Volume 3 Chapter 11 (1/2)
Chapter 3 Episode 11
Editor: mr.tanen
Day 17th, 8th Month, the Year 2812, Western continent calendar:(Towards the peninsula 17)
One week had pa.s.sed as promised.
Ryouma and the others left the inn they were using as their base and set up a camp 3km away from Epiroz’s eastern gate.
Before entering the peninsula, they all had to undergo a series of trainings and trials. However, other than the Earl's private army’s training field there was no place large enough for them to train within the confines of the fortress city.
That was why Ryouma chose to camp outside of the settlement, since one did not simply ask the Earl to lend him the place.
”Preparations are already complete... What is left now is to see how many people are going to pull through what’s to come, I guess...”
The sun reached its peak. Ryouma's eyes gazed at the walls of Epiroz.
”It is impossible to expect all 300 people to survive... I think we should be satisfied if half of them survived, don't you think so my Lord?”
Genou, who stood behind Ryouma, said those words.
”I guess so...”
Ryouma shrugged his shoulders and replied Genou in a relaxed manner.
A week had pa.s.sed since he had made the deal with the slave merchant.
From here on the selection of personnel would begin. The strong ones;the smart ones; and all those who possessed a strong will.
Only children possessing such traits would be given their freedom.
Of course, everyone was going to be released from slavery.
However, in this world, only the strong could possibly obtain true freedom.
But still, the children bought by Ryouma were certainly fortunate.
Whether they could obtain their freedom or not wasn’t the point, but that, unlike most in the same circ.u.mstances, they were at least being given the opportunity to grasp it with their own hands.
”My Lord, you ought not to worry about it too much... I think those children are already lucky enough to be bought by none other than my Lord.”
Hearing Genou's words, Ryouma frowned.
Ryouma was aware of this even without Genou saying it, he already knew. It was just... Even if the young man realized such things, his heart still couldn’t accept it fully.
(I, who is buying those children to be used, and the slave merchant, who sold those children... I guess I'm no different, huh...)
This train of thought rose inside Ryouma's mind.
However, he also knew that he couldn’t be soft and stop here, because it was at this moment that everything would begin.
”Young master! The merchants have arrived.”
Bolts’ voice hailing Ryouma could be heard.
”Understood! I will go meet them immediately.Let's go, Genou.”
After having said those words he began walking towards the open area. The hesitation that had once shown on Ryouma's face was nowhere to be seen.
He comprehended better than anyone else that reality was harsh and heartless, and that if he were to hesitate here, this ‘truth’ wouldn’t change.
”Milord, thank you very much for using our services. As promised, we've prepared the items. Please check them, sire.”
After saying that the slave merchant bowed his head carefully just like how he did the other day.
”It seems like I've caused you some trouble, huh?”
Even if Ryouma didn’t care for the other person, he wouldn’t dismiss their hard labor, and would never forget to appreciate it.
”There's no such thing, sire. After all, this is a business... Furthermore, the business is currently on the downslope and we have been unable to attract many customers. Actually, I'm very grateful to milord for bringing us this deal...”
The slave merchant waved his hands and denied Ryouma's concession.
Ryouma's gaze then turned cold, looking at the slaves standing behind the slave trader. There appeared to be more girls than boys.
Ryouma then questioned the slave trader in a forceful tone.
”Well, whatever. So then? What about the ratio and quant.i.ty that I have requested?”
”Well, yes... In fact, I've brought 320 people with me here. In term of ratio, it's 7:3 between females and males.”
”Isn't the amount exceeding that of my request?”
”Yes milord... Because there weren’t enough male labor slaves... As compensation, we brought more than 300 people.”
Upon hearing the slave merchant’s excuse, Ryouma did not try to hide his bad mood.
”I take it that this is your form of apologizing?”
The slave trader smiled without saying anything.
”Well fine then... None of them bear any physical defects, right?”
”Yes milord. I've thoroughly examined each and everyone of them. None suffers any type of ailment.”
Some of the slaves bore whip scars on their bodies, but they were only scratches that were within the scope of possible recovery.
As expected of a trusted slave dealer, he seemed to understand how to perform a good trade.
”Very well. I'll trust you... I will take all of them. You now just need me to pay the remaining 750,000 baht, am I right?”
”Yes, that is right, sire.”
Ryouma lightly nodded his head and handed over the money bag to the slave trader.
”Thank you very much.”
The slave merchant immediately lowered his head without even checking the money inside the bag, very much like he once did back at the shop.
Then he presented Ryouma with two doc.u.ments.
”Then please sign this delivery note milord... With this, all the slaves here now belong to Mikos.h.i.+ba-sama. One piece of the doc.u.ment will be given to Mikos.h.i.+ba-sama, and we will keep the copy.”
After confirming that Ryouma's name was written in the doc.u.ments, the slave merchant nodded visibly satisfied, then he put one of the doc.u.ments back in his bag.
”With this, we've finished our trade, milord. In the future, please use our services again, the Abutal firm.”
Pleased with the trade, the slave traders left the camp with smiles on their faces.
”Now then... Lione! Distribute the clothes that we've prepared. After that, Laura! Are the meals ready?”
Even if the weather at the time was mild, people could still get sick if left naked.
Ryouma had already seen how the slave merchants treated the slaves back at the shop, so in preparation for this moment, Ryouma had arranged for clothes, underwear and warm meals to be ready for the slaves.
He had thought that the slave merchants might have provided some clothing when they delivered the slaves, but it seemed that this kind of service did not exist in this world.
First of all, Ryouma had to let the slaves put on some clothes.
The members of Red Lion distributed the garments to the slaves who were standing still like dolls without a soul or will of their own.
”Boy, we've finished distributing the clothes...”
Lione showed a troubled expression while reporting to Ryouma.
The cause was clear. It was because, even after being given the clothes, the slaves only held them in their hands.
Normally naked people would immediately put the clothes on.
Or at least, normal people would ask if they could wear them or not.
However, these children just stood there silently.
They received the outfits but did nothing, not even asking anything.
”These children... Why won’t they put the clothes on? It can't be, it isn’t because they don't know how to wear clothes, right?”
It wasn’t like they were infants. They might have been slaves, but it would have been too much if they didn’t even know how to wear clothes!
”Ryouma-sama... Please leave this to me.”
After saying this, Laura walked towards the children and spoke gently.
It was a most calm and gentle voice.
When spoken to like that, the children began to show some expressions.
At first, they showed surprised looks, then dazed looks. However, after Laura urged them to wear the clothes, the young crowd started to put on the garmens that they held in their hands with frightened expressions.
After a few minutes, all the children had gotten dressed.
”Just what did she say?”
It was normal for Ryouma to be taken by surprise.
The slave children’s countenances were still gloomy. However, after Laura talked to them, some sort of expressions, even if a little, showed up on their faces.
Although it was faint, they now bore something akin to human expressions. Compared to their previous doll-like visage, Ryouma thought it was a great improvement.
”It’s easy. I just told them that the clothes we've given to them are theirs.”