"Nephew!"
"Uncle!"
The two fat humanoid creatures waddled towards each other and gave the best attempt at an embrace that their guts and comically short arms could achieve.
Rozemyne and Ren watched their reunion in awkward silence before the slave trader's uncle, a larger version of himself, turned to them with a wide grin.
"So you are the Shield Hero and Archduchess of Alexandra that my nephew spoke of so highly! A master of man to whom a slave mark is nothing more than a formality, as you can get people to work themselves half to death of their own volition! I am honored to be in the presence of such a manipulative noblewoman!" The man said with a bow that seemed to defy gravity.
…Well, he wasn't exactly wrong, but…
"Thank you for coming to meet us on such short notice. Can we discuss what it is we are looking for here, or do you have a room ready for such talks?" Rozemyne asked the man.
"If your ladyship is willing to speak here, then I am more than willing. Tell me, what can I interest you in." The slave merchant said with a wide grin that made Rozemyne suspect that he already knew exactly what they were there for.
Long distance communication magic tools existed in this world, but they were terribly expensive. Beyond what Rozemyne could reasonably budget for at the moment. Did these slavers have such a tool? She knew they knew of a means of performing Class Up without the Dragon's Hourglass, but she wasn't sure of the extent of their powers or where they came from. She still wasn't sure if these things were really humans.
"My city is in need of specialized craftsmen. Most importantly, a few trained weapon and armor smiths. High class carpenters are also in demand." Rozemyne said.
"I see. I see. Well, it just so happens that I have just the thing. A community of mole beastmen was displaced in a conflict and ended up in my care. They are a race well known for their skill with their hands." The man said with a wicked smile. "Two carpenters, three experienced blacksmiths and one master-level blacksmith. The carpenters are 220 silver each. 250 for the experienced blacksmiths and 15 gold for the master blacksmith."
Rozemyne frowned, not sure that a master blacksmith was worth more to her than 6 experienced blacksmiths. Though at the end of the day, it was an all or nothing deal in her eyes. "And what about for the entire community?"
The slave merchant laughed. "For you, 75 gold coins for all 50 of them."
"...Sounds fair." Rozemyne said with a nod of her head. If anything, it sounded a little on the cheap side for so many slaves, even if half of them were children without any skills. But Beastmen often went for less than Demihumans, as they were found to be less physically appealing, even in the eyes of other Beastmen. So unless they made for good soldiers, their race would be considered to be worth less than others. Not that it mattered to Rozemyne. Work ethic was more important than looks or strength.
She had prepared 227 gold coins before the trip, and could comfortably spend all of it without worrying about being shy on money when it came time for more investments in the future.
"Excellent! I'll prepare them for you right away!" The slave merchant said with a laugh. "It isn't often that people buy slaves unseen. Most worry about disease and defects."
"Those don't concern me. And a man in your profession knows better than to try to cheat a powerful noblewoman like that." Rozemyne said as if it was no big deal.
"Yes, your abilities as a healer are said to be unmatched." The slave merchant said with a nod of his head. "...Speaking of, I have many slaves that are injured and sick. Most people won't buy them and keeping them alive is costing me. What do you say? I'll give you a good deal on them."
"How many?" Rozemyne asked, trying not to let her frustration with the man playing at her sympathies show on her face.
"457 of various races and ages. I'll sell them to you for 10 silver a piece." The slave merchant said.
He likely knew they were coming and bought all of the sickly slaves from all the other merchants and was selling them for a marked up price. It was the only explanation for why he had so many poor quality slaves on hand. If Rozemyne had to guess, they would have injuries worse than just a broken arm and diseases worse than a cough.
She was likely being scammed. But at the same time, would she abandon those people to die?
"Very well. I'll take them as well." Rozemyne readily agreed.
She had housing enough for all of them, and between her super charged fields and the monster meat, they had plenty of food. Clothing and bedding was going to be a real problem for a time. They could get away with monster furs as bedding for a while, but she would need to trade with other territories for cotton and wool to make clothing. Either that, or she could spin thousands of pounds of magic threads again using her mana, like she did with the Filolial. …But that would be really time consuming and she was too busy as is.
Transporting them all home was also going to be an adventure. She'd never fit over 500 people into Lessy before. She'd never made Lessy bigger than a long bus. She was going to have to supersize her Highbeast for this trip. Jumbo airplane size.
"Then I will show you to them." The man said, directing Rozemyne and her escort down one of the many passages underneath the colosseum.
Before Rozemyne even entered the chamber, she could smell the blood and sick in the air, causing her to feel queasy. Though it wasn't the worst scene she had ever seen.
The room was as large as a sizable gymnasium, and was filled with hundreds of people separated into cages. In the back of the room was a gateway, a method of allowing people in without having to move them through the entire building, and people wearing plague gear were moving from place to place, giving water and minimal treatment in order to keep the people inside alive.
The slaves themselves ranged from deathly thin to missing limbs. Some were bleeding out their noses, with eyes that wouldn't focus. Others were gasping with labored breaths, as if their throats were on fire.
It was a horrible place…
Rozemyne raised a hand in front of her and with a clear voice said a singular word. "Streitkolben."
The others watched with interest as a beautiful golden staff covered in green magic stones appeared in her hand, one particularly large crystal at the top glowing of a bright and pure light that grew stronger as Rozemyne poured more mana into it. The glow was intense and all those capable turned to stare in wonder at the beautiful light.
Ren had been surprised the first time Rozemyne had materialized the Staff of Flutrane, since the restrictions on the Legendary Weapons were supposed to stop you from using other weapons. But in reality, this was Rozemyne's Schtoppe, a piece of her magic and her soul. For the Legendary Weapon to reject it would be more absurd than it rejecting her arms and legs.
Rozemyne then began to chant the activation prayer for the Staff of Flutrane, and everyone gasped as the staff let out a giant pulse of light that shot through the room.
It happened so fast that it left the slaves blinking in wonder, before realizing that all of their aches and pains were gone. For most of them at least. For those who had instantly regrown limbs, ears, teeth and eyes, they let out yelps of sudden pain, though that pain died swiftly, leaving them as shocked silent as they checked their newly restored body parts.
Rozemyne let her staff disappear before she spoke up. "Everyone. I am Rozemyne Tochter Linkberg Adotie Alexandria, Archduchess of Alexandra and the Hero of the Shield." She said as she flashed the Legendary Shield at them. "I have purchased you as slaves, but I don't intend to keep you as such. Anyone who desires to go their own way or return to the life they had before becoming a slave will be permitted, but I offer you all a chance at a new start in my city. I cannot promise an easy time, but I will not force you to work yourselves to the bone or risk your lives. If you follow me, you do it of your own free will, and I will do my best to protect you."
Her declaration was met with disbelief before she drew several tables used at the outdoor festival out of her item space, and then deposited a large store of food and water on said table.
"Release them from the cages and let them have food and drink before you change their slave seals." Rozemyne instructed a nearby worker, who immediately did as he was told, despite him not working for her.
"A splendid display." The slave trader said as the slaves started to whisper excitedly amongst themselves. "Though I am surprised you would heal them before finalizing the trade. Are you not afraid that I might bump up the price?"
"If you are foolish enough to do that after seeing a display of my power, you would deserve what happens to you." Rozemyne said, looking down at the man. "Don't mistake my generosity for weakness."
Really, Rozemyne just hadn't wanted to delay and risk someone dying while she was filling out the paperwork.
"I wouldn't dare." The man said, shivering with delight at Rozemyne's cold noble mask. "Though after seeing your power as work, I do have one other item that might interest you. Something that a Hero such as yourself might be able to make good use of."
"Your nephew said something similar before we came here." Rozemyne said as she prepared herself. "Fine. What is it that you want to show me?"
"Over here." The man said before leading her into a different room and to yet another cage, this one with only two small occupants.
One was a Demihuman boy, probably no more than twelve years old, with white hair with black stripes and a tiger's ears and tail. His blue slitted eyes stared at Rozemyne's group with suspicion as he positioned himself between them and the other occupant, the one that interested Rozemyne more.
She assumed it was a child, but no skin was visible as it was wrapped from head to toe in bandages. The bandages weren't red with blood, but there seemed to be some kind of pus from rashes or boils.
"Who are you!? What do you want!?" The boy snapped, surprisingly willful for a slave.
"Tsk, tsk. Be quiet child, and don't speak unless spoken to." The slave trader said, activating a seal that caused the boy to twitch with pain, though his eyes didn't lose their rebellion. "An unwieldy child, isn't he. But that is what you can expect from a Hakuko."
"A Hakuko?" Ren said with surprise. "You mean that cheat race that has a max level of 120?"
"I see that the Sword Hero has heard of them." The slave trader laughed. "Yes. These two siblings are survivors of the Wise King's attempted Genocide of their clan. A rare commodity indeed. Sadly, their parents died and their proud house fell to ruin trying to pay for the little sister's medical bills. As such, they ended up falling into slavery."
"...May I take a look at the girl?" Rozemyne asked.
"Stay the hell away from Atla!" The boy shouted, fuming in anger, despite the electric sparks dancing across his chest from the slave seal from ignoring the slave trader's instructions to stay quiet.
"Onii-chan, it's alright." A soft voice said, causing the boy to momentarily stop.
"But Atla…" He said, looking down at the bundle of bandages.
"Her magic aura might be large, but it's very gentle. I don't think she would hurt us." Atla said. The boy didn't seem to like it, but he did allow Rozemyne into the cage with them, though he positioned his body in order to stop the others from entering, and gave death glares at Ren.
"As you can see, even a slave seal isn't enough to let you control this one. He feels the pain, but he just chooses to ignore it, and the problem will become worse as he levels up more." The slave trader said with a shake of his head. "Right now, he's only obedient and works as a gladiator in order to pay for his sister's medicine. …But to tell the truth, his sister cost more than he is worth to us. Problem is, anyone who buys them would have to take on their debt, and no one is willing to do it for such a disobedient boy."
Rozemyne was barely listening as she unraveled the bandages slightly to see the horrible state of the girl's skin underneath.
She had managed to keep it together in the previous room when fast with all of that pain, but as she looked down on this little girl, whose every waking moment was misery… Myne broke a little inside.
Memories of her own sorry state, of entire weeks spent so weak and helpless that she couldn't so much as lift her head. Of the pained smiles that her family would give her as they tried to encourage her. Of her father, weeping when he thought no one was around to see, unable to face the fact that his little girl was dying.
"It's alright. Please don't cry for me." The girl's words, shocked Rozemyne out of her trance, and she noticed her magic power was flaring all around her, pushing the others back, but avoiding hurting the little girl. "This aura… are you an angel?"
"...Not exactly." Rozemyne said, then dried her eyes with a spell as she brought her power back under control. "What is their price?"
"97 gold pieces." The slave trader said, as if he hadn't just been straggled half to death by Rozemyne's mana.
"I'll take them." Rozemyne said, before bringing out her Staff of Flutrane once more. "Hold still for a moment so I can heal you."
Fohl and Atla didn't know what to say, as their entire world changed in that instant.
After paying the service fees for reregistering Rozemyne as the master of all 509 slaves, the total amount of money spent came to 227 gold coins, the exact amount she had prepared for the trip. …Doubtful that it was a coincidence.
She wished she could see the faces of all of the people down below as the supersized Lessy flew overhead, carrying all of them back to Alexandra. Though after she got home, the massive mana expenditures of the day caught up with her and she basically face-planted into her bed after Indigo helped her change into her nighttime clothes. She trusted in the abilities of her attendant and scholar Rabbits to sort things out among the new arrivals.
Because of that, it wasn't until the following morning that she received the bad news.
Of the 509 slaves she had brought back with her, roughly 400 of them were gladiators, all of which were now more than ready to pledge themselves to her and start their work as adventurers. They only needed her to provide them with 400 weapons and sets of armor so that they could start. Meaning they were now even further behind with weapon and armor smithing.
Why couldn't they be writers, artists, librarians, researchers, teachers or cooks? Something she could actually use. But no, what she got was more fighters.
She half wanted to fly back and give that stupid slave trader a piece of her mind.
Well, she did get them for cheap, so she supposed she didn't have that much of a right to complain. She purchased all of them for an amount of money she'd have spent buying five books back in her youth. She just hadn't expected the population of her city to increase by nearly 10% in a single day.
Rozemyne listened to the daily report of how paper production was coming along in order to lift her spirits, before more serious reports came in.
"The Adventurer's Guild has passed on a request for assistance from Mirso village. It seems the entire village has been consumed by sickness." Lime reported, looking as if she had bit into something sour. She looked exactly how Elvira looked whenever people did something to displease her.
"Mirso village? Why is that name familiar?" Rozemyne pondered before it hit her. "The village at the base of the mountain. The one behind the death of Wyndia's father."
"Correct." Lime said with a shake of her head. "It would seem those fools decided it was a good idea to turn the dragon's corpse into a tourist spot, rather than trying to properly dispose of it. It has already started to rot and the mana it releases is poisoning all of its surroundings. The villagers are now coming to you to beg for assistance."
"I see. Send a reply to the Adventurer's Guild. Tell them that I don't have time to see to this with the Wave of Calamity being only days away. Tell them to direct the villagers to the Potion Maker's Guild, there should be enough remedies for dead mana intoxication there." Rozemyne told Lime, who needed and went to do as she was told. Rozemyne then looked towards Leafy, who was standing near the doorway, ready to take messages. "Leafy, could you relay this information to Wyndia and Gaelion and ask them what they wish to do about their father's remains?"
"Of course, Lady Rozemyne." Leafy said, before rushing off to find the pair.
Rozemyne's opinion of Mirso village's situation is that you reap what you sow and that the village had ransacked enough treasure to pay for potions. She'd only get involved if some of the people ran away, taking all the treasure for themselves, and abandoned the other villagers to die. Even then, she might just ignore them and leave them to their fate, since they weren't her responsibility.
She supposed the most likely scenario for them would be that they didn't have the money and would become slaves to pay for their medicine, their village that they were hoping to build up with the fortune they gained from the dragon becoming uninhabitable. Then the ones who ran would be made criminals and hunted down by the Kingdom for endangering the people and scarring the land, all so that the Kingdom itself could claim the money.
That would be poetic, in its own way.
However, even if she didn't intend to heal the villagers or the land, the matter of the dragon's corpse was different. That was Wyndia and little Gaelion's father, so the two sisters had the right to decide what it is they wanted to do about it.
They had the right to pay their last respects and what to do with his body was their right to choose as well. Rozemyne would contact Ren after finding out what they wanted to do and come up with a plan of action later.
"Milady, the representative from Siltvelt is here to speak with you." Indigo said as Rozemyne pondered the situation with the dragon's corpse.
"Right, let him in." Rozemyne said with a sigh.
The other countries had been sending representatives to see her for a long time, starting within weeks of coming to this world. However, Rozemyne had avoided talking to them because it would agitate the locals factions if she acted too familiar with a foreign power.
Now, rather than wanting to avoid that, she actively wanted them steered up.
What she needed from them was not an assassination attempt, but an actual attack, so that she could claim the moral high ground and swiftly deal with them without pockets of outrage festering throughout the kingdom.
If there was some doubt about them being the aggressors, then some would attempt to paint her as the villain, rather than someone acting in self-defense.
The removal of Veronica would be a perfect example of this, where there was enough confusion surrounding the events that she could be painted as the victim in the eyes of her followers, despite her numerous known crimes. Whereas Gorgine was involved in open kidnapping and the unjustified assault on another Duchy. It didn't matter how strong and widespread her faction was, when they were beaten, it crumbled into non-existence, with no one wanting to admit to having ever met her. It made it easy for Rozemyne to establish herself as the new Archduchess, despite it previously being enemy territory.
Nazi Germany would be another good example. When it came to light just how criminal the Nazi party was and it lost its stranglehold, no one wanted to admit to having ever been a part of it, despite around 35% of them being card carrying members, even before all other parties were declared illegal.
If Rozemyne wanted the Church's faction to die without having to stomp out every last member herself, there could be no ambiguity. She needed them to assault her openly, seemingly unprovoked, for everyone to see. And for that, she needed to steer the hornets' nest a bit.
Rozemyne remained seated as the representative, a young man with bright red wings entered the room, followed behind Indigo into her office. Remaining seated was gutsy. It implied that she was in a position of such absolute authority that she didn't need to inconvenience herself even for the representative of an entire nation. She needed to message to be clear, whatever they wanted, she would not be their tool.
…But it seemed completely lost on this young man, whose eyes were sparkling with wonder as he stared at her, and looked like he might pee himself in excitement. "Lady Shield Hero, thank you for finding the time to meet with me!" He said as he went down on one knee before her, way too enthusiastically for your average nobleman.
"...I thank you for coming. Please forgive my delay in arranging this meeting, as I have had many things demanding my attention." Rozemyne said with a noblewoman's apologetic smile.
"Please, don't apologize! It was an honor just to be allowed to stay in your city, this monument to your power and wisdom!" The Phoenix Demihuman said with a shake of his head.
…Oh gods, he was one of THOSE types.
"Regardless, forcing you to wait was rude of me. It may be late, but I, Rozemyne Tochter Linkberg Adotie Alexandria, welcome you to my humble city." Rozemyne said, hoping at the idiot would take the cue to actually give her his name and rank, because she had forgotten what his name even was.
Unfortunately, he didn't take the hint.
"Please Lady Shield Hero, return with me to Siltvelt. Leave this horrid nation behind. Here, they treat you as nothing more than a tool, but in Siltvelt, you would be hailed as our Queen." The man said with a pleading tone.
Now that sounded horrible.
Politics were bad enough here where she was just the leader of a newly budding city and one of four soldiers to fight in the Waves. If she was treated as the center of everything, things would only get more complicated. She doubted the entirety of Siltvelt would take kindly to suddenly finding themselves with a new ruler, no matter what their religion said.
"My leaving would only steer up disputes between the nations in a time where we can't afford such pointless waste. While I agree that there are unpleasant factions within Melromarc, they are more easily dealt with from within. If I leave now, that will not solve anything." Rozemyne said with a shake of her head.
"Then… the Melromarc Queen was telling the truth? You really are working with her to expunge the heretic Church from their country?" The man said with wonder.
"That is correct." Rozemyne totally bullshitted. She'd never heard so much as a single word from the Queen, but she wasn't about to tell him that. "While I will not be changing where I am operating from, I am open to any sort of mutually beneficial exchange with your nation. So if there is something I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask."
"...Then, you will help us to solve Siltvelt's Waves of Calamity as well?"
…The what?