The Elf Child

Trafficking, huh — having "legal slaves" is one thing, but…

Kids are a bit… yeah.

Hm? On a closer look, the clothes are fine quality — not slave-like.

No collar either… Kidnapping?

"Um — are you okay?"

I tried a harmless opener. The elf child flinched; his silver ponytail swaying. Is he a boy? Or girl maybe? Shorts, but that adorable face… hmm. Can't tell. Either way — gorgeous. Way too cute.

  "Do you understand me? Hello?"

"Eep…!"

Ah, he's going to cry. Wait, wait.

"Quiet… Or the enemy will come."

"—!"

I gently covered his mouth and whispered.

No enemies here, of course. We're in storage space. But the elf kid shut up as intended.

"Why are you here?"

"… Um… I… pirates attacked our ship… I hid in a crate."

I see. Hid in the cargo, got taken with it, and stacked in a warehouse.

Hmm, does that make him the rightful owner of some of these goods?

Ugh, I can't rob a kid!

I don't steal from children! Ugh — why'd I have to open this box first!

He says it happened about three days ago.

He probably kept himself alive in the crate with cleaning and water magic.

… Ah. So this is the yield from my drinking-contest day, huh.

"Please — save my elder sister…!"

"Oh, you have a big sis? … A big sis! Okay, give me details! In the other crates? This one? Another?"

"N-no! My sister… she got caught by the pirates to hide me…!"

Uh-huh. He was hidden in a crate; he doesn't know what happened to his sister. From what he overheard, Gomez and his men took her.

And while he hid, he was moved into the warehouse and then buried under other crates.

… So the sister is likely not among this cargo.

What else is here? I scanned with spatial magic.

Cloth, clothing, liquor, spices maybe. No people.

These look like golem parts… probably spares for Gomezti Company. I might take those. I want a golem.

Lucky or unlucky — the first box I opened had this kid.

I'd have opened them all anyway, so only a matter of order.

But wait — pirates are supposed to ignore ships with permits, right?

Was this elf's company unpermitted?

Or more likely Gomez ignored their permit and declared the ship "never arrived." Trade-by-ship is a gamble. (See Basic Knowledge.)

Anyway, there's one big thing that matters here:

If he has a big sis, she's surely a beauty. Her socks will net me high SP!

"Got it. I'll save your sister! … By the way, are you a boy or a girl?"

"B-boy."

Tsk! A boy! … Though with a face this cute, maybe that works too! The Goddess said men and children are fine! And from my current girl POV, he's cute enough to… ahem. No touching — he's a kid. Right.

Anyway! The key is shame. If I can harvest shame, even his socks can become SP!

But… how do you stoke a boy's shame…?

…!

I noticed the clothes in the crate — girls' clothes. In child sizes, too!

Clearly divine guidance! Decision made!

I'll make him a femboy!!!!