Ramune Empire MTL

JP translations using MTL [edited by nagi]

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 50

"Hey Garuji, are you bothering Shuza again? Sorry, Shuza, our leader is—"

"That's okay, Silha."

As the leader and Garuji talked, a few people approached. They seemed to be members of Garuji's party.

The one called Silha was a slender woman with light gray hair, along with a messy-haired blond man and a boy who looked to be about two years older than me.

I hurriedly hid behind the leader.

"Oh, a new face!"

"This is our apprentice, Owl. He can't speak due to circumstances, so please help him if you see him."

"He seems to be around the same age as our new member. Nice to meet you!"

"I'm not a new member!"

Wow, same age…!

Just a tiny bit, I peered out from behind the leader and bowed my head. I quickly withdrew.

Am I really this shy? There’s something like a slave sensor tingling inside me. Is it the female adventurers that make me feel this way? Or is it about being around people my age?

After exchanging some casual greetings, we finally reached the reception counter. All the procedures would be handled by the leader, so we were left to twiddle our thumbs a bit.

At this hour, the reception was quite crowded. It must be peak reporting time for adventurers coming back from their quests.

Even in urban areas, it seems like there are plenty of jobs for adventurers.

"The purchase will be tomorrow. I'll go out then. Let's go home today."

"Yeah, that sounds good."

Having completed some procedure, the leader returned.

Finally, our base! The highlight of my day.

We exited the headquarters and everyone began looking around, as if searching for something on the now darkened street.

"Are there any carriages at the northwest district stop?"

"There are a few… Oh, isn't that Yakushi over there?"

"You're right! Hey, Yakushi!"

They were searching for the carriage to head back. It operates like a bus or taxi. It really is a big city.

Nove approached a carriage. Is he acquainted with them?

Yakushi, the driver, and Nove talked, and it was arranged that we would get a ride.

This carriage was smaller than the one we rode when we first arrived in the royal capital. Plus, it was a single horse carriage. I wondered if it could hold all seven of us. It had plenty of seats, so it must be fine.

"I'm glad Yakushi was around."

"The guy from the district was going to a meeting in the central district, so I picked him up. You guys just got back today, huh?"

"That's right. Oh, this kid is Owl, who will be an apprentice in our party. He'll be living at the base, so take care of him."

I bowed my head again from my seat. This greeting works in this world too, so that’s a relief.

Though it was dark, I could vaguely see that Yakushi had black hair and a young look about him. He seemed low-energy. In this world, appearances can be misleading, so until I ask him, his age is like Schrödinger's cat.

"To think you guys would take on an apprentice."

"More like Hulk bought him."

"…Hulk, huh?"

That reaction again, I expected it.

Guided by the lamplight on the dark street, we rolled along. The lamps attached to the carriage had reflectors, illuminating a wide area in front. That’s how they can operate at night. Civilization!

Yakushi skillfully maneuvered the horse, displaying quite the skill.

From what I heard, beyond the regular services and roaming carriages, there seemed to be carriages stationed in each district as well. The royal capital is vast, so carriages are a must. A transport union handles that aspect, similar to a railway company.

Yakushi was the one stationed in the district where our party's base was located. He’s like the only taxi waiting at a rural train station.

Nove explained various details.

"We lend our stable to him, and he lives next to it. It's really convenient."

"I'm also glad it's quiet in the outer northwest district."

"Oh, by the way, Owl, if you want to call Yakushi, just blow this whistle."

"A whistle?"

"Yeah, since this kid can’t speak, he can't call out or say anything, so…”

"Pwee!"

“This is how you call him, so keep that in mind."

I see, a whistle! How convenient!

We passed through the dazzling streets of the royal capital and it began to quiet down. It was too dark to see, but it felt like we had entered a residential area.

Streetlights sporadically dotted the corners. They didn't seem to be gas lamps, and it must be a hassle to supply crystal stones or magic power to all of them. I wondered how they were lit. So many mysteries.

The streetlights became even less frequent, and soon we started to go uphill.

At the top of the slope, the carriage came to a stop.

Is this the destination?

When I turned around, the lights of the royal capital sparkled, revealing quite an impressive night view.

Our base is in such a scenic spot. Amazing.

"Finally back. Now, let me unlock the door… Huh?"

Nove, who had raised his hand in front of the base's door, tilted his head.

"What’s wrong?"

"There’s a trace of someone else's magical energy…”

What did he say?

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 49

The surroundings were gradually becoming dim.

Lights were being lit here and there. City lights at dusk are incredibly beautiful.

After riding in a long, rumbling carriage, finally, we arrived at a place called the Central District.

And at last, we had arrived.

The headquarters of the Adventurers' Guild!

"Thanks, you really helped me out."

"Same here. See you."

After seeing off the carriage that had given us a long ride, I turned back towards the headquarters.

It's huge… but it doesn't seem that different from the Sansa branch, perhaps it's just deeper.

No, that's not it. It's just an optical illusion. The surrounding buildings are all big too, so the size doesn't stick out that much.

When I got closer to the building, I realized it. The structure is completely different. The guild's outer walls were built from large stones that had been polished carefully. Each block is about the height of an adult.

Isn’t this the kind of building you find in ancient ruins? It's amazing… all the buildings around here are like that. The Central District is incredible.

"Well then, I guess it's time to report the completion of the request… we'll handle the rank increase and the sale of collected items another time, since we have to go to the Commerce Guild as well."

"I just want to go home quickly, so that works for me."

"Aki, do you want to head home first?"

"I'll wait since it should be quick."

We all entered the headquarters.

As we stepped in, we found ourselves in a spacious waiting area filled with benches and table sets. Quite a lot of adventurers were resting or chatting.

There are so many people. It's completely different from Sansa.

"Hey, Shuza! Where have you been?"

"Yo, how’s it going?"

"Big Bro Daine! Long time no see!"

"Welcome back!"

Adventurers who noticed the leaders started calling out one after another.

Wow, they’re quite popular. It feels more homey here in the royal capital than it does in Sansa, even though the city is urban.

…Ah, I get it.

This headquarters is a home for this party, a place they return to. It's different from Sansa. There are comrades, friends, and family here.

I felt that painfully.

Even on the way to the counter, various people were greeting us.

Amidst that, a particularly large man stood in front of the leader, blocking the way.

"Yo, little master. You’ve turned even more soft since I last saw you, huh?"

"Hey Garuji, nice weather today."

"Tch, acting all high and mighty."

What’s going on? He’s really picking a fight, huh?

The rough-looking man called Garuji seems more muscular than Daine. He’s wearing a stylish leather armor that's glossy and cool.

I wonder if there’s some history there.

Comrades, friends, family, and rivals, huh? Just like in a shounen manga.

"Showing off with your buddies and acting all tough. Little master should just stay at home… huh? Who's that kid?"

Our eyes met.

Since we made eye contact, I timidly stepped forward and looked up. Wow, he’s huge.

"This kid is our new comrade."

"What? You brought such a small child into this… besides, there's a slave mark! What's up with that?"

Huh? Is this guy…

For now, seeing as he looked like he would jump on the leader, I tried to calm him down.

I patted Garuji’s cool leather armor.

Hello, your leather armor is really awesome!

"W-What the…?"

"Ah, he can't speak. He just wants to say that your leather armor looks cool."

"Oh, that's true. Did you get a new one? It suits you well."

"…Hehe, right? It just finally came back from the workshop… kid, you've got a good eye."

Complimenting the leather armor worked like a charm. He rubbed my head with his big palm.

This guy is definitely one of those types. He looks really tough but is actually a really nice person.

It seems like he just wanted to show off his new leather armor as a way to greet the leader. That’s so cute. It’s like he’s in elementary school.

The leader has been smiling and friendly from the start, so this must be how Garuji usually greets people.

"But, you know, a slave…"

"It’s a complicated situation."

"Kid, if you ever get tired of Shuza, feel free to come to us."

"Garuji, I should mention, this kid—Owl's contractor is Hulk."

"Huh!? Hulk? What are you thinking!?"

Somehow, I expected that reaction.

After all, my master is…

Lately, I’ve started to think that my master might be a bit out there in terms of common sense…

He’s innocent like a dog, but it feels like he has some incredibly dangerous titles attached to him.

"'Walking Armory', 'Hand of Destruction', and 'Judgment-bringer from the Shadows' are some of the names they call him. What the hell happened that someone like that would buy a child slave?"

"It's a complicated situation."

The three titles were about four times worse than I imagined.

As expected of my master.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 48

Rattle rattle, the carriage moves with the expected sound.

What was a little different from my imagination was the sway.

When you travel a long distance, you can really tell. The swaying is remarkably little. Even in my other world, if you drive a vehicle on unpaved roads, it shakes and your rear ends up hurting. I think they are using magic for something.

There must have been someone who put a lot of effort into the development. The classic carriage that I imagine differs in various structures.

It's a hooded carriage, but since it's currently folded down, the wind feels nice.

As we go along, I see occasional villages, forests, and granaries. Is it almost harvest season? A vast field tinged with gold spreads out before me.

“Since the royal capital is vast, Owl is sure to be surprised,” said Nove, nibbling on some jerky-like dried meat. It's hard, so I haven't been allowed to eat it yet.

“Our base is in the outer district, so it's still quiet, though.”

“We’ll have to meet the district chief when we get back.”

“Ah, I’m curious about the herb garden. I wonder how Luo and Meo are doing, and whether Elmiya and Marnya are doing well… Can I go back to the base first?”

“No way.”

I'm looking forward to the base.

We travel for hours, taking breaks occasionally. We pass by many carriages along the way.

Gradually, the foot traffic increases. It feels like we’re getting closer to the city.

And finally, I can see the outer walls.

The number of buildings increases, becoming more lively.

It's almost time for the sun to set.

The outer wall draws nearer… and finally, we pass through the outer wall, revealing its full view.

It's huge!

After passing through the outer wall without any checkpoints, buildings are densely lined up in the streets.

It slopes down a bit, allowing a great view of the entire scene.

Amazing! It really is big. I can see several waterways running through the city like rivers. There are patches of green, like broccoli popping up. Perhaps it’s a forest. In the distance, there seems to be an inner wall, and further back on an elevated area, there’s a castle-like structure.

Incredible!

This isn’t just a town, it’s a city!

“Hey, if you get too excited, you’ll fall,” my master said as he caught me leaning forward in excitement and pulled me onto his lap.

I reacted like a tourist.

But I think it can’t be helped.

It’s big enough to fit around twenty of Sanza’s towns. I could easily get lost, and if I do, I’d be in trouble.

“There’s a large statue in front of the inner wall, right? That’s the statue of the Saint of Knowledge, um, what was it…”

“Adan.”

“Right, the statue of ‘Saint Adan’. That area is the central district where the academy and offices are located. The large statue on the left is ‘Saint Simulk the Great Merchant,’ and that area is the commercial district lined with shops. The statue on the right is ‘Saint Behamusa the Great Warrior,’ where the military and knight facilities, as well as the arena, are.”

“They are referred to as the Three Saints, and there’s a festival dedicated to them at the beginning of the year. Next year is the Year of Adan, you know?”

Oh, I see. Adan, Simulk, and Behamusa. They have statues of people instead of gods.

Having landmarks makes it easier to understand.

However, the great merchant saint? I think the definition of “saint” is definitely different from what I know.

“We're going to the headquarters of the Adventurer’s Guild Midoresia, located toward the south of the central district… over there.”

Headquarters!

My master pointed slightly in front of the large statue.

The branch in Sanza was amazing, so I can only imagine how impressive the headquarters will be.

Everything in this city is incredible.

Many houses are built with a mix of stone, brick, and wood. The area near the royal castle seems to be made mostly of stone judging by the colors.

The materials look European in style, but overall, it feels closer to that of the Middle East, especially in the designs.

The walls of the lower town houses are soft in color, and as you approach the royal castle, the hues grow grayer.

The roofs are mainly greenish-blue and brown. It seems that roof tiles exist in this world as well, appearing in various shapes.

People dressed in colorful clothes with vibrant hair walk around happily. The roads are roughly divided into carriage paths and sidewalks, and they are paved with stones near the outer wall.

The number of carriages in transit is entirely different from Sanza. While it was busy near the gates in Sanza, here there are carriages everywhere. Each major intersection has people signaling with flags, and there are roundabouts, showing a sense of civilization.

Houses, people, carriages, people, people, people.

Amazing. It feels like a festival.

Seeing me overwhelmed and excited, Nove chuckled softly.

“Welcome to the royal capital, Owl.”

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 47

It’s a river.

After passing through the forest and walking for a while across the plain, we arrived at the riverbank.

We decided to have lunch after crossing it.

But how are we supposed to get across this river, which is about 10 meters wide? There’s no bridge in sight.

"Alright, I’ll jump!"

"Ugh, that’s too hard."

"We can make it, just stop complaining."

Apparently, we’re jumping over it.

I really wish they wouldn’t say it so casually. With my current body enhancements, I feel like I’m going to fall into the river.

I tugged at my master’s clothing sleeve.

I can't do it.

"Um? Ah, Owl has never seen a big river, huh? Alright, come here. Let’s go together."

Suddenly, I was picked up.

Wait…! You’re carrying me?

Before I could stop him, my master started running forward.

Hold on…!

"We’re going… so, here we go!"

Whoosh!

I was enveloped in a feeling of weightlessness as the scenery moved away over my master’s shoulder.

The surface of the water sparkled in the sunlight as we soared. This is way too long to be a normal human jump.

Eventually, I felt a jolt and safely landed on the opposite bank.

That was scary…

I learned something. Jumping while being carried doesn’t give me a sense of distance, and it's extremely frightening. It’s better to jump by myself.

Even after being set down on the ground, I clung to my master’s waist for a while, trembling.

It seems everyone else made it across just fine with their body enhancements and has started preparing lunch.

There sure are a lot of rocks.

Aki was taking out something that looked like a long, thin bug cage and throwing it into the river. He was tying a string from the bug cage around a suitable rock.

Is that a trap for catching fish? It's different from fishing.

While waiting for lunch to be ready, I picked up stones from the riverbank and looked at them.

It’s quite fun.

There are striped stones, light blue stones, dark green stones, and rugged turquoise-colored stones. There’s a variety.

River stones are all rounded from erosion. If I polished them, they might look like accessories. I have no idea how to polish them though.

I decided to put a few small ones in my pouch to take home.

"Look at this, Owl."

Nove showed me a rough, black stone.

He wrapped it in his palm and cast some kind of magic. When he opened his hand, there was a stone split in half.

It was transparent inside!

"There are many stones around here that have a transparent center like this. They’re called 'Sun Stones.' You can slice them thinly and use them to make decorations with pictures showing through from the back."

He said there are a lot of them, so they’re not expensive, and he gave me the half stone.

I wonder why they use a word that means "containing sunlight" just because it’s transparent. It’s mysterious.

It would be fun to polish them with magic. I should search a bit more.

Lunch was thinly toasted bread filled with pickled vegetables and smoked meat. It’s delicious… but the sourness shocked my tongue. I need to get used to various flavors quickly.

Aki's trap had caught quite a lot of small fish and shrimp. He quickly froze them with magic. He plans to take them home to dry, grill, or ferment.

The leader was cutting some reeds by the riverside. It seems he plans to carve them into pens. My master is also cutting thinner ones to make arrows.

They must have money, but they do everything themselves.

Everyone is living carefully.

I like this kind of life. It seems the monetary economy is crying out.

Daine? He's sleeping in the grass over there.

After spending some time by the riverbank, we began to walk towards the roadside rest area. Everyone's weapons were already stored by my master.

Unlike before, I can keep up thanks to my body enhancements. I don’t have to keep up with them or be carried on their shoulders anymore.

Though muscle soreness is tough.

"Oh, that carriage over there looks empty. It's probably turning back towards the royal capital."

"Let’s negotiate with them."

Eventually, we arrived at the roadside rest area where a two-horse carriage was the only one stopped. The driver was taking care of the horses.

The well-maintained rest area is quite spacious. It seems we could camp here if it’s safe.

"Are you heading to the royal capital?"

"Hm? Adventurers, huh? I’m just turning back. You want a ride?"

"Yes, please. We have five adults and one child… here’s our guild certificate."

"Haha, you’re pretty polite for adventurers. Here, this is my transport permit."

"I'll take a look… the garage is in the central district? Then could you take us to in front of the Adventurers’ Guild, please?"

"Sure thing. If a black adventurer is with you, that’s even better. Well, it’s safe around here but… how about half the regular fare?"

"That’s fine."

"Deal!"

We exchanged our documents, and the negotiation was completed smoothly.

I had imagined more of a hitchhiking scenario, but this felt very formal. It’s almost like a taxi.

That makes sense; if the other party were a thief or bandit, that would be a problem. Identification is important.

I quietly held onto my escort certificate.

We'll soon reach the royal capital.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 46

The bird's voices are loud.

That was my first thought. It’s incredibly noisy.

As I rubbed my eyes and woke up, I saw a lump that looked like Daine breathing softly next to me. My master is not here.

When I pulled aside the tent fabric, a dazzling light pierced my eyes.

It's morning.

Dew on the leaves caught the morning sun, sparkling everywhere. As I breathed in, it was cold, and it made my lungs tingle.

At a distance from the tent, I saw my master slowly swinging a large wooden sword, sending sparkles flying.

He's practicing in the morning!

I didn't know that my master was the type to take morning training seriously.

His movements were slow, and the tip of the sword didn't waver at all. Is he using body enhancement? It felt like a combination of tai chi and sword technique.

I absentmindedly watched his movements, which somehow reminded me of a dance.

"Hm? You’re awake, Owl."

My master noticed me after finishing his practice and came closer. He was soaked in sweat.

I intended to use purification on him and stood up… but fell flat on my face.

What? Why?

"Are you okay?"

It hurts. My legs and back are really sore.

Muscle pain…!

I quickly purified my master, who supported me, and slowly sat back down.

"My legs… are starting to hurt…"

"Ah, it's muscle pain. We walked a lot yesterday and enhanced our bodies too. We should have Daine take a look at it later."

I nodded, with tears in my eyes.

Even with body enhancement, you can still get muscle pain. I probably overdid it by jumping around.

To have muscle pain the next day means I’m still young. If it were my other self, he would have been writhing in pain two days later for a full three days.

"I'm going to sleep. You should sleep a little longer too."

You're going to take a second nap!?

Maybe he was practicing early in the morning and then taking a second nap even when we were staying at the inn.

I didn’t know that.

I always woke up earlier, feeling a little happy that as a slave, I could wake up earlier than my master! But that fact didn’t exist.

Dragging my aching body back to the tent, I burrowed into the blanket again and closed my eyes.

The next time I woke up, everyone was already up and starting to pack up.

After receiving thin pancakes and fruit for breakfast, I helped with the packing.

The tent fabric is treated to repel water, but it still felt soaked and heavy.

This is where my special skill, laundry, comes into play.

I washed everything in water orbs. When I released the water, it sank into the sand a bit away and disappeared.

What remained were crisp fabrics.

I struggled with my sore legs, but everyone helped fold and store the fabric.

While Aki and the others were cleaning up the campfire, I had Daine examine me.

Muscle pain isn’t an injury, so it can't be healed, but he can flow magic from my calves to my thighs and lower back to alleviate the pain. It felt a little better.

One Daine per family really is convenient.

"When we hit the highway, let’s look for a carriage to ride."

"That sounds good. We’ve generated enough results, so let’s see if there are any empty carriages around the rest area along the highway."

"I agree."

"Me too."

"Puui."

Going back by carriage is a blessing.

Thus, we set off, leaving the campsite behind and starting to walk through the forest again.

Camping was fun. I hesitate a bit to call it camping, but I want to do it again.

Aki led the way, and my master took up the rear as we walked through the forest in formation.

We didn't encounter any animals or monsters. It seems the small ones were just wandering around, not targets for hunting.

We occasionally stopped to gather herbs, seasonal fruits, and nuts, continuing to walk for hours.

The view opened up, revealing a plain.

We emerged from the forest!

In the distance, I could see a wide river and what looked like a road where carriages were coming and going. It must be the highway.

Beyond that is the royal capital.

I wonder if we’ll make it by today. I’m excited.

As my mood lifted, my steps became lighter, but then the muscle pain flared, and I tripped over a tree root, falling down again. My face got dirty once more.

Ugh, what was the meaning of "a walking stick before you trip"?

I caught a glimpse of Daine trying to stifle a laugh from the corner of my eye. Damn it, you walking monster-repelling incense. Thanks for your help in the forest.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 45

The tube that my master took out was indeed a whistle.

It was very small.

"It’s small for me, you know? If I blow hard with all my magic power, it’ll attract monsters, but if there’s no magic, it makes a sound that only humans can hear."

"Is that okay?"

"I’ll give it to you, Owl. Do you want to try blowing it?"

The item handed to me seemed to be made of black stone or something, and it had some weight. Maybe it's a dog whistle or a shepherd’s whistle. It’s dark, so I can’t see it well, but I feel like it has carvings.

As I was told, I tried blowing into it with just my breath.

Piii.

It made a sound properly.

It was a bit of a weak sound, kind of between a "pi" and a "pu."

With this, perhaps I could be noticed.

"That’s a good idea. Should we hang it from your neck?"

"I have a leather string."

"There should be a hole on the side for threading the string through."

"I can’t see well, bring the lamp closer."

We all huddled together, overcoming the challenge of threading the string in the darkness.

I was delighted. I had one more thing to hang from my neck.

I must be careful not to call monsters with it.

Filled with gratitude for the master, I blew it softly a few times.

Nove chuckled.

"If you get lost, be sure to blow it properly."

"Piii."

I was able to reply!

Someday, I hope I’ll be able to say thank you properly.

I wanted to always remember the smiles on everyone’s faces, illuminated by the campfire and the lamp.

As the night deepened, I decided to go to bed early. I entered the tent with the master.

There’s no bath, but I can use 'purification' to make my body and clothes completely clean. Feels nice. I even 'purified' my master while I was at it.

Back at the mansion, I could use magic to stay clean every day, so I didn’t have to worry about hygiene.

I’ve come a long way.

The forest nights are said to be cold, so I wrapped myself tightly in a blanket and lay down inside the tent. It’s hard, but I’m used to it.

My master took out his weapon and cloth and began maintenance next to me. It's probably a spear, the one he used during the day.

I wonder if he can see what he’s doing in the dark. Knowing him, his night vision is probably keen.

It seems that everyone else is still talking by the campfire.

I wonder if my master will stay beside me until I fall asleep.

"Master is a spear user."

"Hmm? Oh, I was today."

"Today?"

"I use various weapons. I’m not particularly masterful with any, but I can use just about anything. Today, considering teamwork, I decided on a short spear."

What? An all-rounder? He’s too cool. What is my master aiming for?

But was there teamwork in today’s hunt? Everything was instantly killed…

"Amazing."

"Right? I taught Daine how to use a shield, too."

"Amazing!"

"I’d like to teach you too, Owl, but you can’t handle weapons. Support us with your magic."

"…Yes."

It’s okay, I don’t really want to fight. Even if I could hold a weapon, I probably wouldn’t fight. Facing life is challenging.

The master put away his spear and peered at me when I fell silent.

"What’s wrong? You look down."

"…Today, I took a life for the first time."

"Really? Was it scary?"

"It was scary."

"Life is heavy. Remember that."

My master stroked my head gently.

I’m glad, life is cherished in this world, too.

Life.

The people from the Cattley Trading Co., the adventurer woman, they are all lives. Their existence has been lingering somewhere in my heart.

After being rescued from the mansion, I simply wanted them to be somewhere unknown to me. I didn’t care, even when I heard they might face the ultimate punishment.

I didn’t have the mental capacity for it back then.

But now it’s different. My life has changed, my mind has calmed, and I have the time to think.

Do I still wish for them to receive the death penalty?

I don’t know.

But with a single small choice, I could have been on their side. A world that can easily reverse roles. It’s terrifying.

I couldn’t sneer and say it was deserved in my current state.

My feelings won’t change their punishment. There’s no point in worrying about it now.

I should sleep.

Listening to the distant conversation of everyone, the cries of animals, the sounds of the forest, I closed my eyes.

"Are you getting sleepy?"

"Hmm…"

The master’s hand slowly, rhythmically moved along my hair from top to bottom.

In the faint lamp light that entered through the fabric, I could see the master’s eyes sparkling like stars.

I began to feel sleepy under his gentle caress.

He’s good at lulling someone to sleep.

"…Master, thank you for the whistle…"

"Yeah, make sure to use it properly."

"When do you sleep?"

"I’ll sleep when I get sleepy."

"…Master…"

"What?"

"…Your eyes… look like dancing stars… beautiful…"

My consciousness gently sank into the night sky.

I felt like I was being surrounded by something warm and softly enveloped, but by then, I was already fast asleep.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 44

As the sun set and darkness began to envelop the surroundings, a phenomenal aroma started to waft through the air.

Oh, this is trouble. My stomach growled loudly, and drool began to flow endlessly.

When I looked at everyone's expressions, they silently surrounded the kitchen. From all around, stomachs were making growling noises.

That whatever-it-is mushroom, or something, isn't it a dangerous thing?

"I can't take it anymore, Aki!"

"Hey, Nove, are you sure you set up a barrier? If you let this smell spread, it'll cause a stampede of wild boars."

"Of course I did; the smell is escaping up into the sky!"

Are monsters attracted to it!?

It's definitely a dangerous thing.

"I'll let you have some, so everyone sit down."

Everyone quickly took a seat on wooden boxes.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, what was served on the wooden plates were… noodles!

Noodles, really?

Is it pasta? Noodles about the thickness of fettuccine mixed with mushrooms and vegetables…!

Oh no, my drool was dripping onto the ground.

This is definitely not the kind of dish you eat at a campsite. It's something you'd get served as part of a course meal at a nice restaurant. Not something you'd eat in the middle of the forest.

But then again, if it's pasta, you can carry dried noodles, so maybe it's a good portable meal? Maybe?

Other dishes like bone-in meat from the oven were also placed on a large board set up as an impromptu table on wooden boxes, and dinner began under the starry sky.

That big box was indeed something resembling an oven. It’s not something you'd typically use for camping… I decided to stop thinking. What use does common sense have when there's delicious food in front of me?

With the lamp illuminating the dishes, the leader looked around at everyone.

"With gratitude for the forest’s bounty and Aki."

At that signal, Aki began to eat, and everyone else followed suit.

Clumsily wrapping the noodles around the fork, I took a bite.

"!"

Time stopped.

What is this!!

The texture of the noodles intertwined with the flavor condensed from leafy greens and bacon, the rich taste from nuts and the aroma of garlic-infused vegetable oil, and everything was tied together by the fragrance of mushrooms…!

From the moment it entered my mouth, the aroma that wafted through my nostrils was overwhelming.

This is too much.

This encounter was too early for my body. I wasn’t ready to meet something like this yet.

Even with my poor taste buds, it's insanely delicious, so I wonder what would happen if I tasted it with more refined, experienced taste buds. I wish I could have encountered this after leveling up a bit.

"Phew, I'm glad we didn't sell it…"

"It's so good."

"Munch… munch… this is too good… munch…"

"…"

Everyone was either moved or silently chewing or looking up at the sky—it was a flurry of reactions.

I understood why it fetched a high price. I understood why it rarely circulated.

No one could remain calm and do business when faced with such an incredible thing.

"Oh, this bird is also delicious. Could it be the one Hulk hunted today?"

"Indeed. At first, I regretted buying the heating appliance at Aki's request, but it was the right decision."

"I told you it was necessary."

"This bird will be even better if aged a bit more."

The colorful bird that my master hunted, unlike the bird I had before, was firm but had a robust flavor. Like free-range chicken. It's tasty with just salt.

I'm still not sure about the subtle differences in taste.

Everything is delicious, so it's okay.

There's one problem.

I can't handle the fork well.

Even if I have the memories, my physical and language abilities are based on this body, so I probably can't even use chopsticks.

The noodles slipping away were frustrating.

Ugh, I can usually use them properly. It doesn't take this long to twirl them. They don't just slip through and plop down.

"Owl eats well."

As I struggled with winding the noodles, Aki spoke to me.

Really? I thought it might look a bit unsightly.

"Children usually make more of a mess when they eat. They shovel food from the plate. They don't eat carefully, one bite at a time like you do."

"Aki sometimes takes on beginner guidance requests at the Adventurer’s Guild, so he sees many children."

"Eating boisterously is fine, and eating carefully is fine too."

Was that a compliment?

Maybe they're saying I shouldn't worry too much about my eating manners.

But, my Japanese mentality tells me to eat gracefully and politely, especially when it’s this delicious.

I was surprised to learn that Aki, who is only interested in food, does beginner guidance. He probably only talks about food. That sounds nice.

After finishing the sumptuous meal and cleaning up, we spent a leisurely time around the campfire.

Without Daine's abilities and Nove's magic, we probably couldn't enjoy such a relaxing time. The forest at night is scary.

Indeed, the presence of living creatures feels stronger at night compared to during the day. The cries of insects, birds, and beasts resonate, making it lively.

"I was thinking," Nove started, sorting a bundle of dried herbs.

"Not being able to speak is dangerous, especially since you can't call for help when you need it."

"Do you mean Owl?"

"Nove has a point."

They were talking about me.

There wasn't a moment today where I needed help, so I didn't feel any inconvenience.

But indeed, being the weakest and unable to speak while moving as part of a team is quite dangerous.

"Daine can't always be 'seeing' things either, so we should think of something."

"Maybe having something to make sounds would be good."

"In that case, I have just the thing."

My master rummaged through his pouch and took out a small tube. It was about the size of a child's pinky finger.

What could it be, a whistle?

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 43

After cleaning up from the boar hunt, we took a short break and continued on.

I'm finally getting used to walking in the forest.

As we walked, they taught me about the plants and birds. I really understood how the forest is a treasure trove of resources.

And also how the adventurer's job of entering the forest to hunt and gather is quite important.

"There are five types of adventurer requests: 'Exploration', 'Gathering', 'Hunting', 'Escorting', and 'Special'. Your rank goes up as you complete each one. It starts at Fifth Class, then goes to First Class, and above that is Special Class."

'Exploration': Investigating unexplored areas and forests.

'Gathering': Collecting plants and such.

'Hunting': Hunting monsters and animals.

'Escorting': Escorting merchants, scholars, and the like. Specializing in monster combat, no human-on-human battles.

'Special': Anything not covered above.

As your 'Class' in each field increases, your overall 'Tier' as an adventurer rises. 'Tier' is the color thing.

Apparently, some people specialize in one field, while others are all-rounders who do a bit of everything. This party is all-rounder.

This Class and Tier evaluation applies to both individuals and parties.

If your individual Tier is 'White' but your party's is 'Black', like me, the back of your adventurer card will be half black and half white.

Master's adventurer card is completely black because he's 'Black' both individually and as a party. But, for example, Daine is 'Blue' individually and 'Black' with the party, so his is half blue and half black.

They told me the order of the colors, but I can't remember it all. Purple is the highest, then green, black… I remember white is the lowest.

"The Sansa mission was a 'Special' request. Thanks to that, I can finally move up to 'Green'."

"We'll have to do the paperwork when we get back to the royal capital."

Master likes green, doesn't he?

We continued on, learning about adventurers and various forest rules. I can't remember everything at once, but that's okay for now.

We came to a slightly open area.

"…There's something in the back."

It's a really huge spider.

Isn't everything too huge in this world?

It's super scary.

"That's a giant spider… or maybe a giant poison spider. Shuza, what do we do?"

"If we kill something that big, it might affect the ecosystem around here. Since it's away from the highway, I'd like to leave it alone."

"Let's detour."

"If there are any others, we'll take them down."

We took a detour, avoiding the area that seemed to be the spider's territory.

So we don't just kill every enemy we encounter.

Being an adventurer… takes quite a bit of thinking?

"Investigating the ecosystem of monsters and animals is one of the 'Exploration' requests. Ecosystem refers to the 'cycle' of living things."

The leader kindly explained, perhaps because I looked puzzled.

I see, the philosophy of the 'cycle' is used in such places as well.

"That big spider is a beneficial insect that eats monsters, so if we kill it, there might be too many monsters. If there are too many monsters, the highways and towns won't be safe."

"The list of what we can and can't hunt changes every year, so it's posted on the guild's notice board."

"That's what 'Exploration' requests are for. If you can handle 'Exploration', you're a proper adventurer."

Everyone chimed in to explain.

Having a lot of teachers is helpful.

Being an adventurer isn't about being rough or barbaric, it requires cleverness.

I don't think I can do it. My real job is being a slave….

Our group stopped a good distance away from the spider's territory.

It was a sandy area, about half the size of a tennis court.

"Let's make camp here."

At the leader's instruction, everyone started setting up tents, scouting the surroundings, and preparing for dinner.

Apparently, there are scattered sandy patches in the forest, and since it's safe to build a fire there, they're used as camping spots.

Gathering firewood…seems unnecessary. Aki had collected a lot of it while walking along the way. A little distance from the cluster of tents, Aki immediately began preparing the meal.

The tents everyone was setting up were extremely simple. Two poles were erected with a rope strung between them, and a cloth was thrown over it. Stones held down the edges of the cloth. The front and back were also covered with cloth.

Triangular tents, complete.

Inside, a mat was laid down, and on top of that, you wrapped yourself in a blanket to sleep.

If you sleep roughly without a tent, the morning dew will soak you, apparently.

We pitched two tents, and divided ourselves into groups of three to sleep.

Camping is exciting.

After finishing setting up the tent, I looked around and saw Nove hooking a large amount of grass onto a rope.

I wonder what he's doing.

"Oh, Owl, you're just in time. Can you help me? I'm drying medicinal herbs."

Nove was hanging bundles of herbs on a rope strung between trees, drying them with warm air.

Drying medicinal herbs.

"Some herbs are used fresh, and some are dried. They'll buy them even if you turn them in as is, but they'll pay a little more if you dry them. Here, show me the ones you gathered, Owl."

Nove showed me which ones to dry and which ones not to.

The ones to dry are dried with warm air.

Warm air is tricky. Too hot and they'll be damaged, too low and it takes too long.

I wonder if it wouldn't be better to just soak them all in water and wring them out like laundry. Would that remove the necessary components? No, that won't work.

It's best to follow the teachings of those who came before us. Someone has already thought of something as simple as my little trick.

I continued to send warm air from my palms, being mindful not to make it too hot, like a hairdryer.

I smelled something good, so I looked over at Aki, and things were getting pretty intense.

You'd think campfire cooking would be, you know, a bit primitive, like grilling meat and vegetables around a fire.

There was indeed a campfire.

But why is there a proper kitchen in the middle of the forest?

A stove, a cooking range, and a sink are still acceptable. Not really, but I'll let it slide.

What's with that huge box? Don't tell me it's an oven.

Camping, you say? Camping?

I hear the crumbling of my common sense, values, concepts—everything I thought I knew.

Even in the middle of the forest, Aki remained completely unfazed.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 42

"No way, one hit?"

"Looks like he only meant to paralyze it."

"The hide's untouched. The meat's not bruised. Good hunting."

"Owl's interference power is strong!"

"But still, to hit a vital spot…"

Everyone returned and surrounded the boar I'd taken down, giving their critiques.

I only meant to paralyze it.

I didn't think I'd kill it.

"…Why are you clinging to Daine's back?"

"It's his first kill, ain't it?"

I only felt a little bit surprised, though. It was kill or be killed.

It was the miscalculation that really shocked me. I only meant to use it like a stun gun for self-defense.

The thought of this being a person makes me shudder.

Magic is amazing. But scary.

I'm not used to the feeling of freely wielding something that could be such a terrible weapon.

But I have to get used to it. I'm in a different world now.

I moved away from Daine.

"Owl, thank you for protecting Daine."

The leader crouched down and patted my head with both hands. Double the usual pats.

I'm the one who was protected.

Besides, I think the master was ready to throw his spear, just in case I couldn't take it down.

I think he let me experience the hunt after ensuring safety. Nove's area magic was there too.

"Choosing lightning was the right call. Anything else would've bounced off its hide. Lightning pierces through."

"True, there's also suffocating it with water, but that's not as quick."

Hmm, suffocation was a blind spot.

Right, instead of magic like lightning that's easy to misjudge, I should think about self-defense methods using easier-to-control magic like water.

I'm feeling a bit better now.

I'll practice hard.

Aki continued to bleed the boars methodically.

And then the major processing began, hanging them from a large nearby tree. I wonder if the branch will hold.

Peeling the hide off a boar the size of a light car is more grotesque than before. And a bit bloody.

My uplifted mood sinks.

Trying not to look too closely, I work on purifying the various organs and wrapping them in leaves. I'm fine once they're separated.

This is an incredible amount of meat. It's enough to feed the town of Sansa for a year.

There's some fat too. I wonder if it's tasty. It probably is.

"Owl, come here."

Aki rarely calls for me. I looked up to see it was the turn of the boar I'd felled.

I'm handed a sharp butcher knife.

Since it's the first creature I've killed, he wants me to make the first cut myself. It's hanging at a height I can reach.

That's right. Life is precious.

I have to properly face what I've taken a life from.

Itadakimasu.

As instructed, I smoothly slid the knife across the boar's belly.

The processed boar is then placed in Aki's storage bag to age. Aki's bag is special; it maintains a low temperature. Like a refrigerator.

"Hide, tusks, horns, and a magic stone. Plus, a whole lotta meat. Yeah, we made good profit."

"Hold up, we aren't done yet."

"Huh? What's up, Aki?"

"That was a whole herd of Large-horned Boar this time of year. There might be some of that around."

"Aaah!"

"I forgot all about it!"

"Sansa Forest Truffles!"

The moment we finished processing the boar, Aki's words sent everyone scrambling, crawling on the ground.

What the heck was going on?

Mushroom hunting?

"Owl, look too! If you find any mushrooms with big caps, let me know!"

Yep, mushroom hunting.

Apparently, those boar have a knack for sniffing out truffle-like fungi. After a hunt, it's a good idea to search the area.

They say some incredibly fragrant mushrooms grow around here.

And they fetch a pretty penny if you sell them.

"A pharmacist buddy of mine said he'd buy them off me for more than market price. Can I sell mine?"

"Hold on, I've got someone who asked me to get some too."

"My mother and brother want to buy some as well."

Sparks flew between Nove, Master, and Leader.

Are these mushrooms really that valuable?

Ah, there's a mushroom in a spot that looks like a boar dug it up. This must be it. It's round, like an overturned soup bowl. Looks like a giant mushroom.

Can't really tell what it smells like.

"Hold it, you lot."

"Did someone ask you to get some too, Aki?"

"Nah, I'm gonna eat them myself… Don't you guys wanna try some?"

"Oh."

"Well, in that case…"

"Let's eat them!"

Who could resist eating such amazing mushrooms? Not us, that's for sure.

The squabble ended peacefully. As expected of Aki.

I show the mushroom I found to Aki.

"This is it, no doubt."

"You found one, Owl!"

"Well done! Tonight's dinner's gonna be a feast!"

Good, looks like I got the right one. Mushrooms are scary if you get the wrong kind. Gotta have an expert check it out.

I wonder if we can cultivate these mushrooms.

Maybe they need specific trees or nutrients. I found one that hasn't opened its cap yet. I wanna take it back and study it. But if they don't multiply, it'll be a waste, so I'll leave it here.

I'm excited to eat these amazing mushrooms for dinner tonight.

I had a thought: maybe the reason these mushrooms are so expensive is because adventurers like us can't resist the temptation to eat them instead of selling them.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 41

We advance deeper into the forest.

The path winds through varied terrain, rising slightly here, crossing a small stream there. Yet, a discernible trail persists.

It seems one doesn't need 'Authority' to enter.

"Stop."

Aki, leading the group, signals us to stop.

"Stray Great-Horned Boars…1, 2…4 of them? One's 'Transformed' as well."

"That's a lot."

Whoa, there they are…!

…maybe? I can't see them yet.

Are they the enormous boars?

Where should I position myself during the fight?

"If I recall correctly, we're allowed to hunt plenty of Great Boars this year."

"With the festival coming up, the merchants' guild will be pleased to receive the meat."

"They're in prime condition this time of year, nice and fatty."

"Alright, I'll take down the 'Transformed' one in one go. The rest is up to you."

"Just like always."

It's like they've already decided everything!

Where's a spot where I won't be in the way?

Looking around, I discreetly cling to Daine's back.

The shield of reassurance!

Isn't he going to participate in the hunt? He's just standing at the back. Isn't a shield supposed to be a tank, drawing in enemies and enduring their attacks?

"I don't hunt. This shield is for self-defense."

He really is just standing there. He's a healer, so rear support is his usual role, right? Though I don't know if Daine will provide support.

For now, this seems like a safe zone, so I'll stay here.

Nove's probably protecting us with area magic, right? So, we should be okay.

I can see the leader and the others slowly approaching their prey through the trees, quite a distance away.

I can see the Great-Horned Boars now.

Aren't they huge?

They're the size of minicars.

And there are five of them.

They're going to hunt those things alone? Isn't that something you hunt in a large group? We're the prey here!

This is the end of my life. My isekai adventure was incredibly short.

"Wanna try huntin' one yerself?"

How did this happen? I'm absolutely terrified right now.

Besides, is a slave who's not allowed to carry weapons permitted to use attack magic?

"…You can't carry weapons, but no one said anything about not attacking. Even slaves have the right to self-defense."

That's a serious loophole.

I can currently use water, purification, and electricity.

If I hit one with a strong jolt of electricity, could I paralyze it like a taser? Come to think of it, I haven't practiced lightning magic yet…

"If one comes this way, I'll stop it with my shield."

Please don't come this way, Mr. Boar…

The hunt begins.

Just as the leader disappears from view, the largest boar, radiating a menacing aura, crashes to the ground with a DOOSHIN!

Instant kill.

No way.

"Alright! I did it!"

"Yes! Get them!"

At the leader's command, everyone leaps at the other boars. The leader sets his sights on another one.

"URGHHHHH!"

"HAAAAH!"

"Shh!"

Crack. Thud. Swish. Splat.

Four others, instant kill.

No time to roar, no time to flee.

This absolutely isn't how you hunt boar. Especially Nove. Aren't you a mage? You were bellowing war cries and clubbing them to death.

"Hey! One headed your way, Daine!"

The leader's voice brought me back to reality.

Dod-dod-dod, a smaller boar was charging towards us.

It was hidden by the trees, so I missed it!

I told it not to come!

Whoa! It's coming!

"Stop it! I'm counting on ya, kid!"

Daine's body, which I was clinging to, tensed, becoming rock-hard. Body strengthening.

Daine stood directly in the path of the oncoming boar, lowered his hips, and raised his shield. Even though it's small, its snout is higher than my eyes. Scary.

I desperately clung to Daine. I had a clear view of the boar's face, its tusks lined up, as it ran towards us with a furious expression.

"URRRAAAAA!"

GIIIIN!

The shield took the boar's tusks head-on.

At that moment, something like a translucent shield formed from the shield, spreading out like an umbrella.

What is this?! Cool!

"Alright, my turn."

A gigiigi… sound of the shield and tusks scraping against each other.

I extended my right hand forward from behind Daine.

I just need to stop its movement. Like a taser, just a zap to conduct electricity.

I focused intently.

Electricity crackled in my palm.

Where would the electricity be most effective?

Not the surface, inside the body.

The back of the neck where the nerves are concentrated? Where's its neck? Behind the ear will do!

If it doesn't go down, it'll be bad, so I'll make it strong.

I aimed.

…CRACKLE!

A spark extended from my palm, reaching the back of the boar's ear, and light burst.

It sounded like a severed power line.

The boar stopped moving.

Is it paralyzed…?

"Whoa."

Daine shifted his shield, perhaps because the pressure was gone. The translucent shield also disappeared.

And then…

ZUSHEEEEN. The boar collapsed.

It didn't even twitch.

"Ah…this one's dead."

Huh…?

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 40

The master clapped his hands together in front of the forest.

What's going on?

"Alright, everyone line up. I'm going to hand out weapons."

"Hulk, I'd like the shorter one, please."

"We're in the forest, so I understand."

He took out weapons from somewhere and handed them out to everyone. A short sword for the leader, two daggers for Aki, a club-like thing for Nove, and a shield for Daine. Finally, he took out a short spear and held it himself.

The master has started a weapon shop…!

I'm the one with the storage bag, but where did all these weapons come from?

"Hulk has 'Special Storage'."

Special Storage… Is it different from a storage bag?

"Special Storage is a type of magic that allows you to have a 'different dimension that can hold an infinite number of specific items'. In Hulk's case, he can put in as many 'weapons' as he wants. It's a type of spatial magic, but if you limit the items you can put in, it hardly uses any magical power, so even Hulk, who has low magical power, can use it."

"He has magic letters engraved somewhere on his body."

"It sounds painful, and I don't want to be called a 'walking armory', so I'll pass."

"But you're always helping us. Thank you, Hulk."

The master is helping everyone! …Is this really helping?

I wondered why the master and everyone else didn't have weapons with them.

Everyone is armed, which means…

There might be a battle in the forest. I'd like to avoid it if possible, but everyone looks strong, so I'll do my best not to hold everyone back.

By the way, Nove, are you going to hit things with that club, or mace? What about magic?

We walk in a loose vertical line through the forest.

The air changed distinctly as we entered the forest.

The air we breathe is fresh and delicious, but it makes us feel somewhat uneasy. It's like trespassing on someone else's property.

We proceed in the following order: Aki at the front, followed by the leader and Nove, then me, Daine, and the master.

Aki is scouting, and the master is the rearguard.

I use body strengthening as I follow everyone.

However.

I was walking while looking down to avoid tripping over tree roots when a branch hit me in the face with a snap, or I slipped and fell with a thud. It was quite difficult.

I wonder how many times I've been taken care of with purification and recovery.

I've been vaguely aware of it. This body doesn't have very good reflexes…?

It's pitiful to blame my body, but I think I was pretty good at running and exercising in my other world.

I'm just not used to exercising, so I need to train.

In such a state, I'm so focused on walking that I have no time for scouting or exploring.

Combat? No way. I feel like I would die in a few minutes if I entered the forest alone. The forest is not to be trifled with.

Everyone is chatting casually, being alert, and moving forward with ease. They are matching my pace, so they are rather relaxed. Nove is even collecting various plants along the way.

This is the difference in rank and skill….

"Owl, are you tired?"

"Relax more, walking in the forest is easy because Daine is here."

It's easy because Daine is here. He doesn't seem to be doing anything.

I tilted my head while drinking water during a short break.

"Daine has an 'Authority', so we can walk safely through the forest."

'Authority'.

Here comes another new one.

"Owl may already know, but Daine has been bestowed with a skill called 'Authority' that allows him to read people's minds."

That cheat skill is called 'Authority', huh?

The leader says the 'Authority' is a powerful being who protects the forest, sharing its abilities with humans. It's a pretty rare skill in this country.

It seems the type of Authority that manifests varies from person to person, but what they all have in common is that they are 'welcomed by the forest'.

When walking through the forest, it becomes much easier to walk than for ordinary people, and they are less likely to be attacked by insects or monsters.

In other words, it's a highly coveted ability for adventurers.

Since the surrounding area also benefits, Daine is literally like a mosquito coil that repels monsters just by standing there.

On top of that, he's a shield, a healer, and can read minds.

The convenience of having one in every home!

"It's gotten a lot easier since Daine joined the party, hasn't it? Hunting, gathering, and exploration requests."

"The quality of the ingredients we get has also improved."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm amazing for bringing Daine along."

"…………Humph."

Uwah, being praised so much is making him embarrassed.

So Daine was active as a walking monster repellent, not as a healer.

Isn't he a little too high-functioning? Just by standing there.

Let's stay close to Daine in the forest.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 39

As my master hung the hunted bird on a nearby tree and began draining its blood by sticking a tool into its neck, I moved on to the next step.

"Let's try jumping next. With your body strengthened, try jumping with all your might."

Uh, scary.

How am I supposed to land when I don't know how far I can jump?

"Don't worry, I'll definitely catch you with the wind. If you don't know your full potential, you'll get hurt later."

That's true, but…

I can't control this body very well yet.

Seeing me hesitate, Nove thought for a moment and called Master.

"What?"

"Hulk, could you jump and fall with all your might? I want Owl to see how I catch you with the wind."

"Uh, scary."

See! Even Master, who's fearless, is scared.

Master grumbled but agreed to be the test subject.

He took a short run-up and kicked off the ground.

He jumped────！！What a magnificent jump!

Isn't that a little too magnificent? I don't think a human can jump three stories high. Was he a grasshopper in his past life?

He followed a parabolic arc and began to fall under the influence of gravity. However, his falling speed slowed down midway, and he landed on the ground while floating softly.

So this is wind magic. It feels like it slows you down and lowers you gently when you plunge into a mass of wind.

"How was it? It's alright, right?"

"This is fun."

Looks like I can do it!

Owl, here I come!

When I jumped using body strengthening, even I could easily reach the height of a two-story building.

Amazing. I'm becoming a bird! It was also safe to land on the ground while being enveloped in wind! Amazing! Fun!

Feeling like I could do it, I aimed for a nearby tree branch. I think I can get up there.

I took a run-up, jumped with a "Pyon!", and landed perfectly on the branch! I did it!

Nove is looking at me with a heartwarming gaze.

…I couldn't get down and had to be gently lowered by the wind.

But I'm getting a good grasp of how far I can jump.

I think I can extend my jump distance even further if I use this in conjunction with wind magic. If I could somehow use it as support while in the air, I think it could be amazing.

Let's stop for now.

After that, Master and I spent some time hopping and skipping around the plains.

If I use the guarding technique I learned at the beginning when landing, it's okay even if I fail a little. And I don't get tired at all.

Magic is amazing because even someone like me with no muscle strength can become like a bird.

Speaking of birds, I'm a grasshopper now. Either way, it's like flying through the air with the wind.

Some time after I became able to jump without training wheels (Nove's wind cushion), Leader and Aki returned.

They seem to have gathered a lot of grass in their baskets.

Daine? That guy's sleeping next to the luggage.

"Did you hunt a Painted Bird?"

"This meat is delicious, right?"

"I feel like there was someone who wanted this made into a stuffed specimen."

"Meat takes priority."

"Even just selling the feathers will fetch a good price."

"Hulk hunted it, so that's fine."

The bird Master was draining blood from was called a 'Painted Bird'. It has a more flamboyant appearance than a blue macaw. But I heard there's an even more flamboyant and rare bird called the 'Ultramarine Bird'.

Aki gave instructions, and everyone began processing the birds.

Nove cleanses the surface with something like hot water after purifying it, and everyone plucked the feathers.

I couldn't reach because it was a high place. I became the one who held a hemp bag and received the feathers that everyone plucked.

The bird finally became just skin and flesh. Once it gets like this, it just looks like meat.

After that, Aki's hands quickly divided it into large parts with surprising speed, wrapped in a large cloth and large leaves with a cold insulation effect, and packed into Aki's storage bag.

It wasn't as gross as I thought it would be. Maybe because it was after the blood was drained, or because I was looking at it as food. Maybe I had some resistance, which was good.

It was like fast-forwarding, it happened in an instant. Aki's dismantling technique is amazing.

It seems that this party's way (or rather, Aki's way) is to drain the blood and do the initial processing of the hunted prey on the spot.

In other parties, it seems that they often only drain the blood on the spot and take it to a guild or butcher to have it dismantled. There's also an aging period.

Aki is absolutely against letting the meat quality deteriorate, so in this party, hunted prey is to be immediately drained of blood, processed, and kept cold. Birds have a short aging period and can be eaten as early as tonight.

After finishing organizing the things we gathered and hunted, we took a breath and set off.

Next, we finally enter the forest.

"Here, let's do this for Owl who helped us."

My master gave me a bunch of small, colorful feathers. Beautiful.

I smiled and put the purified feathers in the pouch attached to my waist.

One more memory added.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 38

After a meal and a break, it was decided that I would be taught 'Body Strengthening'.

Nove is the teacher.

I thought Nove was good at magic, but can he do Body Strengthening too?

The others are spending their time looking for prey, taking naps, or doing whatever they like.

"Body Strengthening is 'using the magical power in your body to enhance your physical abilities'. For example, you can move faster, lift heavy objects, and harden your body."

It uses magical power, so it must be Nove!

I understand.

"Do you understand what Owl needs most right now?"

"?"

"Stamina. If you use Body Strengthening, you'll be able to keep up with us without getting tired."

"!"

"See? You better learn it."

I nod vigorously.

I really want that!

I wonder how to do it.

Nove nodded with satisfaction, seeing my enthusiasm, and taught me how to do it.

Imagine covering your whole body with magical power.

That's all.

When I use magic, I always imagine outputting energy from my fingertips and converting it into something else, like water or purification.

It seems like I can do it by imagining the energy wrapping around my body without converting it.

I wonder if I can do it?

From the tips of my fingers, softly… Oh! I feel like my body has become lighter!

If I had known this, I could have had an easier time at the mansion.

"Did you do it? Then let's practice defense. It's better to be able to protect yourself in case of emergency. Owl can't hold a weapon."

That's right. Slaves weren't allowed to carry weapons.

I imitate Nove, who steps back a little and takes a stance, and I also take a stance.

"On my signal, I'm going to lightly punch with my fist, so Owl, catch it with your palm. Watch carefully, and harden it before it hits."

As I was told, I stick my palm out in front of me and wait.

The moment Nove slowly cocked her fist back and said, "Here I go~".

I squeezed my eyes shut.

I slowly open my eyes because there is no sensation in my palm.

Nove had a troubled look on her face.

"Shall we try again?"

The fist slowly approaches with the signal.

Squeeze.

Ah, I closed my eyes again.

Body! It's okay not to close your eyes! You're not going to get hit!

This is troublesome. This body reflexively closes its eyes and stiffens when faced with something like violence. This won't do for training.

Even at this slow speed, it's still a fail, huh? This is why violence is bad.

"………Let's start with this."

Nove crouched down in front of me and held out her index finger.

The tip of her finger slowly approached.

It gently tapped my palm…chon…

I-I succeeded…!

"Owl, did you use Body Strengthening?"

Ah.

Thanks to Nove's patience with all the twists and turns, I was somehow able to guard without closing my eyes even when a fist was coming at me.

It was an unexpected stumbling block, but maybe it was good that I did it first.

When you guard with Body Strengthening, your body hardens, reducing injuries and pain. You can feel like a rock or a shield.

It's also effective against magic attacks.

"Yeah, with this level of hardness, you can protect yourself from most attacks. All that's left is training."

Just as Nove was about to say "Next…" something whizzed past nearby.

An attack!?

I hardened my body with the guard I had just learned.

"Look, I hunted a rare one!"

It was the owner carrying a flashy bird who had flown by.

What speed was that just now!

Is that body strengthening…?

As I gulped, Nove let out a big sigh.

"Owl, just so you know, Hulk didn't use body strengthening just now. His natural physical abilities are just insane."

Seriously?

"What's more, even though he has a small amount of magical power, he's good at controlling it, so he can skillfully use body strengthening only in key areas to produce ridiculous power and speed. Don't imitate him, he's a speed freak who ignores defense."

"Are you praising me or making fun of me?"

Master is amazing!

So there's a way to use body strengthening in key areas without covering your whole body.

Body strengthening is profound.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 37

Departing from Sansa, we ambled along the highway, a road frequented by carriages and travelers.

For a while, the path continued through plains. Scattered here and there were groves and villages, with a large forest visible in the distance.

The highway seemed to circumvent the forest. Rest areas were set up at intervals. Well-maintained, indeed.

Even though it was a plain, the scenery was ever-changing and captivating, with tall grass, grassy patches, shrubs, and streams.

Since there were supposedly no dangerous monsters in this area, everyone walked in a relaxed manner, engaging in idle chatter.

The people of this country are incredibly laid-back.

They don't rush, and they don't make others rush. Despite their advanced technology, the only mode of transportation I've seen is carriages, probably because of this.

It might be their perception of time due to their longevity.

Therefore, nobody minds if we proceed at my pace.

Still, because my stride is small, I sometimes have to break into a trot to keep up.

When I felt tired, someone would give me a piggyback ride in turns.

Hmm.

With the stamina of this body, long-distance travel is still tough. It was in tatters until a few days ago.

Unfortunately, I have to accept that. I can't push myself beyond my limits. Worrying won't improve the situation.

More importantly, I need to pay attention to the surrounding scenery.

All the plants have unfamiliar shapes. I'm not knowledgeable about them in the first place, so I can only distinguish between conifers and other miscellaneous plants, but even so, the vegetation is all new to me.

The small birds I occasionally see also have colors, shapes, and calls that I've never seen or heard before.

So many firsts.

There's so much to learn.

We deviated from the highway and proceeded across the plain towards the forest.

After traveling a considerable distance, the group came to a halt.

The sun is directly overhead.

I guess this is where we'll have lunch.

In the shade of a tree, we took out wooden boxes, sat on them, and devoured the sandwiches Aki had made for lunch. Mine was a size smaller than everyone else's. Delicious.

I received my own dedicated wooden box.

I learned for the first time during this morning's shopping that adventurers seem to have a strong attachment to wooden boxes. After much debate involving the entire party about which wooden box I should get, I received a smaller one as a "temporary" measure. The selection of other daily necessities was done haphazardly.

Anything is fine with me. What is it about wooden boxes that makes them so passionate?

They say, "A wooden box is a necessity. It's good for carrying things, sitting on, using as a makeshift desk, and as a footrest."

Indeed, looking around at everyone in the party, each person is sitting on a wooden box of a different shape.

There's the standard type made by layering many thin boards, and the type made from a single board. The handles also vary, with some attached externally and others carved out as holes.

Daine has a really sturdy-looking type made by assembling square lumber. He's quite heavy, so a flimsy wooden box would probably collapse if he sat on it.

I was told to choose a proper one myself when we return to the royal capital. For an adventurer, choosing a wooden box that suits them is equivalent to choosing a partner. Are we really talking about wooden boxes?

While nodding, I thought I'd probably end up using the one I'm using now.

"Remember when we first met Hulk? He didn't have a wooden box. What do you think he was using instead?… A giant turtle shell."

Pfft. Nove looked away, and it was a little funny.

I see. My master used a turtle shell as a wooden box… I can't. It's hilarious.

"I don't know where he got it from, but he ended up sitting on a turtle shell and carrying his luggage in it. It was pretty silly."

"It was convenient!"

"When he went to sell medicinal herbs and hunted game, he put them in the shell and tried to hand it over at the counter. They bought the whole shell, and he cried."

"I didn't cry!"

I just imagined my master carrying a turtle shell on his back. He's like a river monster.

I see. Thanks to his example, I think I understand a little bit about the importance of a wooden box.

I'm going to choose seriously this time.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 36

Things are not going well at all.

In the basement of a small shop, the old man sighed.

But there is more than one plan in motion. Only a small part has been revealed.

They have been discovered by the king's shadow, but they are fools to rejoice in grasping the tip of a giant snake's tail.

I control a much larger flow.

The old man squinted at the large map illuminated by the lamp.

There, many pins were placed in major cities, and red threads stretched like snakes to connect them.

Standing in front of a map of future power with detailed plans written on it, the old man slowly tilts his cup in his hand.

The city of Sansa is a foothold from this central country of Midresia to the abhorrent homeland of Casmania and the neighboring islands of the Machinea archipelago.

Casmania is a commercial country. Compared to the fierce competition there, Midresia could be easily controlled.

Then everyone will have to admit it.

Everyone will know of my existence with awe.

The old man was the third son of a certain merchant in Casmania. He was mediocre, not blessed with great talent, and was an inconspicuous, shadowy existence that no one noticed.

He traveled from shop to shop, peddled goods, and visited many countries to hone his business acumen. Even so, he was just one of the 'Casmanian merchants' who appeared everywhere.

I have to make myself, myself, the only one. The spark of discontent that had been smoldering since childhood gradually grew larger and became so intense that it burned his whole body.

He gathered like-minded people from all over the place and started organized underground activities. He could not break into existing vested interests by orthodox methods. He realized that illegal methods suited him very well.

Thus, an 'old man' who plotted to dominate the underworld was born.

He noticed the potential of 'powder' and invested his fortune in its production.

'Powder' cannot be stopped even if its dangers are known. Even if laws are made, there are many ways to use them to your advantage.

There are also connections to provide personnel.

Many traps are already raising their heads like snakes aiming at their prey.

It has finally begun.

The era in which I am the main character has begun.

No one can stop me.

The old man put down his cup with satisfaction.

Immediately, more alcohol is poured.

The old man was startled by the sound of To-Po-Po… and looked around.

Since when have you been there?

A man with eyes like the night sky shining under his hood was waiting there as if it were a matter of course.

The old man did not trust people, so he never told anyone about this place.

No one should be there.

"Who is it! …Since when? Why is this place"

"…Oh, I came here following the scent before leaving town to see your face. To think you were really just an old man. Well, drink to your heart's content."

"You…who are you?"

"Nobody. Just a passerby like a fleeting moment. Don't worry about it."

There was no sign of him at all.

Could it be that the king's shadow has tracked me down to this place?

The young man deftly took out a bottle of recovery potion and downed it in one gulp.

"It's tiring, so let's finish this quickly."

"…Are you here to kill me?"

"'Kill'? Oh, you mean kill. Don't worry, I don't kill people"

"So, what have you come here to do?"

"To bestow fear upon you."

The old man was struck by a tremendous shock, as if he had been swallowed by a torrent. An unprecedented chill ran down his spine several times. His skin stood on end, and his knees buckled.

The young man's eyes, which seemed like the night sky, emitted a golden light.

The moment he was glared at by those eyes, he became unable to move as if he had been sewn in place.

Terrifying.

Faced with such overwhelming pressure that it destroyed both reason and instinct, I felt the powerlessness of my arrogance.

How small and weak I am.

It felt like it would last forever, but it ended abruptly.

The old man looked around the room, trembling, but nothing had changed. The hand that had hurriedly grabbed the cup shook like it was broken.

The young man stood in the same place as before with a cool face, and he drank from the cup while trembling, while looking at the old man who was drinking from the bottle of recovery potion.

"W-what was that just now…"

"Not to faint from that, you're quite spirited. I am blessed by a certain high being. I showed you a glimpse of that majesty."

"A blessing, you say? Aren't you the 'King's Shadow'?"

"No, I'm not. Because of the blessing, I can't ignore those who defile the land. I like this country too… but to show my respect for you who endured it, I'll tell you an old story.

──About 1500 years ago, when the great nation of Cynthia was at its peak, a small country plotted to overthrow Cynthia. In order to weaken the country and corrupt it from within, they spread a drug extracted and refined from the seeds of a certain plant. The drug showed people 'dreams' but had a terrible addictive nature."

"!"

"The drug reached the hands of the people of Cynthia, and the plan seemed to succeed. However, no matter how long they waited, the power of Cynthia did not decline, nor did it decay. On the contrary, many drug addicts appeared in the small country. Gradually, the small country declined and eventually disappeared as if it had been swallowed up by the surrounding countries.

The name of that small country…"

The old man swallowed his saliva with a gulp.

I was fascinated by the glittering night sky eyes that seemed to see through all my actions. I desperately resisted being swallowed up by the history that flowed from his mouth.

"────The name is not left."

"!"

"Not even the name remains, and only the folly is recorded in the history books. …In other words, what you tried to do 1500 years ago has already failed. It's written in the transcript of an ancient document in the city library. Were you satisfied with just reading the manufacturing method of the powder? You need to learn more about history."

"W-what… why… why do you…"

I could hear the sound of the future world map, which seemed to be solid, crumbling away.

I couldn't admit it.

"I don't know how you noticed the plan, but I still can't stop…! I won't stop until my existence is recognized…"

"What, is that why you're messing with this city? I don't know about the plan, but do you know why Cynthia didn't fall?"

"…………"

"It wasn't necessary. The great nation of Cynthia is a country that values martial arts. Even without drowning in drugs, the people dreamed of fighting. On the contrary, they refined the drug and used it to train against spiritual magic. …In this country too, the 'powder' didn't spread as much as you thought, did it? The people of Midresia are long-lived and have stable lives. They don't need temporary 'dreams'."

"That can't be…"

"Your methods will only leave corpses in your wake. Do you seek recognition by piling up a mountain of silent dead?"

"Ugh…! I cannot end yet! Even if I die, our ambitions cannot be stopped!"

"No, the dream is over."

The young man finished the bottle of healing potion and gently placed his hand on the old man's forehead.

Realizing the end, the old man began to tremble.

"I will sever the head of the 'Great Serpent' and end it all. I will not harm you. Is there anything you wish to say before the end?"

Suddenly, a scene from a famous classic fairy tale came to the old man's mind.

The image of a young hero, favored by the Heavenly Dragon and known as a legendary warrior, severing the head of a great white serpent that impersonated the Heavenly Dragon with his great sword.

Clunk.

The sound of a cup being placed on the table echoed.

"…Tell me your name."

"My name is────"

The old man was astonished by the name whispered in his ear.

At the same time, his head was enveloped in a warm magic, and when it subsided, the young man was gone.

The map on the stone wall had also vanished.

In fact, he could not even remember why he was there.

"…Was I dreaming?"

The old man left the basement and began preparing for the next day in his small shop.

After that, he never returned to the basement.

In a quiet alleyway of Sansa at night, an adventurer was crouching down.

"Ugh…I drank too much…I have to go back and see Owl's face soon…"

The young man's eyes, looking up at the stars, twinkled as if reflecting the night sky itself.

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 35

The market is bustling with activity today, too.

I'm still a little nervous, but I guess that will go away eventually.

My travel preparations were quite difficult.

I had to buy a lot of basic necessities like blankets and toiletries. I was really grateful that the slaver provided me with clothes.

I don't know what's good or bad, and I can't say anything, so I just put on what I'm told to wear and pack it in my bag.

I would have liked to have taken a closer look at the items, but I didn't have the time.

Everyone else is also efficiently purchasing what they need. It seems that the selection is good, as it is a trading town.

Everyone's clothes are different from the loose ones they wear around town, and they have a more "adventurer" look.

I guess it's because they have more armor. Their shoes have also changed to boots that cover their shins. That alone makes them look different from ordinary people! They haven't put on their weapons yet.

As for me.

My usual clothes, shoes, socks, and poncho coat. In addition to that, a small knife, a small pouch, gloves, and a storage bag.

That's my equipment.

I look a little more like a traveler now.

My master prefers to travel lightly, so I have to carry his storage bag. It's for my use as well.

Carrying luggage, a slave's job!

However, it's just a backpack-type storage bag. It's been enchanted with spatial magic, so it doesn't weigh much no matter how much is inside. It's a bit light to claim to be a baggage carrier.

My master said that even with this lightness, it would get in the way of his movements, so he didn't want to carry it. He was so happy that he was jumping around. Is he a puppy?

I'm happy to have a job, and my master is happy to be light on his feet. This is world peace. Win-win.

Daine looked at us with a suspicious eye as we skipped and jumped around.

"I think we'll go along the road from the north gate for a while, then cross the grasslands and enter the forest. I think we'll be able to rest and train in the grasslands."

"We'll camp in the forest."

"If we cut through the forest, we'll be close to the royal capital."

"Let's do that."

Everyone agreed with the leader's plan and started walking towards the gate.

Gradually, there were more carriages than people.

A person standing in the middle with a flag-like thing is guiding them, acting as a traffic signal. Sometimes he would blow a whistle. The traffic conditions here are interesting.

The sound of wheels, the clopping of horseshoes, the neighing of horses, the shouts of the drivers.

It's like we've wandered into a movie set.

I feel like I've really come to another world.

The gate is wide enough for four carriages to pass side by side, and there are large stone watchtowers on either side.

This is the first time I've seen the outer wall of this city, but it's lower than I thought. Maybe they're not very concerned about defense.

Is it because there are few wars? Or is it because magic is useless? Hmm.

As I was wondering, I was called by name.

"Owl, there's a bus stop over there with people lined up, right? There's a regular bus that leaves from there to the royal capital about four times a day. If we get separated from you, you can head to the highway and get picked up by that carriage with the crest. Sometimes the traveling knights pass by, so you can take that one too. If you show your escort badge, they'll give you a ride to the royal capital. Do you remember that?"

The leader crouched down and explained to me.

You never know what might happen.

The regular flight's logo is a picture of a galloping horse. Easy to understand.

When I nodded to show my understanding, the leader smiled gently and patted my head. Father…!

"Then, let's go back to the royal capital!"

The weather is sunny.

Nove walked out briskly, and we followed him through the gate.

The gateway to trade.

Sansa, a city where various people and things intersect, meet, and part.

There were many things, but this is the city where it all began for me, where the worst and the best coexisted.

Is it finally time to say goodbye?

A strange sense of emotion envelops me.

Goodbye, Sansa.

See you again.

[Next time, a different perspective]

[ramuneempiremtl]

Slave-kun’s Happy Life in Another World: Chapter 34

When I woke up in the morning, it was a scene of carnage.

It stinks of alcohol.

It's a mess, like the aftermath of a home drinking party.

Last night, when I got out of the bath, everyone was unusually excited, but maybe the sense of liberation after finishing a stressful job made them crazy.

It happens often.

Daine collapsed in front of the toilet. Nove and the leader somehow managed to get into bed, but Aki was crawling around the kitchen, holding his head and groaning.

The master was sleeping soundly under the bed. His face was peaceful, but the location was a bit strange.

I'm the only sane one.

Alright.

Purification, purification!

I opened the windows and gave the whole room a light 'purification'. I also let the wind blow in to change the air.

The smell of alcohol has gotten a little better.

I gathered up the scattered bottles of alcohol and lined them up. The traces of food were also 'purified'. The discarded clothes were also 'purified'! It's a 'purification' festival! Wahoo!

Phew.

Well, it looks like it's going to be hard to drink with everyone as an adult.

When I went to the kitchen, Aki slowly handed me a wooden plate with bread and what looked like fruit.

Don't push yourself.

"I'm sorry, but… can you wake up Daine…"

It was no use after all.

It's time for the healer to step in.

"You drank too much."

"Damn, my head still hurts… Nove"

"I don't want to use my magic yet. Do it yourself."

"Kid"

"Owl hasn't been taught recovery yet, has he?"

Everyone who looked like zombies finally regained their human form thanks to Daine's recovery.

Daine still looks like he's in pain.

That's it, right? It's like the image of breaking down the acetaldehyde component in the liver, right?

Alright, let's experiment on a human.

"Just kidding. Don't push yourself… huh?"

"Hey, is it healed?"

"…It's healed."

"Wow, Owl! Next time these guys get hungover, we can ask Owl to recover them."

"Don't be so proud just because you don't get drunk, Hulk."

"Alright, next time you recover, you'll have to pay me, Owl."

"Just kidding, Hulk is great."

"Owl is the great one."

Everyone suddenly became noisy as soon as they recovered.

Next time, I'll heal them just enough.

After breakfast and getting ready, everyone started packing. It was an easy task of just throwing everything into a storage bag, a pouch with spatial magic cast on it. Apparently, everyone has one.

The request is complete, and it's finally time to say goodbye to the city of Sansa.

"I'd like to stop by the market and the branch before we leave."

"Hm? Do you need anything?"

"Listen, Hulk… do you think Owl, who was brought here with nothing, can go on a journey like this?"

"Ah!"

"And return the money."

"Ah"

The good-for-nothing master is back to his usual self.

I feel a little sorry for always being bought things, but that's what a slave is, and I'll pay you back with my work.

I don't need that many clothes because I can clean them with 'purification'. This world is convenient in that way.

But.

"What's wrong, Owl? Why are you so fidgety?"

"…He's worried that he cleaned the room too much."

"I think the innkeeper will be pleased… Probably."

In fact, the innkeeper was overjoyed when he saw the room. He asked to have his other rooms done for a fee, but the leader declined. We couldn't waste our magic power on such a trivial task when we were about to set out on a journey.

First, we went to their branch, completed the procedures for withdrawing their deposits and other matters, and then headed for the market.

Behind the scenes, there had been turmoil at the Adventurer's Guild branch, but on the surface, it was business as usual, as if nothing had happened to the guild master.

Along the way, Nove went off somewhere on an errand, Aki was stopped from wandering into the dining room, and various other things happened before we finally left the branch.

"Actually, there's something I want to give to Owl."

As we left the branch, the leader took something that looked like a piece of cloth out of his bag.

It was a coat! It was like a poncho with a hood.

Did he buy it?

"Remember when we went to talk to the slave trader? At that time, I asked the slave trader's master how Owl was doing, and he said, 'It's hard to sell children's clothes,' and he gave me this… There's more. I figured I might as well buy them since they're necessities."

That slave trader!

He looks like a villain, but he's such a kind person. I'd like to repay him someday. I'll definitely become the happiest slave in the world.

"No wonder Hulk was defeated. That slave trader is a real go-getter."

"I didn't lose!… Thank you, Leader. I'll pay you back what I owe you. And for the meals the other day."

"I don't mind, but if it makes Hulk feel better, then that's fine."

"Return what you owe me while you're at it."

"How much was it?"

"Remember properly…"

The master looked at me as if asking for help.

Oh well. I'll count it on my fingers.

Let's see, two silver coins for breakfast at the market for two people, one silver coin for issuing the escort certificate, two silver coins for two magic appraisals… That makes a total of four silver coins in debt.

I held up four fingers.

"Owl is smart!"

"Pull yourself together, Master."

I'm not a dog, so I don't appreciate being praised for doing something as simple as arithmetic.

I wish someone would teach me about currency values. I don't understand anything about weights and measures or dates and times!

Oh well, I'll learn gradually.