Chapter 38. The time for independence comes (5)
“If you need something, can’t you just call someone as usual?”
They must be even more curious because they know the way I usually work.
There is no need to hide it even from escort knights.
“not a big deal. This time I need to go and see for myself.”
“Are you going to buy something?”
“huh. You are not wrong.”
It's okay to go shopping.
I decided to tell Asha honestly about my destination.
“The place we are going now is the slave market.”
A large slave market located within the capital.
For reference, I heard about the location and introduction of this place from a merchant that deals with my products.
“Is it a slave market?”
Asha's eyebrows twisted as if she couldn't understand even more.
Neither anyone else nor the prince could think of any reason why he had to go to the slave market on his own.
“slave?????? if??????
what? Are you guessing something?
Where would you like to hear the answer you thought of?
“Why do you think I am going?”
“Um... Arel-nim? It's presumptuous, but can I tell you a little... that...?”
For some reason, Asha's eyes are shaking and she is restless.
His face is also blushing slightly.
what? Why is Asha so flustered when I try to tell her the answer?
“Why are you doing this? What's wrong?”
First, let's hear why.
She wondered if she could hardly speak, then looked around strangely and in a low voice.....
“Still... I think it's too early for Arel to become a sex slave... Ow!?”
Unknowingly, before Asha could speak to the end, I hit her forehead with the palm of her hand.
Of the many, many nonsense I have heard over the past few years, what you have just said is the most novel.
bitch!
“What are you imagining!!”
The more I heard, the more embarrassed I became.
“Why did you even imagine that!?”
What was he hearing in his head?
This lewd article!
Rather, according to what he said, now I am going to buy sex slaves and become a crazy person who smirks and proudly talks about it in front of the female female agent.
I... Is that an image?
“Isn’t it?”
“You… how old do you think I am?”
Thirteen years old Thirteen years old!
That's an age of innocence that usually doesn't even open their eyes that way!
Hey, the age of being treated as an adult here is 14 years old, and it's normal to start early in that field, but isn't it too much?
Somehow I'm losing my strength
“Usually, that's normal.”
Asha protested as if it was unfair.
The woman who said it seemed to think it was embarrassing.
“It's normal... ah... was it like that?”
Alas, is that what it means?
It was only later that I understood what she meant.
Normally, there is nothing for a prince to go directly to the slave market to obtain slaves.
If they needed more hands, they could hire more maids or ask others to do the work.
And since he went to the slave market without telling others properly, he must have imagined that side.
From what I've heard, it doesn't seem that unusual for a man from an aristocratic family to go buy a sex slave.
But it's kind of shocking to think that I would.
“sorry.”
“No, there is nothing to apologize for.”
It's just because I didn't think about it that far.
Better to clear up the misunderstanding here.
And...
“Sex slaves...that was a blind spot.”
Is it good to seriously consider it?
Hmm... Because it's a slave, for some reason it sounds good.
I really don't intend to do that, but I'd like to take a look at it once...
As I seriously bowed my head and thought about it, Asha quietly put her hand on my shoulder.
“Arel. It's still early. never before that. No matter how you do it, a person who inherits the blood of the royal family is absolutely ridiculous! If you do, you will become a laughing stock for others.”
“Yeah... I'm kidding.”
For some reason, I was afraid of Asha's earnest advice, so I immediately withdrew my remarks.
....Let's do that later by sneaking away.
* * *
When you think of the slave market, what image comes to mind?
What a hell of a whip and screams here and there?
An almost naked elf trapped in a cage?
And those pig-like pigs who look at it with a smile?
The answer is, surprisingly, the slave market feels normal.
Arriving at the slave market a little while ago with Asha's nonsensical voice half-depressed, I was slightly impressed by the unexpectedly neat feeling.
“Is it surprisingly tidy?”
The building is quite large, and the interior is clean as well.
It barely smells.
” of course.”
Asha heard me talking to herself and began to explain in a low voice.
“If a slave had a strange disease, it would be a big deal. It goes without saying that management is meticulous.”
“Ah... that's what it meant.”
Of course, each country in the world is different, but it seems that slaves here are thoroughly managed and traded.
Not only the Kingdom of Ernesia, but most countries in the world operate slavery.
That's why even Asha has no objection to the slave itself.
“Hmm? Usually I just imagined abuse or a bit... dark image.”
1_?
“There is no such place. This place deserves to be called the best slave market in the capital city. Of course, any flaws are unacceptable.”
“hmm?”
The answer was the wrong person.
As we entered the building, a fairly old middle-aged man jumped out and greeted me.
“It is an honor to meet you. Your Highness Arell. I am Ian, the caretaker here.”
“It doesn’t have to be too hard. I'm always a guest.”
“Then shouldn’t we be even more polite?”
The manager, who introduced himself as Ian, gave a friendly smile.
“Have you already heard the story?”
I instructed the trade association to inform me in advance that I would be coming.
“of course. Your Highness Arell.”
That's why Ian came to meet me just right.
The manager of the market personally greets you and introduces the products.
Do you feel like I've become a golden spoon?
Oh, I'm a gold spoon.
Sometimes I blink too.
Following Ian's guidance, we headed inside the slave market.
“As you can see, slaves are sold or purchased according to legal procedures here.”
“okay?”
Perhaps because of my identity, I am emphasizing that it is legal.
I prefer illegal to legal
The legality here refers to the trading of enslaved people in accordance with the kingdom's slave management laws.
“The people who were enslaved here…
” “There must be cases where they became slaves because they couldn’t pay taxes or because their family collapsed.”
Asha answered as if muttering.
For some reason, when he said that, his complexion was a little dark.
“If you fall, do you become a slave right away?”
“It is not. But if you become a slave, at least you won't die of starvation.”
It was Asha who answered in a bitter voice.
And Ian nodded his head as if in agreement.
“you're right. Most of the slaves traded in our market are there. Others may be from thieves or criminals, but His Highness Arel does not need to be interested in them.”
After all, I am a prince.
Does this mean that the prince cannot be given a criminal-born slave?
Well, I'm in trouble for being a slave from a criminal background.
This is because the slaves I need right now must always be decent guys.
“What kind of slave are you looking for, Your Highness? If you're a young girl, um, if you go over there...
“So that's not it!”
“yes?”
Ian suddenly opened his mouth in surprise when I screamed.
“I'm not angry, so don't worry about it.”
As expected, the idea that I came to find a sex slave usually comes first.
So, will you consider that next time?
....Of course, when Asha isn't watching over me with cold eyes from behind me.
“There are many slaves to save. Are you okay?”
“How much do you need?”
“Hmm? At least 150 people.”
Let's make a rough estimate, Ian heeik?! I was surprised.
Is that a lot?
First of all, I calculated the minimum necessary amount.
“Can’t you find it?”
“no. Our company outside the capital has a facility to manage slaves, so there is no problem at least three times as many as that number.”
After all, it deserves to be proud of being the largest slave trade association.
He seemed confident that he could lightly fill the quantity I requested with only legal slaves.
“But…how did you need so much?”
“Do I have to use each one when buying slaves here?”
“Usually it's necessary, but since I'm sorry, you don't have to tell me.”
Well, since I don't know where to use it after buying a slave, it seems that I have to write down the reason properly, even for justification.
“don't worry. I don't mean to use it for something weird. However, there is one thing I want you to pay attention to when retrieving it.”
“What is it?”
“Are you a family member or a close neighbor? Anyway, can you get a group of four or five slaves who know each other?”
Ian's request must have been a bit esoteric, and Ian wrinkled his forehead and fell into thought.
“It's not uncommon for families or families to become slaves, so wait until you can't find them...”
Ian instructs his subordinate to bring something, as if something came to mind.
When a subordinate brings a pile of papers, he holds it out and shows it to me.
Documents related to slavery.
Each of them has details such as how they became slaves, their age, and their medical history.
“Among these, select those who know the least letters and those who have families.”
I may be strict though. Customers who want to buy a large number of slaves at once are surprisingly rare, and Ian happily ordered his subordinates to sort the documents once again.
Only the certificates of slavery that met my demands remained.
“Quality is guaranteed.”
“huh. I will believe you.”
There's no way you'd cheat against royalty.
Rather, if you cheat, wouldn't that be fun?
I checked the papers a few more times and then bought the slave certificates Ian showed me.
Of course, the deal was ended with a head-butt for cash.
As I was signing, Ian spoke to me in a very low whisper.
“...But you really don't need a little girl?”
“…Let’s talk about that later.
Because the atmosphere of my escort knight is very frightening right now.”
If we talk about this any longer, I think Asha will go back and tell her mother.
When the transaction was successful, Ian bowed his head at me with a genuinely delighted smile.
“thank you. Slaves are in our headquarters. I will send it right away.”
“That’s what I mean. Can you send me to the place I specified?”
No matter how, you can't bring a slave to the palace.
But you can't just leave it on the sidewalk.
Don't worry.
I had already thought of where the slaves would stay.
I have saved a little temporary shelter in a small city near the capital, so I plan to send it there.
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