Volume 1 Chapter 4 We Are At The Bottom Of The Class Caste
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I still spend my days running errands and doing the usual shopping.
What people buy really depends on the person. McGaref, the fortress city we live in, has a population of about 500,000, but shops that cater to adventurers are surprisingly few. There are only around 3,000 registered adventurers. It’s not a popular job, but since magic stones are crucial to keep the infrastructure running, we’re pretty much forced to help gather them—even if society would rather we disappear.
As I visit more shops and become friendly with their owners, I start to see the hidden side of things. Some stores are connected to shady groups, quietly selling stolen goods. Others work with loan sharks, squeezing poor farmers outside the city, eventually taking their daughters as payment. In this world, where life and death come cheap, the truth behind a smile is often darker than it looks.
”…So, Chinatsu-chan really does want a sword, huh,” I said, shifting the basket in my hand.
”Yes… I even asked my adoptive mother, but she said she’s never seen anything like it,” Shiori-san replied with a small sigh.
I was speaking with Sanada Shiori at the Merchant Guild Kinvale. She’s one of the rare classmates who’s actually doing well. Her hidden skill unlocked a talent for extracting rare compounds, making her crucial for pharmaceutical development. She even ended up running the merchant guild and now holds a seat on the city council. Normally she’s holed up in her lab, but today she was tending the shop for a change of pace.
”By the way, Takumi-kun, how’s your skill doing lately?” she asked, glancing up from the counter.
”I haven’t told the others yet, but it’s at 95% now,” I said, lowering my voice a little.
Shiori-chan is the only person I’ve shared the details of my skill with. She’s sharp—her test scores were top-tier even back home—and thanks to her advice, my progress rate has sped up a lot. She also noticed a strange ‘noise’ in my skill makeup. We think it’s some kind of hidden trait.
”I’m sure once you hit 99%, something new will unlock,” she said, nodding thoughtfully. “It’s like how I gained ‘Formula Refinement’ and could start improving the medicine itself. Your skill feels… different, too.”
Yes, Shiori-chan’s talent is crazy good. Her medicines are already much more effective than the standard ones. Just a few percent increase in potency can mean life or death for adventurers. Even though she was adopted out of the base and lives apart from us now, she’s still helping in quiet but vital ways.
”Well then, shall we do our usual routine?” she asked with a playful smile. “Oh, and, um… would you buy me as a slave?”
”Sure. How much for Shiori-chan today?” I replied, going along with it.
”Hmm, how about… 100 gold coins?”
”Alright then. With my skill, that comes to 5 gold coins after discount,” I said, reaching into my pouch.
I handed over 5 gold coins—every coin she owned, really—and bought Shiori-chan. In Japanese yen, one gold coin is worth about 100,000, so it’s a lot.
”Actually… let’s cancel that,” I added, pocketing the coins again. “If people hear I bought a classmate, the girls would kill me.”
I immediately gave up ownership. Of course, this wasn’t some joke or messed-up roleplay. It’s part of how I increase my skill proficiency.
My ‘Discount Skill’ seems to grow based on two things: how often I buy something with a discount, and how many high-value discounts I succeed at. Normal shopping covers the first part. The second… well, that’s why I “buy” Shiori-chan like this.
It only works on things with set prices. I can’t just slap a price tag on random junk. And I really don’t want anyone figuring out what this skill actually does, so I have to keep it quiet. This isn’t about personal taste.
”Oh, it went up. I’m at 96% now,” I said, checking the status window in my head as I returned the coins to her.
People with skills that let them view others’ stats are rare, so most of the time, you just have to take someone’s word for it.
”That’s great,” she said, smiling. “Let’s do this again tomorrow, then.”
Every time I stop by Merchant Guild Kinvale, I visit Shiori-chan’s lab to complete this daily quest. It’s a little embarrassing—especially since she always blushes when she asks, “Would you buy me as a slave?”—but that part is necessary for the discount to apply.
As I was leaving the guild, I bumped into Nagai Kahoru-chan. Her black hair was tied up, and she wore a simple outfit like a normal town girl. But unlike her usual carefree self, her face looked tense, even gloomy.
”Ah, hey. Out shopping too, Kahoru-chan?” I asked.
”Yes… hello, Takumi-kun. I came to buy some… contraceptive pills. For myself and my older sisters,” she replied quietly.
She seemed to only notice me after I called out, and her words came a bit shyly. Kahoru-chan is the only classmate who chose the path of a courtesan, so I figured she might be here for something like that—but still, my question was careless.
”Sorry. That was rude of me,” I said, bowing slightly.
”No, it’s okay…” she said, then paused before looking me in the eye. “More importantly, Takumi-kun… would you come by the shop again? I’ll be your server…”
She grabbed my hand gently as I turned to leave. Her eyes were trembling.
”My sales this month… they’re the lowest so far. There are so many beautiful girls here, right? I hardly ever get picked anymore. If I don’t bring in customers, they might force me to do something worse… Actually, this morning, the madam warned me—there’s not enough space for everyone in the building.”
Kahoru-chan isn’t exactly unattractive. Her vibe changed a lot after we were summoned here, but she’s still in the ‘pretty’ category. That said, there are lots of girls in this world who are stunning. Especially the ones with more… obvious appeal. At first, some boys from our class paid to see her out of guilt. But now they’ve started asking for different girls.
Meanwhile, the ones who didn’t choose this path are still fighting on the front lines, risking their lives. I know it’s not easy for her either.
”Alright… I’ll come by once I finish shopping,” I said softly.
”Really? Thank you… sorry for asking like that,” she replied with a small smile, finally letting go of my hand.
After promising to buy something with my last bit of money, I parted ways with Kahoru-chan. On the walk back to the base, my thoughts grew heavier.
It’s been several years since we were summoned to this world. Things are slowly falling apart. More and more of us are slipping into hard times. Even though our gear is better, only a few parties handle the toughest jobs, and we’ve all started to rely on them—whether we admit it or not.
”I knew it… the day will come eventually,” I muttered under my breath.
Even with my 5% discount skill, my contributions are limited. I don’t fight. Among our classmates, I’m at the bottom. As I made my way back, I let out a quiet sigh.
Notes:
• McGaref – A fortress city and the third most populous city in the Quvarian Empire. It is home to 5 labyrinths and governed by an autonomous government due to its historical significance. The city is a hub for adventurers, with dedicated gates for earnings confirmation. It is where Takumi and his classmates reside and conduct their daily activities.
• Chinatsu – Female. A member of Hikari’s party. She is frustrated with her lack of suitable weapons and the party’s financial situation. She jokes about switching to prostitution to survive. She has a close relationship with Hikari and Takumi, often venting her frustrations to them.
• Shiori – Female. A successful classmate recognized for her skill in extracting compounds for pharmaceuticals. She has a sharp mind and runs the ‘Merchant Guild Kinvale’. Her appearance is not described in detail, but she is adopted and contributes to the group’s survival behind the scenes. She has a friendly relationship with Takumi and assists him with his skill growth.
• Merchant Guild Kinvale – The largest drugstore in McGaref, managed by Nasselle. It is a regular shopping destination for Takumi, who organizes purchases for the class. The store offers a 5% discount to Takumi due to his organizational skills.
• Kahoru – Female. A classmate who became a courtesan after teleporting to the new world. She has black hair tied up and is dressed like an ordinary town girl. Her beauty is not as striking as others in this world, and she struggles to attract customers. She has a somewhat desperate relationship with Takumi, asking him to visit her at the brothel.
• Kaho – Female. Mentioned briefly as a classmate who became a courtesan to survive. Her appearance and personality are not detailed, but her choice highlights the harsh realities of their world.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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