Dummy Fake Company (working title).

Karina-chan here! Armed with a hot tip, I made my way to the slave dealer!

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

If she's a girl who looks great in socks, even better!!

 

 

"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 brothels. The fact that my adventurer seniors even heard about this batch means the professionals have already picked through the lot.

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

"What about untrained ones?"

"Going below our purchase price would put us at a loss. I hope you understand. 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 buy infants too? Their reputation as the last safety net really 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 in stock, assuming you can arrange treatment. However, once you factor in treatment costs, it's often better to just buy a healthy slave from the start."

"Depending on the injury, I have a connection who can heal on the cheap. It's case-by-case."

"How enviable. If you could introduce us to that connection, we might be able to offer an additional discount."

Hoho, so that's an option.

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 (working title). Now, allow me to heal your daughter'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 are the words I wanted to hear! Oh, merchant passing by, please sell me the tools needed for treatment. Make the receipt out to Damiina Niseisha (working title)."

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

"Now then, I shall perform the ritual… hah, hah, hmpf! (She's already healed, so this is just for show)… Phew. I'll be taking the gold coins and the socks now. This has been Damiina Niseisha (working title)."

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

 

*

 

And just like that, she'd be my stand-in to take all the infamy.

Yeah, not bad. Not bad at all.

If I became famous, I might not be able to freely wander the food stalls anymore. Especially 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 spur-of-the-moment idea, but it's a great one.

Even with a mask, Maria-baachan saw right through me… but if it's a completely different person, she won't be able to.

If I introduce her to the slave dealer as my treatment contact, she'd never be short on 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 now with a partial refund later when I bring her by?"

"That's fine. The refund amount will depend on how useful the contact proves to be."

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

"Huh? … I-I see."

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

"… In that case, I believe we have just the one who 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 almost too perfect.

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

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