Chapter 45 - Episode 44: The Blue-Haired Girl
The girl who was let down from the carriage had blue hair.
It was not a deep blue like lapis lazuli, but a shimmering blue mixed with a hint of gold. Combined with her intelligent features, she radiated an intellectual presence that was entirely unlike that of a slave.
Her expression was stiff, and her gaze was sharp.
"Hey, what's with that look! This person is the Lord of this land, it's rude! Won't you greet him!"
When the guild master shouted, the girl showed the slave's bow with a reluctant air.
"...My name is Christy,"
The voice she used to introduce herself, as if muttering, was as stiff as her expression.
"Goodness... Your Excellency, I am terribly sorry. This slave was the daughter of a wealthy merchant in the Marquis Galdwin territory in the southwest, but her family went bankrupt due to the economic downturn and she was sold to cover their debts. Because of her high birth and the fact that she has only recently fallen into slavery, her discipline is..."
The guild master explained, looking awkward. It seemed that while he had provided her as an intellectual slave to meet Noein's request, as a product, she had not yet been fully refined.
"Please do not let it concern you. Finding an intellectual slave must be difficult in itself... Her abilities are not an issue, are they?"
"Of course they are not. It has been confirmed that she received a high education as the daughter of a wealthy merchant family and graduated from High School through the commoner quota. As an intellectual slave, she is a top-grade product."
The High Schools located in several of the kingdom's major cities were educational institutions attended by the children of nobles, wealthy merchants, and wealthy farmers. Graduating from such a place was proof that one had received top-level education within the kingdom.
Noein felt a slight sense of sympathy for her, thinking how unlucky she was to fall into slavery despite such an origin. Though he did not let it show on his face.
"That is wonderful. She is exactly the kind of talent I wanted. How much?"
"For a slave who has graduated from High School... the market price is around 300,000 Rebro. Deducting for the insufficient discipline, how about 280,000 Rebro?"
The presented amount was exactly 28 gold coins. Considering that ordinary labor slaves cost a few gold coins, it was a staggering sum.
However, it matched the market price for intellectual slaves that Noein had researched beforehand. As expected of the number one slave guild in the Viscount Koenitz territory, they apparently had no intention of ripping him off in such a situation.
"Very well. I will buy her."
Though it was an enormous amount, Noein decided on the purchase, judging that the highly educated Christy would be worth that much.
By the time Noein finished his shopping, the other retainers and residents had already decided which slaves to purchase.
Yuri and Mai bought a young serf couple, and Pence, Radley, Bart, and Edgar each chose one or two sturdy-looking serfs. Furthermore, Dmitri chose several strong male slaves.
The guild master, who had sold over thirty slaves in a single day, thanked Noein politely in a great mood, then left with his employees and the remaining unsold slaves.
.....
To welcome the slaves, Noein had previously built a row house in the annex of the mansion to serve as their residence.
Although each room was narrow, everyone had their own private room, and the construction was sturdier than some poor people's houses. For labor slaves, it was high treatment beyond which one could wish for nothing more.
And, separately from those labor slaves, Christy was given a private room inside the mansion, just like a live-in servant. This too was exceptional treatment for a slave, and was something she ought to be grateful for.
However, Christy's reaction toward Noein was different from what he expected.
Timing his visit for when Christy, having been given her room, would have settled in, he went to speak with her to explain her future work and such, when—
"Don't come near me! Don't touch me!"
She rejected him violently. This commotion occurred even though he had neither approached nor touched her.
"For my part, I intended to welcome you with the best treatment possible, taking your background and abilities into account... are you dissatisfied?"
"I am a person who was never supposed to become a slave! This is wrong! Set me free!"
Christy looked down at Noein, who asked with a wry smile, and shouted while pointing a finger at him. Since she was tall (or rather, Noein was short), looking down was unavoidable, but to point at one's master from a position of superiority and order their release was an act of insolence unbecoming of a slave.
"...Noein-sama, if you like, shall I make her understand her place?"
Matilda, attending beside Noein, spoke while directing a cold gaze at Christy.
"No, it's fine, Matilda. If I try to make her understand through force too much, she probably won't exert her abilities."
Christy's work was not physical labor, but labor using the brain. No matter how much he punched or kicked her, it would be meaningless unless she herself held a positive will to work.
The problem is whether she will accept her status as a slave over time, or if extensive "education" will be necessary...
Thinking this, Noein sat himself down in a chair in Christy's room without permission.
"Christy, it must be incredibly unfortunate for you, but unfortunately, you became a slave. And I became your master."
"This is crazy! I even went to High School!? So why am I a slave! And to be bought by the child of some arrogant noble in the middle of nowhere!"
Christy continued to scream as if having a hysterical fit.
"It's painful. It's unreasonable. But even if it's harsh, this is reality. From today, I am your master. From tomorrow, you—"
"Hmph! There's no way my advanced academic ability and knowledge are needed in a countryside like this! You probably just want to use your power to subjugate and humiliate a smart woman to satisfy your carnal desires, right!? You perverted noble!"
"Wow, what a troublesome girl."
While saying so with his mouth, Noein laughed with a silly, amused expression.
"W-what's so funny! Are you making fun of me!?"
"You seem to be under the delusion that you are quite attractive as a woman; did you learn how to be conceited at High School too? I have this Matilda. I have no interest in your meager body."
While speaking in a way that sounded as sarcastic as possible, Noein pulled Matilda's body close to him to show her.
Christy's appearance could be called beautiful without hesitation, but Matilda was also quite something. Moreover, in terms of breast size and bodily fleshiness, most humans were no match for a rabbit-person.
In terms of "whether the face and body are attractive from a man's perspective," it would be objectively judged that Matilda won completely.
Noein had intentionally responded to Christy's rude words and actions with vulgar phrasing, and she fell for it perfectly, becoming enraged.
"Wh... you're comparing a beastman to me!? Don't mess with me!"
"You're noisy. Anyway, I didn't buy you to make you serve as a bed-warmer, but to have you help with clerical and financial work. Even in a rural territory like this, desk work is actually quite difficult. You, who have done nothing but school studies, probably wouldn't understand."
Noein cut off the play-fighting and moved to the topic of her work.
"Therefore, from tomorrow, you will engage in intellectual labor under my retainer in charge of finance. If you produce proper results there, I'll overlook your rudeness today."
Since her future fate was being explained for the time being, Christy reluctantly listened to Noein's explanation.
"Conversely, if you can't produce decent results, a reassignment to a different job is possible. I wonder if someone as frail as you can endure farm work or mining in the mines?"
To Noein, who showed a wicked smile,
"...Hmph. Don't underestimate me. There's no way I can't handle something like clerical work in the countryside,"
Christy answered, wearing an expression of hatred.