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Those Who Decide Fate
The light from the lantern illuminated the surroundings inside the dim tent. What was illuminated were the faces of the children, silent with anxious expressions.
We had an early lunch under the clear blue sky. We only had hotdog-like bread stuffed with dried meat and milk. I guess there was a limit to what they could prepare in a place like this. No one complain. Even Myluc had eaten it.
The people from the management came over as we finished our meal and began setting up tents in a vacant lot. Looks like Myluc had requested it. Since it seemed to happen every time, there was no particular fuss as the small tent was quietly set up behind the stage.
With just a single curtain separating us, the noise suddenly became distant. After he invited the children inside, he lit up a lantern. The children sat on small chairs while he also took a seat. And we waited just like that for time to pass.
I wonder how much time had passed. Someone suddenly lifted up the tent’s entrance. The bright white light coming from outside burned our eyes.
「Is Myluc Necamel-sama here?」
It was a well-dressed man past middle age with an air of respectability poking only his face as he called out. It was kinda sudden since he suddenly entered without knocking, but we were the ones setting up a tent as we pleased here, so Myluc probably had also told them it was fine to call out like this.
「Is it time already?」
He responded while rising from his chair.
「Yes」
「I understand」
He closed his eyes for a moment and then turned around and called out to us.
「Wyst」
「Ah, yes!」
I guess Wyst did not know it was his turn as he closed his eyes, or maybe because he was unusually lost in thoughts, but Wyst shouted loudly.
「You’ll be fine. Just stand up straight. Straighten out your back and don’t move about. That alone will do」
「Yes」
「Go」
After Wyst stood up, the elderly man nodded and went outside the tent.
After that, I feel like a really long time has passed. I guess it was only around 10 minutes at most. Wyst is back. Together with the elderly man from before.
Wyst had quite a complicated look on his face. Even though there was a faint smile on his face, his eyes looked like he’s about to cry.
「Myluc-sama」
This time, the elderly man entered the tent and stood straight.
「Congratulations on the deal」
Myluc strongly nodded at that.
But, Wyst still had a complicated look on his face as before.
「Then, the next child」
「Please」
And thus, Myluc’s young slaves were auctioned off like this.
This time, the economy had also improved, so there was an increase in demand. So it was not a coincidence that Wyst’s buyer was found smoothly.
When Myluc called Kovol, he was frozen in nervousness.
「Kovol. In your case, you should relax a little. Especially your expression. Go with a smile on your face」
「Yes」
It might have been a shock to hear directly that Wyst has found a buyer right in front of his face. This was truly going to completely change his daily life. And in that state, he had to face the auction.
「It is not difficult. You only have to stand. Even a girl can do that. All the more so if you’re a strong man」
「I’m going」
Kovol stopped hesitating and stood up briskly.
It was another long, 10 minutes. The other children were sitting on their chairs silently with tense faces, while Wyst’s face looked swollen and wilted.
Suddenly, the tent’s entrance was lifted up and Kovol entered first, followed by the elderly man. Kovol was hanging his head. I guess it’s not good, huh.
The elderly man - still standing straight - spoke.
「Congratulations on the deal」
However, Kovol’s expression remained stiff.
「Only, it’s」
The man seemed to find it difficult to say so Myluc leaned in closer. But, the conversation was brief as soon as Myluc immediately nodded, and turned around toward Kovol.
「Don’t worry about it」
That was what Myluc said first.
「Most people did not know your true worth. But, there was still time when they chose you. So, what you have to do remains the same. Work hard and get a result. If you do that, someday, you will eventually be blessed with a place where you can truly make the most of your worth. Don’t let this trivial thing get you down」
Myluc’s remark gave me a rough guess. That was to say, although Kovol was sold off, he probably did not get a high price. It seemed a bid was successfully made by the first words spoken after some time had passed. Even for Myluc, the profit and cost were probably going to break even.
「Then, next」
「Yes」
He nodded and again, Myluc called.
「Dee. You’re going to be a maid in a castle, right? Go now」
「Yes」
She swallowed the heavy expression from just a moment ago and stood up smoothly. At first glance, she was just wearing a calm, straight face. The face of a precocious girl. I’m sure she would leave an impression on the buyers at the venue. But I know her true feelings. Probably Myluc too. However, there were feelings that you just had to cut off.
It felt especially long since she left. I wonder if it had been 15 minutes.
The tent’s flap quietly openned, and Dee plodding in with her fist clenched, her eyes were welling up in tears as she hung her head.
But the elderly man following behind her showed a contrasting expression on his face.
「Congratulations on the deal」
That tone of his somehow sounded spirited.
Thinking about it, that made sense. He went out of his way to take up his own time and serve as the auction’s host. It should also be used for promoting the merchandise. Why would he take on such trouble? Of course, that’s because the more he advertised, the more profit he could get. If the merchandise were to be sold at a high price, some of the profit would probably end up in his hands.
Myluc also sensed the person’s manner as he faintly smiled and nodded.
「Dona」
He called out while looking down at Dona.
「Don’t be nervous. Relax your body and stand up straight. Smile. That’s all」
But Dona looked like she was about to cry.
Myluc repeated himself.
「Dona, listen. You have the power to be happy. You certainly have. But that does not mean it will give you wealth just by staying quiet. You have to achieve it with your own effort if you have something you want to protect」
Myluc stood up, walked over to Dona’s side, and crouched down, putting his face close to her. And he whispers.
「……you saw Tamaria, didn’t you? Right now, even if she struggles, there is nothing she can protect. This is not a place for your fight. Do you understand?」
The moment Tamaria’s name was mentioned, Dona clutched her chest, looking to be in pain. Only in this situation did I agree with him. Just to protect her own brother, she completely missed her chance to be sold. In the end, she had no other choice but to be sent to the brothel.
Even if Dona has something she wanted to protect, there was no future if she did not get sold here. We didn't know where her destination would be. It may be the mansion of a noble, or a high-class brothel. Even so, she still had to try her luck.
Dona finally stood up. For an instant, our eyes met, but she immediately looked away and said.
「I’m going」
Myluc stood up and nodded.
A moment later, a ripple-like cheer could be heard from afar. The people who saw Dona’s appearance could not help but let out voices of admiration. She was originally about to be shown at the last Aquamarine market, but then something went wrong, and it was cancelled. And so, this was the first time Dona comes into public view.
With the subject designed to gather the guests’ expectations to this extent, there was no way she would not sell. As long as Dona didn't lose it and caused some kind of trouble out of desperation.
Then, a faint wave of cheers could be heard several times. I didn't know how much time had passed. But the surroundings fell silent.
Then, there was the sound of someone approaching, scattering the gravel. The tent’s entrance was covered in pure white light.
Dona’s shoulders were shaking. She did not cry. Her expression showed that she had no time for that. Her complexion was pale, and she looked like she was about to vomit even now. Perhaps her physiological disgust had reached its limit, she even had goosebumps.
「Congratulations on the deal」
The elderly man said with a smile while looking a little tired.
「It seems that it took a long time」
「Things became very enthusiastic」
They’re talking about that nearby.
However, I still got worried about Dona, who looked like she was about to die any moment now. The moment I leaned forward and was about to talk to her, a voice came from above.
「Noor」
It was Myluc.
「You’re next」
The sun was already starting to set in the west. The sky was still bright, and the sky above was still deep blue. It was the height of spring, the days were long.
The inside of the shaded tent was dim and a bit chilly, but when I stepped out into the sun and touched the warm wooden planks like this, I could really feel the warmth. The wooden stairs I stepped firmly on were also warm.
The stage had completely changed. Even though there were no decorations whatsoever earlier, there is now a luxurious red drop curtain hanging down. There were also several tiers of flower beds set up in front of the stage, with colorful flowers adding a touch of beauty and color. Surveying the venue, the guest seating was also different from earlier. It was not the bare, wooden seat anymore, but a seat covered in cloth and with a cushion placed on top.
And above all, the guests were different. There was no single middle-aged man who looked like he works in construction site anymore. Most of the people were men dressed in something like a suit. They were probably some kind of a butler from a house somewhere. The ones who take us are often the wealthy or the nobility, but slaves are basically seen as lowly beings. So that’s why, throwing themselves at an auction like this and picking over the goods, was hardly behavior befitting a gentleman or a lady.
Mixed among the servants were people with unusual appearances. There were several men dressed in comfortable, loose Saharian clothing, and there were several men dressed in gaudy, western-style clothes typical of Forestia’s upper class. Those people were not nobles, they must be wealthy merchants.
「Thank you for waiting. This is number 9, Noor」
The elderly man started explaining in a calm tone.
「This is the slave from the slave trader everyone knows of, Myluc, have brought in today and will be the last. As everyone can see, he also has black hair. An unprecedentedly beautiful boy」
There was a small cheer. But it was not that great. That level of cheering probably will not be heard all the way to the tent. However, there were several people with a puzzled look on their faces.
「Now, as for the explanation for the young Noor, it is as stated in the materials you have nearby. When it comes to a slave auction, it is common sense to put the merchandise that is hard to value first before putting up the most attractive slaves at the end of the auction but.....according to Myluc - the slave trader who entrusted him to us -, it was done in that order as well this time」
When the elderly man placed an emphasis on the last line, a cheer slightly louder than before broke out. So this boy actually had more worth than the unmatched beauty of Dona? They were probably thinking along those lines.
「This may seem hard to believe, but it was said that the young Noor was already capable of complex calculation when he was 3 years old. Also, his ability to learn is fast, to the point of his helping with the slave trader’s work for the past year and a half. And Myluc himself has stated that the word 'talented’ is not enough to describe the young Noor, ‘extraordinary talent’ would be more appropriate」
Extraordinary talent, huh?
That may well be so. When I produced a result, my train of thought was far removed from the common sense of this world. To the observer, the sight of an ordinary child continuously coming up with all sorts of ideas - based on the knowledge and general idea cultivated in my previous life - might even seem eerie.
To say nothing of the fact that I could transform myself into an insect. .....huh? Was it really okay to sell such dangerous merchandise?
「He finished saying that.....whoever obtains this boy will never suffer a loss, and if used correctly will make a profit at least several times the amount invested. Ladies and gentlemen, the slave trader Myluc has only dealt with high-quality young slaves. However, he has never once expressed such a confident opinion on the past. There is a possibility that such a slave will not appear again in the future. ….ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?」
The audience’s reaction was not as clear as the one with Dona’s case. Some of the guests looked at me with great interest, while others showed no interest. That’s natural. How many people would want a slave with ‘extraordinary talent’? To begin with, some people may not take the explanation seriously at all.
They had already decided on how to use the slaves. For example, if they bought Dona, they would make her their mistress in the future, or made her into the plaything of their - still immature - young master 10 years later. Or trained her into a high-class prostitute. So it was harmful and unnecessary to have an irregular involved in their house.
In truth, if you asked whether I had more value than Dona….well, the answer was, no. Indeed, if they gained my loyalty and trust, they could do anything. I’m sure they would be able to easily recover the money spent on me. At any rate, I could even take possession of another person’s body and life. But the chance of me doing that for someone else was close to zero. That meant, I was just an ordinary slave who was a little smarter than others
「Now, starting from 1000 gold coins!」
Oops.
The starting price was suddenly twice the normal price. Myluc, weren't you being overconfident?
However, someone immediately raised their hand.
「Gruvy-sama, we got 1000 gold coins」
What kind of weirdo was it, trying to buy me without hesitation? I turned to look in the direction the elderly man is looking.
I almost threw up.
It was this guy.
I instantly understood.
First.....a slovenly fat body. If he curled up my body, it could probably stuff in three people’s worth without a problem. He was not particularly tall, but his weight should definitely be 3 times Myluc's. He was wearing a Saharia-type robe, but his face was that of a Forestian. Thinking about it, a normal Forestian’s clothes would probably be too tight for such a corpulent body and uncomfortable to wear.
His face was also something. He had sunken eye sockets and a murky gaze. Around his wide face, saggy, wrinkled skin stuck to his cheeks and neck, weighed down with plenty of fat. His skin was in such a bad shape, far beyond the level of simple spots or freckles. His mouth opened slackly, and drool was dripping from it. On top of that, his sparse beard - like desert weeds - looked extremely dirty.
That man was staring at me.....and I understood in an instant. This guy, he was turned on!
I see. I’m sure this man was the one who bid for Dona at a high price.
What the heck. Then, if this guy bought me, I would be together with Dona again! And once both of us gathered, we would be stripped naked. But we couldn't get too close to each other. Both of us were prey to that fatty.
Trying not to be conspicuous, I quickly turned toward the direction of the hourglass. This was not here when I saw the auction with the criminal slaves earlier. A large-sized hourglass was prepared to make it easy for the participants to understand. Just now, this Gruvy-guy bidded for me. If no one raised their hand before all the sand falls, then he will be the successful bidder.
「1100」
A cold voice echoed from afar.
「Yes, Ifroz-sama, 1100 gold coins」
Looking in that direction, there was a tall man wearing a suit and glasses. The pointed short mustache under his nose creates a butler-like atmosphere. It was not that noticeable, but I guess his skin color was a bit on the darker side. It was impossible to distinguish his race at a glance. He may also have subtly inherited some of the Saharian’s bloodline. Only, his hair color was not the typical black color of Saharian, if anything, it was like the hair of Ruinian, a pale silver color. Moreover, his hair was turning white. Judging from his attire, I guess he is a noble’s servant.
「1200 gold」
「Gruvy-sama, 1200 gold coins」
The fatty immediately broke in. It seems like he had no intention of giving up on me.
「1300 gold」
「Ifroz-sama, 1300 gold coins」
It immediately turned into a fiercely fought contest between them.
However, this man named Ifroz had no change in his expression. He gave off an extremely calm impression.
Apparently, he was not an ordinary person. Now.....
------------------------------------------------------
Sawab Ifroz (サウアーブ・イフロース) (55)
・Material Human Form
(Rank 6, Male, 55 years old)
・Skill Fores Language Level 6
・Skill Saharia Language Level 6
・Skill Ruin Language Level 6
・Skill Command Level 5
・Skill Management Level 5
・Skill Business Dealing Level 5
・Skill Drug Compounding Level 4
・Skill Medical Skills Level 4
・Skill Wind Magic Level 6
・Skill Hand-to-hand Combat Level 6
・Skill Swordsmanship Level 6
・Skill Throwing Level 6
・Skill Stealth Level 4
・Skill Acrobatics Level 4
Empty (41)
------------------------------------------------------
I knew it.
I thought he looked extremely strong.
He was around 10 years older than Myluc, but from what I had seen, he had a sturdy physique, and he had muscle in him. He was considered a handsome elder in this world, but he was probably still active.
Although his skill levels were mostly level 5 or 6, according to what I had seen before, this would be considered an advanced level. In reality, Myluc’s skill level of 6 in Archery was nothing short of miraculous. So that means this man could do various things at that level too.
「2000 gold!」
「Gruvy-sama, 2000 gold coins」
Just as I was sinking into deep thought, the fat merchant’s irritating voice came from nearby. Is he planning to raise the price in one go and make him give up?
「3000 gold」
「Ifroz-sama, 3000 gold coins」
Ifroz indifferently responded with a well-projected voice but did not sound all that interested.
「4000 gold!」
「Gruvy-sama, 4000 gold coins!」
As the fatty yelled that bid, a frail-looking man who was standing beside him was telling his master something. However, Groovy pushed him away with an annoyed expression.
Well, let’s see this fatty too.
……eh, eeeehhhh!?
------------------------------------------------------
Raspe Gruvyラスプ・グルービー （41）
・Material Human Form
(Rank 2, Male, 41 years old)
・Skill Fores Language Level 6
・Skill Saharia Language Level 5
・Skill Ruin Language Level 4
・Skill Shurai Language Level 4
・Skill Hanfan Language Level 4
・Skill Business Dealing Level 6
・Skill Bedroom Technique Level 7
・Skill Drug Compounding Level 6
・Skill Mind Manipulation Magic Level 6
Empty (32)
------------------------------------------------------
……so he was not just a fatty, huh.
Not only did he have a good command of all sorts of languages,but he was also well-versed in pharmacy, knowledgeable in business, and a high-ranking magician. But this, wasn’t this a dangerous system? What is a Mind Manipulation? So, was it like brainwashing people or manipulating them?
Also, his Bedroom Technique level was awfully high. What did this guy do all day long....!
But, I screwed up this time. If I knew there were people with delicious abilities all over the place here, I wouldn’t have used that only chance earlier to improve my Fores language skills.
No, that’s not it. Certainly, I had decided to act selfishly. But I needed to do everything in moderation. What would happen if I took the abilities of people with high social status in such a place? They would think about the cause. They might not discover it if it were done once or twice. But, if it happened many times, eventually.....
I took away Nithura’s language skill but the construction site’s man who bought her would probably just think he got bad merchandise. But whether she could speak or not, the job they were going to make her do would not change.
「5000 gold」
「5000 gold coins, Ifroz-sama」
The voice echoed mercilessly.
Even so, was it really okay for him to spend this much money? 5000 gold coins.....if you convert the money into Japanese yen, it would approximately go like this, a copper coin is equivalent to 100 yen coin, a silver coin is 1000 yen bill, and a gold coin is about 10000 yen. So, 4000, 5000 gold coins would be enough for one family to live comfortably for a year. So, for the bid to be 5000 gold coins, how high was that?
On the other hand, that Gruvy-fellow was flailing his short limbs while having a flushed face. He probably could not vent his pent-up anger. And, the man standing at his side was struggling to hold him back. Just as the fatty was about to yell again, a woman with slender arms and legs and a slightly stern-looking impression appeared. A woman with dark brown hair in a ponytail, wearing interview suit-like clothes and glasses. She held down the fatty from the side and was talking about something. In the meantime, the sand in the hourglass continues to fall.
「5500 gold!」
Finally, Gruvy shouted with a voice as if he were squeezing it out.
「Gruvy-sama, we have 5500 gold-」
「6000 gold」
Even without letting the host finish, Ifroz took over. The fatty’s eyes were filled with anger and despair. However, it looked like there was nothing he could do anymore.
「Ifroz-sama, 6000 gold coins」
A single voice echoed. But the venue had already fallen completely silent. It was so quiet you could almost hear the sound of sand trickling down.
And finally, once the last sand fell, the sand hourglass fell silent.
「Sold for 6000 gold coins. Congratulations to Viscount Tviety of Pyris, Sawab Ifroz-sama of the Enbaio House」
That was the moment when my new home was decided. www.ihavesinnedtranslation.com
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