Episode 110
"Greetings, Lord Frey. Thank you for visiting our slave market."
"...I see."
Only after the guide whom the guard captain had called arrived and spoke in a friendly voice did I come to my senses and reply in a low voice.
"However, who might the person beside you be..."
"I'll vouch for them."
"...Understood."
Watching the guide bow their head and slowly walk ahead, I quietly began walking forward together with Ferloche.
'...Ferloche is hiding something.'
In the silence that soon followed, I quietly began thinking about Ferloche.
'And something very important at that.'
The fact that she knows about the existence of the 'Demon God,' the fact that she occasionally has unsettling eyes, and... even memories of the past.
Perhaps she might be a quite important 'key.'
That's why I actually want to secretly infiltrate her with Kania's black magic while she's sleeping, but since she's a saintess, she resists Kania's black magic, so there's nothing I can do.
Therefore, once Serena returns to the academy, I should consult with her about Ferloche.
"Yes, first over here are the demi-human races from the Western Continent."
"...Hmm."
As I walked quietly thinking such thoughts, the guide pointed to the iron bars on the right and began explaining.
"Unlike the Southern Continent where the Sunrise Empire is located, the Western Continent is inhabited by 'demi-human races' different from humans. Elves, beast-kin, dragon-kin, and so on... the creatures that appear in mythology."
"So, is this a place where demi-humans are imprisoned?"
"That's correct. Of course, the sense of conquest from being able to command the noble creatures of mythology as slaves is not easily obtained, so the prices are very high."
As the guide spoke, he flicked his hand, and the dark iron cage began to glow with light.
"This is the elf corner! Would you like to purchase one? For VIPs like Lord Frey, we also accept advance reservations..."
"I'll pass."
When I quickly expressed my refusal, the guide made a regretful expression and clicked his tongue.
"Well... these days, the popularity of elf slaves has suddenly dropped, and it's quite worrying. I wonder if some baseless rumors are spreading around."
"Enough, next corner."
Before being suspected, I need to examine as many areas as possible and determine if anything has changed from the previous iteration.
So when I urged the guide, he let out a deep sigh and pointed to the left.
"Over there are the beast-kin. Cat-kin, rabbit-kin, tiger-kin, and so on... honestly, except for having animal ears, they're not much different from humans, so they're quite popular."
"Hmm."
Looking where he pointed, I could see cat-kin beast-kin wearing tattered clothes with dead eyes.
Seeing the whip marks and wounds all over their bodies, it seems they're being treated quite roughly.
"They're all women?"
"There are male beast-kin as well. However, we're showing them to you according to gender."
"But is it acceptable to treat the merchandise so roughly?"
Seeing what appeared to be a mother and daughter cat-kin embracing each other in a wretched state, I frowned and asked a question.
"No problem at all. Since they were whipped with a magic whip anyway, it will disappear in a few days. Only momentary pain remains."
"Hmm..."
As I made an unpleasant expression at those words, the guide led me forward and said.
"And here... are the highly anticipated dragon-kin! It was really difficult to obtain them!"
"They're all hatchlings?"
"That's correct. Adults can absolutely not be used as slaves. They're incredibly strong, you know."
"Was forced polymorph applied?"
"As expected, you're an expert in this field. There's magic cast on the shackles and necklaces hanging there. It will be maintained until they become adults."
The guide who said that led me and Ferloche downward and spoke.
"The most valuable merchandise ends here... The floor below consists of mixed breeds and ordinary people. Would you like to look around?"
"Yes. I'll be going through this entire place today."
"Understood. Then..."
"Please, isn't there something that can be done?"
I had come down to the lower floor together with the guide who had a delighted expression thinking he had snagged a sucker, when suddenly a clear, ringing voice began to be heard from somewhere.
"This is problematic..."
"Please! I beg you!!"
It seems I need to check what's going on.
.
"We merely followed the rules."
"Rules?"
"Yes, the rule that the person who pays more money takes the slave."
In the dark corridor, someone wearing a sky-blue robe was speaking to the staff in front of them with a trembling voice.
"If you don't purchase these slaves at a price higher than the highest bid, we absolutely cannot give them to you..."
"H-how much is the highest bid! I'll purchase them at a higher price!"
"That would be..."
When the robed woman pointed at the slaves and shouted, the staff quietly checked the invoice and opened their mouth.
".....!"
And hearing the amount, the woman froze right there on the spot.
"It seems those slaves really caught your fancy. To purchase them at the same price as the slaves on the top floor."
"Grr..."
When the woman quietly ground her teeth at those words, the staff patted her shoulder and said.
"Please give up now. If you keep interfering like this... we also have our ways."
"...Looking around is allowed, right?"
"As much as you want."
The staff who readily permitted viewing to the woman with her head bowed low stepped slightly aside and then muttered in an annoyed voice.
"Really, how on earth did a beggar with no money like that receive VIP status..."
The woman who was watching the staff began cautiously approaching the slaves inside the iron bars.
"It's me, children."
Soon she spoke with a smile, but the slaves trapped inside merely lowered their heads with dead eyes.
- Thud! Thud!
"...Ah."
The woman who was puzzled by that sight realized only after tapping around the iron bars that a transparent wall blocking sight and sound, which hadn't been there until yesterday, had been installed.
"...Don't worry too much, the operation is proceeding as planned."
The woman who had been standing blankly for a while watching the slaves inside began muttering quietly in a low voice.
"As I said last time, I placed an escape spell on the cabinet. If you use that cabinet to escape before the market opens, you can quietly return to the kingdom without anyone knowing..."
"How much are these slaves?"
"Huh?"
The woman who had been talking to herself let out a flustered scream when suddenly someone appeared beside her.
"Who... who are you?"
"There's a visitor's pass here."
The staff who approached the man suddenly walking toward the iron bars with suspicious eyes looked at the visitor's pass he held out and nodded, asking.
"I've confirmed it. How can I help you?"
"Don't you know me?"
"What?"
"I'm asking if you don't know me."
But when the man said something absurd, the staff who had been scratching their head for a moment quietly bowed and answered.
"I apologize. I'm from the Eastern Continent... Judging by your attire, you seem to be a noble scion from the Southern or Western Continent, but I don't know the details."
"I see."
The man who finished speaking quietly nodded and then opened his mouth.
"I'll reserve all these slaves."
"What?"
"Didn't you say so? That the one who pays more money takes the slaves."
Saying that, the man handed a scroll with a magic circle drawn on it from his bosom.
"So, add me to the invoice."
"...Ah, understood."
Though he didn't know who the person in front of him was, the staff realized the value of the pile of gold spread before him the moment he placed his hand on the scroll.
So the staff who immediately changed his attitude began fawning over the man in front of him.
"Then, I will transfer the ownership of the slaves to you. Here is the slave contract with magic cast on it."
The man who received the slave contract smiled and spoke to the staff.
"I'll come to take them all on the day the market opens, so until then, treat them in a manner befitting the money I paid. Otherwise, you'd better be prepared."
"Ah, understood!"
The man who threatened the staff smiled with satisfaction and spoke to the guide who had been beside him until then.
"Well then, continue guiding me."
"Ah, right now it's guide shift change, you see. Please just look around here for a moment. Another guide will come soon."
The man who nodded at those words began staring intently at the slaves he had just purchased.
"Um, excuse me."
"Hmm?"
The woman who had been watching him with an anxious expression began cautiously speaking.
"Are you planning to buy these slaves?"
"That's right, but."
"W-well. Please talk with me for a moment."
Saying that, the woman quietly removed her robe.
"I'll introduce myself properly. I am..."
"I know who you are."
"What?"
"You're the princess of the Cloud Kingdom."
At those words, the eyes of the woman with sky-blue hair and eyes began to waver.
"Y-you are..."
"Frey Raon Starlight. In this operation, I took charge of the purchase."
"Ah..."
Frey who introduced himself to her raised the corner of his mouth and said.
"Anyway, I purchased the slaves, so don't worry."
"Th-thank yo..."
"Thank you for what?"
"For saving the royals of our kingdom..."
As Aishi spoke with a trembling expression, Frey began speaking with a shameless expression.
"Enough with that talk, now shall we hear what the Cloud Kingdom can do for me?"
"......You, surely?"
When Aishi looked at Frey with an incredulous expression, he smiled and said.
"Why the surprise? We're both in the position of serving the Demon King, after all."
"I, I never served him! I was just threatened!"
"I see. But if the public learns the true identity of the Cloud Kingdom's royals, will that excuse work?"
Frey who said that pointed to the memo written on the iron bars.
- Demon Race -
"...The Cloud Kingdom's royals are half human and half demon race."
"Guh."
"I don't know how your transformations ended up being dispelled and you ended up as merchandise... but what's important is that I know their identity that no one else knows, and your life and the kingdom's life are in my hands."
Frey who said that patted Aishi's shoulder and said.
"So, let's see each other often from now on. Princess."
"Grr."
Aishi who ground her teeth looking at such Frey couldn't continue speaking and quietly hung her head.
"Lord Frey, I will guide you from now on."
"A woman? I like that. Do you have time after work?"
Frey who didn't give Aishi a single glance began walking away, hitting on the female guide who had newly come to him.
"See that? What did I tell you? The Empire can't be trusted."
"...Shut up."
Aishi who had been quietly lowering her head for a while cursed in annoyance when ruby-colored energy surged from her body and a soft voice was heard.
"Aishi. Just surrender to me and receive my power. Then, saving your family would be nothing..."
"I don't need your power. I've already made an escape plan."
"The cabinet that can only be entered but not exited?"
"With a little more effort, I can make it two-way."
Aishi who was answering without yielding to the voice from within placed her hand on her chest and began creating something.
"...The freezing heart, a curse where the heart slowly freezes. It's also a curse I placed on you."
"I said shut up."
"Do you intend to transfer that to someone? True, if you don't transfer it, you'll die within a few years."
"It's just a threat for emergencies. If things go well, I'll take it back."
Aisha who said that slowly began pulling out an ice bird from her chest.
"This curse is one that I can take back whenever I want."
"That curse is one that once transferred, can never be taken back."
"Nonsense."
Aishi who was about to send the bird flying began speaking in a cold voice to the voice from within.
"Everything you've said since I was young has been lies. Because of the things I did trusting you, how much I've regretted."
"This time it's true..."
"I don't know if you're really the Demon King, an evil spirit, or just my delusion... but I won't be played by you anymore."
With those words, Aishi smiled coldly and sent the bird in her hand flying.
"Frey Raon Starlight, you were indeed a villain as the rumors said."
From her inner self saying those words, endless laughter was being heard.
.
- CRACK!!
"Hmm?"
Frey who was walking through the corridor with the guide and Ferloche turned his head with sharp eyes at the sound of something breaking behind him.
"...What was that?"
However, there was nothing behind him.
".....?"
There was only Ferloche with her arm stretched out.
"What are you doing?"
"I got a cramp in my arm! Please help me!"
"...Sigh."
Frey who was looking at Ferloche with a puzzled expression sighed and began walking forward again as she spoke while trembling.
"Help me, Frey! We're partners! Please massage my arm!"
Ferloche who had been urgently shouting at Frey smiled as he walked away and slowly opened her hand.
- Swish...
Soon she looked at her hand and muttered with a cold smile, not the innocent smile he usually wore.
"...I protected him."
From her hand, an ice bird that had been shattered to pieces from being gripped with the protection of the sun god was slowly flowing down.