Volume 1 Chapter 10 The Resurrection Of The Brown Girl 1️⃣
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
After finishing breakfast, we hurriedly left the inn, carefully avoiding the cold stares from the owner and the landlady. We ended up paying about three times the usual rate.
It was a cheap inn with decent food, but I doubted I’d be welcome there again anytime soon.
”What’s the plan from here?”
Lena, who had taken my backpack without asking and slung it over her back, asked with a cheerful smile.
She seemed genuinely excited—probably because she hadn’t really traveled before. The defeated attitude she showed yesterday now felt like a complete lie.
”First, we’re heading to Verdaine. That’s where the boarding house I stay at is. I’ll use it as a base for now and figure things out from there.”
”Verdaine… I don’t think I know it.”
”Oh, right. You said you only know the village here. Verdaine is the biggest nearby city, ruled by the Margrave of Verdaine. It also has an Adventurers Guild branch. That’s how I got this job and came to that village.”
”I see. Is it far?”
”Not really. At my normal pace, I’d get there by noon. Even if we take it slow, we can arrive by evening. We could stay in an inn again if you want, but it’s not urgent. Let’s take it easy.”
Since I’m used to traveling as an adventurer, I tend to move quickly to save time and money. But with her, I couldn’t push like that.
She was so skinny, it wouldn’t surprise me if she tired quickly after a short walk. I have some money to spare, so there was no reason to rush or stress her out. This journey would be relaxed.
Still, despite planning to take it easy, we arrived in Verdaine while the sun was still high.
”You’re amazing, Lena. You’ve never traveled before, but you kept up so well. I thought we’d need to stop somewhere for the night.”
Lena showed no signs of exhaustion after walking all day.
”A slave’s strength is her capital,” she said calmly.
I decided to let her set the pace so I could watch her. To my surprise, she walked almost as fast as I would, arriving before I expected, still carrying the backpack she’d taken from me.
Now that I think about it, I’d heard that people from the south generally have better stamina and physical strength than us northerners. Seeing it firsthand was impressive.
* * *
Since we got here earlier than expected, I decided to get the work I planned for tomorrow done today.
”Lena, I’m heading to the Guild now.”
”The Guild?”
”The Adventurers Guild. I have to report the job results. You should come with me.”
”Understood.”
Once again, Lena answered immediately without hesitation. She really was becoming attached.
After walking through the town for a while, we reached the outskirts where an old, large brick building stood — a bit imposing for a quiet town.
”That’s the Guild branch.”
”Wow. That’s an impressive building.”
”Well, adventurers like us bring in a lot of money, so they can afford buildings like this. It’s not that interesting, but let’s take a look.”
”Y-yes.”
I led a nervous Lena inside. Though it was early, the Guild was open and some fellow adventurers were hanging around, off-duty.
They were reading job requests on the walls, counting their rewards, and chatting casually over bottles of alcohol.
Of course, being reckless adventurers, they looked rough and unrefined.
The sudden attention on us made Lena let out a small, involuntary “eep.”
”It’s okay, it’s okay,” I said, squeezing her trembling hand.
I greeted some familiar faces and made my way toward the counter at the back.
”I’m back, Mel! Is the branch manager here?”
Behind the counter, Mel, the receptionist, yawned lazily.
”Yawn… Oh, if it isn’t the poison-using kid. Done with your work?”
”Yeah. I have a report to make.”
”Yawn.”
Mel was a woman of a certain age with long blonde hair tied messily. She had a certain charm but was too rough around the edges to have settled down. Without even bothering to hide her yawn, she pointed to the branch manager’s room in the back.
”I’m going to see him. Lena, wait here a moment.”
”O-okay, Master…”
”It’s fine, it’s fine.”
I left Lena with Mel and opened the door to the back office.
* * *
”Hey, kid. You made it back safe.”
Inside was a middle-aged man, bald and scarred from years as an adventurer, sitting behind an ornate desk that didn’t quite suit him.
”In age, we’re not that different, you know.”
I couldn’t help but retort, but he just laughed.
”That’s childish talk, shows you’re still a kid. So, how did it go?”
”Well, about that…”
I started explaining the events to the branch manager.
”—And that’s why I got a bit angry and intimidated them, so I managed to get some extra rewards.”
”I see. Those country bumpkins often don’t know much. We might have to educate them. When that time comes, I’ll call on you.”
”Ugh, no way. I don’t want to deal with them again. More importantly, what about ‘that kid’ I brought back as a penalty fee…”
The branch chief glanced at Lena, who was crouched near the counter, through a magical device—the ‘Far Sight Magic Mirror’—that showed the other room.
”Is it okay if I take her?”
He smiled brightly, like a child.
”Huh?”
”It’s fine, right?”
He smiled again.
”…Put away the dart. And the bottle, too.”
”Huh? Oh, sorry. Why was I holding those?”
The branch chief gave me a look full of disdain and sighed.
”Alright, I get it. I don’t need a slave that probably won’t fetch much. Take her. Consider it a favor.”
”Hehe, thank you!”
I returned the dart to its holder and tucked away the potion bottle I didn’t even know why I had before thanking him.
”Remember, this is a favor. More importantly…”
”What?”
”I don’t know what you’re planning, but once you get attached to ‘that kind of thing,’ it gets messy. Whether you sell her or use her, don’t get emotionally involved.”
”…Ah.”
I scratched my cheek, realizing I understood that all too well.
”What the hell, have you already gotten involved? Well, I warned you.”
”Yeah, yeah. See you later!”
I closed the door, hearing the branch chief’s voice behind me, and returned to Lena.
”Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we get something to eat?”
I took her trembling hand, like a lost puppy’s, and waved goodbye to a bored-looking Mel as we left the Guild.
The other adventurers were used to the scene and ignored us as they went about their business.
* * *
Night had fallen.
After dinner at my usual tavern, I returned to the lodging I use as a temporary base.
This town, where the Guild branch was located, had many rooms for rent by the day. I’d been staying in one for a few years now.
”This is master’s residence.”
”It’s just a lodging, not really a residence.”
Lena entered, curious, and looked around. The room was almost as simple as the cheap inn from last night, with minimal furniture and no luggage—just one bed.
”Well, not something to worry about yet.”
I chuckled dryly, recalling the awkward things we’d exposed to each other last night.
”Is something wrong?”
”No, nothing. More importantly, Lena, I was thinking of doing the life-sharing ritual again tonight.”
”Yes. Thank you very much.”
At my words, she undressed as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She showed no hesitation about being naked around me, and I felt genuinely happy to have earned that trust.
”All right, let’s begin.”
I followed her lead and took off my clothes as well.
Notes:
• Lena – Female. A young slave girl in her early teens. Her appearance is emaciated with brown skin, long black hair, and grotesque scars across her face, including one that blinds her left eye. She wears a black collar and tattered clothing. Her relationship to the protagonist is that of a rescued victim. She is silent and appears to have endured severe physical and emotional abuse.
• Verdaine – The largest local city in the region, ruled by the Margrave of Verdaine. It houses a branch of the Adventurers Guild and is the protagonist’s temporary base. Located within walking distance from the unnamed village where Lena was found.
• Mel – Female. The receptionist at the Adventurers Guild branch in Verdaine. She is a woman of a certain age with long, messy blonde hair. Her relationship with the protagonist is casual and slightly teasing. She is laid-back but observant.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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