「I refuse!!!」
How's that? Felt like one of those guys who turns down a beautiful girl who confesses just for fun.
Pretty wild, right?
「Why? May I ask for your reason?」
Uhh…
I mean, it's just… too much…
No way I can say that out loud!
「Well, I'm just looking for a peaceful life, you know? And the Red Front is a pretty well-known group, right? If I made someone like you a slave, who knows what the Adventurers' Guild would say… Worst case, I might get ambushed or something…」
「That's nothing to worry about. I'll explain everything properly, and if any danger comes your way, I swear I'll protect you.」
「Wait… why are you trying to convince me? You do realize you'd be my slave, right? You get that?」
「Yes, of course.」
「Ugh…」
「Hey! He said he doesn't want to, so just let it go already!」
「But then I wouldn't be fulfilling my responsibility to him.」
「Stubborn! So annoyingly serious! You're so hard-headed!」
I agree. Way too hard-headed.
「What's this? You were the one who asked about slaves, so you must be interested, right?」
「Well, yeah, kind of? I do plan to buy a bunch of slaves eventually.」
「Then it's fine. Take what you can get. If it becomes a problem, just sell her off.」
「But the reason I want slaves is to have workers who'll make my life easier. Getting an adventurer to do farm work feels like a waste, doesn't it? Also, um… turning someone this beautiful into a slave with my own hands… that just feels kind of wrong…」
「Beautiful? You mean me? That's the first time anyone's said that to me.」
Aina-san touched her cheek, as if checking whether her face had really gone red and warm.
Wait, is she so gullible?
No way. Seriously? No.
I don't need that! I'm fine, really.
I'm not looking for some kind of harem story kickoff!
That kind of thing is fine for Hayato's party.
I'm different! Really, I am!
「Then it's even better. Whether you spit all your sperm on her, devour her with your lust, or drown in flesh—do whatever you want.」
「That's all the same thing! And stop making me sound like some kind of lust-crazed maniac!」
I gave Aina-san a quick once-over, letting my eyes roam from head to toe.
Naturally, they ended up lingering on her very generous curves as I looked back up.
When Aina-san noticed my gaze, she blushed and turned her face away.
Cute—seriously, too cute! Wait, is this what they call a red maiden? Who asked for a perfect pun like that?
…Apologies. I might be a little overheated.
「Hey! Don't look at Aina with those filthy eyes! You pervert! Groper! Lust-crazed maniac!」
「I-I wasn't looking!」
「You were! You totally stared at her with those disgusting eyes like you were licking her all over!」
Yes, that's exactly right. Sorte-san's observation is spot-on.
I mean, can you blame me? Just looking should be fine, right?
Wait—what? Even in this world, you get treated like a criminal just for looking!?
Please, I beg you, don't let this lust-crazed maniac label stick!
「You're the worst! Aina, absolutely do not go with this guy! He'll do all sorts of terrible things to you!」
「I-I mean… just, you know… go easy on me… okay?」
What does go easy even mean here!?
What exactly is okay in moderation!?
Unfortunately, I'm not one of those dense protagonists who suppresses his desires. I'm more the honest-about-my-urges type—wait, this is bad!
At some point I started thinking of her as my slave already!
「In that case, how about you have her handle material gathering or something?」
「Huh?」
「Like medicinal herbs and alchemy ingredients. It's not like you have to be together all the time. If you have her collect stuff, that's free materials. And it's ideal, right? You won't have to risk your weak self going into dangerous areas.」
「Wait, that's allowed?」
「Of course. You can have her work wherever your hands can't reach.」
「I see…」
「And since you're totally weak, using her as a bodyguard's a good option too.」
「Well, I don't plan to go outside at all, so it'd only be for protection in town, but… yeah, still…」
「Okay. Then it's decided. Not that her position changes or anything though.」
Huh? Did she just mutter something like it doesn't change anything in the end?
「R-Right. So… I guess that wraps this up then…」
「You look exhausted. Let's hope this kind of thing doesn't happen again.」
「No, no… From now on, I'll make sure to be thorough…」
W-Wait.
Is this settled now?
Is it really decided?
Aina-san, are you really okay with this?
「It's already late today, so I'll come back tomorrow morning. Then we can go to the slave trader together. Um, should I call you my lord? Or maybe… master?」
「I'm coming too! There's no way I'm letting someone like you have Aina!」
「Sorte. Look, I'm sure master if fine. You can tell just by looking—he's full of kindness, isn't he?」
「That's exactly why it's dangerous! People like that are the worst! Aina, you're way too easy to fool, so you have to be careful! If you really become his slave, this lust beast is going to… No! Absolutely not!!」
「Is that so? But my instincts are telling me it'll be okay.」
「That's just your instincts! Anyway, I'm coming tomorrow too!」
「Ah, okay. I'll be waiting then.」
Wait, is this really okay?
I feel like there was something I forgot to take care of…
「Ah,right! Please don't punish that adventurer and the receptionist girl.」
Yeah, that's it. I remembered.
That adventurer who was directly involved got expelled from the guild.
At the time, I was panicking, thinking they'd blame me and I'd end up ambushed in an alley or something. But so much has happened since, I totally forgot.
Besides, I'll probably have more dealings with the Adventurers Guild in the future, so I'd like to earn a few favors while I can.
「I-I see. If that's what you prefer, then I won't object…」
「Of course. Since Aina from the Red Front is taking full responsibility this time, it makes sense to consider their punishment lifted. Also, it'd be troublesome if that adventurer ended up targeting Aina out of revenge. Just be sure to explain everything clearly to the others.」
「Father!」
「Oh, Firill!」
Wait, the receptionist and the guild master are father and daughter!?
They suddenly hugged each other and burst into tears.
「I'm so glad for both of you…」
Huh? Even Aina-san is crying.
「Aina-san, I'm truly sorry…」
「I'm sorry too. I should've been the one to become a slave…」
「No, it's fine. This way I can finally repay you both. Your wedding is coming up, right?」
Ah, I see now.
Aina-san owed the two of them a big favor, and Firill-san is about to get married.
Makes sense. That just makes it all the more awkward to treat her like a slave.
Where's the emotional OFF switch when you need it? Someone tell me, please—Reinrich-san?
「Even if you try tugging at my heartstrings, I'm not taking it back.」
Whew. As expected of my cold-blooded, unfeeling master Reinrich-sama.
Chilling to the core, but I can't say I admire it. She's just a flat-out oni.