Year 1451, month 10, day 11

  I was in a bit of an indescribable mood because of Nari’s weird behavior. It was a strange mix of amusement and genuine concern; I had expected a slave to be somewhat cowed by a new environment, but she seemed to treat my home like a playground. However, as soon as I saw Woya’s innocent and bright smile as she stepped onto the porch to welcome me, all of my worries were alleviated. Her presence was like a grounding force, a reminder of the order and loyalty I got used to over the past two weeks.

  “... Huh! I am home, Woya,” I replied, allowing a small chuckle to escape. I fixed my posture, shaking off the lingering irritation from the walk through the city.

  I turned my gaze back to Nari. She was looking at me with a genuinely puzzled face, her ears twitching as she watched the exchange between Woya and me. I gestured for her to follow me as I moved toward the front door. Woya remained there, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the sight of our new housemate—the striking white-haired catkin with the golden eyes.

  “Call Wyn down as well. We’re going to have a meeting immediately,” I told Woya.

  “... Yes, master.”

  She offered a quick, respectful nod. Her eyes flickered toward Nari for a fleeting second, a mix of curiosity and perhaps a hint of wariness in her gaze, before she hurriedly went inside to call her sister.

  “Let’s get inside, Nari,” I said, stepping across the threshold.

  She didn't reply verbally, but she followed me into the house. I had noticed she was like this whenever there were strangers around—quiet and observant—but once she felt comfortable, her "wild" side tended to come out. I didn't pay much attention to her silence for the moment and led the way into the living room.

  As we entered the space, I heard the rapid, rhythmic sound of footsteps coming from the stairs. Wyn was descending quickly. I moved to the heavy wooden dining table, pulling out the chair at the head where I always sat, and settled into it. I needed to establish the atmosphere of a formal briefing.

  I was just in the motion of sitting when Woya entered the room, followed closely by Wyn. By the time I was fully seated, the twins had taken their places standing near the table. Then, I watched as Nari casually pulled out a chair directly beside mine and sat down with a bright, ignorant smile on her face. She looked like a guest at a dinner party rather than a newly purchased slave.

  Woya and Wyn had been smiling when they walked in, ready to offer their standard greetings, but when they saw Nari’s casual disrespect for the household's social hierarchy, their expressions shifted. Their eyebrows furrowed for a few seconds, a flash of visible discontent crossing their faces. To their credit, they composed themselves quickly, smoothing their features before turning to me.

  “Welcome back, master… It seems you have successfully retrieved her,” Wyn said. She started with a smile, but her face grew stern the moment her eyes drifted back toward Nari.

  I had already expected them to act somewhat distant toward a newcomer. In a household like this, affection and favor are the primary currencies, and they were likely anxious about Nari "stealing" my attention. However, I couldn't tell if their current displeasure was rooted in jealousy or if they were simply offended by her impudence. To a well-trained wolfkin like Wyn, Nari’s behavior must have looked like a slap in the face to the rules of the house.

  “Yeah, this is Nari,” I said casually, turning my head to look at her.

  She was still sitting there nonchalantly, leaning back in the chair as if she owned the place.

  “... Hey, Nari…” I called her name.

  “Huh? What is it~nya?” she replied.

  Her tone was informal, her verbal tic present as if it were the most natural thing in the world to speak to me as a peer.

  “... What the f*ck are you doing right now?”

  I paused, letting the silence hang in the air. I looked at Woya and Wyn, then turned back to Nari, my brows knitting together in a sharp, dark line.

  I have always been reluctant to treat my slaves with unnecessary harshness. I prefer a home built on mutual benefit and genuine loyalty. But I also firmly believe that for a system to function, everyone has to know their place. Nari was clearly looking down on me—whether it was an intentional act of rebellion or simply a lack of upbringing didn't matter. If I allowed this to continue, it would lead to direct disobedience or avoidable conflicts. Worse, it would eventually degrade the discipline I had instilled in Woya and Wyn.

  The room went deathly silent.

  Woya and Wyn were stunned, their eyes wide as they stared at me. This was the first time they had seen me truly angry, and certainly the first time they had heard me use that kind of language. As for Nari, the arrogant smile vanished instantly. She stared at me, her golden eyes wide with shock, and I could see her start to tremble. She clearly hadn't expected a reaction this visceral.

  “... Huh? M-master~nya? W-why did you—”

  “Shut up!”

  I cut her off, my voice echoing in the living room. I didn't give her a chance to rationalize or apologize. I turned my focus back to the twins.

  “Listen, girls… Huuu…” I took a deep, steadying breath, letting the red heat of my anger settle into a cold, professional edge.

  “Y-yes, master,” Woya stammered. She was shivering slightly, her ears pinned back.

  Wyn, on the other hand, had recovered quickly. While she looked surprised at the outburst, she had already smoothed her expression into one of professional readiness, as if she realized that a reorganization was necessary.

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  “I’m going to be very busy for the next few weeks,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “You remember the trade deal I established in Baymur. That is going to require a lot of my attention, which means my business will be livening up. I’ll be away from the house more often than not. Since you two are Nari's seniors, I am entrusting her guidance to you. I want you to make sure she understands the rules of this house—thoroughly.”

  “Yes, master,” Wyn replied instantly. Woya simply nodded, her eyes still wide.

  “Woya, I am holding you personally accountable for every mistake she makes within these walls,” I said, looking her directly in the eye. I wanted her to feel the weight of the responsibility. “Teach her how we maintain this home. I want her to take over a fair share of the domestic tasks, so don't let her wander around aimlessly. We don't have room for idleness. Also, take her to the dress shop and buy her a proper set of clothing, similar to what the two of you wear.”

  I reached into my pouch and placed two gold coins on the table. The metallic clink sounded like a gavel in the quiet room.

  “... Y-yes, master. I understand. I will see to it,” Woya managed to say. Her voice was still shaky, but the instruction had given her a sense of purpose.

  “Good,” I said, turning my gaze to Wyn. “And Wyn, I want the morning combat practices to resume immediately. Nari can utilize the training equipment you and Woya used before I bought your steel gear. Her fighting prowess is likely close to yours, so she will make a good training partner. You are responsible for the training regimen. Make sure she is ready for the dungeon.”

  “As you wish, master,” Wyn replied. She didn't hesitate for a second. She excelled under pressure, and I knew she would take the role of "drill sergeant" seriously.

  “Huu…” I exhaled slowly, finally turning back to Nari.

  I had given the twins their roles, but the actual burden of change lay with her. I needed to make her a useful asset to my party; I hadn't paid sixty gold coins for a decorative ornament that caused trouble. She was standing now, having realized the gravity of her mistake. She looked nervous, her tail tucked slightly, which gave me some hope that she was capable of learning.

  The issue wasn't just about her sitting without permission or her informal speech. It was about her attitude. She was a newly purchased slave, yet she was acting as if she were the master of the house. If I ignored that now, it would fester into arrogance, and it is much harder to break a spirit once it has solidified into pride.

  Every subordinate I buy serves a purpose. They help me manage my life, whether it’s joining my party in the dungeon, handling the logistics of the house, or providing companionship. If they can't fulfill those roles with the proper mindset, they are a liability.

  “As for you, Nari… do you realize how much I paid to bring you here?” I asked, my tone pragmatic. “You have a good face, a good body, and you are clearly capable in a fight. But if you cannot integrate into our life here, then none of those traits matter. Listen to Woya and Wyn. Earn your fill, and show me that you are worth keeping.”

  When I mentioned "worth keeping," I saw a flicker of genuine fear in her eyes. I also noticed Woya and Wyn react—a slight tensing of their shoulders. They likely feared that if they ever faltered, I would dispose of them as well. Of course, that was an impossibility; I would never let go of two girls as loyal and precious as them, but a little fear can be a powerful motivator for a new recruit.

  “... U-uh… M-master…” Nari started, her voice small.

  I didn't say anything. I just stared at her, my expression one of cold annoyance.

  “... Y-yes~nya, master,” she whispered, forcing her head down into a deep bow.

  “... Good. I’m leaving now. Wyn, take this. The funds I left previously must be running low.”

  I placed 100 Hazaroth silver coins on the table for Wyn. Between the grocery costs and the general maintenance of the house, we were spending over a silver coin a day, even without including lunch. With a third mouth to feed, the expenses would only climb. I didn't want them to worry about money while I was away on business.

  “Thank you. Please, take care, master,” Wyn said.

  “Take care, master,” Woya added.

  Nari remained in her bow, her head lowered until I had turned my back. As I walked toward the door, I glanced back at her. I wondered briefly if I had been too harsh, but I quickly shook the thought away. I had too much to do to indulge in guilt. I stepped out into the afternoon sun, the heavy door clicking shut behind me.

  I had nearly nine platinum coins before our vacation, but I had just sunk five of them into a single trade agreement. Even without counting our travel expenses and the new gear for the girls, my liquid assets had taken a massive hit. It was time to refill those coffers through hard work and the efficient use of the Warp.

  The border of the Ottovard Empire was my first target. The Empire is world-renowned for its fashion and the exotic goods it imports from the Western continents. Because the border settlements are a long way from their primary ports, the prices there are significantly marked up, creating a perfect opportunity for a merchant who can bypass traditional transportation costs.

  In the past, my mana had been the limiting factor. I could only visit the immediate border settlements unless there was an exceptionally profitable item further inland. The same was true for the northern reaches of the Hazaroth Union; I could only push so far before the mana cost for a return trip became too high.

  The Targonia Kingdom offered a different set of opportunities. It is a nation built on agriculture and mining. The central plains are the most fertile in the known world, and the Brinewall Mountain Range provides an almost inexhaustible supply of minerals. However, the mountains also act as a wall, cutting the Kingdom off from the ocean.

  I’ve spent time wandering their markets for specialties. The best profits are found in the warehouses of high-tier merchants or nobles who stock goods for export. I could buy refined items at their source for a fraction of what they cost in the Union.

  The Union has its own strengths, of course. Our ports bring in goods from the eastern continents, and we are famous for our processed aquatic harvests and medicinal herbs. My strategy is simple: buy aquatic goods here, sell them for a massive markup in landlocked Targonia. Buy precious minerals in Targonia, sell them to the artisans in the Union or the Empire.

  I had tried my hand at the ore trade before, but it had been a learning experience. I had purchased raw orichalcum ore thinking it would be a gold mine, but I hadn't factored in the specialized refining costs. I ended up taking a minor loss just to offload the raw stone. From now on, I will focus on refined gems—diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds—that take up less space in my inventory and offer a much higher profit margin.

  My plan for the coming weeks is to revisit my established contacts, delve deeper into the interior of the neighboring countries, and utilize my past experiences to maximize every trip. I also need to check in with my acquaintances in Yargan; they often have specific orders for exotic materials that they can't source locally.

  Because I can return to the city on the same day I depart for another country, I can maintain a presence at home. I’ll be able to observe the girls' progress and perhaps even take them into the dungeon for a few hours of grinding from time to time. But the main reason I will return every night is much simpler: I want to sleep in my own comfortable bed, with the warmth of two—and eventually three—beautiful companions by my side.

  By the time I had finalized the steps of my next business phase, I had reached the massive gateway leading to the outer city. I went through the familiar process of the identity check and passed through the archway. I stood at the top of the canyon wall for a moment, looking down at the city of Yargan. It was buzzing with life, thousands of people exerting themselves for the sake of gold. It was a good sight to see, and I was ready to claim my share.

  [Edited]

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