Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are Are So Dangerous! [BL]-Chapter 210: The Perfect Collar

Unlike the collar, branding meant pressing searing hot metal against the skin.

There was no way to avoid the pain.

Nothing he could do would change that.

The only thing he could do was make sure he did it quickly and cleanly, minimizing how long the pain lasted.

As Rocco’s face paled, likely from dwelling on that thought, Ragar tilted his head in mild confusion.

Then, as if sensing Rocco’s worries, he suddenly pulled him into a tight hug and gave him a soft, cheerful smile.

"Master, any pain you give me is a reward. If it means I can truly become part of your family, then pain is nothing more than a minor step in the process."

He said it with such pure, genuine conviction that Rocco felt something tighten in his chest.

Unable to resist, he clung to Ragar in return, rubbing his face against the beastman’s strong chest.

...

"Wow! Which one should we get? I think this red one is super cute! It looks so pet-like and adorable!"

"Georgio! This isn’t the kind of decision you make all excited like that! Read the room, you idiot!"

The day after Rocco and Ragar had their conversation about the collar and branding—essentially, overwriting the previous enslavement contract—Rocco had summoned a merchant to his estate to purchase the collar.

Ragar, too, was carefully inspecting the selection with a serious expression.

Since this was an important decision, Rocco had to make sure they picked the right one.

It had to be something neither ugly nor too pet-like.

It needed to be both cute and cool.

He and Ragar were deep in thought when Georgio, their resident master of bad timing, barged in.

He was grinning ear to ear, as cheerful as ever.

Normally, that was a good thing... but right now, the mood wasn’t exactly suited for his usual antics.

"Wait, isn’t that the kind of collar for dogs? Ragar’s not a puppy! He’s a lion!"

"But, but! Don’t you think it’d be super cute if a huge, muscular beastman was wearing something this adorable? It’d be, like, the ultimate gap moe! So charming!"

"Charming...? M-Mmm..."

Was that true?

Would this kind of collar actually be... charming?

Rocco had never had much sense for fashion or aesthetics, so he couldn’t say for sure.

To him, it just looked like a regular pet collar.

However, maybe to people with better taste, it really was charming...?

"Master. I don’t like it."

"Got it! That one’s out!"

Just as Rocco was debating what to do, Ragar murmured flatly near his ear.

That settled it.

If Ragar himself said he didn’t like it, then obviously, it was out of the question.

No need to think twice.

Without hesitation, Rocco tossed the red collar aside.

"Hmm... In that case, what should we do? Do you have any preferences, Ragar? Like a specific color or type of gemstone?"

As he asked, Rocco picked up various collars, inspecting them one by one.

Ragar, who had been quietly scanning the selection without touching anything, reacted to the question with a soft murmur.

"...Gemstone..."

That response caught Rocco’s attention.

Oh?

His eyes blinked in surprise.

He hadn’t expected Ragar—practical, no-frills Ragar—to react to something like gemstones.

He had thought maybe Ragar would care about the color, but this was unexpected.

Collars for beastman slaves were always embedded with a gemstone, which served as the core material for the subjugation contract.

There were no strict requirements for the type of gemstone used.

Even low-purity stones with no real monetary value could serve the purpose. freewёbnoνel.com

Because of that, most slave traders opted for cheap, mass-produced stones to keep costs down.

But Rocco was different!

Of course, the collar he picked for Ragar would be embedded with the finest gemstone available.

He had already negotiated with his father, asking for money to afford it.

His father had agreed without a second thought, which, to be honest, worried Rocco a little.

No matter how much he doted on his son, should he really be approving financial requests that easily...?

"Is there a gemstone you like? Don’t hold back—tell me your favorite one."

It was rare for Ragar to ever voice his own preferences.

The idea that he might actually get to hear one of Ragar’s personal opinions excited Rocco.

He looked up at the beastman with eager anticipation.

Ragar, on the other hand, hesitated for a moment, shifting uncomfortably before finally answering in a small voice.

"...Amethyst. Specifically, the deepest shade possible... something close to black, if possible."

Whoa, that was more specific than expected.

So Ragar liked amethysts?

And out of all possible colors, he preferred the deepest, almost-black hue?

Rocco was thrilled to learn more about Ragar’s tastes, but at the same time, the oddly precise request made him a little curious.

Still, this was a rare opportunity to fulfill one of Ragar’s personal wishes.

No way was he going to waste it!

Rocco turned to the merchant who are waiting in the corner of the room and relayed Ragar’s request in full detail.

The merchant listened attentively, then, without hesitation, reached behind him toward a stack of boxes.

He carefully pulled out one in particular, handling it with an air of importance.

From within, he produced a case that radiated an almost imposing presence.

The lid popped open, and Rocco leaned in with Ragar to peek inside.

The moment he laid eyes on the collar inside, his face lit up with excitement.

"Ohh! This is it! This design is perfect for what Ragar wanted!"

He picked up the collar and held it up for Ragar to see.

Ragar’s eyes widened, and almost immediately, he nodded with a pleased expression.

"This one, please."

"Ah! I see, I see! Then it’s decided! We’re buying this one!"

Seeing Ragar smiling so happily made Rocco grin from ear to ear.

Unable to contain his excitement, he bounced on his feet a few times.

After informing the merchant of his purchase and paying the required amount, Rocco had one of the servants escort the merchant out.