"Even so, gathering a full party isn't without its issues. The Labyrinth is a place where one can strike it rich. How would the spoils be divided then? What if a Platinum Coin appeared? Or perhaps an item that fetched an astronomical price?"
So, there were Platinum Coins above the gold ones?
If something like that turned up, I would obviously buy Roxanne. No, wait.
The point was that if a high-priced item appeared, someone would likely try to keep it all for themselves.
"You mean they'd fight over it?"
"If something is valuable enough, people will even resort to crime."
"I see."
I could buy that beautiful Roxanne.
God, this was annoying. It was frustrating, yet my mind was completely consumed by the prospect.
She was such a stunning woman—more beautiful than anyone I had ever seen in my life.
Being told I could buy her, that I could make her mine... there was no way my heart wouldn't be racing.
"Party members must be people you can place absolute trust in. Or, as in your case, Michio-sama, if there is a clear difference in power, like that of a master and apprentice, you might be able to prevent such troubles. However, even then, disputes within the party are a common occurrence."
I desperately pushed thoughts of Roxanne to the corner of my mind to focus.
In a game, even if trouble broke out within a party, it wasn't a catastrophe. Game characters didn't do unexpected things, and even in online games played with other people, there were limits to what the system allowed.
But what about in reality?
No matter how you looked at it, party members were ultimately strangers. Entering a Labyrinth with those strangers... in a place where you fought monsters, how unusual would a person's death really be? If someone died, would anyone even find it suspicious?
If an incredibly expensive treasure was thrown into a situation like that...
"For example, a literal stab in the back inside the Labyrinth?"
"It is possible."
So it really happened.
Should I really buy Roxanne after all?
"Right."
"That is where slaves come in. If the party members are slaves, everything found in the Labyrinth belongs to the master."
So if they were slaves, there would be no disputes.
The "what's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine" philosophy—pure Gianism.
I wanted to make Roxanne mine, too.
"What if the slave stabs me in the back?"
"That does not happen. If the owner passes away, the slave generally follows them in death."
"They... they just die?"
If someone else bought Roxanne and that person died, would Roxanne die too?
"Well, in most cases, owners prepare a will. They might arrange for someone to inherit the slave, or in the case of a slave who served well, they might even be liberated by the will."
"I see."
If I died, I would want to liberate Roxanne.
"However, in cases like being murdered in the Labyrinth, there is no time to prepare a will. Therefore, I believe you need not worry about the possibility of a slave committing such an act."
"If they can't kill me, what about running away?"
"Indeed. If the conditions are particularly terrible, they might flee. Though the chances of an escaped slave leading a better life than their previous one are quite slim. If they are a slave, the master also has an obligation to provide food and shelter."
I wanted to provide Roxanne with food and a place to sleep, too. Especially the place to sleep.
This was bad. My head had been filled with nothing but this for a while now.
"But if there's a treasure worth enough to live on for a lifetime..."
"An escaped slave is relegated to the status of a Thief. Killing a slave is a crime, but if you kill a Thief, you can legally claim their possessions as your own. Unless they have made extensive preparations, the best they could hope for is to be forced to sell their goods at a pittance."
So no one would be kind enough to buy things from a Thief at a fair price. A Thief was even lower than a slave.
They were definitely lower than Roxanne.
"In that case, the possibility of them running away is small."
"Yes. That is why many Adventurers choose to purchase slaves."
"I understand."
The fact that you couldn't form a party unless they were extremely trustworthy was a problem.
I had come from Japan and was all alone. I didn't even know the common sense of this world. Finding a trustworthy companion would likely be a monumental task.
Would I even be able to find a livelihood outside of entering the Labyrinths?
If I didn't buy Roxanne, I might end up playing solo forever.
Well, it didn't strictly have to be Roxanne. But man, she was beautiful.
"The girl from earlier is a Beast Fighter. She would be of immediate use as a party member."
The Slave Trader pressed his recommendation.
"A Beast Fighter..."
"In case you didn't realize, she is of the Wolf-kin race. Beast Fighter is a job that only the Wolf-kin can hold."
"Wolf-kin."
Roxanne had shown up as female under Appraisal, after all.
"Have you ever purchased a slave before, customer?"
"No. I haven't."
"She is a beauty who rivals the top one or two among my current inventory. She is intelligent and has a gracious personality; I believe she is perfect as a first slave for you. Furthermore, she is a Wolf-kin Beast Fighter. The fact that she is a Wolf-kin is another reason I can recommend her to you."
The Slave Trader was pushing hard.
This was bad. There had to be some kind of catch. I couldn't let myself be swept away by the sales talk.
No. Roxanne was wonderful. There was no way she could have any flaws. There shouldn't be any, but...
"What is the reason the Wolf-kin are so highly recommended?"
"Customer, have you ever heard the story that Elves are long-lived?"
"Yeah."
That was common knowledge back home. Was it the same in this world too?
"That is an urban legend."
"Huh?"
"Elves, humans, and Beast-kin all have the same lifespan. Even so, the reason Elves are said to be long-lived is because most Elves remain youthful."
"Is that so?"
The Elf woman I saw in town had looked to be in her early twenties even though Appraisal said she was thirty-seven.
Roxanne was more beautiful, though. That woman had been quite a beauty too, but Roxanne's chest was larger.
"Humans and other races have different points where they age, or points where aging becomes apparent. For example, looking at a two-year-old dog and an eight-year-old dog, humans don't really feel that the eight-year-old dog has aged much."
"That's true."
"Once they reach sixty or seventy, even Beast-kin age noticeably to human eyes, but at forty or fifty, they still appear youthful. To you, a human, this Wolf-kin girl will likely remain young and beautiful for a very long time."
"I see."
So Roxanne would stay young too. Roxanne was one year younger than me.
I wondered if a fifty-one-year-old me would still look youthful to a fifty-year-old Roxanne.
"Furthermore, there is another merit for you in her being a race other than human."
"What's that?"
"Humans cannot conceive children with women of other races."
"That means..."
Does that mean I can go all out? I didn't think anyone like Kondo Musashi existed in this world to preach restraint.
With Roxanne... t-that was irresistible.
"Of course, she is a virgin."
Was that so? Roxanne was.
"Does the price differ for a virgin slave?"
"A virgin carries no risk of disease. There are brothels and the like in this town, but I cannot recommend that you visit them."
He shot that idea down immediately. So there were venereal diseases in this world too.
Of course, there probably weren't any antibiotics. I would have to give up on investigating those places.
"Understood."
"Additionally, she is a slave who has consented to being a sex slave."
"Wh—"
Roxanne, a sex slave...
"In her case, she has consented to becoming her owner's partner for nightly duties."
"...I see."
Oh, so that's what it was.
I had accidentally imagined Roxanne in a turtle shell bondage pattern.
That was also irresistible in its own way.
"Of course, in reality, there is no difference for any young female slave."
"I suppose so."
Thank goodness.
In this world, it seemed there was only one purpose for buying a young female slave.
It wasn't just me being a deviant.
"However, I believe it would be meaningful for someone like you."
"Why?"
"You likely have some psychological conflict regarding laying a hand on a slave."
I had no conflict about laying a hand on Roxanne, but thinking about it in terms of her being a slave made things a bit delicate.
Forcing someone to obey because of money...
"Well, I suppose so."
"Young men who are acquiring a slave for the first time often feel that way. And among slaves, there are those who take advantage of that. They show a suggestive attitude but never allow access to their bodies. Since she has consented to being a sex slave from the start, that will not happen with her."
"I see."
"One last thing: she can speak Brahim."
"Now that you mention it."
I had replied "Thank you" when she said "Please." The Japanese in me had come out.
I had been shaken by that swaying. That was incredible. I definitely wanted to see it again.
"That concludes the reasons I recommend her to you."
The Slave Trader finished his sales pitch.
Roxanne.
She was certainly beautiful. More so than anyone I had ever seen in person. Her amber eyes, which looked like they could draw you in, were lovely.
I could buy a girl like that?
Her chest had swayed when she leaned forward to place the cup. That chest could be mine to do with as I pleased?
To be honest, I obviously wanted to make her mine. I wanted to have my way with her. I wanted to consume her. Without a doubt.
I was happy that I could make her mine.
I was happy, but truthfully, buying a slave felt a bit complicated. Was it okay to buy a slave?
But if I didn't buy her, someone else would. Naturally, as a sex slave. That was unacceptable.
Well, I didn't intend to deny the existence of the slave system in this world.
Changing social systems was impossible. Even on modern Earth, although official slavery had vanished, problems like illegal labor, organ trafficking, and child prostitution still existed. There was no way that I, who had been a mere high school student on Earth, could solve problems in this different world that the adults on Earth couldn't solve.
If this world could be made as wealthy as the developed nations of Earth, the slave system might disappear, but since poverty hasn't been solved on Earth either, it amounted to the same thing. It wasn't as if I knew the principles or manufacturing methods for computers, airplanes, or solar cells.
Just as it was in the First Village, the slave system in this world was linked to the judiciary. Those who did bad things were dropped into slavery.
Eliminating the slave system alone wouldn't solve everything. Even I could understand that, at the very least, you'd need to build prisons.
To build prisons, you need taxes. If you try to raise taxes, you have to organize a bureaucracy, and to train bureaucrats, you need an educational system... the problems would just keep expanding. Then you'd have to worry about what an organized bureaucracy might do elsewhere. Beyond that, there was no telling what other connections there were.
I had no intention of becoming a social reformer in this other world, nor did I intend to deny the slave system.
Even so, was it permissible to buy a slave?
That said, I had already sold a slave myself.
Roxanne.
I recalled that beautiful face.
Will you buy Roxanne? * Yes * No
No, no, no.
Will you buy Roxanne? * Yes * No
Of course, I couldn't choose "No."
The cursor wouldn't move from "Yes." It remained frozen.
Will you buy Roxanne? * Yes * No
Just think about it.
I wasn't even given the time of day by Tirihi-san or the beautiful Knight. A lucky break that only happens to handsome guys was never going to fall into my lap. That's just how it was.
"If she's a sex slave, wouldn't she be expensive?"
As a meager bit of resistance, I asked the Slave Trader.
"No. It is almost the same."
"Why?"
Normally, you'd think a sex slave would be more expensive.
"There is such a thing as market price. If it is a young woman, there is practically no difference in duties whether she is designated a sex slave or not. If one seeks the same work, the price will settle at the same point."
"Are you saying young female slaves who aren't sex slaves do the same work as sex slaves?"
The Slave Trader nodded clearly and continued.
"In terms of combat ability or the capacity for labor, men likely possess equal or greater power than women. However, the selling price for an adult male slave in his prime is around 120,000 Nahl. For a young woman, it is double that, and depending on her beauty, the price can jump even higher. That is simply how it is."
If it was just for labor, there shouldn't be a large price difference between a male slave and a female slave.
In reality, however, the price for a young and beautiful female slave was high. Naturally, because there was high demand. It went without saying what kind of demand. No one would buy a slave just to display them in a shop window.
Sex slaves and those who weren't both did the same things. In that case, the price wouldn't change.
The Slave Trader's talk was gradually approaching the heart of the matter.
I would likely need that if I were to listen any further. Setting that would mean admitting that I was going to buy her.
But I hadn't decided not to buy her, either. I couldn't move the conversation forward without setting that.
In my mind, I called out, Character Reset.
I checked Price Negotiation. Price Negotiation changed to 10% Discount. As I thought, it followed this pattern.
I unequipped 30% Purchase Price Increase and obtained up to 30% Discount. The discount skill, much like the purchase price increase, had six levels, ending at 30% Discount before the text became blurred.
"Wouldn't she be expensive?"
"Well..."
The Slave Trader's face softened. Had he perceived my intent to buy?
"Umu."
"To be blunt, the market price is around 600,000 Nahl. Since I am including the outfit from earlier and have recommended her this much, I shall let you have her for 422,800 Nahl."
The Slave Trader announced enthusiastically.
At those words, I let out a long breath.
422,800 Nahl? That wasn't a price I could afford.
If it had been a price I could afford, I might have jumped at it. I would have jumped at it. There was no doubt I would have jumped at it. How could I not?
Roxanne's amber eyes were enchanting. She was worth that much.
However, I only had 33 Gold Coins. My ethics or my feelings didn't matter. I couldn't give what I didn't have.
"Unfortunately, I can't afford that."
"Is that so?"
The merchant replied as if it weren't particularly disappointing.
I was the one who was truly disappointed, though.
"It can't be helped."
"In that case, why not take a look at the other slaves we have here?"
I see.
Was this a strategy of showing the most beautiful woman first to heighten my desire to buy, and then selling off the cheap, ugly ones?
In adult establishments back on Earth, they supposedly use an actress's name to attract customers, and when the customer makes a reservation and goes to the shop, they suddenly claim she's unavailable and assign a different woman. I'd never been to such a place, but that was a deceptive technique I'd read about online.
It was a strategy similar to that. However, in this case, I hadn't exactly been deceived.
It was simply that I couldn't afford her.
Fine. I'll play along.
"That sounds fine."
"Thank you very much."
The Slave Trader bowed and guided me elsewhere.
We went to the very back of the building and climbed a narrow, steep staircase to the third floor.
"Welcome."
On the third floor, there was a middle-aged woman.
There was only a small landing near the stairs, with two doors to the left and right.
"Line them up."
"Understood."
The woman opened the left door with a key she held and disappeared inside.
"The third floor consists of rooms for female slaves. Basically, all management of this floor is handled by female employees."
"I see."
"They are also the ones who perform the virginity checks."
The Slave Trader explained as we stood there. So they didn't have men doing it.
The woman's voice echoed from the adjacent room.
Eventually, the noise subsided, and the woman returned.
"Preparations are complete."
"Customer, please come this way."
The Slave Trader guided me into the room.
Inside, a large number of women were lined up in a single row. There didn't seem to be anything particularly smelly about them, nor were they wearing rags or appearing gaunt from malnutrition.
Well, they were merchandise, after all. I suppose their management was thorough.
"These are the ones?"
"Yes. Please proceed to the back and have a look."
"Alright."
I walked past the female slaves, looking at each one.
I had wondered if they would be naked when being shown, but that didn't seem to be the case.
Perhaps it was because I hadn't decided to buy yet.
The female slaves were also looking at me, which made me nervous. But I didn't feel embarrassed.
Or rather, even though they were looking, it felt like they were just gazing blankly.
Is this how a slave looks at a potential owner? Like they'd thrown away their lives—or rather, thrown away everything.
I truly felt the weight of what it meant to buy a person.
Even they should prefer to be bought by a slightly better master. I wasn't asking them to look at me with sparkling eyes, but I felt there should be a little more than this.
"We ensure they are fed properly here. They are merchandise, after all. This is likely a far better place than wherever they were before."
As if sensing my doubt, the Slave Trader explained from behind me.
"I see."
So this place wasn't uncomfortable. Well, I suppose they didn't have any work they were forced to do.
If the alternative was being sold into hard labor, they probably wanted to stay here forever.
The first woman was staring forward with listless eyes. She was completely indifferent to me.
The next woman definitely looked sulky. Normally, you wouldn't think of buying her.
"I have told them what it means to be left unsold, but... they don't seem to understand easily."
"Hmm."
I didn't really want to understand it either.
The Slave Trader would only be troubled if they just ate his food without being sold.
If they were left unsold, he would lower the price and try to push them off to a place with worse conditions. Perhaps there was harsh, dangerous, and accident-prone mine labor.
The next woman's eyes weren't dead, but her facial features were... The one after that... yeah, no. This next woman was so-so. Female, twenty-seven, Villager. As expected, she was a bit too old.
The next girl was also a bit cute. But she had no chest.
There was one more cute girl further ahead. Well, I suppose she was cute. She was cute, but...