3-3. At the Slave Marke (1/2)
Changed purple-haired to violet-haired.
3-3. At the Slave Market
Satou's here. There's this so called uncanny relationship, even though I didn't want to, we meet again.
It seems to be fate.
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The slave market occupies around 200-300 meter in diameter of the square, bonfires are lighted every 20 meter away.
Just like in a festival, several slender pillar of woods stood, they're connected with string tied with innumerable thin metal plates which glitters from reflection of the lights from magic. If this wasn't a slave market, this fantastical feeling would have been perfect for dates...
A rope is stretched in the place that looks to be the center of the auction.
The slaves auction hasn't been started yet, but several musicians on the stage are playing a tune that feels obscene.
We don't enter the square, and just walk along the square's street while sightseeing it.
”Satou-dono!”
Dono? I don't know anyone who call me...
It was the slave trader whom we saved from the spider on the labyrinth, Nidoren-shi. Coming out from a small tent across the the slaves carriage, he's coming here. Girls, who are chained together, are lined up on top of the carriage.
”The slaves on that carriage are the exhibit for auction today. There are are those who have arithmetic and secretary skills among them, how about hiring one, Satou-dono? Since they are all properly educated, they're all virgins, but I can guarantee that no one will refuse for the night time.”
...Educated huh.
Oops, rather than thinking the irony, I have other business.
”I'm sorry, but I must make our slaves here go through formal procedure first before thinking of new one...”
”Oya? Do ou want to sell them? If so, please do use our firm! If it's now, you can exchange for beautiful virgin slaves! How about it!”
He sure pushes hard. I don't have the slightest intention though.
...Not one bit, so please don't hold my sleeves while looking up so anxious. I brush Pochi's and Tama's head briskly. I can't see behind, but I can feel Liza being nervous.
”I've said this before, but I don't have any intention to sell them.”
Yes, I do want to release them though.
Pochi and Tama relaxes their grip on the robe.
”Is that so, that's regrettable. Then what kind of procedures do you want? It's not about releasing the slaves, isn't it?”
”Since we're still on temporary contract, I thought of doing official one. Do you know the place where the procedure can be done?”
”If it's that then I can do it. Since I have a subordinate who have the [Contract] skill.”
”Then, could you do it?”
”Certainly.”
We're invited inside Nidoren-shi's tent and offered chairs. He instruct a subordinate man to prepare for contract.
Since the document's content are already fixed, we only need to write the master and slaves name to complete.
I sign at the place the man directed. The fixed text's lines are [To whom the slaves belong],[Slaves can't injure their master],[Slaves follow their master's order],[Slaves are to maintain their own body], just 4 of those. It's like the three principles of robot, although the last two order are reversed.
When we finish writing the written contract, the contract ritual begins.
”■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■■■■■ Contract!”
What did... he?! Is this magic?
After the last (Command Words) is uttered, the documents burnt and from the ashes a blue light wraps me and Liza in a halo then twinkles for 2,3 times and disappears.
When I look at the man's stat, he certainly has [Contract] on his skill column.
Maybe it's a skill that has only one magic?
>[Contract Skill Acquired]
Alright, let's try if this skill is usable later.
”With this, the slave contract is complete. If you wish, you can confirm the contract on the simplified Yamato stone on the auction center.”
After the contract for the three is complete, I wanted to pay the fee, but it seemed that it's Nidoren-shi's authority, so he asked me to wait. Come to think of it, he came out when the first ritual begun. He seem to be back immediately, he sure is busy.
”Thank you, could I ask you something for a bit?”
”Yes, what would that be?”
”Is it rare for a person to release slaves?”
”Right, putting aside the general slaves who have their sentences time decided, I have never seen people who release lower slaves. I've heard story of people releasing slaves who have worked for years, but I have never seen it in person.”
Is it that rare?
”It's possible to release them then?”
”Yes it's possible. Except for criminal or war criminal slaves. For those kinds, only state official or senior noble who are allowed to.”
”For releasing, is it the same as the contract earlier?”
”That's right. I've done releasing general slaves several times before. With the [Contract] skill earlier, it's possible to annul the contract too.”
Since we're here already, should I release the beastkin girls too now?
I can just employ them if they hope for it after the release.
”Master, it's presumptuous of me, but allow me to intrude on the conversation.”
Liza who was lowering her head in silent while listening to us begins to talk, I wonder if Pochi and Tama were nervous with the ritual, they're sleeping while hugging Liza's legs.
”It's okay, what is it?”
”If it's no trouble for master, then please don't release us if possible.”