"Before we begin, I would like to thank Yamato-sama first for giving us such a valuable potion."

"No, don't mind it too much. In fact, I would like to apologize for doing something so selfish."

"That's not true."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not."

"OK! I believe you two need to stop your appreciation and apologies to each other right now, as I'm afraid if you don't, we are going to get sidetracked furthermore."

As expected of Melvin-san, he stopped us at the right time because I had no idea how to end that conversation anymore.

"*Cough* then I will proceed with my explanation now. First of all, Yamato-sama has just been approved by the two of them as a qualified person to purchase them. So we're going to talk about the terms and conditions of the sale."
 
So they are the ones who decide who will buy them. So I guess it's really true that he's a really kind slave trader, like what he'd said earlier.

"There will be four conditions that you will need to meet in order for you to purchase and own them; the first is that Yamato-sama must be registered as a citizen of this country. The second is that Yamato-sama must use this city as his base of operations. The third is that Yamato-sama mustn't transfer their ownership without their permission. And lastly, Yamato-sama must shoulder all their debts."

I don't see any problem with becoming a resident of this country, and I don't mind using this town as a base, though if I do that, I just need to think of a way to get rid of Serga. Also, I have no intention of giving them to someone else. The problem is that I need to pay off their debt, so in short, is that their purchase price? 

"What do I need to do in order to become a resident of this country?"

"I can take care of that for you. I will also apply for you to be able to use this city as your base of operation."

"Then regarding your third condition regarding the transfer of their ownership, is it possible for them to transfer their own ownership without my permission? And if they don't, what if they tell me that they want to transfer their ownership to another person? Does that mean that I need to do what they've said?"

"The transfer of the ownership of slaves cannot be transferred unless the master of the slave does it. The only cases where it's possible for another person to transfer another person's ownership of a slave is when the master dies and a successor has been chosen, or when the master becomes a criminal and is taken into custody by the state. It also depends on the master's intention whether or not to obey the instructions that are given to him. Even the king of this country doesn't have any power to take the ownership of a slave, even from a commoner. In particular, the Ryujins are absolutely loyal to those whom they recognize as their masters. This condition exists more as a condition for them and not for their master, as the Ryujin would rather die than follow someone they do not approve of. So you can rest assured that your concerns will unlikely occur. "

In other words, they would make me a commoner in this country so that I would not be able to oppose the government, and if something happened and they needed to deal with me, they would demand that I give up my ownership. If I disobey them, I will be treated as a criminal and their ownership will be transferred to them. The Ryujins may be a very dangerous race. So much so that the state wants to put them in chains together with their master.

But there's one thing I'm confused about. Since they can buy themselves back when they free themselves, does that mean that they will come back to their master to serve him since they are absolutely loyal to him?

"I see, I got it. Then what do you mean by me shouldering their debts?"

"It's exactly what I've said. You will need to shoulder their debts, and currently, their debt is about three billion G. You will need to make a payment of three million G every month."

... What the heck! Do you think I'd just say, "Yeah, I got it," and we'd walk away as if nothing had happened? That's three billion! With that kind of money, even if I have to live my life ten times over and over again, I will still have some money left!

Hahahaha... I see, I get it now... so that's why he didn't put that in his terms... because they are sure that no one could pay that amount of money... and their aim isn't for me to pay back that money but to tie me down and squeeze me dry. They figured that a potion maker could earn about three million a month, and with the interest on their debts, even if I worked my whole life, I wouldn't be able to pay that amount. Therefore, they will keep a skilled potion maker in this country.

To make all that work, these girls are the best bait for that. Currently, Shion is suffering from an incurable disease. That's why Tsubaki is the only one that could work for both of them. And since it's necessary for Shion to take potions every day to alleviate her condition, there's no way a good-natured person who takes care of them would not give her a potion.

By the way, one silver coin is equivalent to 10 000 G and one gold coin is equivalent to 1 000 000 G. And the average monthly income of a commoner is about 150 000 G.

...Melvin-san, if you're sitting over there, that means that you're on their side too, aren't you?

So I guess that's how they operate, huh? First, they will identify those who possess or those who can make potions at the checkpoint, and they will bring them here to determine if that person is good enough to work for their kingdom. If the person is skilled and rich enough to buy them, then they will sell them to that person. If they're not able to afford them, they will first determine how skilled they are at first, then they will offer the option of shouldering the slaves' debt.

Maybe if I refuse them here, they'll introduce me to a slave in a much lower class. If that's how you work, then fine, I'll take you up on that! 

I'm not just a potion maker, I'm a super potion maker who has cheats that came from the goddess herself. I'm sure I won't have a hard time and all I have to worry about is where and how many potions I should sell so that I won't get involved in any trouble. But since I have two great partners who will clean up and take care of the mess for me, then I don't have anything to worry about.

Meririsarte-sama Please make sure that the limit of the potion that I can make is refreshed every day and don't make it every few days, or worse of all, don't make it so that I can only make the same potion if the potion is already consumed. If you fail me here, I will spread your name throughout the world until every person on the planet recognizes you as an absolute evil god, and I will do so until the end of my life! Then I'll be baptized in the name of Artemirina-sama! And even if you send and reincarnate people from another world to this world, you won't be able to properly show that you are a good goddess because people in this world will brand them as followers of an evil god! Hahaha.... if that doesn't work after I die.... just wait for me, Meriri.

[All right! I get it! So please don't say mean things to me anymore!]

A divine voice suddenly resounded in my head. So is this what Meriri's voice felt like? I felt something warm in my chest, I wonder if all the believers who receive oracles from the goddesses also felt this way. I'm sure if I wasn't threatening and cursing her, I would have been moved by what had happened to me, but I'm glad that Meriri is the same as usual.

But I'm glad because I have one less thing to worry about. Now I can proceed with my negotiation with them.

"....Is that all?"

"...for our conditions, yes. But if you want to purchase them, then you will need to pay us another 300 million G as a purchase price immediately." 

"Is that all?"

"Yes, that's all of it."

"In short, I need to pay you another 300 million G in cash up front to add to the 3 million G that I would need to pay every month until I finish paying the 3 billion G. Is that right?"

"Yes, as long as your monthly payment isn't delayed, the interest won't increase."

In other words, what he's saying is that if the payment is delayed, then the interest rate on my principal debt will increase exponentially. And when the time comes that I won't be able to pay, I will fall into slavery as a debt slave. That means, at that point, my life will continue as a potion machine for a noble in a mansion somewhere.

Okay! Bring it on! If I can get to live with two beautiful women, then I'm prepared to take the risk!

"Oh! I forgot to mention one thing. They are slaves, but before that they were part of the Ryujin tribe. Be very careful because if you force them to sleep with you, you will be treated as a criminal. "

........

........

.......maybe I should give up on them?

No, no, no. It's not like I only want them for their bodies. I want them to genuinely like me, and since we are going to live together for almost the rest of our lives, I'm sure there will be a lot of good things waiting for me.

Do you really think that would stop me?

"Melvin-san"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Well... right now I'm short on money."

"Hmmm, is that so? Well, I thought that you had enough money on you since you listened to his explanation until the end. Well, if that's the case, then you won't be able to also pay the 3 million G that is required every month. Hahaha well if that's the case, how about we go to a different store..."

"No, that's not it. I think I can manage to pay the required 3 million G per month. And if I had enough time, I would be able to earn the 300 million G needed as an initial payment, but I think that would take me too much time... That's why let's negotiate here. I will give you two C-rank potions per month, and I will continue to do so until I give you a total of 100 C-rank potions. In exchange, you will need to pay in advance the 300 million G."