The shopping district was lined with shops, but they all had a masculine atmosphere.
“There are a lot of vegetables and fruits of the same type here, aren’t there?”
“They were probably harvested here.”
“It seems like the clinic is over there. I’ll go ahead and take a look.”
Clarice then excused herself.
By the way, Helen was staying behind to take care of the mansion and act as a succubus for cleaning duty.
(It’s just me and Nina… it’s like we’re on a date.)
As we walked, Nina was being stared at intensely.
The workers all seemed to have gone to their jobs already, so these were probably shopkeepers. Most of them were middle-aged, with various expressions.
“Um, Nina.”
“What?”
“It’s a little scary.”
“Is it?”
“No, I just feel like I’m being watched too.”
Men gawked at the large woman.
Men’s eyes were drawn to the Berserk Sword on her back.
Men who cheerfully greeted them, possibly hoping to sell something.
Men who offered a greeting with a shaky voice, only to retreat when Nina glared at them.
Men who were brushed aside when they offered fruit samples.
(Ordinary women must be a rarity here.)
But then again, Nina isn’t ordinary.
Looking at it this way, it was good that Clarice left early.
Though she might become zealously devoted to spreading the Church of the Goddess.
“Ah, this area is the entertainment district.”
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Hmm, there’s mostly skewers and stews. It’s hard to find something that would suit me.”
Then I noticed pickles made from a long, gourd-like vegetable.
Well, I’ll have breakfast later, so it’s fine for now.
I hope Anju will have time to eat if she finds something she likes over there.
“Whoa! What’s with this giant woman?”
A drunken old man. He’s brave.
“What about work?”
“Ah, I’m off today. I have work every day, but I take days off when I want to!”
Even though he was drunk and slurring his words, the fact that he didn’t have a regional accent suggested he was a worker from out of town.
For non-adventurers, this must be a village with plenty of work.
(They’re not really bothering us, that’s good.)
If they were adventurers, they might approach Nina in groups, even larger than her. And sometimes it would be groups of men approaching her. I remember when I was in the Adventurer Guild’s attached tavern on the Milishitan Continent, there were about three large female warriors. I was so scared just passing by them that I hid behind Ric.
(I might get a little excited now… no, I shouldn’t!)
Continuing on, we reached a large agricultural equipment store.
There were carriages there too, and next to it, a horse farm!
“Welcome! We’ve been expecting you!”
“What, you were waiting for us?”
“Yes, please come this way.”
We were guided by another man who spoke quite normally.
Behind the store, not inside, a row of carriages without horses were lined up.
“Hmm, which one is the largest?”
“If you’re just loading, a no-roof one would do, but this one has a roof.”
Wow, it’s like a mobile hut!
“Is it for livestock?”
“It’s also for monsters.”
Not everyone has a large Item Bag, after all.
And of course, living things can’t be put in.
“What’s the price?”
“This one, this one, and this one. However, horses are a separate charge…”
Then, I noticed a few slave men with collars sitting around.
Were they sunbathing? I thought, but they were surprisingly for sale.
“We can offer you a discount if you purchase this carriage and a horse to pull it.”
“No, that’s alright.”
Nina refused. Hmm, if anything, I was hoping for a young girl, not this!
(We have a Tamer, and if we need a replacement, Helen could… Ah!)
“That’s right, Nina.”
“What is it?”
“I have an idea about the horses.”
Right, we have three horses at Nina Castle!
“Alright, Master, let’s just take the carriage itself.”
“How will we transport it?”
“With the Item Box.”
“Will it fit Nina’s? Hmm, it’s tight. In that case, I’ll do it.”
“Deles, not now.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Master, handle the procedures.”
She gave me a meaningful look and we both entered the shop.
Ah, I see. If I use my Item Box, my identity as a Hero might be revealed.
(Now that I’m alone, what excuse can I give for storing it?)
Ah well. Nina was watching the slaves who were drying in the sun, but I’m not looking at them now.
Taking advantage of this opening, I stored it in my Item Box. Phew, I managed to store it.
“Aaaah!!”
A high-pitched voice. Where is it coming from? The shop’s roof!
There was a slave being dried up there! And it’s a boy.
“This Item Box is amazing!”
“Hey! Quiet! Quiet!!”
“What’s all the commotion, Amari!”
An old slave man scolded him. From his face, they looked related.
“Listen, listen!”
“I’m sorry, please be quiet.”
Then, with a smile, he jumped down!
Is he okay? He looks about ten to twelve years old.
“I’m training to be a carriage driver! Please buy me!”
“Hmm, training… hmm.”
“Grandpa can ride! Come on, Grandpa, let’s get bought!”
The old slave man looked resigned.
“Amari, I apologize. I am Jumaji. I used to be a warrior skilled in horseback riding, but…”
“Is he your grandson?”
“For reasons, we’ve become slaves. You don’t have to buy us.”
“But Grandpa, this person, he’s… ” “I’ll buy him!!”
I blurted it out without thinking.
Oh well, but I feel something about this boy.
(I have a strange sense of déjà vu, what is it?)
Whether he’ll actually become a carriage driver or not is another matter.
For now, let’s make him a house sitter at the mansion.
“What’s all the noise?”
“S-sorry. I bought a slave on impulse.”
“Hee hee hee!”
“I’m sorry. It’s alright, isn’t it? I’m not much use anymore.”
Nina was staring intently at the slave boy.
“…Again?”
“Huh?!”
“Hmph. Fine. Deles, you pay.”
Secretly, from my Item Box, I handed over a large amount of Gold Coins. Platinum Coins are disliked, aren’t they?
“Wait here, I’m going to redo the procedures.”
Ah, Nina looks exasperated, finally!
I did something I shouldn’t have, but if I say “house sitter,” she’ll probably understand.
“Hey, hey, what’s your name?”
“Amari! How many times do I have to tell you I’m a slave too!”
“Eh? You’re not much older than me, are you?”
(He’s got such a cute face…)
“Well, that’s for later.”
If he gets too cheeky, I’ll have to teach him a lesson…
