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Morning of Auction
Even though I was not awakened, my eyes opened naturally. The stone floor here was too cold.
Opening my eyes, there were mats scattered here and there in the dim room, with several slaves lying there. There were children like me and also adults. But they were all men. There was a rusted iron grate at the room’s entrance. There was a similar jail-like room on the opposite side of the corridor, and a few people were sleeping there too.
It was such a bleak sight. At first, I thought Myluc’s housing facility was dreary, but now I couldn't say the same. Originally, the treatment of slaves was like this.
The sound of footsteps echoed from afar. Then, the creaking sound of the iron grate *Kiiiiii* being opened could be heard. I had heard that it was time for breakfast and to take a bath. We essentially didn't have 30 minutes to take a bath, get changed, and eat.
「Myluc Necamel’s slave, Noor」
I was in the middle of wiping my wet hair with an old rag provided to me. I turned around after hearing the emotionless voice of the person in charge. The slaves, who had been managed by the management for one night, were handed over to their masters again. It depended on the slave trader, but the slaves were their merchandise, so some wanted to appeal their merchandise at the auction. And well, it seemed like Myluc did not want to do it.
Here I joined the other children. Looks like everyone did not get enough sleep. We didn't even have the time to greet each other, as we were being moved hurriedly soon after.
「You’re here」
Myluc was waiting for us, sitting on top of a scattered pile of wooden boxes. Looks like the criminal slaves had already arrived. Jusa was keeping a watchful eye on them in the back.
Although they didn't have the same energy they had at the beginning. Motus and Nithura occasionally had a dark glint in their eyes. They already knew there was no longer any hope for them after all. 'Why didn’t Iric make his move?' They were filled with the urge to blame and accuse him.
And even at this moment, Iric still did not break his act of a depressed, timid man. Even he knew that it will be difficult to escape in front of so many people’s eyes using Physical Enhancement Magic now. So, he probably thought of escaping tonight or the night after. But, at that point, he would finally realized.....the fact that he could not use his magic.
「We’re going to the venue. It starts this morning」
Myluc walked ahead of us. The children - including me - followed without going against him, even though we were only wearing handcuffs with no chains. Jill was behind us under the pretext of guarding us, but there was actually no need for her to keep an eye on us. If anything, she was helping Jusa follow us at the very end, making the criminal slaves walk.
Our situation was still fine, but the atmosphere around us was more brutal. At this point, some slaves were bawling out emotionally, rampaging, and trying to run away. You could hear screams and cries coming from everywhere, and even the sounds of people being beaten with wooden sticks echoed through the air. Meanwhile, only the sound of gravel being stepped on remained in my ears.
Before long, we arrived in the shaded area behind the stage. The stage was built facing the south, where the guests could see the merchandise clearly, and there was a large partition at the back, so inevitably, those of us waiting had to wait our turn in the cold place.
Finally, Dona - who was next to me - breathed a sigh of relief. It was understandable. Everyone had been silent until we got here. Of course, it was undesirable for the slaves who were going to be sold off to forget themselves and chat without hesitation, but putting that aside, the atmosphere was unbearably heavy.
「Myluc-sama」
A voice called out from the side. It was a humble-looking man with an unremarkable face, around 30 years old.
「Regarding today’s auction of the criminal slaves in the morning」
「Do it as usual. I will leave it to the management」
「Understood」
The man withdrew after receiving that answer.
That question was probably to confirm whether Myluc would promote at the auction personally. However, there was no way someone like him - who dealt with high-quality young slaves - could introduce criminal slaves. He probably just wanted to get it over with, no matter how long it takes.
But, I was anxiously waiting for the time to pass. Maybe it’s going to start a little more.
「Excuse us for the wait」
The man returned. Two muscular guys are following nearby. They are going to take the criminal slaves.
That would be troubling. I still couldn't make up my mind. But, it looked like there was no time to think anymore. I quietly prayed in my heart.....
「Come on, walk」
The humble man from before spoke to the criminal slaves in a completely different tone, as if he had changed to someone else. The three started to walk away after being urged.
And...it was when they stepped on the side stairs of the stage that I finally knew I succeeded.
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(Self) (7)
・Ultimate Ability Piercing Hand
・Material Human Form
(Rank 7, Male, 6 years old Active)
・Material Bird Form
(Rank 6, Male, 8 years old)
・Skill Fores Language Level 6
・Skill Business Dealing Level 4
・Skill Drug Compounding Level 4
・Skill Physical Enhancement Magic Level 5
・Skill Staff Mastery Level 4
Empty (0)
------------------------------------------------------
I thought about various things, but I had to erase the existing skill when taking away another person’s ability any more than this.
I also thought about stealing Ruin language from Iric and discarding the huge crow body but I held myself back. Such a huge bird was not always available in towns. If it was small birds, there were a lot of them, but those are not enough. It would just end up being targeted by stronger animals if it were not a strong type of animal that sits at the top of the ecosystem.
Besides, I had already taken my 「revenge」 against Motus and Iric but had yet to do that to Nithura. I had to thank her for trampling on the back of my hand with her foot. I stole her only language skill, Fores language. It looked like she had not realized it yet but from now on, she would likely be unable to hear or read anything in Fores language smoothly. How many months, no, years, would it take for her so she can speak again?
On the other hand, I would be able to speak Fores language more fluently with this. Even at my current level, I had no trouble with the language, but there was still probably a foreign-sounding accent in my pronunciation and other areas. But from now on, I would truly be able to speak the language freely like a real native.
Myluc noticed I was looking around restlessly, trying to see Nithura’s reaction to losing her language skills.
「What’s the matter, Noor」
「Ah, no, it’s nothing」
He tilted his head in confusion for a moment, but he continued to ask me.
「……do you want to see the stage?」
「Yes」
That’s right.
Standing on the stage in front of a crowd of people. I wanted to get that image now, ahead of time.
「Okay. You can see it from the side」
Then he stood up and walked away. I hurriedly follow.
The slave market auction this time started with the cheapest merchandise. Although it was said to be ‘cheapest’, it is an auction, so there is no established price for the merchandise. This means that the slave put on sale has many causes or factors that make them cheap.
So, the criminal slaves were being lined up at an early stage of the auction. There were slaves who had received the de facto death sentence without a set term. The 3 people Myluc took care of also fall under this condition. Meanwhile, our turn came much later. How did it become like this? Because of status.
The participants had to start moving here before dawn to participate in the auction first thing in the morning. On the other hand, you could leave a little later and still make it in time if you wanted to participate in the afternoon auction. They could not make the important people go through the hardship of getting up early.
And so, the men I saw sitting ahead of me there, when I scanned the place, gave rough impressions in their appearances. They had an atmosphere like that of supervisors of a construction site. They all wanted a slave they could use up and throw away.
「There is hardly anything you have to do on stage. Look」
A single criminal slave stood in the middle of the stage while dragging the chains that bound both of his feet. And the host who already stood on stage raised his voice.
「Next up is this one! Number 16! This one is a person who got caught during the bandit subjugation the other day! He is a criminal slave, with no set term! He says he is a little over 32 years old, but as you can see」
The host tore off the man’s outerwear, who had been forced to stand without the slightest hesitation.
「There are no particular wounds! Well, he’s a bit on the thin side, but he looks like he’s going to be able to hold up well enough! Since there are no questions beforehand, we’ll begin the auction! 」
The host also has a rough feel to him, just like the buyers.
He must have realized what I felt. Myluc spoke from the side.
「Once the criminal slave’s auction is over, the host will change. Incidentally, the venue will also be cleaned. When it is time for your turn, the atmosphere is expected to be a little better」
I see. Well, certainly, it would not fit well together if a noble butler-like man were to take on the role as the host with the construction worker uncles as the participants.
「Next up, number 17! This one is also the one from earlier, a former bandit! A criminal slave without a set term! Only, this one is a young one! Surprisingly, he’s still 23 years old!」
It was Motus, the criminal slave entrusted to Myluc. There was an expression of despair plastered on his face, as if he had just seen something unbelievable. At first, he could not live honestly and was just being naughty. And before he knew it, things kept going in a worse and worse direction, and when he finally came to his senses, it was the end of his life. However, this was just him suffering the consequences of his actions.
On the other hand, the participants of the auctions were staring at him with enthusiasm. They must have thought, ‘This guy is just the perfect one to use and throw away’.
「Of course, he is in great shape, and he has no illness or injuries! The previous question.....what was his job before he got caught? Of course, he was a bandit, but before that.....since he is a big guy, he used women as bait to trap men, and then he would sneak up on them from behind, then threaten them with a staff to take their money. It is the so-called badger game, but it seemed like he greatly injured the man trying to escape from him. And then he escaped from town and joined a group of bandits. He is what they call a former adventurer-turned thug」
I see. That meant he joined hands with Nithura to trick men all over the place.
And after doing those things everywhere too many times, they could no longer stay in towns and ended up joining a bandit group.
「Now, then, let’s start with 500 gold coins!」
But no one speaks up for him. Even with such a good physique, people will strike a hard bargain with criminal slaves.
Under the stage on the opposite side, something like a small bell was placed. It was struck once, and a shrill sound rang out.
「490 gold!」
The bidding had started. If bidding up is a game of chicken, then bidding down is a race to see who ws faster. Well, since it was settled in one attempt, it was actually a decent way to quickly clear up cheap merchandise.
「350 gold!」
「Bought it!」
Among the participants sitting in the front row, a well-built man quickly raised his flag. And it’s settled.
「Yes, it’s settled! Okay, I’ll hand over the tally!」
With the host pushing his back, Motus walked ploddingly.
「Next! Number 18! This one is someone who takes up the role of the bandits’ wife! A criminal slave, and also has no set term! It’s a woman, y’know! 」
It was Nithura’s turn.
Her eyes were open wide. It looked like she was extremely shaken.
「26 years old! She’s a little old already, but there are still plenty of uses for her! As for the pre-asked question....there was a sudden question this morning...so can you speak Ruin language?」
The host flipped through the materials at hand, trying to answer the pre-asked question. But, no matter where he looked, it was not written anywhere whether she knows Ruin language or not.
「I think she probably can’t, but.....well, I’ll make her answer.....oi, number 18, you heard what we just said, right?」
It’s here.
Usually, there was no need to speak on stage, so I thought we would not be able to clearly tell how losing one’s language skills would affect them. I got lucky this time.
「You, can you speak Ruin language?」
However, being approached like that, Nithura only takes a step back while her face turns pale. Un, she obviously doesn’t understand the meaning of the host’s question.
What Piercing Hand plunders was not the knowledge, but experience. That’s why Nithura should still be able to understand Fores language as before. However, just because she knew the letters and words did not mean she could actually have a conversation.
In my previous life, I used my paltry savings to travel to England. I could understand a single word of the announcements that played at Victoria Station on the London Underground. No matter how many times I listened to it, I could only hear 「Boinggegya」.
Later, I asked a Japanese person who lives there and learned that it actually says 「Mind the gap」, meaning to be careful of your steps. It was such simple English that even I could understand.
So the host’s words should sound the same to the current Nithura. Or perhaps it might be even worse.
「Answer me. Can you speak?」
Let alone Ruin language, she could not even speak Fores language currently, so that question was too difficult for her.
And as expected, the host could not use violence in front of the auction participants but he probably wanted to get information out of her, even if he had to hit her. The anger was visible on his face.
But there was an expression of extreme fear on Nithura’s face.
「I’m sorry!」
The host decided to change his approach.
「It doesn’t look like she can give us any information in her current situation! Ahー, but! According the information I have, number 18 was originally a slave who was working in a brothel so as far as using her in that direction, there is no problem with being able to speak or not! ....now then, let’s start with 500 gold coins!」
After a short while, Nithura was auctioned off for 240 gold coins. The buyer seemed to be a man who worked on a construction site again.
The purpose of his buying her was probably to make her a comfort woman for his subordinates. People who did harsh physical labor were not just criminal slaves. However, except for criminal slaves who can be allowed to die, in the end, those other people need to be treated accordingly. That included food, clothing, and entertainment. Since calling normal prostitutes to remote areas where people were cutting trees or crushing rocks in a mine would be quite expensive. On that point, a criminal slave who was reasonably pretty would do just fine to relieve the workers’ stress.
Nithura remained nervous the whole time. Finally understanding from the host’s gesture, she left the stage with unsteady steps.
「……it’s enough right?」
I turned around at Myluc’s voice.
「Yes」
He sighed and shook his head.
「It will be a little more elegant when it is your time, don’t worry about it」
I see.
So this was why Myluc did not want to sell criminal slaves.
This was the world of ordinary slaves. This was what it means to treat people as objects.
「Next, number 19! This guy is also a criminal slave, but as you can see, he is a Ruinian! But, since his physique is like this.....」
I turned my back on the stage while the host’s shouts faded into the distance. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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