Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 254: Unexpected Encounters

For comparison, it was the same price as just one Yor.

There had to be a catch.

Could it be related to the "troubled past" the merchant mentioned earlier?

"Of course, there is a reason for the low price," the merchant admitted. "However, I would prefer to explain that matter later. For now, I’d ask that you evaluate the product for yourself, considering the price of fifty gold coins."

The slave merchant’s suggestion was clear: the low price was indeed tied to the issue hinted at earlier.

Regardless, Damien needed to assess the two individuals properly before making any decisions.

Although he was puzzled by the merchant’s phrasing, Damien realized that understanding the two slaves was crucial either way.

He decided to follow the suggestion and proceed with evaluating them.

Damien rose from the sofa and walked toward the two people.

The slave merchant had mentioned that he would call them over, but noticing the heavy shackles on their ankles, Damien decided to close the distance himself since it wasn’t far.

When Damien set down Yor and stood up, his bodyguard, Ithnan, also rose to follow him.

However, this time, Damien decided not to stop him.

Although he doubted the two people posed any danger, neither did he expect them to be as fearful as Yor had been.

It seemed fine to let Ithnan act as he pleased.

Yor, who still seemed a little bit wary of Ithnan, was expected to stay back on the sofa.

Surprisingly, though, the boy chose to follow Damien.

Once he reached Damien’s side, Yor circled around to stand opposite Ithnan and, looking slightly bashful, clung to Damien’s arm.

Witnessing this, perhaps driven by some competitive instinct, Ithnan moved closer and grabbed Damien’s hand.

This is bad, Damien thought.

Ithnan, who normally suppressed his feelings, was starting to let his clingy side show.

As if that weren’t enough, Lysander—who Damien had assumed would stay behind on the sofa—now trailed after him as well.

The boy timidly tugged at the hem of Damien’s robe from behind.

What should have been a formal first greeting to potential household staff had turned into an odd procession.

Even the slave merchant who is following him at a slight distance, observed the scene with a bemused expression, his gaze warm but amused.

This is embarrassing, Damien thought.

And honestly, it’s probably going to make the two of them reject my offer outright.

Well, Damien thought, recalling what Lysander had mentioned before—perhaps showing these two people the reality of his household before hiring them was not a bad approach.

...Although, even he had to admit, this current situation was far more embarrassing than he would have liked.

Still, it might be better for them to witness the worst upfront, rather than later discovering things and feeling deceived.

With that resolution in mind, he approached the two people, maintaining the odd formation of his entourage.

When Damien reached them, the two of them knelt down in unison.

Despite the awkwardness caused by their shackles, their movements had an elegance that suggested experience.

The scene, though simple, carried a certain dignity.

"My name is Damien Crowell. May I ask for your names?" he asked.

In response, the man, keeping his head bowed, replied, "I am Isaac Dian. This is my wife, Miria."

"Isaac and Miria," Damien repeated. "Please, raise your heads."

At his request, the two lifted their heads obediently, meeting his gaze.

Even as Damien and his mismatched entourage stood before them, the two of them showed no reaction—no raised eyebrows, no visible judgment.

While their true thoughts remained a mystery, they maintained perfect composure.

They reminded Damien slightly of Sebas and Natasha—two of his most composed staff.

"Are you capable of working as dormitory staff?" Damien asked.

Isaac paused for a few moments, clearly considering the question, before replying.

"While neither Miria nor I have experience specifically as dormitory staff, I believe it is within our capabilities. Both of us served as household staff in an estate for roughly twenty years, so we are well-versed in general duties."

"Only twenty years?" Damien asked, surprised.

Based on their appearance, he had assumed a longer tenure.

Were they career changers?

"For the past twenty years, I have been serving as a steward, managing the household rather than working directly in the field," Isaac explained. "Miria, too, has spent the same period overseeing the staff and has stepped back from hands-on duties."

Ah, so that’s how it was, Damien thought.

Still, forty years of service in an estate made them seasoned veterans.

...Which also meant potential challenges.

"If I were to purchase you both," Damien began, "you would need to return to fieldwork and follow the instructions of subordinates who are, quite possibly, young enough to be your grandchildren. Would that be a problem?"

"There would be no issue," Isaac replied immediately.

His swift response left no room for doubt, though Damien still couldn’t gauge their true feelings.

Judging from their words alone, there seemed to be no reason not to proceed.

A glance at Lysander, who nodded in agreement, reassured Damien further.

"Do you have any other family members?" Damien asked.

Given their age, it wouldn’t be surprising if they had children or grandchildren.

He needed to ensure no relatives were enslaved alongside them.

"...We have no children, and both our parents have passed away," Isaac replied after a brief pause.

Still, something about his response felt off.

The pause wasn’t long enough to suggest grief, but it was unusual nonetheless.

"Please be open with me," Damien said directly.

If there was something they were hiding, it could influence his decision.

So, it’s better to address it now.

The silence that followed was heavy and almost as if Isaac was wrestling with himself.

Finally, he spoke.

"...There was a young lord in the household we served—someone about the age of a grandchild to us. We are concerned about his well-being."

Ah, Damien thought, so that’s what it was.

Damien thought about what Isaac had said.