The Slave Bazaar of Kegen
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Starring: Derek Walker 4
Clunk! Clunk! Clunk!
Inside the jostling carriage, Lady Isabel Benellia stared endlessly out the window. The monotonous mountain path stretched on forever.
Was she gazing at the scenery beyond the glass?
Or at her own reflection in it?
The coachman pulling Lady Isabel Benellia's carriage was dead. Naturally, the lady had no skills in driving one, so she had no choice but to hitch a ride with us.
I readily offered to take her to her next destination, Kegen. Our paths overlapped with the snowy mountains I was headed to anyway.
In the heavy silence of the carriage, Kelly was the first to speak. She tapped her staff—nearly as tall as she was—and opened her mouth.
"What kind of city is this Kegen place?"
It didn't seem like she was genuinely curious about Kegen. She was probably just forcing a conversation topic to break the awkward quiet.
Come to think of it, Kelly was in the same boat as Lady Isabel Benellia.
Kelly's true identity was the princess of the Mailock Kingdom.
She too was being hunted by her own blood over a succession war. Was she feeling a sense of kinship with the lady in the same predicament?
Kelly's expression as she looked at Lady Isabel Benellia was anything but ordinary.
"Kegen's famous around here as a commercial hub. There are several dungeons nearby, and it's a key transportation point with well-paved roads."
Slave markets aren't in every village. Slaves are expensive goods by nature, so they're set up in cities with the buying power to match. I've done plenty of slave trading myself, so I know the drill.
"It's known for its tea as a specialty product. The angel fountain in the city center is renowned for its massive size and exquisite craftsmanship. But the real claim to fame is the slave market."
Oh ho. Famous for its slave market, huh? Might be able to snag some decent slaves there.
We rode the carriage for about four hours like that. The rugged mountain roads gave way to properly paved ones.
A signpost stood by the roadside. In the direction we were heading, the word "Kegen" was engraved. We were on the right track.
"Master. We're approaching the next city soon."
A city wall about five meters high came into view in the distance. A line of carriages like ours and merchants stretched out in front of it, waiting. That was a hallmark of a well-developed commercial city.
The road leading here had been impeccably maintained, so Lady Isabel Benellia's words about it being a famous trade city didn't seem like exaggeration. Other travelers started appearing too.
We tacked onto the end of the long queue and waited for inspection. It was our turn about an hour later.
Fucking takes forever.
"Hello. What brings you to Kegen?"
I've been through so many inspections by now that I knew the routine cold.
"Here for trade."
"Who are you, and what group's your affiliation?"
"I'm Derek Walker, head of the Walker Merchant Company."
"Walker Merchant Company... Hmm. Doesn't ring a bell as a big name around here."
The guard eyed me up and down as he said that. Looked like the Walker Company's reputation hadn't spread far beyond our borders yet.
"From the Miles Kingdom."
"Ah, foreigners. Kegen has strict entry rules for crime prevention—we only let in those with verified identities. Even merchant companies need a solid reputation to come and go freely."
What a picky bastard. I pulled out the coin pouch from my belt. I'd dealt with this plenty of times before.
"Nothing builds credit like coin. Enjoy your stay."
The guard smoothly opened the gate. Better for me if they took bribes and looked the other way.
Our carriage entered Kegen.
Commercial City of Kegen
Having come from the Miles Kingdom, I didn't know much about this city. If it wasn't in my memories from playing the original game, it probably wasn't a major story location.
Kegen reminded me of Telivai, the first city I'd seen in this world. Not in appearance, but in vibe.
The well-paved roads overflowed with people, surrounded by big and small two- and three-story buildings. Aside from the ramshackle slums reeking of mildew clustered on the east side, the city looked pretty clean on the surface.
Most carriages on the roads belonged to merchant companies, loaded with wooden crates.
They were heading to the central trading post. It had a vast parking area for two hundred carriages, bustling with hundreds of people haggling over goods.
"Cheap! Cheap! Korean pine staffs for just 5 coppers! Not something you see every day!"
"Top-gradeバイス vine leather for 1 silver!バイス vine leather! Perfectly tanned, ready for fabric right away!"
"Korean pine staff for 4 coppers! You won't find it cheaper!"
"Cool beer before you go! 1 copper a mug! Come on, everyone—don't toil under this sun without a drink!"
"Korean pine staff to bash monsters with—for 3 coppers! No, 2 coppers! Take it for 2!"
The merchants' booming cries made it feel like a traditional market, which soured my mood completely.
I hate traditional markets. Never bought a thing there after seeing some snack vendor touch blood sausage with unwashed, cigarette-stinking hands.
That Korean pine staff must not be selling for shit. Price just dropped another copper.
"Such a lively place. Makes me feel upbeat just being here."
Kelly beamed as she said it. I'd figured a princess like her would hate the noise and stench, but she was full of surprises.
Especially since spirit summoners usually preferred untouched wilderness. Most in the game did.
"Gawking at the trading post is fine, but first things first—we need the slave market."
Our top priority was rescuing Lady Isabel Benellia's siblings. That's why we were here.
Finding the slave market was easy. A huge building attached to the left of the trading post had "Slave Exchange" written on it. Not as massive as the trading post, but impressive in its own right.
Unlike the trading post full of shady riffraff, the slave exchange teemed with well-dressed merchants, veteran mercenaries, and nobles in fine attire. Only folks with the cash to buy slaves.
"Milady. How about changing clothes before we hit the slave exchange?"
"My clothes? Ah... right."
Guilty or not, she was currently the second daughter of a rebel house. Running into someone who knew her face would spell trouble.
Plus, slave exchanges crawled with traders desperate to snag slaves. No surprise if one recognized her.
As I suggested, Lady Isabel Benellia bought some clothes from a shop.
Not fancy noble garb, but commoner wear. A white blouse with exposed shoulders topped by a brown vest, a red-and-black mixed skirt, and a white headscarf. Shoes swapped for ankle-high brown leather boots.
"It suits you perfectly!"
Not flattery—it really did. I'd half-expected a "How do I even wear this?" moment, but she coordinated it flawlessly to fit her like a glove. No beginner's work. Must've had a strong independent streak even before her family fell.
"I've snuck around villages in commoner clothes with my sister sometimes."
Experience-born skill, as expected.
Perfect commoner cosplay. Even if someone who knew her saw her face, they'd just think "Some lookalike peasant."
"Alright, then. Off to the slave market."
We entered the slave exchange together. To avoid stares, Luna and Kelly hid their faces under thick robes. Both were stunning beauties who drew eyes easily.
The slave exchange had two sections: the general slave trading area and the premium slave trading area.
Premium slaves meant skilled fighters like sword users or beautiful sex slaves.
High-status slaves counted too. Toying with the fallen elite taps into humanity's uglier instincts, so those fetch top prices.
I have those instincts myself.
"Hrm... This way."
Lady Isabel Benellia steeled herself and headed into the general slave trading area. Her siblings were probably in premium. It was deeper inside.
"Auctions going on."
Kelly glanced around as she said it. Most slave trades were auctions, especially for pricier ones.
Small stages dotted the area for impromptu auctions. Slaves in leg irons or collars climbed up in groups.
"Fresh slaves here! Fresh slaves! Not your everyday stock! Starting bid: 4 silvers!"
"That one's looking scrawny."
"Gotta go under 5 silvers to break even."
"Hey, boss! This one's body okay?"
"Of course. Just two leg wounds, one useless arm, and a rickety back—otherwise perfect."
The general area held your standard slaves: burly men or ugly women mostly.
A few sickly ones were mixed in—usually mages.
Prices varied wildly but hovered around 10 silvers. The pricier ones hit 20 to 50.
Not much more than Telivai or Coolong County. Actually cheap—sign of a thriving market. More volume means lower prices.
"Looks like premium slave sales start here."
Luna whispered beside me. A wooden door ahead bore the inscription "Premium Slave Trading Area."
Two men in gray leather guarded it. Not for just anyone.
"I'd like to browse the premium slave trading area."
The bald guy on the left eyed me up and down as I approached. My decent outfit probably convinced him I had money.
"First time here? Premium area requires a 1-gold deposit."
Even a deposit. I pulled out my coin pouch and handed over 1 gold.
"Received. Wear this necklace inside."
He gave me a necklace with a red gem.
"What's this?"
"In emergencies, the gargoyles inside activate. They attack anyone without the gem necklace indiscriminately. Keep it on at all times."
Pretty thorough setup.