Year 1451, month 11, day 14

  In the quiet hours of the morning, shortly after we had finished a breakfast that felt unusually heavy with unspoken tension, I sat Nari down to inform her of the decision I had made regarding her future. Even before the words left my mouth, the atmosphere in the house was stifling. Both Woya and Wyn were moving through their morning chores with a visible gloom hanging over them. While they remained as courteous and elegant as ever, performing their duties with the practiced grace of well-trained maids, it was clear to any observer that their inner light had faded for the day. Their usual warmth was replaced by a hollow, mechanical efficiency.

  When I finally told Nari that she was to be sold, she looked at me with an expression of complete blankness. She simply could not understand the reason for it at all. From her perspective, her life here had been progressing perfectly. In her mind, she had only been scolded once on her very first day and a few times during our excursions in the dungeon. Beyond those minor corrections, her owner had actually spent a significant amount of time with her alone, away from the other two slaves. To someone with Nari’s specific mindset, this was clear evidence that her place in this household was not only secure but perhaps even prioritized.

  It was an understandable misunderstanding, given who Nari was at her core. If she had been the type of person capable of understanding what her master liked and disliked, or if she possessed the social intuition to read a room and adjust her behavior accordingly, she likely would not have been in a position to be sold back to a merchant in the first place. Her inability to adapt was not just a character flaw; it was a fundamental part of her nature that made this outcome inevitable.

  As the realization began to sink in, the reasons for her sadness became apparent, and they only served to reinforce my decision. She didn't speak of loyalty or the bond we had shared; instead, she lamented that she would lose the tasty foods I provided and the comfortable, clean home she had grown accustomed to. Since she had always entered the dungeon alongside a master who could dispatch monsters with ease, she had also enjoyed a level of safety that a lone beastkin could only dream of. In this house, her basic survival needs were met without struggle, and that was what she feared losing most.

  She sat there for several minutes, lost for words. She was unable to see what she had done wrong, and she was equally bad at expressing whatever emotions were churning beneath her surface. To an outsider who could see her thought process, this might have seemed like a cruel parting, but the reality is that everyone is living their own life. Every individual has their own purposes and goals, and to reach those goals, one must eventually let go of the people who no longer fit the journey.

  Fortunately, Nari did not make a major fuss about the situation. She seemed to realize, however belatedly, that her protests would not change what her master wanted. She had at least learned that much. In her mind, the world was simple: you do what you are told, no more and no less. If only she had possessed a modicum of common sense to pair with that obedience, things might have ended differently.

  After we both changed into our outdoor attire, I signaled for Nari to follow me. As we stepped through the front door and out into the crisp morning air, Woya and Wyn remained standing at the entrance. They stayed perfectly still, watching our departing silhouettes with expressions of profound sadness. It was a difficult sight to witness, and a part of me felt the weight of their gaze, but I knew it couldn't be helped.

  When it came to choosing a slave trader to handle the transaction, I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. I couldn't sell Nari back to her original master; he surely knew her difficult characteristics all too well, and besides, I had heard at the auction that he was currently in a significant financial bind. I had no desire to see her abused or mistreated simply because she was a beastkin, as that would be a level of cruelty I wasn't prepared to inflict. The first person who came to mind was the merchant from whom I had purchased the twins. He was a man of quality and professionalism, and I knew I would likely be doing business with him again. However, that was exactly why I hesitated. There was a strong possibility that selling a "problem" slave like Nari to him might damage our professional relationship in the long run.

  This led me to seek out a different merchant—someone I didn't deal with frequently, who could offer a fair price, and who maintained at least a baseline level of tolerance toward beastkin. After some time spent searching and recalling the various shops I had seen during my trading rounds, I eventually found an establishment that met my criteria.

  It was a medium-sized establishment, tucked away in the inner city. This was somewhat unusual, as most slave trade shops were pushed toward the outer districts, but this one focused specifically on combat slaves. Because of that focus, the owner tended to disregard a slave’s race or lineage. In his eyes, as long as a person was effective in a fight, nothing else mattered.

  “Please follow me, sir,” a servant said as we were admitted into the building.

  We were led to a small, functional room near the front entrance. Within a few dozen seconds, the merchant himself arrived. I’ve noticed that in these smaller establishments, the bureaucracy is minimal, and the business moves forward much faster.

  ***

  Tovren

  Race: Human

  Sex: Male

  Status: Normal

  Equipment:

  Steel Sword ? ?

  Leather Gloves○

  Leather Footwear ?

  Golden Ring ?

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  Silver Amulet ?

  Job: Slave Merchant Lvl 20

  ***

  “Welcome, sir. I am Tovren, the owner of this humble establishment. Please feel at ease and enjoy the treats we have prepared,” the merchant said.

  He introduced himself with a practiced, courteous bow, placing his right hand over his chest. He then extended his hand for a firm handshake. Tovren was a burly man, possessing a "bulgy," muscular build that set him apart from the lean, paper-pushing merchants I usually encountered. He looked to be in his middle age and carried himself with a certain weight. The sword at his waist and the various enchanted items he wore signaled that there was more to this man than simple ledger-keeping.

  “Thank you, Tovren. I heard that you prefer buying and selling combat-capable slaves over domestic ones, so I decided to bring my business to you today. You are… indeed quite different from the other merchants I have met,” I said, my eyes lingering briefly on the hilt of his sword.

  “Hahaha! You noticed, did you?” he laughed. “Even if you say that, you are clearly a man with excellent equipment yourself. As for my look… well, I am a former adventurer. Since I am more familiar with the art of combat than the nuances of polite behavior, I decided to focus my business on what I understand. I can see you are a unique warrior, and the girl behind you… she looks like she has seen her fair share of blood.”

  Tovren was blunt, emphasizing his combat expertise while offering a generous, if professional, appraisal of both Nari and me. He had already spotted the slave mark on Nari’s neck, and his eyes were already calculating her value.

  “I appreciate the compliment,” I said, steering the conversation back to the task at hand. “As you’ve surmised, my reason for being here today is her.”

  “Hmm… I see. So you’re looking to offload her, are you?” he asked, looking Nari up and down with a clinical eye.

  “Yes. She is a Beastman Champion,” I said, making sure to highlight her advanced job class. “As you can see, she is a beauty, and she is still a virgin. Given that her job is specifically tailored for high-level combat, I don't think I need to elaborate much on her fighting capabilities, right?”

  I spoke as a salesman, magnifying Nari’s strengths and pointing out her high-value traits as much as possible to secure the best deal.

  “I agree with the assessment. A Beast Champion is usually a decent fighter at the very least,” Tovren replied, nodding. “But you won't mind if I take a look at her intelligence card to verify the stats, will you? Just standard practice.”

  “Of course not. Nari, show him your intelligence card,” I commanded. I didn't take offense at his caution; in this trade, trust is a luxury few can afford.

  “Yes, master. Intelligence card open!” Nari obeyed instantly, projecting the shimmering status screen for the merchant to inspect.

  With the verification complete, Tovren’s remaining doubts seemed to vanish. We spent a few minutes talking about the dungeon—the feeling of the damp air, the specific behaviors of certain monsters. He seemed to genuinely miss his old life as an adventurer, though I was certain his current path as a merchant was both safer and far more lucrative. Eventually, the conversation shifted to the price. Tovren started the bidding at 55 gold coins.

  I felt a surge of irritation at the low-ball offer. When I considered that I had originally bought her for 60 gold coins while she was still only a Beast Warrior, accepting 55 would represent a significant loss on my investment.

  “Come now, Tovren. Isn't that offer a bit lower than the lowest?” I grumbled. “I paid 60 gold coins for her when she was still just a Beast Warrior. She’s fully educated now and speaks the common tongue perfectly.”

  “60 gold coins? My friend, you must have been scammed,” he replied with a mock-sympathetic tone. “Regardless, I can't pay a premium just because you decided to train her up to a Champion. How about we split the difference at 65 gold coins?”

  Tovren was certainly not your average merchant. He was friendly and didn't bother hiding behind a professional mask during the bargaining. I was fairly certain that if he were the one selling Nari, he would be asking for at least 100 gold. But I knew I was in a losing position where I simply had to claw back as much as I could. After more discussion, I finally persuaded him that her advanced job would make her a quick sell to a high-end customer, and we settled on 70 gold coins.

  When I did the math, the 60 gold I paid initially plus the approximately 5 gold I spent on her food, clothing, and general upkeep meant I was walking away with a net profit of 5 gold coins. It wasn't much, but I had to be satisfied with at least staying in the black.

  “I hope you can find a suitable master for her. She’s a bit of a clueless girl, so her next owner would be wise to give her very specific, step-by-step commands,” I said, trying to offer a bit of parting advice that might make Nari’s transition easier.

  “Ah, don't worry about it. I can see you care about her, but in my shop, I don't care about race. As long as they are strong, they’ll survive,” he said, sounding as if he were trying to comfort me.

  With the transaction finalized, I left the building. I felt a constant, nagging urge to look back over my shoulder for one last look at Nari, but I didn't. I had made my decision, and I needed to have the conviction to follow through with it.

  That evening, the dining hall was shrouded in a heavy silence. We ate our fill, but the lively atmosphere that usually defined our meals was nowhere to be found. Once the meal was over, I retreated to my room to be alone with my thoughts, while the girls went about their nightly routine. I sat on the edge of my bed, reflecting. I knew that if I had to make the choice again, I would do the same thing—Nari didn't fit the vision I had for my party—but I still couldn't quite shake the lingering sense of guilt.

  I had done what I could to ensure she was sold to a merchant who wouldn't mistreat her. Since she was a capable fighter, she would likely be okay. I spent the next hour systematically killing my guilt with cold reason, gradually calming myself down. I didn't even notice how much time had passed until I realized Woya and Wyn were already lying in bed beside me, watching me in the dark.

  “We will do better from now on, master. We promise,” Wyn said softly, sensing that I had finally returned to the present.

  “Yes, master,” Woya added. “Just tell us anything you want us to change, or anything you don't like about what we do. We will be good girls.”

  They looked dejected by Nari’s departure, but it was clear that they were currently consumed by a much deeper concern. They were terrified that if they didn't meet my expectations, they might be next. While I appreciated the surge in their loyalty and focus, it hadn't been my intention to scare them. I was already perfectly satisfied with who they were.

  “... You don't have to worry about that,” I said, reaching out to gently stroke both of their heads. “I already like the way you are. Just don't get conceited and don't slack off on your training. As long as you work hard, I will always keep the two of you with me.”

  I felt the tension leave their bodies at my words. That night, for the first time in a long while, we didn't engage in any bedtime activities. We simply lay there, holding each other in the quiet room until sleep finally took us.

  [Edited]

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