Volume 1 — Different World Life, Start
11. The Curse-Slave Market — 1
I was walking down a little out-of-the-way street in the market. This is where there are ā€˜contractors for curse-slaves’… popularly called 怈The Curse-Slave Market怉, the place for professional dealers. There were those in cells like in prisons, while there were those sitting with the shopkeeper like normal people.
Also…I heard that curse-slaves are sold at other places than this street. While I was walking down this street, I overheard someone talking about that. Apparently, there’s a place with higher grade curse-slaves called ā€˜the Curse-Slave Trading Post’. It seems that mostly n.o.bles buy from there.
ā€œAnyhow… there are a lot of curse-slaves.ā€
I stopped walking and looked back at the road I came through.
I was trying to get a grasp of the prices… and they were cheaper than I expected. The cheapest curse-slave had many injuries so cost 7 gold coins. There’s no upper limit, but I think it should be 20 gold coins on average? Just 4 months worth of living expenses… just that is enough to buy a person. No, to be exact, a contract of 5 years.
Even if it’s just 5 years, people’s lives weren’t exchanged like these in j.a.pan. Even though it’s called a curse-slave, I have resistance against buying… contracting a slave.
What should I do.
For now, I have 10 gold coins. If I mean to form a contract… I can get a cheap curse-slave. But to contract a curse slave. I wonder if that mean I will be binding someone to me under the name of contract.
I… what is Kusunoki Hinami’s ident.i.ty as a j.a.panese person? Is it helping Hana? Helping my parents? Earning money? Not dying? Living…?
No.
For me, ā€˜living with a smile’ has always been the goal.
Then, to that extent, what do I need…?
A stable life.
A good friend.
Delicious food.
A healthy body without illness.
Time to pursue hobbies.
No.
I can smile from Hana… from my family staying safe…
Hana is living the precious life G.o.d has helped save.
Because of that, ā€˜paying back G.o.d for his help’… is my ident.i.ty now.
ā€œHinami!ā€
ā€œHinami-dono!ā€
Let’s breath deeply first. Now I will be ā€˜forming a contract with a curse-slave’.
The moment I had steeled my heart… and was about to step foot into the curse-slave market again, there were voices from behind. A clear soprano tone and a low imposing voice.
I think my resolve shook a little from those, but I felt glad to hear familiar sounds so anxiety disappeared a bit from my heart.
ā€œAlfred-san, Clef-san…!ā€
Why are they here?Ā I thought but from their appearances I realised they were working. They both were wearing proper knightly attire. I wonder if they’re on patrol…? No, if it’s patrol, I guess people like the soldier who talked to me would do that.
ā€œWhy are you at the curse-slave market? What about Thia?ā€
ā€œErm, she seems to got an urgent business.ā€
ā€œAn urgent business even though there’s Hinami? ……I see, it’s that guy.ā€
ā€œā€¦?ā€
Having something on his mind, Alfred-san let out a heavy sigh. Behind him, Clef-san had a face that seemed to say, ā€˜my my.’ I wonder what it could be. That guy…? Noticing that I had a question mark on me, Alfred-san told me, ā€œHer fiancĆ©.ā€
Believe it or not, Thia-chan had a fiancé…! No, well… I wonder if n.o.bles have that. It’s not related with me who only worked and had no boyfriends in j.a.pan… Then, did Thia-chan go to meet her fiancĆ©? Mn, then it can’t be helped that it’s an urgent business.
ā€œSorry, Hinami. Her fiancĆ© is a duke… so Thia can’t reject him forcefully.ā€
ā€œEh! She didn’t go happily?ā€
ā€œI wonder. I… don’t like the guy.ā€
Huh, isn’t this siscon? He’s jealous, right? Alfred-san might have it worse than me.
More importantly, I’m worried about Thia-chan. I don’t know what kind of person the fiancĆ© is… but if he’s calling Thia-chan using his position not through mutual love, I don’t like him. …Let’s try asking next time. Because, we’re friend…!
ā€œCould it be that Hinami-dono, you are planning on going back alone? I had thought that you would stay with Thia, so I had not prepared… I’m sorry.ā€
ā€œN-No…! Please don’t worry about that!ā€
ā€œA child should let herself get spoiled. Or could it be that because you lived alone in the forest, it’s simple to get back home… is it?ā€
ā€œNo no I don’t know how to get back! Ahā€¦ā€
My true thoughts accidentally spilled out. How embarra.s.sing… Clef-san grinned and apologised, ā€œSorry that my child forcefully brought you here.ā€ By how he’s observing me, it looks like he understood why I’m here. That I’m here to buy a slave for escort purposes since I can’t return on my own.
It felt like I did something embarra.s.sing, so I stared at the ground, avoiding his gaze. I feel like a child that was caught doing something bad.
Clef-san patted my head and said, ā€œIt’s alright.ā€
ā€œThere are a lot of people forming contracts with curse-slaves for escort. Rather, it’s a natural thing. Thia’s escort, Kiruto is also a curse-slave.ā€
ā€œEh… really?ā€
ā€œAh, well, most people don’t, but n.o.bles or adventurers make these contracts rather often.ā€
I couldn’t believe it when I heard the explanation from the guild, but I could when it was from Clef-san. I wonder if this is the so called dignity of a knight…?
Rather, Kiruto-kun was a curse-slave. I had no idea… Certainly, he was sticking close to Thia-chan and he didn’t speak when Thia-chan and I were talking. An obedient attendant… that was all I thought.
ā€œI am a knight. I can tell at a glance that Hinami-dono is not fit for combat.ā€
ā€œAh… yes.ā€
ā€œFrom now on, if you want to keep living in the forest but go back and forth between the city, it will be good to get an escort. If not, I think living in the city should be good. Hinami-dono is still a child… it shouldn’t be as dangerous as the forest.ā€
It’s a secret that I thought that people wouldn’t have to be a knight to tell as I looked at my arms that lacked muscles.
First of all… my living condition is the key point. However, I can’t abandon the house. Because it’s the precious house G.o.d gave to e. Also, I grew attached from living in it for 2 years. Plus, it’s pleasant and cute. For the rest, I don’t have any complaints if I have ingredients.
ā€œSo… I do want a house in the city… but the house I’m living in is important, so I can’t let it go.ā€
ā€œI see. Then it would be best to form a contract with a curse-slave for escorting purposes. Travelling through the forest alone is dangerous.ā€
ā€œThat’s true. Thank you for your advice.ā€
Thanks to Clef-san’s kind words, the guilt I was feeling from getting a curse-slave was decreased. He’s warm like father, so it’s somewhat embarra.s.sing.
ā€œHinami… you can’t fight? I thought you were someone amazing because you were living alone in the forest of the lostā€¦ā€
ā€œAlfred-san… what did you see me as. I am living in the forest… but I’m a normal girl.ā€
ā€œAh—… come to think of it, you were scared of Schtrein too.ā€
ā€œSchtrein…?ā€
ā€œMy dragon.ā€
It’s an elegant name I never heard of… was what I was thinking, but it seems like it’s the dragon I rode here. So the name is Schtrein… it feels I lost to a dragon on names. No, I’m just feeling it.
ā€œHinami, I’ll fly you home on Schtrein.ā€
ā€œEh…!ā€
I flinched from what should be a nice offer from Alfred. Seeing my complex expression of happiness and anxiety, Alfred-san grinned.
ā€œAh, you can’t ride because Schtrein is scary… huh.ā€
ā€œUuā€¦ā€
It’s troubling, but it’s as he said so I couldn’t… retort. No, I do want to ride the dragon and return swiftly…! I want to return to the house in the forest. Then once I settle down and get more points, I want to come back to the city, sell restoratives (potions) and buy a house…!
Mn?
Huh.
Let’s pretend that I was returned home.
Then how will I come to the city next time…?
ā€œHey, Al. Treat women gently.ā€
ā€œI know… I’m joking Hinami. Sorry.ā€
To me who was troubled, Clef-san scolded Alfred-san. Alfred-san obediently accepted and apologised to me. They really are n.o.bles… most boys that age won’t be that polite…!
ā€œOn closer though, I… after getting home, I can’t come back to the city on my own.ā€
ā€œā€œAh…!ā€ā€
Looks like the two of them both did not think about that, as their voices overlapped. Like father, like son, a perfect harmony. Alfred pondered with a troubled expression and sent glances at me.
ā€œI can send you home today, but even still I can’t go back to get you, you know?ā€
ā€œNo no no, I know that…!ā€
ā€œBut Thia does like Hinami, it’ll be sad if we can’t meet again.ā€
This somehow felt like something Alfred-san thought about sincerely.
But… that means, I was confirmed as Thia-chan’s friend, I’m happy. But then… I need a slave… to get to the city. I gazed at the slave market. I met these two so I felt slightly anxious.
Ahh, what should I do? Should I really buy… a slave?
ā€œThen, Hinami, how will you return?ā€
ā€œAh… no, I’ll contract… a curse-slave and get escorted there. Frankly, the dragon is quite scary.ā€
ā€œI see. That might be good for Hinami-dono.ā€
I refused Alfred-san’s very nice offer and resolved to form a contract with a curse-slave. Clef-san’s approval is now also a reason. Buying a curse-slave doesn’t mean getting despised or that there aren’t moral qualms… he took care of such fears. In truth, it’s not ā€˜buy’ but ā€˜contract’, so it’s like getting a part-timer in j.a.pan… no, I guess it’s different.
Right, I cant’ treat a curse-slave… like a slave that could be sold and bought. I won’t become that uses a person like a tool…
Mn, it’s alright. The curse-slaves here are different from the slaves on earth.
ā€œNow, we have to go. Sorry, Hinami-dono. We haven’t given you much. If you can, please visit as again.ā€
ā€œYes. Thank you, Clef-san.ā€
ā€œIf there are any problems, please tell me. Hinami is Thia’s saviour and friend, so I’ll gladly help you.ā€
ā€œAlfred-san… thank you.ā€
I said goodbye to the two of them and saw them off.
The kind people, the people I met for the first time, Thia-chan’s family.
But, to be honest, I was glad that the first people I met were nice people…! But, yes. I can’t get used to n.o.bility or things like that, so I end up getting nervous in from of them. I wonder what the rest is… right, the form of speech. I can’t go against it…? I get overwhelmed or something like that. Well, j.a.panese people can’t really come out strong. It can’t be helped…! Probably
Now then…
I mustered up my courage again and set foot into the curse-slave market.
ā€œErm… I’d like to form a contract with a curse-slave.ā€
ā€œMn? You, young lady?ā€
ā€œYesā€¦ā€¦ā€
I looked around and talked to a curse-slave trader. The curse-slaves were all in cages, so I don’t think the trader treats them well. However, I have only 10 gold coins. If I return hoe and sell potions, I think I can sell more, but I can’t return home now so it’s not possible. From the other curse-slave traders that treat their curse-slaves well, 10 gold coins won’t be enough.
The curse-slave trader I chose had the prices ranging from 5 gold coins at the lowest… to 23 gold coins to the highest. Compared to other curse-slave traders it was quite cheap. But to that extent… they were wounded or their eyes were blank.
ā€œWhat’s it for? Young lady, you’re… a little over 10? Then I think a s.e.x curse-slave is too fast for you! Haha!ā€
ā€œā€¦ā€¦I’m 15.ā€
ā€œEh! Truly. Sorry, sorry, as an apology let me show you the finest s.e.x curse-slaveā€¦ā€
ā€œNo! I want an escort!ā€
How long is this person going to tease me…!
The bulky curse-slave trader smiled at me. It looks like there are some positive people in the business…
And then, the s.e.x curse-slave he recommended… Uu, so there are people who buy curse-slaves for such… purposes. The hurdle is too high for an experienced person like me. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.
ā€œI’m joking! Don’t get angry, young lady! If it’s an escort, you’d want strength. This one, this one… and how about this one?ā€
ā€œā€¦ā€
After saying that, the old man pointed at 3 curse-slaves.
The first was… a man looking to be in his late teens. His unkempt blue hair reached to his shoulder. His facial features were clear, so he was handsome. He’s glaring at me a little… I felt. The price is 20 gold coins.
The second was… a therianthrope? He was a boy with cat ears. Around my age or maybe less… or so he looked like. The two ears protruding from his short-cut hair were brown, and it felt like it would be nice to touch. He was still a young boy, so cute might fit him better. Just that… he didn’t have a left arm. Maybe because of that, he cost 5 gold coins.
Finally… there was another handsome person. The first one was grand, but this person was thin and elegant, like Johnnys. The dishevelled yellow-green hair was parted to the right, his long fringe completely covering his left eyes. Maybe he was listless, because I couldn’t tell where that eye was looking at. The price is… 9 gold coins?
Huh… isn’t the third person cheap?
He does have arms… and I don’t see any wounds. And he doesn’t look bad either. No, wouldn’t he be in the good category…?
Now… what should I do?
In front of me there were 3 curse-slaves in the cages. My pounding heart sounded like whispers on my ear, controlling me. I will choose and form a contract with a person. That used to be an unimaginable thing in the life before.
But I decided to live on in this world.
I properly stared into the eyes of the 3 curse-slaves.