Light Buys a Slave for the First Time
The year has ended with a series of peaceful days.
We were relaxing, enjoying our annual vacation and celebrating the day Sylvie came here as Sylvie's birthday.
One day, I thought those days would continue even after the new year...
Today, I had sent Shamu to the capital the day before, so I teleported to the capital to pick her up, but when she came into my room at the branch, she had a gloomy expression on her face.
Seeing Shamu with such a gloomy expression, I became worried and called out to her.
"Shamu, what's wrong?"
"Light-sama... I have a favor to ask..."
Shamu gets down on one knee and bows down. I guess this is a very important request because today she is doing what I usually tell her not to do, with a serious look on her face.
"What is it? Tell me."
"I would like you to purchase… a slave…"
That's when it hit me. I see... did you find an elf slave...
"I understand. Show it to me."
I stood Shamu up and let her lead me to the place where the slaves were being sold. The place was a shopping district specializing in slaves, located on the border between the eastern district, where the knight's office and the adventurers' guild are located, and the southern commercial district, close to the slum.
"Here it is."
The store I was told about is relatively old and doesn't seem to be doing good business. When I entered the store, I saw a slender old man who was glaring at me.
"We don't accept first-time visitors, boy. Do you have any introductions?"
"I do not have."
"Then don't go home."
I threw a bag full of gold coins in front of the old man.
"Can’t we solve the problem with money?"
The old man looked at the bag and thought for a while before speaking.
"Tsk... it can't be helped. If you have money, I have no choice but to sell. So, what are you looking for?"
I gave Shamu a look and let her answer.
"An elf female slave."
The old man looked disgusted at Shamu's answer, then answered.
"I don't know where you heard that, but... stop it."
"Why is it so?"
I asked on behalf of Shamu. Then the old man let out a sigh and urged us to follow him.
The back of the store was kept fairly clean, and the cells where the slaves were probably kept were also kept clean. I was a little surprised, as I was imagining a slave being forced into a dirty prison like in common fantasy.
"What is it, boy? Is this your first time seeing it?"
"Yeah……"
"Hmph. You've got a good eye to choose a long-established store like us first."
Afterward, the old man said that this shop is cleaner than other slave shops and is a long-established shop known only to those in the know. That's why the slaves are treated better than elsewhere, and the prices are said to be higher.
"This is the product you're looking for. If you look at it and want to buy it, I'll sell it to you."
Shamu and I were speechless when we saw the inside of the cell.
Her right arm and both legs had been amputated, leaving only her left arm, her hair had fallen out in places, her face was swollen from being beaten, and saliva was dripping from her mouth, where her teeth probably had been pulled out. Her body was so thin that it looked like it was just bones and skin. If I don't know it, it could have been an undead zombie.......
We turned our eyes away from that pathetic sight.
"Tch... the guys from the Empire are treating them like crap. They even sell something like this, and they're yelling at me to pay more for it because it's an elf. When I told them I wouldn't buy it, they left it for free."
The old man was talking to himself.
"It's hard to say this, but I don't recommend it. Even if you buy it, it won't last long, and even if you own it, there's no use for it. Stop it."
I looked at Shamu, but she was biting her lip.
"No, give me this elf."
"Stop... If you still want to buy it, it's 3 gold coins."
I took three gold coins out of the bag and tried to give them to the old man, but he didn't accept them.
"I'll deduct it from the bag earlier."
With that, the old man unlocked the cell. I went inside and picked up the elf woman.
Shamu tugged on my sleeve lightly and looked at the cell next to me. I took a quick look inside the cell and understood.
"I want the woman in this cell too."
I called out to the old man.
"That one was sold by the empire as well. It's just the woman who took care of that elf on the way. That's 15 gold coins. I'll deduct that money from the bag earlier as well. But next time, I'll charge you.”
The old man said and opened the cell next to us as well. Then the woman inside came out.
I took the two of them out of the store and immediately teleported to the mansion.
I didn't want my family to see it, so I teleported to an empty room in the mansion, put the elf on the bed, and cast a [Recovery Magic].
With the swelling on her face healed, her contours have returned to a great extent, and I can see that she was once a beautiful woman. At that time……
"Cal...? Are you Cal!"
Shamu yelled in distraught and ran to the elf's side. The elf called Cal, slightly reacting to Shamu's voice, moved her eyes slightly and looked at Shamu.
"Shamu……"
As she whispered that in a hoarse voice, tears fell from the eyes of the elf called Cal...
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