Some slight mature themes involve. Please proceed at your own risk.

I edited and added the contract thingy in the end.

* * *

Chapter 7: Slave Buying

As we get back to the inn, I quickly jog upstairs and leave the clothes on my bed. I thought of putting them in the inventory like I did with the toothbrush and other items, but since walking empty handed might attract Sasha’s attention, I dropped the idea until we had reached the inn. After all, I still don’t know if they have the same capabilities as I do. It’s better to hide everything else until I can make sure that they do or they don’t. I don’t want any needless confusion.

Trudging back downstairs, I ask the inn owner for the location of the slave market. He gives me a quick glance before turning back to his book. Is he upset about me taking her daughter out? Not like we did anything that would warrant him to bring out a shotgun, but I give him my most adorable smile — my full toothed all american boy smile — nonetheless.

“It’s towards the left intersection before you reach the marketplace,” he says. “Keep going straight until you’ve reached the first side street, then turn another left. If you’re planning to buy a slave, it’s best if you leave now. It’s the last place you would want to be in at nighttime.”

“Sounds easy enough. Thanks for the help, old man.” Seeing no need to further stay in the inn for now, I conclude to follow his warnings. Their bell rings as I go out of the door.

I don’t know what made him reluctant, but since I’ve decided to find a way back home, that also means I need to traverse the dangers of the labyrinth once more. I don’t doubt the strength I’ve obtained after clearing that place, but my fight with the Tiamat opened my eyes: a single person can only do so much by himself. I need a companion, a partner.

The labyrinth, as I have known in my friend’s games, is more deadly when it comes to its traps and poisons. Clearing the monsters might have been the easiest part in this game and I won’t stress something I can brush off easily, especially with my newly obtained skill [Magic Map], but I’m also not the type of guy to take chances.

The southern district is as busy as I left it earlier. Even without the old man’s guide, I’m confident I can find the slave market myself just by following this suspicious group of people. As soon as I get to the plaza, I see a large wagon coming from the direction of the gate pass me by.

The contents are some freshly delivered slaves from who knows where. They look lifeless inside their cages, wearing nothing but minimal clothing to cover their genitalia. Some others even look starved and chilled to the bone, but as it’s not my business to get involved, I walk quietly on the side, avoiding any means of contact with the driver.

[Heartless Acquired]

It seems like system gave me another title due to my nonchalance. Thank you very much.

* * *

There isn’t much to see in the day’s festivities. I cover my face with my hood as I walk. I’m not sure why I’m attracting attention, perhaps it’s because of this expensive looking robe, but each onlooker that I breeze by on this street start to stare at my side. It’s not because of this slave wagon. It’s because of me.

Suddenly, a woman whose name I don’t know slings an arm on my waist, her mounds spilling out of her red velvet dress. She drapes her hand on my behind then pinch my ass. “Hey, handsome, want to have some fun?”

She tries to drag me inside this building, which I guessed to be a brothel, and several women like her flock as I approach as well. I try not to smile but I can’t help it. “I sure do, but today’s kind of a bad time.”

I flip her a silver coin and she turns like a wild cheetah grabbing her meat. But that silver coin isn’t a freebie, so I slap her ass before I continue to get away. She blows me a kiss, and so does the several women flocking in front of their building.

Now I have the urge to go back and stay for a night, but thinking about how much men had barked in front of their tree somewhat scares me. How clean are they? Does this world even have condoms? Besides, sex without love isn’t really much of an experience, and I’m not that desperate to do it just to acquire some unfortunate illness in the end.

I jog towards the wagon and turn left as it goes. It suddenly turns noisy, and the street is emitting a different kind of vibe I’m not familiar of. More suspicious people are marching around with their newly bought slaves, merchants displaying their merchandises on the street — it’s a street generating the same traffic as the marketplace, only with slaves being sold around.

I enter a random shop, and a man wearing a tailcoat smiles at me like he knows what I want.

“Over here, young master, please have a sit.” He guides me to sit on a recliner, and the man sits right across me, a single table separating the two of us.

A collared slave comes in the room carrying refreshment and snacks. Looks like their main attraction here is to flaunt their bodies as this girl isn’t wearing anything at all. As she lowers down to serve me a cup of coffee, ripe breasts flash in front of my eyes. But that’s not what catch my interest. Her ears aren’t the same as mine, but more similar to that of an animal. To my liking, she even has a tail that matches the color of her ears and hair, which is silver.

The man notices my lingering gaze, and for some reason smiles wickedly. He gestures something to the girl, then the girl sits on my lap, lifeless.

“What do you think? She’s still a virgin and in her prime as well. She’s a demi-human from the silver wolf clan, a natural born hunter, so she’s bound to last you a few good years of hard labor.”

A virgin, eh? That doesn’t really earn him an extra point. But the word demi-human is news to my ears. Aside from the obvious difference, is there anything else I should’ve known about them? It’s hard for me to discern what this person is thinking and his smile irks me to no end. But it doesn’t seem like he’s lying about it, seeing this girl’s comparatively healthy — there’s meat on her thighs and hips — compared to the other ones I came across outside.

“How aggressive can she get?” I confirm.

The man hides a smile beneath his index finger. “Oh, very aggressive, especially on nights of full moon — she would suck the life out of you.”

I sigh, as he didn’t get my point. Maybe I’m the weird one. Perhaps that’s how slaves are treated around here — as your own personal sex toy. The thought sickens me, so I take a deep breath. There isn’t much I can do about the fundamentals that built this country. Who am I to judge if I’m here sitting on this chair with wicked intentions in mind?

I tap the girl’s thighs, and she gets off me quick. She stands in attention beside the slave merchant, her long and narrow eyes pleading for my help. Sorry, but if I can’t guarantee your potential, then I won’t have a reason to buy you.

“Is there a way for me to check her strength?” I ask.

“Hmm, we don’t normally do this, but we do have a magic tool that will give you the skill you need. However that will cost you an extra gold, my lord.”

I reach for my pocket and pull out a gold coin from inventory. I put the money on the table. “Money’s not an issue. Show it to me.”

The man startles, but his professional smile swiftly resurfaces. Snapping his fingers, another slave appears from the shadows and hands him a monocle.

“This will grant you the skill, [Observe], my lord. Go ahead and try it.”

I grab the item from his outstretched hand and look at the slave from behind the monocle.

Name: Fia

Race: Demi-human

Master: Denim

Level: 7

[Observe Learned]

I learned a skill? I’ll need to try its usefulness later on. Out of my sublime curiosity, I peek at the merchant as well, but the tool only registered several question marks as if it’s broken.

The man gets up from his chair and ushers me further inside. In cages lies sleeping slaves, but the degree of monstrosity is higher if I compare them to Fia. There’s one with a lizard’s body and head, one that has pig’s head, one that has the upper body of goat — my imagination’s the limit. They have everything here. It seems like these slaves are more built for fighting and hard labor rather than a night’s company.

But a sigh escapes me. I’ll find it uncomfortable to walk around these guys without a doubt, so I gesture the merchant to continue. Fia clings on my robe. Is she mute? She hasn’t said a single word at all, not even words that would convince me to buy her. Yet there’s something about her that attracts me in her own understated way.

“Do you have a slave that has potential to use magic?” I keep my expression impassive as various women greet me on the next room. Oh damn, this is the first time I’ve seen so many naked women at once; the sight somehow overwhelms me.

“Of course we do.” The man snickers. Two girls: both with shimmering golden hair and sharp, perpendicular set of ears, present themselves to me. “Let me know what you think about these forest elves. Though they had lost their virginity, they’re still highly desirable and quite popular with young men your age.”

For a moment, I question the merchant’s mentality. Is being honest part of his trade?

“Master, please buy me!” One of them grabs my hand and places it on her hips. “Please, help me get out of here.” Her expression switches from bold to frightened, like I’m her only hope. But I brush her off before she affects me too much. Those eyes are not good for my heart.

The other girl is scanning me from head to toe. Will he use me like all the others? Her face implies that she’s been tricked more than once. Pick your poison, so they say.

Still, if demi-humans are treated like this in a human country, I would assume that it’s the same for us over there? But it’s not like it’s a discrimination of races seeing there are various human slaves in this city as well. So it’s just a case of being unfortunate then? Whatever, this is not the right time and place to think about these things.

I use the monocle to identify the two elves, and they’re a lot stronger than Fia. But I don’t feel anything about these two. I don’t think I can trust them with my back.

“Sorry, I’ll pass on these two.” I exit the room before I see the girls’ expression.

The merchant chases after me, frantic in losing a customer. “Wait a moment! We have a lot more to show! Please, my lord, don’t leave just yet.”

I toss him back his monocle. “It’s fine, I’ve decided on a slave to buy anyways.”

“Oh?” His mouth pops open with my response then it curves into an evil, wicked grin. Slowly his head cocks to the silent girl on his side. “She’s a total of fifteen gold coins, my lord.”

“Sold. Let’s do this.”

“Right away, my lord. Please follow me over here.”

To complete my purchase, the slave merchant guides me into a different room where there’s an interesting glyph on the ground painted with blue ink.

“This is my first time buying a slave, would you mind explaining the details?” I look at the merchant to inquire, and he snickers, walking towards it.

“Of course, my lord. This here is a contract glyph. Simply pour your magic on this glyph and we will do the rest.”

“Pour my magic?”

“Yes.” He nods then shows me how to do it on the ground. I squat beside him and place my hand on the center. Slowly, I can feel heat traversing the edge of my fingertips, as if this glyph is draining something from the depths of my being. As I lose fifteen mana points, the glyph starts to shine and emit a warm blue light.

The slave merchant instructs Fia to step in the middle, to which she does without asking any questions. He grabs a wet brush and paints some sort of markings on the girl’s back. Fia doesn’t react to anything, treating it simply like a regular occurrence.

The merchant then paints the same markings on the back of my left hand, saying it’s needed to complete the contract, so I comply. I detect energy sparking on my left hand, seeping mana points little by little. My heart floods with sudden panic, as I wonder what could possibly happen.

Fia chews on her lips, and her facial expression distorts to that of pain. A lot of pain. Yet she doesn’t let out a single groan. Not a word of complaint escaped her lips. She took the beating my mana provided, and for an instant, I thought she would explode. But alas, once the light resumes to normal, I know the contract is completed. There’s a faint sound of heated metal crisping on her back until the light fully dissipates. Fia kneels on the glyph, spent and exhausted.

[Slave Contract Learned]

[Slave Master Acquired]

Another skill pops in my head. I should’ve gotten used to it by now, but it persists with everything I do like a clingy girlfriend. Yeah, I think that’s how I would refer to the system from now on.

“The contract is completed, my lord. This slave is yours.” The merchant twirls around in happiness as I hand him fifteen gold coins. “Thank you very much, my lord. Please visit us again for your next purchase.”

“So it isn’t the collar that binds the slave?” I ask the question that’s been hanging on my throat.

“No, my lord,” the merchant swiftly replies. “We use the collars until we could sell a slave to a proper owner.” I furrow my brows without knowing, and he smiles as if he’s seen through me. “No need to fret, my lord. The spell will keep the slave in check if they ever thought of disobeying you. You could also punish her by applying magic towards your left—”

“My question doesn’t relate to that.” I don’t think I have anything to fear from her low level and it wouldn’t be beneficial for me to keep her in chains. “If the collars aren’t needed, then why do slaves plague this city with it?”

“Ah, it is to show the master’s dominance, my lord. People like to show off in nature, you see. That’s why most keep their slaves collared and chained. But if you wish for us to remove it, then we will do so.”

I take a deep breath then out. “Alright, remove the chains that limits her movements as well.”

The merchant is quick to respond to my orders. He fishes out a key from his pocket and unlocks Fia’s binds. With two clanks, my slave is released.

Fia looks up to me, a pair of blue eyes shining brilliantly. I kneel beside her and tuck a lock of silver hair behind her ear. “Can you walk?”

She nods her head like an obedient girl. Good, next thing I need to do is have her recover her strength. I help her get up and have her wear my robe. Fia blinks, her eyes large and lost for a moment, and the unfamiliar twinge of guilt washes over me like a tidal wave. Her eyes tell me she’s not used to this kind of treatment, and I understand. I want her strong and obedient, since there’s no point in buying her if she isn’t.

Satisfied with the deal, I leave the slave market and head for the inn with my new slave in tow.