Infinite Checkpoint Project: No Game No Life

It must be said that Ferrand's mansion was quite luxurious. Pavilions, towers, carvings, and treasures, all of it now belonged to Nangou Haruya. Moreover, there were plenty of servants and wealth inside.

Still, Haruya freed all the servants and kicked out the women Ferrand had been keeping in the mansion, giving them some money to start their own lives.

After a series of actions, the entire massive mansion was left with only Haruya.

This was also a way to gain a sense of security...

In this isekai world, one couldn't take everything too simply. He had to learn to trust those who were trustworthy, doubt those who might betray him, and protect himself.

After rummaging through the mansion, Haruya took out some valuable treasures and gave a portion to the poor.

Great, his popularity had increased. Maybe some beautiful girls would come knocking on his door voluntarily~

No matter which world it was, Nobles always lived several times better than ordinary people and exploited the common folk.

With the remaining money, Haruya casually found a place to eat, and then prepared to see if there were any places that rented out or sold maids.

"Welcome, you must be the Noble who made a big splash today. How should I address you?"

"My name is Nangou Haruya. You can just call me Nangou or Haruya, either is fine."

Following the streets to the edge of the royal capital of Elkia, Haruya found a slave market here.

The owner was a man with a mustache, who clasped his hands and nodded respectfully.

"Lately, big events keep happening. The former Noble, Ferrand, was replaced, and a few days ago, Elkia got a new king."

"A new king? Could it be..."

"Does Lord Nangou not know? I heard the new king is actually two people, a man and a woman. You could say it's a new king and a new queen."

"Is that so? So that's how it is. I guess I was a step too late..."

"Did something happen? If there's any oversight, please forgive me."

Shaking his head, Haruya didn't say anything more.

According to the slave owner's explanation, the king and queen of the Immanity race and the kingdom of Elkia must be the siblings, Sora and Shiro.

Since they had become the full representatives of Immanity, Haruya's task of conquering at least two countries had become more difficult.

Excluding the method of directly confronting the duo, Sora and Shiro, Haruya's feasible target now seemed to be only the Werebeasts and the Sirens.

But before that, to even attempt to obtain another country, he would need to offer an equivalent price.

In short, Haruya had to become the full representative of a country to have the qualification to bet on a 'Race Piece' and engage in games with other races.

Of course, this did not exclude the possibility of Haruya cooperating with Sora and Shiro. After all, their goal was to conquer this world...

Finishing his thoughts, Haruya followed the slave owner into the room ahead.

It was a large, empty warehouse with many iron cages inside, holding male and female slaves.

Some were coughing, while others glared at the two entering the room.

"Because the Eastern Federation has taken a lot of land and resources, the Nobles have started hoarding money and goods. Slaves aren't selling well. I hope Lord Nangou will continue to patronize my shop..."

"There are about thirty slaves here, right? How did you get them?" Haruya asked.

"Some are from poor families, and some lost to me in games." replied the slave owner.

"Oh? Then how about playing a game with me? I'll bet my wealth, and you'll bet yours." Haruya suddenly suggested.

The slave owner's eyes shifted, and he bowed apologetically, "I'm flattered, but I dare not play a game with you, as I surely cannot win."

"That's not true..." Haruya shamelessly denied.

"Then which ones has Lord Nangou taken a liking to?" The shopkeeper quickly changed the subject, and Haruya didn't press further.

According to number three of the Ten Covenants, In games, each party must bet something they agree is of equal value, yet if the slave owner wasn't willing, there was nothing Haruya could do.

"I'll take all the slaves here."

Haruya walked up to a girl with light brown hair. She glared at him and then turned her face away.

Reaching into the cage, Haruya grabbed her chin and turned her face back, noticing some wounds below her neck.

"Let go!!"

The girl slapped his hand away, and Haruya shook his hand. She was quite fiery.

The slave owner was about to call someone to teach the girl a lesson, but Haruya stopped him, "For the payment, send someone to my place to collect it. Also, buy some medicine for treating wounds."

"This... I understand. I'll take care of it right away and send all the slaves over. As for the price..."

"Do you think I can't afford it?"

"Not at all, I'll go handle it now."

'Good, very good.'

Haruya stroked his chin. Being a Noble was unexpectedly nice.

Returning to the mansion, Haruya didn't have to wait long before the slave owner's men brought over the dozens of slaves.

Haruya handed the money to the man and had him remove all the handcuffs and shackles.

After the slave owner's men left, Haruya stood with his hands on his hips.

"Well, now I'm your master. As per the Ten Covenants, this transaction is binding. However, those who wish to stay can stay, and those who don't, I'll give them some money."

Haruya was not a villain. And only those who genuinely wanted to stay would have value.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"Are we free?"

"Free!? Really!? Lord Nangou!"

"Is this some kind of trap?"

"I can go home? Though there's no home left for me to go to..."

The former slaves began to chatter.

Haruya clapped his hands, signaling them to quiet down.

"What I said is true. Those who want to leave, go quickly. The money is over there."

The crowd looked at each other in silence, and then someone started taking some money and leaving the mansion.

Once there was a first, there was a second, and then a third.

The departing slaves all bowed or knelt to thank Haruya.

In the end, only one person stayed.

It was the light brown-haired girl who had been dissatisfied with him earlier.

She watched the others leave and then looked at Haruya, "Are you serious?"

"Of course. If you don't leave, I'll have to keep you here."

She decided, "I won't leave. Even if I did, there's nowhere else to go. Immanity is finished..."

"Finished because they're weak? That's not right. It's precisely because Immanity is weak that it has infinite potential. Those who are strong from the start can't climb any higher." Haruya said sagely.

"But..."

"Here's medicine and money. Take it and leave. Go find your family or start a new life."

The girl took the medicine and money. She looked at Haruya and then threw herself into his arms, "Th-thank you...!!!"

After expressing her heartfelt gratitude, she left.

Watching the girl's retreating figure, Haruya sighed.

This was not how it was supposed to go... 'Shouldn't someone have stayed?! Where were the maids?!'

Could it be that this country didn't have something like a talent exchange?

Educating slaves from scratch would be quite troublesome, which was why Haruya had chosen to let them go.

"Hmm... I'll go to the women's bathhouse to calm my nerves..."

Just as Haruya was contemplating his 'gentlemanly' actions, he heard footsteps.

Looking ahead, he saw two figures at the entrance.

A spiky red haired young man with heavy dark circles under his eyes, and a tiara that was forcibly bent and worn as an armband on his arm.

Beside him, clutching his clothes, was a pale-skinned girl with very long messy white hair with a pale blue, purple, pink, green, and yellow tint and large, passive golden/yellow-red eyes. She wore a sailor uniform and had tied up her long bangs with a crown.

That was...

"Yo, nice to meet you, partner from another world!"

It was the siblings, Sora and Shiro...