Episode 3: Milia

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I arrived in front of a small slave shop in a back alley of the commercial district.

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This area is known as a deep, underground place even within the royal capital. Indeed, there were shops selling suspicious magical tools and street vendors selling shady books around.

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The whole area was dim and damp, with old and grimy buildings that gave off no sense of cleanliness.

Naturally, few people would frequent such a place, so the surroundings were deserted, and the shop didn't seem to have many customers. Well, it wasn't a shop meant for the general public, so it probably wasn't a problem.

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"Alright, let's go."

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Feeling a bit tense from the unusual atmosphere, I stepped into the slave shop.

Contrary to expectations, the inside of the shop wasn't surprisingly clean! ...Of course not. The walls were covered in soot and dust. The smell, possibly from mold, was also overwhelming.

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The inside of the shop, visible from the entrance, felt cramped and more like a storage room.

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"Ah, a customer."

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An old man with white hair noticed me while smoking a cigarette and reading a newspaper at a desk in the back.

There were no employees, so he must be the owner.

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"Buying or selling?"

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The unfriendly owner got straight to the point without any greetings.

Well, I didn't come here for a pleasant shopping experience, so the directness was appreciated.

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"I want to buy a slave."

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"So, a buyer. What's your budget and purpose?"

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"My budget is one million jewels. I'm a healer... I need a combat-type slave to accompany me on adventures."

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"Any preference for gender?"

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"Either is fine."

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"Hmm. Well, with that budget, I can provide something decent. Follow me."

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The owner beckoned me and opened a door in the back.

Beyond the door was a staircase leading down. It seemed to connect to the basement.

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I had wondered where the slaves were kept in such a small space, but it appeared they were in the basement.

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As I descended the stairs, I saw slaves confined behind iron bars.

Each slave was kept separately, with collars around their necks. There were price tags, presumably indicating the price of each slave, in front of the bars.

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They all looked lifeless and lacked any energy.

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However, as soon as we entered, the slaves grabbed the iron bars and desperately shouted.

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"Is someone here to buy? Buy me, please!"

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"No, buy me! I promise I'll be useful! Just get me out of here!"

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"Choose me! I'll do anything you want!"

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...!

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I was startled by the unusual scene.

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"Sorry for the noise. They're desperate to get out. Don't mind them."

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"Oh, okay..."

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"The slaves around here aren't suitable for combat... they're too beginner-level. With your budget, you should choose from the slaves further in."

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Indeed, the price tags for the slaves around here ranged from ten thousand to twenty thousand jewels.

Generally, the higher the price of a slave, the better the individual, and cheap ones have corresponding reasons for their low price.

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As I followed the owner further in, the prices on the tags changed drastically.

The lowest was over fifty thousand jewels, and some slaves were priced at one million jewels.

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"Swordsman, spearman, gladiator... we have a variety. Choose one that meets your criteria. If you have any questions—hey, what's wrong?"

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While the owner was explaining, I was focused on a slave with an unusual price tag.

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"Swordsman... three thousand jewels," it read.

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A girl with golden hair and black spots all over her body. She was petite overall, but her chest was quite large. She had a doll-like, beautiful face.

She didn't look very healthy, with a poor complexion.

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She frequently coughed, suggesting she had a cold.

I was surprised by the extremely low price, but that wasn't the only reason she caught my attention.

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I felt like I had seen this girl somewhere before, but I couldn't remember where or when.

I felt like I was forgetting something important.

But I couldn't figure out what it was.

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"Ah... she's a bit of a special case. I advise against it."

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"Special case?"

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"I was asked to dispose of her. Do you know about 'Cursed Magic Disease'? In short, it's an incurable illness. She doesn't have long to live, probably only three days."

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"Cursed Magic Disease"... I had heard of it during my time at the adventurer academy.

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I believe... it's a disease that occurs at a low probability in those who have been hit by a self-sacrificial spell from the demon race.

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In this world, there are powerful, intelligent beings called 'demons' who oppose humans. The self-sacrificial spell is said to be cast at the cost of the demon's own life.

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Those afflicted by 'Cursed Magic Disease' are gradually eroded and eventually die. No healing magic works on it, and no one in history has survived after contracting it.

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If she was in a situation where a demon had to use their trump card... it means this girl herself was quite strong as an adventurer, or she belonged to an incredibly powerful party.

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Given that she's a swordsman, who often holds a central role in a party, it's likely both.

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"Can I take a closer look?"

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"I don't mind, but... you're a healer, right? You can't cure her."

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The owner reluctantly unlocked the iron bars.

I wasn't thinking of buying this girl.

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As harsh as it may sound, even if it's just three thousand jewels, buying a slave who would die in three days would be foolish.

I was just curious about the memory I couldn't quite recall.

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If I had a bit more information, I might remember.

I locked eyes with the collared slave girl.

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"What's your name?"

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"...Milia."

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In that moment, it felt like a lightning bolt struck my mind.

A strange sensation, like scattered pieces of memory connecting organically in my brain.

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...I remembered. Everything.

So that's what it was.

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If that's the case, there's only one thing I should do.

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"Owner, I want to take this girl."

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"Are you serious!? I told you, she's got a great appearance, but it's not a good feeling to watch someone die, even if it's a cheap buy. I'm used to it because of my job, but..."

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"Actually, I know this girl. So... I want to do what I can."

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"Wh-what? You know her...? Is that possible...?"

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Strictly speaking, it's more accurate to say I know of her, but let's leave it at that.

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"Please, I'm asking you."

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"If you're that insistent, I won't stop you... but I warned you, okay?"

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And so, I took Milia with me.