章 30: Time To Rest

"Oh, that makes sense." We don't dwell on the topic any longer. Ayame and I leave the part of the town that is closest to the labyrinth, because this area is specialized for explorers and adventurers with various shops targeting them. I would rather not stay in this place until I become a bit stronger as living among people that are all stronger than me feels very unnerving and uncomfortable.

"Let's go pick up our stuff from the inn. Would you prefer to stay there for the night or find a new one?" I inquire.

"I don't have a preference, we can stay there if the price is good." She replies nonchalantly.

The two of us don't talk anymore until we reach our destination. I was a bit worried that I would get swindled because I have a general trust issue towards humanity in general, but after checking, I'm happy to see nothing missing. The innkeepers kept their word and stored our items for the day.

We decided to rent the same room I was occupying last night and we also paid for dinner for two and a bucket of hot water with a rag to clean ourselves afterwards. All together the cost came to 33 bronze coins, making us have 1 silver and 59 bronze coins to our name.

This once again shows how little money we made today. Though, to be fair, it was an afternoon's worth of work only, but a single construction worker is said to earn 50 bronze a day, so we can't be happy with today's haul, especially because we earned 50 only after some serious haggling. Anyhow, once I get stronger our income rate should skyrocket, so I'm not depressed.

The meal was very delicious, especially after the hard work we've put in today. My first day of being a combatant was thrilling, exciting and fulfilling but also exhausting. I'm drained of energy.

We head back to our room and a servant brings us the bucket of hot water we paid an extra bronze coin for. Sadly nothing sensual happens, we didn't wash each other's bodies or anything like that. Well, not that I was expecting to do so, but a man can hope, no?

My hopes were crushed mercilessly when she told me to wipe first while she meditated for a bit. She then 'bathed' after me, and I was explicitly instructed to go for a 5 minute walk, to which I obediently complied.

I don't know if I could've insisted on staying and watching due to the contract, but I had no intention to abuse my master status over her. It was Ayame's first day outside the slave house in a year and I didn't want her to be uncomfortable. Not that I have plans to peek at her at a later date.

I am a gentleman, after all.

She will undress herself willingly in front of my observant eyes soon enough.

By the time I got back to the room I found her lying on the floor, using her clothes as a makeshift pillow and blanket. It doesn't look comfortable one bit. She spent the entire day patiently instructing me and she even saved my life at least a dozen times. I simply can't allow this.

"Come on, Ayame. Go sleep on the bed, you deserve it."

She turns to look at me. "You worked hard today, Quinlan. You are also my master. There's no reason for me to sleep there."

"I insist."

"So do I."

Why must she be so hard headed about the most useless stuff? She tends to be so lax about these things. In the restaurant she always orders 'whatever the specialty is'.

"Alright, then come up so that we can both sleep on the bed."

I can see her looking at me with accusatory eyes.

"Really? We've been through this dance already, Ayame. If I molest you or something you can beat me up. I don't feel comfortable with my precious teacher sleeping on the floor next to me."

"... Alright." That seems to have made her relent. Nice.

We both lie in the bed now, at a respectable distance from each other. She turns to her sides, showing me her back. I glance at the ceiling and look over the various system stuff I've neglected so far. Ever since I bought Ayame I was a Slave Master but I didn't even check the class specifics.

[Slave Master: Basic Evil Class]

[Effect: Minor Wisdom Increase]

[Base Skill: Slave Status Monitor]

[Slave Status Monitoring: Allows the Slave Master to examine his or her slaves' status windows.]

Evil Class? Why? Slavery is legally accepted… Is the Goddess against slavery? But then why allow it to exist? I don't believe for a second that she is so weak that she can't send a message to her temples or something saying that anyone owning a slave is a heretic…

Wait, how do I level this class even? The others are pretty straightforward, but this…?

As I think that, I somehow delve deeper into the description, and a leveling explanation appears.

[To level up the Slave Master Class, one needs to make good use of their slaves. The universal leveling method is to have one's slaves level up their Classes or Normal Levels, but there are more effective job-specific methods as well;

- For labor slaves: have them work diligently and finish projects to a satisfactory degree. The better the end result (calculated as more income or recognition the master receives) the more XP the Slave Master receives.

- For service slaves: have them provide elegant and tasteful service on a regular basis. The more impressive and prestigious they make their owner look, the more XP the Slave Master receives.

- For sex slaves: have them satisfy their partners' sexual urges, the more satisfied they leave the more XP the Slave Master receives, furthermore, if their sexual services are provided for a monetary compensation, the more income they bring to their master the more XP the Slave Master receives.

- For combat slaves: have them triumph over foes, the stronger the more XP the Slave Master receives. Have them represent their master in tournaments, duels, exhibitions and the more fame they earn for their owner the more XP the Slave Master receives.]