奴隷の少女 ルル
しばらく待っていると、ミアちゃんが小さな小袋を持って部屋に戻ってきた。多分あの袋の中にお金が入っているんだと思う。
とはいえ、こんなに簡単に情報提供でお金が貰えるなら、嘘の情報でもお金が貰えるんじゃないかな? そう思ってミアちゃんに聞いてみたけど、どうやら嘘発見器的な魔導具があると教えてもらった。浮気話に使えそうだな、泥沼だね。まぁ些か高価な代物らしいし、誰でもほいほいと使える魔導具でもないみたいけど。
つまり、その魔導具を持っているギルドにとって齎される情報は簡単に仕分けられる訳だ。嘘か、真かを。
「それでは、こちらが買い取り金になります。情報は以上ですか?」
「うん。確かに受け取ったよ」
「とりあえず、ギルド長に報告した後、早急に捜索隊を編成して『赤い夜』が未だ森の中にいるかどうかを確認することになると思います。情報提供、ありがとうございます」
ミアちゃんがそう頭を下げて、扉を開けた。出ろという意味なのだろう。僕もフィニアちゃんを肩に乗せて、立ち上がる。お金も手に入れたことだし、フィニアちゃんに言った通り奴隷を買おう。出来れば女の子が良いけど、この世界の常識について良く知ってることが大前提だね。それなら男でもいい。
とはいえ、僕はこの世界において奴隷が認められているのかどうかも知らない。どうなんだろう、奴隷を使役することは犯罪的なものにならないと良いんだけど......。ミアちゃんに聞いてみよう。
「ねぇミアちゃん」
「なんでしょう」
「この国は奴隷って認められてるの?」
「そうですね......認められてはいませんが、禁止されてもいません。奴隷を使役する事は構わないのですが、主人は奴隷の最低限の生活を保障しなければなりません。仮に奴隷を虐げる扱いをした場合、この国では騎士による処罰が下されることになってます」
どうやらこの国では奴隷を買っても大丈夫そうだ。僕としても人を虐げるのは気が乗らないし、僕は子供にだって負ける自信があるからね。攻撃力的な意味で。
とはいえ、この国ではってことは他の国では奴隷を虐げることもあり得るんだろうなぁ。うーんどうも気乗りしない。
まぁしばらくこの国から出て行くつもりはないけど、出て行くことになったらそれなりに覚悟しておこう。僕は弱いからね、権力者とか格上の冒険者に眼を付けられたら堪ったもんじゃない。
「きつね様は奴隷を購入するおつもりで?」
「うん、宿で料理を作って貰ってるんだけどお金が掛かるからね。それなら食事を作れる人がいた方が安く付くじゃない? 作ってもらおうと思って」
「きつね様は作られないんですか?」
「作れるけど......ほら、依頼から帰ってきたら疲れてるから作る気になれないんだよねー」
ミアちゃんがなんだか訝しげな表情で見てくるから適当にごまかした。しおりちゃんからは呼吸する様に嘘を吐くね、と評価された僕だ。魔導具を使っていない限りは嘘だとバレることはないんだぜ。
というか、ミアちゃんの表情がなんだか神妙なんだけど......魔導具使ってないよね? 大丈夫だよね?
来た道を戻って、カウンターから元の賑やかな広間に戻ってきた。冒険者達が怪しげに僕達の方を見てるけど、君達の考えてるようなことは何も無いからね。しつこいと炭にするぞ、フィニアちゃんが。許さないぞ、フィニアちゃんが!
「それじゃ、僕は行くよ。今日は依頼を受けている暇はなさそうだから」
「はい、それではまたのご利用をお待ちしております」
「またねミアちゃん! もう怒らないでね!」
「怒ってません」
フィニアちゃん、余計なことを言うな。ミアちゃんの眼がまた笑っていないじゃないか。蒸し返すことないだろう、全く。
ああ、ちなみにだけど、『赤い夜』については捜索隊が発見出来なくとも、他の場所へ移動したということで、情報代の返却を求められることはないらしい。そこはちゃんと聞いておいた。
でもまぁもう用事は済んだので、退散退散っと。
ギルドから出て、僕達はまず奴隷商の下へと向かった。この前擦れ違った奴隷運び的な強面の男の向かって行った先、うろうろと探してみたらあった。奴隷を運んでいた台車が表に置いてある。奴隷は認められてもいないって言ってたからきっと表通りにはないんだろう。
試しに建物の裏に入ってみたらなんだかそれっぽい店を発見。隠すのは良いんだけど裏に回ったら簡単に見つかるって、隠せてるとは言えないんじゃないのかなぁと思うんだけど。
でも、僕にとってはありがたかったから良いとしよう。一見さんお断りじゃなきゃいいけど。
「失礼しまーす」
「おや、いらっしゃいませ。どのような御用件で?」
中に入ってみると、僕の元居た世界でいうホテルのロビーをカウンターのみにしたみたいな空間が広がっていた。奴隷の姿は人っ子一人見えない。まぁ入ってきたのが騎士様だったりするとことだしね。流石にその辺はしっかりしてるか。
「奴隷を買いたいんだけど、いいかな?」
「ええ、勿論でございます! どのような奴隷をお求めですか? 性奴隷? それとも労働奴隷? それとも戦奴隷でしょうか?」
うわ、見るからに怪しそうな男だな。客だと知ってすぐに顔色変えた。怖いねー、裏組織っぽくて。まぁフィニアちゃんをじっと見てるのは気に入らないけど、今は客と店員の立場だから、流しておこう。
「とりあえず容姿は問わないから五体満足ですぐに動ける奴隷が欲しい。予算は金貨1枚まで出せる」
「なるほど......そうなりますと、そうですね......実物を見て貰った方が早いでしょう、奥へどうぞ?」
カウンターの端の扉を開けて、奥へと誘ってくる。ミアちゃんの時とは大違いの胡散臭さだな。まぁ良いけど。
誘われるままにカウンターの中へ入り、その奥へと案内される。なんだか薄暗い通路だけど、少し歩けばすぐに明るく広い空間に出た。そこをどう表現すれば良いだろうか、まるでそこは元の世界で言うところの―――
―――ペットショップのようだった
ガラスの概念がないのか、動物を入れるケージの様なものが整理整頓されたように並べられ、中には申し訳程度にボロボロの布で作られた服を着た奴隷達が、暗い表情で入っていた。
綺麗に並べられた奴隷たち、その手足には枷が嵌められ、身動きすら許して貰えないようだ。奴隷の内容は様々、筋肉の引き締まった力のありそうな男の人間、ミアちゃん以上に胸が大きくてスタイルの良い美しい女の人間、まだ幼くとも将来が期待出来る美少女や美少年、また人間以外にも猫耳や犬耳の生えた獣人や使役出来るよう調教された下級魔獣等々幅広く取り扱っているらしい。
反吐が出るな、ここは。
「どの奴隷も主人に従順に生きるよう言い聞かせて調教を施しておりますので、購入してすぐに命令に従いますよ」
「但し、それだけに少々高額となっております......金貨1枚では少し......」
足下見るなぁこの人。商売人といえば当然なんだろうけど、やっぱり少しでもお金を絞り取りたいんだろうね。でもまぁ予算はある、とりあえず向こうが考えている金額を聞くかな。話はそこからだ。
「幾らくらい?」
「そうですね......金貨、3枚ほどかと」
「そう......」
見事にこっちの予算当てたぜこの人。流石は商人、素人の僕とは年季が違うね。とはいえ、金貨3枚なら払っても問題ない。ここは全額払うつもりで行きますか。下手に値引き交渉しても僕の口八丁手八丁じゃ太刀打ち出来ないだろうし。
「じゃ金貨3枚であそこの巨乳美女」
「彼女ほどになると人気ですので金貨10枚は......」
「......じゃ金貨3枚であそこの筋肉マッチョ」
「彼は貴重な労働力となりますので金貨8枚は......」
「......じゃ金貨3枚であそこの将来有望そうな美少女」
「将来有望なので金貨7枚は......」
どないせぇっちゅうねん。売る気ないなこの人、少なくとも人間売る気ないな。となると獣人の子か......とはいえ獣人だと生活していくのに人間と勝手が違う気がするしなぁ......気難しそうだし。
すると、奴隷商の男はにんまりと笑いながら僕にこう言った。
「お金にお困りなようならば、一つどうでしょう。そちらの妖精をお売りになられては?」
「は?」
「いやはや、最近では妖精を愛玩種として扱うお客様が多くなっておりまして、金貨20枚で買い取らせていただきますが、どうでしょうか?」
この男、何言ってるんだろう。馬鹿なのかな?
―――フィニアちゃんを売るだと?
「あまり調子に乗るなよ」
良く分かった、この男は僕の敵だ。
「っ......!?」
スキル『不気味体質』が発動するのを感じる。でも構わない、この男は敵だ。本当なら此処で消し飛ばしてやっても良い、フィニアちゃんが。
でも、僕はあくまで奴隷を買いに来た客だ。目立った行動を取るのは控えたい。だから殺しはしない。
「ぁ......っ......か......!?」
「そこの獣人の女の子、金貨3枚で売ってくれるよね?」
「.........!......!」
僕は獣人だろうと動けて話せるのなら良いと判断した。それに、こんな所に長居もしたくない。
僕がそう言うと、奴隷商の男は声にならない悲鳴を上げながらこくこくと全力で頷いた。どうやらレベルが上がったことで『不気味体質』の効果も上がったらしい。『威圧』を発動したら失神くらいはさせられそうなほど、顔が青褪めている。良い気味だ。
「じゃ、それでよろしく」
「はぁっ......! はぁっ......!」
スキルを解除して、さっきのカウンターに一人で戻る。フィニアちゃんが凄く不機嫌な顔になって、魔力が眼に見えるほど迸っている。これほど怒っているフィニアちゃんは初めて見る。
でも、良く耐えてくれた。此処で問題を起こすのは困るもんね。
「ありがとうフィニアちゃん、耐えてくれて」
「ううん......でも、あの人嫌い。きつねさんは私を売ったりしないよね?」
「しないよ、フィニアちゃんは僕のたった一人のパートナーだからね」
フィニアちゃんが向日葵の様な笑顔を浮かべるから、僕はこうしていられるんだ。僕はその笑顔が、大好きだからね。
その後、桔音は無事怯える奴隷商から獣人の少女を買い取った。形式的なものなのか、奴隷用の契約首輪を渡された。なんでも『隷属の首輪』という魔導具で、この首輪を付けることで主従の契約が為されるらしい。首輪を嵌めた奴隷は付けてくれた主人に攻撃することや命令に背くことは出来なくなるようだ。
桔音としては、貰ってはおいたが付けさせるつもりはない。奴隷といっても、奴隷の様に扱うつもりはないのだ。
「......さて、まずはこれを着てね」
桔音は店を出て、買い取った少女に自分の学ランを着せた。ボロ布姿は見ていてあまり良い気分じゃなかったからだ。桔音はしゃがんでいそいそと着せてあげる。
あの時は何も考えずそこにいた少女を指差して買ったけれど、改めて見てみると少女は中々整った容姿をしていた。
明るい茶色の太ももまで伸びた長い髪、頭には犬の様な耳が生えており、髪を掻き分けて犬の尻尾が生えている。瞳は活力の感じられない死んだような瞳だが、翡翠色の綺麗な瞳だった。年齢は恐らく12歳程、身長も奴隷として最低限の食事だったのか、年の割に小さいように思える。身体も酷く華奢だ。
「.........?」
学ランを着せられた少女は困惑したように桔音を見上げるが、やはりその瞳の活力は無かった。だが、桔音が手を引くと素直に付いてくるのでとりあえずは宿へ向かう桔音。1人分宿代増えるのかなぁなんて考えていた。
「あ、そうだ......君、名前は?」
「............ルル・ソレイユ」
「ルルちゃんか、呼びやすくていいね」
桔音はそれ以上は何も言わなかった。詳しいことは宿で全て話せばいい。今はただ、ルルと名乗った少女の手を引いて、宿まで連れて行く。
だが、桔音はまだ知らなかった。この少女を買ったことが、この先桔音が絶望することにつながることを......。
Lulu the slave girl.
After waited for a while, Mia-chan was returned to the room while brought a small pouch. I think perhaps the money was inserted inside that pouch.
Nonetheless, if you could get a considerable amount of money with just by offering an information like this, didn't that means you may still be able to get money even with a false information? I asked Mia-chan about it but, she said that there was a magic tool to detect lies. It seems it was used to detect any false information. Well, since that was something considerably expensive, so it seems that wasn't a magic tool which used everywhere.
That means, the guild which has this magic tool was able to easily classify any information. Whether it was true, or false.
"Then, this is the purchasing money. Is that all the information you have?"
"Yes. I certainly accept it."
"For now, I'm going to report it to the guild leader, we are going to immediately send an intelligence unit to confirm whether "Red Night" was still inside the forest or not. Thank you for offering us the information."
Mia-chan then bowed her head, and opened the door. Maybe that means I should leave right. I with Finia-chan at my shoulder, stood up. Since I have received the money, let's buy a slave like what I have said to Finia-chan. If possible I want it's to be a girl but, as long as it understood the common sense of this world, If that the case, a man is also okay.
Nonetheless, I don't know whether slavery is accepted at this world or not. What should I do, I know that enslavement isn't a crime but.... Let's try to ask Mia-chan.
"Say, Mia-chan."
"What is it?'
"Does this country is approving enslavement?"
"Let's see... it didn't approved but, it didn't prohibited either. You are permitted to employ a slave but, the master must provide the minimum living necessity for the slave. When you treat your slave harshly, you might receive a punishment from the knight of this country."
It seems we are allowed to buy a slave in this country. I also don't have any intention to oppress someone either, since I'm confidence that I may lose to even a kid after all. Attack power wise.
Nonetheless, different with this country, there may be a country which prosecute slave. Well, I'll think about that later.
Well, I don't have intention to leave this country soon anyway, when I leave this country, let's just prepare it that time. Since I'm weak after all, I might just stood still if I was glared by an influential people or a high leveled adventurers after all.
"Do Kitsune-sama are going to buy a slave?"
"Yes, I could buy a food at the inn but it would cost quite a sum after all. If that's the case, doesn't it would be cheaper to just hire someone who able to cook? So I thought to buy one."
"Do Kitsune-sama couldn't cook?'
"I can but... ah that, since I would be exhausted when I returned after finished a quest, I won't feel like make it myself right?"
Since Mia-chan somehow look at me dubiously, I adequately swindle her. Since I was used to trick Shiori-chan by told her a lie, so I was quite fond to it. Since there was already no magic tool around, my lie won't be exposed.
Or rather, Mia-chan's expression is somehow meek but... she didn't use the magic tool right? It's alright, right?
Returning through the entrance, we returned to the usual lively hall through the counter. The adventurers are somehow gazing dubiously to us but, it is nothing like you're thinking you know. If you're too obstinate you might turn into charcoal you know, by Finia-chan. You won't be forgiven you know, by Finia-chan!
"Then, I'm leaving. It seems I won't have any time to take a request today."
"Yes, then I'll wait for your next visit again."
"See you later Mia-chan! Please don't get angry again!"
"I am not angry."
Finia-chan, don't say some unnecessary thing. Didn't Mia-chan's eyes aren't smiling at all again. Don't summon it back, good grief.
Ah, by the way, regarding "Right Night", since the search party couldn't find it at the discovery place, so they tried to search at another place, and it seems they didn't demand for the information reward. That is what I heard.
But well, since my business is finished here, let's disperse, disperse.
After left the guild, firstly we went to search for a slave dealer's shop. We go to the place where we encountered a fierce-looked man who carried a slave some time ago, and after we aimlessly searched for it around there, we finally found it. There was the cart which used to carrying the slave outside a certain building. Since this country wasn't approving enslavement, so that's why they won't open the shop at the main street right.
When I tried to check at the background area somehow I found a slave shop-like building. It seems like being hidden but, we could easily find it if we turn to the back area, I think you couldn't say that it was hidden right?
But, I'm grateful to that. I hope I won't become its first costumer though.
"Excuse me."
"Oh, welcome. What kind of business do you have here?"
When I tried to enter and checked the surroundings, there was a lobby-like wide room with a counter, like at a hotel at my original world. I couldn't see any slave there. Well, since the one who come here were at least a knight-sama level after all. As expected they sure thoughtful with that.
"I want to buy a slave but, may I?"
"Yes, of course! What kind of slave you wish for? Sex slave? Labor slave? Or perhaps battle slave?"
Uwah, he is obviously a suspicious man. His expression immediately changed when he know that I'm a customer. How scary, very underground organization-like. Well, I don't like with how he is always staring at Finia-cha but, since our current position are merchant and customer, let's let him be.
"Well, I won't inquire the appearance, I just want a slave which healthy physically and able to work immediately. My budget is around one gold coin."
"I see... if that's the case, let's see... it would be faster by seeing the slave directly right, please come inside?"
Opening the counter's door, he invite me toward the inside. It looked very shady, different than with Mia-chan. Well, whatever though.
I walk through the counter as per his invitation, and I was being lead to the inner part. How should I say it, at my original world--
-it feels like a pet shop.
Is there no concept of glass? There are some animal's cage-ish thing which are neatly arranged, the slave who are confined inside are wearing a miserably tattered cloth, their expression are looked so gloomy.
The slaves who line up neatly, they have shackles at their arms and legs, it seems so that they won't make any havoc. There are various slaves here, a male human with a strong looking tight muscle, a beautiful female human with a good figure and even a bigger boobs than Mia-chan, boys and girls youngster with a promising future, there are also some other than human, like cat eared and dog eared beastman, a trained low class magical beast etc. it seems there are many kind of it.
I'm feel like vomiting, here.
"Since every slaves here had been properly trained to be obedient to their master, so after you buy them, they would immediately obey you."
"But, for such a trained slave... one gold coin is a bit...."
This man sure underhand. For a merchant that is something natural but, as expected even if just a bit he want to squeeze out every possible sum right. But well I have the budget, for now let's try to ask about how much money he want. The negotiation start from there.
"Approximately how much is it?"
"Let's see... Perhaps, around three gold coins."
"Oh...."
He splendidly guessed my budget, this man. As expected from a merchant, his experience is by far different than an amateur like me. Nonetheless, I don't mind to pay it if it's just at three gold coins. Did here supposed to pay it at full? Even if I try my poor price negotiation, my eloquence won't stand a chance against him.
"Then I'll buy that big boobs beautiful woman at three gold coins."
"Since slave like her is popular so it is around ten gold coins...."
"...Then I'll buy that macho muscle at three gold coins."
"Since he is a valuable manpower so it is around eight gold coins...."
"...Then I'll buy that young girl with promising future at three gold coins."
"Since she has promising future so she is at around seven gold coins...."
What's the meaning of it. This man didn't has any intention to sell them at all, at least he didn't have intention to sell a human. If that's the case then the beastman girl huh... nonetheless beatman's livelihood are similar like human but, it seems their treatment are greatly different... how complicated.
Thereupon, the slave merchant man is asking me with a complacent smile.
"If you are troubled with the money, then how about it? Why don't you sell that fairy over there?"
"Wha?"
"Oh dear, these days, since there were many customers who fond with fairies, I would buy it at twenty gold coins, how is it?"
This man, what is he talking about? Is he an idiot?
--Selling Finia-chan you say?
"Don't get too cocky."
I've greatly understand it, this man is my enemy.
"...!?"
I can feel that {Eerie Constitution} skill is activated. But I don't mind, this man is an enemy. I don't mind to blow away this place, by Finia-chan.
But, in the end I'm just a customer who come here to buy a slave. I want to refrain from any conspicuous act. So that I won't kill him.
"A.... ka...!?"
"That beastman girl, I could buy her at three gold coins right?"
"...! ...!"
I judge that it doesn't matter even if she is a beastman. Moreover, I don't want to overstay at this kind of place.
When I said that, the slave merchant man was shrieking without any voice and vigorously nodded. It seems since my level had raised, the effect of {Eerie Constitution} is also increased. When {Coercion} was activated, his face was become very pale and looked like he may fainted any moment. What a good sensation.
"Then, please."
"Haa...! Haa...!"
After canceling the skill, I returned to the counter just now by myself. Finia-chan is looked very mad, to the point I could clearly see magic is gushing out from her body. It is the first time Finia-chan is angry like this.
But, she excellently endure it. Since it would be bad if we make a ruckus here.
"Thanks Finia-chan, to endure it."
"Yes... but, I hate that kind of people. Kitsune-san won't sell me right?"
"I won't, since Finia-chan is my one and only partner after all."
Since Finia-chan is floating a sunflower-like smile, I could calmed down myself like this. Because I love that smile.
After that, Kitsune was safely buy the beastman girl slave from the frightened slave merchant man. Whether it was a custom, the man hand over a contract choker to Kitsune. With a magic tool named {Slavery Choker} , it seems by attaching that choker, the master and servant relation would be established. It seems it was intended so that the slave who use the choker can't attack the master who attach it.
As for Kitsune, he take the choker but, he has no intention to attach it. Even if she's a slave, he didn't has any intention to treat her like one.
"...Then, wear it first."
After they left left the store, Kitsune give the school uniform which he wear to the girl who he just bought. Since looking at her wearing a tattered cloth isn't very pleasant after all. Kitsune was crouching and carefully give the cloth.
Previously, he was just buy that girl without any thought but, when looked closely, that girl was quite well-featured.
A light brown hair which extend to her buttock, a dog like ear at her head, and also a tail which covered by hair. Her eyes were lack of energy and looked like a dead eyes but, it were a jade like beautiful eyes. Her ages perhaps around twelve years old, her height, whether she was given a minimum food since she was a slave, I think she is quite small for her ages. Her body was looked very frail.
"...?"
Being given the school uniform, the girl was gazing at Kitsune with bewilderment but, as expected there was no energy at her eyes. But, since she obediently follow him when he lead her by hands, for now Kitsune was going to return to the inn. He thought that he may need to rent one more private room.
"Ah, that's right... you, what's your name?"
"...Lulu Soleil." (ruru*soreiyu)
"Lulu-chan right, it's good and easy to call."
Kitsune didn't say anything further. The difficult thing, they should just discuss everything of it at the inn. Now he was just walking while holding a hand with a girl named Lulu, leading her toward the inn.
But, Kitsune was didn't know it yet. That by buying that girl, it would lead him into his despair at the future....
I Kinda Came to Another World, but Where’s the Way Home?
【書籍化】異世界来ちゃったけど帰り道何処？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-kinda-came-to-another-world-but-wheres-the-way-home/
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Harem Shounen Slice of Life
Apathetic Protagonist Bullying Calm Protagonist Demi-Humans Demon Lord Demons Dense Protagonist Fairies Game Elements Ghosts Heterochromia Knights Level System Male Protagonist Murders Naive Protagonist R-15 Royalty R*pe S*aves Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2650bx/
こいし