Episode 129
I am a fox tribe beastkin who lived in a mountain valley village in the Eastern Continent.
The youngest daughter of the tribal chief, the representative of the fox tribe beastkin, and a brave warrior.
'...Cold.'
But now I'm imprisoned in a cold and chilling prison.
"Now, this is the beastkin corner! One of the most popular corners in our market!"
Judging from the humans' words, it seems I've been captured and brought to a slave market. And not just any slave market, but one in the Southern Continent, far away from my hometown.
"Haa..."
Where exactly did things go wrong?
Was wanting freedom really such a mistake?
"What are they? Fox beastkin?"
"Oh my, how cute. Look at those perked-up ears."
As I curled up in thought, noisy sounds came from around me.
"...Leave it, those things are incredibly expensive."
"But they're just too cute..."
Opening my eyes slightly, I saw people in strange clothes looking at me with curious eyes.
"Grr..."
"Look at it baring its teeth!"
"Wow... really adorable."
Being treated like a spectacle felt so unpleasant that I bared my teeth to threaten them, but they only looked at me with even more curiosity.
To show my full strength yet fail to frighten the opponent— as a proud fox tribe warrior, I feel ashamed.
"Human, get lost."
Finally unable to bear it, I grabbed the bars and spat out curses.
"It talks too? Amazing."
"Oppa, buy me one of those!"
"No way, over budget. Such young and beautiful beastkin are too expensive. Plus it's from the Eastern Continent, not the Western, so there's a premium..."
They still only treated me as merchandise.
- Crack!!
"...Keuk!"
While I was indignant at that fact, a sharp whip flew at me.
Inside this iron cage, the bars are so solid, yet why can't it block a whip coming from outside?
Is this what the adults called dao arts?
"Quiet down and mix with your friends over there."
The man holding the whip looks at me with pathetic eyes.
"You brazen little brat."
"Ugh..."
I could have just torn apart such insolent bastard with my teeth...
'It's heavy...'
Ever since I wrapped this strange bracelet around my arm, my body won't gather any strength.
It looks like just a thin, ordinary bracelet, so why does it make me so weak?
Could this also be dao arts?
"You little brat, still...!"
As I was thinking that, he raised the whip above his head again.
"Hiick..."
"That's right, stay holed up in there until a suitable master appears for you."
A whip is nothing to fear.
I, who was a candidate for the next warrior chief of the great fox tribe beastkin, would never retreat just because it hurts from a whip wielded by a mere human.
"Kyuing..."
"Sister, I'm cold... hungry..."
"Shh, be quiet...!"
The reason I retreated was because I was worried about the fox tribe children behind me getting hurt.
If there had been no one behind me, I would have resisted until the end, even if my body broke.
...Really.
"Sister with the weird tail, lend me your tail!"
"...I said be quiet!"
As I quietly blended into the group and curled up, one scrawny little kid pointed at my tail and spoke.
For the past few days, this annoying kid has been pestering me to lend my tail even though we're not close.
By the way, what's so strange about my fluffy and pretty tail?
Well, looking around, everyone does have different tail shapes than me.
Since I'm the only fox beastkin from the Eastern Continent, it's understandable they'd think it's strange...
"Fluffy~"
"Mm."
The kid who was looking at my tail with curiosity laid down using my tail as a pillow.
'...What an idiot.'
While the other children are squatting and trembling with fear and terror, I don't know why this one is so carefree.
Does it have confidence in its own skills? No, that's not it. Just from what happened earlier, there's no one here stronger than me.
Is it just that even among children, it's too young to properly understand its current situation?
"S-sorry! My sibling is still immature..."
I was looking at the kid lying on my tail with a slightly annoyed expression when her older sister apologized to me.
"...It's fine."
"Pardon?"
"I'll lend it. The tail."
To her, I replied in my still clumsy common tongue. She's probably from the Western Continent, so she should understand this much.
"Th-thank you..."
"Never mind."
Seeing the kid's sister thanking me, it seems she understood.
Well, of course she should thank me for lending my precious tail. Honestly, I would have been very angry if she hadn't.
"Hmm? What is that?"
As I was watching the kid snoring away while lying on my tail, another sound came from outside the iron bars.
"Ah, yes! That's a fox beastkin! They inhabit mountain valleys throughout the Western Continent and the Eastern Continent, characterized by their distinctive beauty, beautiful tails, and agile movements..."
"How much?"
"Ah, yes! For the detailed price, if you look at this invoice here..."
Wondering what was happening, I turned my head and saw a potbellied noble looking at us with covetous eyes.
"Ugh..."
The others around me started trembling in fear.
Well, getting taken away from here would be the end.
Unlike the Eastern Continent where our tribe was well cared for and worshipped, and the Western Continent which is a paradise for beastkins, this place is no different from hell.
"N-no...!"
"Don't...!"
Look. Even in the iron cage right next to us, a young tiger tribe child is being sold off cheaply.
Can you hear the voice of a mother tiger tribe beastkin who had nothing but her child, begging them to buy her?
"Please, buy me too!! I beg you!! I'll do anything!!"
"...A low-quality product with not even one eye, acting above its station."
And can you see the slave merchant mercilessly kicking her for having no product value?
"Nooooo! Let gooool!"
"Rather... kill me..."
"Please... don't hit..."
And do they not hear the screams and groans filling this cursed space where such things happen like daily routine?
"If you don't shut your mouth and go to the waiting room, I'll buy your companion and kill them right before your eyes."
"It's okay. In a few days, those feelings will disappear, and you'll be underneath me wailing."
"Tsk, the product got scratched. I told you to do it moderately?"
Are you truly humans?
We beastkins who look down on and ignore you, saying you're not humans, calling yourselves humans while making us slaves—you're not humans, but demons, aren't you?
"There, I'll take that one."
The potbellied noble who was looking at us reached out his hand toward me.
No, to be precise, he pointed at the little kid who was lying on my tail.
"Yes, you just need to sign here. Shall I send it to the waiting room? Or will you drag it around?"
"...The latter would be more entertaining."
"As you command."
With one piece of paper and one stroke of a pen, the identity of that kid who was sleeping soundly, more innocent than me who didn't know the world, was determined.
As a 'slave,' which would surely be prohibited in the Southern Continent.
"You've done the minor inspections, I assume?"
"Yes, of course. Never been sick once, never been beaten once, completely pure..."
I was watching the two who continued their transaction calmly after committing such atrocious acts.
'No more...'
I rummaged through my clothes quietly and muttered to myself.
'I can't take anymore.'
I already had a plausible plan prepared.
The bracelet with some kind of dao arts or sorcery was a bit concerning, but isn't there a saying that if you enter a tiger's den but keep your wits about you, you'll survive?
If I could just press the small knife I had secretly hidden against that fat man's neck.
If I could create a small opening that way.
Wouldn't there be at least a little hope?
'At least it's better than becoming sex slaves for bastards like that.'
I am a proud fox tribe member. Rather than becoming a slave to humans, I'd rather die fighting.
And who knows? Maybe I could create an escape opportunity for the ones behind me.
I'm not particularly fond of helping others, but since I'm risking my life anyway, once should be fine.
It's definitely not because I've grown attached to them.
"Human! Take me instead of that kid...!"
With that thought, I was about to rush toward the iron bars and shout.
"I'll purchase all the beastkins here."
"...Huh?"
But hearing the words spoken by a man who suddenly walked up from the adjacent cage area, I froze.
"Customer? What do you mean by..."
"Including the beastkin that man was just purchasing."
What is this situation?
What's happening?
"Hey, you. What is this supposed to be... heek."
"...I merely followed the rules. Do you have a problem with that?"
"N-no! Hehe. By the way, it's been a while? I hope you've been well..."
The potbellied noble who was about to protest with an angry expression is now bowing his head to the silver-haired boy who declared he'd buy all of us.
Judging by how he declared to buy everyone without hesitation and how the potbellied man is groveling, he must be a noble of quite high rank.
'...This actually works out better.'
At first I was flustered, but thinking about it, this is an opportunity.
If I can just take that sickly-looking boy who looks like he could collapse at any moment as a hostage, the hostage plan might actually succeed.
"Hey, boy! Take me..."
"So, how will you handle the slaves...?"
"Just drag that one I pointed out around. Send the rest to the waiting room."
"Understood!"
I was about to shout at the boy with that judgment, but he pointed at me.
- Creak...
"Tsk tsk, you'd have been better off with the person from earlier."
Listening to the jailer's pitiful voice as he opened the prison door with his tongue clicking, I stood before him.
".........."
For now, whatever he does to me, I have to endure here.
That's the only way I'll get a chance to escape.
And a chance to create an 'opening' will also come.
Suppressing my temper and acting as obedient as possible...
"Cute, you."
"Grr..."
"Hah?"
I ended up showing my teeth without realizing it.
This isn't the Eastern Continent where beastkins are worshipped as spiritual beings.
The person putting a collar around my neck isn't the villagers who would bow and beg while bringing me food whenever I showed my teeth.
"Good, that's obedient."
"...Mm."
And so, with a collar around my neck, I moved my steps while being pet on the head like a dog.
"Time to show off to my friends."
'...Should I kill him.'
Together with a man who would be better off as a corpse than a hostage.
.
At that time when the fox beastkin was harboring such terrifying thoughts.
'Everyone, did you successfully infiltrate?'
Frey, who had purchased her and started dragging her along, asked through a pre-prepared telepathic magic tool.
- This is Clana. I've infiltrated the first floor with my close aides and some of the imperial knight order.
- This is Irina. I found the cabinet you mentioned. The magic doesn't seem fully completed yet... so I just need to complete this now?
- This is Kania... Young master, who is that woman? Don't tell me she's another sub-heroine...
Then, several voices flowed into his mind simultaneously.
- That's correct, Lord Frey.
Frey, who closed his eyes for a moment to distinguish those voices.
- This is Demirkan. I've successfully infiltrated leading the Demon King's army battle executives.
"Good, then..."
When the last low voice was heard, he spoke with a smile of conviction.
"Everyone, begin."
At those words, the curtain rose on the slave market liberation quest.