Dummy Fake Company (working title).

Karina-chan here! Armed with a hot tip, I came to the slaver!

I wonder if there's a bargain slave who'd be worthy of joining our group?

If she's a girl who looks great in socks, then perfect!!

 

 

"Pretty women or those with skills do run expensive… If it's one gold coin, then…"

Well, of course.

Even with this much stock, the truly top-tier beauties would go straight to the brothel. The fact my adventurer seniors heard about it means the pros have already picked through the lot.

Even so, with this volume, there should be hidden gems even the pros missed.

"What about untrained ones?"

"If we go below our purchase price, we'd take a loss. Please forgive us. Even an untrained village girl runs three gold coins. And if you want a cute girl… ah, would an infant do?"

"Babies are completely out of the question."

Wait, they'll buy infants too? That last safety net reputation isn't just for show.

Hmm, I'm not trying to force a hard haggle. Three gold coins is arguably within budget.

But if I reveal my budget cap so easily, they'll just wring it all out of me. Let's probe a bit more.

"I'm fine with some injuries. Anything nicely cheap?"

"We do have some stock, provided treatment is assumed. However, once you include treatment costs, it's often better to buy a proper slave from the start."

"Depending on the injury, I have a connection that can heal cheaply. Case-by-case."

"How enviable. If you'd introduce that connection, we might offer an additional discount."

Hoho, so that's a thing.

Should I introduce Archmage Karina…? No, wait.

When I thought "slave", I'd only considered harvesting socks or doing lewd stuff… but what about this?

 

*

 

"My name is Damiina Niseisha (temporary). Now, let me heal your girl's wounds. The fee is five gold coins and her socks."

"S-such highway robbery! And socks!? But if it's for her… Very well, I'll pay!"

"Those were the words I wanted to hear! Oh, merchant passing by. Please sell me the tools needed for the treatment. Make the receipt out to Damiina Niseisha (temporary)."

"You got it, thanks for your business! (Karina-chan secretly does the healing)"

"Then I shall perform the ritual… hey, hey, hmpf! (She's already healed, so just pretending here)… Phew. Now I'll be taking the gold coins and the socks. That was Damiina Niseisha (temporary)."

"Ggh, it's true my daughter was saved. But five gold coins really is outrageous. Curse you, Damiina! And to take my daughter's socks, what a pervert! Curse you, curse you, Damiina!"

 

*

 

Like that, she'd be my stand-in to take the infamy.

Yeah, not bad. Not bad at all.

If I became famous, I might not be able to freely wander food stalls anymore. All the more so if I'm known as a pervert whose life's work is collecting socks.

So! I'll use the slave I'm about to buy as my decoy!

It's a sudden idea, but it's a great one.

Even with a mask, Maria-baachan saw right through me… but if it's a different person altogether, she shouldn't.

If I introduce her here to the slaver as my treatment contact, it feels like she'd never lack for work!

And it gives me a plausible excuse when Dea-kun inevitably asks, "Why are you buying a slave?"!!!

Ahem.

"It's hard to introduce her right this moment. How about a discount with partial refund later when I bring her by?"

"That's fine. The refund amount depends on how useful the contact is."

"Good, we've got a deal. Then, can I see the slaves? Ah, missing an arm is fine. Preferably one arm, but even both gone is okay."

"Huh? … I-I see."

If a leg is missing, even if I heal her she wouldn't have socks.

"… In that case, I believe we should have just one that fits the bill. A former bard who lost both arms, her beauty, and her voice. One gold coin is fine. Can you really heal her?"

Oho, that's absurdly tailor-made.

Was this the work of some Goddess who wants specifically that girl's socks?

Alright, alright, I'll heal her. Leave it to me.