" What should I do with you guys?"
The two kids who were behind the old man stopped crying and seemed to lost consciousness from fear.
'The poor things! You scared them! Change with me, I will talk to them!'
"Why not just kill them?" I whispered.
"Because we need information!"
"Sigh, fine, but if you kill them, dibs on the cores."
We changed places.
The old man witnessing this was shocked to the point of madness. his mouth was wide open and his eyes seemed to be on the verge of popping out of his skull.
I couldn't really blame him. He was almost got killed by a monster then saved by another, stronger (but more handsome) monster that turned into a (kinda) fair maiden.
"I'm sorry, that idiot tends to scare people. Are you alright?"
'Hey, when did I ever scared someone? Also, I think he lost consciousness."
"What? Nah!"
She waved her hand over the old man's face, getting no reaction.
"...Did I do that?"
'What do ya expect? Things happened one after another, it was too much for him to handle. Let's make camp till they get back to their senses. I want to make some equipment from the bear!'
*****
Old man point of view:
The first thing he felt was the warmth, spreading all over his body.
Did I die? Is this heaven.
"...ready. You should eat."
"We never ate meat before!"
"Realy? Believe me, it's delicious, and if we had some spices it would have been better.
The kids!
He opened his eyes and jumped to his feet.
In his mind, he imagined that monster tearing the kids into pieces and eat them. If even one of them was still alive he was ready to sacrifice himself to protect them.
Thankfully reality was so much more different.
While he was sleeping, the sun has already set and the stars were bright in the night sky.
Right next to him was a campfire, spreading warmth.
above the fire was a big chunk of meat, that was being cooked, letting out a delicious smell.
"Oh, you are awake. Good, we can talk now."
At the opposite side of the fire was a woman, sitting on a tree log. With her black armor, she almost seemed to be one with the darkness.
"W-Who are you?"
"Someone who saved you and will give you some food."
Behind her back, she took out four wooden bowls. Using a knife, she sliced big chunks from the meat and gave us each a serving.
"I hope you guys aren't vegan."
"I…Thank you."
"Your welcome."
They ate in complete since. The fragrance of the meat was out of this world, it was fat, juicy with a hint of spiciness in it.
Without their knowledge, while the three slaves were eating they were crying. Not because of sorrow but because of joy.
The life of a slave is a short and brutal one. They get bad food, they are worked to the bone and they sleep in dirty places IF they are allowed to. Some of them do have owners that treat them as humans but the majority of this planet's residents see them less than animals. They are used as tools that the owner can dispose of at any moment, even when it's not broken.
To these people, this badly cooked bear meat, which was still a little bloody, was something better than anything that they have ever experienced.
They received some serving, making the pice of meat disappear in a matter of minutes.
"Thank you, big sis! It was delicious!"
"Thank you!"
"Ha, you kids are welcome. I couldn't eat it all so it was nice not to waste it."
"In any way, I must thank you." The old man put his forehead on the ground. "My name is Loyd. These kids are Ellen and Ellan. We are slaves, so eating someone as generous as you is a privilege."
"My name is Amu Left, and please raise your head it makes me embarrassed."
He looked up meeting with the girls face up close.
At this distance, he could now see clearly her beautiful features, her white skin, and her brown hair. Her eyes that... her eyes!
They were two dark pits with crimson light s shining in them.
Yes, she is not human! She's something monstrous, but I need to stay quiet about it for me and the kid's safety. Who knows what she to them if we make her angry.
"You and the kids were abandoned by your master to die, which means that you are free now. Which means that you don't have to bow your had to me."
"I... I can't do that. Like these kids, I have been a slave for all my life, I don't know what freedom is like.
In this world, slaves can be categorized into two groups. Some are only slaves for a limited period of time and those who belong to a generation of slaves. They are born and die without knowing free will.
They are called 'Generational Slaves'.
Supposedly at some places, they are bred like animals, so that their descendants can be specialized in given tasks.
"Is that so? Then I have a proposition for you. I am going to the capital looking and I am a bit lost. Why not go together there and there we will look for a place for you to stay."
"I... We thank you, my lady! We will do everything that we can do to help you!"
"Yes, we will help you in any way possible!"
"Yes, big sis!"
The kids also bowed to her. To them, she became nothing less than a goddess.
The girl smiled gently.
"Thank you."
She is a person that I can trust. With her by our side, the kids can grow up in a healthy environment and I can finally rest easy.
******
"I will give you 5 gold."
"Thank you!~"
We took the coins from the guards at the capital's entrance.
"You lied to us! You demon you tricked us!"
The old man and the kids were taken to another place, their hands tied together by a magically enhanced rope.
The second we saw a guard was to sell these people. With their slave's mark on their bodies, and with the information they gave us, they were nothing more than a useless burden to us. At least they will pay back the meat we gave them this way.
"By the way, are you blind?"
"This? Na.~ I just follow one of the costumes from the far east."
By talking to them we learned a lot of things.
For example, it turns out that Amu's eyes aren't those of a human. It was strange since we didn't make any disturbance when we were in that village.
Anyway, while they weren't paying attention we changed places and I reconstructed a piece of fabric so that it could be seen through, which she was using to hide her eyes till we figure out something better.
'Using them to get information, then selling them when they are no longer useful. I have to admit, that's a brilliant plan.'
"Thanks, even if it was not common I to did some stuff in the slave business."
[Title: [Mearciless] has evolved into title [Degenerate]]
[New skill received [Emotion Dampener]]
So the system thinks that our actions were incorrect? Well, screw it. Peoples are used as objects in this world. I see no problem imitating the habitants of this world.
"How much is the entrance fee?"
"Usually it son silver, but because you brought back the runaway slaves we will let you enter for free."
"Oh, well thank you!~"
With a smile from the guard, we entered the city.
'Now this, this is a city.'
The streets were paved, the buildings were clean and the people looked to be well-fed and happy.
"Now then, let's find a suitable place to stay."
We started to walk around the streets taking in the sites.
"What about that one?"
'Too eye-catching. That one?'
"Too old. I want a place where I can relax."
'Fine, fine, then what about that one?'
We were standing in front of an old book shop. The building seemed to be new while the books inside seemed to be really old.
On the sign, we could read "Jacob Beleck's Incredible Book Store!".
"I don't know, it seems to be a little moldy."
'But it's a great place to search for information without anyone's attention.'
"Fine."
We entered the shop.
It was surprisingly big with bookshelves, packed full of books.
An old man with glasses and an impressive looking beard came to us, probably the owner.
"May I help you with something young miss?"
"Yes, I am looking for the shop owner, Jacob Beleck. May I presume it's you, sir?"
"Yes, it's me."
He scanned her with his half-opened eye.
"Sir Beleck I am from the Federal Union of Ancient Knowledge and History. Our president sent me to deliver an artifact to you."
"An-An Artifact?! But wh-"
"Sir, can we discuss this type of thing in private?"
"Y-Yes, naturally. Follow me."
The surprised owner took us into the back of the shop where was a small room with a wooden table and a candle.
"I lend this part of my hope to those who I trust. It's completely soundproof."
'Lucky us.'
"Well then, sir Beleck. Before I gave you the item I need to ask you a series of questions, to make sure you are the person that we are looking for."
"Tests? What sort?"
He frowned, as he was suspecting something.
"Nothing complicated. I will just ask you a series of questions and you only need to answer them. Please, be as honest as you can be."
"Ehh, well alright."
Then she started to ask different questions that seemed nonsensical like "What time is it?" or "Do you prefer apples or oranges?". It might seem that way to this guy, but for us, there was some really tasty information.
'Amu, he's the one!'
"...Red."
"Perfect. Thank you for your cooperation, sir Beleck. Here is the artifact."
She materialized her trumpet and placed it to her mouth, Using it to hypnotize him with her music.
"Now, please give us the keys to the shop.~"
"Y-Yes."
"Thank you. Now good-bye~. Lighting Magic: Heartbreak."
With a small light from her hand, she made the old man spite out a small quantity of blood from his mouth before falling to the floor.
"I might have fried him a little too much."
'No matter. Let's close this place before someone else comes.'
As I said, we locked the door and pulled the curtains over the windows so that no one sees inside.
"Well, let's get this show on the road."
'...Want to exchange places?'
"Oh Gods, yes! I am not good with books!"
We changed places and I started to read.
You might be asking what was I reading?
Every. Single. Book.
That's right, it didn't matter what type of book it was I completed it in a few minutes.
Thanks to my talent that allows me to remember most of the things I see, I committed in memory the content of each book, that my hands touched.
[New skill received: [Page turning]]
[New title received: [Bookworme]]
Hey, If it helps.
"Look at this. A ritual of transferring souls. It's perfect for our need."
'Ugh, what are these requirements? A diamond goat left kidney, the third eye of a mad savant, the sound of dragon footprints. This just gibberish to discourage beginners from summoning demons. I am sure that I am not even in it!'
"Wait I am curious. Let's see, demon names, A, A, A. Found it! Amdusias: A duke of hell, who has 29 legions of demons and spirits under his command. He is depicted as a human with claws instead of hands and feet, the head of a unicorn, and a trumpet that symbolizes his powerful voice. Amdusias is associated with thunder and it has been said that his voice is heard during storms. He's accompanied by the sound of trumpets when he comes and will give concerts if commanded, but while all his types of musical instruments can be heard they cannot be seen. He is regarded as being the demon in charge of the cacophonous music that is played in Hell. He can supposedly make trees bend at will with his presence alone. To summon this powerful being you need to bathe in the blood of a famous musician, during the full moon then you need to- PPFFFf! I can't I just can't! BFHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
'S-SHUT UP! ITS LIES ITS ALL LIES! MY REAL FORM IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THAT THING! AND WHAT IS THIS "you need to offer the heart of a pregnant unicorn"!? WHO THOSE THAT!?"
After I could breathe again I immersed myself in the books again.
-3 days later.-
"And done. I read everything. And my head hurts."
'I deal sick.'
[Title: [Bookworme] have evolved into [Book maniac]]
[Skill: [Page Turning] have evolved into [ Page Scaning]]
[New skills received: [Jack of All Traids]
[You are now able to receive a small quantity of EXP by reading.]
"Niet, I got the ultimate reading skill."
'At least you didn't get the title [The Bored one]. I find that preposterous!'
"Sigh, at least this was worthed it. I kinda understand how this world works. Let's grab everything that looks valuable and get out of here, the dead body starts to smell."
'I told you to get rid of it.'
"I might like eating mana sacs raw, but I still have standards!"
'Then people will suspect something if they find the body!'
"We will burn the building down. If there is no body, then there is no crime."
I put everything that seemed valuable and variable in a bag that I found in the shop.
'Dud, that's a dimensional bag! Do you realize how rare that stuff is?! We are going to be rich when we sell it.'
"Rich and very envied."
When I was done we changed places and she caused a small fire in the room where the body was.
"No body, no crime?"
'No body, no crime. '
Soon after we left the shop, the flames have spread to its neighbors, causing a mass arson.
The peoples who were walking neon the street noticed this incident, creating a panicked mass which helped us escape without being noticed.
'These houses are really flammable.'
"Very. Let's go to the next place. I deal a little hungry."