I need to file the paperwork now!!

The previous slave trader was arrested for selling illegal slaves.

And so I became the new slave trader of Solasidor.

For the time being, I'd be cleaning up my predecessor's mess.

Given his involvement in crime, people would be watching me with suspicion for a while. I'd have to conduct honest business for at least several years — or so I thought, right when news arrived that the neighboring country had been destroyed.

When a country collapses, it's a major event for everyone, and slave traders are no exception. In fact, that's when we become busiest of all.

So I procured stock from Alchemia's refugees. Unlike my predecessor, I did it legally and conscientiously, and before long my warehouse was practically overflowing.

One of the dying slaves that the previous slave trader had been sitting on finally sold.

The buyer was a rookie merchant. Judging by the noble young lady accompanying her, the funds probably came from the noblewoman.

I'd committed myself to honest dealings, so I had told them I'd accept a return… but—

Apparently, that rookie merchant had come right back.

As expected, the slave probably couldn't be healed. Even so-called Holy Magic might not be able to fix injuries that old. On top of that, curse tattoos had been inked into the slave's body to inhibit Healing Magic.

That said, I had originally shown the very worst slave first, intending to introduce better ones afterward. The previous trader had only procured that one as a showpiece before disposal anyway, so there was no real loss.

Time to process the refund. Then I could introduce them to a slightly better slave.

"Hey there, Slave Trader. I'm the one who bought a slave the other day."

"Oh my, you must be Karina Shounin, yes? I suppose you're here for a return…? … Oh? And the young lady over there is…"

"Th-thank you for your help. Thanks to you, as you can see…"

"Eh—! C-could it be that this person is—"

"Yep, all fixed up. Which is why we were just on our way to file the paperwork. Ah, the paperwork on your end is already done, right?"

"Wha—!?"

N-no way! She was in the worst condition out of all my inventory!

Suspecting they might be passing off a different person as the same slave, I had her undergo mana verification, but there was no mistake. She was the dying slave I'd sold them… To think she could be healed from that condition!

"So then, I thought I'd introduce you to the healer who fixed her."

"Y-you would introduce someone capable of this level of treatment to me?"

"Yeah. If schedules line up, I can bring him this afternoon. How about it?"

The curse tattoos were gone, the old burn scars had healed, her throat that had been ruined by drugs was repaired — and on top of all that, even her missing arms had been restored. All in such a short time.

Of course I'd want a connection like that. I'd grab it with both hands.

"No, I'll even pay the referral fee in advance. And here's your full refund — one gold coin."

"Eh, are you sure?"

"Yes. And if I'm able to commission work from that healer, I'll pay you an additional gold coin."

"Oho! How generous of you. Alright, I'll bring him this afternoon!"

"Yes, let's do that."

If this connection is real, it would be worth paying even a hundred gold coins.

If things go well, this much would be nothing.

Whether they'd actually bring him was a gamble, but given their track record, it wasn't a bad bet.

The rookie merchant accepted a single gold coin and tucked it into her purse with a cheerful hum.

… Wait — I'd assumed it was going to be a return and hadn't filed any of the paperwork!

I need to get ahead of this and file it all right now!!

 

*

 

And that afternoon, the rookie merchant returned with the healer in tow.

He was clad in a robe and wore a mask… quite a suspicious getup. It was obvious he was wearing layers to hide his true build.

He really didn't want to expose his identity, huh.

Whether that was to hide his power, or because he was a con artist… well, that would soon become clear.

"Hello again. I brought him."

"Well, well, welcome. And that person over there is the healer in question?"

"Yeah. He's a bit shy, you see — well, you get the idea."

The suspicious figure gave a small bow. Since he was referred to as "he," I assumed he was a man.

"He can't fix everything, especially if it's an illness, but he should be able to handle quite a lot."

"I see. If the healing is genuine, I have no complaints. And how should I address you?"

"… Call me Healer."

A low, hoarse voice. "Healer." He had no intention of giving a proper name.

That didn't pose any problems. If anything, I shouldn't press and risk souring his mood. If he were a con artist, such caution would be unnecessary… but—

"Then, Healer-sama. Pardon the rudeness, but would you be willing to demonstrate your abilities?"

"Very well… Where is the patient?"

"Right here."

With that, I removed my prosthetic leg.

I was the patient. It had been — what, ten years now? I'd lost my left leg in a carriage accident.

It still ached on rainy days — an honest-to-goodness old wound.

If he could heal this, then he'd be the real deal without question. Now, how would he proceed?

"… Very well. Lie down there."

Without even examining the wound, Healer pointed lightly at the long bench in the room.

"Here?"

"It will suffice. Shounin, prepare the ritual."

"Sure, sure. I'll get things ready～ Don't mind me, I'm just the assistant～"

Following Healer's instructions, the rookie merchant placed small tools around me as I lay down.

A cloth was draped over my left leg. A brush tickled my body, making me squirm.

"Then let us begin the ritual. Keep your eyes on the ceiling, straight ahead… ahem. Jugemu—Jugemu—Goko—Surikire—comically long name…"

As Healer began chanting a spell I'd never heard, I felt — perhaps just my imagination — an odd tingling at the stump of my left leg.

By the way, how long was she going to keep tickling me with that brush? H-hey, not the face!

"Kuu-neru-tokoro ni Sumu-tokoro—Yabura Kouji no Burakouji—comically long name continued…"

"Excuse me, I'm going to cover your face now～"

At that point, the rookie merchant placed a cloth over my face… and I couldn't see a thing. Healer's chant continued.

"Ponpokopi no, Ponpokona no… Chokyumei no Chosuke!comically long name (skipped ahead to end)"

Clap! A sharp sound of hands meeting. Then, silence… Had the ritual ended?

"You may get up."

"Hah… um, huh?"

I sat up and looked at my left leg — for the first time in ten years.

It was there, as if to say, "I've always been here."

"M-my leg… It's there…!!"

"Mm."

Healer nodded with a self-satisfied air. I could move my toes. I could feel them… It was real!

I bowed my head to the healer — to Healer -sama.

"I am terribly sorry for doubting you! Ah, how could I ever thank you!"

"… Pay the treatment fee and that will suffice. Five gold coins."

"Five gold coins!?"

That was all!? He was asking only five gold coins for a divine miracle like this!?

Normally, even reattaching a severed arm would cost ten gold coins!! And this was an old injury — my lost leg hadn't even been anywhere to be found!!

"Surely, only five gold coins is…"

"No. Exactly five gold coins. Now, please pay."

"G-ghk…"

The rookie merchant also warned me: "Exactly five gold coins. You must not pay more than that."

N-no. There's no way someone capable of this doesn't know the going rates. And rookie or not, she is still a merchant.

Healer-sama surely had some deeper reason!

"Understood. I will pay five gold coins…!"

"Mm. Will five gold coins per person be acceptable going forward?"

"Y-you would treat other patients in the future as well!? Understood, I will pay."

"I will visit once a month. I'll see them all at once — ah, at most five per visit."

"As you wish. We will await your return, Healer-sama."

Overjoyed at the prospect of assisting such a noble mission, I bowed my head deeply.

It was only after Healer-sama left that I realized, to my shock, that I'd forgotten to give the rookie merchant her additional referral fee.