An Ordinary Civil Servant’s Transfer to Another World A Gacha-Dependent Life Relying on Luck
When I offered 25 gold coins, the shopkeeper, Fons, accepted them with a smile.
“Received without a doubt. Now, shall we proceed to the contract ceremony? But before that, do you have any questions?”
I hesitated for a moment before speaking to Fons.
“Excuse me, but before that… I’d like to confirm with her directly. Whether it’s really okay for someone like me—an old guy—to buy her.”
Fons raised an eyebrow in surprise but soon nodded calmly.
“I don’t think that’s necessary, but very well. Please wait a moment.”
As Fons disappeared into the back, I felt my palms sweating from nervousness, standing there alone.
It was obvious, but buying a slave was a first-time experience in my life.
A short while later, Almerita appeared. Soft brown hair, amber eyes, and white wolf ears and tail—looking at her again, she truly seemed like a kemomimi (beast-eared) beauty symbolizing the charm of this world.
That only made confirmation all the more necessary.
“Um, could I talk to you for just a moment?”
At my words, she nodded quietly.
“I came here because I want to buy you. But to be honest, I don’t have much money. I might not be able to provide a luxurious life. On top of that, I’m planning to leave this country and head to the labyrinth city in the neighboring country. That might put some burden on you if you come with me. Also, I heard you’re a war orphan. I’m not confident I can give you the proper care you might need for that.”
Almerita listened to me intently.
Apparently, asking a slave for their opinion like this was unusual in this world.
I’d saved up money thinking it was like a gacha game with heavy microtransactions, but now, facing a child like this, it started to feel more like adopting a foster kid.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fons widening his eyes in surprise at my behavior.
“Even so, would it be okay if I bought you?”
Without the slightest hint of hesitation, Almerita nodded firmly.
“Please do, Master. You may call me Almerita.”
There was a resolute light in her amber eyes, free of any doubt.
“It seems the confirmation is settled. Shall we proceed with the contract ceremony?”
Fons began the process, explaining the slave contract.
“We’ll mark it with the master’s blood. This mark signifies status and may need to be shown to others in some cases. Typically, it’s placed on the back of the hand, though some prefer hidden spots like the chest—”
“No, the usual spot is fine. Please put it on the back of my left hand.”
I answered immediately, catching a glimpse of Almerita blushing slightly out of the corner of my eye. There was no way I’d put it in a place like that.
The ceremony began, and a drop of blood from my left fingertip was placed on the back of Almerita’s hand. A flash of light filled the room for a moment, and the contract was complete.
“That concludes it,” Fons declared with a smile. Then, he added one final thing.
“You didn’t haggle even once while purchasing a slave, dear customer. In appreciation of your sincerity, I’ve prepared a gift.”
Almerita stepped into the back for a moment and returned a few minutes later, leaving me speechless.
She was dressed in an adorable maid outfit. The soft fabric clung to her slim figure, and her wolf ears and tail only enhanced the look.
(*A kemomimi maid beauty… Seriously…?*)
I muttered that in my head but desperately kept it from showing on my face.
Almerita lowered her eyes slightly, looking a bit shy, and spoke hesitantly.
“Um… How do I look…? This is my first time wearing something like this… It feels kind of breezy around my legs…”
She was so adorable I had to stifle a laugh.
“No, it looks great on you. No need to worry at all. Honestly, it’s perfect.”
At my words, Almerita smiled, seeming a little relieved.
That smile warmed something deep in my chest.
She held a cloth bag in her hands, indicating it was her only possession.
I thanked Fons once more and left the shop.
—
When we returned to the inn, the evening sky had turned deep indigo, with stars beginning to twinkle.
I’d need to discuss the future with Almerita.
But first, securing a room came first.
As I opened the inn’s door, the innkeeper’s wife, busy checking the ledger at the counter, looked up and smiled warmly at us.
“Welcome back today. Oh, you’ve brought a cute girl with you!”
Having grown familiar with me over my extended stay, she spoke to me kindly.
A bit embarrassed, I gave a brief explanation.
“Actually, we’re planning to head to the neighboring country by carriage tomorrow, and that’s why… I bought her. Also, I think my reservation for the consecutive nights ends today, but could I add one more room?”
The innkeeper’s wife replied without a hint of surprise.
“There’s a room available, but are you sure it’s okay to stay in separate rooms from a slave you just brought?”
I faltered for a moment, glancing at Almerita beside me. She tilted her head slightly with a smile and said quietly,
“I’ll follow whatever you decide, Master. I’m perfectly fine with sharing a room. Plus, one room would be cheaper, and I don’t mind sleeping on the floor.”
Her earnestness tugged at my heart a little, but the innkeeper’s wife smiled and continued,
“Well, then, perfect timing. There’s a bigger room available, so I’ll upgrade you to that one for free. Go have dinner while I prepare it.”
“T-Thank you. But letting you handle dinner too is a bit much… Please let me pay something.”
Feeling awkward, I offered a silver coin.
“Alright then, I’ll take five copper coins instead, and I’ll prepare breakfast too,” she said, placing the change on the counter.
“I’ll include some preserved food with the light meal, so come pick it up tomorrow morning. If you’re heading to the neighboring country, it’s good to have some provisions.”
Grateful for her kindness, we headed straight to the nearby diner.
The dinner served in a corner of the diner was simple but heartwarming. The soup had a rich broth, and the bread was freshly baked.
Almerita, who had looked tense at first, lit up after her first bite.
“It’s delicious…!”
Her words made me chuckle involuntarily. Just eating together like this felt strangely surreal.
—
After dinner, we were led to the new room. It was much bigger than expected, with two beds side by side.
Honestly, I’d been a bit worried since Almerita had said she was fine sleeping on the floor, but this put my mind at ease.
After briefly organizing our things, I sat down across from Almerita.
“Almerita, I’d like to talk about what’s ahead.”
She nodded with a serious expression.
“First, our goal is to head to Lyubelia, the labyrinth city in the neighboring Selvarna Free Federation. There’s a labyrinth there, and I plan to earn money by appraising items we get from it.”
“Appraising…?”
Almerita tilted her head, so I explained my skill.
“I have a skill called [Appraisal]. It lets me appraise items, people, and skills. Normally, in this world, you need a special large crystal to see someone’s status, but I can do it without one.”
Hearing this, Almerita’s eyes widened in amazement.
“That’s… incredible, being able to appraise anything…!”
Her pure reaction made me a bit shy, but I continued.
“Still, while we’re heading to the labyrinth city, I haven’t trained to fight in the labyrinth yet, and honestly, it’s a high hurdle. Raising my guild rank while earning money is another goal. Since guild rank serves as a form of identification to some extent, I want to take it step by step.”
“I understand. I’ll do my best to help you, Master. I might be able to assist a little in combat.”
True, Almerita’s stats suggested she was strong, but having a kid like her fight felt impossible for me.
“Almerita, one more thing, if I may?”
There was something else bothering me—every time she called me “Master,” it made me feel oddly itchy and restless.
“Yes, Master. What is it?”
“Well… honestly, being called ‘Master’ feels kinda awkward. I’m not exactly some grand person.”
Almerita tilted her head with a puzzled look.
“But isn’t it natural for a slave to address their master as such?”
“I get that, but… I wouldn’t mind if you called me ‘Suzuki,’ though in this country, having a family name might make people mistake me for a noble or something, which could be a hassle.”
Cutting me off as if she’d been waiting for the chance, Almerita replied instantly.
“Then, may I call you Kazuto-sama?”
“Kazuto… sama?”
I froze for a moment at the oddly spaced honorific.
It was better than “Master,” sure, but the “sama” still made it feel just as awkward.
“…Alright, fine. Let’s go with that.”
“Understood, Kazuto-sama.”
Almerita smiled brightly, and from then on, she settled on calling me “Kazuto-sama.”
…It still felt a bit off, but oh well.
“Since we’ve got an early start tomorrow, let’s get some sleep.”
As I lay in bed, I reflected on the day’s events. Coming to another world, buying a slave, taking the first step with a new companion—there was anxiety, but also a sense of excitement.
Listening to Almerita’s soft breathing from the bed beside me, I quietly closed my eyes.