Proof over argument. Hmph!

Contract magic was simple and finished quickly.

There wasn't anything like a mark appearing on her right hand or anything.

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

However, the various guild cards will gain an "owned slaves" entry. We'll have to go 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's acceptable."

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

If I keep healing until she heals, she'll heal… and if she dies from a failed attempt, returns aren't accepted anyway, so I'm 100% not returning her.

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. 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, the only things I've shown you are this storage space and how I can copy magic circles."

It's no wonder he doubts whether 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 I'll take requests for adjustments."

I unwrapped the bandages on her face and repaired the scars first. Fixed the burned areas… Hmm, without knowing her original face, how should I adjust… Ah, if she's a half-dwarf, I'll use Saty-tan's face as reference. This girl's paler, but she probably used to have some dwarfishness.

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

I'll duplicate and add to the hair as well… There we go. Red hair, so she does end up Saty-tan-esque. Maybe I leaned in a bit too much.

"Ah—eh?"

"Okay, arms next. I'll touch up your body too, just in case."

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

Dexterity might be a bit lower, but do your 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 goes so smoothly.

"Phew—operation complete… Two whole arms is tiring after all."

"E—ah, good work, Karina-neesan."

"…Eh? Eh…?"

The two 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 check and see if 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 solid, it gets in the way of work."

"Th-thank you very much! I offer my 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's thanking me earnestly… However! I will not be swayed! I won't be!

Remember Shieldon-senpai's lesson! Act under the assumption 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 serve 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 high.

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

Do not trust slaves…!

"Dea-kun, I'm going to rest, so the rest is on 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, too."

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

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