I blended in but didn’t immediately participate in the auction.
I calmly focused on gathering information first. In the first venue, I held my breath in the back, observing the flow of the auction. I needed to confirm if there were any discrepancies with the information I already possessed.
However, throughout that time, the same discomfort I felt when I saw the slave in the labyrinth continued to accumulate within me. This time, though, I resolved to be rational and control myself. Logically, I selected only what was necessary for me and stored only the information in my mind.
To be cautious, I didn’t buy any slaves at the first venue. Of course, I had intended to intervene if there were any exceptional slaves, but they were all just average. Apparently, there were different types of slave markets, and this first one was clean and geared towards beginners. Therefore, special slaves with outstanding qualities wouldn’t appear here. Those were said to be offered in places with a darker, more hidden nature within the slave markets.
By the way, all of the information I gathered was the result of eavesdropping on the casual conversations of participants in the venue using the magic skill 《Dimension》. It was quite a difficult feat, but I managed to succeed by consuming a considerable amount of MP. Among that information was also the location and time of a special slave market that was scheduled to open later.
Along the way, many ruffians tried to pick a fight with me, a young man, but I made sure they lost consciousness without anyone noticing. Many people at the venue were accompanied by guards, and as someone participating alone, I stood out a little due to my youthful appearance.
While trying my best to remain inconspicuous, I moved from market to market. This was no different from delving into the depths of this world.
Gradually, the quality of the slave markets shifted from general to illicit. The prices of slaves increased, and slaves who were not mere victims of war began to appear on the stage. There were ladies who had likely been kidnapped and rare beastfolk. There were also young children not seen in the general slave markets, and individuals with peculiar constitutions whose skin and hair pigmentation had faded. They were varied.
A dizzying sensation washed over me, assaulted by the primitive heat of the crowd. I had known, and I had been prepared. Yet, the prediction in my head and the actual experience differed. I didn’t consider myself an innocent person. I had come here with the resolve to accept the culture of slavery. Even so, I couldn’t adapt to this environment.
The smell of drugs clung to my nostrils, mingled with the various body odors of humans. The vulgar laughter of the wealthy individuals dominating this space echoed around me. To top it all off, there were slaves on the stage with tragic eyes. I sat in a corner of the slave market, my expression hidden, and continued to watch.
Most of all, the condition of the slaves wore me down. My “Display” conveyed this truthfully and mercilessly. My face naturally contorted.
A slave auction held late at night, solely for the wealthy. Such an event could not possibly have a good purpose. Most customers were looking for slaves to use until they were worn out. While my heart was being chipped away, I continued to assess the talents of the slaves. I deliberately avoided recognizing their names, viewing their levels, statuses, and skills as if performing a task. I absolutely did not look at their names. I believed that if I didn’t do so thoroughly, I would become emotionally invested.
Then, a new slave appeared on stage, and the man acting as the MC raised his voice loudly, resonating throughout the venue. “The next lot. I will explain slaves numbered five through ten—” I didn’t register the MC’s words, only continuing to “gaze.”
Number five, statuses were all low, skills were ordinary. Number six, statuses were average, skills were nonexistent. Number seven, the level and statuses were high, however, skills were nonexistent. Number eight, the balance of statuses was good, and there were four skills. However, there was a defect in their condition. Number nine, statuses and skills were poor, and their condition was… — “…Let’s stop.”
I stopped myself. I intended to approach this with considerable resolve, but it was still not enough. I could maintain myself in the less intense slave markets. However, I wouldn’t be able to remain calm enough to search for my objective in this slave market.
The adults bidding on slaves with laughter, without any resistance. I felt I was no different from these wealthy individuals. Once I had that thought, I could no longer continue watching the slaves. While I was disheartened, the MC, wearing a mask, continued to introduce the slave merchandise one after another. Since it was an auction, the slaves were quickly given prices.
I started to imagine what would happen to the slaves who were bought. I wondered what purpose the stout man who had just bought the red-haired girl had in mind. My habit of observing people led me to do so subconsciously. It would be better if they were bought as servants or for labor. However, there were no decent people among the customers who bought slaves here. Depending on the customer’s tastes, they might lose parts of their bodies. If they had a niche perversion, it would be the worst. They would be dead by tomorrow.
I felt a sense of gloom. These were humans. Humans just like me. This likely wasn’t just because it was another world. In my original world, humans must have been doing similar things. There are countless dead spaces in the world. It was just that this time, due to the foul play of magic skill 《Dimension》, I had unfortunately stumbled upon one.
I didn’t want to see any more. “…Let’s go home.” It was a bitter experience, but it was also educational. That would be fine for now. I had gained something. Telling myself this, I slowly began to stand up—
“Hm, Older Brother. Are you leaving already?”
Someone spoke to me. Perhaps it was because I suddenly stood up. I, who was already conspicuous due to my youthful appearance, had caught the eye of a man.
He was a tall man. He was dressed like a merchant and had a ruggedly handsome face, unusual among the customers. I was surprised, but I tried to disengage quickly with a noncommittal remark.
“…I’m not feeling well.”
“Ah. Was it too stimulating for a young Older Brother?”
“…Not really.”
There was no need for a long conversation. With that, I tried to leave.
“Ah. Haha, the child who was just bought is in a terrible state. That aristocrat is famous for his bad taste.”
The man spoke so that I could hear him. Reacting to his words, I stopped in my tracks. Then, I saw the slave screaming. She had probably heard the rumors about that aristocrat. The slave resisted, thinking that dying would be better than being bought by that aristocrat. From that sight, I averted my eyes—and saw the man’s smirking face.
“…What are you trying to say to me?”
“No, nothing. I was just curious about you, Older Brother, so I was striking up a conversation.”
“…”
As expected, there were no decent people here. After a sigh, I decided not to engage and tried to leave.
“—Now, I will explain the next product. Number thirteen, from Fanian, a rather rare black-haired, black-eyed girl—” As I tried to leave, I heard the MC’s voice.
From Fanian…? Black-haired, black-eyed…? The coincidence of her origin made me pause. I tried to leave here multiple times, but my own weakness kept me from detaching. Disliking myself for this, I resolved this would be the last time and glanced briefly at the stage.
“…!”
On stage stood a girl whose name I knew. A girl who had told me her name just a few days ago.
— “…My name is Maria. My name is Maria.” —
I recalled her voice and her name. At the same time, I saw the hollow eyes of the girl, Maria, on stage. Coincidentally, she seemed to have noticed me as well. It had been a single encounter—lasting only a few seconds—but she seemed to remember me too. Her hollow eyes lit up with a faint spark, and our gazes met.
The seating area and the stage. Me and the girl. We stared at each other, unable to break away.
“Hm, Older Brother? Is something wrong with that slave?”
“…Nothing.”
The man’s words didn’t reach my ears.
“Older Brother. You’re not pretending to be fine, so you get teased by people like me, you know?”
Ignoring the man’s words, I continued to stare at the girl named Maria. She was an ordinary girl. Her status hadn’t changed since I saw her before. A girl talented in cooking—slightly gifted. There were plenty of others with similar statuses. But I had spoken to her, and I even knew her name. The condition for emotional investment I had feared earlier had been met.
—This is the worst.
“Oh, the auction has begun.”
The man continued speaking, as if to prod the silent me. Simultaneously, the emotions that had been accumulating in my chest began to swirl. I was losing my composure.
Calm down… Calm down. Remember what happened a little while ago… The slave I met in the labyrinth was ultimately helpless… Learn from that experience and grow up. Aikawa Uzunami…
“Ah. If this continues, she’ll likely be bought by that aristocrat with bad taste again… Is that aristocrat planning to buy them all today? Huh, Older Brother?”
But…
— But the situation is different from the slave I met in the labyrinth.
I realized that. I couldn’t intervene with that slave because she belonged to someone else. However, the slaves here belonged to no one. With enough money, one could easily lift them from here. If I were to speak up now, I could prevent the girl named Maria’s voice from being tinged with despair. Conversely, if I did nothing and left, it would mean abandoning Maria to her fate. In my immature state of mind, could I withstand the guilt?
To confirm, I spoke to the man.
“…Hey. How do I participate in the auction here?”
“Hm, Older Brother. Are you going to participate after all? If you’re going to bid, just raise your hand and state your price. It’s not much different from other places. Just imitate those around you.”
Confirmation obtained. There was no way to mistake the procedure.
Only, my reason tried to stop me at the last moment. It’s meaningless to save just one person… It’s a disgusting act…
I was being criticized. In response, I made excuses. If I save her here, my heart will feel a little lighter. Even if it’s a disgusting act, isn’t it okay to pay money for the sake of peace of mind, so that the skill ‘???’ doesn’t go berserk? Fortunately, I possessed an exorbitant amount of funds.
“—MC. I’ll offer twice that.”
I raised my hand and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. The slave girl Maria’s eyes widened. Then, with the same look as when we first met, a look as if she had found something, she continued to stare at me. A murmur swept through the entire venue. Some looked at me with interest, others with amusement, and some began to discuss among themselves with puzzlement. The wealthy individuals in the venue stirred, looking at me.
“—Now, here is the bid from the wealthy young man! The price is, unbelievably! It has exceeded gold coins! This slave has caught the young man’s eye, are there any other gentlemen interested!”
The MC accelerated his speech. He raised his voice to maintain this momentum and excite the venue. The man next to me laughed.
“Haha, Older Brother, you’re raising it too quickly. If you do something like that, look.”
The man said, laughing, and pointed. At the tip of his finger was the aristocrat who had bid before me. The aristocrat raised his voice loudly, enough to overcome the noise of the venue.
“Another double!”
“Oh, Lord Febure’s bid! Just like the young man, double! The price has jumped up to five times the market price!”
He raised the price further and the aristocrat looked at me. Though our seats were far apart, I could tell he didn’t have a good impression of me. The MC, with an excited demeanor, was delighted by the unexpectedly high price for the item. The man next to me shrugged his shoulders and spoke to me.
“See, he got worked up.”
“Ugh…”
It was certainly rash. I had acted foolishly out of impulse. Because of me, someone became interested in an ordinary girl. Because of that, the price gradually increased. Those fools, when that girl had no talent whatsoever. As the venue grew more enthusiastic, I became calmer—
“You seem to be in trouble, Older Brother. If you’d like, shall I successfully bid for you?”
—However, the man’s sweet words made me lose that calm.
“…Successfully? Why are you helping me?”
I spoke to the man in a rough tone, trying not to be underestimated. In response, the man grinned.
“No, nothing. It just seems interesting.”
“…If you can. I don’t have that much budget.”
“I can do it. What’s your limit?”
The man said “I can do it” casually and asked for my budget. His casual tone swayed me, and I calculated how much money I could come up with in my head.
“…Three gold coins. Up to three gold coins.”
“Hmm. I think I can manage about four gold coins. Wait a moment.”
“I’m not trusting you, you know.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Just wait.”
Saying that, the man participated in the auction. He raised his hand and bid, slightly increasing the price. I watched him in a daze. He was making fine adjustments to the price, but he wasn’t particularly conspicuous. However, occasionally, he would wave to his auction rivals. The auction rivals would also wave back at the man. It seemed this man had many acquaintances. In the end, he competed with Lord Febure, but without any major issues, the man managed to win the bid for three gold coins and a little more.
“I won the bid.”
The man easily won the bid for the slave, Maria. However, the winning bid was slightly higher than the price I had stated.
“…I said up to three gold coins.”
“Oops. In that case, I’ll take this matter to Lord Febure.”
“I said it, but I did ask you, didn’t I? I won’t go back on that.”
“Ku ku, interesting. Then, four gold coins.”
The man, clutching his stomach, demanded his share. I frowned at his request, but soon sighed and gave in.
“It’s fine.”
“Huh? Is it really okay?”
“No matter how I struggle, I know I’m in your hands.”
“It’s no fun if you give up so easily. Ku ku, let me play a little longer.”
The man, smiling with a wicked grin, stood up from his seat. Then, he beckoned me over.
“Older Brother, you can’t bear to watch, can you? Let’s leave the venue and go collect the item first.”
“…I’m coming now.”
The man seemed to see through my emotions as well. I felt helpless and followed him as he told me to. My companion and I left the venue. Guided by an attendant who was waiting there, we went around to the back of the venue. There, the purchased slaves were lined up in a cramped space. Maria was among them. Her eyes had been fixed on me the entire time. The man finished his procedures with the attendant and took Maria. Then, he walked over to me and held out his palm. I took out four gold coins from my belongings and flicked them into his palm.
“Hm, indeed four gold coins. The slave collar is unregistered, so you’re free to do as you please.”
The man put the gold coins in his pocket and readily handed Maria over to me. I had expected some kind of negotiation from such an eccentric man, but I was taken aback. I immediately pulled Maria closer and told the man exactly what I was thinking.
“I thought you’d add some conditions here.”
“No, I’m very satisfied just seeing you flustered. So, I won’t be malicious. Rather, I’ve taken a liking to you, Older Brother.”
“…How crude of you.”
“But you were saved, right? …No, if I hadn’t been here, you wouldn’t have gotten lost in the first place?”
The man continued to tease me with words that seemed to see through my inner thoughts.
“Is that all? I’m taking this girl with me.”
Deciding that further interaction was not wise, I tried to distance myself from the man. The man stopped me.
“Wait, wait, don’t rush. Let’s introduce ourselves at the end. I’ll accept complaints later.”
“…Announce yourself if you want. I won’t be naming myself.”
I had no intention of revealing my name, but I decided it was fine to hear his name. In response, the man grinned and began to introduce himself.
“My name is Palinkron Legacy. I am a knight from Fuziaze in the north, and one of the ‘Seven Knights of Heaven’.”
With that, Palinkron made a gesture of drawing a sword with his empty hands. The movement was so fluid, so natural, that it made one almost believe there was a sword in his hand. I intuitively understood that it was a technique acquired through unceasing repetition and practice. Sensing a threat, I took a step back and checked Palinkron’s status.
[Status]
Name: Palinkron Legacy HP 301/312 MP 59/62 Class: Knight
Level 22
Strength 7.89 Stamina 9.87 Dexterity 11.89 Speed 5.67 Intelligence 7.34 Magic Power 4.77 Aptitude 1.80
Innate Skill: Observational Eyes 1.45
Acquired Skills: Swordsmanship 1.89 Divine Magic 1.23 Martial Arts 1.87 Curse Technique 0.54
A level at the highest class for a human. Above-average aptitude. Practical and high-numbered skills. I understood that Palinkron was no ordinary man. My body tensed, and I subtly cast magic skill 《Dimension》 without incantation. Then, I moved my right hand behind my back, ready to draw my sword from my “Inventory” at any time.
“Ku ku. Don’t be so tense. I just came to see today.”
Palinkron seemed amused by my reaction and showed me the palms of both his hands to indicate he had no hostile intent.
“To see… slaves…?”
“No, you, Older Brother. It was hard to follow you without being noticed and secure a seat nearby.”
Palinkron said nonchalantly that he had been tailing me. The fact itself astonished me, and I was convinced it wasn’t a lie. Palinkron’s status was that high, and his demeanor was unusual.
“Why… were you following me?”
“I heard you were the beloved of my master. I came to see you before anyone else.”
“My master’s beloved”?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is your master Franryure?”
There was only one person I could think of. It was Franryure, whom I met in the labyrinth.
“Franryure? No, that’s not true. …However, to bring up the name of Helvishein’s daughter there. You really are interesting, Older Brother.”
Palinkron said it wasn’t Franryure. But besides her, I had no one else in mind.
“I don’t know who your master is. I have no recollection.”
“Oh, is that so? Well, that’s fine too. This time, I was just curious and came early. I’m just observing, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
Saying that, Palinkron turned his back.
“See you, Older Brother.”
He waved goodbye and walked towards the exit. He seemed to intend to leave just like that. There were too many things I didn’t understand. I wanted to chase after him and question him, but Palinkron’s level didn’t allow for it. I didn’t know what would happen if we fought seriously. If he was going to leave, I thought it would be better not to pursue him further. While I was hesitating, Palinkron disappeared from sight, leaving Maria and me behind. When I looked at Maria, she was still watching me. I realized she had been looking at me the whole time, even while being taken by Palinkron and during our exchange just now. Sensing an abnormality lurking within Maria, I sighed at the potential trouble—and took her hand.
“Follow me…”
“Yes.”
Maria nodded slightly. In the end, I bought a slave on impulse. I understood. With my mental fortitude, there was absolutely no way I could overcome the issue of slavery. That had now been definitively proven. I vowed never to come to the slave market again and walked home, holding Maria’s cold hand.
