Published: September 9, 2025
Satou here. When it comes to ancient communication methods, we might think of signal fires or carrier pigeons, right? There were also fast horses and couriers, but nothing with the immediacy of the internet or email. Although there’s magic in another world, communication means don’t seem to be widespread.
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I took the alchemist’s daughters to the reception room.
“Let me confirm once more. Are you prepared to change your names and live as entirely different people?”
“““Yes, please.”””
The five girls answered in unison.
“Tifaliza, assign new names to these five. In order: Ann, Beth, Chris, Debbie, and Emily.”
It’s a secret that I named them in ABCDE order.
By the time she named the third, Tifaliza ran out of magic power, so I replenished her with the magic power transfer spell.
I then took the five newly named girls to a safe house in Furusau City, the closest city to the labyrinth city. Former slaves Chris and Emily needed to go through the troublesome process of being re-enslaved before being freed to become free citizens. After handling the paperwork with the slave traders in Furusau City, they, along with Ann, Beth, and Debbie, received their identification cards. The officials were a bit reluctant to issue the IDs, but slipping a silver coin to a guard smoothed things over.
“Now, make the items listed on this sheet.”
“Yes, Lord Kuro.”
I handed the recipe bundles to Beth and Chris, who could read. In exchange for providing them with this hideout and living expenses for the time being, I asked them to handle the tedious intermediate material preparation. Emily, a former slave with sword skills, was given an iron sword for self-defense.
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Next, I took the slaves to another hideout in Kelton, the branching city beyond Furusau City. It was a fairly large mansion but couldn’t fit all 55 at once, so we brought them in groups of 20. To avoid the hassle of masking silent casting, I blindfolded and earplugged them before teleporting.
I visited the smallest slave trading house. The slaves stayed in the hideout.
“Is anyone here?”
“You don’t have to shout so loud; I have good ears.”
“I have a request.”
“Alright, leave it to me. Whether blonde big breasts or silver-haired young girls, I’ll get you your preferred type. If you have unusual tastes, say so now—I’ll make sure they’re trained just right!”
I interrupted the worn-out middle-aged slave trader enthusiastically pitching with his slide rule.
“There are 55 slaves here who lost their master. I want you to ‘contract’ as their master, then free 25 of them from slavery afterward. I’ll pay you 20 gold coins, including all expenses for the procedures. How about it?”
“Consider it done! I’ll do it—no way I’d let someone else have such a lucrative job!”
“Good. Then follow me.”
I left the boy servant in charge of the house, donned my best cloak, and had the slave trader come out of the shop. I put a blindfold on him just like in some conspiracy story. It wouldn’t be a problem if he saw the place, but it’s better if word doesn’t get around unnecessarily.
After about 15 contracts, the trader ran out of magic power, so I gave him a magic power recovery potion and let him rest periodically as he worked. With each break, I took the slaves whose contracts had ended back to Ivy Manor and brought new ones.
Though suspicious, the trader’s greed for gold silenced any awkward questions. Praise the money-grubber.
On the way back, I kept his blindfold on and escorted him to the slave trading house. I gave him the promised 20 gold coins and a bonus bottle of premium Shiga liquor bought in Furusau City. For some reason, his face twitched when he received the liquor. He must have been really exhausted. I hope he drinks well and has sweet dreams.
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Now, about the freed slaves: since they have production skills, I plan to build a row house combined with workshops on a vacant lot in the city so they can live and work there. I asked Polina, who went outside with the rescuers, to handle purchasing the land and arranging construction of the temporary row house. Until it’s ready, they’ll stay at a boarding house for explorers.