Operator John

Next day, the masters came and took us to the mine. I was already too much tired from last day still I had to mine for my full quota.

The vermilion light that the Guide Anufa showered over the land has already ended. The sky was back to being dark and filled with multitude of colorful stars. Under the dim light of the stars I walked back to the stable after finishing my quota.

One thing I noticed today that after appointing the stats, my efficiency of mining slightly increased! I was able to finish my work earlier than before. If just five stat points were this efficient, I wondered how efficient would it be once I leveled up.

'The problem is, I don't know how to level up! Would it be just like the games I played on Earth? Would I have to kill to gain EXP or FP in this case? Would I also receive skills and stat points? How much would I receive from one level and how much would I have to kill in order to level up?'

I had so many questions but I would only be able to talk to Delta after three weeks! After two and a half weeks, I was already going to perform a dangerous stunt. Alas, Delta would not be there to help me. I was on my own.

How should I even escape? Since I was on my own, I needed more assets to increase my probability of survival.

'There are two things necessary for the plan. The first is to leave from the side of the knights inconspicuously and the second was to enter the forest and survive. Although the former is the first step, the latter part is what's most important. I've already stored enough water in my inventory to last at least for a month. The second priority would be food then some clothing and shelter materials.

'I'll also have to think about learning and storing a weapon. From what I'm noticing, this world has magical monsters. I'll also have to follow some kind of light to enter the human civilization which I hope, proves to be a safe haven! I'll think about that after escaping. My only priority is to stay alive.'

I put my monologue aside and entered inside the stable. The stable was not empty, there were some slaves still resting. It was around 7 o'clock according to Earth's timing. Dinner was at 9 o'clock. If you were even a single second late, your portion would be snatched.

Actually, the slavery in this world was somewhat better than what the history of Earth tells us. Maybe it was because this whole village was a slave village. Or maybe it was because women faced most of the brunt from the superiors.

'If I ever become strong enough, I will come back to save this village. Not because of the Princess or because I've gotten attached to the village, but to lower this guilt I'm feeling in my heart. Humans at least deserve to be treated like humans!'

Putting my thoughts aside, I laid down to rest. I was planning to sleep for the day and then go to have my dinner. Rest is what I needed most right now. I closed my eyes and without any delay, I went into a deep dreamless sleep.

***

"It's been a decade since a named slave received a punishment to die from Aastra." John said to me while staring blankly at the dark sky.

John was the muscular guy who slapped me when I just reincarnated into this world. I still held a grudge against him but here we were, talking like old school buddies.

After waking up, I washed my face and moved towards the dining area. While I was having my dinner silently sitting on a rock, I looked at old James. He looked like he was satisfied and maybe even the most joyful he has ever been! Or maybe it was just my imagination.

Although James doesn't know that the knights have already approached me and have declared my death sentence, he still was ignoring me like he never knew me. Instead of being angry on him, I was more annoyed by the fact that how big of a fool I was to trust a horny slave just because he looked mature!

As I was contemplating on my mistakes, John entered the dining area and talking like an old friend, sat beside me.

I listened to what he had to say and replied, "So the news is already spreading like fire, huh!"

"For now, it has only spread up to the operators." John started to talk more comfortably. Maybe he pitied me? I did not know. "Yeah, your situation is pretty rare so it will spread faster than most of the news. The slaves will also come to know of it pretty soon. I thought you were mature enough Alex and yet you talked about escaping the village so openly and brazenly!"

"I made a mistake and I'm already paying for it. My resentment got the best of me." I replied rather quickly before he could get suspicious that I wasn't actually Alex.

John then looked towards me and said, "I was ordered by the Head to look out for you. He also told me to fulfill one small wish for you as I am the operator of your group." He then looked back at the stars and said, "Just make sure to ask for something I can actually fulfill!"

I looked at the last bite of the komita remaining in my plate and said, "When should I ask for the wish?"

Without turning his head, John replied, "Last day of week thirty two."

'So, it is two weeks from now huh!' I thought to myself. Today was the first day of week thirty one.

I already knew what I wanted to ask. However, if even that was a big wish, then this 'final wish' would be useless for me.

After finishing my food, I drank some water from the cup before asking, "I always wanted to ask you John, why do others called you an 'operator' and not 'master'?"

Time was limited; I might as well gather some knowledge rather than wasting it. I thought that calming my curiosity might help me calm down a bit.

"Is it your last wish? You want to know the knowledge about the hierarchy of the village?"

"If you don't want to tell then it's fine. I just wanted to kill some time anyways. Even a dead man can at least deserve some entertainment!"

"Relax, I was just joking!"

'I swear to God he was so serious right now! Muscular men should never joke with a serious tone; it scares the shit out of people like me!'

I harpooned over John in my head before John started describing about the hierarchy of the village.

"Our village, Bulios, is named after the first lord who established the village. The rule of succession is that the successor would be chosen by the current Lord from his children. The Lord would choose the top breeders to bear his children and after giving birth, the fate of the woman resided in his hands. The Lord stands above all and is the ruler of the village.

"After the Lord, come his children. There are currently eleven princes and two princesses. The lord and his children live in the palace in the Northern region of the village which is heavily guarded by the knight and guards. The twenty one nobles control the nights and the guards. All these three positions together constitute 'The Nobility'.

"Below The Nobility comes 'The Managers' who manage the slaves and look over the working of the village. The Managers are divided into three positions, The Heads, The Operators and The Masters. The Heads manage and appoint tasks to six operators each. Each Operator is appointed a group of slaves which he has to manage. Each group has two to five managers who follow the commands of the Operator and see that the slaves are working properly.

"The lowest position is occupied by slaves. First are the named slaves, like you. Then comes the utility slaves who were never given a name but since they have a talent or have grown a skill beneficial for the village, they are valued more than unnamed slaves. At the bottom are the unnamed slaves.

"The old man you worked for was a utility slave and I was a named slave. However, due to luck and boot-licking, I was able to reach the highest position a slave can reach. If you have learned how to grow starlight fruits, by the time you would be forty, you would have reached the same position as me. Alas, you will now never reach forty in this life."

'Surprisingly enough, the hierarchy in this place is well established!' I was surprised by how well designed the system was for a secluded slave village!

"Uff!"

After John finished his speech about the class system of the village, he got up while a heavy breath escaped from his mouth. As he stood erect, he said, "Anything more you want to ask? If not, then I shall take my leave. I also have to report what we just talked about to the Head."