kscans

Chapter 91 - The City on the Water and the Onlooking Adventurers

We had left the mountain castle behind and returned to our journey by carriage. It seemed we were out of the mountains now, as grassy plains stretched out before us. I was riding on horseback alongside Cecily, on guard duty for the caravan.

"How's this? I can even nock an arrow on horseback now."

I took aim at a rabbit peering at us from behind a rock. The area must have plenty of food; it was plump. I let the arrow fly, but it went wide. The rabbit, realizing it had been targeted, disappeared behind the rock.

"There goes dinner..."

"Your riding has gotten much better. But if we're attacked, just get off the horse,"

Cecily said, not looking particularly disappointed as she scanned our surroundings.

"It's because I have a good teacher."

"That same teacher got thoroughly beaten by a pair of beginners, though,"

Cecily replied self-deprecatingly. I thought about saying, "They were just a bad matchup,"

but it wouldn't have been much of a comfort, so I kept quiet. I looked up at the sky, where two white clouds drifted eastward.

"You're my teacher, Cecily."

"...Right."

She didn't sound very enthusiastic.

"Cecily, I'm going to free you from slavery in Furufto."

"Okay."

"You'll continue adventuring with me, won't you?"

I needed to confirm her intentions.

"I'll go with you to Miglutt, as promised."

"I'm asking about after that."

"Do you want me to stay, Mash?"

"Of course I do!"

She turned her face away.

"...I'm leaving the party."

The words seemed forced out of her.

"Why? Are you still mad about what happened in front of the Crystal Core?"

"I will never forgive you for that!"

I had just poured fuel on the fire. She reined in her horse, and I stopped alongside her. The caravan's wagons passed us by.

"I'm super shy around new people. I don't have the confidence to find a new member after you're gone."

"Don't say such pathetic things. There are plenty of people who will help you... Doris, Fang, Kalpana, Riley..."

"I want you, Cecily."

"Think about it, Mash. I'm just a normal adventurer. I can't go beyond that. I can't go where you're trying to go."

"..."

"I've been feeling my lack of strength for a while now. Hekatonkheires, the Men in Black, the dungeon in the mountain castle... I can't keep up."

She seemed to have lost her confidence. It wasn't like I had been confident from the start. Even now, I still didn't know what to do.

"But wasn't it the same with the Wind Blade?"

Their leader, Reed, had been aiming for the deepest part of the dungeon. Wasn't that situation even tougher?

"I can turn back, Mash. But you can't afford to fail, can you?"

The last of the caravan wagons passed us. Myra and Aira, who were guarding the rear, saw us and waved. I nudged my horse with my heels to move forward.

"I really need to study more about magic. And besides, I..."

Cecily started to say something but then clamped her mouth shut. I waited for a while, but it seemed she wasn't going to say any more. Her silence felt more like her true feelings, but I didn't know how to get her to speak. I wanted to continue adventuring with her.

The caravan moved on, cresting a gentle hill. A view of wheat fields opened up before us. In the far distance, I could see a river—a great river crawling across the land. A part of it reflected the sunlight, shining white. Squinting, I could also make out the white sails of ships on the water. And then I saw the city, spreading out on both banks. The city of Furufto. It looked even bigger than Richel or Nieren.

"So that's Furufto. Finally, one-third of the way there..."

Cecily said.

"It's been packed with events."

"Tell me about it!"

The lead wagon stopped. It seemed we were taking a break here. Cecily and I dismounted. A man from the trading company brought us fodder and water, so we let the horses rest where they were. Famu and Mizuki got out of the rearmost wagon and approached, stretching deeply. Mizuki stopped and looked out over the road that continued through the wheat fields.

"This looks like a scene from an anime ending."

"You mean the one where a girl drifts to an isolated island where a boy lives and a spaceship is sticking out of it?"

Mizuki nodded. It was an old anime. I wondered if she really was a high school girl, but she probably saw it on a streaming site. So did I.

"It's a happy-looking scene, but there's a certain loneliness to it that makes me uneasy."

"I know what you mean. So let's take a picture."

"I don't see the connection, but this pattern is..."

At Mizuki's words, Famu scanned the surroundings.

"No one's coming,"

Famu answered.

"Alright, picture time. You too, Cecily."

"You're getting too carried away! It's embarrassing!"

I wondered what could possibly be embarrassing now, after I'd taken nude photos of her, but I kept my mouth shut, lest she delete them.

We passed through the gates of Furufto. The road from the gate to the riverbank was wide and well-maintained. It was bustling with people and vibrant with activity. Many of the buildings lining the street were tall. The lower floors were made of stone, with wooden extensions built on top. The Mateo Trading Company's branch office was on the riverbank. From the office, I could see numerous ships docked on the water. Sailing ships, and were those galleys? Some had rows of oars sticking out like the legs of a centipede. They would load cargo onto those ships and travel downriver. What a wide river. It looked almost like the sea, but there was no smell of salt. The water was blue, and the current was gentle. When the wind brushed the surface, it created small waves that sparkled in the sunlight. In the distance, children were playing by the riverbank. One of them was dashing down a pier and jumping into the river. There was an island in the middle, and the city continued on the far bank, but there was no bridge to it. You probably had to take a boat to get across.

"The city is protected by walls, but what do they do if the enemy attacks from the river?"

"They use something called a Barrier Chain. They stretch a chain across to stop ships from entering,"

Myra explained, pointing to a lighthouse-like structure. I could see a similar building on the opposite bank. They must stretch the chain between them. I couldn't imagine what kind of chain it was, or if it could really stop an invasion.

"See you tomorrow, at the pier by the boat landing!"

a beaming Myra said. She was staying at the church tonight. The caravan was temporarily disbanding here. We would regroup in three days, after the cargo had been reloaded.

"I will ask the church to work toward Reed-san's release. Are you really okay with that?"

"Cecily and Aira have become precious companions. They've said they want me to forgive Reed. So I will forgive him. But if the city's laws are to judge him, I have no objection to that."

It was a roundabout way of putting it, but it was to ensure they wouldn't be resented. Myra would understand. She nodded. I was freeing Cecily and Aira from slavery. It felt dishonest to them to keep only him imprisoned. My only concern was his treatment of his slaves, but even a noble couldn't keep that up forever, and it was the result of hitting a wall in his dungeon crawling. That was the limit of his ability. To repeat it would mean his ruin. Famu didn't look convinced, but she said nothing. Claire came over.

"My turn is the day after tomorrow,"

Claire said.

"Hmph!"

Famu, Mizuki, Myra, Cecily, and Aira all glared at me at once.

"W-wait! Th-this is..."

I tried to think of something witty to say, but nothing came to mind. Claire, standing next to me, bowed her head to them.

"Please, just give me one day of Mash's time."

"..."

They didn't look convinced, but none of them said anything to Claire. Just then, Avea approached.

"If you're booking a date, his schedule is full."

"That's a shame. But I'm here to talk about morning training. The arena is open in the mornings. I'll whip you into shape there."

"Wait. I don't want to do it in the city. I'm not going."

I knew it was for my own good, but I didn't want to do anything that would draw attention to myself. And of course, I hated grueling training.

"May I go?"

Famu asked Avea.

"Alright. Then I'll train you in a different way,"

Avea said with a grin. Famu, like Mizuki, seemed to be a favorite of Avea's. Why did she have it out for only me?

I was at the slave trader's mansion with Famu, Mizuki, Cecily, Aira, Doris, and Fang. It wasn't as magnificent as a nobleman's estate, but the interior was lavishly decorated. The luxurious carpets and ornaments hanging on the walls spoke of its high class. In the center of the hall stood a large man with a small mustache. He was the slave trader, dressed in clothes that were not flashy but had an air of substance. He held out his hand, and I shook it.

"What brings you here today?"

"I'd like to free these four slaves. That's alright with you too, Mizuki, right?"

Mizuki hadn't expected to be addressed and hastily nodded.

"Are you sure about this? Besides, Doris was Isark's slave. She might betray you,"

Fang said.

"Are you going to go back to being a slave under Isark, just after being freed?"

I glanced at Doris.

"I won't go back."

She shook her head, her expression tense.

"Either way, neither I nor Mizuki have any intention of treating you as slaves,"

I replied, then turned back to the slave trader. "So that's the deal."

"...I see. How bold of you. In that case, I will require a fee of one gold coin per person."

That was a considerable sum. I took four gold coins from my storage.

"Wait, I'll pay for myself,"

Cecily said, and the others began to reach for their own coins, but I stopped them.

"It's fine. Fang and Doris, especially, will need money after they're freed."

"About that..."

Doris began.

"What is it?"

"I'd like to continue guarding the caravan. Would you hire me until we reach Miglutt?"

"Me too. I owe you. I want to travel with you,"

Fang added after Doris. It seemed he also wanted to continue with the caravan. I remembered that Beers had also volunteered to guard the caravan. Was it a popular quest?

"...Alright, but the Mateo Trading Company makes the final decision. I'll put in a word for you."

"What kind of slaves do you handle here?"

I asked the slave trader out of curiosity.

"I primarily deal in slaves for adventurers and the noble class."

"You have slaves for nobles?"

"Yes, those with education, servants skilled in etiquette, gardeners, cooks, and others with specific skills."

"Are there slaves you don't deal in?"

"Laborers and prostitutes. If you want those, I can refer you elsewhere."

That was closer to what I imagined slaves to be. Prisoners, people who were kidnapped or sold to reduce the number of mouths to feed, locked in cages with despairing expressions, pleading for help. But the slaves sold here didn't seem to be like that.

"I see. So you have adventurer slaves here too, like warriors and mages."

"Yes, which are you looking for?"

"Oh, I'm not looking. I assume they cost over a hundred gold coins anyway, right?"

"Warriors are around that price."

The slave trader nodded. A hint of coldness seemed to seep into his expression. He snapped his fingers, and a woman in a maid's uniform entered. He whispered something in her ear, and she nodded and left the room.

"She is one of the products for nobles I mentioned earlier. Fifty gold coins."

It was an amount I could afford, but I had no work for her even if I bought her. A short while later, she returned. The slave trader jerked his chin at me. I decided to follow him. Famu came with me.

We were led into the next room. It was smaller than the one we were just in. Four young women stood in a line. They weren't wearing manacles or shackles, but they were dressed in thin clothing that revealed their figures. One had the muscular build of a warrior, but I couldn't tell the professions of the others. They all had tense expressions. So these were the mansion's wares.

"I brought them, thinking they might be to your taste,"

the slave trader said. I looked them over. The one who caught my eye was a dog-eared girl. She looked to be about the same age as Famu. Famu was also staring at her.

"Don't tell me you know her?"

"N-no. It's nothing."

I whispered, but everyone probably heard me. Famu shook her head.

"That dog-eared one, her current profession is a thief. Ninety gold coins."

Thief didn't mean she was an actual thief. It was a profession that could support a party with skills like disarming traps and stealth. It seemed like a perfect fit for the dog-eared race.

"So?"

"Yeah, but I have enough members for now."

"I see. If you change your mind, feel free to visit again. I can also procure slaves to your specifications. Just let me know anytime."

The slave trader backed down easily.

We were walking from the slave trader's mansion to the inn, along the river. Numerous stalls lined the street, selling fish brought in from the river, so there was a slightly fishy smell in the air, but the streets were bustling with people and energy. Fish that looked like salmon were hanging at the front of a shop. We walked on, watching the scene. The slave marks on the arms of Cecily, Aira, Doris, and Fang had been removed. Now, only Famu and Mizuki were walking with me. Cecily had gone to stay with her aunt, a pharmacist. I had tried to go with her, but she refused. Apparently, it wasn't a very large house. Aira went with her. Fang and Doris were at a different inn. The inn we were trying to stay at had been double-booked with another group waiting for a ship, so we couldn't all stay in one place.

"You didn't seem very interested in slaves,"

Famu said, her mind seemingly back at the slave trader's mansion.

"It's because of the norms of my original world. Do you remember Mizuki's reaction when I first met her with you? I'm not trying to deny it, but I feel a slight aversion to it, just like Mizuki."

I had the desire to do whatever I wanted with the opposite sex. But seeing them act freely, like Famu and Mizuki, was more endearing to me.

"But weren't you about to buy a slave in Richel?"

"I'm not against buying one. In fact, if there's a good one, I might. But only if I can welcome them as a true companion."

The situation was different from when I met Famu. I didn't need one right now.

"I thought you'd be fine with anything as long as you could do perverted things. The slave trader must have thought so too."

Famu's words were surprisingly sharp.

"If you refuse, I will."

"I won't refuse!"

"Then tonight's the night!"

"I-I'm ready!"

Famu replied.

"Hey, don't start a weird conversation in the middle of the street!"

Mizuki cut in.

"You too, Mizuki. Be prepared for tonight."

"O-okay..."

Mizuki's face turned beet red as she nodded.

"It's true that if you wanted slaves, you wouldn't have freed me. And you seemed to think of making Cecily and the others slaves as only a temporary measure. Your way of thinking was different from mine,"

Famu said, bringing the conversation back on topic. Had she intended to work Cecily and the others to death as slaves for the rest of their lives? That was probably the norm in this world.

"Well, there are complicated feelings involved."

A pleasant aroma reached my nose. I looked at a stall and saw fish that looked like sweetfish being grilled on skewers. I wanted to buy one, but that was what Myra had said she wanted to eat with a beer. I told myself to wait until tomorrow, but Mizuki and Famu were drawn in by the smell and headed to the stall.

"You don't want any, Mash?"

"N-no, I'm good,"

I told Mizuki. It looked really delicious. They were savoring it, holding their cheeks. Saliva filled my mouth, but I held back.

"Getting back to the slave trader's mansion, there was a woman who looked like me and one who looked like Mizuki in there. Don't you think he prepared them thinking they were your type, Master?"

The one who looked like Famu must have been the dog-eared girl. But they were just the same race and looked to be around the same age.

"I remember the dog-eared girl. But I don't remember if there was one who looked like Mizuki. If there was, I would have liked to ask her price."

"What do you mean by that?"

Mizuki took offense, thrusting the skewered fish at me. I thought about snatching it and eating it, but I resisted.

"Don't you want to know your own worth?"

"I do not!"

Mizuki snapped.

"Speaking of which, Famu, you were staring at the dog-eared girl for a long time. Was there something on your mind?"

"You were looking too, Master."

Famu's question seemed to be a way of avoiding talking about her own thoughts.

"It's hard to say, but when I thought about how you might have been sold like that, my chest tightened."

"I was in a cage the whole time. But the village's..."

She trailed off. I had been seeing Famu in the dog-eared girl, but it seemed she had been seeing one of her own people.