Surviving as a Barbarian in the Game - Episode 493
493declaration of war (4)
Quaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I climb over the broken wall and continue running along the empty passage. Then, when things get out of hand, I swing the hammer again..
Quaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!
Sometimes, the road beyond the wall is completely blocked and the path is not visible, but it is not a big problem..
Due to the structure of the building, the top and bottom are bound to lead somewhere..
Just like this.
Kwaang-!
As I smashed through the ceiling and went upstairs, a slightly unusual place greeted me..
Dark lighting with a noticeable difference.
Dozens of iron bars spread out on both sides along a long, narrow hallway..
And the many races within it.
Even if they are not barbarians, all different races have the same tattoos in similar locations..
‘You're a slave.…….’
Those who just stared into space with helpless eyes despite the sudden appearance of a huge barbarian who broke the floor..
21As a century barbarian, I felt strange..
‘Yes, there are still slaves here..’
In fact, slavery is illegal even in Lapdonia..
At one time, those who committed crimes were reduced to slavery through legal procedures, but since the law was revised about 100 years ago, all slaves have disappeared from this world..
Slaves who had committed heinous crimes were immediately executed, and those who had been enslaved because their status was passed down or could not pay fines for minor crimes were restored to their status as ordinary citizens..
In the end, it is said that most of the former slaves died shortly after because there was no way they could properly pay their taxes..
“hey.”
I spoke to the kid whose eyes were still alive..
“……!”
The kid got scared when I spoke to him and put his back against the wall..
Either that or I asked.
“How did you get caught here??”
Unfortunately, the answer came from the big guy who came up behind him..
“……Well, stop it! Baron Yandel!”
what. What will I do if I don’t quit??
They can't do anything but stand there and watch me..
I just ignored him and fixed my gaze on the kid..
Surprisingly, the big man's shouting seemed to help a little..
“giant……?”
The kid muttered my tinnitus quietly and approached the bars with his eyes wide open..
“The giant... He was like a hero. He saves people and punishes villains... … . Is it true??”
“Well, to some extent.”
“……Are you here to save us too??”
“no.”
I spoke honestly..
“I just found you by chance. So tell me now. How did you get caught here??”
In the meantime, the big boy next to me who was begging me to stop and the little boy who was looking at me alternately opened his mouth..
“Mom… She couldn't pay her debt. So I have to pay that money back..”
“Mom is? what happened to her?”
“I couldn't pay my taxes... They said he died.”
“That fairy woman next to me?”
When I glanced at the woman who was wearing the same cage and asked, the kid opened his mouth quietly..
“Riley's sister also said she couldn't pay her debt. He said he could have repaid the money, but bad people made it so that he couldn't. So he was brought here.”
“…….”
“…Later, he said he escaped from here and came to rescue me, but after being taken away by bad people a few times and returning, he hasn't said anything since..”
“Yeah, that's right?”
I think I understand why only this kid had the most lively eyes. Those who had the will to rebel would have gone through even more severe brainwashing..
A person's will is more easily broken than you think.
‘Then I checked everything.…….’
After finishing the conversation with the kid, I turned my gaze towards the big guys..
When our eyes met, the guy in front flinched..
Like a bully caught bullying a weak friend.
plod.
I took a step closer and asked them.
“Do you know?”
The big guy in front raised his shield further and swallowed..
“I haven't killed anyone so far.”
I knew they were bad guys, so I beat them mercilessly, but I controlled my strength enough to not kill them..
“What do you think is the reason??”
“……The higher-ups decided that you didn't want to completely fall out with us either..”
“okay?”
I coolly admitted it..
“That's correct.”
The reason these guys took a defensive stance against me, the intruder, in the first place was probably because they read my intentions..
If I had gone around killing them all, there would have been no way these guys could have held on with just a shield. It is clear that the order to just save your life has run out..
Therefore, once I was disciplined, I planned to talk to the boss here and get what I wanted..
but…….
“If there is anything you want, tell me now..”
Plan B, why is it Plan B?.
In this world full of all kinds of variables, there are things that can't be helped..
Just like this.
“We are ready to talk to the Baron.—.”
Before the big man could finish his sentence, he was struck in the jaw..
Kwasik-!
The big thing flew like a baseball and hit the wall on the side, then fell down and wriggled like a bug..
“It's sturdy.”
Looking at him, I continued indifferently..
“This time, I swung with the intention of killing him..”
At the same time, the big men standing behind all flinched. It seems like the situation is still not fully understood due to the sudden situation.…….
“this… What do you mean??”
Oh, that?
“Baron, you also said this earlier. They don't want to pretend to be with us..”
“Yeah, it was like that earlier..”
I lifted the hammer, looking at the big guy writhing in pain..
Then his expression changed..
“Stop it. You will definitely regret it…….”
That was such a strange thing to say.
“Why do I regret it??”
With those words, I hit the hammer with all my might..
Kwasik-!
The movement of the writhing figure stopped..
“You guys should regret it.”
That's right?
***
“…….”
“…….”
There was no further conversation. After hitting the hammer, the big guys kept their mouths shut and paid all their attention to my every move..
Sigh.
A large group of people who step back as much as they take a step forward..
It was a moment when I was mentally measuring the timing to run away from such a confrontation..
I profit-!
I heard the door open behind me..
When I turned around, I saw that the thick iron door at the far end of the hallway between the iron bars was opening..
What appeared through the open door was a middle-aged man who was being guarded by several large men..
“That's about it. Baron Yandel.”
“who are you?”
“My name is Mel, the owner of the Shadow Company of the time..”
Simply put, this guy is the owner of the black market..
The guy who gave his name as Mel winked at his subordinates..
“What about that friend? Is he alive??”
“……I'm still hiding, Lord Hoe..”
“Good thing.”
Soon Mel asked me.
“Baron Yandel. Before we have a full conversation, can I treat that friend first??”
“Do you think I, the Baron of Lapdonia, will accept the demands of the traitorous group??”
“Haha, a traitor... Baron Yandel seems to view us very negatively..”
“Then, is there any reason to look favorably on you who make light of the strict law??”
“Hmm, is that right?.”
The guy who was nodding his head as if what I was saying made sense, muttered coldly..
“Everyone get out of the way.”
Everyone's eyes widened at those words..
“……Mr. Hoeju!”
“It's too dangerous!”
Although his subordinates started a group fight, Hoeju Mel's stubbornness did not break..
“I won't say it twice.”
I don't know how they usually caught them like they were catching mice, but they couldn't say anything at that one word and started to leave the place..
plod, trudge.
Soon, Hoeju Mel walked down the hallway where we were alone and approached me..
To be honest, I was very embarrassed..
what? Is this guy actually really strong? Or, is it like an alter ego, so it doesn't matter if it falls down??
A car full of all kinds of possibilities.
Sigh.
The guy in front of me squatted down with his back defenseless. And I sprinkled the potion I took out of his arms onto the fallen figure..
Cheeeeeeeeeek-!
Bubbles boiling from the face of a large, half-crushed man..
The body of the large man who had lost consciousness and was waiting for the moment of death began to tremble slightly..
“It's a top-tier potion..”
“Yes, that's right.”
I never understood..
What the hell is going on right now??
Even after thinking about it alone, I couldn't come up with an answer, so I just asked straight..
“What are we going to do??”
“I saved my dying subordinate..”
“you could die?”
“yes. Because this person is mine..”
I was speechless for a moment..
I've seen many leaders so far, but this is the first one like this..
“I'm risking my life just for that?”
“Value is subjective. As if the Baron changed his mind when he saw these slaves here..”
“……What a funny guy..”
“Now, would you like to change seats? This doesn't seem like a good place to have a conversation..”
After saying that, he turned his back to me and walked away first, and I was dumbfounded so I just followed him..
After crossing the door several times, we arrived at a small room..
“This is one of the private rooms provided for guests. All users have been sent back to the city, so no one will come to bother you..”
Soon he sat down at the table in the center..
And he gave me a look that asked me what I was doing instead of sitting down..
At this point, even though I didn't want to ask, I had no choice but to ask..
“aren't you scared?”
“I'm afraid.”
“His actions don't seem like that..”
“But it can't be helped, right? If you harm Baron Yandel, from that day on, this place and our family will also be punished. I'm not that reckless..”
“This isn't reckless?”
“If I die, that will be the end. It will end with someone other than me taking over my position. It may take some time, but everything will return to normal. Dirty water always accumulates in the lowest places..”
“…….”
“Oh, of course, the Baron will just vent his anger and go back without getting what he wanted..”
What happened to this guy?.
We didn't have a long conversation, but that alone was enough to get a feel for it..
This guy is no ordinary guy..
However, I did not want it to be dragged on any longer..
“So what do you want to say??”
“It should be the Baron who speaks, not me. Didn’t you come here because you wanted something??”
Uh, that's right.
Lady, if this goes on, I have nothing more to say..
Now that things have come to this, I decided to say whatever I want without worrying about the initiative or anything..
“Give me the personal information of your clients..”
In fact, this was the main purpose of visiting the black market..
[Some wizards... I am placing a request in the black market..]
As the supply dwindled, he even visited the black market to save the heart of the barbarian..
[Ah, there is also a request for the Baron's heart on the black market.···….]
Furthermore, the one who asked for my heart.
and…….
[I really... . I just received a request from the black market... . I don't even know who the client is.…···.]
Even the person who fearlessly submitted a request to sabotage the Hierarchy Lord Raid..
“indeed… It was because of that. Baron Yandel came here.”
“I don’t need any excuses, just answer.”
“Asking for the personal information of our clients is a very difficult request from our perspective..”
“So you’re saying you can’t do it??”
“no. I am a merchant. This may reduce the number of requests, but it will be more profitable than fighting with the Baron..”
“That means?”
“We will organize it so that you can receive information from our clients within today..”
Mel coolly agreed to my request..
It was a completely different development than I expected..
Even if Amman caused such a fuss, I thought it would take a lot more fighting to get this request met..
“So are you done with your business now??”
“no, there is one more.”
“Please ask..”
Afterwards, I asked Mel for one last thing..
“Free the trapped slaves.”
I can't just leave after seeing that..
“Hmm, Baron Yandel seems to believe in human dignity.?”
“I have a lot of questions. I think it was a question that could be answered yes or no..”
“…Can I do the math for a moment??”
“Yes.”
When I gave permission, Mel closed her eyes without any fear and became lost in thought..
It was about 3 minutes later when I opened my eyes..
“great. We will free all slaves and will not touch the slave industry again..”
“……You make quick decisions.?”
I tried to sneak it around, and he answered coolly again, as if it wasn't something to hide..
“Actually, this is a business that I also wanted to quit a long time ago..”
“I wanted to fold it up?”
“There were quite a few cases where the buyer failed to manage it properly. There were a number of incidents that almost caused major problems due to this..”
In fact, I tried to close down the business several times because of this, but there was no reason to close down a business that had been making huge profits since the previous generation.?
“With Baron Yandel, no one can object now. It's a good thing.”
“…….”
“So are you really done with your business now??”
“okay. As soon as I receive the client's information and the slaves' records, they disappear before my eyes..”
“If so, I'll have to deal with it as quickly as possible..”
At the end of that conversation, he called his subordinates again and gave them various instructions, and by dawn, he was able to receive all of the hundreds of slaves, including the client's information..
and…….
“Mel Asmond.”
I asked the guy before we parted ways..
“Why do you give up everything so easily??”
Rather than answering, he just looked at me with a strange look for a long time..
“Baron Yandel also knew about our family..”
That's because I've beaten the black market episode in the game. I also know about the family that reigned as the king of this place for a long time..
but…….
“That's probably not what I asked?”
When I asked again persistently, he also revealed his honest thoughts..
“Heroes are always short-lived. There is no reason for us to receive the falling blade..”
To interpret it, it means that if you act like me, you will definitely not live long and you will die..
‘He's a funny guy.’
Black Market Owner Mel Asmond.
For some reason, I felt like I would have to see this guy again..
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