I revised this on December 29, year H27.
I revised this again on March 27, year H28.
I revised this yet again on April 17, year H28.
November 3, 2019: Deleted commas, changed “こちら” to kanji.
① “Good evening, you said you’d come over, so what happened?” → “Good evening, this is the place…”
When I entered the main mansion of the “Princess Harem” with Ly, Elise, Mai, and Swan Hilda greeted me.
Since it was approaching midnight, they were all wearing their favorite nightclothes.
Elise was in a pink negligee, provocatively showing her underwear. Mai was in casual wear like a trainer, and Swan Hilda was in pajamas with cute chicks embroidered on them.
“Welcome home, Hal.”
“Welcome back.”
“Good evening, you said you’d come over, so what happened?”
They greeted me thus, but they seemed to have noticed the shadow behind me.
“Hal, is that a guest?”
Elise, speaking for the group, asked why I had returned when it wasn’t part of my plan.
“She’s… a girl with a bit of a complicated situation.”
I turned to Ly and sighed.
“It’s a long story, so let’s go to my bedroom.”
With that, I headed to my private quarters on the second floor of the main mansion.
“Elise, I’m sorry, but could you get this girl some nightclothes?”
I looked at Ly, who was wearing my coat.
“Actually, I’m not wearing anything under my coat; I’m completely naked.”
“Understood, Hal.”
When Elise observed the girl again after my explanation, she saw that, though her face was obscured by her hood, she wasn’t wearing shoes and was barefoot.
Mai and Swan Hilda peeked with curious expressions beside Elise.
“It looks like my clothes will fit her.”
Elise, judging that the girl’s build was not too different from her own, took out her underwear and a light blue pajama set from her “Item Box.”
“Could it be… could this be Princess Ly from Waiyar Imperial Kingdom?”
Then, as she removed the hood to change the girl’s clothes, Elise fell silent.
Even though it was a small country, Elise, a former princess, knew of Ly, who was called the jewel of the Waiyar Imperial Kingdom.
“Ah, that’s right.”
“Today, I participated in a special ‘Slave Auction’…”
I briefly explained the content of the “Princess Auction” I had witnessed.
As she listened, Elise put Ly’s underwear on her and then the pajamas.
Since Ly was currently under my control, she passively allowed Elise to dress her.
“Thank you, Elise.”
I thanked Elise.
“Ly is tired, so please have her sit on the edge of the bed.”
As Elise had Ly sit down, I clapped my hands once, and Ly regained her senses.
“Ugh… hmm? Where am I? And who are you all?”
Ly, now awake, interrogated us with a stern expression.
“Nice to meet you, Ly. I’m Hal Raymond. I’m your master.”
I gave my usual explanation, but Ly still seemed confused.
“I… I was executed.”
Ly tilted her head and pondered.
“Indeed, Princess Ly was executed. I found her abandoned body and brought her back to life with my ‘Resurrection Magic.’ As proof… how about this?”
I performed the “Curse Seal” punishment order, momentarily stopping Ly’s breathing.
Ly, unable to breathe, gasped for air and glared at me, growling, “You fiend!”
“What do you say? Do you understand now that Ly is my slave?”
“Having revived me, what do you want me to do?”
Ly squinted and asked.
“Would you be willing to join the Adventurer Party I’m organizing?”
Ly looked taken aback for a moment when I said that.
“Huh!? You’re not after my body?”
Ly asked, looking straight at me.
“Your body is certainly attractive, though…”
As I said that, I glanced at Elise, Mai, and Swan Hilda, who had been watching the situation unfold behind me.
“Are those ladies waiting their turn?”
I said with a wry smile, again meeting Ly’s gaze.
“I don’t quite understand everything, but you don’t intend to harm me, do you?”
Ly then relaxed her body, letting go of her tension.
“Could you introduce me to the ladies waiting behind you?”
Ly was already trying to understand the situation.
“It’s been a while, Princess Ly. You probably don’t remember me, so I’ll reintroduce myself: I am Elise.”
Elise greeted her with a curtsy befitting a former princess.
“Mai, nice to meet you.”
Mai greeted her, somewhat hidden behind Elise.
“I’m Swan Hilda. Nice to meet you.”
Swan Hilda greeted them casually, raising one hand.
“Technically, they are also my slaves, but in reality, they are my comrades in an Adventurer Party called ‘Princess Harem’.”
“At the ‘Slave Auction,’ it was explained that Ly is a skilled rapier user, so I’d like you to be a front-liner.”
“I suppose I don’t have the right to refuse?”
“Well, let’s discuss that tomorrow.”
“Ly, you must be tired. Please use this bed tonight.”
With that, we left the bedroom.
“Hal, you brought back a truly remarkable person.”
Elise sounded impressed.
“Tomorrow is bound to be even more fun.”
Elise, who said that with a smile, welcomed Ly’s joining.
“She’s also a former princess? You really live up to your name.”
Next to Elise, Swan Hilda also smiled with interest.
“Will she like Mai?”
Meanwhile, Mai, walking behind Elise, looked a little worried.
“Well then, everyone, good night. I’ll sleep in the guest room bed.”
With that, we dispersed for the day.
Later, my father told me about the remaining slaves who were offered at the “Princess Auction.” The details he shared were as follows:
The fifth was the former queen of a nation that had been destroyed. She was said to be remarkably young for a widow.
She was bought for 550 platinum coins by a certain country’s marchioness, who was reportedly homosexual.
The sixth was the former second princess, who had been a leader of a rebellion after her homeland fell. She was said to have a strong, toned body, fitting for her once tomboyish nature.
She was bought for 500 platinum coins by a certain country’s count, who would likely indulge in carnal desires with her until her body broke.
The seventh was a beautiful girl who had been a former nun and a candidate for sainthood. However, she became involved in a family dispute, was forcibly returned to secular life, and then unceremoniously sold into slavery. This was a peculiar circumstance.
It was likely a woman who didn’t fully understand the situation who arranged for her to be put in this “Slave Auction.”
Perhaps she thought that by putting her in this “Slave Auction,” she would be disposed of discreetly.
It was a woman’s shallow scheme, but the power to enact such a plan was not to be underestimated.
She was bought for the large sum of 750 platinum coins by a certain religious high priest, and it was likely that she was freed from slavery and able to return to her religious duties.
The eighth and final participant was not human, but a Homunculus. She bore a striking resemblance to a young Princess Elisabeth, the Empress of the Espana Imperial Kingdom.
She was created by a certain court alchemist who harbored unrequited feelings for Princess Elisabeth. He secretly obtained samples of her cells to create the Homunculus.
The alchemist was executed, but the remaining Homunculus, being an exact likeness of the Empress, was hesitated to be disposed of. Many high-ranking nobles who wanted her nonetheless, leading to her being put up for auction.
She was bought for 1,150 platinum coins by a certain country’s duke. This duke had vied for Princess Elisabeth’s affections with Emperor Henry, Henry Johan Espania, in his youth.
It was speculated that he was keeping her carefully nurtured deep within his mansion.
Incidentally, regarding Ly, whom I brought back, there was no commotion. My father knew nothing about it. It was likely that the person in charge of disposing of bodies, disliking trouble, did not report it to his superior.
Normally, after a public execution as an enemy princess, her corpse would have been displayed. However, since her past records had been erased to be presented at the “Slave Auction,” her body was supposed to be treated as an unclaimed corpse.
Unclaimed corpses of those who die due to hardship were typically buried in a pit dug in a corner of the cemetery and then covered with a shovel of lime, a simple process that could easily be disguised.
Thus, I acquired Ly, who would now wield a rapier as the front-liner of my Adventurer Party.
《Notice》
The next installment is episode 4, which was previously posted in parts, now posted as a single, complete installment.
There are no changes to the content, so those who read the partial posts may skip this.
