Gathering Companions IV
Yesterday, I ended up staying the night at the Faritia household, invited by Fana’s family, along with Stella, who had accompanied me for dinner.
As for the reason Fana’s mother called me over, it wasn’t to ask me to become Fana’s fiancé. Rather, she wanted to check if Fana was causing any trouble and to express her gratitude for looking after her daughter. It was clear from her words that she genuinely loved Fana, a sentiment that resonated with me—after all, a mother’s love for her child is a universal truth. I took the opportunity to inform her about Fana’s frequent mishaps, such as getting caught in traps or damaging her weapons and armor by recklessly jumping into obvious dangers.
As a result, Fana is currently being lectured at home. Fana’s mother, who seemed like a calm and elegant woman, suddenly chased after Fana in her dress the moment she tried to escape, capturing her and starting a joint lecture. After some twists and turns, Fana’s father got wind of the situation, and now Fana is being schooled on proper behavior… or so I heard from her younger brother before I left.
So now, here we are.
“So, where should we start looking?”
“I don’t have much familiarity with this area… For now, we need to restock our medical supplies. We’ve used quite a bit on our way here, so we should replenish those, and if possible, I’d like to acquire some spices as well. After that, we can check the public slave market for any useful slaves. If we find none, we can make a reservation at the underground market.”
“I see… then let’s head for the medical supplies first.”
“Yeah, I’ll leave the guiding to you.”
Stella and I ventured into the town below the castle to purchase supplies and scout the slave market. I learned last night that Stella’s connections were primarily with the Knight Order, and while she did have acquaintances who might meet our criteria, she couldn’t introduce them immediately. Thus, we decided to walk around the town this morning, restocking our supplies while keeping an eye on the slave market. Ideally, I would have liked to bring Fana along to gather her opinions, but given the circumstances, it was just the two of us—Stella, who knew the area well, leading the way.
As for finances, I didn’t receive gold from the Dragon’s Reverse Scale; instead, I borrowed money from House Faritia. I made a deal with them: for three requests, I would fulfill any task except for treason or risking our lives, and they would cover the expenses.
“This is the place. It’s not a large shop, but I can guarantee a wide variety and good efficacy.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“Yes, it may be a bit pricey.”
“Well, that’s not a problem.”
“Indeed.”
Thus, our first stop was a pharmacy. Nestled in a narrow alley off the main street, it had a peculiar atmosphere. Inside were an elderly woman who seemed to be the owner and a young woman who appeared to be her apprentice. Stella greeted them lightly, introduced me, and then the elderly woman approached me, leaving her apprentice to continue preparing potions. After a brief conversation, we purchased over thirty potions, antidotes, a dozen blood replenishment medicines and emetics, several vials of poison, and months’ worth of salt and pepper.
I had no idea who I was, but it turned out I had saved the elderly woman’s son on some battlefield, and she was about to offer me a discount of less than half the price. However, feeling it was too much, I declined, promising to return for our supplies later and wishing her to stay well until then.
“Over there. The ones lined up outside are all debt slaves who fell into servitude due to gambling or business failures, so we should go inside to see directly.”
“Hmm… that seems to be the case. At least, I can’t find anyone useful among those displayed. By the way, which shop do you recommend, Stella?”
“For quantity, the shop at the very back built of red bricks is the best. For quality, the marble shop directly across from it. Both are run by the same merchant, with the red brick shop owned by the younger brother and the marble shop by the elder.”
“Oh? Are they superior to others?”
“Rather than superior, they cater to nobles and royalty, so they should always have competent individuals available. My former boss used to buy slaves from there, so I can vouch for it.”
“I see… then let’s take a quick look at the red brick shop first, and afterward, we’ll check the marble shop.”
“Understood. Let’s go.”
Having secured the necessary potions and spices at the first shop, we proceeded to the public slave market. We passed by the humans in cages, all wearing collars and shouting to be bought, and the people inspecting them, unsure if they were evaluating their prices or their appearances, as we headed toward the shop Stella indicated.
On the way, I glanced at the slaves lined up outside, but none of them seemed capable enough to be considered as potential allies. While a few might have met a relaxed standard, their debts were primarily from gambling, habitual theft, and destruction of borrowed items, which made me unwilling to take on such burdens. I had no intention of denying their circumstances, but considering them as companions would only lead to trouble.
“Welcome!”
Ignoring the line, Stella confidently walked into the shop, and a man who appeared to be the owner approached us. Stella requested to see all the slaves, and we were led deeper into the shop.
Inside, we found many slaves housed in a room that was more refined than a campsite. They ranged in age from children to the elderly, of all genders, but upon a quick glance, I realized that none of them could be considered hidden gems. It wasn’t just about their appearance or health; fundamentally, most of them seemed ill-suited for the life-or-death battles we faced.
While they might become reasonably strong with training, I feared that when confronted with high-ranking demons or monsters like dragons, they would succumb to fear and become paralyzed, ultimately unable to fight. I conveyed my thoughts to Stella, and after a brief look around, I confirmed that none of them met our needs.
“How did it go?”
“Not good.”
“I see. Shall we take our leave then?”
“Yeah.”
As we wrapped up our conversation, Stella quietly asked for my opinion, and I confirmed my disappointment. She then informed the owner that we hadn’t found anyone suitable and that we would be leaving for now. We exited the room where the slaves were lined up and headed across the street to another shop.
However, the shop across the street was not much different, leading us to decide to check the underground slave market instead. The quality was indeed good, and most of the appearances were appealing, but even those with strength could only contend with mid-tier demons, which didn’t justify a purchase.
Additionally, I found the owner’s gaze personally unappealing; he looked down on us as if appraising us, so even if I had found someone I liked, I probably wouldn’t have bought them.
“Oh? It’s been a while, Desire.”
“…Who are you?”
“Hmm, well, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t remember, as we only exchanged a few words. I’m Hermes, the merchant who arranged the carriage for you when you went to hunt the Mocking Bloodflow.”
“Ah… I remember now. The carriage… I apologize for the delay; I ended up breaking the carriage and losing the horses.”
“No worries. Considering you defeated the Mocking Bloodflow, that expense was minimal. So, what brings you to a place like this? I didn’t think you’d visit a market like this.”
“I need to make a reservation at the underground slave market.”
“I see. In that case, allow me to handle the arrangements.”
“…Is that alright?”
“Of course. However, you will need to accompany us on the day of the event. Is that acceptable?”
“Just a moment.”
“Do you think we can trust him?”
“I believe there shouldn’t be any issues. Hermes is currently the only merchant allowed to speak directly with the king.”
“I see.”
“Then, can I leave it to you?”
“Yes, leave it to me. I will contact you once I know the schedule and your availability. Where should I send the message?”
“Can you send it to House Faritia?”
“The residence of the current Knight Commander? Understood.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
At the entrance to the underground slave market at the edge of the town, I unexpectedly ran into Hermes, a merchant with a plump figure who vaguely lingered in my memory. He was the one who had provided me with transportation before, and now he was willing to handle the arrangements for me. Stella informed me that he was a merchant who could trade directly with the king, so I felt confident in entrusting him with the task.
Still, I felt it was a bit too generous for him to help me without any compensation, so I decided to give him the Dragon’s Eye and Horn, which I had almost forgotten about. He seemed hesitant to accept, but I insisted, as it would only gather dust in my bag otherwise.
Additionally, I wanted to investigate the gazes directed at us since entering this alley, hoping to clear up any lingering issues.