บท 47: Chapter 47: Finding the Crows Part 8
"I didn't save you for charity."
He was submerged in the bathtub with only his eyes peeking out as he looked at me. I continued calmly.
"Let's collaborate on just one task."
"..."
"Then you're free."
"How can I trust that?"
"If you don't trust me, we could always make a soul contract."
"...!"
A soul contract is exactly what it sounds like—a pact with one's soul at stake.
Just like making an oath before the gods, it was a terrible contract where if you broke it after making it, your own soul would be torn to pieces.
"There's a Lausian temple nearby. We can go there at dawn to confirm the contract."
"..."
"So, are you willing to listen now?"
When I brought up the topic of the soul contract, he looked at me with softened eyes.
"I'm planning to conquer the deep-sea dungeon soon. With you being a half-mermaid the task should be considerably easier. What do you think?"
"..."
"After all, you're not afraid of the sea."
He nodded his head slightly.
Not fearing the sea was the most important trait.
Moreover, since he was a half-mermaid, he would be skilled at swimming and likely quite talented in magic as well.
He was precisely the talent I needed at the moment.
"If I do this, will I truly be free…?"
"Yes. There are no further conditions. You'll be free and I will give you adequate compensation so you can have a fresh start."
"..."
Unlike beastkin, half-mermaids didn't have distinct features that stood out from humans.
Hence, with a decent sum of money, he could lead an ordinary life anywhere.
"What if I refuse?"
"Ha. You don't have the option to refuse."
"What if I kill you tonight and flee?"
"People will remember what happened at the slave market. Especially the merchant who sold you today for three gold coins, he'll likely spread your story far and wide."
"..."
"Without me, you'll end up back in the slave market."
"..."
"Even if you're a half-mermaid, you can't simply swim your way to the mainland to escape."
"..."
"So, you can't afford to say no."
"..."
As if he was at a loss for words, he dived into the bathtub and submerged himself.
"Alright, I'll wait outside. Come out once you're feeling better. I'll have a meal ready for you."
-Bubble, bubble.
The only response was bubbles rising to the surface of the bath.
Since there were no windows in the bathroom, he had no way to escape. I left him alone and stepped outside.
"Master, that person is…"
"Ah, that one…"
I realized I still didn't know his name.
"I'll introduce him properly when he comes out. He'll be staying with us for a while."
"For a while?"
"Yes. For a while."
Seeing how he is, I doubted he could become one of us. I just hoped he wouldn't escape halfway through.
Soon, the landlady and her son brought up the meal to the guest room.
The meal included a thick stew made with large chunks of beef and an entire bottle of fine wine, roasted corn, and salty steamed green beans sprinkled with melted cheese and sea salt. The thick rye bread was filled with various nuts and it was emitting a rich aroma.
El and I sat at the table and we started eating. Just as we were about to start eating, the sound of the bathroom door opening interrupted us.
-Grrrrr…
Followed by the rumbling of hunger emanating from someone's stomach.
"Come join us for the meal."
When I called out to him, El looked quite uncomfortable. And then she whispered in my ear.
"Master, he's still all wet."
"There's nothing we can do about it."
He was a half-mermaid after all. I shrugged my shoulders and dragged an old chair to the table for him. He hesitated for a moment before he finally took a seat. I placed the specially ordered soup and white bread in front of him.
"…. Ha, is this the kind of food you give to a slave?"
As he shifted his gaze between our hearty beef stew and his own soup, he remarked in a scornful tone. El got angry and almost rose from her seat to beat him up, but I gestured for her to stay put.
"It's not like that."
"Hmph."
"You look like you haven't had a proper meal in days, and eating a regular meal now could lead to digestive issues."
El, who had experienced similar circumstances, nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Once you're feeling better, you'll be free to eat as much as you like. For now, start with that."
"..."
After glaring at El and me, he reluctantly picked up his spoon and began to eat while blowing on his soup to cool it.
"You can have as much soup as you want, so if you'd like more, just say so."
"..."
"It's awkward not knowing your name."
"..."
"It's better than calling you 'hey you', right?"
"...Roshanak."
"Alright, Roshanak. My name is Theodore, and this is El. It looks like you're about the same age, so let's get along for now."
"Hmph."
This little rascal…
But El was the same at the beginning.
I continued my meal without much conversation. The landlady's culinary skills were so remarkable that no matter how much I ate, everything just went down smoothly.
"El, could you go down and buy a bottle of wine?"
"Yes, Master."
It was the kind of meal that called for a drink.
"And get two pavlovas as well."
"Yes!"
A short while later, El returned with the wine and pavlovas. The pavlovas, filled with well-baked meringue, whipped cream, strawberries, and raspberries, looked absolutely tempting.
After finishing the meal, El eagerly ate the pavlova and even shared a piece with Ayla. The hald-mermaid, that is, Roshanak, watched this scene as if enchanted.
"Do you want some?"
"..."
Is this what they call the innocence of a child?
Since he lived as a pirate not long ago, he would never have been able to enjoy this kind of food because he lived at sea. Not to mention the time he spent as a slave.
I moved a small portion of the pavlova onto a little plate. This should be fine. When I handed the plate to Roshanak, he paused for a moment and then stared at me intently without saying a word.
"Go on, eat. A little should be alright."
"..."
"Why, you think I might have poisoned it?"
"..."
"Do you really think I'd kill you after spending three gold coins on you?"
I set the plate down in front of Roshanak and began to eat my share of the pavlova. The exterior was crisp, while the interior was chewy and sweet like caramel, and the meringue, along with the soft whipped cream and the fresh fruit, was simply heavenly.
Roshanak watched me eat the pavlova for a while before hesitantly picking up a piece of fruit to eat. Then, he very slowly savored the pavlova as if to cherish it.
I asked the innkeeper for an extra blanket. Since there were no rooms with three beds, one of us had to make do with sleeping on the floor.
El seemed unhappy with this arrangement.
"Master, I'll pay for it, so can't we put that one in another room?"
"No, we can't."
There was a chance, however slight, that he might try to run away so we couldn't risk giving him a separate room.
It wasn't fair to ask El to give up her bed, and it wasn't right to make Roshanak, who was still not fully recovered, sleep on the floor.
So, I ended up giving my bed to Roshanak and laid down next to Ayla on the blanket spread out on the floor. Ayla seemed overjoyed to sleep next to me after a long time, but she kept trying to cuddle up with her huge body and she almost crushed me.
"Goodnight, everyone."
I blew out the candle and darkness enveloped the room.
How much time had passed?
A muffled sobbing sound was heard from Roshanak's bed.
"..."
"..."
We pretended not to hear it.
** *
The following day, upon waking, I immediately checked on Roshanak's wounds. The skills applied using Lynshaka's divine power were remarkably effective, making Roshanak's injuries seem to vanish as if they were all a lie. Even the scales that looked like they were about to fall off from being dry were now in excellent condition.
We went down to the dining area together for breakfast. After eating, I sent El to the market to buy suitable clothes for Roshanak to wear.
"There's a place I need to take you."
I led Roshanak to the nearby Lausian temple. As I had mentioned the day before, it was to make a soul contract. Roshanak seemed quite surprised; perhaps he didn't believe I would keep my word.
At the temple of Lausian, the goddess of moderation and order, we could make special agreements, such as the "soul contract" I had mentioned. Standing under a giant feather sculpture symbolizing Lausian, I glanced at Roshanak.
"Are we really going to make a soul contract?"
"Yes, I told you yesterday, didn't I?"
"But then, your soul will..."
"I don't break promises, so nothing bad will happen to me."
"..."
"You just need to make sure you don't break yours either."
After handing a silver coin to the priest in charge of the soul contract, I pricked my thumb with a sharp quill and offered a drop of blood. Roshanak hesitated for a moment but then followed suit and offered a drop of his blood in the same manner. We each stated our terms, and the priest recited the contents of the contract in a prayer. The quill that had pricked our fingers shone brightly, and I felt a stinging sensation in my chest.
"The soul contract has been completed."
Upon hearing the priest's declaration, we left the Lausian temple.
Roshanak, perhaps having thought I was bluffing, still looked bewildered.
He seemed unable to believe that he would be free once the contract was completed.
"To think I can truly be free…"
Watching Roshanak murmur as if overwhelmed, I patted him on the head.
Well, it's not like I did this out of sheer generosity. As I've said, I'm no philanthropist. The contract was made simply because there was a chance Roshanak might try to escape.
However, the meaning seemed different for Roshanak.
With a resolute look, he gazed up at me and declared earnestly.
"About that deep dungeon exploration."
"Mhmm."
"…. I'll make sure it's a success."
"Haha, is that so?"
"Keep your promise."
"Alright, I will."
We returned to the inn. Just then, El had also finished her errands and came back. I handed Roshanak the clothes El had bought.
-Thwack!
"...Hmm?"
When I turned around at the sound of that noise, I saw Roshanak throwing his clothes on the floor and huffing and puffing with a red face.
"What kind of clothes are these?!"
El responded to Roshanak's shrill protest.
"What's the issue? You're a boy, aren't you?"
Ah, right. The half-mermaid remain genderless until they turn fifty…
Before I could explain properly, I found myself struck in the face by the drab-colored trousers Roshanak had tossed.
Ah…
It seems difficult days lie ahead.
[A/N: So, from what I understood, Roshanak should be a girl. So Merfolk here don't have gender until they grow to 50 years old. But I think that doesn't mean they're totally genderless until then. They likely only grow their genitals until 50. This is what I understood and I could be wrong.]
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