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TL: ALT
Chapter 15 – Aire’s Decision
If there’s anything to say, Aire didn’t have high expectations of her master, Wataru, when she saw him for the first time.
He seemed nice, and she didn’t think that he would treat her badly.
He wasn’t a bad person, but he didn’t seem to be an extremely good person either.
So, as a slave, she would at least fulfill her duties as an escort to the extent that she wouldn’t lose the pride of her tribe.
The more she expected, the more disappointed she would be later.
That’s what she thought.
“It’s up to Aire to decide.”
“Me…? Am I allowed to answer?”
“Yes, of course. You’re the one involved. Your status as a slave or whatever is irrelevant now.”
“Alright… I understand!”
“Good, I’m counting on you!”
When Wataru asked Aire for her decision, she was very surprised.
It’s not often that a master asks for the slave’s opinion.
Usually, they just give orders.
Especially Aire’s former employer, who would even force her to fight unwillingly, telling her to hold back or pretend to fight.
She wondered if the humans would understand the pride of the Golden Tiger Tribe.
It was enough to make her distrust them, to make her think that she could trust no one but her own kind.
She wondered if it was really okay to say this, if they wouldn’t be angry at her for making such a selfish request.
She didn’t want to give up hope.
But she also didn’t want to be given hope so easily.
Aire hesitates, trying to express her opinion with a trembling mouth.
Her demeanor is far from the innocent one of a short time ago.
“I think…”
“Excuse me, may I have a word?”
“Mariel, I’m just asking Aire for her opinion; what’s wrong?”
“I think we should also include the weapons Aire used in the past as candidates. I’ve heard that she was used to handling weapons from her time as a gladiator who fought in the arena.”
“Ah, I hadn’t thought of that. Was Aire a swordsman?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Wataru’s casual question made Aire tremble.
She was filled with a mixture of emotions: pride as a warrior, anger at her situation as a slave, and disappointment at her own words and actions that had led to her current situation.
She was unable to speak clearly.
Wataru, perhaps sensing something was wrong with Aire’s attitude, asked her a question with concern.
“Is it a weapon that has a special meaning for you?”
“It was a sword given to the bravest warrior of the clan. But when I became a slave, I think it was sold to pay off a debt. The man who organized the event took it away…”
“I see. That must have been hard. I’m sorry.”
He stroked her head gently, and she felt like crying.
Her beloved sword, Tiger Ice, which she had trusted and used to overcome many dangers, was like half of her body.
With this sword and her own skill, she could defeat any enemy and overcome any difficulty.
She was once full of such confidence.
When she fell into slavery despite her undefeated record and when she lost her beloved sword, Aire’s pride was wounded twice.
And now one of them is about to be restored.
“Do you wish to have your weapon back, or would you prefer to have a new one made from one of the three options I mentioned earlier? I will respect your decision.”
“I… I…”
――She wants it back.
The sword that was sold to someone else, she wants it back in her hands.
However, her weapon, which is said to be a great sword, must be very expensive.
It’s possible that it’s worth more than Aire, who has fallen into slavery, like those weapons in the weapon shop that she gave up on buying.
Can she ask Wataru for such a thing when he seems to be short of money right now?
Aire didn’t know.
Aire looked at Wataru and tried to read his expression.
Wataru smiled and nodded deeply.
“Don’t be shy. Just tell me what you want. I am your master, so I will make the decision. I’m listening to your opinion, so just answer me honestly.”
“I want it back! I want to regain the pride of our clan, the pride of the warriors!”
“You have spoken well. I promise you. I’ll get your sword back for you.”
“Master…”
When Wataru stroked her head, Aire hugged him tightly.
Wataru was not particularly strong, but she felt his strength and warmth as a person.
Ah, this person understands my feelings, she thought.
Wataru’s reliable appearance almost made her cry.
“I am glad, Aire. You’ll get it back. “
“Yes, yes…”
“It seems that the decision to recommend Wataru-sama to buy a slave was the right one.”
Mariel pats Aire gently on the shoulder.
She was not only blessed with a kind master but also with a good colleague.
Being reduced to slavery was not a happy thing, but even in this misfortune, there was happiness.
She tried her best to live but was scolded for it.
She felt that she had disgraced the family and given up everything, but maybe it was because she had found a master who understood her.
The Golden Tiger tribe swears allegiance to their acknowledged master and fights until the end of their lives.
Once they trust someone, they never betray or doubt them.
They put their trust in them.
It’s too early to trust him that much, but Aire began to think that Wataru might be the right person to be her master.
If Wataru really manages to get the sword back…
Wataru turns to William with a serious expression on his face.
“William-san, is there any way to find out what happened to Aire’s beloved sword?”
“That’s right… If you go back to Maso-san, I think you’ll be able to find out who it was sold to and who bought it.”
“I see. So there are connections to those who bought it.”
William nodded at Wataru’s comment.
It seems that getting it back might not be so difficult after all.
Hope began to rise.
“There is a high possibility that it ended up in the hands of a merchant, a collector, or a noble. If you want, I can write to them. Whether she can buy it back or not, she will at least listen to what you have to say.”
“Thank you very much! But you’ve been taking care of me since the slave trader thing. Is that okay?”
“Of course. But I’m a merchant, so please don’t think that I’m an infinitely good person who provides the same service to everyone. I don’t want to get into trouble because of strange rumors and crowds of shameless people coming to me.”
“I appreciate your kindness.”
Wataru bowed deeply.
Her master bowed for her.
When she saw that, Aire thought she would swear her allegiance to this strange but kind man who bowed for a slave who had not yet done anything for him.
There must be many evil people in the world who would try to take advantage of this kindness.
○○○
After William finished writing the letter on the spot, he handed it to Wataru.
However, Wataru gave the letter to Aire.
Aire was surprised and opened her eyes wide when she received the letter.
“Please give that to Maso-san.”
“Aire, that is an important letter. You have to keep it, okay? Thank you, William-san.”
“I understand. I won’t let go of it.”
“Well, there’s no need to feel indebted to me. I also wanted to consult with you, Wataru-sama.”
“What is it? I have been indebted to you up to this point, and I would like to cooperate as much as I can.”
This time, William began to ask for advice.
William, who had previously had kind eyes, now had a dignified expression on his face.
Aire swallowed her saliva.
“(This merchant doesn’t carry a weapon, but he’s an experienced warrior who fights a different kind of battle than I do.)”
Aire didn’t understand how the merchant fought with his eyes, mouth, and brain.
But she could tell the difference between an amateur and a skilled person she should be wary of by the atmosphere they exuded.
It was the beginning of Wataru and William’s second business meeting.
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