The candidate selection didn't take long. The materials were organized so efficiently that I could tell at a glance whether someone fit my criteria. However, even after filtering for only those who met my requirements, I was still left with over fifty people. It was still too many, and I wanted to narrow the list down further, but...
"I don’t mean to be rude, but they all seem much the same to me," I muttered.
The majority were former adventurers who had either failed to make a living or had fallen into debt after a botched quest.
"Generally speaking, most people with combat skills gravitate toward adventuring," Oresto explained. "Occasionally, you will find someone with a background in private security, but even then, those roles usually require a proven track record as an adventurer to demonstrate their strength."
"I see..."
But with so many identical backgrounds, I wasn't sure what criteria I should use to choose between them.
"Fei-san, do you see anything promising?" I asked.
"It is difficult, ne..."
"Do you have any experience from when you led subordinates in the past?"
"I do, yo. But I never chose them like this. I simply trained whoever was sent to me. That was all. If they did not listen, or if they were not suited for the work, we did not worry about them. Such people tended to disappear naturally."
"Oh... is that so?"
By "disappear," did he mean they were reformed during training? Or was it something more permanent? I decided it was better not to dwell on that and focused on the task at hand.
The personality assessments might have included a bit of sales puffery, but the evaluations were likely grounded in reality. If Oresto sold a slave under false pretenses, the buyer would find out eventually, and I doubted a shop like this would have earned the respect of men like Reinhardt if that were the case.
Since I was hiring them as guards for my shop, "combat ability" was the primary necessity. I decided to make that my first filter. I went back through the materials and pulled out only the candidates whose combat-type skills were at Level 3.
Suddenly, the pool shrank to just twelve people—barely a quarter of the previous count.
"The numbers drop off significantly with just a one-level difference," I remarked.
"Fufufu..." Oresto chuckled softly.
I looked up. Did I say something strange?
"My apologies," Oresto said. "But you are correct. Skill levels rise through dedicated training and real-world experience. It is not uncommon for a single level to take several years to increase. Furthermore, the higher the level, the steeper the climb; sometimes reaching the next plateau takes decades. Consequently, a single level represents a clear disparity in actual ability. If two specialists in the same weapon faced each other one-on-one, the person with the higher level would almost certainly emerge victorious."
Having stated that firmly, Oresto added, "However..."
I didn't immediately grasp the implication.
"For you, Lord Takebayashi, the difference between Level 2 and Level 3 is likely negligible."
"What do you mean by that?"
He offered a slight, knowing smile. Beside me, I felt Reinhardt and the others grow noticeably more wary.
"You are an adventurer yourself, aren't you, Lord Takebayashi? And a very powerful one at that. While I have no personal knowledge of the martial arts... to be honest, I have been investigating you for quite some time."
"Investigating me? Not just hearing rumors?"
Judging by his candor, it didn't seem like he felt his actions were underhanded.
"May I ask why?"
"There are several reasons. First, the fact that these three gentlemen and Madam Grisiela are acting as your patrons. Any merchant with a modicum of influence would have heard of this; the information was spread quite deliberately through the Commerce Guild’s network. Second, it was due diligence as a slave merchant. The laundry shop you started with your slimes is... unique, to say the least. It is unprecedented. New ventures always carry the risk of failure, and many business owners who fail end up coming to us."
Apparently, he kept a close eye on new shops, conspicuous businesses, and those in financial trouble. He admitted that given my powerful backers, he didn't expect me to be driven to such extremes, but he watched nonetheless.
"And the third reason? Simply put, I was curious. I wanted to know what kind of person Ryoma Takebayashi was—the boy with the broad connections and the innovative new business."
Even though it was the simplest reason, the third one felt like it carried the most weight.
"So, as a result of your investigation, you concluded that Levels 2 or 3 would be no match for me?"
"I am certain of it. You first began to distinguish yourself with the extermination request at the long-abandoned North Mine. I heard you participated while commanding a swarm of rare slimes that wielded weapons. Despite it being your first request, you were integrated into a B-rank team. The day before that, you intervened alone to save a child from a group of thugs. Even though one of them was C-rank, you reportedly dispatched him in an instant. Ah... if you wonder how I know that in such detail, it is because that captured C-rank man was sent to me. He was registered at this shop as a 'Criminal Slave' to serve his sentence."
"Was he really? It's a small world..."
"Indeed. Truly... He was eventually sent to a coal mine, but I had the chance to speak with him for a few days before his departure. He told me that at the moment of his defeat, he didn't even understand what had happened—only that he had lost before he knew it. His Skill Board listed Battleaxe Techniques at Level 3. While that is within the range of an ordinary person, his strength was genuine. To defeat such a man so quickly that he couldn't even perceive the blow... you are almost certainly far above his level. Even if we assume he was careless because of your age, being able to win like that makes you incredibly strong. Oh, and then there was this story..."
With an excited look that bordered on obsession, stories of my exploits poured from his mouth. He mentioned rumors from Gimul, the Founding Festival, and my role as an instructor for the rookie training. It seemed I had become somewhat famous as the adventurer with the strange slimes.
"I also know you have been hunting bounties. You took down the famous Melzen of the Red Spear, and just recently, you defeated a gang of fifteen bandits. Ah, but that was alongside Lord Fei here. Lord Fei is clearly quite formidable as well."
My personal information was leaking out at the level of a dedicated stalker—and that included very recent events.
"Ahem! Hmmm..." Reinhardt cleared his throat loudly.
"Oh! My apologies. I got a bit carried away."
"No, well... I was just thinking you’ve certainly been thorough," I said.
"Not at all. I could only gather information from the time you arrived in Gimul. Anything before that—aside from the fact that you lived in the Gana Forest—is non-existent. It was as if you simply materialized out of thin air, and I couldn't pick up the trail at all. I find my own investigative skills lacking."
Honestly, it would be a miracle if he could track it back to Earth. Was this the kind of eccentricity Reinhardt and the others were worried about?
"Since I was a child, I have loved listening to the stories of slaves and customers," Oresto continued. "Men, women, children, the elderly. Humans, Beast-kin, Elves, Dwarves, Dragonewts. Their past jobs, their physiques—even if you just say 'human,' they are so wonderfully diverse. I find myself wanting to know what each person thought and how they lived their lives. Ah, when I say this, people sometimes assume I mean it in a sexual sense, but that isn't the case. Though, in that sense, I don't mind either gender or any race."
I hadn't asked! And didn't that just mean he was into everything anyway? Well, as long as it was a consensual relationship with an adult, it wasn't my business. It just sounded like he had an incredibly wide "strike zone."
Coming from a world with Earth's otaku culture, the character archetypes in anime and manga were far more varied. Cat ears, animal ears, and maids were common. Even ordinary people knew what a "Tsundere" was. If you looked further, you found everything from crossdressers to robot girls. Personally, I didn't judge those tastes or same-sex romance. If I were the target, I'd have to decline, but otherwise...
Oresto Moulton is not a threat, I concluded in my head.
But was this what the others were wary of? He was certainly a difficult person to pin down.
"Forgive one more rudeness... but what are the actual levels of your combat skills, Lord Takebayashi?"
"Oresto. You shouldn't pry like that outside of a business transaction," Pioro said. His tone was a sharp departure from his usual jovial self. "Ryoma is not one of your slaves."
It was true that such questioning was a breach of etiquette, but...
"Thank you, Pioro-san. But it's alright."
There was something about Oresto... He seemed driven by pure curiosity and was honest about his impulses. I didn't get the sense that he was trying to manipulate or exploit me. His mask had been cast aside, and while his true nature was appearing, I felt a strange sense of affinity with him. He was definitely an oddball, but I preferred this to the "pleasant young man" act.
"Setting myself aside, I'm sure he wouldn't do anything to invite the group's collective wrath," I said, turning back to Oresto to disclose a bit of information. "My main disciplines are Swordsmanship and Martial Arts. I am Level 7 in both."
Silence filled the room. The atmosphere became stiflingly tense. The source of the pressure was the three adults who acted as my guardians. All of them were speechless—except for Serge, who began to sweat profusely. Beside me, Fei merely sipped his tea as if the revelation meant nothing to him.
Oresto looked slightly surprised, perhaps because his prediction had fallen short or because he hadn't expected such a straightforward answer. But more than surprise, interest and excitement lit up his face.
"Level 7. I admit, I didn't imagine you would be that high."
"I might be joking, you know?"
"Fufufu... That level of composure is terrifying."
We locked eyes. I wondered how he would take it. Would he think I was lying? Or would he believe me? I was telling the truth, so I simply held his gaze.
"Please rest assured," Oresto said, sounding genuinely amused despite the glares from Reinhardt and the others. "Even if you had no protectors, I would never misuse a customer's information. Besides, if I tried anything foolish, I suspect I'm the one who would end up injured."
"However," he continued, "if that is the case, then Levels 2 or 3 would indeed feel inadequate."
He seemed to be moving forward on the assumption that I was telling the truth, but he appeared more deeply lost in thought than before.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"One moment, please."
He left the room and returned with a different bundle of documents.
"These are from a list of slaves with... complications."
"Complications?"
"Unlike the regular list, these individuals are considered difficult to use as a general labor force. The elderly, very young children, those with chronic illnesses, or those with injuries and aftereffects that prevent them from performing at their peak. I usually don't recommend them, but as it happens, there is one Level 5 swordsman among them."
He flipped through the documents and showed me a specific page.
"Ox Road. Thirty-seven years old. He's an Ox-kin male. He does indeed have Twin Swordsmanship at Level 5, but..."
Reading his background, the man seemed incredibly powerful, but the reason for his inclusion on this list was also detailed. He had been raised in a church orphanage until fifteen, then entered a training school for gladiators. He had risen through the ranks as a top-tier fighter throughout his twenties and even won a major tournament in his thirties.
However, he had injured his left hand during a match. It was thought to be a minor wound, but it became infected and worsened until his hand had to be amputated from the wrist down. The notes mentioned that Ox-kin were known for their great strength, and as a popular gladiator, he had specialized in dual-wielding heavy, custom-made swords. His offense had been described as a relentless storm of power and speed.
"A dual-swordsman who lost a hand... obviously, he cannot fight as he once did," Oresto said. "However, even with one hand, he can swing a single blade, and his foundational strength is enough to easily overpower a Level 3 slave. His experience in interpersonal combat is vast, and he currently serves as a training partner for our other combat slaves. I suspect he could even assist Lord Fei with instruction."
He sounded like a viable option for shop security. If he could provide training, it was worth considering for the long term. But I was concerned by a note saying he had a "strong obsession with being a swordsman." Also, his price was eight million Suut—significantly higher than the others. I asked why.
"He made his living solely through his martial prowess; he has a great deal of pride," Oresto explained. "Even now, he never misses a day of training, and his only request is that he be sold to a master who values his skill with a blade. Furthermore, before his hand was amputated, he spent everything he had on specialized Magic Medicine to try and save it."
"To buy time... was it Stasis Medicine?"
"You're familiar with it? Precisely. It prevents a wound from progressing, effectively freezing the injury in time. It is a rare and incredibly expensive treatment."
"He was a famous gladiator and had the earnings to match, but he exhausted his fortune on the medicine and eventually took on debt when he couldn't give up. He ended up here because of those debts. His price reflects the remaining balance after he sold his house and belongings—though he refused to sell his beloved swords."
"He kept the swords?"
"Yes. He swore he would never let them go. I tried to persuade him many times, but he claimed he would rather die than part with them."
"He sounds like a handfull..."
I was a bit concerned about whether he would actually follow orders.
"He is stubborn regarding his swords, but otherwise, he is a sensible man. He has proven to be quite responsible in his duties instructing the other slaves. As for the price, since this is your first purchase and you were introduced by my esteemed associates, I am willing to be flexible with the numbers or offer an installment plan. It costs nothing until the final contract is signed, so why not add him to the candidates and see for yourself?"
"If that's the case, I'll consider him."
Since I was going to meet the other candidates anyway, adding one more didn't hurt. I turned the conversation back to narrowing down the rest of the list with Oresto's advice.
"As for narrowing the selection... if I may be so bold, you should choose women who have already consented to sexual acts," Oresto said with total gravity.
I almost tripped over my own feet. "I’m sorry, but I’m not looking for slaves for that purpose..."
"That is exactly why I suggest it! I actually advise against purchasing slaves for those who do have that intent. If a customer has enough money to buy a slave for sex, it is much safer and simpler to visit a brothel. There are women who, hoping for a quicker release from their debt, will consent to sexual acts as part of their contract. However, those individuals are often desperate and prone to causing problems or acting out when the time comes. The human heart is not so easily partitioned.
"Conversely, women who have truly resolved themselves to that path usually work at a brothel before they ever become slaves. For those women, collectors are often willing to wait for repayment because they can extract more interest. It's a vulgar topic, but there are people who only care about the act itself, and as long as the money is coming in, the collectors are satisfied."
"I... I see."
Just as I thought he was messing with me, Oresto had pivoted into an overwhelmingly serious lecture. I still couldn't quite grasp this man's rhythm.
"Oresto-kun," Reinhardt interrupted. "I think this sort of talk is a bit premature for Ryoma-kun."
"Duke, this is a vital part of the legal reality of slave ownership. Lord Takebayashi is a first-time buyer. Even considering that he will soon enter a more sensitive age, having a contract that includes prior consent protects the owner legally should any... 'mistakes' occur. Of course, Lord Takebayashi appears far too mature to ever abuse his status, but I have seen cases where shop employees caused trouble by laying hands on a slave. I don't recommend buying for that purpose, but to protect yourself from legal liability, it is better to have it in the contract."
Oresto didn't back down. Even when Serge and Pioro chimed in, he fended them off, alternating between absolute sincerity and a breezy nonchalance.
Throughout the rest of our talk, he continued to weave unsettlingly pragmatic advice into the conversation. Looking into those eyes—which were far too sharp to belong to someone who was merely teasing—I realized the truth.
He had been observing and testing my reactions from the very moment I walked through the door.