"They even have plumbing!" I exhaled, staring around as we walked.
Back at the capital, only few houses had actual plumbing and almost all of them belonged to noble families.
And yet, these people had proper sewer systems and they weren't even marveling at them like me…?
"Yes, I heard that a world-famous architect is currently residing here in this town," Amiya explained, kind of proud.
'Really?'
Normally people had a dedicated room to relieve themselves or answer the call of nature and after they were done, they'd just throw the contents through their windows in buckets. This was the very reason why we had to pass down the Common Toilet Act. People weren't allowed to litter the streets as it almost always caused epidemics. So instead, the state-funded a large pool of sorts where everyone dumped their wastes.
It was far from ideal but definitely better than littering the streets.
As for this town, they had sewage systems. I'd seen these things before. Only a select few nobles back in Dorkanil had systems like this… 'But to think common people here live better than nobles…'
Very interesting indeed.
"Their alleys are also clean!" I exclaimed taking a look.
Amiya sighed. "Are you sure you're a prince?" She mumbled. "You seem more like a country boy."
Yeah, gonna pretend I never heard that!
Ignored!
Anyway- "We should maybe head over to the merchant guild and register. Maybe I should register as an adventurer too just in case."
I wanted to buy some clothes first just to look the part but given how I didn't have any money it was best to just head over to the guild.
"Since you want to start a business, I'd suggest the merchant guild first."
"I agree."
Instead of taking the main road, we kept on walking through the alleys. Mainly because of me…
Apparently, I'd never seen alleys this clean and my curiosity couldn't be stopped.
"But do you know much about business? I hear they have a test you know," Amiya said.
"Well, as much as I hated it, they court mages and teachers did drill a lot in me… so I know how to run a business, at least in theory." Yeah, I didn't even want to remember all that… "What do you do anyway? I've been meaning to ask but never managed to."
Or more like never remembered to.
"You mean my occupation?"
"Yeah. I'm technically going on an adventure to get strong allies, make a name for myself, lay the groundwork before doing you know what. But you- I'm not sure what you do and if you have any family you're leaving behind or-"
Despite being alleyways there were plenty of people like us, just walking by.
They didn't look shady but they weren't really ordinary citizens either… The cats were with us, so no one really decided to mess with us.
"I've also been meaning to ask but are you dumb?" The question came and hit me out of nowhere… "Shouldn't you have asked me that before you recruited me?" An exaggerated sigh. Did she forget what sort of situation we were in when I recruited her? "I'm a mercenary; I have no family."
As much as I wanted to retort, I didn't have any aspirations to.
So-
'Pretend it never happened.'
"Let me go!"
I heard some noises in the distance and also pretended to ignore all that.
Yeah, I didn't want to get involved with that.
There was a reason why Blork was called the black sheep of Blumrose.
Slaves.
Slaves, sold in broad daylight.
"I didn't realize, they do this kind of business out here like this…" I mumbled.
Dorkanil also had slaves but that business was an underground one and practicing stuff like this in broad daylight would have surely angered the locals and people would have thrown stones at the slavers. People did not like the idea that eventually they could also become someone's slave…
"Horrible, I know." Amiya shrugged. "Though I suppose this is the way of life. If you can't pay your debts, you better be ready to sell yourself."
A chuckle escaped.
Yeah.
This world was crooked.
The more I thought about things, the more I hated this world.
About thirty- thirty cages. Human-sized cages with people in them… some scrawny, others just bones, while some missing limbs…
Many races of people- just being sold.
Some clothed, some armored, some buck naked.
Products.
"You're not one of those types, right?" Amiya managed, kind of cautious.
"What do you mean? Having a thing for slaves or being a righteous prick and trying to save as many as possible?"
"Both…"
"Neither." I shrugged. "This is the way of life. It was bad luck that they're in this, but at the end of the day, we have our own shits to take care of. We don't have time for that."
In the past, I'd have tried everything to save them…
But-
Not anymore.
Perhaps I really had changed…
"That makes me both happy and a bit sad but I suppose you're right."
"Besides, you're much hotter than anyone here anyway," Yeah, the truth came out on its own…
Oh well.
A giggle, a blush, and a smile.
I got all three from her.
'Cute!'
Anyway- we proceeded to walk past the cages and the men surrounding the place.
Surprisingly most of the caged people were females but some were in fact, males and even children.
The customers were by far mostly men though.
All sorts of tastes, I guess?
"You there! Almost blonde beast tamer man!" A stout feminine voice.
"Who, me?" I pointed at myself.
Who the hell calls people, almost blonde? 'And beast tamer…'
The girl in the cage- an armored red-haired girl glared.
She did not look friendly, no.
"Yes, you. Are you looking for a slave!?"
Haughty.
Sharp facial features- tone, sharper.
She looked more like a knight than a woman…
And female knights were more than just a rarity.
"No, not really."
She sighed; a bit disgusted. "Why can't you men be more useful!"
'Um- excuse me?'
Confused?
Yes?
"Did you need anything?" Amiya glared. "Because we were leaving." Her tone, not friendly.
The red-haired woman calmed herself and stared a bit less menacingly. "Can you get me out of here? I'm a knigh- I can't say who I am or who my master is. But I can assure you, I'll pay you back. You have my word!" She clutched a hand to her modest chest and sincerely stared at us.
Was she trying to hide her identity? 'You're clearly a knight though.'
Too bad we didn't have any money.
Then again, even if we had, I probably wouldn't have helped her.
Reason being?
I didn't like her attitude.