Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Snap!!
My hand burned like it had been scalded.
The slave I had just been trying to help had batted my hand away.
“Go away.”
“I… I’m trying to help you…”
“Disgusting.”
The growl dripping with hostility and murderous intent resembled that of a wild beast.
I gritted my teeth and clutched my swelling, red hand, swallowing a scream.
‘Damn… the path of short-term gains is brutal right from the start.’
The people from the slums, drawn by the earlier commotion, were staring at me openly.
“Wow, he actually bought that thing for three gold coins?”
“Tsk tsk, didn’t even have a clue and wasted his entire fortune chasing some hero complex.”
“He’s a total sucker, got played completely.”
The murmurs and mocking laughter scraped unpleasantly across my ears.
I forced a smile through gritted teeth.
‘Calm down. Even if they ridicule me for being a sucker, this thing is a [mega theme stock] capable of burning down the entire market. I just need to tolerate it until it pays off.’
I smoothed over my crumpled pride and tried again to speak gently to the crouching figure on the ground.
“Your previous owner sold you. Now you belong to me. So relax your fierce expression and get up—come with me.”
But the creature remained silent.
Like a massive boulder rooted to the ground, it glared at me with its pitiful, battered form and refused to budge.
‘Ugh… should I drag it by force?’
The impulse flared briefly, but I shook my head. This was a tough one—absorbing that brutal whipping without a single cry.
Sigh… today’s pay was already a complete loss.
First, I had to somehow get this thing home.
“Hey, are you just going to lie there? What do you even want?”
Its eyes burned with hostility, still giving no answer.
I pressed my fingers to my forehead, deep in thought.
‘This is exactly like a stubborn dog who sprawls on the street refusing to go home after a walk.’
Even the most stubborn dog had one surefire cheat: treats.
‘No way… it’s a dragon, for crying out loud. You really think I can lure it like a pet with food? Ridiculous…’
Even as I thought that, I threw a small bait in front of its eyes, desperate.
“Do you want to come eat?”
A twitch.
Its shoulder trembled slightly.
“Meat.”
“……Huh?”
The moment the word “meat” left my mouth, the previously immovable creature sprang to its feet.
And, as if completely natural, it positioned itself directly behind me. Its expression remained fierce, but its steps were obedient, more so than any loyal dog.
‘…That actually worked? What happened to the noble pride of a dragon?!’
I almost laughed in disbelief. The bait operation was a complete success.
I hurried home, my new “investment” tailing closely behind.
Creak.
“Oh, Nasus? You’re home early. Did you forget something at work…?”
Opening the old door, Camellia greeted me with a bright smile—the same dazzling one from the morning.
But the moment her gaze fell on the mysterious, imposing figure standing behind me, the smile vanished as if it had never been there.
“……Nasus.”
“Uh, hey! Camellia! I… it’s not what it looks like!”
A figure covered in mud and whip marks, emitting a foul stench, stood behind me.
And I had brought it here.
The moment I saw Camellia’s expression harden, warning sirens blared in my mind.
She had begged me not to bring in more slaves this morning, and now, just hours later, I had brought another woman home—anyone would misunderstand.
“Ca-Camellia! This isn’t what you think—!”
I waved my hands frantically, stumbling through excuses.
But my words were cut off by her calm, yet firm voice.
“Nasus.”
Camellia stepped closer.
Her gaze was fixed not on me, but on the bloodied slave behind me.
Confidence shone in her eyes.
“Seeing them like this… I think I understand why you brought them here.”
“Huh…?”
“You… are always like this. You can’t pass by someone dying without helping, even at the cost of your own effort…”
She recalled how I had saved her two years ago when she was on the brink of death. Now, she believed I had once again intervened to rescue a helpless life.
‘Better to let her think that than explain this is a short-term investment.’
“Ah, haha… right. I couldn’t just ignore it. Thanks for understanding, Camellia. I’ll explain everything later.”
I exhaled, wiping the cold sweat from my forehead.
I gestured to the still hostile “new stock” behind me.
“Come inside. There’s water in the back—wash off that mud and blood first. Camellia, can you check their wounds?”
“Yes, leave it to me. I’ll bring the medicine.”
As Camellia hurried behind me, the dragon-like slave growled in a rough, metallic-tinged voice.
“I don’t need a wash. Hand over the promised meat.”
“Ah, first wash, then—”
“Meat. Now.”
It cut me off, exuding murderous intent.
The obedient puppy I had led home had vanished, replaced by a feral beast.
‘Please don’t breathe fire in this small room…’
I backed away nervously.
“No, that’s not allowed.”
Camellia’s quiet but absolute voice stopped it.
“First the wash, then treatment. Food comes after.”
Her expression was not the timid, gentle face I knew.
It was the strict, motherly glare of someone scolding a muddy child.
The room froze in tension.
After a tense moment of eye contact, the creature emitted a low, beast-like whine. Then.
“……Fine.”
It resignedly moved toward the bathroom.
“Here are towels and clothes—wash thoroughly from head to toe!”
Camellia followed, scolding it as it shut the bathroom door obediently.
I stared, stunned, at the surreal scene.
‘What…? How can it act so vicious toward me, yet obey Camellia?’
While water ran in the bathroom, Camellia and I worked busily in the cramped kitchen.
“Nasus, should I add this much meat?”
“Yes, dump it all in! Early on, you need a strong, nutrient-rich boost to earn loyalty.”
The rich, fatty smell of meat stew filled the small home, something this slum wouldn’t even get on a holiday.
Click.
The bathroom door opened. Out came a figure surrounded by steam.
The slave, wearing the clothes Camellia had provided.
Long black hair to the waist,
bright red eyes,
numerous scars, yet strikingly sharp and mesmerizing features
Even after washing, it radiated an aura unlike any human servant.
“Sit here.”
Camellia firmly guided it to a chair.
The black-haired slave glanced between Camellia and me, then, unlike before, obediently sat.
“This might sting a bit.”
Camellia carefully applied ointment to the whip marks while I set steaming stew on the table.
“Once the treatment is done, eat! I added plenty of meat…”
Crunch!! Munch munch!!
Before I could finish, it grabbed the bowl with both hands and buried its face in it.
Like a black hole, the stew disappeared at an astonishing speed.
Not even chewing? The meat chunks were fist-sized?!
“Wait… slow down! You’ll get sick!”
Thud!
It slammed the empty bowl onto the table. Not a drop of broth remained.
I’m confident it took less than ten seconds.
It wiped its lips, stared at me sharply, and held the empty bowl out.
“More.”
“Oh, uh… okay. Good appetite… did your previous owner not feed you?”
While stirring the pot, its gaze flickered and its low voice murmured:
“……They did terrible things to me.”
“Eh?”
“For the entire time… it was awful.”
The words hit me. This was strictly a short-term investment. Sharing emotional stories would cloud my judgment.
Internally, I reminded myself of that, but I couldn’t just ignore it completely.
“Ah… I see. You’ve suffered a lot. What happened?”
Despite my hollow sympathy, it devoured the second bowl in seven seconds, leaving no trace.
Slurp!
It held out the empty bowl again.
“More.”
“Eat slowly…”
“The cruel slave merchant….”
The creature finally spoke, teeth grinding with rage:
“They only gave me three meals a day!”
“…What?”
“And only one bowl per meal… it was the worst torture of my life…”
I shivered, recalling Myrtle’s warning at the tavern:
“Before it breathes fire, you’ll go bankrupt feeding it.”
I was prepared, but… this was beyond the line.
Three days.
Within that time, I must sell it at peak value.