I thanked Yarsis at the entrance to the slave trading house.

Not at all. Please come again.
Oh, if I could only run an errand.
Yes. We'll be waiting for you.

That face is one that I'm sure will come back.
For some reason, I wondered why Wendy even came to see me off at the entrance.
By the way, that cat-eared girl we met in the square didn't come out.
Could it be that Aina-san and Sorte were there to take care of her?
It would be easy to imagine that if I encountered the cat-eared girl in front of Sorte, I would surely be labeled a pedophile on top of being a pervert.

''So it's still the same as usual after all?
It's good!　We can continue to have adventures and not have this guy do anything nasty to us in the future.
'It's ... but somehow, I don't think this is enough to make me feel sorry...'
It'll be fine. I've seen enough of you to know that you'll be doing a good job of gathering materials.

Now you can get the ingredients for free for a while.
The Adventurer's Guild doesn't seem to have a lot of (fine) (inferior) (small) potions for recovery potions, so if you can get me to collect some medicinal body plants, it's not a bad idea to make and deliver them.
It's probably a good idea to get a few more higher level medicinal herbs and sell them wholesale at an affordable price anyway.

Sigh. It's only been three days since I came to this world.
I didn't expect problems to arise all of a sudden, but I think I'll be able to calm down somehow.

''For now, let's go report to the Adventurer's Guild and deliver the goods.
Yeah. Let's just get it over with.
'Yes. Your lord should think about what he's going to order first.
Yes. ....By the way, are you sure you want to put that on?

I pointed to that and the leather collar attached to Aina's neck.
It's the proof of slavery, and in the case of a free contract, one of the slaves must wear it.
I don't know how it works, but it seems to save you the trouble of calling them out when giving orders.
By the way, in the case of a subordinate contract, you are obliged to wear it unless ordered by your master.

In fact, if you're going to wear it, I think Sorte's going to be a better fit.
Wolf?　No, no, no. He's a dog. And it's a mad dog.

As I'm walking along looking at their backs, I'm intrigued by Sorte's tail, which is wagging happily as it wags, and I squeezed it.
I think it was my fault that he bit me with all his might.




I arrived in front of the Adventurer's Guild, but it's kind of hard to enter.
This is the place where I was mocked and laughed at, no matter how much was explained to me and how little concern I had about being attacked.
Even remembering it now, my stomach is still in a knot.

What are you doing?　Come on in.
I know, I know.
Ha-ha. Are you scared?　Dassar!
"Shut up, you poor dog. Hmm?　You're a girl?　Sorry, it was so precipitous I didn't even notice it, HAHAHA.
I'll kill you!
Do it!　I'm gonna give you a headache, man.

Gurrrrrrr!
They face each other, snarling, though they don't have fangs.

'There you go. You'll have to do your flirting later. 'Oh, come on. When did we get so close? I wish we could have had more conversation.
I don't "get it"!
You're good friends. That's not fair. That's not fair.

d*mn you, Solte. You've given Aina-san a false impression.
But it's no use standing at the door thinking about it.
That's right. I've done nothing wrong.
It's true that Rainerich asked me to run an errand, so I'll make up my mind to go here.

I open the western-style double doors and enter.
I'm sure you'll find many adventurers sitting at the round table, just as before, and as soon as you enter the room, they look at you.
But they are looking behind me.

'Hey, Aina is wearing a collar.' 'Wait a minute!　So is Mr. Sorte. There is a sign of servitude in his right hand.

Apparently, this is due to Aina wearing the collar that was given to her when she signed the contract.
And even Solte, who wasn't originally going to be a slave, may have seen the proof of servitude on the back of her hand.
But the three of us headed straight for the reception desk without paying any attention to such voices.
The woman in question was there. As I recall, what was her name....

"Firill. Call the guild master. I'm going to report the results.
Mr. Aina!　Okay. I'll get him right away.
Oh, and I'd like to get it over with since I'm here to deliver the potion as promised.
Yes, I'll get the guildmaster to help you with that too.

As I spoke to her, the woman called Filil rushed to call the guildmaster.
The only people left were a number of adventurers and the three of us.
The eyes of the adventurers, after all, are Aina's collar and proof of Sorte's servitude. All eyes were on me with it.

One of the adventurers stepped forward and stood in front of me.
I'll never forget the adventurer who pushed me away.

"Hey, come on," he said. "Hey, come on," he said, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

...What?

Hey, Aina. Hey, Solte. You guys did a good job of explaining this, right?

I'm here because you said you'd explained things to me, right?

Oh, yeah. I explained it all to you in the morning. And of course I told you what happened.
Hey, hey, hey.
''Huh... what kind of explanation do you have for something like this guy...?''

Why do you feel like I've forced you both to be slaves?

'Why would you pay for it?　Ten million knol. If I could get that, I could release you right now.

After that anyway, you'll just use this money to buy materials elsewhere and literally smelt more money.
It's the difference between a long term supply that continues on a regular basis or a short term supply that goes in with a bang.
And frankly, it's money that floats around. We'll take whatever we can get, but we don't need the hassle if it's with us.

If our discussion yesterday was pointless, I'll leave. Of course, I'll tell Yashis the reason why and let you two go now. But at the end of the day, we're right back where we started. I'm the victim and you're the culprit and it won't change a thing. In fact, if you decide to abrogate what was decided yesterday, I don't know what Rainerich will do, so be prepared for that.

I've had enough of being tired yesterday and today, and I've had enough of being tired.
But, well, if they get their hands on you, you're no match for these guys, no matter what they do.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to defend yourself by relying on the name of Leinrich.

"Wait a minute!　I mean, I told you.　Aina decided to become a slave herself. So I told her to stop blaming that on him and resenting him because it's not right.
But now even Solte-san is being made a slave to him. We can't stand the idea that two of our guild's leading figures are slaves to a guy like this!
'You know what? As you can see, I'm his slave too, but it's a free contract, not a subordinate contract. You can still continue to work as an adventurer under a free contract, and most of the time you will still be the same. I'm not going to be able to say that I'm a slave, but my work as a slave is mainly to collect materials, and to tell you the truth, the reason I'm a slave is because I'm a slave on a PT basis, so that's not an option.
'Yes. And I'm grateful to him. He was a victim, and yet this is how he allowed us to continue to live our lives. And now you guys are accusing him of violating what we said?

At those words, the adventurer in question looks down and keeps his mouth shut.
I think that face could not help but lower its face in remorse that it was his fault and Aina's determination.

''You guys........do you want to go so far as to destroy this guild.......?　Didn't you understand that adventurer's business requires not only muscle, but brains as well?

The guildmaster comes out from the back, letting out a sigh of relief.
To be honest, I'm the one who wants to sigh.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, they're such good-natured people by nature.
Maybe so. All I know is that I'm a friend. I wish I could have met you then.
'I don't have any words to say in return... Anyway, welcome to the Adventurer's Guild.
I can't have a subcontractor without a house. It's three times the simple cost of a hotel stay, right?　We're going to need a lot of money, so it's not like we're suddenly going to triple our consumption, you know?
'Right. Would you have preferred cash then?
It doesn't matter. It's all about later.
You are indeed Master Rainerich's apprentice. I'm glad to see that the Alchemists' Guild is safe and sound from now on.

A pupil of Rainerich's. This is going to catch on.
As long as it's enough to stop them from attacking you, I don't mind.

Rainrich will be more aggressive if he's too comfortable. I've been entrusted with this recovery potion by Rainrich.
Oh. You have a magic bag. So will you continue to come to me, Master Disciple?
Well it could be, but I'm not so sure about this situation.
I'm sorry. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again, and I'd like to keep it that way if I could.
'All right. I'll put up a guildmaster and take your word for it. I'll be coming over to wholesalers with the stuff I've made, then.
Yes, please.

I squeezed the hand that was offered to me saying that.
Yesterday I only saw him in a shameful way, but I guess he's inherently powerful and dependable.
I really wish I had met him before such a thing happened.

I was about to leave the adventurer's guild as if I had no more business with the master of the guild.
Then that man stood in front of me once more.

''Oh, um... no, I mean, can I have a word with you?''
What?

He chose his words well this time.
In that case, I'll listen to what he has to say.

''Well, I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. I can't very well ask you to forgive me, but please, from now on, I'd like you to distribute the recovery potion for the newcomers.
'Huh ... that's the first thing you need to do. It's not that I don't care if you let Aina-san and Solte go, just so you know. I'm not going to bother to make them slaves if you're going to sell me the materials properly, but...
'Oh, I just want to make sure I'm holding myself accountable,'
Yeah, I know. And I'll make sure to distribute the potions. As an alchemist guild, we'll be selling them well on a regular basis. We'll also make things for new adventurers properly, so don't worry.
Oh, thank you. If you need anything else, just let me know.

I think this is the place to drop it, since he's bowed firmly and apologized and is sorry.

''I see. I'm sure you'll be glad to know that I've collected all the medicinal herbs and leave them with your guild master. I'll make a small batch for you. I'm sorry, but I don't have any on hand at the moment.
I'm... Well, I'm really sorry.

Hmm?　Oh, does this sound sarcastic?
I really didn't mean it this time.

"If you feel bad, act like it. I'll settle the matter between us now.
Yeah, I'll take care of it! I've got it!　I'll collect as many as 1,000 or 2,000!
You're going to kill me...

Am I supposed to make a thousand potions?
How many days will it take........

''........What. It all worked out so smoothly in the end.
I guess so. That's what male friendship is all about, isn't it? I'm kind of jealous of that. Do we need to have a fight?
I don't want to. You don't smell like sweat.
Well, whatever. Anyway, from now on, I'll come normally. I'll tell the guildmaster about the quests and stuff, or I'll post them on the quest board.

I broke off the conversation with the man and joined their conversation to say hello.

You can call me by my collar if you need me. I'll be there in a hurry, no matter what time of day it is. ...well, you'll still have to wait for the middle of the night or something.
'I'm not going without Aina. I mean, I don't wear a collar.
Yeah. You really do look like a dog with a collar on, don't you?
"Gulp.
What?

This dog has a tendency to mess with me.
I'm sure this isn't the same as wanting to be naughty because he likes it.

That's it for today. You'll need:.... I don't know what the ingredients are for. I don't know what it is, but I don't know what it is. Basically, I think I'm in the Alchemist Guild now.
All right. ...the way you talk. You're pretty open with me, too. You called me names earlier.

You mean earlier, when you were angry?
Come to think of it, you've been calling Aina-san by her first name all this time, but just now you called her by her first name.

Yeah. It's better for me, too. I feel like we've gotten closer somehow.
No, no!　Don't even think about getting to know this guy.
It's not fair, Solte. You've been talking like you're the only one who's been shattered. I've got so much to tell you.
'Huh!　What's wrong with your eyes?　Do you want me to buy you some top-of-the-line eye drops?　I didn't end up spending this money after all.
'I'm not crazy!　All this time today, you've been talking about Sorte and the master!　I've been looking at it and quietly envying it for a long time!　So I'm going to have a lot to say to you, my master.　Sorte should be looking enviously at the side!
'Hah!　I don't look at you like I'm jealous!　If you want to talk, you can do what you want!
I'll do whatever I want. Hey, my lord!　...my lord?　Hey, where'd he go?
'Uh ... Aina. Solte-san. That alchemist would have already said hello and left long ago.
Huh?

When the two of them were looking around. I had already left the Adventurer's Guild.
The attitude of many of the adventurers as they walk by the table is a small bow, and some of them say, "I'll buy your potion, brother! There were some fledgling adventurers and others who called out to me.
Well. I guess they're essentially just pleasant guys.
Then you can guess how bad the pharmaceutical guild is.
I don't want to get involved, but I don't plan to get involved either.
If something happens, I'll rely on those two guys.
I might be angry with them because they're leaving on their own by now.
Thinking about that, my footsteps naturally quickened, and I picked up my speed even faster in order to return to the Alchemist Guild as soon as possible.



The two left in the Adventurer's Guild headed to the entrance, side by side.

''Wait a minute!　You haven't even said hello to me yet!
'My lord?　My lord?　Why won't you talk to me!

The two men walked out of the entrance, side by side, as if they were about to break down the Western-style door.
The man thought that he might have never seen the two of them fighting before.

The two men had always been calm and respectable seniors.
The man had helped them many times when he was a rookie, too, and they were the only adventurers in this town who didn't know these girls.
The Red Front Red Line, which is the highest rank of adventurers, A-rank adventurers.
The S class is a special rank that requires the approval of the guild master to become an S class adventurer, so the real top rank is A rank.
These two A-ranked adventurers, the two reliable Misses, are surprisingly just two maidens.

''........It's going to be hard work. You're an alchemist brother.

Looking at the two men who had changed into such a leopard, the man muttered quietly.