"Please sign the slave purchase contract here. Oh… that's an unfamiliar script you're using?"
"It says 'Sakai Wataru.' Is there a problem with my signature?"
"No, not really. The signature is just for personal verification, so it's fine. But… do you have a local registration? If not, taxes will be added to the purchase amount."
"Oh, uh… I have a registration elsewhere."
"I see. That's fine then."
Wataru proceeded with the contract, answering Maso's questions as they arose. Despite the strange circumstances, he was somehow able to read and speak the language of this world, but writing it was a different story.
(I still don't really understand how this all works…)
Luckily, the transaction went smoothly, with only a minor tax added due to the ambiguity of his registration. It seemed that many people in this world couldn't write, and so there were allowances for proxies to sign on their behalf. Some even used seals instead of signatures.
"With this, the slaves are now yours. Please take good care of them."
"Of course. I'll make sure they are well-treated and do everything I can to ensure they don't suffer."
"Remember, slaves are considered property, so even if you break or kill them, you won't be held accountable. However, any wrongdoing by a slave is the responsibility of the owner, so proper discipline is also part of your duty as a slave owner."
"I understand. Thank you for explaining everything."
"It's my pleasure. I hope you'll become a regular customer."
Wataru untied the heavy purse he was carrying, laying out the gold and silver coins. After confirming the amount, Maso handed over Marielle and Air.
(My wallet feels much lighter now…)
One moment, he had a large sum of money, and the next, most of it was gone. Some might call it easy money, but in exchange, he now had two beautiful slaves. In terms of assets, he hadn't really lost anything.
The money had come from selling sugar, and there were certainly other ways to earn more. From that perspective, purchasing these slaves to gain local information was a wise investment.
Both women were dressed in simple but clean clothes. Up close, they didn't look like slaves at all. However, beneath their clothes, the slave marks were etched into their skin.
(Hmm, I've seen this in some adult books before… Tattoos that signify someone as a slave—there's something erotic about that.)
Unlike the flashy tattoos often associated with criminals or gangsters, the slave marks had a different kind of allure. Marielle and Air bowed their heads to Wataru.
"Thank you for purchasing us, Master. We will serve you with all our heart," Marielle said.
"I'm Air. I will protect you from any enemy with all my strength," Air added, her voice firm.
"Glad to have you both. I'm glad I could buy you. I'll do my best to make sure you don't end up unhappy. Since this is my first time buying slaves, please let me know if I'm giving you any unreasonable orders. I don't plan on working you to death."
"Understood," they both said, their previously tense expressions relaxing into relief.
It seemed Wataru's guess had been right—they had been anxious about what kind of master they were getting and how they would be treated.
Although purchasing slaves was a step Wataru had taken for his own safety in this world, there was one concern he needed to address first.
"For now, there's something I need to know—can you both keep secrets?"
"I'm fine with that. How about you, Air?" Marielle asked, turning to her companion.
"No problem! I won't tell lies or secrets to anyone!" Air declared, puffing out her chest proudly.
"Alright, just to be sure, I'll make it an order. Don't reveal anything about my identity to others. If anyone asks, just tell them you're under orders not to talk about it."
With that, Wataru felt a bit more at ease. Of course, suddenly bringing up such a topic might make them wonder what kind of master they had. It would be difficult if the people working for him didn't trust him, so he wanted to be as transparent as possible.
"I think you'll understand soon enough after living with me, but I came to this city through rather unusual means. I plan on dealing in rare and valuable goods, so it's crucial that my identity and the source of my goods remain a secret."
"I see. Understood, Master. I had no intention of speaking about it anyway," Marielle assured him.
"I'm good too!" Air chirped in, her tiger-like ears twitching as her tail wagged excitedly.
Seeing their reactions, Wataru felt confident that he had cleared up most of their doubts. The next issue was where they would live.
Could he take them back to Earth with him? If so, would it cause any trouble? Or should he find a place for them to live here in this world?
There were several options to consider, but renting a new place for them would be costly, not to mention time-consuming. It was already getting late, and finding an inn and securing a room at this hour would be difficult.
"For now, I'll have you two come with me to my home. Follow me," Wataru instructed.
"Understood. Come on, Air. Let's go," Marielle said, urging Air to follow.
"I'll guard Master's back!" Air declared, falling into step behind Wataru.
"Well, you're already on the job. As for you, Marielle, I'd like to hear more about you two and this city if possible," Wataru said, glancing up at the evening sky where the first stars were starting to appear. With that, he began leading the way, the two women following closely behind.
"This… this is strange. I'm scared…!" Air whimpered.
Indeed, the experience had been quite intense. When they saw the gate that connected worlds, the shock was palpable. Marielle's eyes had widened in astonishment, and Air's tail had fluffed up in fear as she hesitated to step through the gate.
But with Wataru leading the way, the two slaves couldn't afford to lag behind. Tentatively, they followed him through the gate, only to be met with another wave of shock.
…And yet, I couldn't help but wonder why I felt so calm through all of this.
Sure, I was surprised, but there wasn't an ounce of fear. Instead, I felt an odd sense of excitement and warmth, almost as if I was reassured by the experience. Looking back, I should have been more cautious. But for some reason, I felt an unshakable certainty that everything would be fine.
On the other side of the gate was Earth—or more specifically, Osaka, where I lived. The time seemed to be slightly ahead here, as it was already dark. While the city lights illuminated the streets, the area around the shrine where the gate had opened was oddly dim.
It was the same in the other world—wherever the gate was open, it seemed to exist outside normal human perception.
"Suddenly, it's nighttime…" Marielle murmured, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Don't worry. No one will attack us here," I reassured them, though Air still seemed uneasy.
"This… this must be teleportation magic, right?" Marielle speculated. "I've heard that ancient ruins sometimes contain remnants of advanced lost magic, capable of such feats. So, Master, you're a sorcerer, aren't you? No wonder you need to keep secrets."
"Well, it's not exactly my ability…" I began, but Marielle cut me off, her eyes gleaming with newfound respect.
"Even so, I've been taught that only chosen ones can utilize such ruins," she insisted, while Air continued to look around nervously.
I sighed inwardly. We were only a short distance from my home, just a two-minute walk from the shrine. After telling the two to keep following me, I quickly made my way to my house, praying that we wouldn't draw any unnecessary attention.