Chapter 128 - Slave Market Liberation Quest

I was a fox beastkin living in a remote mountain village on the East Continent. The youngest daughter of the tribe chief, who represented us fox beastkin, and a brave warrior to boot.

"...Cold."

But right now, I'm trapped in this frigid, icy prison cell.

"Alright, this is our beastkin corner! One of the most popular sections in our market!"

From what I can overhear from the humans' chatter, it seems I've been captured and brought to a slave market. And not just any slave market, but one far from my homeland, on the South Continent.

"Hoo..."

Where the hell did it all go wrong? Was wanting freedom such a grave sin?

"What are those? Fox beastkin?"

"Oh my, how cute. Look at those perky ears."

As I huddled there lost in such thoughts, noisy voices erupted around me.

"...Leave 'em alone. Those things are crazy expensive."

"But they're so adorable..."

I cracked my eyes open slightly and saw people in strange clothes staring at me with curious gazes.

"Grrr..."

"Look at her baring her teeth!"

"Whoa... so cute."

Being treated like some spectacle pissed me off so much that I bared my fangs in a threat, but they just gawked even more fascinated. To think my full-powered glare didn't scare them—such humiliation for a proud fox beastkin warrior.

"Human, get lost."

I couldn't take it anymore and grabbed the bars, spitting curses. But...

"She talks? Awesome."

"Oppa, buy me one!"

"No way, budget's exceeded. Young, pretty beastkin like that are way too pricey. And since it's not from the West Continent but the East Continent, there's a premium..."

They kept treating me like merchandise.

Crack!!

"Kek!"

As rage boiled over at that fact, a vicious whip lashed toward me. The bars are so sturdy inside the cage—why can't they block a whip from outside? Is this what the elders called sorcery?

"Shut up and mix in with the others over there."

The man wielding the whip looked down at me pitifully.

"Reckless little brat."

"Urk..."

Back home, I'd just sink my teeth into an arrogant punk like him... But...

Heavy...

Ever since they slapped this weird bracelet on my arm, my body's gone limp. It looks like a thin, ordinary trinket—why does it weaken me so? More sorcery?

"Little bitch, even so...!"

As those thoughts swirled, he raised the whip overhead again.

"Eek..."

"Good, stay put there until a master fit for you shows up."

I'm not scared of some puny whip. Me, a candidate for next fox beastkin war chief, cower from a human's lash? No way.

"Kiiing..."

"Sis, I'm cold... hungry..."

"Shh, be quiet...!"

The reason I backed down was worry for the little fox beastkin kids behind me. If no one was back there, I'd have resisted to the bitter end, even if it shattered my body.

...For real.

"Sis with the weird tail, lemme borrow your tail!"

"...I said be quiet!"

As I quietly blended into the group and huddled, one grubby little kid pointed at my tail and whined. We've only been stuck here a few days, and she's already nagging to borrow it—what a pain. Though... what's so weird about my fluffy, pretty tail? Sure, looking around, everyone else's tails are different shapes. Maybe since I'm the only East Continent fox beastkin here, it stands out...

"So fluffy~"

"Eut."

The kid who'd been eyeing my tail curiously ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flopped down, using it as a pillow.

'What an idiot.'

The other kids are crouched in terror and fear, but this one's so carefree. Does she trust her skills that much? Nah, from that incident back then, no one's stronger than me here. Guess she's just too young to grasp her dire situation.

"S-Sorry! My little sis is still too immature..."

As I shot a slightly annoyed glare at the kid pillow-ed on my tail, her older sister apologized profusely.

"...It's fine."

"Huh?"

"You can borrow the tail."

I replied in my still-clumsy common tongue. Probably from the West Continent, so she'd get it.

"Th-Thank you..."

"Whatever."

Seeing her bow in thanks, she understood fine. Of course—lending my precious tail demands gratitude. I'd be furious otherwise.

"Hmm? What's that?"

I stared blankly at the snoring kid using my tail as a bed when another voice came from outside the cage.

"Ah, yes! That's a fox beastkin! Native to the West Continent plains and East Continent mountains, known for their elegant beauty, gorgeous tails, and agile movements..."

"How much?"

"Ah, yes! Detailed pricing is on this manifest..."

I turned and saw a pot-bellied noble eyeing us greedily.

"Ugh..."

The others around started trembling in fear. Makes sense—if one of us gets snatched by that guy, it's over. Unlike the East Continent that cherished our tribe or the beastkin paradise of the West Continent, this place might as well be hell.

"N-No...!"

"Don't wanna...!"

See? In the cage next door, a tiger beastkin kid's being sold dirt cheap.

"P-Please buy me too!! Anything, I'll do anything!!"

A tiger beastkin mother ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with nothing but her child begs to be bought?

"Please! I beg you... Kyaa!!"

"...A low-grade item missing an eye."

And the slave trader kicks her mercilessly for lacking value?

"Noooo! Let gooo!!"

"Rather... kill me..."

"Mommyyy, don't hit her..."

Don't they hear the screams and groans filling this cursed space, where such horrors are daily routine?

"Shut your trap and get to the holding room, or I'll buy your pals and slaughter them in front of you."

"It's fine. In a few days, that spirit'll break, and you'll be moaning under me."

"Tch, you're damaging the merchandise. Ease up."

Are you lot even human? You who scorn us as subhuman, trample us, enslave us—you're the real demons!

"That one there looks good."

The pot-bellied noble who'd been leering pointed at me. No—at the kid napping on my tail.

"Yes, just sign here. Shall we send her to the holding room? Or take her with you?"

"...The latter sounds more fun."

"As you command."

A naive kid, innocent to the world, more pure than world-wary me—her identity sealed by a single paper and pen stroke. To the lowly status of 'slave,' forbidden even on the South Continent.

"Basic checks done, right?"

"Yes, of course. Never sick a day, spotless clean, utterly pristine..."

Watching them calmly proceed with the deal after such atrocity, I...

No more...

...muttered inwardly, rummaging my bosom quietly.

I can't take any more.

I'd already hatched a decent plan. The bracelet with its sorcery or whatever is a snag, but there's that saying: even a tiger's den is survivable with sharp wits.

If I could just press the tiny knife hidden in my bosom against that fatso's throat.

Create even a small opening.

Wouldn't that spark a sliver of hope?

'Better than becoming one of those bastards' sex slaves.'

I'm a proud fox beastkin. Better to fight and die than serve humans.

And who knows? I might buy the others an escape chance.

Not that I love helping folks, but since I'm staking my life anyway, why not?

Absolutely not because I've grown attached. No way.

"Human! Take me instead of her...!"

Decision made, I lunged for the bars, shouting—but

"I'll buy every beastkin here."

"...Huh?"

I froze at the words from a man who'd approached from the next cage.

"Customer? What do you..."

"Including the ones that guy was buying."

What the hell's going on? What's happening?

"Hey, you. What the fu— Hiiik."

"...Just following the rules. Got a problem?"

"N-No, sir! Heh heh. Long time no see? Hope you've been well..."

The pot-belly, mid-protest with a scowl, bowed to the silver-haired youth declaring he'd buy us all.

No hesitation in sweeping us up, and the fatso groveling—must be some high-ranking noble.

'Actually, perfect.'

Flustered at first, but this is an opportunity. That sickly-looking boy looks ready to keel over; take him hostage, and the ploy might actually work.

"Hey, boy! Me in—"

"S-So, how will you handle the slaves...?"

"Just take that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one there. Send the rest to the holding room."

"Got it!"

I was about to yell at the boy when he pointed right at me.

Screeech...

"Tch, that other guy earlier would've been better."

Hearing the guard's pitying mutter as he tsked and opened the cage door, I stepped forward.

"........."

For now, endure whatever he does. That's how I'll get a shot at escaping.

And create an 'opening.'

Swallow my pride, act as obedient as possible...

"Cute, aren't you."

"Grrr..."

"Ha?"

I bared my teeth on instinct. This ain't the East Continent where beastkin are revered as spirits. The one collaring ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my neck ain't the villagers who groveled and fed me at a fang's flash.

"Good girl."

"...Eut."

And so, collared around the neck, I was petted on the head like a dog and forced to walk.

"Maybe show you off to my friends."

'Kill him?'

With a man more corpse than hostage material.

.........

At that very moment, as the fox beastkin harbored such murderous thoughts.

'Everyone infiltrate successfully?'

Frey, who had bought and begun leading her away, posed the question through the pre-prepared telepathic magic tool.

Eyes closed briefly to sort the voices flooding his mind, Frey smirked at the final low voice.

"Good. Then..."

"Everyone, begin."

With those words, the curtain rose on the Slave Market Liberation Quest.