Chapter 31 - 31: Carrot and the Stick (2/2)
Firo fired some kind of spell at the Demon Seal, but this time the seal repelled it and the curse activated.
”It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!”
Firo crumbles to the floor in pain from the Demon Seal.
”If you don't listen to what I say, it'll hurt even more.”
”It hurts, it hurts! Uuu…”
She reluctantly turns to her human form. When she does so the Demon Seal stops glowing.
”Yup… looks like it worked properly this time. Good work Slave Trader.”
”Indeed, it is quite a powerful seal, so it won't be so easily tampered with, yes.”
I walk stand in front of the fallen Firo and announce:
”You yourself costed 100 silver coins, and following that your Demon Seal costed 200 silver coins. That's a total loss of 300 silver coins. You're going to have to pay me back that much by listening to what I say.”
”M, Master-.”
As Firo was having trouble getting up, I extend my hand.
It sends pangs to my consciousness having to say these kinds of things to a child who is so pure, but I want to at least [have the funds to] keep a roof over this self-indulgent kid.
”Listen to what I say.”
”N,No-”
”I see, I see. If you really don't want to listen to what I say, then I'll just sell you off to this scary man over there”
”…!?”
Firo seems to have finally understood her position as her face warped in fear.
That Slave Trader, he's looking at me with some expression that's both troubled yet happy…
”How much would she sell for?”
”Let me see. She's rare, so dealing with her will be a bit difficult, but 30 gold coins sounds like a price I would buy her for if I include that cost. Since she has a powerful Demon Seal engraved on her, she won't be able to rebel anymore. I can see quite a few ways to use her, yes.”
Damn Slave Trader, he deliberately lays down the price the moment after he says it'll be difficult to sell her.
I don't actually know for sure, but if I hand Firo over to him, her life will probably be over.
And now Firo is looking at me with upturned eyes looking absolutely terrified.
This is tough… My good conscious that I thought had vanished is rolling back in full force here.
However, depending on Firo's attitude, such a choice may really have to be made in the future.
If I can't be a nice onii-chan [in regards to Raph], then I can't be a doting pet owner either.
”And so he says. So the next time you go on a tantrum, I won't be there to pick you up anymore… You'll probably be forced to drink some biiitter medicine, then they'll poke around all- over your body, until finally… you die.”
”N, Noooo----!”
Firo screams out in dissent.
”Master, please don't hate Firo- …”
Firo earnestly begs as she clings to my leg.
Shit! This is hard…
But I can't back down now.
”If you listen to me obediently then I won't hate you. Make sure you listen, got that?”
”Y, Yeah!”
”Good. Then when we're staying at the inn, absolutely do not turn back to your original form. That will be our first promise.”
”Okay!”
At Firo's beaming smile, whatever remnants left of my good consciousness aches in pain.
Well then, I also have to head over to the Armorer today…
When I look away from Firo, I catch a glance at the Slave Trader who now has the most jubilant smile I've seen him have on to date.
”I'm getting a shiver down my spine at your magnificent display of fiendishness. You are most definitely the legendary shield hero!”
I have a feeling there's something wrong about what he's extoling me for… But I'm not sure if I should voice a complaint here.
And beside me, Raphtalia had on a rather complicated expression.
”Naofumi-sama… That might have been a bit much…”
”If I don't do this, then she won't listen to what I say. It was the same for you in the beginning right.”
Raphtalia nodded at my answer.
”Now that you mention it, that was the case wasn't it.”
”There are some things we can let her indulge in, and some things that we can't.”
I won't mention my true intents behind this [statement] though.
”Carrot and the stick I see, yes.”
”Slave Trader, I wasn't talking to you.”
And quit understanding my motives.
”I sure gave you quite a hard time.”
”If that's how you feel, then please, I will prepare for you an easy to handle Philo Rial chick to raise and-”
”Well then, I have places I need to be today. So if you can let me go then.”
”Being able to not get swallowed up by my pace, I have the utmost respect for Hero-sama's strong will, yes.”
With the conversation ending on that note, we left the tent.