My breath hitches.
Talking to Elfina earlier in the day had already set my mind down that path, making me think about all the things I could do with a mature, voluptuous elf. But now, looking at Shera—her youthful beauty, her sensual body—and hearing the Slave Merchant's words, my imagination runs wild.
I can't help but recall all those doujins about lewd elves with massive tits, and now, I have the chance to experience that firsthand. Her being a former noble is just an unexpected bonus—one that makes things even more enticing.
I could even play out the fallen elven noble fantasy with her.
And just that thought alone is already making my blood rush downward.
With his sales pitch done, the Slave Merchant steps back, looking satisfied.
Shera meets my gaze and suddenly pumps her fist in a determined guts pose.
"Shera is a hard worker! I can fight hard and defeat demons, and I won't complain even if the food tastes bad," she declares earnestly, her voice steady, though I catch the slight crack in her expression. Is the food part what she is actually worried about? Still, she keeps a smile on her face.
I offer her a small smile, finding her enthusiasm and her whole vibe oddly endearing. But something nags at me. If she really is a noble's daughter, then why is she being sold at an Auction? In the original story, elven nobility was a tight-knit group. It seems odd that they would allow one of their own to end up here.
Maybe the Slave Merchant is lying?
"We will take our leave now," I say, keeping a polite smile as I nod toward both the Merchant and Shera.
"Thank you for your time," the Slave Merchant replies with a bow as we turn to leave.
"Bye~ See you soon~" Shera calls out, waving at us with a hopeful tone. I don't return the wave and simply exit the room.
As we walk down the corridor, I notice two elves approaching the room we just left.
"Hey, don't go in there," one of them whispers, stopping the other, as my sensitive ears catch their talk. "She must be the illegitimate daughter the rumors were talking about."
Well, that explains it. That can be a reason why Shera ended up here despite her noble lineage.
Anastasia glances at me, her blue-green eyes filled with quiet concern. "Master, you had already decided to bid for Nyx, who is a Dark Elf. If you also bid for an Elf, they may not get along well in the same party," she warns. Then, with a sigh, she adds, "And Forest Ranger isn't exactly a good job for labyrinth exploration."
"Is the Forest Ranger job really that useless?" I ask, narrowing my eyes. "And can't I just change her job later if it doesn't suit our party?" I lower my voice slightly as I ask the last part.
Anastasia gives me a wry smile. "You definitely can, Master. But most people are naturally talented with a particular job. I am sure she has a strong affinity for the bow, which is likely why the Slave Merchant didn't change her job. It is not completely useless either—some adventuring parties rely on Forest Rangers for field and forest expeditions." She pauses before adding, "But our main goal is labyrinth exploration. I don't think she will be able to contribute much."
I raise a skeptical brow, and Anastasia quickly averts her eyes. While her points are valid, I can sense that she is trying to dissuade me—most likely because of what Sherry must have asked.
"I think I can mitigate her disadvantages quite easily," I say with a confident smile. "So it won't be a loss to add her to the party."
Not like I ever planned on skipping her bid anyway.
First, Shera and Rem were the ones who summoned the MC in How Not to Summon a Demon Lord, that was the start of the whole story. If this world is somehow a mix of that story, then Shera could be vital to figuring things out.
And second…
She's a busty, sexy, virgin elf. Why the hell wouldn't I bid for her?!
"…As you wish, Master," Anastasia says with a small sigh.
I grin and proceed to tell her about what I overheard—Shera being an illegitimate child of a noble. Her counterpart in that other story was a princess of the elves, so learning she is a noble here isn't all that shocking.
"There are far too many nobles in this auction," Anastasia notes, her brows furrowing. "This isn't normal, Master."
"We will figure out the reason sooner or later," I reply, brushing it off for now as we reach the opposite side of the corridor and enter the next room.
Inside, there is only a Level 32 Slave Merchant and a single girl.
One look at her, and I freeze. Even without using Appraisal, I immediately know who she is.
From her light brown skin to her long, flowing black hair and that hourglass figure wrapped in a blue dress—there is no mistaking it.
[Jasmine
Desert Warrior Level 6]
"Wow… a Disney princess? For real?" I mutter, feeling lightheaded at the sight of a childhood fantasy come to life.
"Please, come in, esteemed customer," the Slave Merchant says, bowing deeply.
The man has a pot belly, a black mustache, a small goatee, and a rather large nose. He even wears a white turban. He looks eerily similar to the peddler from Aladdin.
"Welcome, sir!" The girl stands and bows slightly, her brown eyes lighting up the moment she looks at me. A small, pretty smile tugs at her lips, as she keeps stealing glances at me.
Anastasia and I return the greeting, though I can't seem to move my eyes away from her.
"Customer, I have traveled from the far south of the Empire to bring you the most beautiful woman of the desert!" the Slave Merchant declares, grinning. "She is Jasmine, a fighter who is as fierce as she is beautiful!" He gestures proudly towards the girl, looking just dramatic enough that I half-expect him to break into the Arabian Nights song.
"I am Jasmine, a Desert Warrior," she introduces herself properly this time, standing tall.
Jasmine… She looks like she stepped straight out of the Aladdin movie I watched as a kid.
She is a stunning, curvaceous woman with smooth, sun-kissed skin and long, glossy black hair tied back, yet still reaching far past her hips.
Her cropped, light blue top offers a teasing glimpse of her ample chest—slightly larger than Anastasia's, if my eyes aren't deceiving me. It also leaves her toned midriff and enticing navel exposed.
She is a chocolate-skinned beauty, with a perfectly sculpted hourglass figure, her curves accentuated by the matching loose-fitting pants that cling just right.
I just can't stop staring at her.
My childhood crush, standing before me in the flesh.
Jasmine notices my gaze and turns slightly pink, her long, dark lashes fluttering as she shyly looks away.
"From the far south of the Empire?" Anastasia suddenly speaks up. "And a Desert Warrior? Is she one of the Desert People?" Her eyes widen in surprise.
'Desert People?' I ask her through our Party Link, forcing myself to stop ogling Jasmine with some effort.
'Yes, Master. It is said that there is a sea in the south, and even farther beyond it lies an endless desert. I have heard rumors that the Desert People live there. They have brown skin and black hair, just like both of them,' she informs me concisely. 'The people from the center and northern parts of the Empire don't think highly of Southerners, but they consider those from the far south to be outright barbarians.' She scrutinizes both Jasmine and the Slave Merchant as she speaks.
'Well, that's definitely interesting to know,' I say, glad to learn something new about this world. The original novel was never clear about the Empire's geography—especially nothing about the south. That was also why, some days ago, I had lied to Radia about not being from the northern part of the Empire.
'Do you know what a Desert Warrior is?' I ask her curiously.
'I have only heard rumors—stories of barbarian tribes warring ruthlessly, eating human flesh, and drinking blood. I always thought they were just myths, and I even doubted their existence… But now, here they are in front of us. So, no, Master, I don't actually know anything concrete about the Desert Warrior Job,' she admits awkwardly.
So even for the general public, this Job is rare. That makes me even more curious. It wasn't mentioned in the original story, and since she is clearly human, it can't be a race-specific Job either. That means I and the other girls might be able to acquire it as well.
As for the cannibalism rumors… Those are probably just exaggerated tales. Even on Earth, city folk loved to spread sensational stories about so-called 'barbarians.'
"Yes, Customer, she is from the far south—straight from the Empire's desert itself," the Slave Merchant declares with gravitas.
"What kind of Job is a Desert Warrior?" I ask curiously.
"Sir, Desert Warriors train by fighting against the Desert Demons under the scorching sun. Only the bravest among us can acquire the Job," Jasmine says with a proud smile, her brown eyes fixed earnestly on my face.
"Customer, Jasmine is a warrior molded by the desert itself. She would make a powerful addition to your party," the Slave Merchant adds, twisting his mustache with a grin.
So there really is a desert here. If Jasmine exists, does that mean the Cave of Wonders does too? Could there be a Genie in a lamp somewhere? If so, maybe I could wish for a Dimensional Travel ability… I could visit my home on Earth again.
Or… maybe I could wish for my family to come here?
Would they even want to?
Perhaps just sending them a message—letting them know I am alive and doing well—would be enough.
I shake my head, snapping myself out of it. Just the possibility of seeing them again had sent my emotions into overdrive. As I gather my thoughts, Anastasia speaks up.
"Is there even a Guild for Desert Warriors here? And is the Job really as powerful as you claim? Will she even be useful in the Labyrinths?" she asks skeptically.
I can tell she is somewhat prejudiced against them—must be a cultural thing.
"I can fight against any powerful demon," Jasmine says confidently, folding her arms.
Looking at her thin arms, even I feel a little doubtful. But her confidence doesn't seem baseless. Though, at just Level 6, she can't be that powerful.
"Desert Warriors are formidable fighters, Customer. And they will perform even better inside a Labyrinth," the Merchant assures me. Then, rubbing his hands together, he steps closer and whispers, "Jasmine is a virgin who has just turned sixteen, and she has consented to be a sex slave. They say Desert women fight just as fiercely in bed as they do in battle. You will surely enjoy her, sir," he adds with a wicked grin.
The thought of home had dampened my mood slightly, though Jasmine's hourglass figure is definitely something I would love to taste. She is like a decadent chocolate treat, begging to be devoured whole.
"Desert People are rarely presented at the Auction, so please don't miss this opportunity," he continues with a confident smirk as he steps back.
"Does she have any special dietary needs or anything else we should know about her?" Anastasia asks, narrowing her eyes.
Are you still worried she drinks human blood, Anastasia? I look at her speechlessly.
Even the Slave Merchant looks puzzled.
"I have no special requirements. I can eat anything," Jasmine replies, bowing her head.
"Alright, we will take our leave now," I say, eager to drag Anastasia away before she starts asking whether Jasmine has a cannibalistic diet.
"Please consider bidding for her, Customer," the Slave Merchant says, bowing low as we exit.
"Thank you, sir," Jasmine adds, bowing as well.
I steal a final glance back—and damn, what a sight. Her chocolate-toned paradise comes into my full view as she bends forward, her brown eyes meeting mine. She gives me a shy smile, making my heart flutter.
***
Wow we reached a Century! 💯 Chapters!! 🎉
Thank you for all your continuous support, this wouldn't have been possible without you all! 🤗
The story is just starting so lets aim for 200 next!!! 🎉🎉
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[Orvious has used his points to add waifu, Jasmine to this story!]
Thank you for your support!