Chapter 97

The stench of feces and urine wafted through the air.

I thought I saw something black darting at the edge of my vision, but it turned out to be flies.

Flies swarming over the slaves.

Even though they are now neatly displayed as merchandise, it is clear how deplorable the conditions were in which they were kept before.

"No, no, both young master and sir have excellent taste! It takes considerable wealth to have a collection of slaves like this!"

The slave trader approached us, rubbing his hands together.

He must have judged us to be important customers.

"I always have the pleasure of serving the young master! I have prepared a fine slave for you this time as well, so please take a look!"

"Hahaha! You really understand, don't you! Jewels, paintings, fine horses! There are many noble collections, but none are as wonderful as slaves! After all, they are human!"

Why can't he realize the abnormality of treating people as objects, even though he understands this much?

This is a terrifying place beyond my comprehension.

"You must feel the same, right? To bring a slave dressed up like that. I don't know who you are, but it's a truly refined hobby."

And this guy still seems to think Noem is my slave, even though we wandered into this place and were mistaken for customers.

"Hmm... He looks good, and most importantly, his eyes are full of vitality, unlike a typical slave. ...What do you think?"

"Excuse me?"

"Would you consider selling this slave to me?"

He said something outrageous.

"I understand the effort you must have put into training this slave. That's why I won't haggle over the price. I'll pay three times, no, five times what you paid for him."

"No, but...!"

I tried to come up with a refusal, but nothing came to mind.

I could have just spouted any excuse, even a lie, but I instinctively rejected the idea of treating Noem as a slave, even for the sake of acting.

"If I become his master, I can display this slave in public. If he receives high praise, you will be proud too, won't you?"

"That's right, sir! With the money from selling that slave, you can buy many more of our slaves! With a bit of luck, you might even be able to make a living as a slave trainer!"

The slave buyer and the slave trader both fawned over me.

Noem, not knowing what to do, was flustered.

It felt like thousands of seconds to me, but it was probably just an instant.

Immediately, I heard a 'snap' in the back of my head.

◆

A few minutes later...

The slave market, which had been bustling just moments ago, was now eerily quiet.

I had knocked out everyone who was making noise.

Many men lay on the ground with deformed heads, including slave traders and their bodyguards, whom I had knocked out one by one.

The other customers, either paralyzed with fear or fleeing in all directions, were gone.

Incidentally, the nobleman who had persistently tried to buy Noem, mistaking him for a collection slave, was also cowering on the ground.

The female slaves he had brought were gathered around him, as if to comfort him.

Even a fool like him can inspire loyalty, it seems.

"Ah, ... I'm sorry."

I apologized to Noem first.

"Even though you tried to stop me, I ended up losing control...! The plan to ingratiate ourselves and find out the location of the capital...!"

"Don't worry about it."

Noem took my hand.

"If I had continued to act as if I was buying a slave, I would have had to sell you to that guy, so it couldn't be helped. Ryouya-san protected me again. I'm glad about that."

Noem, so kind, covering for my actions...

"Besides, if we needed information, we could have just interrogated them! I should have realized that...!"

"You're right...!?"

And he's so strong.

In the end, I had to destroy the slave market by force, so I'll need to clean up the mess. Whether I get the location of the capital through torture or interrogation, there's something I need to do first.

"Um... everyone who has been treated as slaves...!"

There were still dozens of people standing there, their eyes vacant.

No, there are no people who should be called slaves in this world.

They are victims who have been unjustly treated as slaves.

"I have subdued the slave traders for a reason. I have deprived them of the right to do anything to you, so from now on, you are free."

They were probably kidnapped from all over the world.

If they wish, I can help them return to their hometowns or find new jobs.

...But that would mean leaving everything to the Centurian Kingdom...

So, to set everything right, I'll have to destroy the Bluebalm slave state first...

"Until then, it's best to hide somewhere. You can take the food from the slave traders..."

While I was thinking about all this, the people who had been treated as slaves started to take action on their own.

"Huh?"

The chains and collars that had bound them had already been torn off by me.

Now that they were free, they started walking in a group, heading somewhere.

"Huh? Huh? What's going on? Where are they going?"

Noem, also confused, witnessed the mass movement of people.

There were over a hundred slaves brought to the market.

It was a massive movement as they all moved in one direction.

But where are they going?

"Ugh, ugh...! They're trying to go back...!"

"What?"

The one who spoke was one of the slave traders I had knocked out.

Though he was thrown and hit all over, he could still move his mouth with a hateful expression.

"...You fool. I don't know who you think you are, pretending to be a hero, but you've missed the mark. They are slaves at heart. Now that their masters are gone, they're trying to return to their proper place... the slave pens."

"That's... ridiculous!?"

Are these people, who are moving in a large group, returning to their captivity on their own!?

"They accept it! They accept that they are slaves! You didn't understand that, did you? Feeling good about yourself by interfering with us? But it was just your self-satisfaction! How embarrassing!!"

The slave trader, triumphant, shouted.

Furthermore...

"Please help! Help our master!"

The female slaves who had been with the nobleman earlier were now pleading with tears.

They were protecting their master, who had been cowering in fear of my violence.

"This is our master! Slaves cannot live without a master!"

"He is a kind master who gives us food and a normal life! It's cruel to kill him!!"

The girls were shielding him with all their might.

Do they really revere this man as their master?

This man who treats them like pets.

"People are like that! If you teach them that they are slaves and must not disobey, they will accept it! You do-gooders, don't get too high and mighty! Slavery is a necessary system in this world! We are the ones who face this reality head-on! Don't interfere with our serious business with your naive minds!!"

If the people who have been made slaves really accept their status, then our fight is in vain.

Noem's face turned pale as he realized this...

'Don't be deceived, Master.'

Abinion appeared and said.

She had been absent, perhaps out of boredom...

'Human hearts can be manipulated in any way. With the right techniques, and even more so with a stronger influence, no techniques are needed. Like this...'

"Wh-what? G-ghost? Stop, let go...!?"

Abinion approached the nearest slave girl, reached out, and tore her clothes.

"Aaaaaah!?"

"Hey, stop it...!?"

I tried to stop Abinion's outrageous behavior but froze.

Something caught my eye.

The bare skin that emerged from the torn clothes.

Around the collarbone, perhaps?

A sinister-looking emblem was etched there.

...What is this?