Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Translator : Elizabeth
“Now, let’s go back.”
‘What kind of strength…!’
A silver-haired girl grabbing a stranger's arm out of nowhere and dragging him along. She looked about high school age, but even when I tried to pull my arm back, she didn't budge an inch.
“Uh, wait… Who are you to do this?!”
Unable to shake her off with my own strength alone, I first shouted, continuing my meaningless resistance. At the question of who she was, the girl stopped and spun around. Her silver hair, which came down to her waist, swayed greatly with the movement.
The girl, who had killed her faint smile and returned to a stoic face, stared up at me and moved her lips.
“…Bundle of money.”
A familiar word coming from a slender voice. A nickname that had fallen from my lips at some point. Short memories flash by at the familiar resonance.
‘Bundle… of money? Ah.’
A short sigh of realization flowing inwardly. Time rewinds to seven years ago.
First, the role of slave traders is transferred to convents. Second, existing slaves are also handed over to nearby convents. Third, the sale and purchase of slaves is strictly prohibited. Fourth, traders who have their slaves confiscated will be paid 10 silver coins per person, regardless of the subjective value the trader deals in. However, if the person who was a slave wishes to remain bound, they will not be confiscated.
The notice of the enactment of the Slave Prohibition Act flowed from the King's mouth. It was simple and clear, but news like a bolt from the blue.
The grace period given without a choice. Until the coming first day, that is… before the new month begins. It was a hellish moment where all slave traders existing in the city were degraded into vicious door-to-door salesmen.
“Madam! Right now, a strong slave from a foreign country is only fifteen silver coins…!” “Hmph, I don’t need one.” “Hey, you there! Didn’t you say you were looking for a magic assistant a while ago!? If it’s now, I’ll give them to you for the price you offered!” “Ha, when did you call me a beggar… look elsewhere.” “N-No! That was a mistake!”
The streets in broad daylight were truly engulfed in chaos. Slave traders trying to somehow make more than 10 silver coins. Misers trying to grasp opportunities that had already left. Even nobles buying slaves in bulk at insane discount rates, trying to recruit them into their households in advance.
The law intended to ban slaves paradoxically created the week with the most active slave trading.
‘Crazy….’
A street that could truly be called a scene of madness. It was a spectacle that forced curses to flow inwardly.
I blindly gathered the kids from the basement and came out to the street, but the atmosphere wasn't one where I could dare suggest a purchase anywhere. I have to send the kids to a place that looks good somehow. I don’t even hope for ten silver coins; it’s fine if they just accept them. It seems other slave traders are thinking of somehow making more than ten silver coins, though….
In the newly enacted laws, there is a hidden clause that is fatally linked for slave traders.
-Third, the sale and purchase of slaves is strictly prohibited. -However, if the person who was a slave wishes to remain bound, they will not be confiscated.
This clause, which at a glance seems to respect the slave's right to choose, was a highly toxic provision that would unfold a living hell for the merchant the moment it was combined.
The sale and purchase of slaves is prohibited from now on, but a slave who wishes to remain bound is not confiscated? That means, effectively, ‘You take care of them for the rest of your life.’
What if they choose to remain bound because they have good memories of the merchant? It becomes a relationship bound by law until the slave themselves wishes to be confiscated. What kind of otherworldly bomb-passing is this? To think the kindness I’ve shown so far would return in this way.
Since such a conclusion was reached in my head, I had to act differently from others.
The first place I visited was a quiet knight order barracks. The place I went to entrust Shane, who chattered like a parrot asking how to become a knight. What kind of crazy guy in the world would come here to sell a slave? That was exactly me.
“Shane, you asked how to become a knight, right?” “Huh? Oh! Are you going to tell me, Mister?” “Yeah! Stick to the uncle here and don’t let go!”
As I was speaking crazy nonsense filled with conviction at Shane’s bold question, the guard-cum-knight guarding the front of the barracks was looking down at me with absurd eyes.
“…Hey, are you out of your mind?” “Would you be in your right mind if you were me!”
I shout loudly even in a situation where I would normally be intimidated. If I miss the timing anyway, we’ll all starve to death together. Naturally, there’s no way I’m in my right mind.
“I-I won’t ask for money, please just do something about this… child with a promising future.” “No, this is really troubling….”
Belatedly grabbing the string of reason that had snapped, I bowed my head servilely and appealed to his emotions to somehow accept Shane.
“Mister, like this?”
As soon as Shane stuck smack onto the armored leg, an impulsive decision was made in my heart. The decision to escape that spot with all my might.
“Thank youuuu!” “H-Hey! I said it’s still troubling… Hey! Stop there!”
At the same time as my lips parted, I took my feet off the ground. The street I ran down, leaving the flustered knight’s shout behind. When I suddenly looked back, Shane, grabbing the leg with a gaze full of admiration, was hindering him from running.
Good job Shane, achieve your cool dream just like that! After cheering briefly in my heart, I headed to the next destination without even looking back.
The building I arrived at next was also one of the public institutions. It was a facility where magic was researched for public purposes.
“This kid has a talent for magic, how about 50 silver coins? It’s cheap! Buy him assuming you’re saving a life!”
At that place, which I thought would be quiet, there was already a merchant who had come dragging a pile of slaves.
“…I am sorry, but please go back.” “Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!”
Being flatly rejected at the facility, the fat slave trader moved away cursing. Although it was a bit burdensome since someone had just been chased out, I started walking there carefully and slowly.
Seeing that I brought a few decent-looking kids, the woman with blue hair frowned instantly.
“I am sorry, but we do not accept the purchase of slaves.”
As if she naturally knew the reason I came, she showed an attitude close to turning me away at the door with a preconceived guess. Gasping for breath that had become ragged from running away from the barracks in a hurry, I gently put the children down to stand on the floor and spoke.
“No, it’s not that… just a moment.”
Once I held her with words, I slowly caught my breath and asked the two I had put down.
“Valen, Haley… don’t you want to learn magic?”
That Valen and Haley each had a talent for magic was something I had figured out long ago in the basement. Understanding the condition of the merchandise is a slave trader’s basic virtue. However, there is a separate reason for asking this question.
“Me! I want to learn!”
Compared to Haley who slowly shook her head, Valen showed enthusiasm, hopping around so her red wavy hair bounced. With a devilish smile just like that, I held Valen’s shoulders, looked at the blue-haired woman, and spoke.
“Right? Then say to this big sister, ‘Please let me learn magic!’” “Big sister, please let me learn magic!” “Ugh….”
There is a reason why she is flustered like that. Those who devote themselves to magic, do not cast away those with talent. If modern doctors have the Hippocratic Oath, this world has the teachings of the Great Sage Arcanion. Those teachings themselves are deeply rooted, so even if the opponent is a child, if they have talent, one had to accept it like an unwritten law.
“You….”
The worst human being who abuses teachings by making a child speak. Anger is felt in her glaring gaze. Sparks fly in her icy blue eyes. A public institution cannot possibly buy slaves with public funds. However, if money isn’t involved, the story is different.
“Ah, haha… this is fine, right? I do not doubt that you will make Valen into an excellent wizard!”
Just as I was about to leave, sneaking backward while entrusting Valen with an awkward laugh. A small touch was felt at thigh height. Valen, who had stuck to the woman at the talk of magic, had quietly approached and grabbed my pants slightly.
“Mister, are you really going?”
Valen’s eyes looking up are burdensome. A gaze that inevitably makes guilt creep up. Still, in a situation where I don’t even know what will happen to my own future, I couldn’t take on kids who needed to eat well and grow up.
“Yeah, I won’t be able to prepare meals anymore.” “When will you come back?” “Uh, um… that is.”
Then the unexpected next question flies in. Up to what number could she count again?
“Uh… right! About, three thousand nights?”
Ah, I don’t know, just say it. Even if she remembers, how much would she remember?
“Mister, promise!” “Ah, y-yeah… promise.”
Even while making a pinky promise that wouldn’t be kept, I cautiously watched the blue wizard’s reaction. Her eyes still looked angry, but outwardly, she seemed much more softened than before.
“…Trash, die.” “Mister, bye-bye!”
Even so, the anger must have remained, as she took Valen into the building along with primal criticism. After waving my hand to Valen who glanced back to say goodbye, the door closed, and the only ones left on the street were Haley and me.
Straightening the posture I had bent to meet Valen’s eye level, I finally moved my steps for the last time.
The place visited last was a certain private house. It is the place where old man Gent, one of my few acquaintances, is.
“So, you’re telling me to take that kid?”
TrAs soon as old man Gent heard the whole story, he spoke directly without beating around the bush. As expected of a former mercenary, the talk is fast.
“Yes, well, it’s shameless but… it has come to that.”
While hesitating, I affirm briefly at the old man’s question. He looks fierce but has a lot of affection and likes kids. He was a suitable person to entrust Haley to for now. Besides, he is alone until he turns eighty. Even if I entrust Haley to him, it won’t be a burden on his pocket. Rather, she would become vitality in his lonely life.
“Is it right to entrust a kid to an old man who doesn’t know when he’ll kick the bucket, huh? Did you bring someone to bury me?”
Old man Gent, who says such things well even while carrying muscles that look like they’ll burst his clothes.
“You’re still spry, what are you saying….” “Tsk, have you heard the kid’s thoughts?”
Although I was in the position of asking a favor, when I pointed out his vibrating muscles while sarcasm dripped from my jutted chin, the old man frowned as if it couldn’t be helped but spoke.
“Haley? Uh….”
At the old man’s point, I glanced at Haley sitting next to me. Blue eyes staring up at this side intently. Out of guilt, I unknowingly avoided her gaze but looked at Haley again. Still, rather than being with a slave trader whose identity is unclear, it would be better to be next to someone who can definitely protect her.
So, without asking Haley anything, I smiled bitterly at old man Gent and said.
“I don’t have the confidence to take even her, nor the ability to protect her in this harsh world.” “Tsk, excuses come out so smoothly.”
Leaving only those words behind, I returned my slave trader badge on the day of enforcement and left the city.
And, time returns to the present again…. One of those children I sold off for free as if pushing them away, has returned in front of me after 7 years.
“I’ll protect you from now on, Mister.”
Haley’s eyes curved long as she said she would protect me, and a big smile appeared on her lips. At Haley’s smile, where a chill was felt, I felt something was wrong.
“No, that is….”
Even though I tried to step back at the strange vibe, my wrist, which was grabbed tightly, did not budge as if embedded in a rock.
Huh, am I being dragged somewhere like this? It’s a good harvest in the fields these days, and harvest season is in a little bit. Where is my peaceful country life?