let’s try to get along. The harder you work, the more favors I’ll grant you. Maybe I’ll even let you visit your hometown someday."
"As a slave? Looking like this?"
"It can't be helped. Who knows, maybe if you work enough to pay for the removal of the Curse of Transformation... but if you keep being rebellious like this, I’ll have no choice but to treat you as a mere tool."
"...What do you want me to do? In the end, aren't you just another deviant? You’re planning on spending a night with a lizard, aren't you? You’re all the same. You just want to play with me out of curiosity and whim."
"Holy shit! What are you talking about?! You crazy bitch!"
This woman had been completely mistaken from the start.
Sleeping with a lizard? Was she insane? She wasn't even human... God, that was disgusting.
"No matter how broad my tastes are, how could I sleep with someone who isn't even human?! Are you crazy? Talk about being full of yourself."
"That’s uncalled for! I was actually a pretty popular item, you know?"
A popular item? Where on earth was she popular?
Are there actually deviants who want to sleep with lizards? Who the hell wants to screw a Lizardman?
This is driving me nuts. I can sort of understand furries, but the thought of screwing a bipedal reptile made me want to gag.
"Whatever, bullshit. And aren't you a lizard? Don't you have a cloaca? Ugh, god. Anal with a lizard is just beyond repulsive. Barf..."
"What?! You bastard, that’s going too far! I-I was... popular... popular... ah..."
She was pretending to have been popular when she clearly wasn't.
For all I know, she might even be a virgin. It was weird that there was even a demand for her in the first place. And if there had been a demand, she would have made a living off it. She wouldn't have had to become a slave.
"Ugh, enough. From now on, you’ll be working as a maid in my mansion. You’re in charge of pest control and handling vermin. So stop talking nonsense and do your job right."
"...Tch."
I firmly suppressed the rebellious slave's pride and turned her submissive.
The other two seemed compliant enough.
The Alraune just seems to have a timid personality. And that woman just keeps spouting weird nonsense; other than that, she should be fine, right?
Since I didn't have a place to take them immediately, I decided to leave them at the slave shop for about two days.
I needed to do some basic repairs on the mansion before bringing them over. There was no place for them to sleep if I took them right now.
"I'll be back to pick them up in two days."
"Understood. I'll have them ready."
I left a deposit and walked out of the shop.
I’d bought the slaves. I’d finished everything I needed to do.
I figured I’d stop by the Magic Tower briefly and then head home.
I have to be dragged to the council meeting tomorrow...
It would be best to get to sleep early tonight.
Every day was so busy. I had to enter the Labyrinth soon, too. I’d promised the Young Lady’s party that I’d go with them, but I wondered if I could fit it into my schedule.
I wasn't sure.
There were three major tasks remaining.
First, moving into the mansion.
Second, securing the Labyrinth development rights and Lafnel’s freedom at the City Council.
And finally, taking the Spirit Beast's Heart to the Druid Club.
I still have one Spirit Beast's Heart left.
I’d used one to put Helena into the hatchling’s body.
There was one more left, and I felt like if I kept putting it off, I’d eventually forget about it. Since it was on my mind, I figured I should hurry up and trade it for a summon.
I should go to the Druid Club first.
I needed to stop by and get something before I started exploring the Labyrinth in earnest.
I’d heard the club president was a druid who could handle this, but I wondered if it was true.
Let’s skip the Magic Tower today and just go to the Druid Club.
I wasn't sure if Olivia would still be there at this hour, but if she was still in class, I could just go home with her.
"Uung? Sion?"
"Miss Horaru. It’s been a while."
"Are you here to see Olivia?"
"Yes. And I was also wondering if I could meet the Druid Club President."
"Ah-hang. He should be in today. Want to go together?"
"Yes. I’d appreciate it if you could take me there."
"Uung. Follow me."
I followed Horaru to the top floor of the club building.
As we entered a room filled with a strangely calming scent of herbs, an old gnome was dozing at a desk.
"President. President!"
"Whoa... Ah. Horaru. Who’s the human next to you?"
"The person with the Spirit Beast's Heart."
"The young man you mentioned before?"
"Ung. That’s him."
The Druid Club President scrambled out and grabbed my hand.
"You, where did you get that?"
"That’s a trade secret."
"Fine. Then, do you have any intention of selling it? I have a place where I desperately need to use one."
"Huh? For how much?"
"Five platinum coins."
"...."
I hadn't planned on selling it for anything less than 100 gold.
But five platinum coins? 500 gold?
"...."
For a moment, I was seized by agonizing indecision.
Should I sell the Spirit Beast's Heart and secure a massive sum of cash?
Or should I just use it to pull another summon for myself?
It was maddening. 500 gold was a truly staggering amount.
It was a sum of money that most adventurers would never even touch in their entire lives.
The Spirit Beast's Heart, which I’d bartered for with monster corpses, had returned to me with a value of 500 gold.
I wondered how the Saintess would react if she heard this news.
The Saintess, who had handed me two Spirit Beast's Hearts in exchange for three bottles of Exir and some Killer Bee royal jelly.
I hadn't expected to be offered such a high price.
"What will it be? Won't you sell it to me?"
500 gold. It was too much money to refuse.
However, it was uncertain when I’d ever get another Spirit Beast's Heart.
I’ll be getting the reward for the giant hunt from the Frogman. And if I can eventually recruit him...
I might be able to obtain Spirit Beast's Hearts periodically.
It wasn't an impossible item to get. In fact, it was something that could be supplied if one could descend to the 7th floor.
But once Spirit Beast's Hearts started circulating in the market like that, I’d never be able to sell one for this price again.
I agonized over the decision, weighing my options again and again.