'Calling them worthless—isn't that a bit too harsh?' I ask Anastasia through our party link, my lips twitching as I glance at Shea, who is still proudly posing with her hands on her hips.
'That's because they really are,' she replies without hesitation. 'Master, Rabbitkins are completely talentless in every Job. People say it's better to have a harmless Sheepkin in your party than a Rabbitkin because at least the Sheepkin won't run away the moment they see demons.'
'It can't be… that bad,' I say with a wry smile, though at this point, I strongly suspect that Swift Scout must be a Race-Specific Job of Rabbitkin as she just mentioned about them running away.
'It is, Master. The only thing Rabbitkins are decent at is farming. Honestly, this is the first time I have ever heard of a Rabbitkin who isn't a farmer—let alone one claiming to be a combat slave. I am pretty sure she has some mental problems, Master.' She concludes definitely.
Well, back on Earth, rabbits were practically synonymous with cowardice. But here… the first demon I ever faced was the so-called Slow Rabbit, and that thing was definitely not slow.
Still, if Anastasia's information is correct, then Shea is clearly an exception among her kind. Not that I am too surprised—she is the spitting image of the waifu from Arifureta, after all, so she was bound to be different.
'By the way, every other person in this room is from the Sex Maniac Guild. Why are they all so interested in her then?' I ask curiously.
'Ahm—' From my peripheral vision, I catch Anastasia visibly flustered. Before I can press further, she abruptly turns to the Slave Merchant and speaks up.
"A Rabbitkin wanting to become a Combat Slave? You must be joking!" she asks, irritation replacing her previous embarrassment. "Has she even been inside a Labyrinth or faced a demon before? Won't she just run away at the first sight of one?" She adds, eyeing Shea—who is only slightly taller than her—with suspicion.
"Customer, I can assure you, Shea here has trained inside a Labyrinth before. Despite being a Rabbitkin, she has courageously chosen to become a Combat Slave," the Slave Merchant declares passionately.
"Yes! I have fought many demons! We even reached the Second Floor of the Quratar Labyrinth!" Shea says proudly.
I can see the Slave Merchant's smile cracking at her proclamation.
Well… the Second Floor definitely isn't something worth bragging about. The first-floor demons of the Quratar Labyrinth are literally the weakest Kobolds. Even Anastasia looks too speechless to retort.
Deciding to shift the topic, I ask, "What exactly is the Swift Scout job?"
"As a powerful Swift Scout, I can sense the presence of demons in the surroundings and warn party members ahead of time inside a Labyrinth!" Shea exclaims proudly, patting her chest—causing her breasts to jiggle.
Her top gives an amazing view of the bounce, and before I realize it, my eyes are following their movement on instinct.
I nod, pretending to focus on her explanation. So, Swift Scout is basically a discount version of Roxanne, huh?
The Slave Merchant suddenly leans in and lowers his voice, "Customer, you might not be aware of the most fascinating detail about Rabbitkins…"
From the corner of my eye, I notice Anastasia quietly stepping back, her cheeks tinged pink.
"I am listening," I say, intrigued.
He smirks before whispering, "The female members of the Rabbitkin Tribe are almost always in heat—they are notorious for their high libido, so you can enjoy your time with them anytime, anywhere, and they will comply each time enthusiastically."
I raise an eyebrow in surprise. I knew there had to be something sex-related going on here. There is no other reason why this many perverts would be crowding the room.
"And," the Slave Merchant continues with a knowing look, "Shea is still a fifteen year old virgin. She has also agreed to be a Sex Slave. As a Rabbitkin, you won't have to worry about her getting pregnant either—so you can enjoy your time with her without any worries and as much as you want."
My gaze shifts to Shea, who averts her eyes, her cheeks a deep shade of red. Her long rabbit ears twitch slightly—maybe they are sensitive enough to pick up on our hushed conversation.
My eyes roam over her body—from those twitching ears down to the top of her exposed breasts, her smooth belly, and her thick, toned thighs. Everything about her is so curvaceous, her very form radiating an unmistakable sensuality. It is as if her entire body was built for pleasure.
Just imagining fucking such a sexy rabbit girl has already made me painfully close to getting a hardon.
"Shea is definitely not one to miss in today's auction," the Slave Merchant announces loudly as he steps back, making sure the other bidders in the room hear him.
"I will keep that in mind," I say with a small smile, nodding towards both him and Shea before quickly making my way out with Anastasia. Not wanting to grow an erection in such a public place.
"Thank you, customer," the Slave Merchant bows. Shea does the same, her gaze lingering on my back as I exit.
Once outside, I take a deep breath, working to clear my thoughts. It was hard to think properly earlier—Shea's jiggling breasts had been a serious distraction.
But now, there is something far more important to consider. Shea is a character from the story, Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest.
Once again, I can't ignore the many similarities between that story and Harem in a Labyrinth. Labyrinths, Beastkin tribes, Demons, Jobs… they all exist in both worlds in some form or another. In Arifureta, the MC was summoned into the world alongside his entire class—even their teacher was included—as the Saviours for that kingdom. One person was even granted the Hero Job, meaning that Job also exists in both worlds.
Despite the parallels, the differences in the world's setting are significant enough that I am not overly worried about this being that world. However, one thing does concern me—the main antagonist of Arifureta was a godlike being who treated the entire world as his personal playground. He could bend and rewrite the rules at will, like the world itself was nothing more than his toy.
The thought of something like that existing here—or worse, multiple gods with that kind of power—is terrifying. This world already feels too much like a game, which raises an even more unsettling possibility: what if there is an Admin? A Game Master? Someone—or something—controlling everything from the shadows? They would essentially be Gods then.
And if that's the case… then what am I? Just another player? Or worse, a mere NPC, a disposable pawn for their amusement?
I exhale slowly, pushing aside the spiraling thoughts for now. There is no use driving myself crazy over possibilities I can't confirm. But I make a mental note to stay on high alert for any clues—any hint, however small, that gods like that might exist in this world.
"Master… are you tempted to bid for her?" Anastasia asks softly, her cheeks still faintly pink.
"I definitely am," I admit with a smirk. "But not for the reason you are thinking."
She looks at me, dubiously.
"It is mainly because we only have one Roxanne," I explain. "If we ever need to split into multiple parties, someone else will have to take her role of scouting and warning the party members about the demons inside the labyrinths. Shea could be a good fit for that."
"Oh… that does make sense," she says, nodding thoughtfully. "Still, Master, please keep in mind that—Rabbitkins are really talentless. It could take her ages to get good at anything."
"I will keep that in mind," I reply. What I don't say is that, despite those disadvantages, the fact that she is a sexy, horny rabbit girl far outweighs any of her shortcomings.
We continue moving through the rooms, but unfortunately, most of them are quite average. There was one middle-aged woman with an Adventurer Job who was nice-looking. If I didn't have so many other options, I might have given her more thought—having an Adventurer in the party would definitely be useful. But in the end, she just wasn't pretty enough to make the cut.
I also notice that the corridor is getting more crowded. It must be getting close to the start of the auction.
"This one feels promising," I mutter, watching as a pair of Explorers exit the next room with satisfied smiles.
As soon as we step inside, we're greeted by a Level 39 Slave Merchant.
"Welcome, esteemed customers," he says with a refined tone. He is an older man, well-dressed and dignified in both attire and speech.
Most of the Slave Merchants dress well, but some stand out even more—especially those with impeccable etiquette that makes them seem like they come from high-class families. Alan and the old merchant who was showcasing Erina were good examples of that.
Simultaneously, a soft female voice greets us.
"Welcome."
A blonde woman standing in the center of the room bows deeply.
[Viviana
Warrior Level 5]
Anastasia and I return the greeting politely. The room is otherwise empty, and my eyes settle on the woman again—more specifically, on the two antlers protruding from her head.
"Our establishment is presenting a beautiful and powerful member of the rare Deerkin tribe today. Her name is Viviana," the old man announces, gesturing toward her.
"Greetings, I am Viviana, a Warrior of the Deerkin tribe," she says, bowing once more. As she rises, her long blonde hair shifts, a few strands falling forward. She elegantly tucks them behind her ear, revealing her delicate features.
I knew just from her deer horns that she must be a member of a race I have never seen before. Her antlers are light brown, resembling those of a deer—or rather, a reindeer. They extend from above her head, curving slightly forward. They are quite tall, easily longer than her face, and unlike the soft horns of the Oni or the Sheepkin, hers look more like rough tree branches—solid, but not meant for piercing.
Her long, blonde hair cascades down her back in soft waves, reaching her lower back. It's silky, though not as straight as Erina's, carrying a more natural, effortless beauty. Nestled within her hair, just before her horns, are two small deer-like ears—subtle but undeniably adorable.
Her fair face is undeniably beautiful. Unlike the younger girls I have seen before, she exudes a refined, mature elegance. That difference is understandable, given her age. But what truly draws me in are her eyes—light blue, almost lavender, shimmering with the serenity of a still lake. Paired with her gentle, red lips, they create an aura of grace and composure.
Her posture is impeccable—back straight, shoulders poised—radiating quiet confidence. Her tunic reveals just a subtle hint of cleavage, though it's clear that she carries herself with elegance rather than seduction. Despite her big assets, she is dressed quite modestly, ensuring her beauty remains refined rather than vulgar.
Even her white pants, though concealing her long legs, do little to diminish the impression of grace she exudes. I am quite sure that this beauty would look just as sexy and elegant with her clothes off.
There is something about her—an aura, a warmth—that reminds me of the soft morning sunlight. Gentle, yet undeniably radiant.
And yet… the more I look at her, the more a strange sense of familiarity gnaws at me. I feel like I know her from somewhere. But from where?
"Viviana has trained diligently in the labyrinths as a Warrior. She will be a strong and reliable member should your party wish to brave the dangers in the Labyrinth," the old man announces proudly.
"I will do my utmost as a Warrior and work hard to one day become a Knight who can protect my Master," Viviana adds, her calm gaze meeting mine with quiet determination.
A Knight? That word, coupled with her name, her refined demeanor, and her overall appearance, stirs something deep in my memory. I know this character—I must have seen her. But no matter how hard I try, I can't quite place her.
Damn it.
I had feared this might happen. That I would encounter someone from another fictional work and fail to recognize them due to my incomplete knowledge. After all, I couldn't have consumed every story out there, and even among those I had, not everything stuck with me—especially the more obscure ones, which were not mainstream.
Looks like Viviana falls into that category.
***
[Whitewings has used his points to add waifu, Viviana from Arknights into this story!]
Thank you for your support!