Chapter 75: Auction

I see. There is such a way to fool the enforcement. No wonder I can no longer sense Nar and Sas, who have been following me from the beginning. I see. I see. This should come in handy in the future. I will certainly remember it.

This is similar to the scroll Linda used on Kat the other day to save her from the Chimera. Instead of a scroll, it uses a block of pure gold imbued with a powerful teleportation spell. When two such blocks of gold interact, they activate, causing everything in the carriage to be transferred to another carriage. This way, they can change carriages without stopping or being detected by law enforcement. Genius! Simply genius. I can't help but admire it. I'm sure even Nar and Sas would be pleased.

The carriage we were transferred to has a different interior. It's not as ostentatious as the one we originally used, probably to fool others. I mean, you wouldn't expect someone from a prestigious family to use a plain looking carriage. It's smaller and feels even more cramped, but I thank the goddess as Marianne's brother still has no idea that Fie and I are literally standing right in front of him.

The carriages are currently leaving the wall. I managed to sneak a peek from the window, and it looks like they're using a different pass than Marianne's family crest. Strange, maybe to fool them, there's no record of him leaving the gate that way.

After leaving the gate, I no longer recognize the road we are on. This scares me a bit, but I am also excited. I have the feeling that this isn't the way to the Empire, but rather the opposite, which means that this is the eastern exit they use. I'm not entirely sure, but I'd better make a note of it. At least it's not the same forest where Master Merlin lives, or the path Aunt Amleth and the others took when they brought me here in the first place.

The carriage then stops in the middle of a crossroads, where Marianne's brother again exchanges another carriage. This time, the carriage looks magnificent. It's accompanied by a strange group of people wearing a strange-looking mask. They check the passport Marianne's brother shows them, and when they think it's real, the carriage starts to move.

This whole process is really clever. I can no longer sense Nar and Sas, nor can I sense any authorities nearby. I'm sure we're still in Amleth, but it feels like we're getting further and further away from the castle.

Just to be on the safe side, I talked to the nearby trees, so they will recognize me, and if I need to escape alone, they will surely help me. I also asked the trees to tell the Hanging Treant about my whereabouts. I thought they didn't really know about the Hanging Treant, but to my surprise, they know the Hanging Treant very well. Is he some kind of celebrity among the trees?

The carriage stops and we enter a barrier. Again, I actually managed to enter without being detected by the spell. It scares me when the barrier suddenly zaps me, or burns me alive, or even suffocates me, but that's one of the few functions the barrier has built in.

Inside the barrier, there is a trading place. It screams illegal to me. Slaves, exotic creatures, even weapons I didn't recognize are all around. This place is also buzzing with activity. I am surprised that there are many willing to come to this place.

"Come now. This is the latest information on Emperor Justin's current condition. It is even possible to calculate his remaining days."

"This is the weapon that managed to cut through Randy the Berserker during the war, surely a good weapon to have against Amlethians"

"This slave is simply beautiful."

"Look at this young behemoth! Surely you can't find a baby behemoth anywhere else!"

The word "baby behemoth" caught the attention of Marianne's brother. In fact, even I know that young Behemoths are rarely seen, probably because a Behemoth will kill each other if they meet, so they need the full protection of their parents. Still, how did they manage to get a baby Behemoth here?

(Should I save every slave and animal here?) [Diana]

I feel like if I did that, they wouldn't suffer. It is the only right thing to do. I'm sure Nar and Sas would do the same. Just as I am about to prepare a spell.

(This is a bad idea, little Diana. How will you escape with so many of them? What if you get caught?) [Merlin]

(But!) [Diana]

(You have done enough. I suggest you return home. Nar and Sas are worried about you. Even the others are actively searching for you) [Merlin]

(And escape alone? I can still save...) [Diana]

(No means no. You can no doubt fight the bad guy, but what if they decided to kill the slaves to keep them from escaping? What if they decided to use this barrier to suffocate everyone here? Can you take responsibility for that?) [Merlin]

(I... I cannot...) [Diana]

(Which is why you'd better go home now. Don't worry, I've already memorized the place.) [Merlin]

Master Merlin managed to convince me through Fie. I wanted to take something to prove the existence of this place, but again Master Merlin forbade me. Leaving the place, I run and run until I see the gate. It's a long and tiring journey. At the gate, I see Mr. Savel and he frantically grabs me, who looks dead tired. Before going to my house, he went to a nearby tavern and there the two of us eat and drink together.

Nar and Sas came after that, and oh boy, did they look worried. I was being scolded by both of them. Even when I tell them about my find, their response is

"We don't care! Between you and that place, you're obviously more important!" [Nar]

"Remember, you're our precious little sister!" [Sas]

"I'm... I'm sorry" [Diana]

"All's well that ends well" [Savel]

I guess I really worry them.

Chapter end