Vol.6 Prologue: Indulgence and taboo

The difference between races is the difference between cultures. Cultural differences stem from differences in common sense. Differences in common sense stem from differences in taboos. Among the many taboos, murder is the most severe. I committed this taboo relatively early on after arriving in this world. I suspect it’s because I believe this world, where 「Levels」 and 「Magic」 exist, is actually a virtual world within a game. Or perhaps it’s because I have a low sense of belonging to this world, being from a different one. At the very least, I don’t want to think I was inherently prone to breaking taboos. There are other taboos, but I haven't committed any others, as far as I know. Violence against outlaws is self-defense, preferring women over men is a distinction, not discrimination, drugs won't affect me because I have a high tolerance, breaking the law is okay as long as it doesn't harm others, lies are a necessary evil, doing something bad is better than doing nothing, and bullying Somari is just a hobby. Hmm, well, it’s a bit self-congratulatory, but as an old man with excessive strength who came from a world with different moral standards, I think I’m doing a decent job of self-control. I feel like giving myself a pat on the back. I have no plans to actively pursue evil in the future, but there is one taboo that piques my interest. It’s 「Slavery」. Human trafficking is out of the question, but a system where people sell themselves or their families to obtain necessary funds, as long as there are lives saved in exchange and it's done with consent, can't be completely denied. To put it extremely, I've come to accept that it's better than dying. If such a system existed, there'd be no one committing crimes to get food, shelter, and clothing because they have no money, which is a complete reversal of priorities. Therefore, there is little resistance to the act of purchasing people with money. However, when it comes to actually purchasing someone, a major issue arises. It is that while there may be interest, there is no necessity. With my excess power and wealth, I can manage most things without relying on others. The only and greatest exception is sexual desire, but that can be satisfied at specialized establishments, and I already have the mistress of my dreams. So why does the interest arise? Hmmm, why is that? I do have a desire for control, but it's not that strong. The urge to protect or engage in hypocritical acts is satisfied by running an orphanage, and tormenting others is already fulfilled by my Somari lady friend. Is it the collector's spirit that wants to buy rare items just to keep them around? Or is it a desire to indulge in a special sexual fetish that I can't reveal in front of a sex worker? Either way, even though I have the interest and the money, the reason is vague, so I've never gotten involved before. I have no intention of getting involved actively in the future, but on the other hand, if the opportunity arises, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. In the end, I've been waiting, going with the flow, finding a reasonable excuse, creating conditions to ease my guilt, and cultivating the mental strength to endure being rejected by young women. And then, when the time is right, I'll purchase a slave, that moment────.