The Expelled Boy Does All Sorts of Things with the Onee-sans He Saved.

Chapter 002: I Was Guided To A Slave Merchant

A day has passed while being rocked by the carriage.

I’ve arrived at a fairly large town, though smaller than Versha.

At this pace, I think I’ll reach home in about a day and a half.

But I’m not feeling very good about it.

What should I tell the Guild Master who recommended me, or my father and mother?

I don’t understand the reason I was expelled. However, Dan spoke in a very angry tone, so I must have done something wrong.

Fortunately, I have money. I earned savings by working part-time as a healer and helping the Guild Master.

I was told never to mention this money to Dan, and that decision has paid off.

Still, I can’t waste it. It’s precious money. I should stay at the cheapest inn possible.

I walk around town looking for an inn.

Despite how I feel, the town is lively. In the past, I would have happily explored the town with the rest of the party, but lately that became impossible. And now I’m completely alone.

While walking for a while, I was suddenly called out to.

“Hey kid, what are you doing in a place like this?”

The man looked suspicious at first glance. He wore an eyepatch and had a beard.

“Uhm, I’m looking for an inn.”

“But it’s dangerous for a kid like you to wander around alone.”

“I’m fine. I’m an adventurer.”

Saying that, I showed him my adventurer’s card.

“No way!? At that age? Wait, it’s real. Sorry about that.”

He was shaken for a moment but quickly calmed down and said,

“But that outfit means you’re a magic user, right? How about it? Want to buy something at my place?”

“Buy?”

The man grinned at my question and replied,

“Slaves.”

That’s what he said.

～～～～～

I was guided by him and headed to his shop.

His store faced one of the town’s main streets.

At first I thought he might try to kidnap me, but he seems to be a legitimate businessman. I felt relieved.

Moreover,

(This shop belongs to the same merchant guild as my mother’s company.)

The shop’s signboard had the crest of my family’s merchant company. So that’s how it is.

“Come on in.”

I wonder if he knows who I am. I only showed him my adventurer’s card briefly, so maybe he didn’t see my name.

The inside of the store was dimly lit, with many jail cells visible. It looked like one person per cell.

The man led me to the people near the entrance.

“How about them? These guys used to be adventurers but fell into slavery due to debt and such.”

Indeed, both the men and women had excellent physiques. They were well-fed, and aside from being in cells, they looked quite normal.

“Unlike those shady shops, we take proper care of our goods. Only idiots neglect their stock. That’s why our prices are high. I don’t know what those other guys are thinking.”

Contrary to his appearance, he seems quite serious. Since his shop is part of my mother’s guild, any misconduct would result in severe punishment.

That’s probably why all the slaves here are very energetic.

Even though I’m younger than them, they desperately appeal to me, wanting to be bought.

However,

“Sorry, not quite what I’m looking for here.”

“I see. You’re an adventurer, huh? Then—”

“Actually, I was kicked out of my party. I’m on my way back home.”

“Hey now, young master, you seem pretty capable. Getting fired by those guys? They must be crazy.”

Let’s call him the shopkeeper from now on. Incidentally, he started calling me “young master.” Anyway, the shopkeeper seems to be encouraging me. I’m very grateful, but there’s nothing I can do about being expelled.

He thought for a moment, then beckoned me and guided me to another area.

“This section is for former nobles.”

When I was led to the back room, I saw luxurious private rooms completely different from the earlier area.

Even as slaves, nobles apparently receive this kind of treatment.

He showed me each one individually.

“Not many that satisfy you?”

“There was one person who appealed really hard, but…”

Among the people shown to me was an older woman who desperately said “How about me?” while breathing heavily, but her price was far too high, so it was impossible.

“I see. Yeah, the price is probably a bit steep for you. Plus she’s already 23 and past her prime.”

“No, the issue is the price, not her age.”

“Still, this is pretty much what we have in stock.”

Then, I suddenly sensed a presence behind a door further in the back.

As I started walking toward it,

“Young master, I’d better not go there if I were you.”

“Eh, but—”

“Even a good person like you shouldn’t…”

“Please!!”

I was curious. I desperately begged him.

“Sigh… Fine. Don’t blame me if you regret it.”

The shopkeeper told me to wait a bit and went to a shelf. After a while, he returned with a key in hand.