I hate the use of the word slave, is servant that hard to use instead

Yes

ヾ(☆▽☆)

I’m thinking that since “slave” implies that he can’t disobey (lmao) and can’t leave the tl uses that instead of servant.

A servant is paid with a salary
A slave is not paid and can be bought from someone else. It's like ML was bought from his parents
Not saying slave is not a bad word though

An indentured servant then. The classmate bought his parents debt, they didn’t sell their son.