Ties of the Slave Market
‘I should visit this slave market place sometime. I’m kind of curious what it actually looks like.’
Seo Jun, whose foundation was still that of a modern man, felt a spark of curiosity about how a slave market that bought and sold people actually operated.
“Excuse me, I overheard your conversation. Could you tell me where this slave market is being held?”
“Oh my~ Our handsome warrior has grown curious, has he? It starts at the open ground beside the North Gate from the hour of the rat onward. But don’t get your hopes up too much. The slave market is truly a matter of luck. You can’t judge it just by what you see on the surface.”
“Yes, I’m more interested in what the place looks like than in buying anything. Thank you for letting me know.”
Lunchtime was approaching. If he ate and then took his time heading toward the North Gate, he should be able to see it.
After finishing a simple lunch, Seo Jun walked slowly toward the North Gate. As he drew closer, a cacophony of noisy voices filled the air from all directions.
“Come, come! Look here! A young girl who will surely become the next Western Market beauty, only two thousand coins!”
“A diamond yaksha with the strength to repel even evil spirits in a single blow, just fifteen hundred coins!!!”
Prisoner wagons pulled by horses, used to transport criminals. Dozens of these wagons stood lined up in a long row, each one carrying about ten slaves—men and women separated. The slaves were filthy, covered in all kinds of grime. As he got closer, a rotten stench assaulted his nose. They all looked terribly thin and exhausted, as if they hadn’t eaten properly in a long time.
‘So this is what slaves waiting to be sold at the market look like? At least getting sold quickly would be better for them.’
It seemed far better to quickly find an owner and at least secure the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter. Though depending on the owner, some might end up longing for the days they spent in the slave market.
“Emi-nai! Get a hold of yourself!”
As Seo Jun slowly passed by the wagons, a young man’s voice reached his ears. It sounded like someone at the very tail end of adolescence, not quite an adult yet. The boy was larger than most grown men, but his face still held a youthful innocence. He was desperately hugging and shaking a girl who was smaller than himself.
However, what caught Seo Jun’s attention wasn’t the scene itself, but the Korean he was hearing for the first time since arriving in this world.
‘It’s definitely not the Korean I used to speak. Sounds like a northern dialect, but I can still understand most of it.’
A strange sense of fondness welled up inside him.
The girl seemed ill. Even beneath the dirt covering her, her skin had turned a dark, unhealthy shade.
“Oh, warrior sir, are you interested in those two children?”
When Seo Jun kept staring at them, a middle-aged man with a thin mustache—who appeared to be their seller—quickly approached, assuming interest.
“Normally we keep men and women separated, but those two are siblings. The girl is sick, so we’ve left them together like this.”
“The older brother refuses to be sold alone no matter what. If you want to buy him, you’ll have to take both of them.”
The merchant seemed to feel some pity for the pair. His expression as he looked at them carried clear regret.
Seo Jun’s heart wanted to help the children who spoke Korean after so long, but his current situation wasn’t comfortable enough for him to casually take responsibility for others.
“What are your names?”
“Huh?!”
The boy’s head snapped around at the suddenly understandable words. It wasn’t exactly the speech of his homeland, but the meaning came through clearly.
“I am A-chan.”
“And the sick girl is your little sister?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I can free the two of you from here and make sure your sister receives treatment. However, I’m very busy and won’t be able to take you with me or look after you personally. I’ll get you out of here, but once your sister recovers a bit, it would probably be best for you to return to your hometown. What do you think?”
The boy’s name was A-chan. Though his build was already larger than most adults, he was only eighteen years old. His sister’s name was A-on, and she was sixteen. A few days ago, after eating something wrong, her skin had begun turning black and she had lost consciousness.
‘The girl’s treatment looks urgent.’
Seo Jun decided to buy the two of them first, treat the girl, and then decide on the next steps.
“How much for these children?”
“You speak the Buyeo language? This is the first time I’ve seen someone around here use it. Quite interesting.”
“Just tell me the price.”
“Normally the boy’s size would command a higher price, but since you’d also be taking the girl who might die at any moment as a bonus, I’ll reduce it by five hundred coins. Just three thousand coins in total.”
Three thousand coins. The price for two children was only worth about thirty bushels of grain. To Seo Jun, who still carried the sensibilities of a modern person, the idea of buying and selling humans didn’t sit easily with him. Nevertheless, he paid the money and took the two children back to the inn where he was staying.
The innkeeper initially refused because of the children’s filthy appearance and stench, but Seo Jun rented out a separate annex so they could stay there.
After bathing, the two children changed into the new clothes Seo Jun had prepared and entered the room. They looked completely transformed. A-chan now appeared as a robust young man, while A-on still had a slightly youthful air about her. Yet her features were striking, suggesting she would grow into quite a beautiful woman once she became an adult.
A-on leaned lightly against A-chan, but after the warm bath she seemed to have regained some energy. She looked much better than before.
Knowing they hadn’t eaten properly for a long time, Seo Jun prepared soft foods for their meal.
“Eat slowly.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Unlike A-chan, who didn’t know the Han language, A-on could speak it fluently, if a bit slowly.
“So what you’re saying is that about ten days ago, you were all given food together. A-chan got sick for two days, A-on has been sick ever since, and most of the others died?”
‘Was there some poisonous herb mixed into the food? A-chan must have endured it because of his strong constitution, and A-on perhaps ate less?’
“If A-on’s condition keeps worsening, we need to treat her quickly.”
It would be best if she could meet a proper physician and receive treatment. However, finding a skilled doctor quickly in this place was difficult, and without knowing exactly what she had eaten, proper treatment would be problematic.
‘Hmm… Detoxification…!!’
Suddenly, he remembered the detoxification ability he had gained as a basic trait.
‘Does this only apply to me? Is there no way to use it on others?’
While pondering his detoxification ability, an idea suddenly occurred to Seo Jun. What if he let her drink his blood?
“A-on, this might sound strange, but listen carefully and then give me your answer.”
Seo Jun explained in a way that would be easier for them to accept. He told them he had learned something similar to sorcery, and that his blood might possess detoxifying properties. He suggested she try drinking it.
A-on explained what Seo Jun had said to A-chan once more.
“You’re saying you will share your blood with me?”
Unlike Seo Jun, who possessed modern sensibilities, the act of sharing blood carried the meaning of becoming family forever for A-on and A-chan. Surprise appeared on both their faces.
“That’s right.”
A-chan, whose heart had been burning with helplessness as he watched his sister grow weaker by the day, actively persuaded A-on. After a moment of hesitation, she finally agreed.
‘If it can save me, I have to try.’
A-on lay down straight on the bed. Though her darkened skin hid it, her heart was pounding wildly with embarrassment and tension.
‘If I survive, I’ll have to serve this man for the rest of my life, won’t I?’
Unaware of A-on’s thoughts, Seo Jun sat down beside her and drew his dagger.
“Close your eyes and open your mouth. If the blood drips, swallow it slowly so you don’t choke.”
“Yes.”
With a swift motion, the dagger sliced across the tip of Seo Jun’s left little finger. Blood began flowing down his finger and quickly disappeared into A-on’s mouth.
Gulp. Gulp.
After letting her drink roughly the amount of one paper cup, Seo Jun wrapped his finger with cloth to stop the bleeding.
Seo Jun and A-chan sat on chairs a short distance from the bed, watching A-on’s condition carefully.
A short while later, the black color that had covered A-on’s skin began to fade little by little, returning to its original fair tone.
“It’s working!!”
A-chan shouted with tears filling his eyes.
“I will serve my lord for the rest of my life and offer my life whenever you need it!”
“Enough. Get up already.”
After about an hour had passed, A-on’s skin had completely returned to its original color.
“My lord. Thank you so much. I will offer the life you have given me to you whenever you need it.”
Feeling the vitality returning throughout her body and realizing she had truly survived, A-on shed tears as she swore her oath to Seo Jun.
‘This man is my only master!’
Seo Jun was glad he had saved A-on, but he was even more satisfied to learn that his blood possessed detoxifying properties and could be used on others as well.