Chapter 31 - 31: Carrot and the Stick (1/2)
”Slave Trader!”
I marched straight to the Slave Trader's tent first thing in the morning.
”What are you doing here so early in the morning Hero-sama.”
”Your Demon Seal was a sham! Depending on your response I might have my dangerous slave and demon here to go on a bit of a rampage, you see?”
”Firo is hungry. Can I do that later?”
”….. If you keep up that behavior I'll turn you into breakfast instead.”
The Demon Seal that was placed on Firo didn't work as intended. Not only that, the option couldn't even be checked.
”Hm? Now what do you mean about that?”
I then explained to the Slave Trader about what happened this morning. It sure was rough. We somehow got Firo to calm down and had her change to her human form and from there headed to the tent.
Raphtalia was hard enough, but Firo on top of that. Having to constantly stay on watch to make sure they don't do anything out of the ordinary was stressing indeed.
”It seems the Philo Rial Queen can undo a normal Demon Seal, yes.”
”Elaborate?”
”You can't restrain a higher order demon with a normal Demon Seal. The grand prize of the lottery, the Kiryuu, must have a special Demon Seal engraved.”
”So you're saying a normal Demon Seal won't work on this thing?”
”Yes.”
This bastard Slave Trader is happily jotting down this new discovery into some pocket notebook.
”So, will you be giving me this special Demon Seal?”
”Good gracious! That is outside the realm of our free services, yes.”
”What did you say.”
”As you would expect, this is not a cheap process and doing so for free would place my in a rather difficult position. The costs are starting to weigh down too much on my end you see.”
Damn, it looks like getting any more free services from him would be pretty hard from now on. Well I guess it can't be helped considering all the damage I did…
”How much is it?”
”As I look forward to Hero-sama's future prospects, I will be taking a huge loss and price it at 200 silver coins. How does that sound?”
Shieeeet that's expensive.
”Could you please---”
”By the way, the market price for this kind of service is 800 silver coins at the cheapest. I would not lie about this as I have much hopes placed for Hero-sama.”
Ack!
That was a heavy blow to my consciousness.
I accept my defeat and so very reluctantly hand over 200 silver coins to the Slave Trader.
”...If I find that you're lying I'll have my dangerous subordinates start a bloodbath you hear.”
”I understand indeed.”
Firo, who was in the form of the Philo Rial Queen and looking around restlessly, was taken in by Raphtalia who was holding Firo's enormous wings.
”Stay right there, Firo”
”Why-?”
”If you do I'll let you eat something real tasty.”
”Really?”
”Yup.”
With her eyes gleaming, I had Firo stand still at the place that the Slave Trader indicated.
Alright, if you're going to do your magic now is the time.
I gave the Slave Trader the signal. The Slave Trader nods his head as well, and 12 of his robed subordinates with their faces covered and invisible, surround Firo.
Then they poured some kind of medicine or other substance onto the floor, faced towards Firo and began chanting their spell.
The floor began to shine, and a magic circle started to unfold with Firo at the center.
”Eh, W-What's going on?”
”I, It huuuuurts! Stop-!”
Firo rampages about as she bears the pain from the Demon Seal's renewal, and each time she slams against it, the magic circle shakes.
Slave Trader's subordinates let out a gasp of shock.
”Just in case, I had extra followers restraining her with magic but… for her to be able to move under such pressure, I fear what she will eventually become, yes.”
Now that I think about it, she's still only level 19. If she's already like this, how strong will she be when she's around Level 70? I nod to the Slave Traders words.
Finally, the magic circle is fully engraved onto Firo's abdomen and it becomes quiet.
”It's over, yes.”
In my view there's a Demon icon that looks like it has higher level commands than the one before. I promptly check the option labeled with listen to everything I say.
”Hah…. Hah….”
”Master that was mean. It hurt so much-.”
As I wonder if there was a wicked smile was plastered on my face, I command Firo.
”First of all, turn to your human form.”
”Whaat? That hurt so much I don't wanna-. Give me something yummy to eat!”
Taking little heed to my command and demanding food as if she was taking me lightly, the Demon Seal on Firo began to glow [in response].
”Eh, no-! Wha, stopitstopit!”