Chapter 292: Many Beastman Slaves Become Companions in Place of Ransom
Whether Ranjou’s follow is skillful, Rui enjoyed cutting the wind without particular danger.
Eventually shall I try teaching the method of riding in reverse.
However Rui has no cock so her body won’t be fixed and it might be dangerous.
We ran centering on the hilltop so the field of vision would widen and observed the surroundings.
"Oh. They’re there. Iferaski. Can you see? Let’s go there. Rui, Ranjou, follow us. When approaching a running carriage from behind, approach from the right to show you have no hostility."
There was a cargo wagon that looked like it was carrying something so we headed that way.
The cargo bed was a lattice cage and inside there were six beastmen in total.
"Hey."
"What. Who are you."
Huh. It’s not the beastman-disposal contractor from the other day.
"Ah, sorry. I mistook you for an acquaintance."
"I see. Perfect timing. I heard Iria of Margolant is staying in the western forest, do you have any idea?"
"Ah, if that’s it, that way. Could it be payment of tournament ransom?"
"Ah, that’s right. Ordered by my master I brought beastmen matching the value of my master’s life. I want to go to Iria’s camp curtain where Golden Knight Sahar-dono is residing."
"That’s me. I’m that Sahar."
I equipped only the helmet of the golden armor for identification.
Bashu!
"Ohh! That is certainly Golden Knight Sahar-dono’s armor!"
"I can’t receive them here so can you take us to the western forest?"
"Y-Yes sir."
Hmm. Six beastmen as the price of the master’s life. I don’t like the attitude as if of course life’s weight is different, but if we can free a large number of slaves at once let’s consider it good.
However more than that the problem is...
A man.
There is clearly a male beastman in the cage.
The time has finally come to make a male beastman a companion.
...Kuu.
A man huh...
A dog beastman around 30 years old.
What should I do. If the dog girls come to like him more than me...
But I can’t exile him for the reason that he’s a man. Let’s accept him.
I can’t do something inhumane like freeing only the women and leaving the man as a slave.
I guided the cargo wagon to just in front of the bus carriage and had the beastmen freed.
Furthermore the cargo wagon also had tableware with gold work piled on it.
"My master’s ransom cannot be fully paid with beastmen and the like."
The tone of speech also shows noble arrogance and I have complicated feelings, but let’s receive what we can receive.
Finally I was handed a palm-sized jewel.
Probably a magic tool for dominating slaves. I saw something similar before at the slave merchant mansion in Monvan.
"Then I have certainly handed Jelin Grand Duke’s eldest brother Dran-sama’s ransom to Cosmic Golden Knight Sahar-dono."
"Yeah. I certainly received it."
I waved and sent the messenger back.
"Then everyone please follow me."
The beastmen were surprised at the capybara drawn on the side of the bus carriage but followed.
The beastmen were surprised again seeing the beast girls spending freely around the bus carriage.
"I was given a magic tool for slave contracts, does anyone know how to undo it?"
"Ah. Yes. I know. After ordering ’From now on do not obey’ you just destroy the slave-contract jewel."
Esty-san who was eating boiled beans answered. From inside her large fluffy tail Baka and the rabbit little-girl sisters were only sticking their heads out.
"Understood. Then everyone I won’t use you as slaves so from now on please do not obey."
I destroyed the jewel.
Then, whether because he’s the only male or because he’s the elder, the dog beastman visited with a face as if seeing something unbelievable.
"Eh? Um? We were told we would work at the new master’s place..."
"Ah. You can be free. If you have a destination somewhere you can go, and if you have no destination please spend however like everyone here."
"Eh? Free? Eh?"
"For now we came from a bit further north of a place called Margolant in the north so after the tournament ends I think we’ll return. It’s cold and only wasteland so life is hard but we welcome immigrants. Ah, if there are people who injured their bodies somewhere from long-term slave labor please enter that pond. It has an effect of healing injuries. Meals are... For now all-you-can-eat but because one person’s skill is mass-producing, if possible I’d like you to avoid when a line is formed..."
I pointed toward Rafilia-san with my hand.
"Rafilia-san at the end of the line where that capybara-girl group is lined up will give food with her skill. Is there anyone about to collapse from hunger?"
I looked around everyone’s faces but no one particularly nodded.
Is it because it’s the first time and they’re nervous.
Or are they on guard because I’m human?
’Masaharu. They’re approaching again.’
’Eh?’
’A cargo wagon carrying beastmen.’
’Ah. I see. We can also receive beastmen in place of ransom from the opponents everyone else defeated.’
When I looked around Letree-san noticed my gaze and came over.
"Masaharu-sama. I will handle everyone."
"That helps. I’m counting on you. It seems another cargo wagon came."
"Yes. Please leave it to me."
In this way I again went to a position a little away from the bus carriage and waited for the cargo wagon.
The beastmen freed from the second cargo wagon I left to Iria,
the beastmen freed from the third cargo wagon I left to Esty-san,
the beastmen freed from the fourth cargo wagon I left to Rui,
the beastmen freed from the fifth cargo wagon I left to the Lian sisters.
It suddenly became a large household.
Hasn’t it exceeded 100 people?
Even excluding the fairies who don’t need meals it seems to exceed 50, so after all we can’t supply food for this many people with only Rafilia-san’s skill. Rafilia-san herself will have no time to eat meals.
We also received quite a bit of money so I decided to go to the royal capital to buy food.
"Hey. Elf-san. Put out a horse. Also Petit Letree, Shepa, Iferaski, Ranjou come together. I’ll request luggage carrying."
In this way I had Fullru put out a wind horse, took the idle ones and went to the royal capital, purchased as much food as we could carry and returned.
I didn’t understand prices but with the "hand over silver coins and have them roughly select" strategy it somehow worked.
What was fortunate was that only people who use vegetables cheaper than meat as staple food gathered. Originally if using them as slaves livestock-like beastmen such as horses sheep and cows would be convenient.
Also further fortune in misfortune or rather imprudent luck, the dog beastman was male but he was castrated.
Around the time we finished distributing the bought-up food he self-reported.
"Masaharu-sama."
"Ah. Sorry. Only vegetables... Are you unsatisfied?"
"No, that’s not it. I am the dog beastman named Shan."
"Ah, thank you for being polite. I’m Ooi Masaharu."
"I am a castrated male so I will not threaten Masaharu-sama’s pack who is my master."
"Eh? Castrated?"
Castrated means cutting off the cock right?
"Yes. Nobles who use beastmen are wary of male beastmen attacking family women, and also to prevent them from rampaging. Beastmen used at noble mansions are mostly women and only obedient races. Male beastmen like me are few."
I see. When you say it it makes sense.
Shan-san has a unique hair color of white hair with black mottled spots dotted.
Drooping eyes, Adam’s apple not prominent, narrow shoulders and overall slender.
"I swear I will not threaten the pack. Therefore won’t you let me work under Masaharu-sama."
They had apparently discussed and decided among the newcomer beastmen; nearly 30 beastmen gathered rustling, lined up, and bowed their heads all at once.
Because I’m the only man among only women I’m completely misunderstood as the boss forming a harem.
The existing members are also directing gazes toward me.
Because it became a large household a clear boss is necessary I suppose.
It can’t be helped.
I thought of announcing the king after the tournament ends and we return to Glans, but shall I tell everyone now.
In my mind who the king is is already decided.