Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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>Translator: Vine
>Chapter: 38
>Chapter Title: An Unexpected Summons
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Y-You have to protect me, Contractor!
A man completely wrapped in a fine, silk-soft robe leaned far over the terrace railing, gripping it tightly.
His gaze was fixed on a boy with snow-white hair muttering to himself—Rian.
“Hah, haaah—… So… so beautiful!”
The voice that slipped from beneath the robe was gruff and heavy. Behind him, Otugi, who was bent halfway at the waist and rubbing his hands together like a fly, swallowed dryly and spoke in a saccharine voice.
“It was a stage specially prepared for you, Lord Totogen. How was it?”
“Ah—, it was… it was truly a magnificent stage.”
The man’s excited voice slurred as if he were drunk. Otugi rubbed his hands together vigorously, a sickeningly wide grin on his face. Then, the man known as the dark merchant, Totogen, pulled a heavy money pouch from within his robe and tossed it to him.
“Oh—my, thank you! I will continue to prepare excellent stages for you in the future!”
Otugi’s eyes sparkled as he bowed deeply, carefully tucking the money pouch away.
“Then, have a good time—”
“Wait.”
Before Otugi could finish, Totogen raised a hand, cutting him off.
“Those two with the white hair.”
“Y-Yes.”
“I’ll buy them.”
“Excuse me…?”
“How much will it be?”
Slaves with outstanding looks and great skill were rare.
Every time they took the stage, countless influential figures who called themselves their fans would come to watch. Of course, these figures didn't come to watch the matches without a purpose.
Many came to use the ‘star’ slaves as their playthings for a night.
Those who bought a gladiatorial slave for a night would force them into all sorts of cruel acts or use them in horrific experiments.
Sometimes the gladiators died, but in such cases, the arena could demand a sum greater than what the slave would have earned in a lifetime.
If that was what Totogen wanted, it wasn't an impossible request, but buying them outright was a different story.
‘If I think about the money those two will bring in the future…’
Would only one person buy a night with a gladiatorial slave? If he sold a night to powerful men like Totogen every day, the money would overflow.
Factoring all that in, the price would be staggering. No matter how wealthy Totogen was, a sum like that would surely be a burden.
“Well—… the two white-haired slaves were specially brought in by Lord Jiso, so it will be difficult to sell them. Haha…”
“Hmm… then how about buying a night?”
“...! That would be possible! However, they are still young slaves, so their bodies are weaker than you might think. If you play with them too roughly, they might break. In that case—”
“In that case, I will compensate for everything. Book me for the next year.”
“…..!!”
To monopolize a star slave for a whole year wasn't just spending money like water; it was like pouring it out like a waterfall.
Otugi’s eyes, which had been darting about as he did a rough calculation, trembled uncontrollably before a dopey grin spread across his face.
“Then it shall be done! Which slave would you like?”
“May I see them and choose myself?”
“Of course!”
Otugi nodded his head rapidly. Having calmed his excitement somewhat, Totogen left the terrace overlooking the arena and headed to the spacious living room connected to it.
As he sat on the sofa, his personal attendant and secretary began to wait on him. Otugi backpedaled and said.
“If you need anything at all, please call for me anytime! I will come running.”
Totogen didn't answer, merely moistening his throat with the tea his attendant brought him. Otugi scurried out of the room.
“Quick, get the white-haired kid who just fought and his sister all dressed up!”
“Yes, sir!”
At Otugi’s excited command, those who were on standby rushed off.
***
After stuffing Iris’s mouth full of snacks, I returned to our room, holding hands tightly with her, as she refused to let go.
*Whoosh!*
The moment I opened the door, something flew toward me. It was the demon sword I had tossed on the bed.
[ Give me blood—… Aaaack! ]
The demon sword, which had been flying straight for my stomach, was caught by the hilt by Iris.
[ L-Let gooo—… ]
The sword flailed, letting out a dying groan.
*Clang!*
Iris slammed the sword she was holding onto the floor.
[ Augh… ]
The sword rolled pitifully on the ground. Iris whipped her head toward me and pointed at the sword with her fingertip.
Having spent the whole day with her, I had gotten somewhat used to understanding her intentions. I could tell that she was pointing at the demon sword as if to ask, ‘Can I break that?’
[ Eek! You damn dog of a god! I am the great demon sword Gargandoa! How dare you treat me with such disrespect—…! ]
Ignoring the yapping sword, I said to Iris.
“You can’t break that sword. Understand?”
[ So—… Wait, break me? ]
“Hmph…”
At my words, the demon sword freaked out, and Iris grew sullen. The sword clattered across the floor, rolling to my feet before righting itself. The hilt and the flat of the blade pressed against my calf.
[ H-Hey, Contractor. You’re not really going to break me, are you? ]
“Since when was I your contractor?”
[ W-Well! Since you grabbed me and swung me around so mercilessly, of course! ]
The demon sword, not wanting to be annihilated, clung tightly to me and whined. It almost looked like a person clinging to my pant leg.
*Fwoosh!*
The moment the demon sword acknowledged me as its contractor, a strange symbol was carved onto the back of my hand. The crimson symbol looked like it was designed by a teenager deep in their edgy phase.
[ It’s too late to back out now! The two of us are bound by a contract. The symbol on the back of your hand is the proof… S-So, you have to protect me, Contractor! ]
Like a mouse before a cat, the demon sword shifted its body slightly each time Iris’s gaze fell upon it, hiding behind my ankle.
‘Now she’s even playing… I’m so moved.’
Watching Iris’s narrowed eyes follow the sword as it clung to me was like watching a cat’s eyes dart back and forth, following a foxtail toy.
I was moved to see the child who used to just sit there blankly now reacting to other things.
“Stop it now. You’re going to slice my ankle.”
Though the flat of the blade was against my skin to avoid injury, I could get hurt if the sword kept moving around like this.
‘It’s such a pain to clean up.’
Nothing was harder to clean up than blood, so I grabbed the sword by the hilt and lifted it. As Iris’s intense gaze fixed on the sword, it began to drip what looked like cold sweat.
[ Ugh…! C-Contractor, when you need me, just say Gargandoa in your mind! Got it?! ]
“Huh? O-Okay.”
At the sword’s urgent tone, I nodded. The sword turned into light and entered the back of my hand. The symbol flashed ominously before settling down.
“Ooh, that’s convenient.”
I was rubbing the back of my hand, about to call Gargandoa’s name in my head, when—
*Clunk!*
The door suddenly burst open, and a familiar rat beastkin entered. The rat beastkin confirmed it was me and Iris, then took a step to the side.
About ten people stood behind him. Dressed in tight-fitting clothes, they wore turbans on their heads and had their faces covered with thin cloths.
“An important guest has summoned them, so prepare them properly.”
“Yes, sir!”
They pushed their way inside and lifted me and Iris into the air. Like they were tossing us in celebration, they lifted us up and started carrying us somewhere.
Iris, perhaps because she wasn't separated from me, showed little reaction and just stared intently at the back of my hand.
‘Summoned by an important guest?’
I had no idea what was going on, so I looked around. Soon, they arrived at a place I had never seen before.
It looked like a bathhouse at first glance.
“Wash them thoroughly and then dress them up. Use only the finest clothes!”
At the rat beastkin’s command, Iris and I were set down on the floor. I quickly gathered that we were about to be washed.
‘I can’t resist here.’
I recalled the story I’d heard about the ‘iron collars’ when I went to get snacks earlier.
‘They said all sorts of magic was cast on them to easily handle disobedient slaves.’
There was magic that delivered electric shocks, of course, and even magic that made one feel the pain of being cut by knives all over their body. If I resisted here and the magic activated, it would be a loss for both of us.
“Iris, we’ll see each other again soon, so be good. Okay?”
Since we couldn't bathe while holding hands, I whispered quietly to Iris while the people in wraps prepared to wash us.
Iris looked back and forth between my hand and my face, then lowered her head with a sullen expression. Her fidgeting hand slowly let go of mine.
“Hurry up and move!”
Right on cue, the rat beastkin’s impatient voice rang out. My worry that we might be bathed together due to the sibling act was unfounded; Iris and I were taken to separate rooms.
From the conversations I overheard, it seemed the preparation process was different for men and women.
In an instant, my clothes were stripped off, and I was thrown into a bath filled with some fragrant concoction. The thought of being embarrassed about having my clothes taken off in front of others didn't last long.
‘Huh…?’
Someone was washing my hair, while another washed my body. I floated peacefully in the warm tub and thought.
‘This is kind of… like that therapy course I went on with my mother, isn’t it?’
I floated in the water like a happy sea otter. For some reason, the hands washing me seemed to grow even gentler.