There's a Problem

It felt like discovering a pearl hidden in the mud, but I kept my expression in check.

I even clicked my tongue as if disappointed, not forgetting the act.

"Sir, don't be like that. There are plenty of good slaves over there. Just tell me the type you're looking for..."

The merchant wore a look that said he'd expected as much, but he clearly didn't want to lose a customer.

I cut him off and turned to Lena.

"Lena, even if you pick, why choose a slave like this? Do you really have to have one like her?"

"Pardon? Me? When did I..."

It was sudden, but she read my eyes.

We'd been through battlefields together more than once or twice, so this much intent passed without words.

"Ah, yes. Y-Yes, I did. I picked her."

"Really? There are so many other slaves, though?"

"Well... she looks like my little sister I lost when I was young! Can't I have her?"

It was out-of-the-blue acting, but a necessary step.

Anyone would suspect someone suddenly buying a worthless reject no one else wanted.

The merchant might refuse the sale, thinking there was something fishy he didn't know about.

So, fabricating a plausible reason was key.

"Ah, what a hassle. If she dies, even disposing of the body would be annoying."

I gave off a somewhat cold vibe as I asked the merchant,

pretending to be only mildly interested.

"So, how much for this one?"

"Are you really considering it? As you see, she's utterly useless."

"Well, I have my reasons."

I let out a sigh-mixed grumble and spoke to the merchant.

He was probably thrilled inside to offload a reject slave, but as a merchant, he didn't show it.

"At least 5 gold minimum..."

"What? 5 gold?"

"There's treatment to bring her here, transport fees... anyway, her condition racked up maintenance costs."

Obvious haggling lines, but I played along.

No matter how much money I had, bargaining was procedure.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

To dispel suspicion.

For a normal slave, I wouldn't care if they suspected me.

But seeing the magic circuits etched into her body, I figured extra caution was needed, so I haggled hard.

We settled on 3 gold.

"3 gold, right?"

"Then I'll engrave her immediately. Ah! You already have a subjugation ring. A mage..."

"No need. I can do it."

With that, I cast the subjugation spell right then.

The ring glowed blue briefly before settling.

The merchant nodded at the sight.

"You're... a mage?"

"Got a problem?"

"Just in case, but... even slaves can't be used for magic experiments, as you know."

He seemed worried about something shady.

Makes sense.

If I got caught experimenting on her later, the merchant guild supplying her could face trouble.

So, this was preemptive damage control.

Like covering the eyes and shouting "peekaboo."

"If you're worried, go see Baron Sellevan. The lord vouches for me."

"Ah! The territory's mage! Haha, needless worry then. I trust you."

"Can I take her now?"

Lena hoisted the slave onto her back.

The slave didn't twitch, even jostled around.

The merchant offered delivery, but I refused.

I didn't want pointless chit-chat.

BackWe got back to the workshop, and I laid the slave down to stabilize her.

Lena fetched a damp cloth, wiped her body, and fussed over her.

She'd been anxious at first, but seeing the slave's state, pity set in.

"Lena, what do you think?"

"Even mid-grade potions aren't healing her wounds well. We'll have to wait till she wakes."

"Yeah? Prepare some food first, Lena. She'll need to eat something when she stirs."

She hurried off to make porridge, good for patients.

Alone, I pondered the new message.

Same as when I first saw Lena.

Target: the new slave.

'What if she dies?'

I worried what happened if I registered her only for her to croak.

Maybe wait till she woke? But I accepted.

If she died, observing system changes would be data too.

Another message popped up, as expected.

Her info.

Unlike Lena's, the sheer volume nearly floored me.

Reading it hit me with sudden fatigue.

'Potions not working because... Poison Resistance?'

Her body treated potions as poison and resisted them.

The other abilities? Nothing ordinary.

Cold sweat prickled.

Job hidden as ???, but anyone could see: assassin.

SS-rank assassin, at that.

And she wielded Aura too.

'Did I just invite trouble?'

Not worried she's an assassin.

Worried she's a limbless one.

Meaning she failed an assassination and barely survived.

Looked like I'd minionized a headache.

"Brought in a new slave, huh?"

Baron Sellevan spoke while skimming piled papers.

I asked him,

"Eh? How'd you know?"

"Seize told me. Said you picked up some near-dead weirdo."

"Ah, got it."

Admin Seize often visited the workshop, checking for issues.

He'd seen the unconscious slave.

Reported to the baron then.

Three days passed, but she hadn't woken.

Her color improved; she was recovering slowly.

No potions worked, so just watch and wait.

"With your funds, why not max out? I could've introduced good dealers... pity."

"Max is five, right?"

"Yeah, you could handle five easily."

Nobles vary by rank and circumstance.

Commoners: five max.

No exceptions.

Unlimited slaves equals private army for the rich, so kingdom ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠law caps it.

"Your call, my meddling. Anyway, thought on rewards?"

I nodded, discussing the Arnault count business.

He listened quietly till I finished.

His face darkened; he thought I was leaving for the count's land.

So, straight to the point.

"Problem is, I don't wanna go."

His face brightened at my last words.

He pondered briefly, then firm.

"If that's your mind, don't worry. I'll formally protest."

"Handle it quietly, please. Hate complications..."

"No worries. As vassal house, I won't tarnish the count's honor. But... I'll nail it so he never burdens you again!"

His eyes showed sincerity.

How far he'd go? Unknown.

But now he knew, Arnault couldn't push hard.

Counts don't bully barons freely.

"Hmm, confirming your intent, good I prepared a gift."

"What?"

"Take this. Figured you wouldn't ask properly."

A small key.

"Heard you live in the workshop. Need a house at least, right?"

"This is..."

"Central location. Small, but fine for two or three."

Unexpected reward.

A house.

With one more minion, workshop felt cramped. Perfect.

"I'll use it gratefully."

"Seize'll guide you. And the count matter? Leave it to me."

"Yes, I trust you."

Whatever he meant, I slipped out.

Key in hand, odd feeling.

First house. Chest tickled.

'Obvious intent, but... fine.'

Gifting a house was burdensome.

Why push it? I got it.

'Wants me rooted here.'

No house, sleeping in workshop? Unsettling.

Could pack and vanish anytime.

His scheme felt cute.

Schemes like this? Always welcome.

'Lena'll love it.'

Hurried to tell her.

She'd suffered following me.

Nursing the new slave wasn't easy, yet she gave her all. Felt guilty.

"Lena! Baron Sellevan..."

Rushed in, but faced the unexpected.

"M-Master...? You're really my master now? For real? I'm still useful, right? Right?"

The slave was awake.

Or... barely?

State seemed off.

Lena just sighed softly.

"This time, this time I'll do better! Next time, I'll get stronger and protect you for sure, Master! He-het, so..."

Thud!

Tried approaching me, collapsed.

Hard on one leg.

But creepy smile or whatever, she crawled, pitifully clutching my pant leg.

Her hand trembled.

"So don't die. Absolutely... this time, for sure, for sure..."

Plop.

Hand dropped.

Out cold again.

But a message appeared.

Slave's name: Camilla.

Loyalty crushed Lena's.

Unlike Lena, started at 49.

This is a problem.