The Appraising-Eye Slave Trader ~ A Blind Boy Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Dominates with the Power to 'See True Talent' ~ - Episode 14: Musclehead Support Role

Episode 14: Musclehead Support Role

I had already gotten completely used to the atmosphere of the slave market.

The beast-like stench, the shouting, the haggling, the creaking of iron and leather—among all this chaos, “talent” is hidden.

“Now, where’s today’s hidden gem…?”

I walked through the market. I was searching for the next potential companion.

Our current party isn’t badly balanced—Kariya is a frontline swordsman, Varna is a magic swordsman, and Lilia handles recovery.

But I want a bit more of a “tactical foundation.”

Someone who can support, enhance, observe the battlefield and empower allies…

Considering the recent investigation into the saint too, I want to firm up our strength as much as possible.

I never know when I might come into contact with the protagonist and trigger a ruin flag.

Well, with that saint, things should be fine now…

That’s when it happened.

“Hey, mister… I’ve got just the one for you!”

A shady-looking middle-aged slave trader called out to me.

“He’s a ‘muscle-brain’ But he moves real well. Just the movement though. He’s hard to manage, so we’re clearing him out. Hahaha!”

The one he introduced was a young man.

He looked to be around twenty. Solid build, scruffy beard, sharp eyes.

Though chained up and kneeling in rags, his back was straight.

“Name?”

“Zeff. He kept going berserk and ignoring orders from his last master. So they called him a suicidal charger.”

The merchant laughed hysterically.

The customers around also jeered, “It’s that dud again,” “Doesn’t have an eye for talent,” and so on.

“Hmm… suicidal charger, huh?”

I approached Zeff and stared at him.

He didn’t say a word. He just silently met my gaze with sharp eyes.

“…《Appraisal》.”

Information flowed into my vision.

《Appraisal Result》

[Name] Zeff

[Age] 21

[Occupation] Warrior (current)

[Basic Stats]

* Attack: B

* Defense: B

* Magic: E

* Physical: A

[Talents]

* Warrior: E

* Tactical Support: S

* Enhancement Techniques: A

* Perception: B

[Evaluation]

Misassigned due to poor self-awareness.

Possesses keen perception and the ability to sense delicate magical flows.

Truly shines in the role of “support and assistance.”

His clumsy personality and past failures have hindered his growth.

(…Found one—a golden egg.)

Ouji Grandfalm’s “Appraising Eye” doesn’t lie.

This guy—he’s no suicidal-charge “warrior.”

He’s a “support specialist.”

A man who surveys the battlefield, empowers allies, and directs the flow.

“How much for him?”

“Huh? Seriously? You’re not joking, mister? He’s really useless, you know. His last master gave up after three days and swapped him out—”

“I asked how much.”

“Hiik… Fifteen silver coins…”

“Cheap. I’ll take him.”

I tossed a pouch of silver, and the slave trader flinched.

Zeff said nothing. He just looked up at me silently.

“Zeff, stand up. From today, you’re one of us.”

“…One of us? Not a slave…?”

“That’s right. Not a ‘warrior’, but a ‘support mage.’ I’ll train you… because that’s your true form.”

Zeff’s eyes trembled slightly.

That was the beginning of his “awakening.”

◆　　◆　　◆

Back at the mansion, Zeff was quiet as air.

He followed orders. But he never spoke on his own.

Like many slaves—he was deeply hurt by how he’d been treated in the past.

“You have no talent as a warrior—honestly, it’s catastrophic.”

That first night, I told Zeff that.

He narrowed his eyes a little. He was hiding his pain.

He probably didn’t know how to fight properly as a warrior. And he just kept charging blindly… Poor guy.

But I continued.

“But your ‘Tactical Support’ and ‘Enhancement Techniques’ are S and A rank. You’re the man who can bring out the best in his allies. No doubt about it.”

“Me…? No one’s… ever said anything like that to me.”

“That’s why I’m going to teach you from now on. Trust in my ‘eye’.”

◆　　◆　　◆

The next morning, training began.

Zeff wasn’t quick with his hands. Drawing magic circles was slow. And his magical flow was rough.

But—he was incredibly earnest.

Everything I said, he absorbed. Took notes. Reviewed at night.

And on the morning of the third day—

“Lilia, try manipulating your magic a bit.”

“Y-Yes!”

Zeff overlaid a magic circle onto Lilia’s staff.

What appeared was a basic “support circuit” for magic transmission—the most fundamental part of enhancement magic.

But the effect—

“…Huh? My healing feels… way faster than usual…?”

Lilia’s Heal spell reached the target at double the usual speed and density.

“For a first try at enhancement… no, even for a first, this is amazing…”

Kariya muttered in surprise.

“That’s not all… Varna, come here a sec.”

“What is it?”

Zeff drew a small magic circle at Varna’s feet. A wind-elemental “instant acceleration.”

“Here I goooooooo!!”

With a bang, Varna was launched several meters by the wind.

“Wh-What is this!? A boost!? I’m flying! I’m seriously flying!!”

“…This is real combat support.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Zeff’s not clumsy—he’s got real sense.

And he already has the “perception” needed for support.

“Zeff.”

“…Yes?”

“I’m not going to tell you to ‘fight.’ But with your hands, you can ‘make everyone win.’ That’s a kind of fighting, too.”

Zeff clenched his fist tightly.

It was the quiet expression of someone finally validated.

◆　　◆　　◆

That night.

“With Zeff-san’s support, chanting was so much easier!”

“I moved better and attacked more smoothly.”

“Wow—can I call you Master Zeff!? Please, Master!!”

Lilia, Kariya, Varna—

They all now recognized the man once mocked as a suicidal charger, as a true companion.

Zeff shyly nodded. He was embarrassed.

Seeing that scene, I thought to myself:

(This “eye” really isn’t wrong… If you can see people’s talents, they can change.)

With Zeff, our new “support pillar,” our fighting strength evolved to the next level.

“Ouji-sama… Thank you so much. I think… I want to try hard again.”

“Yeah. I’m counting on you.”

“Everyone, I look forward to working with you from now on!”

Zeff, our newest companion, had joined us.