Hiring Cheryl

Afternoon in the Royal Capital.

After rescuing Teti and Ciel from the White Boar, I finished a light lunch and headed to the slave trader.

For Teti, who desperately wished to grow stronger, I planned to hire the elf beauty Cheryl.

—Well, I also wanted Teti to become energetic and strong.

After telling my business to the thin elderly slave merchant Simon, he immediately called Cheryl.

Since Cheryl was a conditional slave, the price would be negotiated.

Liricia and I sat on a sofa, and Cheryl sat opposite us.

As expected of an elf, her face and figure were well-proportioned. Though she lost to Liricia, her large chest stood out.

She brushed back her blonde hair and leaned slightly over the table, emphasizing her cleavage and drawing my eyes.

—No, think of Liricia. Or just look beside me.

As I glanced at the peerless beauty Liricia next to me, Cheryl spoke in a clear intelligent voice.

“It has been a while, Alec-sama. You wish to hire me today; what kind of work will it be?”

“Ah, that elf girl—no, half-elf. I want you to teach Teti how elves live and how they fight.”

“I see… please wait a moment.”

She stood up.

Her long legs extending from her short skirt moved toward the slave merchant.

After speaking briefly, she returned.

She sat opposite us and spoke seriously.

“For instructing Teti, a few months for 150,000 Gort. During that time, food, housing, and expenses will be covered by you. Is that acceptable?”

“Huh? Isn’t that cheap?”

Depending on work, her base fee alone should have been around one million Gort.

Cheryl nodded, blonde hair swaying.

“I discussed it with Simon. Only the referral fee I prepaid to the slave trader is necessary.”

“You pay referral fees?”

“Yes. Unconditional slaves are fully managed by the trader, but conditional slaves pay a fee for job placement.”

“I see… but is that fine? You won’t profit.”

“Yes. I was the one who asked you to help Teti. Thank you for not discriminating against an elf companion and helping her. As expected of a hero.”

Cheryl bowed deeply, her beautiful blonde hair flowing.

—I’m glad I didn’t ignore Teti because of first impressions.

“I’m a former hero. Then please teach Teti for that price.”

“Yes. Shall I start today?”

“Yeah. Let’s at least introduce you.”

“Understood.”

I handed over one large gold coin and five gold coins.

Seeing negotiations concluded, the slave merchant approached and bowed respectfully.

“Then let us prepare the contract.”

A contract document was made, and the contract’s Subjugation Crest was engraved on Cheryl’s white graceful hand.

I wondered if conditional slaves needed it, but like with Liricia, they still took a drop of blood.

Then we left the slave trader.

“We are pleased by your continued success. We look forward to your next visit.”

Simon bowed deeply as he saw us off.

—So he knows I’m earning money.

I still need to hire Cordelia eventually.

On the way back to the shop, I asked Cheryl what Simon was like.

Apparently he was quite capable.

Not only direct mansion sales, he also introduced suitable workers to places seeking talent.

That’s why conditional slaves tended to be skilled people.

Slave life sounded tough.

Back at the shop, I called Teti.

She came from the back wearing a white blouse and black skirt.

“Hello, Cheryl-oneesan.”

“You look better, Teti.”

“Yeah, thanks to Alec-sama. Please take care of me, oneesan.”

Teti hugged Cheryl with a smile.

Cheryl happily stroked her head.

Watching beside them, I asked about the next step.

“So where will you train?”

“Well… we can rent the Adventurer Guild training ground for magic and archery practice, but first I want to attempt communication with the spirits. Let’s go to the forest, Teti.”

“Yes, Cheryl-oneesan.”

Teti nodded, her childish face now firm with resolve.

I looked at Sophia at the counter.

“Can you handle the shop?”

“Hmm, I might want a relief person. I still haven’t had lunch or bath.”

“I see. Can conditional slaves talk about things they saw after the contract ends?”

“Normally they cannot. If they try, they get shocked unconscious… but if it’s sensitive information, better not. Forbidden arts can extract it, though the victim dies.”

“I see… so for their own safety they don’t want secrets.”

If they knew important secrets, they might be forced to reveal them.

I nodded.

“Alright. Liricia, I’ll go to the forest with Cheryl and Teti. Watch the shop—oh right.”

“Yes?”

I took out the crown emblem sample from my magic bag.

“Give this to Kou and have him remake the Puchi Eli.”

“Understood, Master. Leave it to me.”

Liricia accepted it and nodded seriously.

—Yes, the important crown emblem to protect Puchi Eli.

Though I couldn’t say I forgot because of the White Boar incident.

Fixing my expression, I spoke to Cheryl and Teti.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

“Okay!”

Then, bringing the elf beauty and the young girl with me, we left the shop and headed toward the southeastern forest.