It was still dim outside.

I checked the watch sitting on the table.

It read 5:15.

Maybe this world really did have twenty-four-hour days.

After everything that happened yesterday, I had gone straight to bed without even eating dinner.

For now, I should take a shower.

After finishing my shower and drying myself with the provided towel, a thought crossed my mind.

So this world has showers too.

They even have hot water.

I paid ten silver coins for a room with dinner and breakfast included.

Yet I never even ate dinner last night.

Well, I was completely exhausted, both physically and mentally, so it couldn’t be helped.

Ever since arriving in this world, the only thing I’d eaten was meat skewers.

Time for breakfast.

After getting dressed, I headed downstairs to the tavern.

The woman at the front desk wasn’t the man from yesterday.

Maybe they ran the place as a married couple.

Eh…

Doesn’t really matter.

“When do you start serving breakfast?”

“Good morning.”

“You can have breakfast anytime between sunrise and when the sun has fully risen.”

So around this time of year, that meant something like 4:30 until noon.

“Then I’d like breakfast.”

“Certainly.”

I took a random seat in the tavern and waited.

Come to think of it…

It’s a miracle I made it back alive yesterday.

Honestly, hunting monsters alone was impossible.

Maybe it’d be manageable at a much higher level.

But getting to that level alone was probably impossible in the first place.

So what now…

I think I finally understood what I’d seen at the Adventurers’ Guild.

People without companions had no choice but to recruit others or be recruited themselves if they wanted to level efficiently.

That was why they formed parties despite the risk of betrayal.

Well…

I couldn’t say everyone thought that way.

Come to think of it, I’d been opening my skill menu fairly often, but I hadn’t checked my status since the beginning.

I decided to take another look.

Kamino Chikara — Age 16

Human — Level 4

Status Ailments: None

Skills: [Observation Eye] [Appraisal] [Forbidden Magic: Wrath]

Blessings: [Affection] [Substitution] [Lightness] [Blood Repulsion] [Swift Feet]

My stats had increased a little as well.

Hmm?

The SP that had started at zero was now three.

What’s this?

The moment I focused on it, a huge list of options appeared.

Can I choose something now?

Besides the beginner magic skills, there were all kinds of techniques, combat abilities, and things I couldn’t even identify.

I wanted to learn magic.

But after yesterday’s fight, one thing was obvious.

I’d be dead long before I finished chanting.

Besides, until my MP increased, I’d probably just fail again and end up disappointed.

So for now…

I should choose something that would actually make me stronger.

The first thing that caught my attention was [Growth Enhancement].

Actually…

There wasn’t even anything to think about.

The moment I selected it, my SP dropped to two, and Growth Enhancement disappeared from the list.

Next…

[Second Job] also caught my eye.

But it felt like I wouldn’t be able to use it without taking the [Job Setting] skill beneath it.

Hmm…

What should I do?

There were also things like [MP Enhancement] and [Double PP Recovery].

Those seemed useful too.

And I was curious about [MP Release].

Since I had exactly two SP left, I chose both [Job Setting] and [Second Job].

As soon as I did, both skills disappeared, and a new one called [Third Job] appeared.

So sometimes taking a skill unlocked a higher-tier version.

For now, I’d leave it alone.

I checked my status again.

Nothing had changed.

Maybe Growth Enhancement only strengthened my stat growth whenever I leveled up.

When I focused on Job Setting, it asked whether I wanted to assign Adventurer as my Second Job.

There was no point leaving the slot empty.

I set it to Adventurer.

Wait…

I changed my job just by thinking about it!?

I wondered if…

I thought, ‘Appraisal.’

It felt like the skill activated.

Since I wasn’t targeting anything, nothing happened.

I looked at the blessed bracelet on my right wrist and thought, ‘Appraisal.’

[Authentic]

…It worked.

I didn’t have to open the skill menu at all.

Come to think of it, I was the one who’d made everything visible in the first place.

Originally, the information had just flowed directly into my brain.

It made sense.

I hadn’t exactly been struggling with it, so whatever.

I checked my status once more.

Still nothing had changed.

…Then what was the point of the Second Job?

I swapped Human and Adventurer using Job Setting and checked my status again.

It had dropped slightly.

So only your primary job affected your stats.

Just as I finished confirming everything, breakfast arrived.

The menu consisted of bread, salad, and something that looked like bacon and eggs.

I said “looked like” because I had a feeling it wasn’t actually bacon and eggs.

My instincts were telling me so.

The fact that the fried egg and bacon were served on separate plates was already suspicious.

I cut into the fried-egg-looking thing with my knife and fork.

Crunch.

Yeah…

That sound was definitely wrong.

The yolk-like part seemed to have been solidified with gelatin.

I placed it on top of the white part and took a bite.

It was actually pretty good.

But the sense of wrongness was overwhelming.

There was no way this counted as a side dish.

Because this was definitely dessert.

The white part tasted like a mildly sweet cookie.

The yolk tasted like maple syrup set with gelatin.

Everything else was normal.

The bacon was a little salty.

The bread was slightly hard.

The only strange thing was that there wasn’t any dressing for the salad.

Honestly…

The fake fried egg was the most delicious thing on the plate.

“Thanks for the meal.”

I returned the dishes to the kitchen, went back upstairs, got ready, and returned my room key at the front desk.

“Now then…”

“What should I do?”

I needed to find companions.

Yet, before I realized it, my feet had carried me away from the Adventurers’ Guild.

Come to think of it…

This town was huge.

Yet all I really remembered were the fountain plaza, the market, the Adventurers’ Guild, and the city walls.

Maybe I’d take a walk to clear my head.

…That turned out to be a terrible idea.

I’d gotten completely lost.

Actually…

Since I never had a destination in the first place…

Could I even call this being lost?

“…Who am I trying to convince?”

This seemed to be a residential district.

The streets twisted every which way, making them confusing to navigate.

And honestly…

There wasn’t anything interesting to see.

When I checked my watch, it was already eight o’clock.

Guess it was time to end this walk.

There were only two ways to stop being lost.

Either head toward the castle until I reached familiar streets…

Or head toward the city wall until I found somewhere I recognized.

…Let’s head for the wall.

There was a time when I truly believed those were my only two choices.

I never imagined a city this large would have a slum.

If I’d known one existed, I’d have assumed it would be farther away from the castle.

But it was too late.

Before I knew it, I’d wandered into a rundown district filled with the stench of decay.

I knew something had felt off.

But because the possibility of a slum had never crossed my mind, I had no idea which direction would get me out.

The only choices I had now were to keep heading toward the wall…

Or turn around and head toward the castle.

My instincts had been warning me for a while now that this place was dangerous.

But without knowing the way, there wasn’t much I could do.

I was at least armed.

Still…

At Level 4, that wasn’t exactly reassuring.

“I should head for the castle.”

It was a bit late to come to that conclusion.

But if this whole area near the wall was part of the slums…

Things would only get worse if I kept going.

Looking around, I saw people who looked as though they were on the verge of death.

If I didn’t earn money properly…

That could easily become me.

I had a feeling that if I let myself pity them, it’d start eating away at me.

So I forced myself to remain emotionally detached as I walked through.

This wasn’t somewhere I wanted to linger.

Without realizing it, my brisk walk turned into a jog.

Then before I knew it…

I was sprinting.

Once I confirmed I was back in an ordinary part of town, I slowed down and started walking again.

Seeing slums in manga or on television never really affected me.

Seeing them in person…

That was something else entirely.

Still…

I’d probably never have anything to do with that place again.

There was no point dwelling on it.

I shook it off and continued toward the castle.

The streets weren’t laid out in a way that let me walk straight there, so it took longer than I’d expected.

Not that I had anything planned for today anyway.

Oh…

I also needed to take that dog monster’s fang to the Adventurers’ Guild.

“Excuse me, sir.”

“Would you be interested in buying a slave?”

The sudden voice made me turn around.

Standing there was someone who looked suspicious in every possible way.

Black shirt.

Black suit.

Slicked-back hair.

Sunglasses.

He practically radiated the words, “I’m part of the underworld.”

Well…

Since he was a slave trader, he probably was.

Normally I’d want nothing to do with someone like him.

But someone who wouldn’t betray me…

A slave might actually be exactly what I needed.

“If you’ve got combat slaves, I might be interested.”

The slave trader smiled.

A chill ran down my spine.

“Of course we have slaves specialized for combat.”

“And everything we sell is yours to do with as you please.”

“You may use them as combat slaves, sex slaves, abused slaves…”

“The choice is entirely yours.”

“If you grow tired of them, we’ll buy them back.”

“Or you’re welcome to dispose of them yourself.”

“We also offer disposal services for an additional fee.”

He really didn’t need to explain that last part.

Just hearing it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Though…

From a seller’s perspective, maybe those were necessary details.

“Do slaves ever rebel?”

“As long as they’re branded with a slave crest, you’re free to define whatever prohibitions you wish.”

“Slave crests come in different levels.”

“The stronger the slave, the stronger the crest required to control them.”

“And naturally, stronger slave crests cost more.”

“If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, collars and bracelets are also available.”

“Though they don’t allow nearly as much customization.”

“Fine.”

“Show me your merchandise.”

“Then we’ll talk.”

“Certainly.”

Still wearing that spine-chilling smile, the slave trader bowed before turning around.

I followed him until we stopped in front of a large three-story building painted entirely black.

How much did this guy love the color black?

“The slave quarters are in the basement.”

“So the upper floors are something else?”

“They’re also part of my establishment.”

“The first and second floors are places of relaxation for gentlemen.”

“The third floor is reserved for ladies.”

“We’d be delighted to have you visit sometime.”

Why did he suddenly get so vague?

Was that kind of business more taboo than slavery in this world?

“I’m here to see slaves.”

“Take me there.”

“As you wish.”

The slave trader knocked on a separate entrance rather than using the main door.

An employee opened it from inside.

Together, we entered and descended into the basement.

The interior was dimly lit.

Somewhere in the distance came the constant sound of metal being struck.

“Allow me to explain.”

“Go ahead.”

“First, these are our most popular slaves—those selected primarily for their appearance.”

“This section is for female slaves only.”

“If you’d prefer males, simply let me know.”

So that’s why they’re all naked.

Most of them had eyes that had already given up on life.

If I hadn’t just walked through the slums, this alone might have made me sick.

Maybe I’d already built up some resistance.

“I thought I already told you.”

“I’m looking for combat slaves.”

“I felt it best to save the main attraction for last.”

“My apologies.”

Even after apologizing, he continued leading me through every section before finally taking me to the combat slaves.

“And now…”

“Our combat-specialized slaves.”

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

It was unbelievably loud.

I couldn’t tell whether they were showing off their strength or actually trying to break out.

Either way, the sound of metal restraints smashing against the cages hurt my ears.

“What is this, a zoo!?”

“Are these really humans?”

Some of them looked like gorillas.

Others resembled lions.

Calling it a zoo might not have been that far off.

“They’re all human.”

“Every single one of them simply can’t wait to fight.”

I really didn’t want companions like these.

Out of everyone I’d seen, the wolf-like beastman caught my eye the most.

There was also an exceptionally beautiful slave.

But…

I had no intention of buying a sex slave.

“I’ll pass on these.”

“I want to take another look at that beastman slave I put on hold earlier.”

“That’s quite unfortunate, but certainly.”

As I followed the slave trader out of the area, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

“By the way, what’s further ahead?”

“Those are merchandise that are close to being discarded.”

“Most of them are no longer useful, so they’re intended for customers who care more about price than quality.”

“Mind if I take a look anyway?”

“Of course not.”

“However, I must ask that you understand we cannot be held responsible if you happen to contract any diseases.”

Were they carrying sexually transmitted diseases or something?

I wasn’t planning on doing anything like that, so it didn’t matter.

“That’s fine.”

After hearing my answer, the slave trader wrapped a handkerchief around his mouth before walking forward.

It’s that bad!?

Sure enough, a foul odor gradually reached me.

It was the smell of death itself.

It reminded me of the slums I’d just walked through.

Without getting used to it, this would be unbearable.

No…

Even with some resistance, it was still awful.

“All of the merchandise here suffers from illnesses.”

“Most of them have also lost one or more body parts.”

So these were the remnants of abused slaves or combat slaves.

As I looked around, one cage stood out from the rest.

Something about it felt wrong.

When I walked closer, I realized why.

It contained a child.

Come to think of it…

There hadn’t been a single child anywhere else.

“That child was born between two slaves.”

“Our establishment normally doesn’t deal with children under the age of twelve.”

“However, children born to slaves have no future other than becoming slaves themselves.”

“So we raise them until they’re five years old before putting them up for sale.”

“Unfortunately, perhaps because the education we provided wasn’t sufficient, this child suffered a mental breakdown at the first owner’s home and was returned to us.”

“After that, the child was sold several more times.”

“But each time, they were eventually returned.”

“Now the child has fallen ill and is on the verge of death.”

“Can’t the illness be cured?”

“We’ve never had a healer or physician examine the child, so we don’t know.”

“Even if it were curable, the treatment would cost more than we’d ever make from selling the child.”

“So we’ve decided disposal is the better option.”

It was probably just business to him.

Still…

What a cold-hearted man.

“How much?”

“Twenty silver coins.”

“Though I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“We’ll no longer buy the child back afterward.”

I slowly walked toward the cage.

“Hey.”

The child flinched and slightly raised their head.

Long bangs completely hid their face.

“Come here.”

Even standing seemed to take every ounce of effort.

Yet, for some reason, the child obeyed.

Step by step, they slowly shuffled toward me.

This reminded me of a scene from an old horror movie I’d once watched.

The child stopped right in front of me.

Now that I was closer, I could see just how bad it was.

The child was so thin that it looked as though nothing remained except skin stretched over bones.

Their skin was covered in sores.

Even without the illness…

They probably didn’t have much time left.

“What’s your name?”

“…Ria… Ze…”

Their throat sounded so dry and hoarse that I could barely hear them.

I crouched down until we were at eye level.

“I couldn’t hear you.”

“Say it again.”

“…Aria… Rose…”

“Aria Rose?”

The child gave a tiny nod.

“If you come with me, I’ll give you medicine.”

“But if you’re cured, I’ll make you fight monsters.”

“If you’re willing to accept that, I’ll take you with me.”

“The choice is yours.”

The child’s lips trembled silently.

A single tear rolled down their cheek.

After that…

Nothing.

Their eyes, bloodshot behind the curtain of hair, were too dry to produce another tear.

They were struggling with the choice.

Escape today’s suffering…

Only to face more suffering afterward…

Or remain here…

And die.

I turned toward the slave trader.

“Slave trader.”

“Yes?”

“Can slaves be freed?”

“They can.”

“But there’s absolutely no advantage in doing so.”

“Yeah.”

“I know.”

I turned back toward the child and offered one more reason to come with me.

“If I become strong enough to fight on my own…”

“Or if you work hard enough to earn three gold coins’ worth of value…”

“I’ll free you.”

“After that, you can live however you want.”

If I became strong enough to fight solo, I wouldn’t need companions anymore.

As long as the child was useful until then, that was enough.

Besides…

There was no guarantee the medicine would even work.

“…Please…”

“…I don’t… want… to die.”

“All right.”

I stood up and handed the slave trader twenty silver coins.

He leaned closer and spoke quietly into my ear.

“Using both kindness and severity to make the slave believe the decision was made of their own free will…”

“You possess remarkable skill.”

“I am truly impressed.”

I had no idea what misunderstanding he’d come to.

But I ignored it.

“A collar would just get in the way during combat.”

“I’d like to replace it with a slave crest.”

“How much?”

“After witnessing something so fascinating…”

“I’ll provide the slave crest free of charge this time.”

I wasn’t entirely sure why.

But free was free.

“However…”

“The slave crest causes considerable pain during the process.”

“In her current condition, her body may not withstand it.”

“I recommend giving her medicine first.”

“That’s okay?”

“Certainly.”

“If the medicine fails to save her, applying the crest beforehand would simply be a waste.”

He’d let his real thoughts slip again.

Still…

As long as it didn’t cost me anything, I didn’t care.

“I’m taking her.”

“Remove the collar.”

“Certainly.”

Was that rag really the only clothing she had?

For the moment, I let her wear my track jacket.

“Can you walk?”

She gave a tiny nod.

But if I matched Aria Rose’s pace, we’d never make it to the pharmacy today.

I gently picked her up.

Trying not to jostle her too much, I carried her in a princess carry.

She was unbelievably light.

She couldn’t weigh even twenty kilograms.

“I’ll be back later.”

“We’ll be waiting.”

As I carried Aria Rose upstairs, the guard at the entrance looked shocked.

After receiving confirmation from someone below, he opened the door for us.

I immediately started running, planning to take her to the same pharmacy I’d visited yesterday.