I Became a Slave Collector in the Labyrinth City

“These are the corpses of the High Orc Slugger and Warlock.”

“Indeed, their fur color is clearly different from existing High Orcs. They’re larger too.”

The director of the guild’s monster dissection facility frowned as he examined the corpses of the High Orc Warlock and Slugger.

“Have these monsters appeared from the labyrinth before?”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen them since I became director. There’s only information recorded in the Monster Dissection Compendium. This is my first time seeing the real thing.”

The director said it was a type of monster he was seeing for the first time too.
However, information about these creatures was written in an ancient book titled [Monster Dissection Compendium] which records most monsters in the world.

The Monster Dissection Compendium, as far as I know, is a book written long ago by some nobleman who hunted monsters, cooked and ate them, and recorded their appearances and general information.

It’s a book that doesn’t have much use outside the labyrinth city now that monsters have almost disappeared from the natural ecosystem.

Still, I should find time to read it sometime.
So I can respond quickly even if unfamiliar monsters appear like in this labyrinth excursion.

“According to what’s written in the Dissection Compendium. There might be a High Orc Lord too.”

“Right. We didn’t encounter one, but Louis-ssi said the High Orcs seemed to be moving more systematically than usual.”

“Hmm. Did you report that separately?”

“My companions should be doing that.”

“It will be reported to the Guild Master. By the way, the magic tower will covet these corpses. Especially the Warlock would have high research value. It’s a corpse that’s hard to obtain in nature.”

“Then should we take it to the magic tower?”

“That’s right. Rather than me handling these two, it would be great to throw them to the nerds at the magic tower. We should be able to receive ample compensation too.”

We should take these two to the magic tower.
There’s a magic tower within the labyrinth city too.

“Then please take care of the rest.”

“Alright. Let’s see. There are quite a lot of Hati corpses. They should fetch a good price. The dissection should be finished by tomorrow afternoon. You’ll get the money from Edwin around the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

I left all the monster corpses and came out of the dissection facility.
After finishing the dissection, they’ll examine the condition of any special parts or hides, then pay an appropriate price.

While I was leaving the monster corpses at the dissection facility, my companions had finished reporting on the abnormal situation in the underground city.
I saw Edwin the counter girl writing up the report and going up to the Guild Master’s office on the second floor.

“With this, we’ve finished everything.”

“Just need to receive the compensation.”

“Haah. I’m tired.”

My companions were gathered at the restaurant-cum-bar on the first floor of the guild.

“Sit here.”

“Okay.”

Yuria naturally offered the seat next to her.
As I sat down next to her, Yuria handed me a biscuit.

“I’ve already ordered food, so eat this for now.”

“Thanks. Haah. I’m tired.”

I sighed deeply while rubbing my face.
I’m reaching my physical limit.

I should eat, lightly attend Rohan’s retirement ceremony, then go to the lodging and sleep.
The Young Lady said to let her know as soon as we return from the labyrinth, but I really can’t make it to her lodging.

I’m tired.
My whole body hurts.
My muscles feel like they’re going to burst.

“First. We should talk about the compensation for this labyrinth excursion.”

I didn’t want to say anything because I was tired, but we should clearly settle this before moving on.
I can’t proceed with compensation matters on my own.

We need to divide the money clearly to avoid trouble later.
If we divide the compensation roughly, we might get stabbed later.

“First, I’ve left everything at the dissection facility except for the Warlock and Slugger corpses. They said the sale proceeds will come out around the day after tomorrow.”

“Didn’t they accept the Warlock and Slugger?”

“The director said he wasn’t sure how to handle them, so we should take them to the magic tower. He said we could probably get a high price if we sell them to the magic tower since they’re new monsters.”

“I see, that’s right. Then the price for the Warlock…”

“Sion should take all of it.”

“Woo woo. That’s right.”

“Since Sion took it down alone.”

My companions cleanly gave up their rights to the Warlock.
Honestly, I was worried they might be greedy for money, but fortunately not.

It’s right that I take it since I killed it alone.

“Then I’ll go to leave these two corpses at the magic tower tomorrow.”

“Good. And you can take all the compensation I was supposed to receive, Sion.”

“Is that really okay? You could probably receive quite a lot thanks to the Hati corpses.”

“No, it’s fine. From that unusual potion you drank. In many ways, this expedition would have ended in failure without you. I’m satisfied with having retrieved Catherine.”

“I understand. Thank you, Rohan.”

Rohan decided to transfer all his share to me.
It would be impolite to refuse when he’s offering.

“Ahem. I’ll be taking my full share.”

“Yes, Louis-ssi. I won’t take it, so don’t be wary.”

“No! When did I say I was being wary!”

“Hahaha. Your expression looks exactly like you’re being wary.”

“Hachi! Even you!”

The companions all looked at each other’s faces and laughed.
Everyone’s faces bloom with smiles as we talk about compensation.

“I’ll take the retrieved adventurers to the church as soon as they wake up tomorrow morning.”

“Let’s go together tomorrow.”

“I’ll go too.”

“Then shall we meet at the guild tomorrow?”

“Let’s do that.”

We decided to go to the church together with Rohan and Hachi tomorrow.
Rohan would be going because of Catherine, and Hachi seemed to want to see the faces of the people he had briefly gone on the labyrinth excursion with.

“Here’s your food.”

“Oh! Finally!”

“Whew. Warm food.”

“There’s meat too?”

“I decided to be generous. I ordered honey wine too. Let’s all have a drink.”

Soon as the alcohol came out, Rohan smiled and raised his glass.

“To the safe return of the corpse retrieval team! Cheers!”

We clinked our glasses together and shared the joy of survival.
This is it. It’s an unwritten rule to have a team dinner after a labyrinth excursion.

Of course, if we fought in the labyrinth or someone died, we’d disband right away without this.
But none of us died, we didn’t fight, and we even succeeded in our mission.

We should celebrate this.
It would be strange not to celebrate.

This is why I’m staying until the end even though I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion.
There’s a superstition in the labyrinth city that your luck turns bad if you miss out on occasions that should be celebrated.

We did our best to celebrate our safe return and drank alcohol.
I tried to drink moderately and leave, but I got swept up in the atmosphere.

One glass, two glasses, three glasses.
The intoxication rises.

If I drink any more than this, I felt like I’d lose consciousness and faint.
Collapsing drunk in the labyrinth city is like asking to be kidnapped.

I needed to know when to drink moderately and leave.

“I think. I should stop drinking here.”

“Already?”

“Yes. If I drink any more, I think I’ll faint.”

“Hahaha. Alright, you worked hard. See you tomorrow.”

“Take care, Sion. You were the best porter I’ve ever met.”

“Let’s go to the labyrinth together next time too!”

“Get home safely..”

“Woo woo. Thanks for the honey.”

I left the bar receiving everyone’s farewells.
As I walked for a while like that, Yuria followed me.

“Hey, Sion.”

“Yuria? Why did you come out? Weren’t you going to drink more?”

“I’m done. I think I’ll get drunk too. And…”

“Yes?”

“What’s the point of drinking without you there.”

“Hey. No. Come on.”

Maybe it was because of the alcohol, or maybe she was embarrassed.
Yuria’s face was flushed red.

“Then.. Let’s walk together for a bit.”

“Okay!”

Yuria smiled brightly and stuck right next to me.
The height difference wasn’t that big.

The people of the labyrinth city are similar to Westerners by Earth standards, so everyone’s average height is tall.
I’m about 175 cm, which is relatively short in this world.

Rohan, Hachi, and even Yata were taller than me.
Not to mention Horaru, who’s a bear beastkin.

“Whew.”

“The night air is cold. Right?”

“Yeah. It’s a bit cool.”

“Want me to tell you a way to warm up quickly?”

“What is it?”

“Like this.”

Yuria suddenly linked her arm with mine.
Her breasts touched my arm.

They were soft.

“Hey. What are you doing?”

“I linked arms. Why. What. Don’t you like it?”

“No. That. Haah. Never mind.”

I sighed.
Even if I try to keep my distance, Yuria approaches like this whenever there’s a chance.

No matter how much I push her away, she just won’t be pushed away.
It didn’t seem polite to push her away any more, so I just walked silently.

The night air is cold.
The night in the labyrinth city was as bright as the day.

The sound of adventurers making a ruckus could be heard from all over.

People fighting drunk.
Drunkards singing songs.
Even people sucking on each other in alley corners.

All sorts of people were coloring the night streets.
As we walked watching their debaucherous and ill-mannered appearances, Yuria casually spoke up.

“Hey, Sion.”

“Yes.”

“Why do you keep trying to push me away like that?”

“….”

I didn’t expect her to ask so directly.
Even in this aspect, she was very adventurer-like.

Those who advance fearlessly even knowing they might die.
Weirdos who crawl into the labyrinth risking their lives.

Drawing swords for a single coin.
Voluntarily taking difficult and hard paths.
Fools who dedicate their lives to love.

That’s what adventurers are.
Yuria was an excellent adventurer.

So I chose my words carefully.

“There are a few reasons.”

“What are they? I’ll try to fix what I can fix.”

“Well, you see. This isn’t something you can fix just because you want to.”

“What is it? You don’t like my hair color? Should I dye it blonde? That Young Lady you rescued… is blonde, right?”

Yuria fiddled with her hair, lacking confidence.
I didn’t like how she seemed to be comparing herself to Lady Rea.

Yuria is one of the coolest people I know among women.
I didn’t like seeing her lowering herself by comparing herself to someone else.

“No. I like your hair color. And don’t compare yourself to the Young Lady. You’re plenty charming.”

Yuria’s eyes widened at my words.
And soon tears welled up in her eyes.

She asked, sniffling:

“Then what is it? What is it that you don’t like so much? Tell me. You have to tell me so I can change.”

“….”

To keep pushing away a woman who goes this far… that would make me a piece of trash.

I have no choice but to tell her now.
About why I keep pushing her away.

I stopped walking.

“Yuria.”

“Yes.”

“I….”

I kept hesitating.
Even right up until I was about to say it out loud.

“I, you see…”

“Yes, yes. I’m listening.”

“I… like slaves.”

“Yes… Huh?”

I confessed my preference.
Yuria tilted her head and asked what I was talking about.

“You see. I like slaves. Ones who will only look at me. That kind of… slave. Who won’t cheat. Who won’t look elsewhere. It has to be a slave with that kind of forced nature.”

“So, so you rejected me because I’m not a slave?”

“Yeah.”

“….Huh? Ha. Hahahahahaha!”

Yuria laughed out loud.
People passing by on the street looked at us.
I was a bit embarrassed, but I waited until Yuria’s laughter stopped.

Soon, Yuria, who had been laughing for a while, wiped her tears with her finger and patted my shoulder.

“Hey! If you have that kind of preference, you should say so quickly! Geez. I thought you were gay. You surprised me!”

“Huh? Um, I like slaves.. You’re not disgusted?”

“Why would I be disgusted by something like that? Are you stupid? It’s a normal preference.”

“Normal?”

“Yeah. So you liked slaves. You rascal. You should say things like that quickly. Come on, let’s go.”

“Huh? Where to?”

“My house.”

“Your house??? No, why would I go to your house at this hour! Won’t Moira-nim be there!”

“My mom’s not there. I live alone.”

“Alone? You live by yourself?”

“Yep yep. I’ve lived separately from mom since getting my silver badge. My mom nags too much.”

“Uh… No, even so. Going to a woman’s house who lives alone at this hour…”

“Ah, forget it. You worry-filled virgin. Are you impotent? When I say hurry up and follow me, just follow.”

Yuria pulled me along, smiling from ear to ear as if she was in a really good mood.

I couldn’t resist.
Her strength was tremendous.

“W-wait! I have no intention of dating adventurers!”

“A slave enthusiast and anti-adventurer? Aha~ That kind of preference?”

“What do you mean ‘that kind of preference’!”

“So you like domestic women. I got it. I understand. Should I call you ‘husband’?”

“You crazy woman! You’re not listening to what I’m saying!”

If I get dragged along like this, I’ll definitely get raped by her.

‘This is driving me crazy…! Why is her grip strength so strong…!’

Yuria is a monster who could hold her own against the High Orc Slugger for a while.
A porter like me had no choice but to be dragged along.

“Sion! Let’s become adults together today!”

“You crazy bitch! Don’t shout things like that so loudly on the street!!”

“Ah! I want to mate! Today!!! I’m going to!!! Mate with Sion!!!”

“Shut up!! Fuck! You crazy woman! I said shut up!”

Yuria laughed heartily and mocked me.
The adventurers on the street who saw our disgraceful behavior all laughed and clapped.
Damn labyrinth city…
It really was a place full of crazy people.