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Kujonin
Author: Hanabokuro
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The slaves' living quarters was cleaned well.
"Did it surprise you?"
Turban asked me.
"No; you can have the slaves clean as long as it's not something they're unable to do, right?"
"Exactly so. I believe that if they keep their own place clean and pretty, then they themselves will naturally become clean and pretty. With grooming, their worth as products will increase, after all. It's a trick to sell them even a little bit more expensively."
"Heh~, did you think of it?"
"… No, I'm telling you the Owner's thoughts."
That's what I thought.
Turban opened an inner door, and I went into the room.
The room is large with a rug laid out on the floor, and all the slaves were to sleep there, it seems.
Right now they seem to be sitting, talking with each other.
I had confirmed there were 10 people in the room before I'd entered with Search Skill.
All of them are female.
"I don't think Mr President will hurt the slaves or release them, but if that does happen, we'll require compensation."
"Aa, I understand."
"A, also, if you use recovery potions on them of your own volition, we won't pay for it."
"I get it!"
"Then at your leisure."
So saying, Turban closed the door.
"Hello. Do you remember me? I think there were some of you with us in the grasslands."
When I said so, several people nodded.
"Actually, there was something I wanted to ask. Is there anyone who knows about the Earth Hero?"
The female slaves looked at each other and made troubled faces.
This is probably too sudden.
"Aa, sorry. I might smell like alcohol, but this isn't something I'm asking for no reason because I'm drunk, it's a serious work discussion."
The slaves turned and looked at one slave lying on the floor.
Looks like she knows something.
When I got closer, I saw it was the slave that had a headache in the wagon.
She opened her eyes and looked this way.
"Yo, has your headaches stopped?"
"E? Aa, it's you; what is it?"
She pressed her hands to her head, and I supported her back as the slave sat up.
"Right, I have something good. Try a little of this?"
So saying, I took the magic recovery syrup out and dribbled a little on the back of the slave's hand.
"It's fine. It's a little bitter, but it isn't poisonous."
So saying, I took a drink of the poison. The bitter taste spread throughout my mouth, and I made a face.
The slave timidly licked the syrup.
She made a face for a second, and after a bit her eyes widened and she looked at me.
"It stopped."
"That's good, then. Is this the reason for the headaches?"
I looked at the slave's collar.
It's not particularly designed to absorb magic power.
Her clothes are also normal clothes. She doesn't have any sorts of accessories.
"It looks like it's magic power insufficiency. Do you know anything about why?"
The slave shook her head.
"I don't. But there were people like me where I used to live."
Is it a constitutional disease? It might be a disease particular to the area.
"Where did you live?"
"The Earth Hero's plantation."
The enemy's headquarters, huh?
"Did you run away from there?"
The slave shook her head to deny it,
"I wasn't running away. I sold myself to the slave trader. I'm sick, so I can't work. And also…"
Saying so, she looked downwards and her voice got smaller and smaller.
"And also?"
"If my sickness continues, they said I'll turn into a ghoul…"
"What's with that? Is there that sort of rumor?"
The slave nodded.
"Well, enough about the rumor. What's that place like? Do you know where the Hero's plantation is?"
I took out my map and spread it out.
"If the lake beyond the mountains beyond the desert is here, if you keep going in this direction you cross the river, and there's the large plantation. It's here, I think…"
The slave pointed at the map and taught me where it was.
It's quite a bit further from the lake at Seth's hometown.
"There are a lot of children, and there's a new village close Hero-sama's house. Hero-sama has the blessing of the Earth Spirit, so he was able to immediately make a nice road, too."
There's a nice road, so there should be a circulation of goods as well. Looks like there won't be any difficulties even if we go.
"What about the children?"
"It's the children of the slaves who work on the plantation. When the work is done, Hero-sama's wife will teach them. I am also one of those children, and grew up among them."
So he educates the slave's children, huh?
"The Hero is kind."
"Yes, very kind. If only I didn't have this sickness…"
Hero extermination is becoming more and more difficult.
After that I heard all sorts of things, like that the Hero never uses violence against the slaves' children, that he cooperates with the growth of the new village, and that he's also trusted by the church and traveling adventurers.
The plantation is also done well.
Is he something like a reincarnated or transferred person? I've started to wonder.
"Do you know where the Hero was born?"
"No, I don't know. But I think it's within the Kingdom. Ah, the country next to this country."
"I see. Thank you. Please use this if your head hurts."
I'd heard what I wanted to hear, so I handed over the Magic Power Recovery Syrup and made to return.
"Is that fine!?"
"Yeah, it's thanks for talking with me."
"Thank you. Onii-san, are you going to the Hero's plantation?"
The slave asked me as I stood up.
"Let's see. I'd like to try going once."
"If so, this, will you take it to the children there?"
The slave held out the syrup I had given her.
So she's prioritizing the children on the Hero's plantation over her cure, huh?
She was raised too well.
"Aah, that's fine, but I can make it again, so it's fine for you to take that. How about I take a letter or something?"
"E? Is that alright? But…"
Aah, that's right. She's a slave, so she doesn't have anything.
I took a pen and parchment out of the item bag and handed it to the slave.
"Can you write?"
"Un, I had lessons."
How excellent she is. I wonder if Seth and Merumo can write?
She properly wrote her name and the name of the place it should be delivered to on the parchment.
"So you're Cynthia?"
"Yes. I'm Cynthia. Would you buy me?"
Cynthia smiled and tilted her head as she asked.
Looks like she's acting coy.
"If I have the money."
I took the letter and put it immediately into the item bag (without reading it).
"Will you come back?"
Cynthia asked me.
"Aa, I have a ship in Floura. I'll come back. When I do, I'll drop by again. I'll tell you how things are over there. If there's a reply, I'll bring the reply too."
"Thank you so much!"
Cynthia bowed and gave me her thanks.
Just a while ago, she was saying, "It's you," while holding her head; it's an amazing change.
I opened the door, called Turban, and left.
It's right around the time that the slave trader owner should return, so, "It's good timing, huh?" I told Turban.
When I returned to the inn to eat dinner, when I went to the cafetera, Ayl and Velsa were there making a "Trip Guidebook."
Seth and Merumo were eating splendid dishes in front of them, seemingly dissatisfied.
"What's up?"
When I asked,
"We were celebrating raising our ranks, but looks like we've had enough."
Merumo said sorrowfully.
"Heeh, what rank are you guys?"
"It's D Rank! We met in the Adventurers Guild, right!?"
Seth got mad.
"Aah, was that right? A, that's right, did you go to the brothel?"
"I won't!"
"Why!? Are you an idiot? Give me liquor too, please."
When I asked Ayl for liquor, she lifted her head as if she just realized I was there.
"Oh, you came back? So, about the lodgings…"
Ayl handed me the liquor, and immediately went back to discussing things about the trip together with Velsa.
"They've been like this the entire time!"
Velsa exploded with dissatisfaction.
"Wait a second! Seth, even though I gave you money, why didn't you go to the brothel?"
"No, well, because I had the rank up examination."
"You moron! Go to the brothel before the exam! What the hell are you thinking!?"
"E~!? Why are you getting mad at me?"
"An exam, like hell it's useful! Chasing women is more important than that!"
I said while gulping down the liquor Ayl handed me.
"You can become a D Rank adventurer!" (Seth)
"That's right! We've become competent adventurers!" (Merumo)
The two of them protested.
"Alright! You guys, I'm going to lecture you good today. Listen, in this company, your adventurer rank, see, it means shit! Rather than that kinda thing, are ya able to do the things that you yourself want to do!?"
With the alcohol circulating, my lecture got heated up, and I continued it on until I was dead drunk, it seems.
I'm not sure because I don't have any memories part of the way through.
When I woke because a stray cat was licking my ear, the sun was already high up in the sky.
I return to the inn, and when I told the two newbies that I pretty much don't have any memories of last night, they're seriously mad at me.
After that, I treated them to something sweet.
Normally I don't drink, so when I do drink I'm a huge annoyance.
When I told Ayl and Velsa that I would take care not to drink too much, Ayl opened the window and,
"First, yell out towards the town, 'I'll never drink again!' as your apology."
She said.
What did I do while I was drunk?
"I'm sorry! I'll never drink again!"
My voice echoed throughout Floura.
It was an incident that happened on the morning we left on the journey north.
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