"Master Alan, if you were going to come, couldn't you have at least called out to me? I've been so lonely. You never come to visit, you know."
I'd asked Gis to watch over Nathan and the others for just a moment, and that was when Nina showed up.
She was quite the beauty, but she made me nervous. More importantly, she was already set to be claimed by the Duke's faction.
I had no intention of getting involved.
"Lady Nina, what a pleasure to see you. I'm here on rather bloody business, so it wouldn't do for a fine lady like yourself to be sullied. Now then, if you'll—"
—excuse—
—me.
I used teleportation magic to return to the inn.
◇◇◇
After Alan left.
"That man is so cold, isn't he? Many men have made advances toward me before, but he's the first to actually try to run away from me. Father, couldn't you find some way to make him mine?"
"His values seem to differ fundamentally from ours. He's not someone you can handle easily. Besides, he can take care of minor obstacles on his own, making it difficult for us to place him in our debt. If you truly want him, you'll have to play the long game."
"I see..."
Weighing all the various calculations, if his daughter was interested, then perhaps having Alan as a son-in-law wouldn't be so bad.
Those were the Duke's thoughts.
◇◇◇
The day before the third round of the Royal Capital Martial God Festival.
When I returned from outside, there was a stranger in my room at the inn.
"Arisa, withdraw from tomorrow's match. There are one hundred gold coins here. Refuse, and you die. ...Wait, a guy?"
"Arisa isn't here. Please leave."
"That won't work. The fact that you're here means you must be Arisa's lover. Using you as bait would be more certain."
"...You were one of Cain's lackeys, weren't you?"
Right, I remember now.
This guy used to follow Cain around and beat me up with a wooden sword for fun.
He was an adult older than Cain, yet he'd curry favor with Cain—the future clan head—and bully me.
"Wha— You... don't tell me you're Alan!? Your left eye is gold. What are you even doing here!? No, forget that—this is perfect. I'll use you as bait to lure out Arisa, and then I'll have my fun with her. Gotta get my money's worth out of those hundred gold coins!!"
Oh?
Do you want it that badly?
"Dark Magic: Slave Choker, and on top of that, [Reverse] this guy's gender!"
◇◇◇
"Kid, this ain't a place you come to during the day, y'know? Huh? You wanna sell this woman? Ten silver coins is what I'll give. That good enough for ya? Well, if you say so, I ain't complainin'. Now hand over the rights to the slave collar too."
"I'm sorry! Please, forgive me!"
"You better fix that manly way of talking. Now get over here!!"
"You, help me! Lord Cain won't forgive you for this!"
The former lackey shrieked and wailed.
Like Cain would ever forgive you—if you thought about it even a little.
If I let him go, he'd definitely turn on me right away. That's just how it works in this other world.
Showing no mercy is the right call.
And so, I sold Cain's former lackey to a brothel in the pleasure district for ten silver coins.
For the record, I'd never been to a brothel before, so I just picked one at random and sold him off at a bargain price like they told me to.
Ten silver coins is way too cheap for the rest of someone's life.
He'll probably either lose his mind or die of a disease, but whatever.
◇◇◇
Capital Martial God Festival — Third Round.
"Um, the unknown Alisa contestant… has not withdrawn, and here comes Sonic the Sound-Speed!"
Hey, the MC's cue cards are totally showing.
This is way too rigged.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
If the gender-bending is a bit much for you, just imagine that Alan bound him with a subordination spell and sold him off to a male brothel.
Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Gentleman Thief] [Dark Magic] [Rock-Iron Magic] [Holy Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Scorching Magic] [Freezing Magic] [Magic Hand] [Seduction] [Pain Relief] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance] [Flame Spirit's Protection] [Phantom Demon]
Rank: Silver (Alisa: Gold)
Thank you for always reading! 😊