c20 (2/2)

It was the slave trader who bought me from the three stooges.

His head was wrapped in a long sheet, forming a Turban. On his feet, not boots – but sandals. And he wore a red vest.

He looked like a merchant from a certain RPG.

Those three had lied to him—telling him that I was a child who was caught committing a crime and was then sold.

My price was 100 gold coins, as they expected.

For that reason I was officially traded off as a slave and if I forcibly break out, I will be chased like a criminal.

Even if I told him I was tricked and sold illegally by those three, it’s already too late.

n.o.body would believe anything a slave says, anyway, so it’s not like he’ll listen.

The slave trader held out a textbook about the Demon Continent Language.

It was about the size and thickness of an English textbook.

It was dirty, worn out, and full of fingerprints, maybe because it had been well-used.

The slave trader said,

“Human kids who know the Demon Continent Language sell for a high price, so learn it.”

“…….why should I even make an effort to raise my price when there’s nothing in it whatsoever for me.”

“Of course there’s a benefit.”

“Are you going to increase my share of fresh water? Or possibly give me better meals? Although I’m not particularly interested in either of those.”

I answered with sharp words and a bad att.i.tude.

I’m not the kind of person who’d be civil towards those who’d sell me away as a slave.

The slave trader continued, neither getting angry nor laughing.

“It’s not like I need you to learn at all costs. You’d fetch a good price even as you are now.”

“? Then why did you tell me to learn?”

Unintentionally, I tilted my head and asked the slave trader back.

To summarize what the slave trader said――

For boys my age, it’s almost certain that we will be stationed at a male prost.i.tution house intended for the coal mine slaves taken from the Fairy Human Continent or thereabouts. Later, once we grew up, it seems that we will change roles into the coal mine slaves themselves.

It would be at least 10 years before I could buy myself back.

In reality, I have never heard of children sold off in the same position as me getting liberated from slavery and returning to tell of it.

For the most part, they died.

Whether it be accidents, suicide, or death by overwork…… they died in all sorts of ways, but they all ended up the same way.

However, those that had learned the language have a high chance of becoming lovers for the wealthy people, in other words, ladies with money and time to spare, of the Demon Continent.

Demons have a relatively long lifespan compared to humans.

So there are lots of ladies with a mostly young appearance.

They’d get three meals a day, nap time, and beds.

There is also a higher chance of them being released from slavery once they get older, compared to coal mine slaves.

“But if you don’t want to study there’s nothing I can do about it. There’s no need for the Demon Language book either.”

“What are you talking about, master! I’ll do my best to learn the language and fetch a high price!”

I bowed my back in confusion, grabbing on to the slave trader’s clothes who had turned back on me.

“――Wouldn’t it have been better if you had just honestly said that from the beginning. Here. The book. Take good care of it.”

The slave trader sighed and gave me the textbook.

I received the book with both hands.

“Call me once you’re finished with the basics. I’ll have a sailor who knows the Demon Language help with conversation practice.”

“Yes! Thank you very much! Later – I will give my best efforts to talk!

Ever since that day, I frantically started making every effort to learn the Demon Language.

Because I absolutely don’t want to end up at a male prost.i.tution house.

In my previous life, English wasn’t really my strong subject, my grades weren’t that good either.

But it seems that humans can really learn when the need comes and they are driven into a corner.

I smoothly learned the language, quite like a fish in water.

I finished the basics about half a year after I got the Demon Language book from the slave trader.

After that I did lots of practice conversations in the Demon Language.

Thanks to that I became able to hold a normal conversation without a problem, though my writing was still poor.

Then, one year after I departed from maritime city Grey.

I was brought along from the Fairy Human Continent to the Demon Continent.

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