So it was known for its ability to do detailed work, huh? I had all kinds of work for them in my plans, so that was fine.

“Speaking of detailed work, racoon types—like your associate here—are also quite dexterous, you know.”

I looked at Raphtalia. Now that I thought about it, I’d never taught her to do work like that. I’d had her help tan some monster hides, but that was about it. Maybe the fact that she didn’t express interest in doing that kind of thing meant that she was naturally clumsy.

“You’re thinking about something rude, aren’t you?”

“Not really . . .”

“But yes, lumo types tend to be well suited for delicate work that requires dexterous hands. They also tend to be rather reserved. A good choice. Yes sir.”

I took another look at the trembling lumo slave.

“Is it just me or does this country have a lot of scumbags that are into physical abuse?”

Every slave I’d seen was covered in scars from being whipped.

“This country has a long history of being at war with the demi-humans, so it’s only natural. Yes sir.”

“Meaning people like the nobility that fought in those wars use physical abuse to make themselves feel better about the past?”

The nobleman that Raphtalia had gotten tangled up with had done just that.

“We even have a special low-priced option for borrowing a slave just to physically abuse it a bit before returning it. Yes sir. We require the slave to be purchased outright at a hefty sum when it’s not returned in usable form.”

The shadiness of this country was astounding. Watching on as I reconstructed the demi-human village would probably leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the nobility.

“Physical abuse is punishable by law, of course. Yes sir.”

“So it’s illegal? The way it’s treated sure makes it seem legal.”

I couldn’t help but feel that way thinking about this tent tucked away in a back alley.

“And that’s why my business is thriving. Yes sir.”

Thriving, huh? The slave trader’s way of proudly flaunting it made him seem seriously shady. Tell me then, why was he selling slaves that had been physically abused, anyway?

“Now that you mention it, he does look better than most, I guess.”

Raphtalia’s response was practically a whisper.

Was this really better than most? I looked at the wounds on the lumo slave’s back. They seemed surprisingly deep. It was a blotchy mess of layers upon layers of scars from being whipped repeatedly.

“Zweite Heal!”

I cast some healing magic and the lumo slave’s open wounds began to close. Still, the wounds were deep and far from being fully healed.

“Huh?”

“I hear you’ve got dexterous hands.”

“I don’t know.”

The lumo slave looked away when he answered. That was certainly a better response than claiming he could do something that he couldn’t.

“Will you put them to use if I teach you?”

“If that’s an order then I will. So please, don’t beat me.”