Edea: Hero Summoning Conspiracy 219 A Familliar Expression

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Slavery was a system that Kazuya had initially looked down on and wanted to abolish back in his first life. He did not see this system as a fair one as he witnessed various kinds of injustices that privileged people committed over his time in Edea.

However, this had somewhat changed after he had gone through what he did and had time to think things over in the dark void. He had been numbed to viewing all the negatives and noticed the slavery system's positives that made it survive throughout all his predecessors' time.

Unlike how prisons are on Earth, the lesser civilization in Edea was not that advanced and they did not focus much on putting criminals that were not important behind bars. These prisons were reserved for war hostages or those who had relevant information that the country wants.

The slavery system made criminals of lesser crimes to be able to live instead of just being executed for their minor or petty crime. It was somewhat of a complicated matter as although people were indeed allowed to survive, they would have to go through various forms of humiliation or hardship because of their mistakes. Still, it was better than being executed or crippled because of a petty crime of stealing food just because you were very close to dying of starvation.

As powerful and influential as the heroes were when they were in Edea, this was one of the things that they couldn't change. That is why they had opted for the next best thing and that was to create specific laws and rules that made the slavery system more than just a title.

However, due to the heroes being like fireworks that disappear or fade after their purpose had been fulfilled, many people eventually went back to their old ways once they were no longer under scrutiny.

While the system had improved due to the various heroes' efforts, without them, those who held positions or influences only needed to hide their actions from the public's eye. This was the problem that had remained unresolved throughout the passage of time.

Slaves were absolutely restricted to never cause any harm towards their masters so how could they defend themselves when their masters wanted to abuse them?

"Please have a rest in this room while I prepare the individuals that young master Kouzuki may be interested in. I shall send one of my attendants to accompany you as I handpick candidates myself." Raizer politely led Kazuya inside a luxurious waiting room before heading out.

"(So this is the biggest slave store in the capital huh…)" Kazuya looked around the room and frowned.

Though he indeed found advantages in the slave system, it did not mean that his feelings about it changed. It was either this system be completely abolished or almost nothing at all.

Those who were unlucky enough to land into the hands of cruel masters were only fated to suffer. Kazuya had witnessed the countless number of victims who were tortured for pleasure or whose lives were thrown away by their masters on a whim.

Though there are exceptions to this, it was sad to say a majority of the people he had encountered were unworthy to be referred to as 'master' by the people they had bought.

*Knock Knock Knock*

"Hmm?" Kazuya glanced towards the door and watched as a middle-aged woman followed by two young girls entered the room.

"Greetings young master Kouzuki! My name is Etha, Raizer's wife. My husband has told me to accompany you while he personally selects talented individuals that may suit your needs." She curtsied politely before signaling the girls behind her to begin their preparations for the guest.

One of the girls who looked to be Kazuya's age gave him a seductive smile before moving to the side to brew tea. The other one was a lot younger than the seductive girl and maintained a neutral expression that made Kazuya think of the very first time he had met Shiroyuki Tomoyo in his second life.

"(Slaves…)" Kazuya thought as he felt the little fluctuations that compelled these girls to follow their master's orders.

"It is good to see that a respectable merchant such as Raizer has a beautiful wife to match him." Kazuya gave a warm smile as he hid his criticisms about this aging woman to himself.

"Oh my! One such as me is not worthy of those words." Etha bashfully covered her face with a fan as she sat across Kazuya.

"How would you like your tea young master?" the girl seductively smiled as she pushed a cart containing tea and snacks closer.

I will leave it to yo—" Kazuya's words were cut off as he sensed something strange.

When the little girl walked closer to assist the other slave, his senses had immediately brought his attention towards the girl that reminded him of Tomoyo.

"(What is this…?)" Kazuya glanced at the little girl and found her to be staring at him.

The lack of expression this girl was as useful as the old robot girl's expression so he could only interpret it as he had something on his face that had caught her attention.

Etha and the other girl threw their glares at the dazed expressionless girl. They didn't know what was the matter with this weird girl but her stare had already bothered the guest enough to make him look back at her rude stare.

"Hey!" Etha grabbed the little girl's shoulder and gave an apologetic look towards Kazuya.

"Please forgive this girl's rude behavior. It is due to my leniency in training her as well as her strangeness that makes her act like this." She gave a shallow apology and pulled the little girl towards her companion to make her do her work.

"I do not mind." Kazuya shook his head. "Are you the one who is responsible for training girls like them?"

"Yes… I took it upon myself to be placed in charge of girls like them who either have no choice to be sold to slavery to survive or have had their relatives betray them for some coin." Etha continued her act.

These kinds of situations also fell into the gray area in the slavery system. While those who could not find work themselves can turn to slavery to be able to survive, many young children were sacrificed by their parents or relatives for the same purposes.

"I see… that is very noble of you." Kazuya continued to speak words he did not mean in the slightest.

Though the other girl's actions were seductive and she continuously tried to catch his attention, what Kazuya saw was a girl who was desperately trying to use all she learned so that he would take her away from this place.

Though the girl had been dressed similarly to a noble, her actions showed signs of injury. The disdain she tried to hide while hearing the speech of Etha was enough to tell Kazuya that this middle-aged woman was the complete opposite of how saintly she portrayed herself to be.

Unfortunately for the elder girl, Kazuya was able to see her trying to take all of the chances to serve him from the little girl. The girl was unaware that what she was going just made Kazuya lose interest in her situation. He was not interested in helping those who did not deserve it.

Etha continued talking and after a while, Kazuya found out that the little girl was called Lucia. Her somewhat dark pinkish hair made her stand out in Kazuya's eyes but there was something about this girl that Kazuya still had not figured out.

"(I'm sure I haven't met this little girl before but why does she feel familiar?)"

He pretended to listen to the talkative Etha has he scanned his memories thoroughly for any signs of this girl. He was given a sense of familiarity towards her which made him doubt the confidence he had about his past life's memory.

"Young master Kouzuki?" Etha called out to him as she noticed Kazuya in a daze.

"Pardon me. I was just thinking about what you said about being responsible for educating some of the people here. Would you mind showing me of the people who are educated? I asked your husband for candidates for my other purpose but I am also in need of some people to take care of management."

Etha was startled at Kazuya's statement but immediately cooled herself down. Her husband had indeed brought back big fish!

"Certainly! It would be my honor to show the young master around but…" she suddenly hesitated. "I must warn you, some of the people here have had some trouble with the laws of the kingdom so…"

Kazuya scoffed in his mind. He knew that she was trying to hint that the slaves were kept in cages despite her flowery statements about educating or reforming people.

"I understand. Though the eastern lands have a largely different system, I am aware that there are no institutions in other kingdoms that keep criminal slaves." Kazuya nodded and kept his thoughts to himself.

He was then led out of the room and into the halls that Etha was responsible for.

"(This must be were they showcase slaves for nobles.)" he observed the clean cages that were separated enough so that the people inside wouldn't be able to reach each other.

There was no sign of Razer so Kazuya knew that the man was probably in the place where they kept the slaves that were trained to battle in slave fights. This meant that his intentions are going according to plan as there was someone who he was specifically looking for.

"Please excuse me while I go and see what is keeping my husband." Etha excused herself and assigned the two girls as well as two guards to show him around.

"(That guy should be having a hard time trying to pick out candidates that can accompany someone of my identity)" Kazuya laughed in his mind as he walked around the area.

He would sometimes stop and ask the people inside the cages a few questions before moving along. There was a limit to what he could do and say as he was constantly under watch by the guards who were obviously paying attention to his every word.

"The people in here a mostly women…" Kazuya couldn't help but sigh as he had already expected this.

He initially had some hope that what he would be shown were people that indeed had some kind of education. What he was given instead were the so-called people that Etha herself 'educated'. These were nothing more than dolled up men and women who would be able to attract the eyes of anyone who had the cash to spend.

*tug* *tug*

Kazuya felt a tug on his right sleeve and turned towards Lucia who wore a blank expression whilst pointing towards the corner end of the hall where a cage was standing farther apart from the others. It was covered with a white cloth so Kazuya had assumed that it was a cage that was unoccupied.

"(Is this familiar feeling because this little girl reminds me of the robot girl…?)" Kazuya couldn't help but wonder to himself as the little girl's action reminded him of one of his good friends back on his word.

"Is there a person inside that cage?" Kazuya asked with a smile.

*nod*

"You want to show me that person?" Kazuya noticed the girl on his left glare at Lucia after her silent suggestion.

*nod*

"You mischievous little girl!" the older girl on Kazuya's left immediately scolded.

"What is it?" Kazuya frowned and did not hide his displeasure of being interrupted. This girl was hiding her contempt over her companion so why did she suddenly show it now?

"Please don't listen to this girl, young master Kouzuki. Though that person is on this floor, it is only because of her above-average looks. It will only be a matter of time before she is sent along with the people who have committed grave crimes and have to work with their lives on the line." The girl explained.

"Oh?" Kazuya's curiosity was aroused as he took another look at the person who appeared to be sleeping inside the cage in the corner.

"That person refuses to be educated and is hostile to everyone except for the madame who currently owns the rights to command her. She is a criminal who was caught stealing from one of the master's caravans!" She persuaded Kazuya to not move any closer.

"Oh? So Etha's pet whore thinks I'm below her?" A voice suddenly came from the cage.

"Why don't you come closer and say that again, little whore." The person from the cage stood up and walked up to the edge of the cage.

"(Huh? This woman…)" Kazuya was a bit startled after he saw the person giving a condescending gaze towards the girl beside him.  

"You!!! Stop spouting such nonsense!" The girl glanced towards Kazuya and looked troubled after seeing his startled expression. She was not aware that Kazuya did not care about the woman's words in the least and had assumed that she had lost some hope of being purchased by him.

"Nonsense? Haven't you been sleeping around with young nobles just so they can request Etha to not sell you to anyone?" she chuckled and finally turned her attention towards the little girl who was surprisingly with the group.

"Hmm?" Noticing Lucia's hand holding the sleeve of someone, the woman finally turned her attention towards Kazuya whom she was ignoring on purpose.

"You wanted this person to meet me?" she asked the little girl.

*nod*

"Do you know him?"

The little girl paused for a few seconds before shaking her head sideways after thinking that she had only met Kazuya not too long ago. The woman behind the cage was intrigued. This was the first time that the little girl that would visit her every now and then would introduce someone to her despite her reputation of assaulting every person who took an interest in her.

"Who are you? You don't look like any of the nobles that frequently visit this goddess forsaken hell hole."

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Chapter end