The rays of the sun poured through the window. An awakening he wasn't expecting, but from his exhaustion the night before, he felt rejuvenated.
[My lodgings are taken care of for the time being, but with only 1.4 thousand bryas, I'll run short if I'm idle…]
Arming himself with Ataria, he stretched as he looked outside his window. A busy street with no troubles gave him a sense of relief after his encounter with raiders. A knock was heard at his door, "Your meal, sir."
"Ah, yes!" Karion opened the door to see the owner with a cart filled with bowls of soup. The man handed Karion a bowl and began walking to the next room, "When you're finished, leave it on the counter. Enjoy."
Karion thanked the man as he returned to his room. Sitting at the table, the white stew he was given was mixed with potatoes and meat, with a slice of bread sinking at the edge of the bowl. Though a meal he was excited for, he wasn't given any utensils.
[How… am I to eat this?]
With no options, he simply drank the soup, using the slice of bread to scoop anything that he didn't swallow. Finishing his meal, he was satisfied with the proportion but felt a lack of taste. The meat in particular felt lacking, with the potatoes feeling undercooked. The inside of the bowl had various notches in patterns that made them look intentional.
[Markings? For what purpose..?]
Though his curiosity rose for a second, he shelved the thought and prepared himself to head to the adventurers guild. Leaving his room and entering the lobby, a small stack of bowls was seen at the counter's corner. Depositing his bowl at the same spot, he headed out the doors and began walking.
Arriving at the guild's quest board, he waited his turn from the number of people who were also there and noticed a rarity level paired with a danger level. The higher the rarity, the danger level would fluctuate, but the rewards were always higher for commissions that were harder to obtain.
Every commission showed the item requested with a number to its left. Karion turned to a male adventurer,
"Excuse me, what do the numbers on each commission mean?"
"Oh, you new here?" The man observed Karion's gear, "Looking a little too light, ain't ya?"
"Yes, ahaha…"
"Oh well, the number is what dungeon floor you can find them in. Sure, you can find herbs all around, but monster materials are only found in dungeons."
[There are dungeons here?]
"Thank you, where could I find the dungeon?"
"Center of town; big stone fortress."
[That building I saw when I first arrived?]
"Thank you."
"Anytime!"
The adventurer went back to perusing the board. Karion left the guild and walked to the fortress.
[I should get a feel for the dungeons here. I hope my training has paid off.]
The fortress was decorated lightly, using patterns of trees and bushes around the exterior, and hung a large tapestry of a dragon with an identical design to the adventurer cards. A block of stone with two iron doors rested at the center of the first floor with a small line of adventurers waiting their turns to enter. Two guards opened the doors for every party and closed the door immediately afterward before opening for the next party.
[This is the dungeon..?] Karion stood in line, waiting for a few minutes before he made it to the front. Just as the guards did for every party, they opened the doors for Karion.
What he saw inside was a hallway made of wood. Though he hesitated for a moment, he noticed the people behind him starting to make faces, almost pushing him inside. When Karion entered, the guards closed the doors, but when he turned around, the doors were gone, instantly replaced with a wooden wall.
"..?!"
[The exit's gone..?!]
Before he could speak, he heard an ominous growl. Karion turned back to the hallway, finding a humanoid creature with eyes that were yellow, a distorted mouth with drool dripping from the gaps between its spiked teeth, green skin, and holding a thick stick scaled higher on one side.
The beast sprinted towards Karion, raising its weapon above its head, and screeching a deafening noise, before running past and into the wall behind Karion, fainting immediately.
"….."
"Okay."
{
Goblin - Lv. 1
[Health: 1/5]
-Wooden Club
}
[A goblin? This thing?]
The size of the goblin was no bigger than a house cat but had the fury of an enraged hippo. The goblin began rolling around the floor, slowly pulling itself up. When it charged towards Karion again, it tripped on the club it wielded, dissolving into smoke the second it reached the ground. What remained was a grotesque ear and the club.
"…This is just sad."
Pocketing the ear with disgust, he held the club and made his way through the dungeon.
[The ear might have some properties later. Situations like these usually allow me to sell them in shops for something… I hope.]
Despite wandering for a few minutes, he immediately noticed how every turn didn't lead into an open room, it was only a maze of walls and monsters. Not long passed before encountering another goblin.
{
Goblin - Lv. 1
}
It screeched at the sight of Karion, sprinting in his direction. It began kicking and punching at his legs, continuing its screams until it tired itself out, squatting down.
Karion felt no pain, and lightly kicked the goblin aside, turning it to smoke before leaving behind an ear.
"….."
"Veridas… are you… KIDDING ME?!"
"YOU CRAZED MANIAC, YOU BEAT ME OVER FOR A WEEK JUST FOR GOBLINS TO BE WEAKER THAN CHILDREN?!"
The words of Veridas were simple. She only intended to train Karion enough to handle the lowest-level foes of this world. Not only did Karion feel his time wasted, but he also felt that she never had hope in him from the start.
Continuing through the labyrinth, he only used his legs to knock down any goblins while searching for an exit. With each turn he made, he found no monster stronger. His trek eventually led him to a large door.
[Is this the exit?]
The moment he touched the knob, he was transported to an open room. He heard a low growl in the dimly lit area.
The silhouette that came to light was a beast as large as a child, with disfigured bones, a meatier body, and red eyes that glowed through the dark. Their weapon was a large club with teeth jabbed into the ends.
{
[Boss] Hobgoblin - Lv. 8
[Health: 20/20] [Mana: 3/3]
-Marrow Club (Empty)
}
[The boss! Its level is higher than the bandit's too…] Karion drew his sword.
The hobgoblin roared, swinging the club around his head before slamming down. With a predictable path, Karion dodged with ease, seizing the moment to slash the creature once before cautiously retreating.
The creature screamed in pain.
{
[Health: 16/20] [Mana: 3/3]
}
[This is effective!]
Karion was about to swing his sword before his gusto left him. With a pitiful look, Karion watched as the hobgoblin struggled to pull the club he swung to the floor. The jagged teeth attached to the club had pierced the wooden floors, lodging themselves. With such low intelligence, the hobgoblin didn't think to fight without their weapon.
With a heavy sigh that turned into a groan, he walked behind the beast, raising Ataria before slashing his back until it faded away into smoke. Leaving behind a club, a brown crystal, and an ear within a cloud of smoke, two doors appeared at opposite ends of the room.
One door had a silver frame, while the other was a door resembling the one that teleported him into the room. Making a mental note of how the hobgoblin's ear was wider, he carefully pulled the club out of the ground, dragging it before choosing the silver door.
He appeared inside a room he was familiar with. A small queue of adventurers waiting to walk into a box. A guard next to the door he exited greeted him warmly,
"Welcome back! Seems like you got quite the haul!"
[I'm back..?]
Lacking the energy from the sheer amount of disappointment he felt, with pockets filled with ears, a small club in one hand and a large club in the other, he only sighed,
"Yeah, thanks…"
Walking back to the adventurers guild, he waited his turn in the short line and spoke to a receptionist.
"How may I help you?" The receptionist was a different member of staff, with a more relaxed attitude.
"I have a bunch of ears and two weapons. Can I trade them in here?" Karion said, dumping his haul on the counter.
"Of course. Give me a moment to count them." The receptionist pulled a glove from beneath the counter, before quickly counting the number of ears.
"You have 14 goblin ears, one hobgoblin ear, one brown crystal, and two wood-class weapons. Your rewards come out to 187 after taxes. Feel free to check the amount."
[I made that much in one day? Fighting those idiots??]
"I will trust the guild. Thank you."
"…Thank you for choosing our service."
The receptionist made a face of confusion, but Karion brushed it off. Exiting the guild, it was past noon, but the sun was far from setting. Thinking now would be best, he decided to stroll through the streets of Qirsley more, taking note of any shops, scenery, and housing to compare to his living conditions.
His curiosity led him to a bustling market divided into two sections. One section was lined with tents that sold fresh produce and ears of wheat with prices that ranged between 10 - 100 bryas. The other section sold equipment, apparel, and various furnishings with prices that varied between shops.
Noticing a clay jar wrapped with cloth, he walked up to the vendor, "Excuse me, what is this?"
"Cream stew, sir. This batch was made this morning," the vendor removed the cloth from one of the jars, showing the stew to Karion, "Well? It's only 50 for the pot, you interested? It's enough for two servings."
[Is this the same as what I was served at the inn? My meals are taken care of so I wouldn't need this…]
"No thank you, but I'll be sure to keep your stall in mind."
"Hah! Then I'll wait for you to come!"
Karion nodded, walking away from the vendor, he heard someone call out to him.
"Hey!! You there!"
"Hm?" The soldier who he had helped ran up to him wearing casual clothing.
"Ah, it's you," Karion waved, "Is something the matter?"
"No, nothing really. I just missed my chance to give you this," the soldier handed an envelope to Karion, "It's an endorsement for the Strayice branch here in Qirsley. It's past the commercial district near the edge of town... I wanted to do more than thank you, so I got approval from our captain to write you an endorsement! I was too late to catch you earlier, but I kept the letter in case I ran into you. I was lucky to find you here today."
"Thank you…?" Karion took the letter, "Who was your captain?"
"Ah, his name's Draig. He's the man who took your statement. Normally he wouldn't, but we were busy that day."
[That huge man?]
"Enjoy your time in Qirsley, I hope you find a good partner!" The soldier said, waving his hand as he left.
"Partner..?"
[Ah, I forgot to ask him what kind of place Strayice was…]
Seeing no harm in checking out the business, he walked to the end of the shopping district, eventually making his way to the large walls of Qirsley. He noticed a lack of residential housing, with each building having large gates for windows, and a sign that indicated they were closed. Though he tried to peer into the buildings, they seemed deserted.
Soon arriving at a three-story building with a hanging sign written "Strayice" in bold. Entering the establishment, he was immediately greeted by a pair of servants. A young woman dressed in a maid's uniform, and an older gentleman in a suit. The decorations of Strayice included paintings, pristine red carpets, and a blue rose that rested in a vase attached to the wall at each door-side.
"Welcome, esteemed guest," they said in unison.
[I feel like I'm in the wrong place….] Karion almost doubted being in a place so sophisticated but noticed both servants had collars with four gems, similar to the one he had seen the night before.
"Do you have an appointment today?" The man asked.
"Oh, um - I don't. I was just told to come with this endorsement," raising the envelope, Karion gave it to the man.
Opening the letter and reading for a brief moment, he bowed, "I will arrange a meeting for you shortly. My associate will guide you to a private room."
The man walked towards the stairs,
"This way, sir," the maid guided, "Follow me."
Entering a room with similar decorations, the center held a table and two leather couches.
The maid walked to a counter at the corner of the room, pulling out a tea set. Preparing the brew, she placed two cups at opposite ends of the table adjacent to the couches.
"Please rest until the master arrives."
"Um, hold on a sec-…"
Before Karion could ask any questions, the maid left him. Taking a seat at one of the couches, he occasionally sipped from the tea he was offered. As time passed, he had waited so long it had made him slightly impatient. He stood up, observing the room once more. Walking to one of the windows, he noticed the sun reaching the horizon, slowly setting. Turning to a bookshelf, he lightly skimmed over the titles displayed, pulling out a book at random. Flipping through the pages finding nothing of interest, he returned the book before sitting back down.
[I took what I had for granted…]
Resting his head on the couch's backrest, he stared at the ceiling, bored out of his mind, [This world doesn't have cellphone technology…]
A knock was suddenly heard from the door. Accompanied by the butler, a humanoid man with the unique traits of a wolf entered the room with an intimidating yet dignified demeanor. He wore a black suit beneath a purple mantle that complimented his gray fur. Taking a seat opposite of Karion, he showed a smile with his fangs,
"I apologize for the wait, sir. I do hope I haven't kept you too long."
[A wolf..?]
"…It's okay, I'm just glad someone came," Karion had a weak laugh.
{
Merchant - Lv. 10
Leader - Lv. 8
Villager - Lv. 10
Hunt - Lv. 10
Tutor - Lv. 10
-Voodoo Doll
}
[His stats are high.!!!]
"I don't know what Strayice is, or what you do. I was told to find a partner. Is this a recruitment agency?"
The wolfman had a brief look of surprise, "Sir, has not heard of Strayice?"
"Yes, ahaha... I had just recently finished my isolated training under my master. I'm quite unfamiliar with the world…"
"Is that so? Rest assured, " the wolfman straightened his suit, "I will answer any question you may have. I shall begin with our establishment. My name is, Mydon. Simply put, our line of business is the purchase and selling of slaves."
"….. Come again..?"
"Slaves, sir. Many folks from all walks of life find themself accepting a slave. Nobles often use slaves as servants similar to how I do, merchants use them as assistants, while adventurers such as yourself often purchase slaves for dungeon crawling."
"Wait- wait, first off, how'd you know I'm an adventurer?"
Mydon placed the letter of endorsement on the table, "Your achievements were praised by the Order. Such heroism and strength are something I wouldn't expect from any person. In addition, not everyone would wield a weapon on their back if they didn't intend to use it."
[Ah, Ataria… right, of course, that'd give me away…]
"It is because of your endorsement that you were relieved from the screening process."
"There's a screening process?"
"Yes, sir. Say we were to sell our merchandise to those who cannot support another life. If a slave were to die under an irresponsible master, many would not accommodate the death. If disposed of incorrectly, they will become a catalyst for disease. As such, Strayice will only accommodate those who can reach the standard."
"….."
"It seems sir is still hesitant about our services," Mydon said, noticing Karion's expression, "However, I urge you to consider. I would hate for a promising adventurer to lose his life from being outnumbered in battle."
"…What's wrong with recruiting other adventurers?"
"Infighting is bound to occur. If two members of a party defeated a monster that dropped only one item, who would it belong to? Owning a slave makes their possessions, yours. Of course, all of their body is yours as well."
Karion had an embarrassed look on his face that he tried to hide, but Mydon noticed. With a grin, he continued,
"Though the price is higher, those who consent to servicing their masters sexually are in high demand. Of course, if sir prefers to purchase a slave who does not consent but changes their decision, you must return to Strayice to edit the pact."
"Well, I… um…"
Mydon placed a small binder on the table. Facing its contents to Karion, he pointed to a sample page. The left had a silhouette of a man and woman and the right showed a string of placeholder text.
"This is a catalog of all the products we have at this establishment. A portrait updated monthly of our product will be displayed on the left, while a summary of their strengths will be listed to the right. While you're here, may I suggest you browse what we have?"
[Just a bit…]
Silently flipping through the pages, he saw various men and women from different races he had never seen before. Some were human, while others had traits of creatures or entirely resembled animals.
The price of each slave was not listed, but they were ranked between 3-5 stars.
"What do the stars mean?"
"Ah, that would be their level of education. Three stars would indicate they have received and present themself with moderate decorum. Four expands on that, while five stars are Strayice's pride. If not sold a week after training, they will be sent to an auction."
"There are auctions too?"
"Yes sir. The auctions are for products of both slaves or rare items. There is no screening, but the expense is quite high. No ordinary man could ever hope to purchase anything from there."
[Even if it seems like slaves have a certain degree of rights, it'll be hard to ditch my mentality… But Mydon's right. Even if the floor was easy, I might need comrades soon…]
Karion's hand stopped on a page for a brief moment. Mydon smiled, tapping his finger on the armrest of his chair. The butler bowed and exited the room.
Closing the binder, Karion let out a deep breath.
"Do you have any questions?" Mydon asked, "I will be happy to answer anything."
"…If a slave were to run away, would I be compensated?"
"Before that happens, it would be more accurate to say that they will not be able to run away," Mydon had a look of certainty, "Not many can take in a runaway slave. In addition to it being illegal to own someone else's property, the collars on their necks will forever remain, never truly giving them an escape."
"…What if they turn on me?"
"Slaves are first to be suspected in the death of their master. Nevertheless, they will be inherited by their master's family. If that's inapplicable, they will be executed if not written in a will for them to be freed."
"What if they die?"
"The screening process is in place for slaves to not be left in the hands of an irresponsible master. In your case, should a slave die in the dungeon, we can only assume it was through strategy for your safety. Otherwise, well… One of our services is disposal."
[I see… So even if they have a higher chance to live with skilled adventurers or people in high society, in the end, they're still property. If they die, it's akin to breaking a vase.]
Karion faced his head down, "Look, I'll admit it. This place is clean, and you're an alright guy. I'll have to consider Strayice going forward, but I also don't think I have or will get the bryas to make a purchase anytime soon."
"Not to worry, your endorsement has secured you as a customer for life. Return whenever you wish. I will ask someone to escort you out."
"…Thank you," Karion stood from his seat.
From a knock on the door entered a young woman. Karion's eyes widened at her beauty.
With two large white horns, small flaps as ears, a tail that barely went past her knees had a ball of fluffy hair at the tip. Her figure was voluptuous, outlined by her conservative uniform that consisted of a short, blue skirt with stockings and a tight blue sweater. Her eyes were crimson, with golden hair that reached her neck.
She bowed in silence, keeping that pose for a few seconds before raising her head, and standing by the door.
{
Villager - Lv. 3
Farmer - Lv. 2
Taurus - Lv. 1
}
Karion gulped, almost frozen in place, ["Taurus"? A class?] Observing her figure once more, her traits could be easily traced to a bull.
Mydon grinned before speaking, "Ah, you know what, I can have my butler walk you out instead, silly me… Ruby, you're free to return to your quarters."
"Yes, sir," she replied, bowing once more before exiting.
[So her name's Ruby…]
"Well? Does sir feel like saving money?" Mydon had a playful grin.
[He planned this!!] Karion cleared his throat and sat down once more, "Just a bit… How much do I owe?"
Mydon chuckled, "Ruby is worth four stars as of now. Her training is very close to completion. I intended to send her to an auction in two weeks."
Mydon flipped to Ruby's page in the catalog, "In addition to her education, Ruby's quite the heavy-hitter. She will no doubt be an asset to you in the perilous dungeon floors. Above all, she's still a pure maiden."
"R-Right…" Although it was something he was curious about, asking for it would feel awkward. Silently grateful for Mydon's consideration, he asked, "So how much will she be?"
"At present, she is 70,000 bryas. When she finishes her training in a week, it will become 90,000."
The excitement in his eyes faded, "That's quite the amount…"
"Yes, but with sir's skills, I have no doubt you can amass that much. If things go awry, I'm sure that sword will fetch a good price as well."
[…I can't sell, Ataria, but he's right.]
Staring at Ruby's page for a few moments, Karion took a deep breath,
"Alright. I'll play the game."
Mydon smiled, "Wonderful. I shall inform Ruby of your interest in her. As it's sir's first time, I will waive the holding fee. I hope to see you again soon."