Volume 3 Chapter 10 (1/2)

Chapter 3 Episode 10

Editors: SniperIRL/mr.tanen

Day 10th, 8th Month, the Year 2812, Western continent calendar: (Towards the peninsula 10)

”Is this the place?”

When the sun pa.s.sed its peak and was about to set in the western sky, Ryouma arrived at his destination

In front of Ryouma, there was a dimly lit alley.

Despite having just come out of the main street, the darkness covered the alley.

”Here is where the shops that deal with slaves are.”

Ryouma nodded his head after hearing Laura's explanation and stepped into the dark side of the world.

...

”Welcome, milord! Is this your first visit? I am extremely honored with your presence, sire. We are the biggest slave merchants of Epiroz city. Labor slaves, s.e.x slaves, and even war slaves! We guarantee that we have all types and as many as you could possibly want. We are confident that we can find apt slaves that will suit your taste, sire.”

The big guy with whiskers on his face that seemed to be the shopkeeper lowered his head the moment Ryouma entered the store.

Surrounding them there were slaves bound by chains, staring at Ryouma and the others with dead eyes.

Different compared to the shopkeeper whose eyes s.h.i.+mmered as if seeing gold. It was as if his face were saying ”I'm greedy”.

His body could be considered tall and also large. Although his height was slightly shorter than Ryouma’s, his girth was definitely the size of three Ryoumas.

He wore a robe with a long hem and decorated his body with jewels. There was also a leather whip hanging from his waist.

One could easily guess that the whip was for disciplining the rebellious slaves. The grip on the leather wrapped around the handle seemed to be smooth, indicating that the whip was frequently used.

”I’m looking for slaves.”

Ryouma tried to suppress his emotions as much as possible.

If Sara and Laura hadn’t clutched the hem of his robes, Ryouma would have started raining blows upon the slave merchant’s face at that very moment.

However, the merchant seemed to have failed to realize what was in Ryouma's heart.

”Oh! Thank you very much. So then milord, is it labor slaves you want? Or perhaps some s.e.x slaves to play with? If it is war slaves we do have some but the amount would be limited since our current stock is small. Please speak, what type of slave would you like to purchase?”

The shopkeeper was full of smiles while he rubbed his hands.

In spite of his appearance which made him seem like a slow-witted person, his declaration showed he was an affluent merchant.

Besides, if one were to look at him as a merchant and how he tried to please his customers, one could even go so far as to say that he was a good merchant. <tln: as=”” in=”” good=”” at=”” his=”” 'job'=”” as=”” a=”” merchant.=””>

Only a few people would be able to realize that Ryouma was a n.o.ble by simply looking at him in his current appearance.

After all, Ryouma was wearing only a silk s.h.i.+rt and the cloak that he wore when he met Earl Salzberg, and he did not wear any accessories that would indicate that he was from n.o.bility.

”I want slaves, a lot of them. But not only that, I also have several conditions. Males and females, ages ranging from 10 to 15... As for the ratio, I want it to be balanced. For now, I want around 300 people... If you don't have enough in your store, you can call out the other slave merchants and gather the required amount”

After hearing that, the slaver couldn’t help staring blankly.

It was because Ryouma's statement was too unexpected.

”Excuse me, sire, wouldn't those slaves be too young for grunt work? I think slaves around the age of 20 would be more suitable for labor... Even if the slaves were to be used as a disposable labor force, I think they wouldn't be too useful... And if we talk about reselling them as s.e.x slaves, as labor slaves, they do not possess the necessary looks to qualify as s.e.x slaves... And 300 people? Our shop is the biggest slave-dealer in Epiroz, but with those numbers... Even our shop won't be able to meet your demand... I beg your pardon sir, just what are you going to do with them?”

When the slave merchant asked that, Ryouma s.h.i.+fted his gaze toward his eyes.

A labor slave was mainly used for agriculture. They were usually treated as farming tools not unlike cows or horses.

And the value of labor slaves depended on their strength.

Men were therefore considered more suitable than women because of this, and usually, they were sold as adults rather than children.

Although some might have bought women for labor, it was uncommon for someone to actually want them in the same amount as the men.

At least, for the slave merchant who had a long history in the business, this was the first time he had experienced something like this.

Furthermore, Ryouma did not bear the countenance of someone with some lolita-complex.

Not to mention, those children would have underdeveloped strength. And because their body is still growing and developing, they would need more food than usual.

In other words, those children worked less and were more costly to maintain.

Thus it was natural for the slaver to ask such questions. However, Ryouma answered him with a cold voice.

”It's none of your business, is it?”

When Ryouma said those words, the sisters who stood behind him trembled. And it was also the same for the slave trader.

Ryouma never raised his voice. In fact, from the tone of his voice, it was that of a calm character.

However, his voice felt very cold, as if it were a steel blade.

And his message was clearly being conveyed to the slave dealer.

(I will f*cking kill you...)

Inside the slave merchant’s mind a scene played where he was being slaughtered.

So far, he had slain a lot of slaves.

Old slaves, rebellious slaves,  slaves who had lost some part of their bodies and slaves that had been infected by some illness, among others. And the slaves that the man before Ryouma had slaughtered the most were the children.

For him, younglings who couldn’t be expected to become labor slaves were annoying.

At first, he would always chain the children he bought cheaply on the storefront.

Most importantly, he bought youngsters who had both good looks and  physical strength, since that way they would still  be of use.

But naturally, even with that, there remained some children left without buyers. Those who couldn’t be sold even after a certain period of time were usually disposed of by the slave merchant.

He did this in order to avoid the expense of feeding merchandise that would only be a burden to him, and which would then cause his profits to decrease.

In opposition to their traded goods, the slave dealers were known to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, growing fat from the profit of their shady business.

Concerning all the cruelty he was responsible for, he fully disregarded it. After all, in his mind he had simply gotten rid of  defective slaves. As for those victims of his trade, in his eyes were nothing but  tools in human shape.

And when a person stops seeing another person as a human, all feelings as a fellow man would disappear. That was why he did not feel any kind of pity.

And right then, when looking at him, Ryouma’s eyes s.h.i.+ned just like how the slave merchant’s when looking at his own slaves.

”N-No, of course not! Please forgive me. I beg your pardon! Please! I was a fool! Please forgive me...”

The slave merchant immediately crawled on the ground, begging for forgiveness.

Around them, there were no slaves, but he had no intention to pretend either. He knew, unless he was forgiven, he would have no way to survive that day.

This was not because Ryouma was a n.o.bleman. Even if he had been a commoner, the slave merchant would have done the same.

The slaver could see the clear difference in power between them and that it’d be effortless for the young man before him to end his life.

”Ryouma-sama...”

Laura strongly pulled Ryouma's cloak, while he was looking down at the shopkeeper, who kept bowing down on the ground, with a cold stare.

To be honest, Laura and Sara also wanted to kill the slave merchant.

They had also seen the gruesome condition in which the slaves inside the store were.

Living amidst filth and squalor; whip scars clearly seen on their bodies; they had probably never even taken a bath before! Their hair was matted, and their clothing was less than minimal. In the case of the children, they seemed to be lucky to even wear underwear. The majority of the others were not so fortunate and were outright naked.

The light of life had disappeared from their eyes.