第１１５８堀：迷ったときは…… (Part1)
Chapter 1158: When in Doubt...
Side: Yuki
I am currently leading a small army of women to go buy female slaves.
Yes, it’s a trope common enough in light novels, but experiencing it in reality is profoundly uncomfortable.
I dislike the idea of this being seen as a personal hobby, and choosing them at random is a headache when I consider the implications for the future.
I wonder if Mauve felt this way when I evaluated her back then.
No, well, that was actually fun, so that’s fine.
Despite the necessity, I follow Asu with a heavy, melancholic heart.
The reason we are doing this is that our previous conversation took place at Asu’s estate.
Now, we are heading toward the shop itself.
Yes, a shop that deals in slaves.
In the past, I’m sure I would have been excited, but now, as the one who governs Weed, the feeling is a bit complicated.
It’s a sense of guilt regarding the selection of slaves, or perhaps the fact that I have tacitly accepted the slave system itself.
Well, if I were to declare that the slave system is unacceptable, it’s obvious that various nations would push back.
That is precisely why I continue to allow it, among other reasons.
But no matter what excuses I stack up, it doesn’t change the fact that I have sanctioned the buying and selling of human beings.
Therefore, the individuals sold have every right to harbor resentment toward me.
Ah, my motivation is plummeting even further.
"Hmm. So that’s why you haven’t been keen on this from the start, Yuki."
Labyris, who can read my heart, senses my current thoughts and offers a nod of understanding, at least...
"But I don’t think there’s anyone who would actually resent you, Yuki. You’ve raised the value and the treatment of slaves themselves."
"Indeed. That is true. If anything, they would be grateful to you, Yuki-sama; I doubt there is a single slave who would hold a grudge. On the contrary, there are even those who sell themselves into slavery specifically because they want to come to Weed."
"Ah, that’s a story I don’t want to hear. It just goes to show how miserable their original villages must be. And there’s a possibility that Weed is the one who drove them to that state."
"If you start thinking like that, there’s no end to it. Besides, we can determine whether they harbor hostility or not through Designated Protection, so isn’t it fine?"
That’s true, as Labyris says; once I place them under Designated Protection, they become incapable of betrayal. But that only prevents the act of betrayal. If they still hold a grudge against me, I cannot change their hearts, nor will they change on their own.
I cannot imagine maintaining a smooth relationship with someone like that, no matter how I look at it.
"Haha, I understand your concerns, Yuki-sama, but choosing a slave is precisely about considering those factors as well. I see; if that is how you think, then perhaps it is a good idea to personally select the slaves you bring under your command."
"Ah, so that kind of screening is possible, too. I suppose you’re right; I’ve always left the selection to Mauve and the others. Besides, this is a slave purchase for the nation of Weed, after all."
"Though, in practice, that is no different from accepting immigrants."
Indeed. A country without citizens is a joke, so in the early days, we accepted commoners who had become slaves during the wars between Roschur and Gartz—well, mostly people who were originally citizens of Gartz.
And even now, we continue to buy slaves and accept them as citizens. After all, we can provide endless opportunities for work.
That said, we are currently in the midst of an Intercontinental Exchange Alliance, and we are actively recruiting workers, so the influx of slaves into Weed has been decreasing.
...Wait. Are they intentionally increasing the number of slaves to meet that demand?
No, that’s surely impossible. Even their own countries need labor; is there any point in turning people into slaves just to export them to other nations?
Right, while it’s true that increasing one’s territory through border disputes is beneficial, it would be counterproductive if there were no workers left to inhabit those lands.
Well, perhaps it’s a short-sighted plan to drive out the "nuisances" living there and replace them by purchasing slaves from elsewhere?
Hmm, I need to investigate that possibility as well.
Oops, for now, the priority is to look at the slaves.
It can’t be helped. I must accomplish the purpose of this visit.
It wouldn’t be fair to Labyris and the others, either.
"Then, please wait in this room."
With those words, Asu leaves us in what looks like a guest room or a parlor.
We were supposed to have arrived at a slave shop, but at a glance, this place looks like nothing more than a clean, high-class home.
My image of a slave shop was either an open-air stall or a grim, filthy estate where people were crammed into simple cells and cages, chained up. But, thinking about it normally, slaves sold in that manner are likely criminals or those being sold off at a discount.
Well, considering the importance of slaves these days, this level of treatment isn’t strange.
Besides, one wouldn’t normally sell a slave—who is, after all, merchandise—in a way that ruins their health and lowers their value.
"However, waiting for slaves like this... it feels like an interview for job applicants."
"Ah, you’re right. It’s similar to the interviews for the immigrants who come to Weed seeking work."
"Well, in essence, it is much the same thing. Haha."
"I get that. I went to an interview just like this, too. For a job at the Adventurer’s Guild."
"Ah, yes, you did. Even though they were the ones putting out the request, for some reason, there was an interview."
"It turned out they were looking for shop staff."
Well, I suppose that would require an interview, but asking adventurers to do it feels a bit off.
"And the result?"
"Well, I passed, of course. I’m cute, after all."
"They were recruiting waitresses."
"They needed temporary servers for their grand opening."
"Ah, so that’s why there was an interview. I assume it was limited to women?"
"No. Quite a few male adventurers passed, too. You see, it was a restaurant for adventurers, so they probably needed them to act as bouncers or guards as well."
"I see. That makes sense; it would be helpful to have adventurers as waiters and waitresses."
As we were having this trivial conversation, there was a knock at the door. It opened, and following Asu, a person who appeared to be a servant entered, accompanied by three women wearing collars that marked them as slaves.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. First, this is Guia, who is in charge of this shop."
"A pleasure to meet you. Yuki-sama, and your wives. I am Guia, and I have been entrusted with this shop by Asu."
Oh, so she wasn’t a servant, but the manager.
I see, Asu manages various businesses, so he’s more of a merchant guild leader.
In reality, he leaves the shops to others.
"Ah, nice to meet you, Guia. I’ve known Asu since the days Weed was first founded. I’ve come because I need some slaves, but I assume you’ve had dealings with us before?"
"Yes. Tori-sama, Riel-sama, Kaya-sama, and Eris-sama, as well as Ratz-sama, have often relied on us for the education, purchase, and necessary equipment for slaves."
Ah, that’s right, we left the vocational training center to Tori and the others in the beginning.
If it’s been since then, then even though this is my first time meeting her, Weed has had a long relationship with this Guia.
"I’d love to chat more, but I have injured people waiting at the hospital. Is it wrong of me to want to get this done quickly?"
"No. If you, Yuki-sama, have judged it so, then it must be the right thing to do. And I respect and trust you. I know that you are the one who built Weed as a vessel to help others, without seeking even a shred of glory for yourself. I know that."
"...Excuse me?"