We were brought down from the ship for the first time in a year.
There were magic prevention chokers on our necks, and chains on our hands and feet.
It was night time. The sky was covered in thick clouds. It feels like it was going to rain, but people at the port continued their work without any indication of preparing for rain.
I could see the city across from the harbor warehouse, illuminated by a myriad of lights. Get on the wagon in a line. The men get in first. The women get on the wagon thats coming from behind.
An iron wagon covered with gratings pulled by 4 healthy horned horses rolled up before me. I was promptly shoved inside the grated wagon, not even given the chance to enjoy the feeling of being on land.
We did as we were told without resisting and got in, 20 to a wagon. The door was closed from outside, it was something that wouldnt open from the inside.
The carriage does not shake much, considering the open ground its passing over. Looking outside the grated windows, it looks like were headed for the port town. Then we were transported on the wagon for about an hour.
Looks like were here.
The wagon went around to the back of a 5-floor building. There was a signboard posted on the building, it said Rano Slave House in the Demon Language.
As the wagon stopped, the sound of a door being opened was heard from outside. When the door opened, over 10 men came out to see us. They were all wearing leather armor and were armed with swords and spears.
But whats more impressive is that all of them are of the Demon Race. Two-legged lizard race, one-eyed race, bird race with wings for armsthese men who could be mistaken for monsters at first glance were standing in line.
They were probably the soldiers employed by the Rano Slave House. At the end of the path created between the standing soldiers, there were stairs leading to the buildings basement.
Once you get down from the wagon, continue straight down to the basement.
One of the private soldiers making the path, a skinhead with twisted horns growing out of his forehead, said so. He seems to be the leader who is managing these private soldiers.
The slaves including me went down the stairs toward the basement without any resistance.
From behind, the sound of another wagon coming could be heard. Then, new footsteps came down into the basement.
The basement is of simple make, but it was wider than I thought, and it felt pleasantly cool to walk on with bare feet.
Lamps hung from the ceiling at even intervals. But they were not firelight. It seems that some kind of magic is used to provide light.
The first room that we were led to was the bathroom. The horned man who seemed like the soldiers leader caught up with us, and showed us the bathroom.
Now clean off all the dirt you got on the journey.
The dressing room was about 18 tatami in size.
The bathroom was about the size of two classrooms, there was plenty of hot water inside long boxes the size of bathtubs. Three of them had been prepared.
Take off your clothes here. Well give you a towel and soap to wash your head and body. Use the hot water as you like. Let us know if youre out of water, well get you some more. Just dont dip inside like nobleman do. The waters for everyones use after all.
As instructed, we got a towel, some soap, and a bucket and went into the bathroom. There were 40 people washing, me included.
Hot water ran down my head for the first time in about a year. Its unfortunate that I cant get in the tub, but it felt good just to get a bath. I once again filled the bucket with water and got my towel drenched.
I foamed the soap prepared for me using the towel, and washed off the dirt I had accumulated during the journey. Soap was supposed to be a valuable commodity in this world. Yet, the Slave House let the slaves use it freely.
Once I had gotten out of the bath, I was given new clothes. I wrung the towel and dried my head, then took the clothes. The shirt and trousers werent new, but they were cleanly washed.
The next day, in the morningI was brought from the basement to the top floor, with Obukhov and a private soldier in front and behind me.
My hands were bound with a pair of handcuffs. A 1 meter long chain was attached to my feet, so I could not move so quickly. As always, there was a magic prevention choker on my neck.
It was impossible to run away with a childs body and no magic.
Rano Slave House, 5th floor. I was brought into an extravagant room. It was probably a customer reception room.
Leather sofa, table made of insect shells, thick desk. There were no windows, but there were plants arranged, and paintings of scenery hanging on the walls instead. There were also other fine furnishings laid out in a calculated manner.
Inside the room, a two-legged frog demon I dont remember seeing stood up from the leather seat behind the desk and offered his hand for a handshake.
Youve been having it hard up to now. I am the manager of Rano Slave House, Rano Merumeru, of the Frog Race. Nice to meet you Lute. T, thanks.
As I returned his handshake, I was surprised at the lack of moisture on his hand.
As you can see from his name, this frog seems to be the head of Rano Slave House.
Dont be so stiff. Im not one to eat human children.
Rano saw the look on my face, and made his cheeks swell amusingly.
It looks like he was mistaken for a monster because of how he looked, and frightened human kids many times. Rano asked me to sit on the sofa.
Do you want anything to drink? Theres nothing but scented tea right now, of course children would want fruit juice, I wonder? No, I dont mind. Is that so? Then please sit and wait, the customer who might want to buy Lute is being taken here. Obukhov and the soldier leave the room and wait in front of the door. Yes !
Obukhov and the soldier tagged behind Rano and left the room. I was left alone in the room.
I looked around the room once again. There were no windows. Obukhov was waiting in front of the door, which was the only way out of here.
(Dont rush. The chance to slip away will surely come!)
While inside the Slave House, the defenses were too strong so there was no chance to escape. But there might be one after I was bought. Rather than giving the buyer a cause to be wary, its better to be obedient and look for an opening.
The only thing I can do now is to silently pray that my buyer is a woman. Sitting in the sofa, I put my elbows on my knees and pressed my hands together.
Dear God, dear Buddha, dear Tenjin! Please let my buyer be a woman, please let my buyer be a woman, please let my buyer be a woman, please let my buyer be a woman, please let my buyer be a woman
While I was making my most earnest prayers, previous life included, I heard the sound of the door being knocked upon. The first one to enter was the frog, Rano. Behind him, my prospective buyer came in.
Rano somewhat pridefully introduced me.
This is Lute. How is he, unusual, right? A human child with black hair and eyes. He can also speak the Demon Language, though only for normal conversation. We rarely get human children this wonderful, you know.
Hahaha! He is certainly rare! Hello Lute-kun! You have a lovely name!
The one who entered is aman.
But hes not just any man. He was wearing expensive looking clothes, but he was extremely tall. Easily two and a half meters. Furthermore, he had well developed muscles like a bodybuilder, and black skin.
He had a moustache over his thick lips that looked like that of a cod. He also had thick eyebrows, and his blonde hair was hardened in a swept-back do.
This muscled monster man standing in front of me looked to be my prospective buyer.
The clip of a camellia flower falling down was played in an endless loop inside my head.