Hayato sat down on the sofa, while I stayed in my current position, sandwiched between the leather work chair and Origol, as we began to talk.
「Ano, there’s a lot I’d like to ask you.」
Well, yeah, of course.
There’s no way he could imagine how I went from a fledgling alchemist to where I am now.
「It’s going to be a long story. You okay with that?」
「Yes, I don’t mind at all.」
「I’d like to hear it too. Like, what the heck happened in such a short time that you ended up with this house?」
「Right… this used to be your place, didn’t it?」
「Exactly! I had this perfectly sized house built, with great sunlight, and then suddenly got moved into the lord’s estate! That’s why I believe I have an unconditional right to come here!」
「Yeah, well, it’s my house now. You’ll have to accept that. But you’re welcome to visit whenever you like.」
「Oh ho! Then let’s forget about work and sunbathe together!」
「Fine, but only if you can beat Shiro in a fight.」
No doubt about it, when it comes to sunbathing, Shiro’s going to be the one on my lap.
If anyone tries to steal that spot, even the lord herself won’t be spared.
「Alright, let’s start with… yeah, those three.」
「By ‘those three’ you mean the members of Red Line*, right?」
TN: Changed from Red Front. It’s written as 戦線(front line) but now it has レッドライン(reddo rain) along with it.
「Just so we’re clear, I didn’t do anything wrong, okay?」
「Of course. I believe you.」
「Thanks. So, it all started when I tried to sell my first batch of healing potions to the Adventurers’ Guild…」
Even just remembering it is painful.
That was my very first potion…
I’m not holding a grudge anymore, but I still feel a little sad about it.
「…I see. I might need to speak with the Adventurers’ Guild about that incident myself.」
「Nah, just let it go. It’s all in the past. I heard the receptionist just got married.」
「Is that so? Hmm. Anyway, I understand now. That’s how Aina-san and Sorte-san became your slaves while still maintaining their usual lives?」
「Yeah, that’s it. Thanks to that, I didn’t have much trouble gathering materials.」
「But is that really all? I mean, you ended up with two cute girls as your slaves. You must have done something with them, right?」
「I didn’t. Seriously. Back then, I barely even understood what was going on. Honestly, it’s only now that I’ve kind of come to terms with it all.」
「I-I see. Then what about Wendy-san? How did she end up as your slave?」
「Ah, Wendy, and Shiro too. I just bought them both from Yasis.」
「You bought slaves? Weren’t you… I mean, didn’t you have any moral resistance to that?」
「Oh, you mean from the perspective of the ethics in our old world?」
Well, I get what Hayato’s trying to say.
「Yeah. To be honest, when I first learned about the slave system here, I felt a fair amount of disgust…」
「Yeah, I get it. But the ‘slaves’ here are clearly treated differently from what we’d imagine. It’s more like… guaranteed-rights employees?」
The image we have of slavery is the classic pyramid-building type.
Whipped and forced to work, that kind of thing.
So it’s natural to feel disgusted, but this world’s system is fundamentally different.
It’s less about domination and servitude, and more like a kind of contract.
「Ah、 I know that story too. You’re talking about that rotten Dadaril incident, right? Man, hearing about that was so satisfying.」
「‘Rotten,’ huh… Oh right, you did get caught up in his mess.」
「Biggest stain on my life. A past I’d love to erase.」
Now that she’s recovered from the poison, there’s no doubt Yasis and Darwin are gonna tease her endlessly.
Ugh, here it comes…
「Ehto, by Dadaril, you mean Darwin’s son?」
「Yep, that’s the guy. He tried to forcefully buy Wendy, so this lady-killer here snatched her away from under his nose.」
「‘Snatched’ is a bit much. It was a contest Yasis came up with. I bought her for 80 million Nohl.」
「80 million!? Wait, did you even have that kind of money?」
「Nah, I earned it. And right after that, I was almost attacked, but Shiro saved me, so I bought her too.」
「Uh… how did you… manage that…?」
「Hmm. Oh yeah, I remember I contacted you once during that time.」
「Ah! That’s right! I was worried since you seemed a little off when we talked…」
「I seemed off?」
「Yes. Everyone was saying so. You suddenly got all fired up and acted strange. Everyone thought you were a laid-back, unmotivated guy.」
「Ouch… Not wrong, though.」
「I-I didn’t say that, okay!? I always thought you were someone who’d come through when it really mattered!」
「I know. You’re a good guy, Hayato. Seriously.」
He really doesn’t seem like the type to talk behind someone’s back.
Probably the kind who’d step in and say “Cut it out!” if he saw someone being bullied.
Handsome both inside and out.
「Anyway, after that, I kept making accessories and sold one to Reinrich for 40 million Nohl. Used up that jade too, by the way.」
「That’s fine… Wait, I see. So then… is your alchemy level 7 or 8 now?」
「It’s 9.」
「That fast!? Isn’t that a little too fast!?」
「Well, drifters do gain levels more easily, right?」
「True, but still, it’s only been about two months, hasn’t it? That’s way too fast!」
「So it is fast, huh…」
I don’t even have any special growth abilities or anything…
「Oh right, I promised I’d make you an accessory once you got back.」
「Ah, that’s right. I’ve got the materials, so would you mind making it?」
「You can make one for me too, while you’re at it. As a token of friendship.」
「Yeah yeah, adding one more won’t be that much more work. Sure.」
「Yay! It pays to ask. If possible, could you make something that helps with stiff shoulders or headaches?」
「If there was something like that, I’d be making it for myself first. But if we’re talking about that, there’s something better than accessories.」
「Better?」
「You’ll get it as soon as you see it, Hayato. That’s what I sold to Yasis for the last 40 million Nohl.」
「Uh, is it something from our original world?」
「Yep. Well, look forward to seeing it. I’ll give you one too, so let me know what you think.」
「Ah, okay. I feel a little nervous now… By the way, I met Renge-san before we saw the lord. She said she had business back in her hometown, so… how did she end up as your slave?」
「Ah… that. Yeah, it was a misunderstanding, more like a harmless one caused by Sorte’s personality, really…」
Honestly, I just feel bad for Renge.
Sure, there might’ve been something that could be called violent, or at least suspicious, but it was all based on a misunderstanding.
And to end up a slave because of it…
And not just any slave, a criminal slave.
That’s the kind of slavery we actually imagine: where the owner can do whatever they want, and the slave isn’t even allowed to feel resentment.
That’s the condition they put her in…
「I see. That’s a relief. I was seriously worried that you’d awakened to evil and declared yourself harem king or something…」
「Come on, you believed in me, right?」
「I-I did! It’s just, during the journey, Lety brought up a ‘what if he went bad’ scenario and… well, I got a little concerned.」
「Now that I think about it, I heard someone got injured. Are they alright?」
「Ah, yes. Chris… she lost an eye…」
「Whoa… Is she okay?」
「We thought a healing potion(large) would take care of it, but maybe because it’s such an important organ, it didn’t work. That’s why we rushed back.」
「Then you’re gonna need a holy elixir, right?」
「Yes. She says she’s fine with just one eye, but to us, that’s a precious teammate’s eye. We’re planning to get one at the underground auction. Thankfully, we’ve got the funds.」
「An auction, huh…」
「Ehto, if you’re curious, would you like to come with us?」
「Can I?」
Hard to say I wasn’t curious.
If it’s safe, I’d like to check it out.
「Yeah. It’s being held in the capital, but if you’re okay with traveling by carriage…」
「The capital, huh? Hmm… now I’m really interested.」
「Then let’s go together.」
「So lucky! I wanna ditch all my work on Souma and come too, but… he’d definitely get mad, wouldn’t he…」
「Without a doubt.」
「Souma’s scary when he’s mad. Like, Reinrich-level scary.」
So Souma-san isn’t just some kindly old gentleman after all, he’s apparently another monster in disguise.
Right, I am not getting on his bad side.
First things first: I need to return this kid safely to the lord’s estate.
Still… carriages, huh?
Moments like this, I can’t help but imagine vehicles from the old world.
But given the rough roads, anything with just two wheels would be a deathtrap.
If a monster shows up, we’re toast.
That leaves four wheels, but damn, I can’t picture the structure at all.
I kind of get how engines work, but… how do they actually produce motion?
How do you hook them up to make something move?
So yeah… guess I won’t be building any vehicles anytime soon.
「When are we heading out?」
「We just got back from a dungeon, so I was thinking of resting for a few days. We’ll reach the capital in two days even at a relaxed pace, so maybe in two or three days?」
「Got it. One carriage from your side and one from mine, that work?」
「Yes. Are you bringing your slaves along too?」
「Yeah, might as well make it a group trip. Besides, if I go, Shiro and Wendy will want to come too.」
「I see. They’re quite attached to you, then.」
「Yeah. I’d like to think so, anyway.」
Hard to just say “they’re fond of me” outright, y’know?
Still, I don’t think they hate me.
At the very least, I’m pretty sure Wendy and Shiro like me.
That’s not just wishful thinking… probably.
「What about you, Hayato? You’ve been traveling with those four girls, got any romantic stories to share?」
「Ahaha, well, I… I’m really not good with that kind of thing…」
「Yeah, Hayato seems pretty shy.」
「Ahaha…」
「You mean you’re not good with… love and stuff?」
「Umm, yes… that’s right.」
Not good with it…?
No way, no freakin’ way.
You’ve been on a long journey with that group, right?
You’re an ikemen, right?
Come on, don’t mess with me.
…Guess I’ll have to secretly pry the truth out of Lady Letty later.
Even if it’s not the kind of question you ask a girl, this is important intel.
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