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Chapter 10: The Strongest Onmyoji Visits the Warehouse (Part two)
In the meantime, I was the only one who knew what had happened.
“Uh…!”
I turn my attention to the sight of the rat at my feet.
With an angry look on his face under his hood, Nozuro’s gauntlets were clenching his fists tightly, and powder-like things were falling out.
It seems that he crushed the stone or something he was holding before he knew it.
I narrow my eyes slightly and open my mouth.
“Don’t be so fierce, Nozuro.”
“Huh!?”
Nozuro looks startled at me.
“What are you doing…”
“Come to think of it, the divine demons were your father’s enemies. Well, restrain yourself. I’ll find you a sturdier slave that won’t be easily broken by your fists. So —- don’t do anything strange.”
I glared at Nozuro sideways and told him.
The divine martial artist nodded after being silent for a moment.
“……all right”
“That’s right, Herman. Show me the others.”
“I’ll show you the other one. …Hey, put her back in the cage.”
“Haha… I’m glad you didn’t buy her. She’s too weak. Come on, hurry up and get back…. Even so, was that customer’s parent’s enemy a demon? I’ve only heard such stories from my great grandfather…”
Guided by the giant, we look at the cages lined up in the warehouse.
Everyone inside is a divine demon. Without exception, a collar of servitude is worn around their necks.
However……,
“…It’s all girls and children.”
“Please forgive me for that.”
“Not many are capable of capturing an adult male divine demon.”
“Captured?”
“No, no… I’m sorry, but I’m not violating imperial law.”
“Hmm”
While snorting, I step back slightly… looking around the cage with a strained expression, whispering into Rurumu’s ear.
“……Are they here?”
Rurumu wordlessly shook her head.
Before long… we reached the end of the warehouse.
“Hmm? Is this the end?”
“Yes. How was it, Seika-dono?
Herman said with a smile.
When I involuntarily frowned, Rurumu suddenly approached me and whispered into my ear.
“… They are still here. Up there.”
The back half of the warehouse had a mezzanine floor.
I’m sure there are slaves there as well.
I tell the slave trader.
“Am I misremembering, Herman? I think you said you had fifteen in stock just now. I’ve only seen eleven so far, are there more than this?”
“There are some, but unfortunately I can’t show them.”
Herman says troubled.
“I’m ashamed to say there was a bit of a mistake, and we weren’t able to get enough collars for our slaves. They’re in a state where they can’t be sold at all.”
“Are you saying they have serious wounds? I don’t care about that. I’ll take a look.”
Saying that, I tried to head for the stairs to the mezzanine floor.
However, at that time, the giant stood in front of me.
“Hey, hey, hey, hey, customer. You’re gonna get us in trouble, man.”
“Get out of the way.”
“No, i can’t get out of your way. I can’t let you through here. The boss won’t let me.”
“Herman.”
“Please forgive me. This is my pride as a slaver. In addition, we do not have very powerful slaves on this floor. I’m afraid I don’t meet your request, Seika-sama.”
“…… I see. Well then, good.”
I thought about forcing my way through, but decided not to.
This is actually a lot more better. There was no point in going that far.
Still, I would bite the bullet a little longer.
“When can we see them? When the collar of servitude is ready?”
“I’m trying to arrange for it, but …… it’s such a valuable magical tool that I’m not sure how long it will take to get a new one.”
“What? That means we won’t be able to see them for a long time.”
“We are taking steps, yes. I am in the process of requesting the Luglok Trading Company to perform an operation to subjugate them.”
I scrutinized him slightly at the mention of his name. I looked at the field of vision and saw Mabel behind him, her eyes wide open as if she was gasping for air.
Not seeming to notice the change in our expressions, Herman continued.
“They used to deal with powerful slaves there, but it seems that they were actually depriving them of their free will through surgery, not magical tools. Recently, they suddenly made it public and started a business of giving it to any slave owner who asked for it. I don’t know what kind of change in business model this is, but it seemed like a good opportunity, so I immediately sent a letter to them. Once we have reached an agreement, a medical doctor from Luglok will be on his way here.”
“……”
“The cost is not cheap, but I am looking forward to …… seeing what kind of product it will be. If you are interested, Seika-sama might want to stay in Keltz until then.”
“…… will think about it.”
I did not expect to hear that name here again.
“Seika-dono?”
Herman asks with a smile.
“Were you interested in any of the products?　All of them are women and children, but they are still much more swallowing than half-baked human warriors. My personal favorites are No. 3, No. 4, and, of course, No. 8.”
“……. Yes, that’s right …….”
I think it’s time for me to move on.
There is no point in staying here any longer. Now that I know there are no inquirers, I should go home. That was the original promise.
But from the looks of …… Rurumu and Nozuro, it didn’t look like they were going to back out so easily.
Both of them look as if they are about to kill everyone in the place and rescue the slaves right now.
It’s not surprising, seeing that their fellow countrymen are being subjected to this.
But it cannot be allowed.
This is a country of humans, and it operates according to human reason. It is not a place where the will of the demon tribe can prevail.
Besides, it is impossible to escape with this many slaves. If they were not careful, the collar of servitude might kill most of them before they could leave the city.
The two divine demons naturally understand that much. That is why they are stuck.
After all, this must be the right time.
I opened my mouth.
“Sorry Herman, your slaves…”
At that moment, I felt the hem of my clothes being pulled.
I turned my face involuntarily, and while she looked up at me with an expression that made her cling to me, she silently pulled the hem of my jacket.
After a moment of silence, I say.
“… What is it, Mabel?”
“Seika. Please.”
“what……”
“please”
After saying that, Mabel lowered her head.
Somehow, I sensed what she wanted to say, and I gave a small sigh, and stroked her  head with a wry smile.
Even you… I can’t help it.
“I turn to Heman and say.”
“I’m sorry, but Herman, I can’t trust the eyes that look at your slaves. If it’s a human slave, it’s fine, but I don’t think a human who has no experience of tragedy can judge the strength of the demons so easily.”
“Hmm. Then… Seika-dono, you found a slave yourself?”
“No, even I don’t know the strength of the demons so easily.”
“Hmm? Doesn’t that mean… unfortunately, there was no luck this time?”
“No, divine demon slaves are rare. I don’t want to miss this opportunity.”
“Huh? So, in other words… what’s going to happen…?”
Perhaps he couldn’t grasp my intentions, but it wasn’t until Herman came here that he showed signs of turmoil.
As I look on, I say it with a smile on my face.
“Everyone”
“……What?”
“I’m saying that I’ll buy everyone, including the damaged ones above. I can check their strength with my own hands.”
In front of everyone who was stunned, I felt a little exhilarated and finally said.
“Now, how much? Bring me an estimate.”