I made an immediate decision to buy a dark elf crime slave on the spot.

　The price is 16 million CL...this is the end of the world for a shining top-notch blacksmith's egg.

''Then I will make a servitude contract.

　Philip said, and took out a sheet of paper. It's a contract to be used for slavery magic. I've seen it before in Mevion. Masters and slaves who are contracted to use the slavery magic skill can't act in any way that doesn't conform to what's written in that contract. It's not that it's not about breaking the contract or anything, but a strange compulsion works and it's "unbreakable". Well, actually, there are plenty of tricks to break it without penalty: .......

　By the way, slavery magic is a unique skill of a particular NPC that appears several times as you progress through Mevion's not-so-perfect storyline, I believe. Of course, that NPC wasn't Philip, and the player couldn't learn it. In other words, there are new conditions for obtaining NPC-specific skills in this world, which means there are multiple non-NPCs who can handle NPC-specific skills.

'How do you think the contract is going to work out?'

　Oops, I didn't read it. What is it?　Master and slave (hereinafter A and B) have entered into a contract as follows. Firstly, A shall be obliged to provide adequate and reasonable food, clothing and shelter to B. In other words, A shall be obliged to support B at a level that does not impair his human dignity. ......

　...... Yeah, I see. I skimmed it, and well, the bottom line is "masters should treat their slaves humanely and slaves should be obedient to their masters". Decent stuff.

　There's just one thing that bothers me. It's the last item added at the end.

It says, "Ninth of nine, Second Party cannot take aggressive action against any human being.

　It's a tough one. Maybe it's a bit light for a former assassin, but if someone attacks you, you're going to get attacked all the time: ...... It's amazing.

I don't know what to do about this one.
'Yes. It's a directive from the state, so I can't help it: ......

　Philip makes a pained expression.

'It can't be helped. I'm going to ask you to sign a contract with this.'
I'm sorry, sir.

　Well, it's limited to 'against humans', so as long as we can attack demons, gaining experience is not a problem.
　I reluctantly agreed and signed the contract. The dark elf slave also signs it.

　Philip saw it through and activated his slavery magic.

　Something invisible connects between me and the dark elves. It's quite a new feeling. Her thin, shapely eyebrows twitched.

''Your servitude contract is now complete. Thank you for your purchase, Mr. Second. All of us at Maurice Trading Company look forward to seeing you again.

　The contract ends easily.
　The dark elf that was released from its chains walked over to me and stood upright silently behind me at an angle.

''............''

　I don't know. It's so awkward.

"What's your name?
No, sir.
Oh, right. Sorry, sir, I have to get back to the parlor.
...... I mean, no name, but...
............

　My best gag didn't get through. On the contrary, this dark elf has a look of dismay on his face. He's a slave, but he's got a lot of heart.

　...... but he doesn't have a name. I wonder what kind of life he's living.

I'm just kidding. But as it is, it's hard to call you by your name. You mind if I give him a name?
Yes, sir.

　Hmmm, name hey ...... dark elf, brown, nice buddy ...... purple hair, purple, purple, violet, violet, purple, purple .......

　I crossed my arms on the spot, grunting and groaning, and continued to think about it for about five minutes before deciding on a name for her.

'How about Yukari?'

　As she says this, her eyes widen, though only slightly.

''I understand. I am Yukari. It's nice to meet you, Master.

　Yukari bowed beautifully.
　It was such a beautiful gesture that we almost bowed back too.

'Second. I'll introduce you to your friends later.'
I'm sorry, sir.

　I was a little upset by the word "master", but I turned my back to Yukari and hurried to Silvia and Eco, so that she wouldn't realize it.

　Yukari follows quietly behind them. As expected of a former assassin, I should say, I don't feel a single footstep.

''I'm back.''
Oh, Mr. Second. We have found a good blacksmith...　

　Sylvia greeted her as she returned to the reception room, and her words stopped as soon as her gaze met Yukari's.

'...... Lord Second. Don't tell me that beautiful dark elf woman is.
Yeah. She's Yukari. From today, I'm going to train her as a blacksmith.
............ oof.

　Sylvia fell apart. 'I didn't expect a female blacksmith, why didn't I consider that possibility?' 'And it's huge! He mumbles something to himself.

I'm eco-friendly!　Yukari, nice to meet you!
Thank you, Mr. Eco.
'I'm not an eco-sammer, okay?　It's eco-friendly, okay?
Nice to meet you, Eco.
'Not an eco-sun?　It's eco-friendly, okay?
...... Eco, thank you.
Yeah!

　Eco's comic relief is tremendous. Still, Yukari, who doesn't change her expression and doesn't lose her composure, is also Yukari and amazing.

''That guy is Sylvia. He looks like that, but he's a fine magician.

　I'll introduce you to them in case you're interested. Yukari is a "magic archer? I nodded my head, but he nodded when I said, "We'll see," he said.

'Then we'll buy Yukari's horse and clothes and then head back to Pejo town. Then we'll have a meeting to discuss the future.

　I leave the Maurice Chamber of Commerce with my music.

　Thus, Yukari, the blacksmith's egg, joined the group.



　...... At first I thought she was nervous.
　But that was not the case.

　On the way to the town of Pehoe, I talked to Yukari about various things to deepen our friendship.

　The results didn't ring true.

　No matter what I said, Yukari had a blank expression on her face and a very tasteless response, clerical or otherwise.

　It wasn't just me, but also Sylvia and Eco when they spoke to her.

　Is she killing her mind?

　I don't know what she's really like.

　The only time I thought she had shown her true nature was when she said "Gozaimasen".

　A dumbfounded stare - that's the only emotion I've been able to see from her in the past half day.

　I'm not good at communicating to begin with, so I'm already overwhelmed.

　It's a good idea to have a new companion, even if it's a slave. If possible, I'd like to get along with her.
　If we don't have a good relationship, we could train them to be excellent blacksmiths and they might leave us.

　What to do: ...... I thought about it.

　And. In the end, it always comes down to this answer.

　Let's just ask them straight away," he said.



"Yukari. Do you mind if I ask you about your past?

　As soon as we arrived at the inn, I called Yukari to my room.

'Is that an order, sir?'

　In response to my question, Yukari said that coldly.
　Her eyes wavered slightly.

'If you don't want to say it, you don't have to.'

We will remain silent at .......

　They say no. Crisp.

　I pretend to be calm and say, "Okay. We'll meet in the next room for dinner in 15 minutes," and I return her to her room.

　It was a very short exchange.


............ hmmm.

　Oh, I couldn't help but smile.
　But I didn't expect to get as much out of it as I did.

　Because in response to my direct question, Yukari exposed the most emotions she's ever had to deal with.

　It was agitation, falsehood, guilt and ...... fear.

　There is something in her past. Hence, she doesn't say much and plays the role of a bland slave. And she is "afraid" of having her past known.

　Her reason for hiding her past - probably because she has been working as an assassin - is that she already knows.

　But she already knows. She knows that she is known.

　So why hide it?　Why are you scared?　Why do you act?

　.............

'Oh, right,'

　It occurred to me.

　When I was still number one in the world. "What do you do for a living, Mr. Seven? I think I remember feeling similar to Yukari earlier in response to this question.

　I don't want to tell the truth. Hence the need to lie. I always just replied, "It's real estate.

　Why was I hiding it? Because it would destroy the bland relationship we have now. If people knew that I was unemployed, they would always look at me that way. That's what I was afraid of. That's why I kept my distance from others. I was always acting out. I have the money and the time, I'm doing it for the road and I'm number one in the world" act.

　...... Yukari would not be such a light reason. But I'm sure there's more than a few things that are similar to mine. The part that is distracted from reality.

I'm sure she's thinking, "I can't get them to accept me even if I revealed it anyway.

"I'm betting my life on the internet?　So great! I've given up on the idea that there is no way anyone could ever say that to me.

　And if.

　What we need to do to bring out the truth in her.

You have to convince her that "these people will definitely accept us if we tell them about our past.

　It's not easy.

　It's very hard, but it's worth a try.

Good!

　I got up to my feet with a lot of energy.

　Whatever it is, it's dinner!