Volume 2 Chapter 7 Nia
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Finally, I was ready for the monster hunt.
I headed for the Magic Forest¹.
But since some bastards were stalking me from behind along the way, I ended up having to hunt humans instead.
I stripped the gear off the guys I finished off and decided to head straight back to town.
* * *
I examined the contents of the stolen wallets as I walked toward the city.
The lanky one had the most.
Over five Gold Coins.
It was probably money he’d stolen from someone else.
The bearded guy had one Gold Coin and a little change.
The woman had about three Gold’s worth.
Adding all three together, I’d made an income of over ten Gold Coins.
On top of that, I had their equipment.
If I sold those too, I’d be sitting even prettier.
The walk back was peaceful.
I strolled along leisurely.
When I reached the North Gate, I paid the one Silver Coin toll.
It was the same Gate Guard who had told me about the inn before.
”Here is the one Silver Coin for the toll,” I said.
”Yeah. You can pass,” the Gate Guard replied.
”By the way…” I pulled another Silver Coin from my wallet and pressed it into the Gate Guard’s hand.
He accepted the coin and tucked it away into his pocket.
”Oh? What is it? Something else you want to ask?” the Gate Guard asked.
”Yeah, I wanted to ask… if adventurers have a little scuffle outside the city, is that going to be a problem?”
”Adventurers? Ah, you mean Free Citizens. If it’s between Free Citizens, whatever they do outside the City Walls is their own business. Grimm City doesn’t care,” the Gate Guard explained.
”I see. That’s good to hear.”
”What? You in some trouble?” the Gate Guard asked.
”Yeah. A group of adventurers attacked me.”
”Better watch your back. Outside the city, you could get killed and you’d just have to suck it up,” the Gate Guard warned.
It seemed that even if you killed an adventurer outside the City Walls, there would be no official judgment.
”Right. I’ll do that.”
”But just because you’re Free Citizens doesn’t mean you can cause trouble inside the city. You’ll be punished for that,” the Gate Guard added.
”I understand. I’ll be careful.”
”Well, if anything happens, let me know. I can at least put in a good word for you,” the Gate Guard offered.
”Thank you. I’ll count on you when the time comes.”
So, there wasn’t any particular problem with me finishing off that trio in the forest.
In that case, selling the equipment for all three at once wouldn’t look suspicious.
The reason that woman hated the idea of being turned over to the guards was probably because she had other crimes on her head.
Like laying a hand on a citizen of Grimm, perhaps.
Those guys attacked me because they knew I’d received payment for the Poison Snake² at the Adventurer’s Guild.
If that’s the case, the root of the problem is definitely that little brat.
Now then—how should I handle her?
I went back to the inn and asked the landlady, just to be sure.
I had to confirm that killing a Free Citizen outside the city really didn’t carry a penalty.
”It’s just as you say. The city doesn’t involve itself in anything that happens outside Grimm,” the landlady confirmed.
”I see. Thanks.”
I’d confirmed the same thing with two different people, so it was safe to assume it was true.
If they attacked me in the forest and I finished them off, it was officially ignored.
No one but the people involved really knows the truth about trouble outside the city anyway.
I guess that’s just how it is.
I took the three weapons and the Adventurer Plates³ and headed to the Adventurer’s Guild.
Ignoring the little brat at the reception who was glaring at me for some reason, I spoke to the quiet-looking woman at the next window.
”Hi, I actually ran into some trouble in the forest.”
”Oh dear. What kind of trouble?” she asked.
”I’d like to speak directly with an official here about it. Can you call someone?”
”…Understood. Please wait a moment,” she replied.
While I waited under the brat’s glare, the receptionist returned and led me to the second floor.
There were several private rooms, and I was shown into one of them.
It was a space about the size of a large studio, with one long wooden table and several chairs.
As I sat and waited, a middle-aged man with a sharp side-part and a grumpy face arrived.
He sat down immediately and started talking.
”Hello. I’m Sismond, the Master of the Adventurer’s Guild. I heard you have something to discuss. And you are?”
”I’m Ryuichi. I registered as an adventurer here recently.”
”Oh! So you are Ryuichi-san? I’ve heard about you. I hear you’re quite the veteran,” Guild Master Sismond said.
”Not really. Anyway, about that business… could you take a look at this?” I pulled three copper plates out of my pouch and placed them on the table.
”These are Adventurer Plates. Why do you have these?” Guild Master Sismond asked.
”Actually, when I went out to the Magic Forest, these adventurers attacked me. I had no choice but to fight back.”
”What? …Do you have any idea why they targeted you?” Guild Master Sismond inquired.
”That’s the thing. For some reason, they knew I’d made money selling a Poison Snake. They said they were after my gold.”
”No way… how could they…”
”Yeah, ‘no way,’ right? Only Balan at the exchange and the receptionists should have known. How do you think they found out? What’s your take on it?”
”…Pardon my bluntness, but are you saying you attacked these adventurers?” Guild Master Sismond asked.
I spread the three one-handed swords out on the table.
”These are the swords they were using.”
”Muu… certainly, this is Thor’s sword,” Guild Master Sismond muttered.
”Three copper-rank adventurers came at me fully armed. Do you really think I’d jump three armed people by myself?”
It seemed the lanky guy was named Thor.
”That little brat at the desk was screaming my reward details for everyone to hear. It’s no wonder some people got greedy.”
”That girl again! …No, I am terribly sorry for this,” Guild Master Sismond apologized.
He was surprisingly reasonable.
It seemed that girl’s stupidity was a regular headache for him.
”Well, as long as you understand. But if this is how things are, I can’t bring big kills to this Guild anymore. I’ll have to find another buyer.”
”Wait! That would be a problem. Losing an excellent adventurer like you would be a loss for the Guild. I swear I will investigate the facts and deal with this properly,” Guild Master Sismond promised.
”Ho. If you say so, I guess I can trust you.”
”Yes, of course. …Ah, right. You’ve already proven your skill. There’s no doubt you have strength far beyond a copper plate. I’ll arrange a new plate for you. You can pick it up at the desk downstairs this evening,” Guild Master Sismond said.
”I see. Well, it helps that you’re so understanding. I’m glad I could talk to you.”
”No, no, I’m glad we could reach an agreement. Hahaha!” Guild Master Sismond laughed.
Getting the copper plate was a win.
Now the gate tolls would be waived.
”By the way, I’m going back to the Magic Forest, but does anyone actually live there?”
”Live there? The Magic Forest is crawling with monsters. It’s no place for a human to survive,” Guild Master Sismond answered.
”So no one has ever come out of that forest in the past?”
”I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
”I see. Then I can hunt monsters in that forest without any hesitation.”
”Yes, we look forward to your next haul,” Guild Master Sismond replied.
He didn’t seem to be lying.
Is there really no one else who was teleported⁴ from another world like me? If the Guild Master doesn’t know, asking anyone else is probably a waste of time.
I shook hands with the Guild Master and stood up, taking the three swords with me.
I left the dead men’s Adventurer Plates with him.
The reception told me to come back in the evening for my new plate.
I went back to my room, stuffed the trio’s gear into a large sack, and went to a shop.
I had no intention of using someone else’s gear.
I didn’t need the woman’s things, either.
I sold the clothes, leather armor, swords, and all the tools for three people.
It came to over six Gold Coins.
That was a pretty good payday.
(Is this all thanks to that brat?) No, no way.
I could have easily been the one who got killed.
My total wealth was now over sixteen Gold Coins.
I finally had a decent amount of cash.
Maybe I’ll go see if there are any good slaves available.
That evening, I went to the Guild and got my copper plate.
Now I was exempt from the toll.
* * *
’The next morning.’
I decided to head to the market right away to look for a slave.
The white woman I’d seen in the tent was still there.
She’d been sitting there unsold for quite a while.
I called out to the slave merchant in the turban standing in front of the tent.
”Hey. You got any good slaves?”
”I have the very best, Master. What are you looking for today?” the merchant asked.
”Let’s see. Any who can read and write?”
”Haha. If you want someone literate, you’re looking for a former merchant. Unfortunately, I don’t have any right now. Skilled slaves are in high demand, you see,” the merchant explained.
My plan was to buy a literate slave and have them teach me, but it seemed the demand was high.
Well, that makes sense.
”I see. That’s a shame. How about a young woman?”
”Oh, I just got some good stock in for that. Hey, strip her!” the merchant barked.
At the merchant’s signal, a staff member came out from the tent.
The white woman who had been sitting with her knees pulled up had her clothes stripped off.
Her arms were grabbed behind her back, so she had no way to hide her naked body.
Her face was turned down, her hair hiding her eyes.
She wouldn’t meet my gaze.
Her skin was pale.
I wondered if it would get splotchy as she got older.
Her breasts were about a C-cup.
Fairly average.
”This slave is top-quality. Her skin is almost transparently white. She has a beautiful face. You don’t see them like this often. Snicker-snicker,” the merchant leered.
”Ho. What did she do before becoming a slave?”
”She lived in the outskirts.”
”The outskirts… you mean across the river? How’d she end up a slave?”
”Well, the usual ‘one less mouth to feed.’ Parents in debt sell their kids,” the merchant said casually.
”I see.”
”Master, this girl is eighteen and still a virgin.”
”A virgin, huh? …So, how much?”
”Normally I’d say four Gold, but for you, Master, let’s make it a special price of three Gold and five Silver,” the merchant offered.
”Hmph. Can’t you go lower?”
”Alright, how about three Gold and two Silver?”
”Hmm. Let me talk to her.”
”Of course. Hey! Answer the Master’s questions!” the merchant shouted at her.
I was the one haggling, but it felt weird.
A human life for three Gold—about 300,000 yen.
It felt too cheap.
”What’s your name?”
”…”
”Hey! Tell the Master your name!” the merchant yelled.
”…Elie,” she whispered.
Looking at her up close, I noticed her n**ples were inverted.
(This is no good.) I’m sure some people like that, but for me, it’s a pass.
Besides, she has a terrible attitude.
But I’ll check the rest of the merchandise just in case.
”Spread your legs. Let me see.”
”…”
”Hurry up and spread ’em!”
”Heh-heh. You’re a man of refined tastes, aren’t you, Boss? Heh-heh-heh!”
She spread her legs just a fraction, so I crouched down to get a better look.
Her pubic hair was still sparse.
(She certainly has the look of a virgin’s slit.)
I’d seen enough for now, so I stood back up.
”Hmm… I’m just not feeling it,” I said.
”Don’t be like that, Boss! Look, I’m a man of my word. I’ll go as low as three Gold Coins! I’m practically losing money here!” the merchant cried.
”Even at three, I’ll pass. Catch you later,” I replied.
”Boss! Wait!”
They really do exist—the kind of women who are a total letdown once the clothes come off.
In a normal relationship, if you’ve already made it to the hotel and got her naked, it’s pretty damn hard to call it off at the last second.
Being able to inspect the whole package before you buy is a massive perk.
I wouldn’t have noticed that indentation if I hadn’t looked at her up close.
(Is that why she hasn’t sold yet?)
Wait, now that I think about it, I didn’t come here to buy a slave for sexual relief anyway.
I guess it wouldn’t have really mattered if her n**ples were inverted or not.
Whatever. For now, she’s a “maybe.”
I spent some time wandering the market, checking out the other slave merchants’ tents.
One after another, young women I’d never seen before were stripped stark naked right in front of me.
There is absolutely zero chance of an opportunity like this happening back in Japan.
I took my time, staring intently to burn the images into my memory.
But in the end, none of them really clicked with me.
And obviously, the men were out of the question.
Suddenly, my eyes caught a building facing the Square.
It had a sign with a painting of a person walking.
Curious, I headed inside and realized it was a Slave Trading House.⁵
It was a grand, impressive building.
The atmosphere was worlds apart from the street-side tents; this place actually had class.
A middle-aged man with a neat beard and a gentlemanly air came to assist me.
”Welcome, sir. I am Hilbert, the proprietor of this establishment. In this house, we handle a variety of slaves to meet the diverse needs of our clientele. What sort of slave are you looking for today?” Hilbert asked.
”Right. I was wondering if you had anyone capable of reading and writing,” I said.
”In that case, we have a product that would be perfect for you. Would you care to see her?” Hilbert asked.
”Yeah, definitely. Bring her out,” I replied.
”As you wish. This way, please.”
The proprietor led me to a spacious private room.
The decor was high-end and well-appointed.
I took a seat on the sofa and waited for the slave to arrive.
”Thank you for waiting. This slave is fully capable of reading and writing, as you requested,” Hilbert said.
”I am Nier. It is a pleasure to meet you,” the woman said.
A woman wearing a simple tunic entered, following the proprietor.
She looked Japanese.
She was a beauty—very refined features.
But her lips were plump and full, giving her a touch of charm.
Her black hair was long and straight, with her bangs neatly trimmed at the eyebrows.
”Ho… what’s her story?” I asked.
”This product was originally a merchant from the land of Jipan⁶. She and her husband were unable to pay their business debts and were sold into slavery together. We acquired them by chance,” Hilbert explained.
”I see. What happened to the husband?” I asked.
”He has already been purchased by another customer,” Hilbert replied.
”Is that so? How old is she? Does she have any children?” I asked.
”She is twenty-seven years old. She has given birth once, but we do not handle children at this shop,” Hilbert said.
”Understood. Mind if I talk to her?” I asked.
”Please, go ahead. And by all means, feel free to inspect her closely.”
The moment her tunic was removed, her large breasts burst free and swayed.
Her body was slender with no excess fat, yet she was incredibly well-endowed.
(For a woman who’s had a child, the color of her n**ples isn’t bad at all.)
As I moved closer to Nier, I realized she possessed Mana⁷.
It was about the same amount as that old priest.
I hadn’t heard anything about her being able to use magic, though.
”I’m told you can read and write?” I asked.
”Yes,” Nier replied.
”Can you teach those skills to others?” I asked.
”I understand most scripts, so I believe I can teach them,” Nier said.
”Hmm. How are you with housework?” I asked.
”I am… quite skilled at housework, yes,” Nier replied.
”No lingering feelings for your husband?” I asked.
”My husband… I have… forgotten him,” Nier said.
(Yeah, right. She’s clearly still hung up on him. She’s basically a classic ‘married woman’ archetype.)
”Hmm. How long has she been here?” I asked.
”About one year,” Hilbert replied.
”A year? Why hasn’t she sold?” I asked.
”In this region, unfortunately, the facial features of the Jipan people aren’t exactly the local preference,” Hilbert explained.
(Jipan, huh? So Japanese looks aren’t a big hit here.)
”I see. Alright, what’s the price?” I asked.
”While she is a bit older, her ability to read, write, and perform arithmetic makes her quite valuable. The price is two Gold Coins,” Hilbert said.
”Heh. Can’t you do any better than that?” I asked.
”We price our products at what we confidently believe to be a fair market value. I’m afraid we do not offer any discounts whatsoever,” Hilbert said.
”Fine. I don’t mind paying the fair price if the quality is there. I’ll take her,” I said.
”Understood. We appreciate your business,” Hilbert replied.
”Oh, one more thing. Do you have any slaves here who can use magic?” I asked.
”No, sir. Sorcery⁸ slaves are extremely rare. Such products are usually snapped up by the nobility, so we rarely have anything we can offer to the general public,” Hilbert explained.
”I see. That’s a shame.”
(So people who use magic are called ‘Sorcerers.’ And they’re rare. Does that mean Nier has Mana but doesn’t know how to use it?)
”Actually, this is my first time buying a slave. I want you to tell me everything I need to know,” I said.
”Of course. I’ll prepare the paperwork. In the meantime, I’ll have the product step out,” Hilbert said.
Nier was led out of the room by a staff member.
”Now then, what specifically would you like to know regarding slaves?” Hilbert asked.
”Just the basics,” I said.
”Very well. First and foremost, a purchased slave is your property. They have no rights whatsoever,” Hilbert explained.
”No rights… so they’re the same as a tool or a piece of furniture?” I asked.
”Exactly so.”
”What happens if I let one die?” I asked.
”It is of no consequence. Since the slave is your possession, you are free to do as you please,” Hilbert said.
”So even if I whip them, cut them with a blade, or just let them starve to death—there’s no legal issue?” I asked.
”None at all. The power over their life and death is your legitimate right as an owner,” Hilbert replied.
”I see. So I really can do anything I want.”
”However, please keep in mind that since the slave is your property, you will be held liable if they cause harm to a third party,” Hilbert warned.
”That makes sense. One more thing—is it possible to free them?” I asked.
”It is. If you wish to do so, please come back to our establishment and we can handle the legalities,” Hilbert said.
”Does that actually happen often? People freeing their slaves?” I asked.
”It does not. A slave is a slave until the day they die,” Hilbert replied.
(So in this world, a slave is just a thing that has to take whatever their master dishes out. —Which means if that woman burned to death in the forest was a slave, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it under the law here. If anything, I’m the criminal for killing those rapists.)
”Right. One more weird question—is there magic that can bind a slave’s actions?” I asked.
”Magic? No, I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Hilbert replied.
”Then how do you make sure they don’t fight back?” I asked.
”We make an example of rebellious slaves. We kill them publicly or put them to torture. Once the others see that, they lose the will to resist,” Hilbert explained.
”So, if they really wanted to, they could rebel,” I said.
”Precisely. Every so often, you hear stories of a weak master being murdered by their own slave,” Hilbert noted.
”So I have to keep them properly disciplined. I think I get it,” I said.
”Wonderful. Then, let us proceed with the contract and payment.”
I signed the documents and handed over two Gold Coins.
”I will bring your purchase to you,” Hilbert said.
The proprietor left and returned with the woman—Nier.
She had changed out of the revealing tunic and into some plain, rough clothes.
”Thank you for your patience. Please, take possession of your product,” Hilbert said.
”Alright, Nier. Let’s go,” I said.
”Yes… Master,” Nier replied.
”Thank you for your purchase. We look forward to serving you again,” Hilbert said.
”You’ve been very helpful. See you around,” I said.
And just like that, I headed back to the inn with a beautiful, big-breasted young wife in tow.
—
Summary:
Ryuichi returns from a lethal encounter in the Magic Forest to navigate the bureaucratic corruption of the Adventurer’s Guild. After securing a rank upgrade and liquidated loot, he enters the slave market to seek a literate companion. He confronts the grim reality of human trafficking while scrutinizing a young woman named Elie
The protagonist navigates the brutal slave market and eventually secures Nier, a literate woman from Jipan, for two gold coins. Hilbert provides a chilling overview of the absolute legal authority masters hold over their property. Tension mounts as the protagonist contemplates his new role while noticing Nier’s untapped mana
—
Trivia:
- The protagonist explicitly calculates the exchange rate of his new world’s currency to approximately 100,000 yen per Gold Coin
- The specific physical ‘defect’ (inverted n**ples) that causes Ryuichi to mentally dismiss Elie’s value
- The mention of ‘mouth-reduction’ as the specific social reason Elie was sold into slavery
- The protagonist spent a year in the market before this interaction
- The price of two gold coins is considered high due to Nier’s literacy skills
- The mention of ‘inverted n**ples’ suggests the protagonist has very specific and judgmental physical standards
- Jipan facial features are explicitly cited as ‘unpopular’ in this specific region’s beauty standard
—
Character Insight:
Ryuichi shifts from a purely defensive survivalist to a proactive manager of his social and financial status, showing a complete lack of moral hesitation in the slave trade.
The protagonist shifts from a purely voyeuristic and cynical shopper to a calculating owner who recognizes the utility of literacy and potential magical talent, while Nier exhibits a broken will through her forced denial of her past husband.
—
Glossary:
Notes:
• Grimm – The name of a large settlement and community located near the Forest of Magic. Grimm is a walled city featuring a bustling marketplace and diverse population, though it suffers from severe lack of sanitation and a legalized slave trade.
• Sismond – The Master of the Adventurer’s Guild. He is a middle-aged man with a sharp side-part and a grumpy expression. Despite his appearance, he acts as a reasonable administrator, willing to accommodate skilled individuals to protect the Guild’s interests.
• Ryuichi – A forty-year-old man who arrived via inter-world teleportation, now registered as an adventurer under the moniker Poison Snake, exudes a cold, calculating pragmatism—treating monster hunting and human life as profit and loss. His hardened demeanor masks a secret: an Item Box he uses for storage and lethal experimentation. He wields magical abilities like Air Hammer and Wind Cutter, and has gained extraordinary physical strength since his arrival, though he keeps his true capabilities hidden from all others.
• Balan – A burly man with a terrifying face who works at the guild’s purchase shack. He wears a blood-stained apron and possesses a surprisingly kind personality, offering advice to novice adventurers. He is an expert in butchering monsters and appraising materials.
• Thor – A lanky copper-rank adventurer who led a trio to ambush Ryuichi for his gold. He was killed in the forest during the attempted robbery.
• Elie – An eighteen-year-old virgin with pale skin and hair that hides her eyes. She was sold into slavery by her parents to reduce the number of mouths to feed and possesses a cold, detached attitude toward her buyers.
• Hilbert – A middle-aged man with a neat beard and a gentlemanly air who serves as the proprietor of a high-end Slave Trading House. He maintains a professional, transactional demeanor and provides detailed legal explanations of slave ownership to his clients.
• Nier – A twenty-seven-year-old woman with long, straight black hair, neatly trimmed bangs at the eyebrows, and refined facial features complemented by plump, full lips. Formerly a merchant from the land of Jipan, she possesses a slender build with large breasts and has given birth to one child. She is literate in multiple scripts and skilled in housework, though she harbors suppressed emotional trauma regarding her husband.
• Man – A roughneck wearing a hat who participated in a group assault. He suffers the loss of his right arm and later his left arm during an experiment by the protagonist before being stored.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply