𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞
The next day.
After breakfast, Albero and the others headed to the stables where the slave trader’s carriage was parked.
It’s a better-built carriage than the one Albero and his group arrived in. It seems to be made impressive for the sake of showing off the merchant’s status.
While waiting for Arnaud, Ashe remarked while looking at the carriage.
ㅤ
“I thought a slave trader’s carriage would be like a cruel cage.”
“After all, slaves are considered goods. Especially for females, if they get any scars or injuries, their value decreases. When trading starts, there will be those who say the price is too high for a slave with scars.”
“So, a carriage built for safety, yet also lavishly designed, is what we’re looking at.”
ㅤ
In response to Ashe’s question, Kid petted a horse.
The horse looked refined as well. The jet-black horse growled at Kid.
Then, Arnaud arrived.
ㅤ
“Everyone’s here. Let’s depart.”
“Ha, hahaha! What’s with that get-up? Which fake noble are you trying to be?”
ㅤ
Kid sneered at Arnaud, who merely gave a wry smile.
Arnaud was dressed in a robe adorned with grand, lavish decorations, and wore rings embedded with gems. His hair was neat, and he wore perfume. He looked like a noble. . . . . .or rather, exactly like a slave trader.
Kid was laughing. . . . . .but Ashe and Lapis were mesmerized.
ㅤ
“Wow. . . . . .You look. . . . . .amazing.”
“I can sense an aura of nobility. . . . . .”
“Thanks. Anyway, you all should change as well. It’ll look suspicious if a slave trader is traveling with regular kids.”
“Can’t we just change near the village?”
“No, we can’t. We have to be cautious.”
ㅤ
Albero and the others were still in their casual clothes.
They had thought they could change closer to the village, but it seemed that wasn’t an option.
Ashe and Lapis changed inside the carriage, while Albero and Kid changed in a corner of the stable.
Once changed, the four of them gathered.
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“Ha, hahaha. . . . . .Kid, you can’t laugh at Arnaud-san after this. . . . . .hahaha.”
“. . . . . .”
“You both look like fake merchants.”
“Lapis, stop it. . . . . .haha.”
ㅤ
Kid was dressed in the same slave trader attire as Arnaud.
Albero, Ashe, and Lapis were in plain shirts. Albero wore trousers and sandals, while Ashe and Lapis wore long skirts instead of trousers.
Arnaud took out a black collar from the luggage.
ㅤ
“Finally, put this on. This collar is used by the Slave Trader Guild to restrain the summoned beasts of slaves. . . . . .Once it’s on, it can only be opened with a special key. Kid and I will manage the keys, so don’t worry.”
“A collar. . . . . .just like a dog.”
ㅤ
Albero accepted the collar and wore it around his neck.
Ashe and Lapis did the same and tried to summon their beasts.
ㅤ
“It’s not coming out.”
“Same for me. . . . . .”
“Marcosias. . . . . .Ugh, I can’t summon him.”
“I don’t know how it works, but this is impressive. . . . . .With this, we can easily take care of any opponent.”
“It’s not that simple. It’s made of metal without any special treatment, so it can be broken with force. A strong impact to the joint of the collar will break it easily.”
“Really, that’s it?”
“That’s why, when using this, you need to restrain the limbs or have someone watch over. Anyway, let’s not dwell on this. Let’s move.”
ㅤ
The four of them got into the carriage, and Arnaud spurred the horse.
ㅤ
◇◇◇◇◇◇
ㅤ
After several hours traveling by carriage, Albero decided to speak with Ashe and Lapis.
ㅤ
“Are both of you feeling nervous?”
“W, Well. . . . . .We’re going to battle with a demon, right?”
“Only if Kid’s sniping fails. Remember, I’m the main one fighting. Kid and Lapis will support from mid-to-long range, and Ashe will provide aerial cover. Don’t worry, I won’t let the demon hit you.”
“O, Okay…”
“I’m counting on you too, Lapis.”
“Yes! Marcosias and I will handle it with our ice!”
“Sounds like you’ve got this. . . . . .I’m relying on you.”
ㅤ
Albero gave a wry smile.
Then he averted his gaze from the two. There was something on his mind that he couldn’t voice.
ㅤ
“Albero, what’s wrong?”
“Did something happen?”
“Ah. . . . . .No, it’s nothing.”
ㅤ
He couldn’t possibly say it. From what he could tell, Ashe and Lapis seemed to have stripped down to their underwear. Whether their shirts were just tight or not, the outline of their bodies was subtly visible.
He thought to himself that he’d never want to wear such clothes again.
ㅤ
Soon, the carriage arrived at the village where the auction was being held.
ㅤ
◇◇◇◇◇◇
ㅤ
It was a small village, quite ordinary.
Farming and forestry were the main industries, and the sounds of livestock could be frequently heard.
At the village entrance, a gatekeeper narrowed his eyes upon spotting Arnaud’s carriage.
ㅤ
“What brings you to such a small village?”
“Ah, we got lost. We’d like to spend the night.”
“There’s no inn in this village. If you want to stay, please do so outside the village.”
“I see. By the way, I heard the village’s specialty is 『whole roasted pig』.”
“. . . . . .Yes, that’s right. Also, if you’re going to stay, there’s a cave behind the village. You can go there.”
“Thanks for the tip. . . . . .Here, take this.”
“Ah, quite generous of you.”
ㅤ
Arnaud handed a tip to the gatekeeper and instructed Kid to drive the carriage to the back of the village.
ㅤ
“So the password is 『whole roasted pig』. Kind of silly.”
“More specifically, you bring up the village’s specialty, and then respond with 『whole roasted pig』.”
“And the cave is. . . . . .”
“Yes. The auction venue. . . . . .Everyone in this village is involved in the auction. Whether adult or child.”
“Tsk. . . . . .”
“Listen, you’re my assistant. Act like a slave trader.”
“Got it. I’ve practiced my persuasive skills well, so. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Behind the village was a forest, and beyond it lay the cave.
The cave’s entrance was wide and tall enough to comfortably admit a carriage. Plus, due to the surrounding terrain, one could only enter the cave through the forest.
Inside the cave, there was a different kind of gatekeeper, wearing impressive armor and wielding a sword.
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“Welcome. May I see your slave trading permit?”
“Yes, here it is.”
ㅤ
Arnaud directed Kid to hand over the permit to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper checked the permit and gave a friendly smile.
ㅤ
“I see. It’s your first time attending the slave auction?”
“Yes. We’ve brought three slaves we’re quite proud of.”
“Understood. Please proceed this way to the merchants’ pathway. There, you’ll complete the registration for the slaves.”
“Got it. Thank you.”
“Enjoy your time here.”
ㅤ
They continued deeper into the cave.
As they went further, the walls of the cave were finely polished, and large chandeliers were hung. Eventually, they reached a fork labeled 『Participants』 and 『Exhibitors』.
Kid took the path for exhibitors and finally arrived at their destination.
ㅤ
“So this is the place. . . . . .It’s quite spacious.”
ㅤ
The carriage stop for merchants was vast.
There were more than twenty carriages parked, and many slave traders had slaves with them.
It seems a person in a black suit is checking the slaves.
“One last time. . . . . .Don’t let your guard down.”
“Ah. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Arnaud and Kid, without turning to each other, muttered under their breath.
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