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  Emily looked up from her paperwork when Yuki knocked. Her expression shifted from administrative focus to genuine pleasure, then hesitation.

  "Yuki! I wasn't expecting to see you today." She gestured for him to enter and closed the door. "Is something wrong?"

  "No. I have a question."

  "Of course. What is it?"

  He closed the door more firmly behind him. Privacy for this conversation wasn't about danger—it was about expectation.

  "Where would I find a slave merchant in this city?"

  Emily's pen froze mid-motion.

  She set it down carefully and leaned back in her chair, studying him with an expression that mixed confusion and concern.

  "A slave merchant," she repeated.

  "Yes."

  "That's... an unusual request." She didn't sound judgmental, just genuinely puzzled. The kind of confusion that came from someone not fitting an expected pattern. "May I ask why?"

  "I bought a house. It needs maintenance and organization. I need someone to help with that."

  Emily was quiet for a moment. "Yuki, you're a B-rank adventurer. You're making decent income from quests. You could hire workers. Normal laborers. Why would you want to purchase someone?"

  "Because I need someone I can trust to be discreet about certain matters."

  Her expression became more guarded. "What kind of matters?"

  "Personal ones. I'm not prepared to discuss yet."

  There was a longer pause. Emily looked at him for a long moment, her professional mask slipping to show genuine concern underneath. She wasn't shocked by the concept of slavery—that was normal enough in this world. She was confused about why he specifically needed it.

  "Yuki, you understand that people who buy slaves... they usually have intentions that are, well..." She chose her words carefully. "Intentions that others would find problematic. Labor exploitation, trafficking, other things." She hesitated, her professional composure slipping slightly. "Some people purchase them for... personal services. Adult services. Even the legitimate slave merchants get questioned about their clients' motives."

  "I understand."

  "Do you? Because there are very few reasons a person your age, with your prospects, would need to purchase someone. And most of those reasons are..." She trailed off, uncomfortable. "Harmful."

  "I'm not planning to exploit them," Yuki said, and meant it. "I need privacy and reliable help. That's all."

  Emily was quiet again. She was clearly torn between professional obligation to help and personal concern about what she'd be facilitating. The conflict showed on her face.

  "There's a merchant in the lower city," she said finally. "They call themselves the Humane House. It's not a grand operation—the storefront is modest. But there are rumors that their slaves are treated better than average. Well-fed, clothed appropriately, not subject to the kinds of abuse that other merchants allow." She paused. "I only know about it because our guild occasionally investigates trafficking rings, and this merchant came up as being different. Less suspicious."

  "Less suspicious doesn't mean not suspicious," Yuki observed.

  "No," Emily agreed quietly. "It doesn't. But if you're determined to do this, at least they're the better option."

  She drew a quick map on a piece of paper and handed it to him. Her hand hesitated for a moment before releasing it.

  "There's also something else." Emily shifted in her seat, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "You mentioned you bought a house?"

  "Yes. Whitepale Mansion in the western district."

  "Oh. I see." Emily's cheeks flushed slightly. She focused very carefully on organizing her papers, clearly trying to appear professional while her face suggested otherwise. "That's... well, you're inviting the slave there, I assume? For maintenance?"

  "Yes."

  "Right. Of course." She didn't meet his eyes. "I just... I mean, most people don't usually..." She trailed off, caught between her own thoughts and professionalism. "Never mind. That's your business."

  She handed him the map, her movements slightly hurried.

  "I'm trusting you with this, Yuki. And I'm trusting my judgment about who you are." She met his eyes directly, though her cheeks were still slightly flushed. "Please prove that trust isn't misplaced."

  "I will."

  "There's something else." Emily set down her pen, her expression serious. "You're hiding things. I understand that. But when you feel ready to talk about what's actually happening—who you are, where you came from, what this is all about—please come to me. Or to Huberg. Or to Mrs. Rinne. Don't carry it alone."

  "I'll tell you when I have the strength to."

  "The strength?"

  "The answer to why I'm here isn't something I can explain without being able to defend it."

  Emily nodded slowly, accepting this without pushing further. "All right. Be careful, Yuki. Whatever this is, be careful."

  "Always."

  He took the map and left.

  Behind him, Emily stared at the space where he'd been standing, her expression troubled. She picked up her pen again but didn't immediately return to her work. Something was happening with Yuki—something larger than a young adventurer buying a house and purchasing a servant. And she had no way to help him if he wouldn't let her in.

  She made a mental note to speak with Huberg about it. The old man might have insight that she lacked.

  The storefront was modest, tucked into a corner of the lower city where legitimate business mixed with necessity. The sign read simply: "Verda's Relation Store."

  Yuki entered.

  The interior was clean and professional. A counter, shelving with basic supplies, a small waiting area. A man in his fifties looked up from organizing documents. He had dark-gray hair and an elegant bearing that seemed out of place in the lower city.

  "Welcome. I'm Verda Delmount, owner of this establishment." He said it with the formality of someone who respected the nature of his business, even if society didn't. "How may I assist you?"

  "I'm looking for a worker. Someone reliable, capable of maintaining a household. Someone literate would be useful."

  Verda nodded without judgment. "I see. Do you have preferences regarding age, gender, or specific skills?"

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Someone with household experience would be appropriate."

  "I have several candidates. Please, follow me to the viewing room."

  He led Yuki to a space off the main floor—clean, well-lit, better maintained than Yuki expected. The people here were well-fed and clothed in decent garments. They had the bearing of individuals who hadn't been broken by their circumstances, at least not recently.

  Verda presented three options. Each one was competent. Each one would have served the purpose of basic household maintenance.

  But Yuki's appraisal ability triggered on one of them—not from the group Verda was showing, but from a door at the far end of the room.

  Unique ability: Appraiser activated

  The person behind that door had something unusual about them. A presence that made the air feel different. Yuki's detection picked up a title that made him pause:

  Child of the Beast King

  He turned to Verda. "What's through that door?"

  Verda's professional expression wavered slightly. "That room contains someone... more difficult. I wouldn't recommend—"

  "I'd like to see them."

  "Sir, that individual is quite aggressive. They've been traumatized by previous circumstances. I've worked extensively to help them recover, but they remain resistant to most potential buyers."

  "Then they're not being sold?"

  "Not until I'm confident the buyer will treat them appropriately." Verda said it matter-of-factly, as though this was his standard practice. "I prefer my clients to be matched with people who will genuinely care for their wellbeing."

  This detail made Yuki reconsider the merchant. It was an unusual approach for someone in this business.

  "I still want to see them," Yuki said.

  Verda hesitated, then nodded. "Very well. Please wait here."

  He went to the door and opened it carefully, speaking in a low, calm voice before gesturing for Yuki to follow.

  The room was stone-built, clearly designed to contain someone difficult. But it wasn't a prison—it was well-maintained, clean, with a bed, furniture, and a window. The conditions were humane, which was not the standard Yuki had read about in the Aerium knowledge.

  A lioness sat on the floor in the corner, watching Yuki's entrance with immediate hostility.

  She was striking—platinum-colored hair, warm brown skin, and eyes that were currently fixed on him with pure suspicion. She wore simple clothes, appropriate and not revealing. Around her neck was a collar with a gemstone.

  "Behavior, please," Verda said gently to her. "This is a potential client."

  "I don't care!" she spat, her voice sharp with frustration. "I don't need another master! These promises are all the same—all lies!"

  "I understand your distrust," Verda said calmly. He turned to Yuki. "Her name is Rhea. She's had difficult experiences. She'll require time and patience."

  "How long have you had her?" Yuki asked.

  "Three months. She arrived severely traumatized from her previous situation. She's recovering slowly."

  Rhea laughed bitterly. "Recovering? I still in cage! Still have collar! Still property!"

  Yuki looked at her directly. Not with pity, but with simple observation. She met his gaze, and for a moment, something in her expression shifted—surprise, perhaps, that he didn't look away or look down in discomfort.

  "I'll need to speak with her privately," Yuki said to Verda.

  "Sir, I'm not sure that's—"

  "Privately."

  Verda hesitated, then nodded. "I'll be just outside the door. Please call if you need anything."

  He left, closing the door behind him.

  Rhea tensed immediately. "What you think you doing?"

  Yuki moved to the center of the room and sat down on the floor, at her eye level rather than standing above her.

  "I'm considering purchasing your contract," he said simply. "But I want to understand what you actually need before I do."

  "Need? I need freedom! I need out of this collar! I need—" She stopped, her voice turning bitter. "But that not how work, is it? Buyer decide. I just property to move around."

  "What if it was different?"

  "Then I not be slave." She turned away from him. "Your words nice, but I heard nice words before. They all same. Promise good treatment, then—" She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't need to.

  Yuki activated his void magic quietly, carefully. He focused specifically on the collar around her neck.

  The binding spell holding it in place shattered with an audible crack.

  Rhea's head snapped around, eyes wide. The collar fell to the floor.

  "What—what did you—" She touched her neck, and something like shock crossed her face. "That... that not possible. Only merchant or shrine can—"

  "I can," Yuki said simply. "I can release you right now if you want. You can walk out of this room, out of this city if you choose. No one will stop you."

  She stared at him, clearly not believing it. "This trick?"

  "No."

  "Then why you do this?"

  "Because I want to make you an offer, and I wanted you to know I'm capable of keeping my word."

  Rhea was quiet for a long moment, processing. Her defensive posture had shifted slightly—still guarded, but no longer as rigidly hostile.

  "What offer?" she asked carefully.

  "Work for me for one month. I'll provide you with food, suitable clothing, your own room, and equipment you need. After one month, you're free to leave if you choose. But I think you'll decide to stay longer."

  "Why would I stay?"

  "Because I'll help you become strong enough that you don't have to be a slave again. Strong enough that people can't simply take you. In this world, power is what keeps people from being sold."

  She looked at him for a long time. "You really can release me?"

  "Yes."

  "Even from... everything?" She gestured at the collar on the floor.

  "Yes. But you'd need to work with me to make it permanent. I can break the merchant's collar, but you'd need to become strong enough that no one would dare put another one on you."

  Rhea's eyes glistened, though she was clearly fighting against showing emotion. "One month?"

  "One month. After that, your choice."

  "And if I stay?"

  "Then we work together. You help me with my household, and I help you become independent."

  She was silent for a long moment. Then she nodded slowly. "I accept."

  Verda's expression when Yuki emerged with Rhea was complicated—surprise, concern, and something that might have been relief.

  "Sir, how did you—"

  "We've reached an agreement," Yuki said simply. "I'd like to complete the purchase."

  "The purchase?" Verda looked between them, clearly confused by the change in Rhea's demeanor. She was no longer hostile—just cautious, but present in a way she hadn't been before.

  "Yes. What's the process?"

  Verda led them back to the main room and began preparing documents. "You'll need to fill out the ownership papers. Once those are signed, the contract is transferred to you."

  As Yuki worked through the paperwork, Verda mentioned something Yuki hadn't anticipated.

  "You'll also need to choose a stone for her collar," Verda explained, showing a selection of gems. "The stone needs to be infused with your arcana. It marks her as your property and provides her protection from others attempting to claim her. It's a practical necessity in this city."

  Yuki examined the stones. They were quality gems, clearly chosen with care. He selected a topaz—warm, golden, with an orange tint that matched Rhea's brown skin.

  "This one."

  Verda nodded approvingly. "A good choice. The color suits her."

  When they arrived at Flamerose Inn, Mrs. Rinne took one look at them and immediately understood what had happened. She didn't question it—just assessed Rhea with the same practical eye she'd used on Yuki weeks before.

  "All right. Let's get you some proper clothing first. And food. Lots of good food."

  Manna came out from the kitchen, curious about the new person. Within minutes, she was showing Rhea around the inn, talking about the food and the people, with the ease of someone who'd never learned to fear strangers. Rhea followed hesitantly at first, but Manna's genuine warmth was difficult to resist. By the time they'd made a circuit of the dining hall, Rhea was accepting a plate of food—not just accepting it, but actually eating with something approaching appetite.

  Yuki sat at a corner table with Mrs. Rinne, discussing the practical matters.

  "I need to register her with the guild," Yuki said. "As a proper adventurer."

  Mrs. Rinne set down her tea. "That will cause complications."

  "Why?"

  "Because most people don't register slaves. And the ones who do..." She paused, choosing her words. "People will assume the worst about your intentions. You understand that?"

  "Yes. But if she's going to work with me, she needs legitimacy. A guild card means protection, access to resources, standing."

  Mrs. Rinne studied him for a moment. "You really do think ahead, don't you?" She smiled slightly. "All right. I can pull some strings. Miss Emily owes me favors anyway. But you'll need to handle the paperwork yourself."

  "Understood."

  There was a pause. Mrs. Rinne hesitated, then said quietly, "By the way—I told you before to just call me 'mom,' didn't I?" She looked away, as though the question embarrassed her, but her tone suggested she was trying to ignore the vulnerability in it.

  Yuki considered this. "Yes, you did."

  "Then stop with the 'ma'am' business. It makes me feel ancient."

  "All right... mom."

  She nodded, satisfied, and turned her attention back to her tea.

  Later, Yuki approached Rhea, who was sitting with Manna near the kitchen, eating what looked like her third plate of food.

  "We need to get you proper clothes," he said. "Not just comfortable ones. Things you can actually wear in public without drawing attention."

  Manna immediately jumped up. "Oh! There's a store—Grandma Cassey's! Brother went there when he first arrived in the city. They have really nice things!"

  Yuki paused. He had been there. That had been his first major purchase in Spawnhall—the equipment that kept him alive during the early quests. He'd nearly forgotten the name.

  "That's appropriate," he said. "We'll go there tomorrow."

  They arrived at Whitepale Mansion as the sun was setting. Yuki showed Rhea to a room on the second floor.

  "This is your space. You can organize it however you want. Rest tonight. We'll begin properly tomorrow."

  Rhea looked around the room—clean, simple, with a bed and basic furniture. It was modest by noble standards but luxurious compared to what she'd known.

  "What about you?" she asked carefully. "Where do you sleep?"

  "I have my own room on the first floor. Don't worry." He said it matter-of-factly, as though reading her concern. "I won't do shameless things like that. Just lock your door and sleep. I'll do the same."

  Relief crossed her face—not the dramatic kind, just a settling of tension in her shoulders.

  "Okay," she said quietly.

  "Get some rest. Tomorrow we'll get you proper clothes, and then we start work."

  She nodded.

  [The dream he denies: On progress]