Chapter 14
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 014
Chapter Title: Slave
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‘War, huh.’
Andy, who had been eavesdropping on the mercenaries’ conversation, mulled over the war.
The conflict between the Federation and the Empire had raged for over ten years. By the time he’d become aware enough to even think about such things, the continent was already fully embroiled in it.
In truth, Andy didn’t feel the war all that keenly.
This was a sleepy rural village on the frontier. It had little to do with the fighting. Even as the outside world churned with chaos, this place remained relatively peaceful.
He only picked up bits and pieces about the war from the mercenaries and merchants passing through.
“Anyway, the war’s taking a bad turn. Better stay cautious for a while. If it feels dicey, just bolt.”
“Easier said than done. If we run, the army we’re hired to—the employers—will lose their shit.”
“Screw their shit. We can’t die for a paycheck.”
“The Empire’s troops are filthy strong...”
“We’ve got the numbers, but they’re still pushing us back. Gotta admit, the Empire bastards are something else.”
The Empire and the Federation. The two colossal powers that split the continent between them. Their armies each had distinct characteristics.
The Empire’s forces were fewer in number but formidable. They didn’t bother with low-rent mercenaries, relying solely on their proper, professional standing army to wage war.
The Federation’s army, by contrast, was weaker individually but vast in scale. Though each soldier lacked prowess, they compensated with sheer numbers and hired guns to face the Empire.
It was elite, well-trained imperial troops versus the Federation’s masses, making up for poor training with volume.
‘Who’ll come out on top, I wonder?’
For over a decade, the Federation and Empire had seesawed back and forth. Sometimes the Federation advanced; other times, the Empire pressed in.
Right now, the tide seemed to favor the Empire. They’d breached the Lupoff Fortress guarded by knight orders and were marching south...
Even in early winter, with this momentum, it wasn’t impossible they might actually reach this far.
‘Not that it’d happen, of course.’
Truth be told, these crisis scares weren’t new.
Every time the front lines buckled, the Federation plugged the gaps with heaps of gold and reinforcements. That’s how, for over ten years, not a single imperial soldier had set foot this far.
They’d hold this time too. No need to worry excessively.
‘Still, I should ramp up my magic training. Just in case the Empire does show up... I’ll have to protect myself.’
On the other hand, Andy resolved to double down on his magic practice for whatever might come.
Once he achieved a decent level of magical prowess, he could fend for himself even if an army invaded.
Andy hustled about, attending to the inn’s guests.
Late evening, after the inn work wrapped up.
Andy stepped out and headed to the village square.
Merchants had set up shop there, deep in the thick of business.
“What?! You’re only paying this much for a sack of wheat? Aren’t you taking too big a cut?!”
“Hey, we’ve got no choice. Food’s flooding in from the west, prices have tanked. This is the best we can do.”
“Hey, ma’am! Check out these warm clothes before you go. Great prices!”
“Snacks the kids’ll love!”
The village square bustled with a dozen or so wagons parked for commerce.
It was a familiar sight. This happened every time a caravan rolled in.
Andy browsed the merchants’ wares one by one. Rare items not seen in the village day-to-day made it fun to look.
‘Not that I have money to buy anything...’
But window-shopping was free, right? Ogling the merchants’ goods was entertainment in itself.
The assortment was varied: iron farming tools, warm clothing, cheap trinkets... Mostly stuff that’d sell well in a rural spot like this.
Yet amid them were items that seemed out of place in such a backwater.
“Whoa! Mister, these people are all slaves?!”
“Kid, beat it.”
“They look so pitiful! Skinny from starvation!”
At the far end sat a wagon unlike the others, barred with iron cage and half-covered by a tarp.
A slave transport cart.
Village kids had pulled back the tarp to peer inside, chattering noisily.
“Mister! Mister! Why are they slaves?”
“...Criminals, or street-begging orphans.”
“Orphans? We’ve got one orphan in our village.”
“Hey... shh!”
The kids, spotting Andy, clammed up.
Andy clicked his tongue softly.
‘A slave trader’s come to town.’
Slaves. Surprisingly, they were legal in the Federation. Traded openly as “goods.”
Criminals guilty of major offenses, or city orphans who were nothing but trouble, rounded up and put to work.
Andy turned to eye the slave wagon.
Beyond the half-pulled tarp and iron bars, the slaves were visible.
Half adults, half children. The adults were probably criminals turned slaves for heinous crimes. The kids, homeless orphans.
‘If I’d been born in a city, I’d probably be sold off as one by now.’
In that sense, Andy was one of the lucky orphans. Worked like a slave, sure, but not actually one.
The boy swallowed a bitter smile.
‘What a piece of work I am. Feeling relieved just because others have it worse.’
Andy didn’t pity the enslaved kids. He felt relief that it wasn’t him. Ashamed of his own ugliness, that’s what the boy felt.
As he stared at the slave cart,
the trader spoke up.
“What’re you gawking at, black-hair? You an orphan? Too bad. If this were a city, I’d nab you and sell you off as a catamite... Pretty face like yours would’ve fetched top coin.”
“...”
Catamite? What’s that?
He’d never heard the word, but Andy’s gut screamed it wasn’t anything good.
As Andy furrowed his brow, the slaver continued.
“Why not sell yourself into slavery? A looker like you wouldn’t have it rough. I’d sell you to some rich noble house, pampered as a lady’s plaything. Beats starving in this rural dump, right? Living it up in a mansion? Sure, you’d work the bed hard, but...”
“Whoa! Andy’s going to a mansion?!”
“Nah, an orphan in a mansion? Don’t lie, mister.”
“Heh heh. It happens. You kids wouldn’t get it.”
Andy still didn’t grasp what the man meant, but his mood soured fast. He could tell he was being mocked.
Andy turned and walked away from the slaver. From behind came the man’s voice.
“Wanna head to the city? Just say the word! I’ll hook you up with a decent master!”
Andy clenched his fists tight. They trembled with irritation and rage.
Offended, Andy stormed back to the inn, barricaded himself in his tiny room, and cracked open his book.
‘Magic’s all I’ve got.’
Magic! Become a proper mage, and no one would look down on him for being an orphan.
Face full of fury, he glared holes through the spellbook.
The boy wished desperately to become a true mage, beyond anyone’s scorn.
Today, too, he trained in magic.
Two days passed.
The outsiders who’d visited the village began departing one by one.
“See you in spring, after winter ends.”
“Safe travels!”
Caravans and mercenary bands rolled out. Their wagons slowly receded into the distance.
Now they’d pass through other villages on their way to the front.
The mercenaries would join the battles; the traders would sell to the armies for profit.
The slaves in those wagons... probably cannon fodder at the front, used up and discarded.
Andy turned to survey the village. As if the past two days’ racket had been a lie, it had returned to its idyllic calm.
“Phew. Finally, the caravans are gone. Now we can breathe.”
With dozens of outsiders gone, peace settled in. No more haggling crowds or sword-toting mercenaries guzzling booze.
No busyness for a while.
Andy turned toward the village chief’s house.
‘Today’s the day I start learning letters.’
The appointed day with the chief had arrived. He’d head there every morning to learn reading and writing.
But the boy felt uneasy.
‘Will the chief actually teach me properly?’
The chief’s character wasn’t the best.
Greedy and power-hungry, he didn’t have a great rep among villagers.
He’d caught flak for not helping neighbors during famines, and for dumping all the dirty work on others.
Purely selfish.
Villagers disliked him. They followed only because the lord appointed him.
‘Knowing his personality... he might half-ass it.’
Given what Andy knew of him, a diligent lesson seemed unlikely. Hard not to worry.
But Andy wasn’t one to back down.
‘I’ll learn letters no matter what. Even if he slacks, if I work hard, I’ll manage.’
Even in harsh conditions, Andy had honed his magic daily, steadily improving. The chief’s flaws wouldn’t deter his burning ambition.
He’d grind it out and master letters. Essential for city life anyway.
“Chief! It’s me!”
-Knock knock knock.
Arriving at the chief’s house, Andy rapped on the door. Small footsteps pattered inside, and it swung open.
“Come on in! Andy!”
It wasn’t Chief Patrick who answered. It was his daughter, Laura.
Three years Andy’s senior at fifteen, with bright blonde hair and a smattering of freckles.
“Hurry inside! Oh, hang your coat there!”
“...”
Guided by Laura, Andy entered the house. He glanced around. No sign of the chief.
Andy squinted and asked her.
“Laura sis. Isn’t the chief here? We were supposed to start lessons with him today...”
“Oh! Dad didn’t tell you?”
Laura grinned at his words.
“I’m the one teaching you. I’m your teacher starting today.”
“...Huh?”
“Call me teacher. Go on, Andy.”
Andy frowned, and Laura burst into giggles, doubling over.
The boy pieced it together.
‘So... he dumped me on his daughter.’
Chief Patrick, too lazy to teach himself, had offloaded the job to Laura.
The boy sighed quietly.
‘Guess I’ll hope Laura sis does a good job.’
He’d try learning from her first. If it sucked, he’d complain to the chief.
The deal was letters in exchange for forgiving ten gold coins in debt. He’d better get his money’s worth.
With mild apprehension, Andy began his lessons.