Chapter 107
The Slave Merchant
Translator : PolterGlast
As the conversation progressed, Max agreed to guide
us through the Black Market. Apparently, even now, acting as the leader
of the Grey Volunteers, he visits the Black Market frequently.
Since he is well-connected, Max offered to help after I explained our
current situation.
"People tend to think of it as a dangerous place, but
if you know what you're doing, it's not that scary! It carries a strong meaning
as a gathering place for people with nowhere else to go."
"Is that so? Does that mean my understanding is
correct—that you, Max, are providing support to such people?"
"Yes! So, I think people will cooperate if I'm with
you. By the way... do you have any specific requests regarding what kind of
slaves you are looking for?"
A request for slaves... If I am to make a judgment, my
desire to see the very bottom is strong. People who, if I didn't buy them,
would be disposed of or killed. I believe I cannot make a decision unless I see
the lowest tier of slaves being sold.
"I want you to guide me to a shop that has slaves who
haven't sold for a long time."
"If that is the case, I suppose it would be Slave
Trader Johann's place. ...However, it is quite shocking; will you be
alright?"
"Yeah, I came prepared, so I'm fine."
I could tell the atmosphere around Max changed at my
request. Ginia and Aoi seemed to sense it as well, following
behind Max with expressions more serious than ever before.
He taught me various things about the Black Market as
we moved, but none of it entered my head. Apart from Max, we remained
almost entirely silent until we arrived at the slave trader in question.
"This is Slave Trader Johann's shop."
"I knew it would be, but this is an incredibly filthy
shop."
"Yeah. You might not think they buy and sell people
here."
"The inside is even more shocking. ...Are you
sure?"
"Ginia and Aoi, and the Guild Master,
please wait outside. There's no need for the three of you to accompany
me."
"...I will go with you. Ginia and Aoi
should stay outside."
"Eh? I will follow you too."
"Me too!"
For Max to give this much warning, it must be
extreme. They may have seen plenty during the battle with the Ogres, but this
is a different kind of horror. Though they said they wanted to come, I decided
to have the two girls wait outside.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but please, Ginia
and Aoi, wait here for now. If I judge it to be safe, I'll call you
immediately."
"............Understood. I am reluctant, but if Graham-san
says so, I will wait."
"Eeeh! I still want to follow... but if Ginia
says she'll wait, I'll wait."
"Thank you both. Well then, let's go inside, just the
three of us."
Leaving Ginia and Aoi to wait outside, the
three of us entered the visibly suspicious slave trader's shop. The exterior
was terrible, but the interior was considerably worse.
Everything was dilapidated and dim, but above all, the
stench was atrocious. The smell of wild beasts permeated the air; the moment we
entered, I knew this was a wretched place.
"This is... a far worse place than I imagined."
"You asked for the lowest in the Black Market,
after all. If you have other preferences, I can introduce you to a different
shop."
"No, it’s fine. Or
rather, nothing can truly begin until I’ve seen this."
The desire to turn away was strong, but turning back here
was not an option. We proceeded through the store with Max in the lead,
and what came into view was a crudely constructed iron cage.
A price tag of five gold coins was slapped carelessly onto
the iron cage, and inside, three women lay collapsed weakly. All three were
emaciated to the point where they were unbearable to look at, and judging by
their hair and skin, it was clear they hadn't bathed in tens of days.
And the most notable thing was that all three women were
missing one of their limbs. That was likely the reason they hadn't sold and
were being treated so roughly.
The fear I felt when entering the shop was already gone;
what I felt now was only intense rage. I could feel my breathing becoming
rough, and I felt a strong indignation at the fact that people were treating
other people this way.
"...Max, I've decided. For now, I'm purchasing
all three of them."
"Eh? Is it okay to decide so immediately?"
"Yeah. In exchange, negotiate the price down to the
limit. I don't want to make him think there's even a little bit of profit in
it. At worst, I don't mind resorting to force."
"............U-Understood. I know that if Graham-sama
resorts to force, this entire situation would turn into a catastrophe, so I
will negotiate the price with all my might!"
Max thumped
his chest once to psych himself up. Immediately after, he shouted loudly for
the person named Johann who ran this shop.
"Aahn? Who is it? Don't shout so loud. How annoying.
...Oh, isn't it Max."
Emerging from the back of the shop was a man with thinning, long
hair. He projected an air of filthiness, looking exactly like the slave trader
one would imagine.
So this man is Slave Trader Johann. In terms of
unpleasantness... he is overwhelmingly more unpleasant than Guanza.
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