Chapter 152
Chapter 152 – A certain slave’s story
My name is Lotte . I was sold as a slave in the Royal Capital .
I was made a slave by the bandits .
One day, bandits raided the village where we lived in, kidnapped me and a few friends in the process .
Those who resisted were killed one after another as an example .
With each kill, our will to resist continued to wane .
The bandits not only robbed the gold, but they also captured the rest of the villagers that didn’t fight back . Yes… all of us were sold as slaves .
We couldn’t do anything but cry .
And without question, we were sold to the slave traders soon after .
But my fate… well, I guess one can say that it’s the turning point of my life .
There are various reasons why someone could become a slave .
Kidnapped by bandits, like us, for instance . Some were unfortunate people captured during wars . Some were trapped by loan sharks, unable to pay their debt . Each one tends to have different reasons .
I often heard stories… That slave traders not only aimed for women only, but they also sometimes willingly took an entire family .
Men can do hard labor while children and old people can still do menial tasks .
Some even said that strong warriors and adventurers are not exempt from enslavement .
The only way for a slave to release themselves from enslavement is to buy themselves back from their owner . But that’s near impossible .
Slaves also receive wages . That’s the established rule within this country . But the amount of wages is decided by the master, so it’s like trying to water the entire desert with a trickle of water . The slave masters will not let go of the slaves they’ve bought so easily .
In the end, slaves had barely any human rights . Nothing more than the master’s 『property』so to speak .
We were taken to the Royal Capital, where we had to wait for a buyer . I would never forget this period of time .
In the darkness, I saw a little kid weeping inside her mother’s embrace . They must’ve been brought here by another seller . When I thought so… I felt like I couldn’t hold back my feelings anymore . I knew full well that my future seemed grim . No, I thought that I knew where my path would lead to, but I only got to know it because it was『made clear』…
One day, a few days after being brought to the capital, the slave trader came to our room with a wide smile on his face .
[Oi, your buyer has been decided . ]
That one line made my mood become darker . Ah, it’s been decided… he said .
But of course, I didn’t know yet… that this very person would be the one to bring us out from the darkness .
To my surprise, I wasn’t the only one being bought . The same buyer had also bought everyone from my village that were enslaved in addition to those who fell into slavery due to poverty . Yes, he actually bought all of us… . He also bought some former adventurers, but more importantly to me, he made sure to also buy the slaves’ family members, if any .
[No, I should be the one thanking you here . Thank you for your continued patronage…]
I could see the slave trader bowing his head politely . When I got out of the room, I got a glimpse of the person who bought me . He was accompanied by several warrior-like men and women . What bothered me was that these people wore matching white cloth on their arms .
Are they our masters-to-be? Or maybe… it’s not something I should see…?
[However… is it really alright like this? If it’s sex slaves, I have a better female slave for that role . There are also stronger former adventurers in our store, you know?]
I could hear the slave trader speaking .
[That woman, she likes to do whatever she wants, be it scamming people or orchestrating robbery . I’m not interested in that kind of person . I still want to keep my head attached after all . About the adventurers, I’ve done a background check on them because I’m not going to buy someone who I cannot trust . ]
One of the warrior-like people spoke in response .
[Ahh… is that why you chose to buy a whole village with their entire families…? You guys are still as mysterious as ever . Well, not that I’m complaining since to me, you are a good buyer . ]
Having said that, the slave trader proceeded with the procedures .
[Ah, by the way, do you have any idea about the bandits who sold them to you…?]
[Nn? Sure I do . Well, please keep it a secret that I told you, okay? For my safety…]
That was the last thing I heard from them . Soon afterward, we were brought into a carriage and spent quite a while inside .
To my surprise, we weren’t the only slaves being bought by this group of people . There were several more carriages outside… and most of them looked full . Just how rich are they to be able to buy this many…? I estimated that the total number was enough to populate a big village .
The carriages travelled for a while before stopping on a meadow . Here, everyone was told to unboard the carriage . This was where we realized just how many slaves were gathered there .
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Then, one of the warrior-like people…stepped forward and spoke to us .
[Ahー… . everyone, please listen… . Ah, dammit . I’m not good at speaking to the crowd like this…]
[It can’t be helped . Flik, our usual spokesperson, is out to deal with the kidnapper bandits . And it’s been decided by lottery, so you have no right to complain . ]
A long haired woman spoke from the side .
[Gaah, I know it already . Wellー, we are from the Schwarzer Frontier Territory . All of us will now head to the Frontier area . ]
Schwarzer Frontier Territory!
That same frontier territory that belonged to the Schwarzer’s hero?
Currently, he’s the most well known aristocrat in the Arcadia Empire, having become a hot topic since his rise to fame .
But the Frontier territory… formerly known as Grants Principality, was known as an underdeveloped land full of barbarians .
[Ah, no worries . We guarantee your safety on this trip . It’ll be alright . ]
Having said that, the warrior-like man smiled in reassurance . Ah, a kid just cried after seeing him smile… .
[…Oi, why is he crying after I smiled…?]
[Because he’s scared of you, of course? Good grief . Baran is really useless in times like this . ]
[Shaddap… Karina . Arrgh… I feel like I wanna cry as well…]
Ignoring the depressed looking man, the long haired woman stood up and approached the kid, stroking his head .
[Anyways, your safety is guaranteed . Believe in us . If there is a problem, feel free to tell us . Like… that woman over there, why does your face look so pale…?]
The woman pointed at the family sitting in front of me… at the mother to be exact .
The entire family instantly had their face turned blue and they promptly bowed their heads .
[I…it’s alright! My wife can also work! Please, spare my wife!]
[I don’t wanna be separated from mom! Please!]
[Pwease!]
Even the little ones desperately bowed .
They looked pathetic… but there’s nothing we can do here .
I heard that unusable slaves, usually because they’re sick, are often thrown away . Not only are they unusable, they could also infect the other healthy slaves . The owner would want to reduce the damage since the slaves aren’t exactly cheap .
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[Ha? Did I say something wrong?]
The long haired woman looked embarrassed after seeing how the family reacted .
[I mean… I just wanted to give you this potion . You can’t travel long distances with a sickly condition, right?]
The woman said as she took out a bottle from her pocket .
Potion!? Such an expensive item!?
Back in the village, I only ever saw concoction of herbs being used as medicine . Something as expensive as a potion is nowhere to be seen .
Both the sick wife and her husband were stunned silly .
[Come on now, don’t hesitate . Ah, anyone else who is sick, please don’t hesitate to speak up . The journey will be quite long, you know?]
[Ah… thank you very much!]
[Thank you very much!]
The couple bowed their heads while shedding tears and so did their children .
I… no, most likely all of us felt the same after seeing this… a small glimmer of hope was ignited within our hearts .
The trip took 2 months, but we finally reached the Schwarzer Frontier territory .
The journey was mostly comfortable . We were given enough to eat and there were no monster attacks at all along the way .
Once we entered Grants, the actual frontier territory, we were gathered once more .
This time another man was standing before us . Unlike the previous one, this one didn’t seem to be a warrior .
[Everyone, thank you for all the effort . And welcome to Grants . My name is Sven Knorr . I’m working as an official in Grants . ]
All of us bowed after hearing him introducing himself .
[Ah, please don’t act so submissive to me . I would like to ask something to everyone here…]
What the official, Sven-san said was next nothing like we expected .
[We are…to make a village here?]
[That’s right . ]
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What he proposed to us, was for all of us to work together and make a village .
[For those who have a family, we will provide you all with the land and minimum tools required to build the village, as well as temporary housing and food before the village is completed . All you need to do is build the village… Ah, the security is very good . There are no monsters or bandits around here . So rest assured . ]
Mister Official laughed afterward .
[But you do have to obey the law . Since this is a frontier area, we do have our own law here . Also, you are exempt from tax for 2 years . Instead, you’ll be using that period to work here in order to buy yourself out . You should be able to buy your freedom in two years if you work properly . Of course, after that, you’ll have to start paying tax . ]
How come there is such a sweet offer? All of us were too surprised to respond .
[If you are a former Adventurer, then please watch over the village . Even if there’s no monster around here, wild animals will still come out . Please follow the instruction of the Village Chief once you all choose one . Also, an Inspector will come to visit from time to time . If any of you have any questions, feel free to ask . ]
And finally, the mister Official looked at us .
[As for those who have no family left, please come with us to the city . We will help you find a job there . Looking forward to that . ]
And that’s how we started our new life in Grants .
I’m now working in the mansion of Lord of Frontier Ares-sama . Along with me were few fellows that were brought along as slaves back then .
Some of us also worked in other places, such as a Merchant’s house, an Official’s or a General’s mansions . They were treated well in any of those places .
The Lord of the Frontier’s mansion was very cozy .
Aside from Cornelisama, the Lord also had several more wives . But they’re all kind and caring .
Two of the Lord’s wives were in charge of leading us, Thetsama and Marisama . Both are kind and hardworking .
Helmut-san, the mansion’s head butler, was always very detailed . He’s a little bit scary at times, but he’s also a kind man . I almost fainted when I first saw the mansion guard Zetos… but I already got used to his appearance by now . He’s quite friendly, despite his appearance, and I often spent my free time talking to him .
And then… there is our Lord, Ares-sama .
When I met Ares-sama for the first time, he said:
[Save your wages, use it to buy yourself up . Obtain your freedom by yourself… don’t rely on other people . ]
I’m almost ready to grab hold to my freedom . But…
I want to stay here『by my own will』even if I’ve regained my freedom .
Because for me, this mansion where I’m working at right now is where I belonged…
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