"Thanks for the store, ...... Leo. If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have a store next year. Here's to hoping to see you again in the future!

Cheers.

"Goke-goke-goke-goke-...... Puh-uh-uh-uh... I knew that drink was good!
　As soon as the toast was made, Master's cup was empty .
　It's not even noon yet. .......
　By the way, I drink my juice right now.

"Do you like to drink, Master?

Yeah. Well, it's blood.

Blood?　Come to think of it, I've been wondering for a while now, is your master a dwarf?

No, my grandfather is a dwarf, but he's mostly human.

''Oh, I see . Master has a lot of beards and looks like a dwarf, but he's not short, so I was wondering what he was like.

'Was it?　Well, that's the way it is.

''Heh~. So what inspired you to start making magic tools then, Master?

Yeah?　The only reason I got started is because my parents had a job. My family's been making wizards for generations.

I knew it. So your parents had a shop then?

Yeah, I'm trying. Or maybe you know that place.

'What?　I know this place?　That's ......
　The only wizards I know of are Master's and that shop.

That's right. The Fermor Company. though it was my brother who made it that big. That's an impressive feat after only 30 and a half years.

'Oh, really? ...... I'm surprised Master Fermat is a Fermat. ......

I'm not calling myself Fermor now, though.

Is that so?

Yeah, what can I say ...... you're a runaway. Well, that was a youthful indiscretion. I haven't shown my face since I left home because it was too awkward.

'I see that's true ...... but you want your master back over there, right?
　You said something like that the other day.

You're right. Well, I'm not going back now that I have the shop.
　Then he takes another swig of his drink.

Well, you don't want me to come back after all this, do you?

'It's true: ...... Even if it's just a question of what you're going to do tomorrow.

'Yeah, that reminds me . What to do tomorrow: ......

　Really, I don't know what to do: .......
We can't even recruit employees at short notice: ......

Well, yeah. So why don't you buy some slaves and put them to work?

What, slave?

Hmm?　What about the slaves?　A nobleman can have plenty of slaves, can't he?

No, no, no, no, no ...... in our house.
　No. We don't have a word for it in our house.

Is that so?　With the proceeds from today's sales, we could buy at least one of them.

Yeah. Okay. Shall we go to the slavers this afternoon?

Yeah. I hope you got a good slave.


　＊＊＊＊＊＊

　There are three types of slaves in this world.

　The first and most common is the debt slave.
　This slave is a slave who became a slave because he or she could not pay their debts.

　Second, the criminal slave.
　A slave who has committed serious crimes.
　These slaves are often forced to do hard work.

　Finally, the illegal slave.
　These are people who were forced into slavery by thieves and other thieves.
　The slavers who sell them will be caught.

　Well, they say to follow the local traditions, so you just have to look past them.
　I thought about that when I entered the slavers' shop.

Welcome. What kind of slave can I help you find today?


　Slave shop owners used to give me a sales smile.

I need someone who can talk to people in the shop.

'Okay, ...... then I'll show you around and you can choose what you want.'
　So we were led to a place where they had slaves lined up.
　I looked closer and realized they were all women.
　There were about ten of them.

"These are the slaves you'll be serving. You can choose whatever you like.

Okay.

　Then we went through them one by one, asking them simple questions.
　I listened to the explanation as I evaluated each one.
'Unn ...... no different from anyone else in my opinion?'

For my part, there was one person who was nice to me.

Really?　Then I'll leave it up to Leo to decide who he wants.

Okay. That's him.
　Then I pointed to the kid at the end.

"I know that's your type, ....... Hey, how much is this girl?
　It's not even my favorite.

Five gold pieces.

Hmm?　That's cheaper than I thought.

''Actually, there's a problem with ...... aptitude magic, and if ...... aptitude magic is bad, the nobles won't buy it.

'Oh, really? ...... Don't you have aptitude magic?'

'No, it's there, but it's ...... creative magic.

Yeah, I bought .......

What?

I'm buying her. Yes, for the money.
　As if he understood something, Master hurriedly took out a gold coin and handed it to the shopkeeper.

''Wow, okay ...... then, I have an agreement to make, so go to that room over there .
　The owner was surprised, but he took the gold coins and led me to the back room.

"Hey, hey, hey, you know what you're doing and you let her do it, right?
　Before I walked in, he poked me with his elbow and asked me.

'No way. No way.

You're out of your mind!


Okay, let's see your hand. Let Elsie out.
　When the two of them touched each other, the slaver grabbed them and used his magic.
　I wondered what kind of magic it was ...... so I appraised it and found it was dark magic .

Yes, this is the end of our contract. From now on, she cannot ignore your orders.
　I didn't know you could do that. ...... That's great dark magic.
　I'm not gonna use it.

All right. All right, I'll go.

Yes, we hope to see you again.

Fortunately, it's over. Let's just go back to the shop.


　＊＊＊＊＊＊
So can you introduce yourself to me again, then?

Yes, ma'am. My name is Elsie. I'm good at all kinds of household chores like cleaning and cooking.
　Elsie, who bows to me, is 14 years old, five years older than me.

"Elsie. Well, maybe we should introduce ourselves. I'm Horant, and I'm the owner of this shop.

"I'm Leon. I'm his apprentice. I also help him with his shop. By the way, aptitude magic is a creation spell, just like Elsie's, so nice to meet you.

Don't call me 'I'. You usually say 'I'. And tell Elsie, though, this guy's got a serious problem with creative magic. You should learn about it when you're free.
　Oh, I'm wearing a cat at the moment: .......

'That sounds interesting. Whenever you're free, just let me know.
　I'm very curious to know if anyone else can use creation magic but me.

''Yes, yes ......, you can use creation magic?

That's it. Hey, build me something.

Okay. Okay.
　I made an artificial flower and gave it to Elsie.

'Ho, it's true ...... this is great ......'
　Then Miss Elsie was admiring the artificial flowers.

"Oh, come on, don't make a move on me now.



'I wasn't hitting on you!　Besides, I have a fiancée, so it would be an affair!
　I'd appreciate it if you didn't give me the wrong impression.

"What?　Who is it?

'Well, do I have to say ......?'

What. Are you embarrassed?　The duke's bonbon counterpart must be very pretty.
　And then he started rubbing his head.

Wow. All right. You are the granddaughter of the princess and the saint.

Oh, well, that's a tough one to have an affair with.
　Master grinned happily .

''Muu~ so that's why I didn't.''

You know, .......

Oh, I'm sorry. He's a nobleman. That's that brave man's family. And how he ended up in our family is a mystery.

My nobleman!

Don't worry about it. We're working on Leo here.

It's a little hard not to care about that. So, what were we talking about?

I thought we were done talking about creation magic.

Of course. Just like you made that flower in a second, this guy can use his creative magic.

How does this work?　If I tried, it wouldn't take any form at all.
　I knew it. .......

''Oh, there are a lot of tricks to this ...... This is going to be a long story, so let's talk about it next time when I'm free . For now, please listen to Master's explanation of the work you'll be doing tomorrow.

I understand.

"Right. I'm gonna have to explain my job to him. From now on, I'm going to need Elsie to help guide my clients.

Induction?

'Yes. I want you to hand out these early in the morning and let the customers in at that number in that order. You'll have to talk to Leo about the details.

'Well then, I can only come tomorrow morning and I'll give you a full explanation then.

All right. All right, now you'll be getting ready for your bed. Fortunately, I have an extra room, so you can use it.

Wow, okay. ......

Hmm?　Do you have a question for me?

No, no.

If you have something to say to me, it's not too late.
　Yeah, yeah, it's going to be crazy hard, and if I don't tell you now, I'll be too busy to tell you .

Why are you both being so nice to me?" "Well, uh, ...... why are you both being so nice to me?　Normally, I think slaves are treated more roughly.

Is that what normal is?　Master?
　I've never treated a slave in my life, including my past life, so I don't know.

I don't know if you're asking me. I'm the first person who's ever bought a slave. All right, all right?　Stay tuned.

Yes, that's fine. You're an important asset, so I don't think there's any need to make it tougher.
　Without Elsie, we're in danger of losing our business tomorrow.

Yeah. Well, you'll have to work for it then.

Okay, okay. I'll do my best!
　Miss Elsie was confused, but she seemed to understand.

Oh!

You don't have to do it, you know.
　Elsie seems to be very serious, so she'll be a good asset.