124 Lesson 7: Boy Leader ①

My name is Bill. Seven years old. I have three younger sisters.

Parents... forgot already.

When I was five... my shitty father, who ran out of money, was drinking and telling his friends, happy to sell me and Kathy to slavers.

I eavesdropped on it, and I didn't hesitate to take Kathy away.

I couldn't allow our lives to go crazy just because of my father's liquor bill.

It's just that outside the house was not what I thought the world would be.

Every day, it's whether you can have dinner once, and it's cold to sleep outside... wouldn't it have been easier to be a slave? I thought so many times.

As I continued to live like that, I learned that people in the same situation as me were in the slam.

Each was desperately looking for rice for himself or his own sister or brother.

When I saw it, I came up with the idea that it would be easier if we all worked together.

And I invited the same people from one end to the other.

Easy to eat, my sister and brother can live safely.

When I said that, everyone got on my suggestion easily.

This is how we got our group together.

The main activity as a group involves attacking rich people strayed into slums by more than one person to deprive them of money and food.

If it were just one person, I wouldn't have been able to do this.

With a lot of them, even kids can take down as easily as one adult.

This operation was a success.

It became okay for everyone to eat dinner twice a day.

Of course, I know it's a bad thing.

But if we don't do this, we're not gonna live.

If it's to live, it's my way of life that I don't choose the means.

And... it's been about a year since the group was formed.

I could have had some groups that imitated us and had a lot of problems with it, but I lived without any particular problems.

It's just that that day, our lives took a turn.

That day, as usual, I was earning money for the day by attacking a guy who had gotten lost in a slum.

And then that guy came when he attacked about one more person and today's norm would be over.

I feel like I've seen it. I'm about ten years old, dressed as an adventurer, but my clothes are beautiful, so I'll have the money.

We first felt lucky today because of the way he looked.

A child with gold is nothing but a duck.

And... we were so caught off guard that in an instant that guy bogged us down.

I had no hands, no legs...

Until now, no matter how strong someone gets hit by one or two of their opponents, they've never all been able to do it.

That's why I was so upset then.

The idea came to mind that I had to prepare for death and protect my people, and for now I spoke to that man.

Then he said something that he didn't understand.

Orphanage? Can you eat for free? Warm bed? Can you teach me magic?

No, you can't.

Haven't you ever learned that you shouldn't trust people easily?

I'm the only one trying?

Damn...... what do we do?

No, if the sacrifice is enough for me alone?

You guys, I asked for Cassie.

Hmm?

The place changed in an instant?

Huh? What is this mansion!

The bath is big, there are really plenty of beds, and there's even a place to play.

Can we live here?

That's crazy! Why are you treating me so well?

Are you sure there's nothing behind this?

So, but... what if this is really an orphanage?

Besides, I don't think this guy is a bad guy...

Yeah... my guess tells me to trust this guy.

What do we do... guess what?

No, wait. Think about it.

What happens if I say no?

I forgot. This guy is incredibly strong.

Besides, he has the means to travel in an instant.

Where I said no, it would fall to be forced to take me.

I have no choice, now it would be wise to obey.

Then I decided to follow him, rendezvous with Cathy and start living in the mansion.

The guys from the other group came quickly, but they were trying to stay out of each other more than they needed to.

We're making love to each other for now because we're afraid of getting into fights and getting punished for something.

In addition to the maids who look after us, this mansion is patrolled by creepy armored soldiers who don't talk about anything.

Everyone is freaking out about this armored man.

The maids say... they seem to be guarding this place, but they're watching us no matter what you think.

And some of the maids wore collars.

Probably that guy's slave.

And then... some maids had unfamiliar ears and tails.

They were very beautiful people, and I wondered how they brought me here.

And I could eat three meals a day without having to do anything as promised.

Besides, it's not just rice.

They were all incredibly delicious dishes like I've never had before.

Everyone started to think that we could live here.

I just decided not to believe it yet.

When everyone was asleep, I decided to break into the area where they told me not to go to that guy.

While hiding from being found by the armored soldiers, I reached my intended location so that they wouldn't find out.

The place, like that guy said, was lined up with rooms where the maids really lived.

From that, I found a room where I could hear multiple voices, so I peered softly into it.

"In the meantime, good first day! Thank you for making such a big deal of yourself."

Inside, there were four maids, one wearing a collar, one beautiful with long ears and two regular women.

Apparently, you're looking back at today.

"Well, I just feel scared. It's a new place, so it's natural to be nervous."

"Besides, I'm afraid of the golem that Master Leons left behind."

"Right. Sure, you're scared from the kids who don't know anything. I can't help but be scared to keep walking in silence, knowing the Golem."

Golem or something I'm not sure about, but are these people making any mistakes?

We're not as kids as you think we are.

I'm not scared, I'm on guard.

"But we need it, don't we? When you come in with a robbery or something, we can't deal with it. Besides, you can't let a man in here, can you?

What's this all about? Were the armorers really just guarding?

Besides, what do you mean you can't let a man in?

I'm a man, and the contents of the armor aren't men?

"That's right. Speaking of which, is Mr. Anne and the boys okay?

"Looks fine. All day today, I felt nothing in particular but cute"

I see. I hate that beautiful guy man, and we kids are the exception, so can we live inside?

"Yes. That would have been nice. Sure, the kids were cute. I can't help but enjoy my job now, compared to when I was taking care of that pig."

A pig? Did the woman in the collar ever take care of a pig?

"A pig..."

"Nothing, you're not wrong, are you? He's only thinking about eating and women. Thank you, Master Leons."

Oh, you mean that.

Pigs, are you talking about people like pigs?

You worked under a tough husband.

Hmm? What do you mean... are you thankful for that guy who's my current husband?

Sure, my current husband would be that guy because they said Master Leo.

So, is that guy really a good guy?

I'm not sure......

"Speaking of which, why is Mr. Camilla still wearing a slave collar? It was possible for Leo to take it, wasn't it?

I can take a collar...

Or is he wearing a collar if he wants to!?

"Right...... why not? When I was a pig slave, I hated this collar so much... I got scared when the pig was gone and you could take off your collar."

Scared?

"To what?

Yes, what are you afraid of?

Slaves are just dominated by others, right?

"The fear of being abandoned? I don't know... Actually, I'm already a slave to thinking about, aren't I? Slaves are basically someone's property, and you have a husband, right?

"Yes."

"I am taught in slave traders to think that being your husband's property is worth living. When I was that pig, I didn't think that much because my husband was a scumbag...... isn't Master Leons a good guy?

Tutoring...... I knew you were right to run away from your father.

Nevertheless, Master Leons is a good person......

"Yes."

"Once you're aware of that, you're starting to think that you want to be Leons-sama's property. So I felt like I'd been thrown out of the collar, and I got scared. Are you convinced?

"Yes...... Hey, what did they do with the tutoring?

I'm also very concerned.

I'm sure it's outrageous content......

"It's better for each other not to ask. I don't feel like saying or listening to this. Even you want to forget when you were a slave, right?

Well, you don't want to tell me...

Huh? Was that beautiful man also a slave?

"Right...... sorry I asked you something extra"

Apparently, it's true.

That's surprising...... Maybe that's why you hate men?

"You don't have to apologize. I'm sorry I said it in a way that bothered me too. So why don't we have a little chat around here today and get ready for bed tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Come on, we'll do our best tomorrow."

"Right."

Then, seeing everyone up, I rushed back to my room.

I don't think anyone's found out.