Western Continent, August 10, 2812:


"So this is the back alley....

　As the sun passed the zenith and began to slope into the western sky, Ryoma was in the northern district of Ipylos.
　In front of Ryoma's eyes, a dimly lit, rotten-smelling alleyway stretched on and on.
　Although it was only one street inward from the main street, a gloomy gloom that did not exist on the main street covered the street.

'There's a corner with a row of slave-dealing shops at the back of this one.

　Ryoma nodded lightly at Laura's voice and stepped into the darkest part of the fortified city of Ipylos.
　Towards the deepest depths of darkness that lurked in the city of Ipylos.


''You have come well. Nobleman!　Is this your first visit to our store?　We are honored to be here. We, the Abtal Trading Company, are the largest slavers in Ipiros. We have a large stock of slaves, from labor and s*x slaves to war slaves. I am sure that you will find a slave that meets the needs of your nobleman.

　When he said that, a large, bearded man who called himself the shopkeeper bowed his head grandly at the storefront.
　Around him, the slaves in chains stare into the air with downcast eyes.
　The man who seemed to be the owner of the store had greasy skin and eyes clouded with gold and color. On his face it is clearly written, "I am greedy".
　His physique is huge in both height and width. His height is only slightly shorter than Ryoma, but his width is definitely three times as wide.
　He was dressed in a robe with a long hem, and his body was adorned with jewelry. The leather whip that was hung around his waist was extremely raw in such an outfit.
　It would surely whip the rebellious slave. The non-slip leather wrapped around the hilt gave it a smooth sheen that was evidence of use.

'I want ... a slave ...'

　Ryoma stifled his emotions as much as he could and said a few words to the shopkeeper.
　He did his best to stifle the strong emotions that were rising up from his mind.
　If Saara and Laura hadn't been clutching the hem of the cloak Ryoma wore, he would have slammed a rain of fists into the slaver's face, who was grinning in front of him.
　But the shopkeeper didn't understand what was going through Ryoma's mind.

''Oh!　Thank you for this, every time. So, nobleman. Is it labor slaves that you seek?　Or are you a semen slave to play in your bedroom?　The number of war slaves is limited, but we do have some in stock. Please feel free to tell me what to do.

　The owner of the shop smiles with a big smile on his face and constantly folds his hands in the air.
　This man, despite his slow and heavy build, seems to have a way of speaking that does not match his appearance.
　And he also has a great eye for judging a customer.
　I'm sure there are a lot of people who can tell that he's a nobleman just by looking at his outfit.
　It's a good thing that you're wearing the silk shirt and cloak that you bought to visit Count Salzberg, but you're not wearing any ornaments that would indicate your status as a nobleman.

'A slave, but we need numbers. And there are some conditions. The number of men and women between the ages of 10 and 15, roughly the same proportion of men and women I'll buy only if they're healthy and in good shape. I want three hundred men for now and if you can't get the numbers in your shop, then call on your colleagues in this town to get them.

　At Ryoma's words, the shopkeeper looked doubtful.
　It was because his words were too unexpected.

''Excuse me, nobleman-sama, but isn't that too young?　If you were a labor slave, would you be older... well, yes, only men around 20 years old?　Besides, you're not much of a body for a labor slave to toy with, are you?　Since all good-looking people, whether young girls or boys, are sold as s*x slaves, there is no such thing as a good-looking person to be sold as a labor slave.　　

　When he says that, the shopkeeper turns his probing gaze to Ryoma.

　Labor slaves are mainly used for agricultural purposes. They are treated the same as farm cows and farm horses.
　The value of a labor slave, then, is the amount of muscle power that is cultivated in its body.
　A man's muscles are stronger than a woman's, and it's only natural that a man would want more working men around 20 than children.
　No one would order an equal number of men and women from the beginning, even if they were willing to buy female slaves if there weren't enough of them.
　At least, the shopkeeper was the first in his long experience in the slave trade.
　Moreover, there are no people who specify early teenage slaves, who are in the middle of growing up, unless they are a girly person with a "Lolita complex".
　First of all, their muscle strength is less developed than that of adults. And because they are in their growth phase, they have extra money to spend on food.
　In other words, it's like a car with bad fuel economy. Few people would choose to buy such a car by any means.
　It's only natural that the owner of the store wondered about it and asked. But Ryoma answered the shopkeeper's question with a cold, cold tone of voice.

''What does it matter to you?''

　When that voice was uttered, the bodies of the sisters who were standing behind Ryoma trembled for a moment. And it was the same for the shopkeeper.
　It's not that they raised their voice in any particular way. From the tone 《tone》 of his voice, it could even be said to be calm.
　But the murderous intent contained in his voice became a cold blade that cut through the surroundings.
　That was clearly conveyed even to the shopkeeper, who had no background in martial arts.

''I'm going to be killed...''

　The scene of his own head being slashed off was vivid in the shopkeeper's mind.

　He had killed numerous slaves in his life.
　Slaves who were too old. A slave who was rebellious. Slaves who had lost parts of their bodies. Slaves affected by disease. And the slaves we have dealt with the most are child slaves.
　Children who are not expected to be in the labor force are just a hindrance.
　First, they buy them cheaply, chain them to their collars, and line them up at the storefront.
　Priority is given to the better looking children and those who are older and stockier than they are, because they have a use for them. Because they have a use for them.
　But of course there are some kids who can't stay in business forever. Those ordinary children who cannot be sold after a certain period of time will be killed by the slavers.
　It's a waste of money to feed them....
　And they are left with a huge amount of sales.
　That's how they've grown fat. On countless corpses.
　Still, he didn't think anything of it. It was only the slaves he killed. They were nothing more than objects in human form.
　When a person is treated as a thing, all emotions disappear. They don't feel pity or anything. That's because it's just an object.
　And right now, Ryoma's eyes staring at the shopkeeper have the same light that the shopkeeper usually gives to his slaves.

''I........no!　I beg your pardon!　Please forgive me. I'm sorry!　Please ... please forgive me!　Please. Please, please........

　The shopkeeper quickly crawled into the ground and squatting.
　The fact that there are slaves around him was not on his mind. This is not the time to be vain, but to beg for pity.
　You have to beg for mercy.
　It doesn't matter if the man standing in front of him is a nobleman or not. Even if he were a commoner, or even if he were a slave, the shopkeeper would have done the same thing.
　A clear power difference separated the two sides.

''Liangma-sama........''

　Laura pulled Ryoma's cloak tighter as she looked down at the shopkeeper, who was still prostrate on the floor and unmoving.
　Honestly, both Laura and Saara couldn't help but want to kill this slaver.
　The scene they had seen before coming to this shop was so gruesome and unbelievably horrible that it was almost unbelievable.
　Dirty skin. The scars of the whip running countless times. I'm sure they hadn't taken a bath in months. The children's hair is twisted and they are wearing only the minimum amount of underwear. No, the child who is wearing underwear is still lucky. The majority of slaves are naked.
　The light of will is gone from their eyes and they stare into the void.
　It's despair in human form.
　Both Saara and Laura are slaves in the first place.
　But they were born into the family of a senior knight and were educated.
　And above all, they were beautiful. So even though they were slaves, they had never been treated like the children tied up in this alley.
　In that sense, it could even be said that Azos, the slaver who bought the sisters, was still a better person.
　Compared to the man crawling down in front of him.

''Ryoma-sama.......now.......''

　Laura pulls Ryoma's cloak tighter again.

''I know ... it's okay ... I'm not going to forget myself ...''

　As Ryoma said that, he struggled to control the rage that was blowing up.
(Calm down ... no ... no ... now I just can't ... what happens if I kill this guy here and now?　You can't save anyone. (Yes ... no one ...)
　As they made their way through the alleyway, Ryoma felt increasingly angry.
　But he couldn't let it explode in this place now.
　This is Count Salzberg's territory. And the slavers are legitimate merchants with the count's permission.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time with us.
　There is nothing Ryojin can do now. It is because he understands that that he has been flogged and walked past a screaming child.
　But the knowing words of the shopkeeper in front of him poured oil on Ryoma's anger.
　Ryoma desperately tried to hold on to the fact that the brakes he had been holding down were about to pop off.

''Enough........look up........''

'Ha!　Yes, sir!　I'm sorry.

　Liang Shin's words, the shopkeeper reacted immediately.
　It's not a waste of time to try to figure out what's going on.
　He instinctively knew that if he displeased Ryojin again, his life would be extinguished like a candle.

''I ask you again........three hundred healthy, five-bodied slaves, male and female, between the ages of 10 and 15. Can you prepare them?　Can't you do it?

　Liangma repeated the same question again.

''Mo........Of course, I will arrange it as requested by the nobleman!　You can count on me. I'll risk my life to make sure you're satisfied.

　This time, the shopkeeper didn't waste any time talking.
　He quickly answered Ryoma's question.

''Fine ... first of all, the amount, how much is the total for 300 people?''

'Ha!　

How much is it?

　Ryoma interrupted the stammering shopkeeper's words with his hand, and Ryoma asked again, irritably.

''How about 1.5 million baht for the whole thing!

　A head of 5,000 baht per head. In Japanese yen terms, it was only about 100,000.
　I don't know if he was pressured by Ryoma's murderous spirit and discounted it, or if this is the value of children in this world, but it's an acceptable price, even for Ryoma.

''Fine........what time do we have it?''

'Ha!　Yes, sir!　We don't have the numbers in our store alone, so if you could give us a week or so to get them!

Okay where do I get it?

'I'm sorry, but with 300 people, it's a bit of a stretch in the city...how about the suburbs?'

　Certainly the owner was right, there was no way he could deliver 300 slaves in this back alley.　
　It would require a reasonably large space.
(Either way, the only way to train in the legal arts would be to go to the outskirts of the city... the Woltenia peninsula to the north, the border area with Zaruda to the west... or the eastern suburbs if you want to encamp.)
　Ryouma did a quick calculation and turned to the shopkeeper and said.

''I'll pick it up in the eastern suburbs I'll pay half the money now. The rest is after you receive the money. Is that clear?

　After receiving the bag of gold coins from Saara's hand, Ryoma transferred them to the empty bag, counting the number of coins one by one.

It's 750,000 baht. Please check and collect the money.

I'm home!　Please wait a moment.

　As I shouted that, the shopkeeper grabbed the bag of gold coins handed to him by Ryoma and ran into the shop. Then he grabbed the bag and ran out of the store.
　I didn't check the bag at all.
　It's an unusual behavior for a merchant, but in this case, there is no one to blame for the shopkeeper.

''Then ... in a week, outside the east gate ... okay?''

'Yes!　Thank you for your service. Don't worry, we'll be sure to deliver your items to you outside the east gate in a week's time!

　Ignoring the shopkeeper, who bent his body to nearly 90 degrees and bowed deeply, Ryoma quickly left the place.
　He didn't want to stay here any longer.　
　Ryoma desperately fought back the nausea that was rising in him.
　The lust that people give off, the stench of malice that stinks to the point of vomiting, was hammering at Ryoma's heart.

　Quickly running through the back alleys, Ryoma and the others finally returned to the brightly lit streets of the main street.
　The three of them inhaled heavily in the calm western sun.

''Ryoma-sama.......are you alright?''

　Towards Ryouma's back, Laura called out with concern.

''Oh I'm fine ... are you two okay?''

　At Ryoma's words, the sisters nodded silently.
　Their expressions were hard and strong, but they seemed to be starting to regain their composure.

''So this is the darkness of this town.......d*mn it!

　We've learned these things beforehand. And as for the institution of slavery...
　But the reality was even harsher and dirtier than Ryoma had imagined.
(I'll change ... I'll definitely change it!
　Ryoma swore in his mind.

　I understand that this is only a matter of self-satisfaction.
　This is the reality of this "earth" world. I'm sure you'll be able to see that Ryoma is only able to save a tiny fraction of the total.