Chapter 49

With the help of navigation, I successfully escaped the Great Forest and rode my horse, which I had tied up outside the woods, straight toward Bestia.

Before sunset, I reached a nearby city and went through the process: stop, show your ID, slave trader, clink of coins, okay, you're clear. After that, I entered the city.

I found a suitable place to stay and collapsed onto the bed.

Earlier, I noticed a lot of notifications had popped up, so I checked the rewards that had come in late.

First, I received 50,000 points for freeing Arpia. It seems that freeing a main slave fully grants a fixed reward of 50,000 points.

For slaves without a storyline, no matter how much you train them, you won’t get even 500 points. Considering that, even Narsha, who has some importance in the story, only gives 5,000 points, 50,000 is a lot.

Next were some skills that seemed like they existed, but also didn’t.

[Generous Master]

The effects of items given by the master are slightly enhanced.

It's simple. Basically, if I give someone a sword, its cutting power increases, or if I give them a potion, its healing effect gets stronger.

I suspect this skill was enhanced because I fed Arpia so much alcohol.

Then there was a new skill I had just acquired.

[Blessing of the World Tree]

The energy of the World Tree flows within you.

Elves will regard you favorably.

The abilities of elf slaves are enhanced.

The chance for rare spirits to inhabit elf slaves is increased.

‘So I got this.’

In the original, you had to fully free 100 elves to get this skill. It’s the ultimate skill for raising elves and absolutely essential.

But I managed to get it just by freeing Arpia. The World Tree must have been so impressed with how I helped Arpia before she was completely broken that it threw in this bonus.

‘If it works this way, I might get additional rewards for fully freeing other slaves by twisting the original story.’

I could potentially earn rare rewards.

Of course, I’m not planning to rush into things recklessly. Arpia’s case went well, but there’s no guarantee that the next one will.

I’ll just keep it in mind for now.

Now, for the final part. It's neither a skill nor anything else—it's a new system.

[Slave Draw]

Spend 10,000 points. There is a low chance of obtaining a slave clue, along with various items.@@novelbin@@

Gacha is hereeeeee!

It’s the element you can’t leave out in any weeb game.

Originally, this system was unlocked after completing Mirabel’s tutorial to prevent excessive rerolling.

I thought there wouldn’t be any draws since it didn’t appear earlier, but it’s finally here.

‘What is this "slave clue"?’

It’s the first time I’ve seen it. I can guess roughly what it might be, but I’ll find out when I pull it, so there’s no need to overthink it.

‘But, man, 10,000 points is steep.’

It’s ridiculously expensive. It’s not like I have the leisure to raise slaves right now, and I never know when I’ll need money or items.

In that situation, mindless spending could lead to an irreversible disaster.

But since there’s something new, I’ve got to at least try it out.

‘Maybe just a taste?’

I still have plenty of points.

Just a taste, that’s all.

I spent 10,000 points and pressed the draw button.

A faintly glowing blue sphere appeared before me.

As the light grew brighter and seemed like it would soon turn resplendent…!

Thud.

"Huh?"

Something fell limply onto the bed. It was a clunky, gray bracelet.

[An Incomplete Bracelet Made by a Meister]

The meister slipped while making it. Oops.

Equipped effect: Stabilizes the slave’s mind and slightly enhances magic.

...That's it?

I spent 10,000 points, and all I got was this cheap bracelet?

I could pay for a custom order and get a magic tool far better than this!

Oh, is that it? I must have built up one stack. The more you pull, the higher your chances get.

So, I have to pull again.

I spent another 10,000 points.

The blue sphere shimmered once more, and as it looked like it would burst into an even brighter light…!

Thud.

Nope, nothing like that.

A lewd, pink heart-shaped frame, the kind a succubus might engrave on her lower abdomen, dropped onto the bed.

I didn’t even need to read the description to know what it was for.

And it was clearly a dud.

Blue means a dud.

The worst part is that the color seems like it’s going to change, but it never does.

It’s seriously infuriating. It’s like they’re messing with you.

[Current Points: 63,120pt]

‘Wait, I’ve already spent 20,000 points?’

My precious points turned into trash?

Should I stop now?

‘No.’

Stopping here would be a loser’s move. A pro would know how to recover at this point.

“If I pull now, I’ll definitely get something!”

[Current Points: 13,120pt]

“Huff, huff…”

The moisture drained from my body.

My heart pounded like a drum, echoing in my ears. My dopamine-soaked body trembled uncontrollably.

Have I ever felt this exhausted before?

I’ve faced life-threatening situations before, but this time, it feels like I can barely breathe.

Seven pulls. Every single one of them a blue dud. I didn’t even get a glimpse of the higher-tier lights.

‘It’s not too late. If I stop now…’

If I spend more points, it could mess up the progression later.

Yeah, let’s call it quits here.

I got a taste, didn’t I? 10,000 points is still a manageable loss.

At that moment, the devil in my head popped up with a tempting offer.

‘You’re going to stop? You failed seven times, so statistically, you’re bound to succeed next time. Stopping now would be a waste, but if you get something good, you can recover everything.’

Damn it. Is it because of the skill? The devil’s argument sounds so convincing.

No, I mustn’t give in.

Angel, help me!

Pop.

‘What, you’re going to stop when a continent-class S-tier slave girl is waiting at your door, and you’ve already got your hand on the doorknob? What a loser.’

...?

What?

Shouldn’t one of them be trying to stop me? Where’s the angel?

‘There’s no angel for a slave trader.’

Of course! I never had a choice in the first place!

There was no need to hesitate.

A sense of peace washed over me.

I took a deep breath.

I gathered the strength of three Karamirs.

East, West, North, South.

“I see it. The thread of opportunity!”

Beep beep beep. As if my life points were being drained, my remaining points dropped.

The blue sphere appeared again.

It shimmered, as if about to change, and trembled repeatedly. Finally, it was enveloped in a glorious golden light like the rising sun.

“It’s here!”

Of course, my judgment was right!

Ah, with one pull, I’m back in the game.

The dazzling light filled the room, and just as it reached its peak, it faded to white. The sphere shattered, and a piece of paper fluttered down.

I snatched it off the ground as quickly as a beggar picking up crumbs.

[Slave Clue: Top-Tier]

A slave clue.

This wasn’t in the game. In the game, when you pulled, a slave would be added directly to your character’s roster, ready to train.

But apparently, that’s not how it works here. I thought it would summon the slave to my location, but that wasn’t it.

The paper provided random clues about the slave—background, abilities, and specific locations and conditions for encountering them.

It’s a way to help you meet slaves. It could be a slave I recognize from the game, or it could be someone entirely new.

‘I guess I’ll have to find out.’

I wonder what kind of pretty slave it will be~

With an excited heart, I began reading the [Slave Clue].

[Slave Clue: Top-Tier]

At the northernmost tip of the continent, in the eternally frozen wasteland of Aisengar,

The iron-blooded warrior Tarkind, protector of the Northlands, defends his tribe from the Orc horde───

"Ah, fuck. It’s a male."

I knew it just from the name.

What kind of weeb game gives you a male character from a draw?

“I spent 80,000 points and all I got was an ice-cold bastard…?”

I tore the paper to shreds.

“You can just die…”

80,000 points. If converted to gold coins, that’s 8,000 coins vanished into thin air.

I had been tricked by the gods. I bet they wiped out all my points because they were worried about inflation.

I had no points left for more draws, and I was mentally exhausted.

‘I swear I’ll never do another draw again.’

If I do, I’m no better than a monkey.

Even though my points were gone, I still had things to do. To meet the third main slave, I had to head to Bestia.

Bestia, what a wonderful place.

In the Kingdom of Traoul, I was known as the “Slave Reaper,” with rumors that I killed slaves. But not in Bestia. My standing there was completely different.

I had treated countless beastfolk slaves and sent them to Bestia. I still remember that day vividly.

I remember the beastfolk watching me leave, some even trying to follow, while others wailed pitifully.

If I ever get the chance, I’d like to see those kids again.

We reached the border where the Kingdom and the Beastfolk Nation met.

On one side stood the kingdom’s soldiers, and on the other, the soldiers of the Beastfolk Nation, standing guard.

As I passed through the strict border checks, I spotted a wolf beastfolk with a distinctive gray tail. I walked right up to her.

“Well, well, Miss Seira. It’s been a long time.”

Seira was the immigration officer for Bestia. She had always been the one to receive the beastfolk slaves I brought over.

Her default expression was indifferent, but today, she frowned. Something must have put her in a bad mood.

“What brings you to Bestia? Are you here to hand over more beastfolk?”

“Unfortunately, not today. I have some business in Bestia.”

“You?”

“Yes, may I enter?”

Even though my standing in Bestia was good, I was still a slave trader. Unlike in the kingdom’s cities, where a bit of money would get me through, it wasn’t that simple here.

But it was fine. Seira knew better than anyone how kindhearted I was as a slave trader. I was sure she’d let me in.

“I’ve been waiting for this day… Please, come in. We’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival in Bestia.”

“Haha, I didn’t expect such a warm welcome. I’m honored. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

I took a few steps forward and crossed the border. As I followed Seira, the kingdom’s soldiers disappeared from view.

“Miss Seira, are the slaves I freed doing well?”

“Doing… well?”

“Their sorrowful faces as we parted never left my mind. Now that I’m in Bestia, I’d love to see them again if I can.”

Seira suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Her gray fur bristled.

“How much more do you intend to hurt them…!”

“What?”

“But that ends today.”

I felt weightless for a moment, the world flipping upside down. Then, a sharp pain surged through my body.

By the time I regained my senses, I was lying face-down on the ground.

It didn’t end there. My arm was twisted and pinned behind my back. In an instant, Seira had mounted me, pressing her knee into my wrist.

“S-Seira? What is the meaning of this?”

“The meaning? Ask your conscience that question.”

I tried to turn my head to see her face, but my neck wouldn’t move any further. Even so, I could feel her piercing gaze bearing down on me.

“Karamir the Slave Reaper. You are under arrest for the habitual abandonment of beastfolk slaves.”