Estimated reading time: 5–6 minutes
Chapter 16
It seems that the slave I bought this time was born blind.
Until now, I had been regrowing arms that were originally there.
But this time, I have to enable something that was not originally there at all.
I wonder if I can do that with my healing magic…
「What do you think…?」
I say as I remove the blindfold from the slave – Lumina.
Lumina carefully opens her eyes and gasps in wonder,
「Wow…! Amazing, great master! I can see colors…! I can see colors…!」
「I see…! I’m glad…!」
The reason why I purchased Lumina goes back to this morning:
◆
As I was strolling around the slave market as usual, I came across some strange paintings.
Several bizarre paintings were lined up in front of a shop.
「What are these…?」
I asked the shopkeeper.
「One of the slaves painted these. I thought since she went through the trouble I’d display them out front to attract customers… Well, they’re pretty lame paintings. No one will want to buy them…」
The paintings were somehow eccentric.
They weren’t landscape paintings or portraits.
More abstract things were painted.
It was like scenery from a dream, vague and hazy paintings where you couldn’t clearly make out what was depicted.
For some reason, I felt strongly drawn to the paintings.
「Which slave painted these?」
「This one. This slave named Lumina. Actually…she’s blind. Yet she still paints. Peculiar, isn’t it?」
「I see…」
「Well, it’s a trick I guess, but no use for painting if you can’t see…」
The shopkeeper says, but to me the paintings look like proper works of art.
The fact that she can paint like this without being able to see is impressive.
「I’ll take this slave.」
「Yes sir! She is defective merchandise, but considering she can paint… how about 500G?」
500G… that’s an unusually high price for a defective slave.
This old man is trying to rip me off just because she has some skill.
But still…
「Fine. I’ll buy her.」
「Thank you for your business!」
I saw value in utilizing Lumina.
If I can heal her eyes…or perhaps—
◆
And now the story returns to the present.
I healed Lumina’s eyes.
It seems Lumina can now clearly see the world, and she excitedly walked around looking at everything.
「Amazing, great master! Everything has color…! So this is what color is like…!」
「Ha ha, don’t exaggerate. Of course, color is in everything.」
「This is…the master’s face…so wonderful.」
Lumina was captivated by everything she saw, gazing at it all with an enraptured look.
「I feel like inspiration could strike now…! May I paint, master?」
「Of course. I’ll get you some art supplies.」
I decided to have Lumina paint.
Slaves each have their own talents. Making the most of those talents is best for both the slave and the master.
Lumina silently focused on the canvas for hours.
And when I saw the finished painting, I was amazed.
「Is this really painted by Lumina…!?」
「Seeing so many new things with my eyes…I just painted following my impulses!」
「This is…pretty incredible…」
The painting Lumina created was like nothing I’d seen before.
I thought she had talent even before gaining sight, but…
The paintings of Lumina who now knew color drew a distinct line.
「Alright, Lumina…! Can I sell this?」
「Of course, but…do you think it’ll sell…?」
「I have a good idea…」
I decided to display Lumina’s painting in my shop.
Then Count Semond came by, liked it, and bought it.
「Good…this will make for good business…!」
The only ones who come to my shop are nobles with money to burn.
And nobles love new things.
If avant garde artwork like this is on display, they’ll quickly snatch it up.
I’ll have Lumina keep painting.
「So master, as your slave, what should I do…?」
Lumina looks at me with moist eyes as she asks this.
She’s taken off her clothes, preparing to serve me.
It seems Lumina is resolved to do her duty as a slave.
However, I have no intention of making Lumina do such things.
「Wait, Lumina. I won’t have you do normal slave work.」
「Eh…? Then what…」
「Your job, Lumina, is painting. Keep painting forever. Of course, feel free to relax when inspiration doesn’t strike.」
「What…! Then I’m not a slave but a painter! Being allowed to paint forever is a dream…! Thank you so much…!」
「In return, I’ll be profiting off your paintings. I’ll give you 20% of the sale price as an allowance for whatever you want. Of course, you can buy art supplies too.」
「Thank you so much…! This is like a dream…!」
And so I acquired a new source of income.
By the way, the first painting sold to Count Semond went for 27,800G.
Considering what I paid for Lumina, it was an insane profit.
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