"Yes, this indeed amounts to the 35 gold coins you owe."
The slave trader finished appraising the stones Kiriko had handed over using Status Magic.
In this world, everyone had access to Status Magic—an incredibly convenient spell capable of instantly discerning an object's value and authenticity, making fraud nearly impossible.
The "stones" Kiriko handed over were pure gold nuggets she'd previously obtained via her Golden Rule skill—each nugget boasting absurdly high purity.
The so-called Slave Crest was a magical seal drawn on a slave's chest using ink mixed with a few drops of the owner's blood.
These crests were categorized as basic or advanced. Though even the most basic Slave Crest effectively prevented slaves from betraying their master, advanced Slave Crests naturally offered far greater functionality.
Kiriko chose the highest-tier Slave Crests for both herself and Naofumi.
After all, if you were willing to buy an epic mount, you wouldn't equip it with common gear.
When Naofumi realized Kiriko had bought the entire squad of combat-ready slaves specifically for him, he nearly dropped to his knees to worship this benefactor.
However, Kiriko made it clear to Naofumi that this money was merely a loan. After he gained strength and started earning money, he was expected to pay it back—with interest, at the reasonable rate of a state-owned bank.
In truth, Kiriko didn't care about this small amount of money. Even if she gifted it to Naofumi outright, it wouldn't matter to her.
But Kiriko understood too well the harsh truth: small favors create gratitude, while large ones breed resentment.
She didn't just understand—she'd experienced that painful lesson firsthand.
Now that Naofumi had a squad of combat slaves, he wasted no time lingering around. Not only did he shoulder a hefty debt, but after feeling firsthand the helplessness of being weak, he desperately wanted to raise his own strength.
The moment they left the circus tent, Naofumi was already itching to head straight for the fields to grind levels.
Before he left, Kiriko offered him a classic British farewell:
"Stay safe out there!"
After parting ways with Naofumi, Kiriko turned her attention to the demi-human girl beside her.
Even she didn't quite understand why she'd bought this girl.
I'm definitely not some overflowing-with-compassion saint, so…
Why? Why did it turn out this way?
Why did someone like me buy this little demi-human girl?
Even without medical knowledge, it was obvious at a glance that this tiny, emaciated girl was dying.
If Kiriko hadn't bought her, she'd probably survive just a few more days before dying alone in that cold cage.
Thinking this, Kiriko couldn't help herself and stepped forward, wanting to carry her.
But perhaps misunderstanding Kiriko's intention, the girl's face immediately twisted in terror, and she backed away hastily.
Kiriko felt slightly hurt by this, but she understood.
"Fine. Just come with me, then."
"Cough… cough-cough…"
The girl didn't reply, just coughed weakly, wobbling after Kiriko from several paces behind.
Whenever Kiriko showed any intention of getting closer, the girl flinched back in fear.
Kiriko had intended to carry her, but seeing how guarded she was…
Fine. She'll collapse on her own eventually. I'll just carry her then.
Kiriko brought the girl to the royal capital's healing clinic first.
But upon arrival, after explaining the situation, the healer refused to treat the girl, insisting that "healing magic only treats wounds, not illnesses."
Kiriko glanced around. Almost everyone at the clinic was either a soldier or adventurer, covered in blood or bandaged up. There was practically no one who looked like an ordinary civilian.
Left with no choice, Kiriko took the little girl and left the clinic.
"Welcome. How can I help you?"
As soon as Kiriko stepped into the pharmacy, a voice greeted her.
The pharmacy was simply laid out, shelves stocked neatly with various herbs, each labeled with its name, effects, and price.
Behind the counter sat a pale-faced man who clearly didn't get much sunlight.
The air was thick with the sharp scent of medicinal herbs and potions.
As the girl trailing behind Kiriko caught a whiff, she immediately covered her nose and attempted to back out.
Kiriko quickly stopped her.
"Come inside, quickly."
Reluctantly, the girl shuffled in slowly, though she kept her nose firmly pinched shut.
"This is…"
The pharmacist glanced at Kiriko, then at the girl.
Kiriko's attire formed a stark contrast to the girl's tattered appearance. One glance was enough to understand the situation.
But in a country where slavery existed openly, the pharmacist said nothing about it.
If anything, he was more surprised and puzzled by Kiriko bringing her "property" into the pharmacy, seemingly intending to buy medicine for her.
"Check her condition, please."
The pharmacist emerged from behind the counter.
The girl tried fearfully to evade him, but Kiriko firmly grasped her arm.
"No… No!"
The girl struggled desperately.
"Don't be scared, it won't hurt at all. Just let the nice uncle check you over properly. I'll buy you some candy afterward."
Kiriko resorted to the classic creepy-uncle luring techniqu—no, the reassuring tactics parents used when coaxing their kids into getting shots.
Normally, owners could directly command slaves via the Slave Crest, but Kiriko's crest had no such orders set. So unless the girl actively betrayed Kiriko, the crest wouldn't activate.
The pharmacist produced a magnifying glass and aimed it at the still-struggling—but helpless—little girl.
The glass briefly emitted a faint glow before the pharmacist lowered it again.
"Did you buy her recently?"
"Yes. How can you tell?"
The man sighed.
"This child hasn't had a proper meal in a very long time. She's been regularly beaten and abused, and clearly suffered psychological trauma—her eyes say it all. Originally, her illness wasn't serious, but lack of medical care and severe malnutrition have compounded it to this state…"
Kiriko frowned upon hearing this.
"What exactly are you saying…?"
"If you'd waited a few more days, there'd be no hope left for her. But now… give me a bit of time, and I'll prepare a potion. Provided you're willing to pay, of course."
"When can it be ready?"
"If you're free, stop by again around evening."
The potion wasn't expensive. Kiriko paid directly from the aid money the king had given her.
But as she left, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the pharmacist made one last remark:
"Slave traders may deal in slaves, but like most merchants, they don't intentionally damage their own merchandise. If their stock ends up in this condition, they can't sell it. Therefore, the one who reduced her to this state could only have been her previous owner."
Kiriko paused at the door.
"I see. Thanks for telling me."
---
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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