Chapter 24 - 24: Egg Gacha (1/2)
”Oh, if it isn't Hero-sama. How may I be of service today?”
The genteel owner of the slave shop appeared flourishingly to welcome us.
”Oh?”
Surprised, he looks at Raphtalia curiously.
”What a surprising change. I did not think you would grow so well.”
He said in a disappointed voice while slumping.
”... What?”
”I thought you would be more like us, how unfortunate.”
What does he mean? But I'll just keep that question to myself.
”Real slave traders would raise high quality slaves by keeping them half dead.”
He casually continued.
”Then the slaves you know of were discarded after being used, right?”
”N-Naofumi-sama?”
Raphtalia looked up at me concerned.
I've become a lot more confident now.
My current situation is much better than last time.
”Fufufu... Is that so, how exciting.”
The slave owner, perhaps amused by my reply, let out a laugh.
”Then, looking at her condition... she's grown quite well. For a non-virgin... how about 7 gold coins?”
”Why are you talking like I'm going to be sold! Also, I am still pure!”
Shocked at Raphtalia's words, the slave owner let out a gasp.
”Oh my! Then how about 15 gold coins? May I confirm if she is a vɨrġɨn?”
”Naofumi-sama!”
15 gold coins for Raphtalia!?
”Naofumi-sama! Hey, please say something?”
15 gold coins would be enough to buy the Level 75 male wolf!
”Naofumi-sama... If you keep playing around, I'll get mad.”
”What's wrong? You have a scary look on your face.”
”You're not defending me at all even though I might be sold.”
”I'm just playing along.”
--That's how I'll have to play it off as. Although I did think it over, Raphtalia saw right through me.
I shouldn't pretend to consider selling the one person in this world who believes in me.
”15 gold coins....”
Her grip becomes stronger when I murmur this.
”Ow, ouch!”
Raphtalia's offensive strength... has become greater than my defense.
This is reliable in a combat sense.
”... I'll run away, you know.”
”It's a joke. I was just thinking of how amazing and beautiful you've become.”
”T-that... Oh, Naofumi-sama...”
For some reason, Raphtalia became bashful all of a sudden.
It's kinda irritating.
... Is what I thought but why? What did I say?
”Well, she's not for sale.”
”I see... that's too bad. So how may I help you?”
”Ah, didn't you hear about the commotion at the castle?”
The slave trader grinned at my question.
”I have. The slave curse was removed, no?”
”If you understand already, then this will be simple... Don't ask in the first place if you know beforehand.”
Since I'm already tired from dealing with Raphtalia.
Good grief...
”Of course, You know, despite what the king declared, the slave system will still exist.”
”Hmm, I thought the nobles didn't buy slaves?”
”No, not at all. There are many slaves owned by the wealthy. After all, they are quite useful, of course.”
”That trash king, saying those things while supporting Motoyasu, the Spear Hero... Won't the nobles become rebellious? I would if I were them.”
It'd be quite funny if that happened.
Although it'd be quite bad for the kingdom.
”Well, there are many factions within the kingdom. If they did rebel, the ones who will end up losing would be the nobles themselves. Yes.”
”That bearded old man has that much influence?”
Is it because this kingdom is a complete dictatorship?
Then maybe the kingdom will eventually collapse due to an uprising.
Since the kingdom currently has a trash king who will be succeeded by a bitch princess.
”Actually, in this country, rather than the king--”
”Um... back to the matter of the slave curse...”
”Ah, yes.”
We've digressed. Now that I think about it, I don't care what will happen to that trash king.
”So, you've come to reapply the curse, yes?”
”Yeah, is that possible?”
”Whenever you wish.”
With a snap of his fingers, an ȧssistant appears with the same jar used when we first marked her.
An embarrassed Raphtalia took off her armor and exposed her ċhėst.
”H-how is it?”
”How is what?”
”... Haa...”
?
Why is she acting so embarrassed?
Even sighing afterwards.
Did I do something?
Just like last time, I added my blood to the ink and the mix was coated on Raphtalia where the old mark used to be.
”Although the mark was erased, it is possible to restore it.”
”Ohh--”
The erased mark begins to reappear as Raphtalia's ċhėst glows.
”Ngh...”
As expected, it seems to hurt. Raphtalia tries to bear the pain.
The mark is restored before my eyes.
I need to check the reaction from disobeying orders.
... It should be fine to go easy this time.
Raphtalia became a slave again to gain my trust. So I should trust her now as well.
”Now then.”
While thinking about what to do, I noticed that there's some ink left on the plate.
”Hey, can I have some of that ink? I can pay for it.”
”Sure, go ahead.”
I spread the remaining ink from the plate onto my shield.
Suu- my shield absorbs the ink.
The requirement for Slaver's Shield has been unsealed.
The requirement for Slaver's Shield 2 has been unsealed.
Slaver's Shield.
Equipment Bonus: Slave growth +1 (Small) <Unmastered>
Slaver's Shield 2.
Equipment Bonus: Slave condition +1 (Small) <Unmastered>
Slaver's Shield... well, that's somewhat expected.
Something new appeared in the tree, branching from Small Shield series. It's not that strong.
However, the equipment bonus caught my attention, Improved growth.
But two items were unlocked from just a little bit of ink?
I carefully look at Raphtalia.
”What is it?”
That reminds me that the shield absorbed her hair before. 'Racoon Shield' was unlocked at that time, but maybe that also fulfilled some of other conditions.
That was probably for Slaver's Shield 2. With those conditions fulfilled, two shields were unlocked.
I logically reason.
In that case...
”Raphtalia, give me a bit of your blood.”
”What, why?”
”There's something I want to test.”
Puzzled, Raphtalia makes a little cut on her fingertip and spreads some blood onto the plate. I drip it onto my shield.
The requirement for Slaver's Shield 3 has been unsealed.
Slaver's Shield 3.
Equipment Bonus: Slave growth +1 (Intermediate) <Unmastered>
Yes! As expected!
”Naofumi-sama? You seem like you're having fun.”
”Ahh, an interesting shield appeared.”
”That's great.”
I change my shield to the Slaver's Shield and wait for it to unlock.
”Now then... Hmm?”
We've finished our business here and begin to leave but a wooden box filled with eggs catches my eye.
I don't remember seeing this last time. I'm curious.
”What is that?”
I ask the slave trader.
”Ahh, that is what we sell as our business front.”
”What business is that?”