The Appraising-Eye Slave Trader ~ A Blind Boy Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Dominates with the Power to 'See True Talent' ~ - Episode 7: Maybe I Should Train Too

Episode 7: Maybe I Should Train Too

“…Am I the only one taking it easy?”

Night.

Alone in the mansion’s study, I was staring at the ledger. I muttered those words without thinking.

Kariya swings her sword every morning.

Lilia trains her magic control. And lately, she’s even been secretly practicing applied healing techniques.

Varna does core training, magic enhancement, and solo practice in her room until night. Strength training is practically her hobby now.

Everyone’s putting in the effort.

“…And I’m just ‘watching,’ huh.”

All I do is spot talent.

I speak up, buy them, raise them—and that’s it. I feel satisfied just doing that.

That makes me look like some “king who leaves everything to others.”

I pulled a small hand mirror from the drawer and stared into its surface.

“…Appraise.”

A faint heat stirred behind my eyes. And a pale window floated into view.

[Appraisal Target: Ouji Grandfalm]

Age: 14

Occupation: Slave Trader (Class Changed)

◆ Status

Attack: SS

Defense: S

Magic: S

Physical: SS

Charm: SS

Intelligence: S

◆ Talents

Appraising Eye: SSS

Negotiation: SS

Financial Instinct: S

Training Guidance: A

Psychological Insight: A

Strategic Planning: A

Mental Endurance: E

Martial Arts Aptitude: F

Noble Etiquette: D

“…Wow, textbook ‘support role’ type, huh.”

Well, I already knew. I have no stamina or strength. And just swinging a sword peels the skin off my hands.

But seeing it written out like this still kinda stings…

On the other hand, the list of talents related to information processing and business is impressive.

Appraising Eye SSS, Negotiation SS, Financial Instinct S—of course I can make money.

But then I realized:

“These are all just ‘innate talents,’ aren’t they?”

I can appraise—but that doesn’t mean I can raise them right.

I have negotiation skills—but if I don’t have enough experience, they’re just numbers.

Training Guidance A…? I’ve just been kind of winging it with Lilia and the others. Have I really been guiding them?

Up to now, I was satisfied just because I had talent.

But—that alone won’t cut it going forward.

“…Then I just have to make use of those talents.”

A smile naturally crept onto my face.

Appraise myself.

Understand what I lack.

Then act to fill in those gaps. Train. Refine myself.

“If I’m gonna tell the slaves to ‘work hard,’ then I’ve gotta move too…!”

First, I’ll get out into the field.

I’ll sharpen my negotiation skills through real experience in the market.

I’ll try haggling hard even with seasoned merchants.

And… maybe I’ll start doing a bit of physical training too.

While I’m out for my morning walk, I can do some light sword swings with Kariya.

I can already see myself losing. But hey, that’s experience too.

I wrote boldly in the notebook on my desk:

“Believe in your own talents—and make them ‘usable’.”

Ouji Grandfalm. Slave Trader: SSS.

I, who was blessed with more talent than anyone—

will now outwork everyone else.

“Let’s do this. No one believes in my talents more than I do.”

◆　　◆　　◆

The next morning.

As soon as I woke up, I told the butler:

“Starting today, I’m going out for hands-on training in procurement. Also, I’ll be doing physical training in the garden every morning!”

“Young master… is going to train…?”

The servants started murmuring in surprise. But I didn’t care.

From today, I was a man who trains himself.

◆　　◆　　◆

10 a.m.

I arrived at the shop of “Old Man Salvio”, a notorious high-pressure merchant in the royal capital.

He has Negotiation: S. And when I appraise him, he’s basically a “professional bargaining monster.”

But that’s exactly why I can learn something from him.

“…You again, brat?”

Old Man Salvio greeted me gruffly.

I’ve bought slaves from him a few times before. But he always overcharges. That’s his signature move.

Classic.

“I’m here to ‘study’ today. Real-world negotiation practice.”

“…Oh?”

“I want to buy these three. Fifteen silver coins total. That’s fair, right?”

I purposely offered slightly below market value.

Of course, I knew he’d see through it and bump up the price. That was part of the plan.

“Don’t be stupid. It’s twenty silver on my end.”

“But these individuals have light injuries on their limbs. On the market, fifteen would be a fair compromise.”

“Can’t you see? Their solid builds and facial features. Sell them and you’ll easily double your money.”

The exchange continued.

No change in expression. Locked gazes. Occasional silences.

(…Damn, going up against someone who knows his stuff is suffocating…!)

Still, I didn’t back down.

I took note of his unique speech, his timing, his choice of words—everything.

“Eighteen is my limit. Any higher and I can’t make a profit.”

“Let’s settle at seventeen. ‘Negotiation is about trust and continuity.’”

“…Thank you, Salvio-san.”

(I won’t say I ‘won.’ But—I held my own.)

Until now, I’d coasted by with talent.

This time, I got hit by the full weight of experience.

But every moment was a living lesson.

“You’re finally starting to look like you can actually do something, brat.”

“Well, I am a genius slave merchant.”

“Tch… you’re annoying, you know that?”

◆　　◆　　◆

The next morning, behind the mansion.

I stood firm, gripping a wooden sword. Already drenched in sweat and gasping for air.

“Huff… huff… Hey Kariya, are you really a former maid? Are you sure you weren’t ex-military?”

“Ouji-sama said he wanted ‘serious training.’ Don’t complain over something like this.”

Kariya’s eyes were sharp. Straight-up terrifying.

What was supposed to be light practice had already left my shoulders unable to move.

“Very well, next is defensive stance. I’m striking—ready?”

“Wait, I’m not ready for—WAAAAAAH!!?”

*WHACK!*

The wooden sword struck my shoulder. And I collapsed. The ground was brutally hard.

“…Ouji-sama, at least learn the basics of deflecting before challenging me.”

“I said I’m sorry! That last hit was totally out for bl00d, wasn’t it!?”

“No. That was normal.”

That cold tone.

But somehow, it felt good.

Kariya is usually so calm—but when it comes to this, she’s completely serious.

And for some reason, that made me happy.

I stood up. My shoulder hurt. But I was smiling.

“One more time. Next round, I’m winning. Let’s go, Kariya!”

“…Yes! Come at me!”

Relentless training.

Merciless negotiations.

But for me right now, this was just right.

This effort is what will make me a real merchant.

(I’m not just raising slaves anymore. I’m raising myself too.)

My story is still just beginning.