The Dialectic of Master and Slave - Chapter 3
Since she came to this world one day without any signs, perhaps she would return if she closed her eyes and opened them again someday?
It was a shallow belief without basis or logic, but it was her only hope. Until that day came, Jaha had to stay alive. Even if it meant throwing away her pride and crawling on the ground like a dog.
“I am a person who is clear about debts of gratitude.”
Baron Palga, the old man who bought Jaha, wasn’t a bad person. It might sound funny coming from someone who almost became a s*x slave, but since she ultimately didn’t become one, she could say this.
Baron Palga providing education to Jaha, a slave, that even commoners couldn’t receive, was his way of repaying her for saving his youngest son’s life.
“I’ve made you capable of functioning as a proper person, so I’ll soon free you from slavery and make you a commoner.”
Baron Palga called Jaha, who had completed basic education, and said this.
Escaping slave status was as difficult as plucking stars from the sky. It required considerable money and permission from the master who owned the slave.
Since slaves couldn’t own private property, they effectively couldn’t escape unless their master paid the price and freed them, and realistically, how many masters would be benevolent enough to pay money to free labor they could use without cost until death?
Recognizing this as an opportunity that wouldn’t come again, Jaha prostrated herself on the ground.
“Thank you, master.”
“If you wish, I’ll arrange work for you too. Is there anything you’re particularly confident in?”
After thinking for a moment, Jaha opened her mouth.
“I know arithmetic.”
“Arithmetic? Can you handle the counting board?”
This world’s counting board was similar to the abacus used on Earth in the past. And Jaha had learned to use an abacus.
“Yes. But I calculate without using a counting board.”
“What? You say arithmetic is possible without a counting board?”
Baron Palga’s wrinkled eyes widened. This was because written calculation hadn’t yet become common in this world. Even Europe only shifted from abacus calculation to written arithmetic in the 17th century. Naturally, Baron Palga couldn’t help but be skeptical.
“Let’s see you try it.”
“I need paper and writing implements.”
Baron Palga’s problem was adding two three-digit numbers. Jaha answered without touching the writing implements. She could do this level of arithmetic mentally using the abacus in her head.
When Jaha answered quickly, the problems became increasingly complex, but they were still simple calculations that didn’t even require quadratic equations. A university student like Jaha wouldn’t struggle with problems an elementary student could solve. However, in this world where most couldn’t even receive elementary education, this was knowledge impossible for a slave to obtain.
“Did you receive education?”
“Yes. I attended an academy in my homeland.”
When she explained being a university student according to this world’s standards, Baron Palga’s expression showed shock.
Having a daughter, not even a son who would be the family heir, educated to that extent meant the family must be quite prominent even among nobles. For a daughter of such a family to become a slave. There must be a tragic story, but Baron Palga judged he didn’t need to know such things.
He had wondered how a supposedly uneducated slave had managed to save his youngest son, but now that question was answered. Understanding she was a talented student who had attended an academy made sense. All her teachers had made a fuss about her exceptional learning ability, unbelievable for a slave, and now he knew the background behind it.
“I see. Then how would you like to work under me?”
“Working under you, master…?”
“How about checking if the calculations in the ledgers are correct? I’ll pay you the average wage.”
It wasn’t a bad proposal. Going out recklessly without any minimum safeguards and no connections would be dangerous. In this world where swords and magic ran rampant, Jaha had neither tools nor power to protect herself.
In the worst case, after finally becoming a commoner, she might get caught by slave traders again and fall back into slavery.
