Estimated reading time: 5–7 minutes
Chapter 2
Well, I’ve at least learned the basics of healing magic for now.
I can somehow heal minor scratches and bleeding.
But in the future, it’s certain that I’m going to suffer the terrible fate of becoming a mutilated slave.
So, I’d at least like to be able to regrow arms and such.
But learning beyond this point alone may be impossible.
So I’ve decided to rely on the slaves.
My house has an incredible number of slaves of various types.
I went to see a slave who’s skilled at healing magic.
「Hey, you.」
「Yes, young master…」
The slave looked at me with a haggard face.
It seems like she hasn’t even been properly fed.
The policy of House Schmerzen is to be as harsh as possible with slaves.
But I’m asking her to teach me something. I should at least show the slaves basic courtesy.
I took out some bread from my pocket.
If this goes well, I’ll try to bring her some soup later too.
「If I give you this bread, will you teach me healing magic?」
「M-me, teach young master healing magic…? I don’t mind but… shouldn’t you have a slave do that…?」
「No, I’m interested in learning it myself. I definitely want to learn it on my own.」
「I-I see! If that’s the case, I’ll do my best!」
The slave was an elderly woman. She looked happy to receive the bread from me.
Come to think of it, all the people in this game were like that – nobody tries to learn anything troublesome or difficult from slaves. Eld must have been that kind of person too.
However, that won’t do. If I just rely on slaves, when it really matters, I won’t be able to act with my own power. No matter what, I have to learn healing magic for myself.
「Alright, shall we start by regrowing frog arms?」
「Yes, as you wish.」
I learned applications of healing magic from the slave.
As I thought, learning directly from a person makes a difference.
The people in this world don’t try to learn anything from slaves. That’s why the slaves revolted and did all that when they were mistreated…
Whoops, my thoughts wandered again.
Anyway, learning things myself is good no matter what.
I can’t just lazily rely on slaves forever.
「Alright, I think that’s good for today. I’ll come by again tomorrow.」
「Yes, young master.」
After that, I started going to see that slave almost every day, bringing bread.
In just a few weeks, I became able to regrow frog arms.
「Thanks, Melda. Thanks to you, my healing magic has improved this much.」
「Please, I’m just a slave. You shouldn’t thank a slave…」
「A slave or not, courtesy is courtesy. When someone does something for you, you thank them. That’s only natural.」
「Young master… For one so young, you are a wonderful person. You will surely become a magnificent family head.」
「Stop that. I’m only studying healing magic for my own purposes. Don’t flatter me.」
In fact, I didn’t feel an ounce of pity or sympathy for that slave.
Maybe that’s just Eld’s original personality. Or maybe I’m just that kind of guy myself.
—I’m only giving her extra bread in exchange for teaching me healing magic.
Whether she’s happy or lives a few days longer, that’s none of my concern.
◆
「Injured person! There’s an injured person!!」
One day, a slave gathered everyone saying that.
When I went there, there was a man with his arm cut off, bleeding.
Apparently he got dizzy from overwork and cut his arm during the job.
With all the commotion, my father also came rushing over.
「Hmph, I wondered what the fuss was about… It’s just an injured slave. Slaves aren’t people. So slaves can’t be injured people! Injured slaves get sick. Hurry up and kill them! There’s plenty more where they came from! Hahaha!」
I think my dad is as terrible as ever. But that’s none of my concern.
Whatever this old man does, wherever he goes, that’s up to him. I don’t plan on helping even if he meets his downfall in the future. I just need to survive myself.
I’m not as evil as the original Eld, but I’m not some goody-two-shoes either. Right now I’m desperately trying to avoid my own destruction flags.
However…
This is perfect.
「Move aside. Father, if this slave is no use to you, can I take him for myself?」
「What? For Eld to do as he likes? Fine, burn him, boil him, do as you wish.」
I decided to try using healing magic on the slave whose arm was cut off.
I succeeded in regrowing frog arms, but I’ve never regrown human arms before. This is a good chance to try it out. If I can’t do this much, I’m hopeless.
As my father said earlier, slaves who lose limbs here are disposed of right away.
So opportunities like this are rare.
I focused my magic power to try regrowing the arm with healing magic.
「A-amazing…! The arm grew back…!」
「Ohh… When did you learn such a trick…? You’ve impressed even your father, Eld!」
I got praised by my father too. Maybe I’ll get a raise in my allowance.
Before I knew it, the slave’s arm grew back, recovering enough that he could get back to work.
「Hmph, fine. If you can work, work until you die. I’m busy. I’m leaving now.」
After my father left, the slave from earlier ran up to me and said:
「Young master! Thank you so much…! I don’t know how to thank you enough…」
「No, I just did it because I wanted to heal you, that’s all.」
「Thanks to you I was spared from being disposed of…! Thank you so much…!」
It feels weird to be thanked by a slave. I’m the one above them.
But with this, I’ve curried more favor with the slaves. It would be terrible to be killed by them when things go south.
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