I walked with the boy to the shop where we bought.
They offered me a horse-drawn carriage, but I refused.
Riding that thing makes me feel bad.
As we walk together, the boy opens his mouth.
“Like I said when I introduced myself, my name is Rion, and I’m eight years old.
My parents died, and I was kicked out of my house by adults I didn’t know.
Then I was living off pickpocketing, and that’s how I got caught.”
It sounds like the little blue-haired dwarf boy, Rion, has had a hard life.
“I would do anything for a decent meal and a decent life.
I was surprised that my employer was a cat, but I don’t mind as long as we can communicate.
…You know?”
[You’ll get through it.]
I chose Rion because he can read, write, and do simple calculations.
When choosing slaves, I selected those who could read as a minimum requirement.
Without being able to read, they couldn’t communicate with me or Yotsuba.
“Whoa, we’re almost there.”
The inside of the shop I purchased was kept cleaner than I expected.
It was probably cleaned regularly.
The building is a one-story, stone-built shop with a total floor space of about 20 tatami mats.
There is a living space of about six tatami mats in the back, with a kitchen.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have a warehouse.
But there are shelves for goods, and we can start doing business immediately with this.
[You can use this living space.]
“It’s nice, but where do you live, boss?”
[Franbel Forest.]
“Seriously… isn’t it full of monsters?”
It’s a nice place to live, but I wonder if living in the forest is tough if you aren’t an elf.
“All right. So, how am I supposed to make a living?
Will you bring me food, boss?
Or will you give me an allowance?”
[Which one do you prefer?]
“The second option. It will be easier for you, too, boss.”
I see.
I’ll give him 10,000G for now.
[It’s your allowance for 2 weeks.]
“Woah!”
[I’ll bring Yotsuba back at night.]
“That would be my other employer.
…It’s a human, right?”
[Yeah.]
I’m not lying.