As the sun cast its early rays over Lavender Town, a lively group of children bustled into the guild’s bar.
Six of them—four boys and two girls—dressed in uniforms similar to mine. The boys wore white shirts and black pants, while the girls opted for black skirts.
““Morning!”” Their voices chid in unison, their enthusiasm filling the room.
“Morning! Ah, you guys have finally arrived. Gather around, we have a new mber joining our team,” Sister Sasa beckoned them with a cheerful wave.
I took a deep breath and gave them a slight bow. “Hello, I'm Freed. My role here involves assisting Sister Sasa. Please take care of .”
A red-haired boy, slightly taller than , and seems the oldest—about 10 years old, stepped forward with a grin. “Hello! I’m Ray! And this is my little sister, Rei. We work with Brother Greg in the kitchen!”
“Nice to et you,” Rei, a shy girl with long crimson hair, nodded politely.
She appeared to be around my age, though her deanor was far more reserved. Since today is still early spring, I should be the only new mber here. So, maybe she is around 7 years old and just started working here last year?
“My na is Ryan, and I also work in the kitchen,” said an 8-year-old boy with slightly ssy brown hair and warm brown eyes.
“I’m Gill! I work with Sister Morin.”
“I’m Kenya! I work with Sister Morin too.”
Two 9-year-old boys with black hair and dark eyes introduced themselves. Gill’s curly locks made him stand out slightly, while Kenya’s more serious deanor set a contrast.
Finally, the last girl in the group hesitantly stepped forward. She had soft pink hair that cascaded just past her shoulders, her pink eyes darting nervously between and the others.
She clutched the hem of her uniform and glanced at several tis before gathering the courage to speak.
“Umm... Hello... I-I’m Cheri... I just joined a few days ago... I’m also a waitress here…” she mumbled, her voice delicate, almost like a whisper.
...Well, it seems I'm not the only new mber.
Her fingers fidgeted slightly, twisting the fabric of her skirt. As I t her gaze, her cheeks flushed a faint shade of pink, and she quickly averted her eyes, looking down at the floor.
Is she nervous?
Before I could think too deeply about it, Sister Sasa clapped her hands. “Alright! Now that everyone’s acquainted, let’s get to work!”
After a hearty breakfast prepared by Brother Greg, adventurers began streaming into the guild’s bar.
The mix of warriors, mages, and even elves intrigued .
According to Sister Sasa, the highest-ranked adventurers in town were currently only C-Rank, with no B-Rank or above present.
I stood atop a chair behind the counter, assisting Sister Sasa in managing the paynts. Given my height, the chair was a necessity.
Adventurers ford two lines in front of us, occasionally chatting with as they paid for their als.
“It’s 55 copper coins,” I said to a burly man with a scar across his nose.
The man chuckled. “Oh, you’re good, kid. I order the sa things all the ti, so I know the total. You got it right.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Next in line was a strikingly tanned woman, her confident smirk exuding charisma.
She had long, wavy brown hair cascading down her back and sharp brown eyes gleaming with amusent. A tall wide-brimd red mage hat adorned her head, the color matching the intricate crimson robe she wore—one that plunged dangerously low, shalessly revealing her cleavage. The fabric clung to her body, accentuating her curves, while golden embroidery traced the edges of her sleeves and hem. She radiated the presence of a seasoned fire mage.
Suddenly, her gaze changed into what you would expect from a naughty woman.
Oops… Was I staring at her too much?
【Pervert.】
…Ignoring Aza, I inford that tanned woman,
“It’s 35 copper coins.”
She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbow on the counter, her exposed skin glowing under the dim bar lights.
“Oh, kid, why don’t you give this sister a discount? In exchange, I’ll teach you sothing aweso.”
My mind wandered around, thinking what the ‘aweso’ thing she ant.
But then she ruined the mood, “For example, magic.”
I quickly regained my composure and t her gaze with a polite smile, “Then please ask the receptionist to teach officially, that way sister can get your money back.”
She blinked before throwing her head back with a lodic laugh. “Hahaha! You’re so interesting, kid. I like you. What’s your na?”
“Freed.”
“Alright, Freed, here’s the money.” She placed 40 copper coins in front of .
I blinked. “Huh? Sister, you gave 40 copper coins. Here’s your change—”
“Keep it,” she interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. “Consider it a tip. I like honest kids.”
“Thank you.” I bowed deeply. She chuckled again, ruffling my hair before striding away.
Not long after, I noticed two familiar figures approaching the counter.
“Sissy! Sis Celes!”
“Freed! Since when did you learn how to count!?” Sissy asked, eyes wide with disbelief.
“Hmm? Mom started teaching how to write, read, and count a year ago. Didn’t she teach you two as well?”
“Yes, we learned at five, but counting was so hard… Well, at least I wasn’t as bad as Daisy.” Sis Celes chuckled.
“Hey! You don’t have to say it like that, sis!” Sissy pouted. “I only need to know how much money I have! I don’t need complicated calculations!”
I chuckled and inford them, “Anyway, it’s 40 copper coins in total.”
“You're a genius, Freed. Your calculations are so fast. Here’s the money.”
Sis Celes smiled and placed 50 copper coins on the counter.
“Huh? It's 50, sis.”
“Yeah. Initially, I planned to give you a tip if you served my food as a waiter, but rewarding my clever little brother works too. So, take it.”
“Thank you!”
As I pocketed the extra coins, I felt a warm sense of happiness. My sisters really cared about .
By 10 AM, the stream of adventurers slowed down.
“It’s much easier with you here, Freed! Thank you!” Sis Sasa bead. “Huh? Freed? What are you looking at?”
Her voice barely reached .
My attention was locked on a particular table.
A red-haired man sat alone, his massive greatsword resting beside him. He wasn’t too muscular, nor was he small, just… ordinary. But he wasn’t what caught my attention.
But he wasn’t what caught my attention.
My focus zeroed in on the two young girls accompanying him.
They were around Sis Celes’ age, maybe slightly older.
Clad in worn and tattered gray attire, they presented a stark contrast to the vibrancy of the adventurer-filled bar.
One girl had thick, chestnut brown hair that cascaded past her shoulders, with ears standing diagonally atop her head—obviously not a human. A long, bushy brown tail with a rounded white tip curled slightly around her waist, twitching ever so slightly. Her brown eyes darted around nervously before quickly averting downward, as if afraid to et anyone’s gaze.
The other girl had long, unkempt blonde hair falling over her shoulders. Her light green eyes appeared dim and resigned. Her chest was slightly larger than Sis Celes’, and despite her delicate elven features, her posture was unnaturally stiff. Not the poised elegance of nobility, but sothing trained—conditioned. She didn’t glance around, didn’t react, didn’t even flinch. Just stared at the table, as if afraid to exist.
Neither of them even reached for the food. It was clear—every dish on that table belonged to him alone. They were just there to watch.
…And both wore black collars.
The collars that I often saw in ani.
Without a doubt, they are—
“Slaves…” I murmured.
“Freed!”
Sis Sasa patted my shoulder, snapping out of my trance.
When I looked at her, she shook her head as a silent warning to not look at them.
【The one with the elongated ears is an elf. The other belongs to the Brown Cat race.】
【Correct. Various feline beastkin exist, and the Brown Cat is one among them.】
As I watched, the man finished eating and pushed his leftovers toward the girls.
They hesitated before eating whatever scraps remained. Their movents were slow, exhausted. Moreover, the ager leftovers hardly sufficed, leaving them looking emaciated.
The injustice before wasn’t new—I had seen it in countless ani, manga, and novels. The bad treatnt of those scenarios was too cliche, so I didn’t feel anything back then.
But this was real.
Witnessing their plight firsthand stirred a distinct emotion.
A surge of anger bubbled within as I clenched my fist unconsciously.
Their dull eyes. Their stiff movents. Their barely concealed hunger.
The man, treating the girls with disdain, echoed the mistreatnt I endured in the past.
It was the sa feeling I had when I was bullied by classmates—powerlessness.
【Yes, Master. In truth, this treatnt is considered normal.】
I stared at them again..
【Correct. I had gathered so information. If it weren't because this guild rules, they might sat on the floor instead.】
...So, sitting on the chair is considered as a better treatnt than normal circumstance?
Aza hesitated.【...Master, you are not in the right emotional state. I recomnd you do not—】
For the first ti, Aza declined my inquiry. But, I cut off her words.
A brief silence.
Then—she began to reveal the harsh truth.
【...They are actually not really different from the slaves that you usually read in novels.】
【Female slaves and handso male slaves are often used as sex toys. Raped and forced to sleep on the floor while their masters rest on beds.】
【In battle, male slaves are usually used as disposable shields. If a monster is too strong, their masters order them to fight while they escape.】
…Basically, they were being ordered to sacrifice their lives to save their master’s life.
【So are worked to exhaustion, given barely enough food to survive. If they fail to satisfy their master, they receive no food at all.】
【And in the worst cases… they are used for horrifying experints.】
A sickening heat coiled in my chest.
My grip tightened on the counter, nails pressing into my palm.
My stomach churned, a bitter taste rising in my throat.
I had read about these things before.
But reading about them and knowing they were real? Knowing they were happening in front of ?
That was entirely different.
【There are still more cases about slaves. But I believe that’s enough for now.】
Aza gave a few examples about slaves, and yet she said there are still more.
【It’s not that they don’t have freedom. It’s that soone else’s freedom stole theirs.】
【We cannot impose divine punishnt upon their masters due to the laws governing divine intervention. Direct interference in mortal affairs, even against malevolence, would infringe upon the very freedom we uphold.】
【Instead, we provide guidance through oracles given to saints and apostles, hoping they can enact change.】
【However, the sheer number of suffering souls far exceeds the reach of the few who are willing to help.】
【And even among those who claim to serve righteousness, corruption festers—sotis within the very institutions ant to protect them.】
【Correct. That is the harsh reality in this world, Master.】
I exhaled slowly, unclenching my fists and compose myself.
【Master, don’t act recklessly. You are not strong enough yet.】
It's evident she cares deeply for my well-being.
But still...
Although I’m not fond of helping strangers, the powerlessness that reminds of my past makes want to help them.
I believe there are myriad ways to save them without direct confrontation. The right ti to extend my aid will reveal itself.
Shortly after, they approached to settle their bill and leave with their master.
“Freed, are you okay?”
I turned to Sis Sasa. Her expression… was filled with frustration.
“...Sis?”
She sighed. “I know what you feel. Masters like that… usually have terrible personalities. But not many adventurers here can challenge him—he’s C-Rank, after all.”
My eyes widened slightly.
She was angry too.
Outside my family, she was the first person I t who felt the sa way I did.
Maybe… not everyone in this world was indifferent.
“…I see.”
“Anyway, prepare yourself. Your training starts after lunch.”
“Huh? Don’t I need to help during lunch?”
“There’s no need. This bar is pretty empty at lunchti—most adventurers are out on requests. You’ll start helping again in the evening.”
“I see, okay then. Thank you, sis!”
As I prepared myself for what lay ahead, I resolved to grow stronger.
For now, I was just a child. Weak. Helpless. But that wouldn’t always be true.
I had enough to just stand and watch in my past life.
One day, I would do sothing.
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