The Appraising-Eye Slave Trader ~ A Blind Boy Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Dominates with the Power to 'See True Talent' ~ - Episode 2: The Miracle Healer

Episode 2: The Miracle Healer

The slave market was a much smellier place than I had imagined.

No, seriously. The scent of beasts, human sweat, and for some reason, the stench of rotting fish were all mixed together. It was messing up my sense of smell.

While holding my nose, I stepped into the entrance of the market.

“Ouji-sama, do you really… have business in a place like this…?”

The tearful voice behind me was from the clumsy maid, Kariya.

Well, of course. A noble’s son personally stepping into a filthy slave market? Totally unthinkable.

But I’m already a [Slave Trader]. I have no choice but to start from here.

(Besides… there are definitely “raw gems” buried here.)

With the Appraising Eye, I can find talents that everyone else overlooks.

First, a trial run. I start walking through the slaves on display in the market.

The first one that catches my eye is a heavily muscled man.

Name: Goldo

Age: 30

Basic Status

Attack: B 

Defense: C 

Magic: E 

Physical B

—Talents—

Manual Labor: B 

Gatekeeper: C

(Hmm, not bad. Not bad, but… pretty average…)

Next.

A girl with well-tanned skin. She looks energetic.

Name: Tina

Age: 16

Status

Attack: C 

Defense: D 

Magic: F 

Physical: C

—Talents—

Laundry: C 

Idol: E

(Idol!? There’s an aptitude for that kind of job…!)

A merchant from the market grins with missing teeth and speaks to me.

“Sir, you’ve got a good eye. This one’s still young… and can keep you company at night, too.”

“Pass. Not my taste.”

I brush it off and head deeper in.

But… there’s no real “hit”. All talents rank C or D.

Not even a trace of an S rank.

(Can I really find a raw gem in a place like this…?)

I was starting to feel a little doubtful—

Then I saw her.

At the very back of the market, in the shade. The figure was inside a worn-out wooden cage.

There, unnoticed by anyone, a single girl was curled up.

A skinny body wrapped in rags.

Hair that was neither white nor gray. It was matted with mud. Her complexion was pale, and her breathing rough.

(…This is bad.)

Just from her appearance, the only words that came to mind were “about to die any minute.”

But my Appraising Eye reacted to her.

Name: Lilia

Age: 13

Basic Status

Attack: E 

Defense: F 

Magic: E 

Physical: F

—Talents—

Supreme Healer: SSS

Holy Spirit Affinity: S

Life Wave Control: S

(There it is. There it is…! Cheat-level talent!!)

It was so dazzling that I instinctively wanted to squint.

More radiant than any slave I’d seen so far—truly a raw gem.

“Hey, how much is this girl?”

I spoke to the slave merchant nearby.

“Oh, her? Don’t bother, sir. She’s sick—her lungs are shot. Won’t last three days. We’re just trying to dispose of her before sending her to the grave…”

“Dispose…?”

“Just look at her. She can’t even walk properly. And her magic power is unmeasurable. Literally ‘trash.’ So… one silver coin, no, half a coin’s fine. Think of it as coffin money, cheap deal right?”

“Fine. I’ll buy her.”

“…Huh?”

“Half a silver coin. I’ll pay in cash.”

The merchant’s eyes widened.

“Y-you serious!? For real!? Whoa, SOLD! Never thought I’d get to clear that stock!”

The lock rattled open, and Lilia was dragged out.

She barely had the strength to move. She looked faintly up at my face.

“…Why…?”

Her voice was so faint it seemed like the wind might blow it away.

“I… I’m going to die soon anyway… so why…?”

I crouched down and smiled gently.

“There are two reasons. One: I’m whimsical. And two—”

I looked her in the eyes.

“Because you have the greatest healing talent in the world.”

“…Hea…ler…?”

“That’s right. No one’s noticed it, but you have the power to perform miracles.”

Lilia looked stunned.

No wonder. She probably had never been expected of anything in her life.

But my eyes could see it. She was the real deal.

(All that’s left… is to draw that talent out.)

I gently took her hand and helped her up.

“Let’s go, Lilia. I’ll take you to my mansion, where your new life will begin.”

Supporting her trembling body, I gave a fist pump in my heart.

This is good. She’s my first “raw gem.”

(My Appraising Eye wasn’t wrong.)

In the carriage back to the mansion, Lilia quietly huddled next to me.

She was so weak, even a slight jolt made her sway—like a broken doll.

I gently placed a blanket over her.

“…Um…”

A tiny voice suddenly came.

“Why… did you save me…?”

“I told you, didn’t I? You have miraculous talent. Besides, I didn’t save you. From now on, you’ll be the one saving others. I just lent a hand for that to happen.”

“But… I can’t do anything. I’ve never used magic, can’t heal sickness… Everyone calls me ‘dying trash’…”

Lilia looked down and pressed her chest with trembling hands.

“…Even if someone expects something from me… I’ll only betray them…”

“That’s not true.”

I gently placed my hand on her shoulder.

“I can see it. The power inside you. A light that only you have, one no one else can see.”

Hearing that, Lilia raised her face just a little.

But her eyes still held no confidence.

(Then I’ll show her. That she can save herself with her own power.)

◆　　◆　　◆

In the back garden of the mansion.

Though now it’s more like an unused vacant lot, I knelt before the bench where Lilia lay.

Lilia remained limp. Her complexion still pale, and her breathing shallow.

But if I just leave her lying there, nothing will get better.

“Lilia. Have you ever felt the magic inside you?”

“…No.”

“I see. But you have the talent of a Healer. The highest rank—SSS.”

“…That can’t be…”

“It’s true.”

I took her hand.

“Listen. You do have magic flowing inside you right now. You just don’t know how to use it. I’ll help you a little—try to feel it.”

Saying that, I used my Appraising Eye to view the flow of her magic.

Inside her body, it was like a murky river. It was faint and stagnant.

(Just a little—)

Placing my hand over hers, I guided it through imagery.

The clogged flow of magic slowly started to release.

Lilia’s fingertips grew slightly warm.

“…Huh?”

“That’s it. That’s your magic. Can you feel it?”

“…Yeah… it’s kind of warm… but…”

“It’s okay. Now place your hand on your chest. That’s where it hurts most, right?”

Though hesitant, Lilia followed my instructions.

Then, she slowly closed her eyes.

Silence—

Only the sound of the wind rustling the grass.

Then it happened.

From Lilia’s palm, a soft white light gently floated up.

“…!”

Her body shivered slightly.

The light was absorbed into her chest. And in that moment, she took a deep breath.

“…Hah… It… it doesn’t hurt…!”

Her breathing eased. And her complexion improved in an instant.

Color returned to her pale cheeks.

“Eh…? Eh, eh…?”

Looking down at her body in confusion—

In the next instant, tears overflowed from her eyes.

“I-I… healed…? I healed myself…!?”

“Yeah. You healed yourself with your own power.”

When I smiled, Lilia burst into tears.

“Uu… thank you…! I’m so glad I’m alive…! So glad…!”

Gripping my hand tightly, she sobbed and repeated her thanks again and again.

There was no trace of “dying trash” in her voice anymore.

“Lilia. Your power is just beginning. From here, it will grow and grow.”

I gently patted her head.

“…Yes…! I want to be useful to you, Ouji-sama…! With this power… I want to save someone…!”

Her face had seemed lifeless just moments before. It was now bright and full of hope.

◆　　◆　　◆

That night.

From my room window, I looked down at the Great Temple in the royal capital.

At the top of its tower—a faint light was rising toward the sky.

(…That’s the ritual for detecting “Holy Reaction”.)

In other words, the church sensed that someone had performed a “miracle”.

I grinned.

“Now then. I wonder what kinds of people will start taking an interest in us from here on out…?”

Ouji Grandfalm, the slave trader with the Appraising Eye.

His first “miracle” was a success.

And thus, my—“world-changing business”—had truly begun.