Chapter 9 – Plot of Land
MTL: uniquegasuki
Editor/ Proofreader: (not proofread)
「Haruto wake up, it’s morning.」 (Lora)
Haruto awakens to the sound of Lora’s voice and opens his weary eyes.
「Ah, morning. Wait, why are you dressed like that!」 (Haruto)
Lora is in her undergarments. She jiggles her small breasts, held up by a white bra, upon Haruto taking notice of her appearance.
「Yesterday was hectic so I wasn’t wearing one. How does it look on me?」 (Lora)
Lora looks Haruto in the eyes as she asks this, their face was not more than 10 cm apart. Her lovely red eyes (iris) align with Haruto’s eyes and her ruby-red hair was close enough to cover his nose. Because she has been bathing recently, there was no unpleasant smell coming from her.
「Well, now that I’ve gotten a closer look, your breast are quite splendid.」 (Haruto)
「Where do you think you’re looking!!」 (Lora)
「You were the one who showed them to me.」 (Haruto)
Haruto makes a wry smile.
They get out of bed and Haruto tells Lora to get dress. As she puts on her clothes, Haruto moves over to the window to check for dust. There was no dirt. It seems Lora reflected on yesterday’s event and did a proper cleaning.
「Haruto-san, how was it?」 (Lora)
「What do you mean?」 (Haruto)
「My……body,」 (Lora)
Hearing her say it so upfront, it caused Haruto to turn red. Although he is fairly adept at teasing her, Haruto is not good with giving her a direct answer.
「Errr, it isn’t bad.」 (Haruto)
「Really? I’m glad.」 (Lora)
A short while later after giving her a reply, an awkward mood followed. Haruto couldn’t bear it anymore and changes the topic.
「We are supposed to meet up with Wujek in the afternoon, yes; how much time do we have until then?」 (Haruto)
「I see. Then, I will.」 (Haruto)
Haruto replied.
The sun is shining overhead as Haruto and Lora find themselves in front of the slave trading building.
「Perhaps, we are too early?」 (Haruto)
「Maybe, but that shouldn’t be a problem. We can wait.」 (Lora)
Upon opening the door, Haruto heard an angry and pleading voice. There seems to be some sort of dispute.
「Please, I’m begging you. Give me 1 month, no, another week. I will definitely return it.」 (man)
The sound of Wujek speaking in a low voice can be heard.
「Stop with your foolish talk. You were the one who used your family as collateral. Don’t worry. You will also become a slave alongside them. Anyhow, this was the result of your failure.」 (Wujek)
The man breaks down and cries. Wejuk orders his subordinate to take the man away.
「Hey, Rusk (ラスク), seize that collateral. It would be troublesome if it escapes.」 (Wujek)
Rusk, a large man, slightly bowed to Wujek. Wujek’s subordinates passed by Haruto and Lora.
「……」 (Lora)
The silence continued for a little while longer.
「What is it?」 (Haruto)
「Yeah.」 (Haruto)
The two renew their purpose.
「Oh, it is you. You should have spoken up. If you had said something sooner, no one would have to have listened to that guy’s blabbering.」 (Wujek)
「No need to be so tense. They aren’t going to die by just being put in a brothel or coal mine, right? As long as the debt is return, nothing bad will happen.」 (Wujek)
Lora hid behind Haruto as Haruto stared at Wujek.
「Well, considering your business, you should have conducted this a bit more inside. It’s scary. Is that, Rusk, guy a dangerous person?」 (Haruto)
「I understand. I’ll be more careful from now on. And, Rusk isn’t that bad of a guy. It’s not good to judge people base on their appearance. He is a mercenary that I have employed. Although he has a grim expression (face), the person has a fondness for children.」 (Wujek)
Rusk is Wujek’s bodyguard. It is quite fiendish of Wujek to be the type of person who would catch child while being protected by someone who loves children.
「About the land you’re going to lend me, may I hear the details.」 (Haruto)
「Ah, that place is first-class. I am willing to lend it to you for 3 months, free of charge. Afterward, you will have to pay rent.」 (Wujek)
Wujek walks outside of the slave trading building. Haruto and company hurry after him.
After advancing through the main street, Wujek came to a stop.
The building is made of wood and is fairly large. Certainly, there is a lot of pedestrian traffic but whether that is good for business is another matter. However, something feels off about it.
Upon hearing Haruto’s response, Wujek made a broad grin.
Wujek was smiling, 『it was my doing,』was heard but nothing more.
「Well, this place’s personal history is unimportant. Come, hurry on inside.」 (Wujek)
As Wujek suggested, Haruto and Lora entered the building.
「Yeah, we’ll get it done.」 (Haruto)
The room inside had two doors. They open the door on the left.
「It is spacious. However, it’s rather gloomy.」 (Haruto)
Wujek explains. At that time, something passed by Haruto’s feet.
An unpleasant sound is heard. A boot is lifted and the corpse of a dead black bug is revealed.
「……」 (Haruto)
Haruto was too shock to give a reply.
They leave the storehouse and then go through the second door.
「What was this room used for?」 (Haruto)
As to whether or not there were bribes taken here, this does seem to be a parlor room.
「Haruto-san, let’s move onto the next room. We can’t stay forever at the inn now. Haruto-san!」 (Lora)
「Please, don’t sour the mood.」 (Wujek)
They look over the other (general) rooms and then left the building.
「Next up is the factory’s location. It is a little ways from here; so, do you have enough time?」 (Wujek)
Wujek shows a wry smile in response to Haruto’s low tension reply.
「There is no need to be so down.」 (Wujek)
They make a u-turn to the slave trading building.
Saying so, Wujek left.
「Hey, Lora. A dragon-carriage is a cart pulled by a dragon, right?」 (Haruto)
「Yes, yes it is. Haruto, was there no dragon-carriages where you are from?」 (Lora)
「Eh! Really?」 (Lora)
Lora raised her voice in surprise. In this world, dragons are fairly popular as they are convenient.
「Which is better, a normal carriage or a dragon-carriage?」 (Haruto)
In other words, Wujek who owns a dragon-carriage is a very wealthy person. Rumor has it, that person holds a considerable fortune. Haruto thought that one day, he wanted to be rich enough to own his very own dragon-carriage.
「Sorry for the wait.」 (Wujek)
「This woman is Pudding (プリン). She is a mercenary employed under me.」 (Wujek)
「Salutation, my name is Pudding~.」 (Pudding)
Haruto looks at the woman named Pudding. Her hair is pink, she is average height and she has a pretty face. For some reason, she seems familiar.
「This person is Rusk’s younger sister.」 (Wujek)
Hearing so, Haruto could see the similarity in her jaw-line (mouth).
「My brother resembles my mom, while I take after my dad.」 (Pudding)
Their mother must have a stern expression. Anyhow, it is the opposite version of Maria’s parents.
「Enough with the chit-chat and get on already. The place is about 20 minutes from here.」 (Wujek)
After saying so, Haruto and Lora boarded the dragon-drawn-carriage.
Five minutes after the dragon-carriage begun moving, Haruto started feeling nauseous.
「Are you alright?」 (Lora)
「Hey now, if you vomit in here, I will have you pay the fee for the clean-up. You better not vomit here. Vomit out the window.」 (Wujek)
「Ah, it is fine now, I’m……」 (Haruto)
Haruto smiled as he replied, although he was clearly pushing himself.
Another, five minutes later.
「Haruto-san…… would you like to lay down? I’ll lend you my lap. My thigh might give you some relief.」 (Lora)
Haruto places his head on top of Lora’s lap. It has been awhile since he has felt the warmth of another person, after having been orphaned. Although, this is the first time he has rested on the lap of a girl. Just a bit, Haruto felt a little relief.
「Halfway there……」 (Haruto)
Lora’s cheering had the opposite effect.
And thus, 10 minutes after.
「Yeah!!!」 (Haruto)
「So where is the land you will be lending me?」 (Haruto)
「Right there, see that building.」 (Wujek)
Wujek points to a run-down building. This is the land that will be lent to Haruto but in truth, there isn’t much here.
「Although that building is falling apart, you should be able to do something with the foundation. This is included in the set. I am willing to lend you this land for 1 year, fee of charge.」 (Wujek)
Even if this is on the outskirts of the city, this spacious amount of land would be very expensive. Not to mention, this land will be lend to them for 1 year without rent. Should Haruto not express his gratitude?
「Thanks. Honestly, this is helpful.」 (Haruto)
Wujek broadly grins and laughs. Haruto shows a mutual expression as the two of them shake hands.
Lora instinctively mutters.
「Enough already, shall we depart.」 (Pudding)
「Not yet, we still have to check out the building.」 (Haruto)
「You had better not. It is dangerous as the place is falling apart. There is no need to worry as I have a written document about the place back at my office.」 (Wujek)
「Aside from the building, I would like to confirm the water source……」 (Haruto)
「The resources have already been confirmed.」 (Wujek)
「Dammit……」 (Haruto)
Afterward, Lora and Wujek hurried onto the dragon-drawn-carriage.
「From here onwards, you will be needing workers.」 (Wujek)
「What do you have in mind?」 (Haruto)
「Is that not being hasty.」 (Haruto)
With a grin on his face, Wujek continues the conversation.
「If I hire them, they could steal my method to make soap.」 (Haruto)
「What do you think, Lora?」 (Haruto)
「Certainly……those people don’t quite understand the concept of duty. There is a reason why they have become a 2nd-class citizen.」 (Lora)
Hearing Lora say this about 2nd-class citizens was strangely persuasive. As the method to make soap is Haruto’s only weapon, on the chance that the method is stolen, it would be a serious affair for Haruto.
「So what do you suggest?」 (Haruto)
「How about purchasing our slaves?」 (Wujek)
「Don’t worry. That time, the child’s appearance made her an exception. An average child normally sells for no more than 300,000.」 (Wujek)
Making soap doesn’t require much skill. Therefore, Haruto was hoping to have children do the manual labor. However, 300,000 is too expensive. If he were to purchase 20 of them, his funds would be used up.
「That is impossible, still too expensive.」 (Haruto)
Upon Haruto’s refusal, Wujek’s smile broaden.
「To tell you the truth, there is currently a lot of child slaves. Honestly, children don’t have much use and they simply pile up expenses. You would be helping out if you did buy them. How about; 100,000 for one? If you by 30 of them, you would still have 2 million remaining. Well, if you don’t buy them, they can be sent to a coal mine. How pitiful, they might die right away……」 (Wujek)
Wujek shows a sad expression; although, he probably doesn’t feel a bit of sadness.
「Fine…… I will buy them. Anyhow, slaves shouldn’t be able to leak information. It should be alright as long as I give them work and kept them fed. Besides, releasing them will only make you more money.」 (Haruto)
There is merit in Haruto purchasing the slaves and almost no demerits in not doing so. But, he was troubled by how much Wujek has already done for him. Wujek has lent Haruto land and financed Haruto money. Haruto couldn’t really object.
「Thank you for your patronage.」 (Wujek)
Wujek shows a delightful smile.
Income: 0
Expense: 0
Debt: 5 Million
Remaining Balance: 5.79 Million
(Actual) Assets: 790,000