Proof over argument. Hmph!

The contract magic was simple and finished quickly.

No special mark appeared on her right hand or anything like that.

If anything, it felt anticlimactic. Like, is this really all it takes to transfer ownership of a human being?

However, our Guild Cards will gain an "owned slaves" entry. We'll have to file paperwork later with both the Adventurers' Guild and the Merchants' Guild. What a pain.

"We'll keep it provisional for now, so please come back once she's healed."

"Yeah, that's fine. Putting it off is more of a hassle, so go ahead with your shop-side procedures. I probably won't return her anyway."

"R-right… If that works for you."

If I can't heal her, she'll just be my test subject until she can be healed.

If I keep trying until it works, she'll be healed eventually… and if she dies from a failed attempt, returns aren't accepted anyway, so there's zero chance I'm bringing her back.

And with that, the purchase was complete.

I immediately brought the slave girl back to our base and decided to treat her.

 

*

 

"Alright, let's get right to fixing you up. Hmm, where to start… your throat, I guess. Better if you can talk."

"Um, onee-san… can you really heal her?"

"What, Dea-kun, are you doubting my magic? … Oh, come to think of it, I've only shown you this storage space and how I can copy magic circles."

No wonder he doubts I can heal. If someone told me, "A container and a copier can do surgery," I'd be like, "How???"

"Proof over argument. Hmph!"

I gripped the girl's throat and performed spatial perception. Using my own vocal cords as reference, I smoothed and corrected the keloided parts. Good.

"Okay, throat first. Can you speak?"

"Keh—eh—ah—g—e…"

"Next, your face. I don't know what you used to look like, but feel free to request adjustments."

I unwrapped the bandages on her face and repaired the scars first. Fixed the burned areas… Hmm, without knowing her original face, what should I base it on… Ah, if she's a half-dwarf, I'll use Sati-tan's face as a reference. This girl's paler, but she probably had some dwarfish features before.

Her eyes are a bit burned too, so let's fix that. Smooth and clean.

I'll duplicate and fill in the hair as well… There we go. Red hair, so she ends up looking Sati-tan-esque. Maybe I leaned into that a bit too much.

"Ah—eh?"

"Okay, arms next. I'll touch up your body too while I'm at it."

Last time I used a hand as a reference to make a foot; this time I'll use a leg as a reference to make an arm.

Her dexterity might end up a bit lower, but she'll just have to do her best with rehab. Heave-ho. Right arm complete, mirror copy, left arm complete.

While I'm at it, I'll remove those obscene graffiti-like tattoos on her body and clean up the old scars. Cell copying works so smoothly.

"Phew—operation complete… Making two whole arms really takes it out of you."

"E—ah, good work, Karina-neesan."

"… Eh? Eh…?"

Both of them were stunned by the sheer speed.

Behold, Karina-neesan's high-speed operation. I didn't even give the patient time to lie down.

"Anyway, take it easy today and break them in slowly."

… I tried to look cool, but I'm actually wobbling!

I really need to look into whether I can make mana potions. The alchemy textbook I got in Véraldo only covered Magic Tool creation; I'll probably need a separate book for pharmaceuticals.

"V-voice… back… arms… there…! Ah, my face, o—ooaah…!"

"Well, yeah. If your voice, face, and arms aren't in good shape, it gets in the way of work."

"Th-thank you very much! I offer my deepest gratitude, Master! Thank you!! Keh—cough!"

"Hey, hey, I just fixed you up. Don't push yourself. I said to ease into it."

A slave girl is thanking me so earnestly… However! I will not be swayed! I won't be!

Remember Shieldon-senpai's lesson! Always assume that slaves will betray you!

… Fuu — okay.

"Come to think of it, I never asked your name. You can decide what to call yourself."

"E-eh, th-then… please call me Aishia, Master."

"Right, Aishia. From now on you'll be serving me for life, so aside from your own name, do not lie to me or to Dea-kun. That's an order."

"As you command, Master. I will serve you for life."

Her loyalty seems high, but that's just the post-treatment euphoria.

Since I'm going to have her do unpleasant work, she could turn on me at any time.

Do not trust slaves…!

"Dea-kun, I'm going to rest, so I'll leave the rest to you. I'll leave food here — teach her the rules… You, slave girl, listen to what Dea says. Don't defy him. Also, if there's anything you want adjusted, tell me later. There are mirrors here too."

With that, I returned to my room and collapsed onto my bed.

… Ahh, I really want new bedding instead of these pirate hand-me-downs.