Side: Yuki
For the time being, the meeting shifted toward trade relations. I left those matters to the experts like Ratz, Eris, and Milly, and the personnel who weren't needed filed out of the room.
"What is it, son? Do you have no other business to attend to?"
"What about you, Pops? Don't you have things to do?"
"I've left everything to Aria. There's nothing specific for me to do. After all, this isn't even my country."
As expected, all the kings except one remained in the conference room, watching the progress of the trade negotiations. Seraria was doing the same.
"Then, how about a drink?"
"Umu. Brandy would be nice."
I say that, but even though noon has passed, it's still broad daylight. I wonder about the lack of hesitation when it comes to drinking this early. I was the one who suggested it, but I couldn't help wondering if this was really okay.
Well, whatever — I thought as I started walking.
"You sure it's fine without any escorts?"
"There's no one stronger than me among my escorts anyway. If you're going to say that, the same goes for you, doesn't it, my son?"
"Yeah, same here. Oh—but I was told to be careful about woman-related issues."
"Ah, that's true. Even if I look withered, I'm not actually dried up yet. I might be fine, but you're still young and vigorous. If you accidentally make a child without realizing it, it'll be a big problem."
The King of Roshure hits the issue right on the mark.
Yeah... I really do need countermeasures.
"Still, everyone around you—including your wives—is busy. You can't just assign soldiers either. Quite the hassle."
"Yeah... well, it's not something we'll solve right away. It'll work out somehow. Worst case, I'll just hole myself up."
"Well, that's one way to look at it. In the end, this all comes down to finding the right personnel."
Exactly.
Now, technically I need a guard if I'm leaving the government building, and I don't want to make things that tedious. That's why I headed to one of the reception rooms within the building instead.
"Um, Yuki-san."
"Hmm?"
If I recall, this was Tiffany, one of Eris's subordinates.
"Is the meeting already over?"
"Yeah. By the way, this is the King of Roshure."
I pointed my thumb at the old man standing next to me.
"Awah?! M-My deepest apologies!!"
"No need to apologize. You're working, aren't you? I will praise your diligence, but I have no reason to scold you. Please continue helping my daughter and son from now on."
"Y-Yes!! Thank you very much!!"
Tiffany answers while stiff as a board.
It would have been amusing to leave her like that, but the conversation wouldn't progress, so I had no choice.
"So, what's up?"
"Ah, right. Regarding the plan to welcome slave traders as you instructed... One of them has already arrived today."
"Heh, that was fast. Alright, guide me to them. I'll handle it personally."
"Eh, is that alright? Didn't you have something planned with the King of Roshure?"
"No need to mind me, as long as I get the brandy and the setup."
"You're really not stopping, huh?"
"There's no reason to."
After that exchange, we prepared brandy, a full set of drinking utensils, and various snacks in the reception room, then left the old man to drink by himself.
I did send a report to Seraria, though. Rest in peace, Pops.
* * *
Now, about the plan to welcome slave traders.
I had been asked if this contradicted Weed's principles. But that isn't the case. If you summarize the image of slavery in one word, it's "horrific." No human rights. Treated like objects. This image is prevalent, and even in this world, the word "slave" is synonymous with misery.
However, from another perspective, it is a form of relief.
By converting one person into money, a village can be saved. A family can eat. They can be rescued. This is not inherently evil. Rather, it is more of a problem when villages are wiped out or families starve to death because there is no system of slavery. One might grimace at the idea of buying and selling people for money, but it is a fact that some things can be saved by it.
In fact, this is the policy... the rule that fits this continent.
In modern Japan, there is a system where a minimum standard of living is guaranteed, money is provided, and hospital visits are easy. But no such system exists on this continent. There is a defense mechanism for villages provided by knights to maintain the country's prestige, but it isn't there to alleviate poverty.
You can see the situation in Rithea; even in the capital, there are that many refugees. There's no way they can reach the outlying villages.
Therefore, the ones who act as a substitute are the slave traders.
A near-final means of turning people into money and saving villages without loss of life. Well, there are plenty of bad sides to it, too.
That's why slavery will never disappear on this continent. Or rather, it might vanish in the distant future, but it won't be gone anytime soon. If that's the case, we should simply create a system within the nation of Weed to accept those who have been sold.
If we say "No Slave Traders Allowed," those slaves will simply be sold elsewhere and treated according to the laws of other places. But if we accept the traders here, the slaves who come here can be helped. We can provide a safer environment. For the traders, this is a good place to sell off "surplus" slaves, and since this will become the center of trade, it doesn't hurt to build a reputation here.
Of course, I'll be putting them through a proper screening process.
I explained all this at length, emphasizing the necessity of having slave traders in Weed. The representatives—especially my wives who have experience as slaves—were opposed at first, but after hearing my reasoning, they agreed. For the sake of the adventurers, we need to allow some slave sales for their use, but I figure we can manage as long as we pass laws forbidding violence against slaves in Weed.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting."
"No, no. Thank you for seeing me even without prior notice."
This was a reception room on the first floor reserved exclusively for slave traders.
At first glance, it looks like it's surrounded by walls, but it's equipped with one-way mirrors so the interior can be observed. This was for evaluating the slave traders.
For this matter, Eris had come over from the meeting, and Kaya and Derieu were also present to help assess the visitor.
"To think Advisor Yuki himself would handle this..."
"You know of me?"
"Yes, I attended your wedding. It was magnificent."
"Well, thank you. So, I take it you're here about the slave trading business?"
"Yes, I came to inquire about that. I heard that you are actually recruiting slave traders here."
"Not exactly recruiting, but..."
And so, we began to talk.
"I see. So you are accepting slaves from the outside..."
"Yes. If you'd like, we'll buy up any surplus slaves you have at a fair price, and if you continue working with us, we can even permit you to set up a shop in the Commercial District."
"But then, wouldn't it be better to buy from passing slave traders?"
"That wouldn't guarantee stability. That's why Weed needs its own slave traders."
"But slave traders aren't viewed favorably here, are they...?"
"I won't deny that. However, there must have been people saved precisely because you slave traders existed, right? I am aware of that."
"Advisor Yuki..."
"I have already discussed this with all the representatives. Therefore, Weed will fully support you."
"I... I-I'm sorry. This is the first time anyone has ever said such a thing to me... Ugh..."
While shedding tears, he told me the story of why he became a slave trader.
Originally, he was an ordinary merchant dealing in sundries, but while traveling through villages, he was pleaded with to buy villagers to save them from poverty. After much agonizing, he bought them.
—But that was the problem.
He became recognized as a slave trader because of it.
The poor villages pushed their people onto him. Since he had done it once, he couldn't refuse. But the number of people he bought increased. His money decreased. Out of necessity, he began working as a full-fledged slave trader before he went bankrupt.
In the end, the world's eyes were harsh; there were insults and accusations, naturally. Even the villages that had forced the people onto him blamed him for having sold them.
It was a ridiculous story.
The villages had assumed he wouldn't actually sell them and intended to buy them back eventually. He wasn't the one at fault.
Ultimately, through all this, his skill as a slave trader became recognized.
Well, I can't judge whether to believe this story based on words alone, but at this stage, it isn't a reason to reject him.
"Please... allow me to accept your offer. Here, they won't have to fear cruelty. Many I sold met tragic ends. I want to reduce that, even a little."
The reaction from the three behind the one-way mirror was "Approved". I also judged that there was no problem.
"Yes. Let's work together from now on."
"Thank you so much!! Ah, I almost forgot. I've brought some girls who might be suitable to work here. Please consider employing them."
With that, he rushed out of the room and returned a few minutes later with four women.
"Please consider this as a token of my gratitude. Feel free to use them as you wish."
"Haa... Thank you very much."
Still, bringing slaves here out of nowhere... Normally, you're supposed to send them first to the training center, right?
Thinking that, I cast "Appraisal" on each of them just in case. Since they were "recommended," they were all quite capable, with skills like Arithmetic or Oratory. For these girls, it might be better to ask Eris or Ratz to mentor them directly rather than sending them to the training center.
And then, I appraised the last girl and spat out my drink.
She was a genuine beauty, younger than Milly or Ratz but older-looking than Derieu's outward appearance... Maybe a high school freshman?
She was a type I hadn't seen yet—well, Labyris is there—but she had adult-sized white hair in twin tails, set slightly toward the back... what do you call that again?
Oh well. She was staring straight back at me with red eyes.
The girl's name was Ria.
Name: Ria
Race: Human
Status: Slave
Gender: Female
Occupation: Slave (Unawakened Hero) *Recognizable with high-level Appraisal
Age: XX *All characters in this world are 18+
Lv. 4
HP: 90
MP: 130
STR: 7
DEF: 6
INT: 70
AGI: 12
LUK: 8
Skills:
Arithmetic Lv. 2
Oratory Lv. 1
(Unawakened Hero of Love skill tree)
*Recognizable with high-level Appraisal
What the hell!? A hero!?
I spat out my tea and choked on it.
