SWNOVELXO Chapter 53
“I’ll come back another day. I’m sure you want to savor this emotional reunion for now, so I’ll take my leave here.”
“Are you sure? You’ve already formed a contract with Eurua.”
In the room, where people had gathered to hear the doctor’s diagnosis, a cheer erupted. Oddly, the excitement even spread to those in the hallway, as if they had also heard the news.
As I witnessed this scene, Banku, standing beside me, let out a small chuckle.
“Haha, despite her usually composed demeanor, she’s actually quite good with people. Even setting aside her beauty and the fact that she’s an elf, she gets along well with others.”
“Seeing everyone’s reaction, it’s clear how loved she is.”
When people hear the term “slave traders,” the automatic assumption is one of evil. But seeing the way Eurua interacts with the guild, and their reactions to the good news, it’s clear the relationship between them is more amicable than one might think.
They were genuinely happy for her, celebrating for someone they weren’t even related to by blood. Seeing this made me think that they might even throw a party in her honor tonight.
Meanwhile, Eurua remained by Aria’s bedside, her face buried against the sheets. I couldn’t see her expression, but from the way her shoulders trembled and her breathing came in ragged gasps, it was clear she was still crying.
Although Banku had already confirmed that the contract was in place and Eurua was now mine, I didn’t want to intrude on this emotional moment. So, after exchanging a few words with Banku, I left the room.
As I walked down the hall, employees of Banku’s guild who knew the situation passed by and thanked me in hushed tones.
It seemed that, per Eurua’s request, the care of the sleeping Aria had been handled by the guild’s female staff. Many of these women were already married with children and, understanding Eurua’s circumstances, had grown attached to her through their shared experiences.
“You know, Eurua’s still just a young elf, around 18 or so? At that age, it wouldn’t be strange if she’d fallen in love once or twice, but instead, she’s come all this way to save her master…”
The speaker, one of the women who had cared for Aria, cupped her cheek thoughtfully as she spoke. She appeared to be in her early thirties and was already a mother of two. It was surprising to learn that her children were around Eurua’s age.
(…This world really does marry young, huh.)
If her kids were already in their teens, then she must’ve had them when she was in high school. In Japan, it wouldn’t be unusual to find someone over 30 who hadn’t even married yet. But in this world, especially in rural areas, it seemed common for people to marry around 17.
In contrast, in larger cities like the capital, it wasn’t so strange for someone to still be single in their twenties.
Still, it was impressive that a woman in her thirties was already a veteran at raising kids.
Perhaps because she had children of her own, the woman seemed to feel a strong maternal instinct toward Eurua, who, despite her youth, had endured so much hardship. She praised Eurua for her honest nature, and apparently, the other guild members held her in high regard as well.
“But now that the contract has been sealed, she’s officially a slave. Of course, I have no intention of treating her poorly, but she won’t be able to return to her homeland for many years.”
Though Eurua’s wish had been granted, it came with the price of living in a human-dominated capital far from her elven homeland for the foreseeable future.
With her rare heritage and beauty, she would undoubtedly attract curious gazes. And there was also the difference in cultures to consider.
For that reason, I decided to bring up the reality of her situation, though I feared dampening the mood. I had no intention of mistreating her, but living in a foreign country so far from home, among people of a different race, must surely be difficult.
The woman blinked in surprise at my words, then, after processing them, she let out a soft laugh.
“I used to be a slave too, but living in a foreign land with a different culture isn’t as big of a deal as people make it out to be. My husband is actually my former master, you know. Sometimes, hardships lead to wonderful encounters.”
The woman reassured me that, given all that Eurua had already been through, living in a foreign land or dealing with cultural differences wouldn’t pose much of a problem for her.
In fact, she explained that she herself had been sold into slavery due to her parents’ debts. She had come from a land far from here.
As someone who had experienced the struggles of living in a foreign land and navigating a different culture, she also knew that such hardships could lead to new discoveries and meaningful relationships.
And then there was the surprising fact that the master who had bought her had become her husband.
“Is that so?”
“Yep, that’s how it goes. Though I’m human and she’s an elf, with her strong spirit, I’m sure she’ll be just fine.”
Though I didn’t understand exactly what she based her confidence on, her words carried a certain undeniable weight.