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Ominous Letter
TL Note : Just a heads up. The last part of this chapter contains some graphic descriptions.
The new year has begun. But there was not the slightest hint of a bright atmosphere in the housing facility. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
From the start, there was no custom of celebration or presents in the housing facility, even if it was a New Year’s holiday. But, slave traders are still human after all, so we get a little bit of sweets for dinner. Of course, it is not done without a purpose. Even those sweets were something the children made during the day to begin with. In short, it is basically a bad idea to sell the ‘stock’ without them knowing about the general year-end festival, so they set up this kind of event, both for educational purposes and also recreation.
It was not omitted. But everyone’s expression was gloomy. Not just the children, but even the adults. That is because Myluc was in a worse mood than we have ever seen before.
Myluc is someone who controls his own emotions. Aside from an ingratiating smile toward his customers, he rarely expresses his emotions. And it is precisely because of that, it became truly terrifying when he occasionally shows his anger.
I have seen him become emotional once in the past. When it was with Wicax’s case. When I became an insect and was in an abnormal state, he unusually called my real name. I have not particularly touched on that matter since then. He cared enough about me to the point of breaking the rules he decided for himself.
On the other hand, Wicax - the bully - was given a severe punishment. He immediately removed him from the housing facility. Since then, Myluc’s bad mood continued for a few days.
But this time, it is not to that level. It has been 2 months since the Aquamarine fair, but Myluc is still grumpy. He becomes quiet when he bottles up his anger. He does not take it out on things, but his movements become a bit rough.
What is the cause of his bad mood, I wonder? One thing that came to my mind was the Aquamarine fair’s auction.
In short, they did not sell anyone. That is obvious. It had even become impossible to hold the auction itself. Unable to avoid the sudden recession, large merchants and nobles cancelled their participation in succession. As a result, even the representative slave traders postponed their exhibitions.
Both the children and the adults managing them thought their own bad work performance caused this result, so they felt down. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
Indeed, this was an infuriating situation. But was that really something to be angry about? Most importantly, it was not the fault of the people here that the auction was not being held.
Also, I have learned after reaching my current position that most of his earnings come from things such as his Saharian farms and rights to trading vessels. Honestly, I think Myluc should be spending his time on a more efficient business. To put it simply, a slave trader is just his side business. As for the case with his date shipment, he was able to barely gather the necessary amount, so there have been no issues.
If so, there might be another reason. Actually, I have an idea for the reason.
A letter arrived in Myluc’s hand. It came from the court of the Esta Forestia kingdom that rules this land. Written on that letter was a command he had not seen in a long time.
「……the retrieval and sale of the aforementioned three criminal slaves is hereby ordered」
Although he is a slave trader, Myluc has a slightly peculiar business model. His job is not only to move people nicely and quickly. That is why he especially hates jobs like collecting and selling off boorish criminal slaves.
Well, generally, these kinds of requests from the court are not something they will be happy to accept, unless they are the lower-class slave traders. That is, they especially made it in the form of a command. No matter what, they gave him the permit to be a slave trader, so he could not refuse.
Although this was too weak a reason for his bad mood.
So I can not understand it. The other children are still fine. But I have kept doing paperwork like this in his office doing, with the grumpy master nearby. It is honestly like sitting on a bed of nails.
「Noor」
I snapped back to reality at the sound of a gloomy voice that seemed to echo from the depths of the earth.
「It is enough for today. I am also going to rest. Return to your room once you tidy up」
「Yes」
I am finally free. I almost let out a sigh of relief.
「Also」
He gave me an intense stare, as if to warn me. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「I think you have guessed it but....do not be too soft on the children. It is not good for them」
「Y, yes」
「It is fine if you understand」
Myluc slowly stood up while saying that. And just as he told me, I was about to tidy up the scattered documents on the table and first reached out for the bundle of letters first.
「Don’t touch that!」
I pulled back my hand, surprised. Eh? Why? With my shoulder still hunched, I look up at Myluc.
Realizing my gaze mixed with fear, his stiff expression finally relaxed.
「A, aah, it’s nothing. Never mind cleaning them up. Just leave it」
「Yes」
What happened? He is clearly acting suspiciously.
Well, in any case, I will just do as told. I leave the desk as it is and stand up.
「That’s right, Noor, it is trivial but」
As he walked toward the room’s exit, Myluc turned back and called out as if he suddenly remembered
something.
「I certainly said you can drink the tea and eat the sweets in this room while working, but don’t you think you are eating too much? I am not being stingy or anything, but you will have a cavity if you continue like that. Slave with cavities will not sell, be mindful of that」
Huh?
I certainly like sweet things, but did I eat that much?
「Umm.....yes」
Myluc retired to the back room after hearing my answer.
●
When I tried going out to the courtyard, I saw the children were gathering in the dining hall. At the center of the ring is Tamaria. She always had a smile on her face. But, as for the children around her, they all wore an almost soulless expression on their faces. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「I tried asking sensei the other day. So, roughly more than half of the children will usually become free citizens within 10 years. So you get released, and then you work for your master, see」
Among the children included in the ring were Dona, Dee, and Kovol.
But his expression was still somewhat gloomy.
「I knew it, it seems like there are a lot of people who want to be a merchant. They will be unable to make any kind of transactions if they remain as a slave, experiencing all sorts of inconvenience」
Frankly, it is painful to watch. It is a total one-man show by Tamaria. She desperately tried to support everyone who was in low spirits, but the children completely lost confidence in themselves.
「Even if they couldn’t become a knight, it seems like there were some kids who became a knight’s attendant, you know?」
For a moment, Kovol’s eyes shone, but then they returned to normal.
Although it was said that they were ‘grown-ups’, they were still 6 years old. There was no way they could understand something like an ‘economic recession’. Even though they had prepared themselves to definitely get sold at the Aquamarine fair, they ended up returning disappointed. On top of that, Myluc seemed to be extremely angry - in a way they had never seen before - on the way back. They were probably feeling like they do not know what to do.
In any case, it will be sad if Tamaria continues to stay like this, so I walked over, thinking I could become someone they could talk to. At that moment, a tall child’s figure appeared from the shadow of the south’s warehouse.
It was Doroll. He is the oldest among the boys. He had been quiet and not standing out recently, but now there is a radiant smile on his face.
「Yooー, everyone unsold, hello!」
He was supposed to have calmed down after Kovol beat him up once, but he is back to his energetic self now. Somehow, his expression seems to be shiny and radiant.
「You, what are you here for?」
He came to ruin the atmosphere. Coming just to make that sarcastic remark. It is obvious.
「Nothing?」
「Then quickly get lost」
「Why?」
It is just a waste of time to deal with someone like him. Kovol stands up. He is planning to take action. Thinking normally, that is the correct action. Unfortunately, for those who do not understand words, the only choice is to speak with fists. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
But.....
「Eehh? Kovol-kun, what’re you planning to do? Children who act violently will stay unsold, ya know?」
At that, Kovol clenched his fist and kept standing there frozen in place.
Dorol has become an even more unpleasant guy than before. Much worse in nature than Wicax.
「That’s enough」
I interrupted them.
「So unsightly. You’re also an unsold good, aren’t you?」
「Eeh? What, so it’s Noor」
Dorol frowned for a moment, but he immediately smiled again.
「Noor-kun, who is confident he will get sold, is standing up to the losers, did you find it interesting?」
「How ridiculous. What’s fun about competing in such a cramped housing facility? Why don’t you worry about yourself first before worrying about everyone else」
Dorol scornfully laughed at my words and skipped back to his room.
Unfortunately, Dorol wins in this quarrel. He does not need to win an argument with me or Tamaria. The more the children get hurt, the happier he feels about it.
But, Tamaria loudly said after Dorol left.
「Everyone, you don’t need to worry! Even Detel got taken in by a merchant house just before he turned 8!」
I go back to my room and lie on my bed. Somehow, I feel quite stressed lately. The atmosphere in the housing facility is stiff.
「Fuuhー……」
「Yoo, you tired?」
Next to me, Wyst is also lying in his bed like me. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
「Well.....I was the only one in the office with Myluc, and just now, Dorol was provoking everyone again」
「Ahー」
Wyst continued talking while staring at the ceiling, without looking in my direction.
「I wonder whyー, I guess it was from that day, huhー」
「The Aquamarine fair?」
「Right, right. Myluc clicked his tongue when we remained unsold. ‘Ah, this is bad’, I thought. But you know, nothing happened though.....」
「He was not in such a bad mood at that time?」
「Right」
Come to think of it, it is true.
Although we are guessing one thing after another, we still have not actually investigated the real cause of why Myluc is that angry.
「Also, just when we were about to return, a man who looked like a merchant showed up. Myluc was also smiling, and they were talking in a tent. That’s it」
「Did something happen?」
「I heard a sudden shout. I think it was, ‘Don’t look down on me’ or something? It was Myluc’s voice. I have never heard him shouting like that」
Wyst’s face stiffened while speaking about it.
So something like that happened.
「And so, the merchant-like man who entered with him tried to calm him down, but it looked like it did not work. In the end, Myluc started beating him up. Err, well, it is exactly like that. If Jill hadn’t stepped in, then that man would have been strangled to death. And Myluc was extremely furious and was crushing a piece of paper into a crumpled mess」
「A piece of paper, huh」
It is only just getting to be evening. You could probably still read the characters without any light. Myluc might also be resting now.
And, I was actually given the master key. I have not told anyone about this. It will be bad if someone misuses it, and other children are probably going to be envious. And so, I can enter the office anytime.
「Hm, what’s wrong?」
Wyst called out, seeing me getting up.
「There’s something bothering me. I’ll be back soon」
「Ou」
He waved his hand, looking uninterested.
I silenced my footsteps and returned to the office. Since I did not want Myluc to question me. About what Wyst talked about earlier. Also, about the letter, I was about to tidy up at the end of today’s work. No matter how I think about it, there is definitely a connection.
This might just be my curiosity acting up, but of course, it was not just that. I thought that, if possible, I would like to help Myluc indirectly. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
And sure enough, the bundle of letters that was left alone earlier was still on the table. It is starting to get dark already, but I can still barely read them even without a lamp. I particularly look for a letter that showed signs of having been furiously crumpled and pulled it out.
Just a quick look.....
『Dear Yokona-dono
Although the heat still lingers, the days are getting shorter each day, how are you doing?
I too, am being overtaken by that particular loneliness unique to this time of year.
I wonder, where does this heart-wrenching sadness come from?
Now, the reconstruction work of the royal capital has been partially suspended, and so, you are probably short on funds as well.
But it is precisely during times like this that I think I can be of help to you.
It is also, to make up for this sadness passing through my heart.
I was referring to the beautiful boy with blonde hair and white skin you gave me half a year ago, Detel.
That boy was truly a lovely boy.
For the sake of my wish, no sacrifice was spared.
Of course!
Can you imagine it?
The spring of my hunting ground.....that spring, filled with clear water that is cold even in the summer.
Standing in its center is a single, beautiful, withered tree.
Aah!
With a boy tied up there.....without any unnecessary clothing on his body.
And of course, I did not use an inelegant tool such as a straw rope.
I should use ivy after all. It is better to leave it natural.
The sight of the body being worn out with blood trickling here and there, that is also beautiful.
And despite such a situation, Detel was really a good boy.
He did not bawl out like other stupid kids, shouting something like ‘Help me’ or anything like that.
Just silently enduring the pain.
As though it were a scene of some wonderful story, it makes me unable to contain my excitement.
At first, I did it with my own hands, driven by impulse, then with the assistance of those boys, I ended up crossing the lines a total of three times.
I will never forget the night I enjoyed his first time.
It was a humid, sleepless night.
But beautiful stars were twinkling above.
I laid him naked on the bed I put on the terrace, and reached my hands to between his legs.
No matter what was done to him, he said nothing.
The look of anguish on his face, and yet, aahh, how modest he was!
If I were to describe it so you can understand it, it was like a modest lady.....
Aah! It would be an insult compared to such vulgarity.
You probably know about him, right? Don’t you agree?
And at the last moment, I turned him over and brought that part closer to myself.
Perhaps he realized what was about to happen, as he dug his nails into the pure white sheet in horror.
What a gesture! But, he remained as obedient as ever.
It is only at the last moment of the act of receiving me that he groaned.
How adorable was that!
It is not often that you get to experience such pleasure.
He was such a lovely boy, but fate is cruel.
He could not endure the surgery to prolong that beauty of his.
Can you understand my despair when the doctor told me that it was a failure?
I hurried to my room when he told me he was still breathing, but it was just a matter of time.
And there he was, blood flowing and writhing in pain.....
I pushed myself on top of him without hesitation, first the usual spot, and then, the place that had just now started bleeding.....
It would not enter as it was, so I could open it with a knife.....and I gave all my passion.
He must have been very happy and died fulfilled to be loved by me this much.
It is better to leave this life behind beautifully rather than to live ugly.
He brought me a sweet summer romance.
That’s right! I am sure he was a love fairy.
And so, he became a noble sacrifice for love and beauty.
I decided to think that way.
So, you probably understand by now.
You were very kind to me before.
Listening attentively to my selfishness gave me some time with such a wonderful fairy.
But, at this rate, I will end up freezing to death from loneliness by the end of next winter.
Therefore, I would like you to introduce me again, to a passionate love partner who will warm up my cold heart.
The Saharian slave trader, the one you got Detel from, seems to be a man who knows his place well.
Otherwise, he will never be able to prepare such a wonderful boy.
I hear that you are on good terms with that merchant.
So could you please, try talking to him sometime?
Lastly.
I should inform you that His Highness is holding an end-of-the-year party and is seeking a few trustworthy merchants.
As someone who serves the one who will be the future King, I, too, have the duty to discover superior men of talent and introduce them to him.
In that regard, there is certainly a relationship of mutual trust between you and me.
All that is left, is to leave a clear achievement.
If you do that, I can also introduce you with pride and confidence.
Then, I will be waiting for a favorable response.
Your close friend Gofat (ゴーファト)』
At first, I could not completely understand what was written.
But gradually, a feeling of nausea began to rise up from the depths of my chest.
This is, that means.....
「Who is it」
There was a banging sound and the sound of a door opening.
My back was drenched in cold sweat. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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