DIVINE PROTECTION OF MANY GODS [多神の加護]

DIVINE PROTECTION OF MANY GODS EPISODE 14

I surprised as I listened to Lily talked about Amy's present state. Amy has a large debt, and if she can't pay it by the deadline, she would become a slave. Moreover, the deadline is this afternoon. Lily who has been getting along with Amy these past week learnt from Amy about her circumstances. I convinced after listening to all of that. Regarding the reason Amy dressed shabbily even though she looked like a sheltered girl who didn't know how the world work. Why she took [Goblin] subjugation even though she looked like never had any fight before. Even if female adventurer could get stronger from disgust and fear, normally they wouldn't take [Goblin] subjugation request. After listened to all of that, I rushed out of the Adventurer Guild. Now, it was a little around afternoon. I heard Amy would be sent to the excavation site as soon as she become a slave. She's likely on the eastern gate's horse-drawn carriage boarding place. Fortunately, the guild building is near the eastern gate. I run full speed towards the horse-drawn carriage boarding place and barely manage to make it on time. As I survey the surrounding, I spotted Amy who's about to board the horse-drawn carriage. As I feel gratitude for my fortune that the horse-drawn carriage boarding place was few of people, made it possible for me to spot her soon, I shout in a loud voice.
"Wait up!!"
A man who I believe is a slave dealer turn towards me. It seems Amy also noticed me.
"What is it, young man."
The man asked me in an annoyed tone.
"Has she become a slave?"
"Hah? Yeah, she your acquaintance?"
It was too late. Though it would have settled if I were to come here earlier and shouldered Amy's debt. Well, can't be helped.
"Then I'll buy her."
Amy had a surprised expression on her. Even I didn't understand why I would do something to this extent, even though I had only talk with her for a few times. However, I have interest in [alchemist], above all I can buy [curse]holder cheaper and can cure it myself. Thinking so, I decided to buy her.
"Buy? This girl? If you come to my place, I can show you better one, y'know?"
"No, I want her! It has to be her!"
As though overwhelmed by my vigor, the slave dealer step back as he told me Amy's price.
"She's a slave with debt, so she's expensive, y'know. It's 11 gold coins, and she has [curse] as a bonus, see."
The man said it in a voice mixed with sigh. He must have thought I'd give up after I heard the price. 11 gold coins is by no means too expensive for a slave's price. However, compared to Ayla's, who is also a [curse]holder, which is only 2 gold coins, Ayla's price certainly is a bargain. So, the 11 gold coins are mostly the amount of Amy's debt.
"Got it."
I take gold coins from my bag on the waist and hand it to the man.
"Hee, now that's surprising that you would go this far for someone like her. You fell for her?"
"Something like that."
Since the slave dealer handed me a parchment, I received it.
"This is?"
"That's her written oath. Sign right there."
Although there was no written oath like this when I bought Ayla, it seems Amy has it. When I signed it as I was told, a pattern floated up on Amy's backhand.
"With this she's your slave. If you ever need another slave, just come to Aura Co., m'kay."
As the man said so, he pull the horse-drawn carriage and walk towards the town. Is it part of the rule that all slave dealer say that remark in the end? I laughed a little.
"U-Um."
When I turned around, Amy looked at me with a flushed red face. Even the people in the surrounding look at us with a grin.
"Nii-chan! You look cool, y'know!"
A man threw a heckle at me. What does he mean? When I think about it, I realize what 's going on. If I were to proceed by the flow just now, I look like a man who'd abandoned everything for a woman he loved.
"N-Nah, it's not like what you all think."
Although I tried to explain it to the people in the surrounding, I didn't know what to say, in the end I pulled Amy's hand and left from that place. When I pulled Amy's hand, suddenly I realized. I've left Ayla behind in the guild. And when I returned to the guild as is, Ayla was there, with an anxious expression on her. Ayla who noticed us, for some reason make a sad expression. Is she angry for being left behind?
"Master, did you not need me anymore?"
I who was taken aback by Ayla who asked with a tearful voice, finally realized the cause. It was me who still gripped Amy's hand.
"N-No, you're wrong. Amy is our new companion, you see."
I feel nothing would change. For the time being, I hug and pat Ayla who burst into tear to calm her down. Since I rarely did this lately, and although I didn't too in the middle of escorting, she sometimes would cried at night. It seems like the flashback of 'her memory when she had a hard time' was the reason of it. And when that happened, I would hugged her and patted her head like this, and spent the night together 'til morning.
"Beside, there's no way I'd throw you away, right? Or are you don't want to be with me anymore?"
"Nonsense. I want to be together with Master forever."
"I see, then we'll be together forever."
"Yes."
Ayla buries her face in my bosom and starts to rub her cheek on me. It seems she has calmed down. Although it's also so when she cries at night, Ayla's basically like to be spoiled. When we are alone, she would often snuggle up to me. However, it's unusual for her to behave like a spoiled girl like this in a place with many people like this.
"Um~"
Out of frying pan into the fire. This time, it was Amy who was sulking.
"It's not that I mind it, but as expected it's hurt if someone who said it has to be me a while ago is hugging another woman."
Hearing that, Ayla stopped rubbing her cheek and pouted. She glares at Amy as she clings my right hand tightly. Amy who notices Ayla's glare, starts to cling to my left hand. I who was interposed between them could feel spark flying between them.
"F-For the time being, should we grab some food? Since both of you haven't introduce yourself to each other, too."
The good-for-nothing me could somehow spoke a proposal, to get out of this situation.
As expected, we have a meal in a tense atmosphere. In a 4-person table, seated 2 women and I who sat facing them. What kind of torture is this?
It was Amy who first broke the silent in this tense atmosphere.
"Er, firstly I have to say my gratitude. Thank you very much for saving me. Let me return this favor by working for Master."
Listening to that, Ayla replied.
"Are you also being saved by Master, too?"
"Yes, I'm a debtor slave. Moreover, I also a [curse]holder, so if Master didn't purchase me, I would be sent to work in excavation site."
"I-I was about to be thrown into a dungeon when Master purchased me!"
Hmm, the talk is progressing. Let's wait and see for a while, then.
"I was treated kindly in the Adventurer Guild, and after that he saved my life. Then this time that person become my Master. That's really leave a deep impression in me. Is this something you would call fate?"
"H-He said I was cute so he purchased me!"
"...He also said the same thing after he saved me."
H-Huh? Things didn't look good?!
Ayla finally stood up from the chair and started to speak fervently.
"I get praised for being helpful in a battle!"
Amy who was being saved when a monster attacked her look vexed.
"Even I would prove helpful! Although it's a bit difficult in a battle, if it's [alche, my]..."
Amy ended her word in a low voice. Why, I guess? Ahh, it must be her [curse].
"Now then, since we've done having meal, should we return to the inn?"
Since if both of them were to continue quarrelling, it would cause troubles to the store, I calm them down and lead them towards the inn.