About a month had passed since my tea party with Elicia.
To be honest, I was suffering from a severe deficiency of emotional healing, so I decided to let my mother stand in for now (my apologies).
"...Luka-chan, you’re being so clingy. Are you acting out of desperation because you have no magical talent after all?"
"No, it's not that. I simply love you, Mother."
"Oh my! What a sweet boy you are! At this rate, even Lady Elicia won't know how to handle you."
Is that so? Maybe it is (delusion).
...I feel like Elicia said something about that. Ah, right. That was it.
"Speaking of which, it’s almost time for you to enroll in the Academy, isn't it?"
Mother spoke as if she had just remembered, happily stroking my head all the while.
"That’s right—it’s the same Royal Academy your older brothers attend."
Man, I even reincarnated into another world, and I still have to go to school? I hate this.
Well, my plan to be an overpowered protagonist with a harem was dead anyway. Even when I tried to use magic under my tutor's guidance, the result was something I could hardly dignify with the word 'magic.'
Take fire, for instance. Seriously, I can only produce a flame about the size of a cigarette lighter. One little puff and it’s gone.
By the way, I do have an Attribute Affinity for this fire. Since fire is the only thing I've got, I'm basically just a commoner. Thanks for everything.
Looking at me, Mother fell silent for a while as if lost in thought, but eventually, she clapped her hands together.
"Hey, Luka-chan?"
"What is it?"
"Before you enter the Academy, there’s one thing you should experience."
"I have nothing but a bad feeling about this."
Mother smiled radiantly.
"Let’s go find you a slave."
"...Excuse me?"
My brain stalled for a second. ...Slaves. So this world has those, too.
"...Isn't this a bit sudden?"
"It’s not sudden at all. If anything, it’s a bit late."
What do you mean 'late'? I’m only a wittle seven-year-old!
"Listen, Luka. As a noble, you will eventually be someone who stands above others."
"Yes, I’ve heard that many times."
"To use people," Mother continued, choosing her words carefully, "means to take responsibility for their lives."
Responsibility. That word felt surprisingly heavy.
"So, consider this a social experience."
"A social experience..."
"To raise them. To protect them. To make choices for them."
"So it’s all part of my education as a noble?"
"Yes," Mother said, looking me straight in the eye. "It’s to ensure you don't run away from your responsibilities."
She had an unusually serious look on her face.
...I see. I suppose this is a reality I need to understand before heading to the Academy as a noble.
"...Can I just go to look?"
"Of course. But," Mother added quite nonchalantly, "I intend to have you choose one eventually, Luka."
"...Alright."
Her tone was so casual. It was as if she were asking me to pick out a new outfit.
To be honest, the word 'slave' only brought negative images to mind. It was an archaic value system I'd only briefly heard about in social studies.
...It couldn't be helped, I suppose, but it felt a bit sad that our values differed so drastically.
That afternoon, accompanied by Mother and our maid, Lene, I headed toward a building on the outskirts of town.
I’d actually come. I really wasn't in the mood for this.
The interior was quieter and more orderly than I’d expected.
Lined up were children around my own age. All of them had their eyes cast down, their faces scrubbed of any emotion.
I took a general walk through the building.
Unlike the first group, the expressions of the children lined up here began to shift as I passed.
There were children older than me.
Children who smiled brightly.
Children who repeated, "I will be useful," like a mantra.
Every one of them was convinced they were a product, and they mechanically performed these roles just to survive.
"...You don't have to decide today," Mother said.
Hearing that, I felt a genuine sense of relief. Taking responsibility for even one person felt impossible for me.
Besides, there was no need for me to choose anyone. That was the easy way out.
—And so, I prepared to leave.
That was when I saw her.
At the edge of my vision, there was one girl who wasn't looking toward us at all.
Her hair was a deep, sparkling black like obsidian, so glossy it was hard to believe it was unkempt. It was simply beautiful—and I sensed she harbored a darkness heavier than anyone else in this room.
Her gaze was fixed on the floor. However, her fists were clenched tight.
She had a face that held no desire to leave and no expectations. She was simply waiting for the end.
"...Wait a moment."
My feet stopped of their own accord.
"Luka?"
"...Just that girl. Let me see her last."
Mother nodded without a word.
Even as I approached, the girl didn't look up.
"What's your name?"
"......"
The silence hit me harder than anything else. An unpleasant sensation welled up deep in my chest.
—Ah, I know this feeling.
If I pretend I didn't see this girl and leave, it’ll probably haunt me forever.
I took a slow breath and spoke.
"...I'll take this one."
I’d literally just decided not to choose anyone.
The paperwork was finished with surprising ease.
A signature on a page, the exchange of a few gold coins—and just like that, a person's entire life had been transferred.
...It was far too light.
"Then, please take this."
Lene accepted the collar the storekeeper held out. Mother’s expression didn't change at all. It was as if we were just out on a normal shopping trip.
"Can you stand?"
When I spoke to her, the girl nodded after a slight delay.
Her movement as she stood up was stiff and awkward. Had it been a long time since she’d even stood?
Every little movement she made made my heart ache.
Without thinking, I took a step toward her.
"...Can you walk?"
"...Yes."
Her voice was tiny and devoid of emotion. But she was definitely responding to my words.
That was a little scary.
The building’s doors opened, and the light from outside poured in.
—It was so bright.
The contrast with where we had just been was jarring. It was supposed to be the same town, yet it felt like the entire world had shifted.
The girl narrowed her eyes for a fleeting moment. That was it. No surprise, no wonder.
"...Has it been a while since you were outside?"
"...I don't know."
Her answer pierced my chest.
The carriage was waiting. Mother climbed in first, and Lene ushered the girl toward the door.
...Wait.
That’s when I realized it. No one was calling her by a name.
"Hey."
"...Yes."
"You need a name, don't you?"
I was stating the obvious. But her gaze wavered as if she were slightly troubled before she finally answered.
"...If it is required."
—If it is required.
With those words, I finally, clearly understood.
I had bought this girl’s life.
"...It’s absolutely required. We’ll decide on one later."
With that, I climbed into the carriage. The door closed, and the wheels began to turn.
Outside the window, the slave merchant’s building receded into the distance.
As I watched the scenery pass, I felt strangely unsettled.
I had done the right thing. I was sure my choice wasn't a mistake.
I looked at her once more. Her expression was exactly the same as it had been inside that building.
Right now, being born a noble or having magical talent didn't matter.
I had to protect her—not as a noble, but as myself.
The life this child was supposed to lead, the happiness she should have found—I had taken it all onto my shoulders.
I might just be a kid who was reincarnated for no apparent reason.
But I was going to see this through. I would fulfill my responsibility.
...It’s not like I can do much else anyway.
Thinking about it all over again just made me angry. When I get home, I’m going to go around smashing every one of those crystal-ball things I can find.