CH 59

…… Rosa?

The silence continued for a while, but ended with the sound of the door opening.

Willy was the first to enter the room. He took a few steps forward and gave way to the edge.

「Looks like we’re all here.」

Zelma, who had been behind us, strode past us, stopping at the back of the room.

She was followed by Regina and then Willy, who lined up on either side of Zelma.

「These 5 are the main force of the 2nd investigation team. We’re only going to investigate the threat level of the dungeon, so we’ll use the minimum number of people. Sophie is to deal with the undead, and you are to guide the way. Both of you don’t disobey my orders, okay?」

「Ha!」

「Yes.」

Unless we’re going to attack dungeons, we’re a good enough member for research and combat. It is especially significant that Sophie, the ultimate weapon against the undead, is here. Just by having her, the difficulty level will be greatly reduced.

Zelma is also one of the decent ones among the nobles, so I wasn’t worried about her command.

「I’ll take one other maid to take care of my personal needs, and two slaves.」

Zelma rubbed her fingers together, and there was a dry snap.

「Excuse me. My name is Eliza, and I am Lady Zelma’s personal maid.」

A woman in a maid’s uniform stood in the doorway. Her bangs were cut in a horizontal line and the fine eyes gave a cold impression.

Behind her stood two people with slave rings around their necks. One of them was a middle-aged man. He’s not built for combat, so I guess he’s a baggage carrier. The other was a beautiful woman with long green hair.

They both had dark circles in their eyes and looked tired, but it was something else that caught my attention.

「…… Rosa?」

She looked at me as if she had finally noticed the voice.

「Don’t tell me it’s …… Lars?」

This reaction convinced me. The female slave is a former party member, the Hero Licht’s woman and a wizard named Rosa.

I’ve even heard the story of how she fell into slavery after a dispute with a Baron, but I never thought I’d meet her here.

She put her hand out in front of her and almost asked for help, but she quickly stopped. Her back, which had been curled a little, straightened up and she glared at me.

The look of despair on her face was gone, and she looked as confident as she had when we had been working together.

「Don’t call me by my name. Are you trying to make me look like a fool?」

If you’re a slave, and a criminal slave at that, you’ll never be freed. You will be treated as a disposable resource and you are at the bottom of your life. And yet, you’re strong-minded enough to keep up the pretense?

「I’m not going to do it. I’m not interested.」

Licht and Colette have their own thoughts, but Rosa in front of me just agreed to kick them out.

I don’t have a strong enough grudge to do anything about it, and it’s none of my business what happens to her.

「You’re lying! I’m really resentful—」

『Shut up!』

When Zelma ordered the slave collar, Rosa’s neck tightened.

Rosa scratches her neck and suffers while making an unfamiliar voice with 『gugh』 and 『gugh』. She was released when her face turned pale and she fell with a thud.

「Geh, gah, gah, gah ……」

Liquids flushed from her eyes, nose and mouth, as she struggled to take in fresh air.

To be a slave means that even life and death are controlled by others as they wish. I felt like I was witnessing the horror of it.

「Eliza, you must take good care of our slaves.」

As soon as the conversation with Eliza the maid was over, Zelma looked at me.

「A slave is a slave. You may know her, but that doesn’t change how you treat her.」

I don’t need to compare the Nobleman’s mood with Rosa’s.

I don’t care what happens to her because she is no longer my friend.

「I understand, Sir.」

「Very well. Then I will tell you the details of the investigation.」

The rest of the conversation went without a hitch, and the survey team decided to leave three days later, but I was a little nervous.

Ever since I was an adventurer, trouble at the start has never been good for me.