The port city of Zant was a chaotic blend of sounds, smells, and constant movement. The main streets were filled with merchants shouting to advertise their wares, while sailors, adventurers, and common citizens moved amidst the unrelenting noise. Rygar walked among them, staying alert, his eyes scanning every detail around him.
He had ventured out because he felt the need to understand the environment, prices, and people, as well as to gather useful information for his mission. It had been a long time since he had interacted in a human society, and his opinion of the humans in this world wasn't very positive. This was largely due to the many slavers he had faced and the stories Verdia and his mother had told him. However, Fendrel had made him believe that there might be better humans out there.
As he passed through an open market, he noticed a stall apparently selling paper and maps. The vendor, a thin man with graying hair and a tired expression, was engrossed in a book as Rygar approached. The man glanced at him without much interest, seemingly unfazed by the fact that Rygar was a young member of the beast race.
Stepping closer, Rygar asked, "Hello, do you have any maps of the city available?"
"I've got two—one detailed and one simple," the vendor replied indifferently, pointing at two stacks of seemingly hand-drawn maps.
Rygar examined the maps. One cost two Milis silver coins, while the other was five. He wasn't sure if this was expensive for a map, but it felt a bit pricey.
"If you can't read, the simple one is two silver coins, and the detailed one is five," the vendor said, his tone uninterested as he returned to his book.
"Alright, I'll take the detailed one…" Rygar replied, thinking at least this man wasn't trying to scam him.
He retrieved the coins from his pouch and handed them over.
"Thanks for your purchase. If you find any important landmarks in the city not shown on the map, let me know. If I find it worth noting, I'll give you a silver coin," the vendor said in a slow, dragging tone as he handed Rygar the map.
Examining the map, Rygar assessed its utility. It was rudimentary but detailed enough to show key points such as the port, commercial areas, and several main streets. "This will do for now," he thought.
As he walked away, his thoughts drifted to the funds his tribe had provided him—thirty Milis gold coins and fifty Milis silver coins. In the Dedoldia tribe, such money was practically useless since they lived off hunting and direct bartering. The amount was sufficient to establish themselves for a few days and purchase supplies for the journey to Milishion. Still, Rygar knew he had to be careful with his expenses.
He continued exploring, observing workers, adventurers, and the slaves laboring in the streets. Some were human, others beast races, and even some of demonic origin. Nobody seemed particularly disturbed by this; even some slaves didn't look particularly sad or despondent.
He already knew that abolishing slavery in this world would be an incredibly difficult task. Many slaves were captured during raids on tribes, villages, or caravans. However, there were also those who sold themselves into slavery after incurring debts they couldn't repay, willingly accepting servitude for a set period.
There were also those enslaved as punishment for crimes, prisoners of war who had to choose between death or servitude, and even orphans who sold themselves for food, shelter, and protection.
These and other reasons made such moral rules deeply ingrained in the societies of this world. Changing it would take generations. He wasn't that interested in all this work and didn't think it was necessary for now, maybe if the opportunity arose he would try something.
Of course, most slaves were still obtained through kidnappings and attacks, particularly targeting beastly tribes and isolated villages. But Rygar already had a plan to address this. It was simpler than he had imagined. Why were demonic races far less enslaved than beast races? There might be other reasons, but he was convinced that much of it was due to the powerful Demon Kings ruling each province. Few dared to invade their territories to capture slaves. It had been the same during the era of the Second Beast God, Giger.
And that was exactly what he intended to replicate. According to his master and Gustav, he was already considered a force to be reckoned with on a global scale. His ability to cast King-tier spells without incantations and his standing as a Saint-level warrior were massive deterrents. He just needed an opportunity to showcase this power. If he succeeded, even the major underworld powers would hesitate to act against the Great Forest for fear of the potential damage he could inflict.
Of course, this wouldn't yield instant results, but it would be a significant first step. The Iron Legion would closely follow his lead, paving the way he opened.
The people's gazes varied as he walked. Some ignored him completely, treating him as just another passerby. Others glared at him with disdain or hostility. He noticed that much of the animosity came from well-dressed individuals or those in positions of authority. "Ignorant people will always exist," he thought to himself.
Reaching the port, Rygar paused to observe the sea. The salty breeze brought a wave of nostalgia. He remembered his past life and the beaches he had visited. It was his first time seeing the sea in this world. Boats of various sizes were anchored, with crews busily loading and unloading cargo.
He approached a burly man with a thick beard who seemed approachable. "Hello, could you tell me how much a trip to the Demon Continent costs?" Rygar asked.
The man looked him over before answering. "Depends. A simple trip with no guarantees would cost about ten silver coins. Want luxury, protection, or speed? The price goes up."
Rygar nodded, thanking the man for the information, and began heading back toward the inn. As he walked, he sensed something odd. He had noticed he was being watched since leaving the port, and now he was certain. His keen instincts picked up subtle movements—footsteps that stopped whenever he turned around.
"I'm being followed," he thought, remaining calm. He made his way toward a more isolated area, filled with narrow alleys and deserted streets. If they were hostile, he would deal with it there.
The footsteps continued, keeping a cautious distance. Rygar breathed deeply, his beast-like ears picking up every sound around him. He walked unhurriedly, his eyes scanning the worn walls of the alley and the debris scattered on the ground. When he finally reached a point where the noise of the bustling streets disappeared, he stopped.
"Perfect," he thought.
For a few seconds, only the wind passed through the narrow alley. Then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind him. Before he could fully turn, a shadow lunged forward, and a blade of iron gleamed as it descended toward his back.
Rygar moved with precision. He raised his left hand, gripping the blade firmly. The metal didn't even cut his skin. The attacker, a rough-looking man in tattered clothing, widened his eyes in shock.
"What…?!" the man stammered, trying to pull the blade back.
Before he could react further, Rygar murmured something under his breath, and an invisible blade of wind sliced through the air. The man's arm was severed with surgical precision, and he collapsed to the ground, screaming in pain as he clutched the bleeding stump.
The second pursuer, a few meters behind, hesitated for a moment, his uncertainty clear in his eyes. But when Rygar turned to look at him, the man spun around and started running.
"At least he's smart..."
Rygar raised his right hand slightly, and the ground ahead of the fleeing man trembled. A wall of earth emerged, blocking his path. The man struck the wall with his sword, but only sparks flew. He turned around, but before he could react, another wind blade slashed through his legs, bringing him down with a cry of agony.
Rygar walked toward him calmly, ignoring the man's groans of pain. With another hand motion, he used quicksand magic to make the ground beneath the man give way, trapping him up to his neck. The earth hardened around him, forming an improvised prison. The man, terrified, began to hyperventilate.
Meanwhile, the first attacker, now crawling desperately on the ground in a futile attempt to escape, was interrupted by a firm kick to the back from Rygar. The man screamed again, but before he could pass out from the pain, Rygar cast a healing spell to stop the bleeding from his severed arm.
"We still have a lot to talk about..."
Rygar dragged the man back and placed him next to his companion, who now sat in complete silence, too terrified to scream. Both of them were visibly horrified, but Rygar paid no mind.
"Alright. Let's talk. If you cooperate, you leave here alive. Understood?"
The two men nodded quickly, desperate.
"Who do you work for?" Rygar asked, staring at the man with the severed arm.
"N-No one!" he stammered. "We just... just saw a feral kid walking around... thought it'd be easy money!"
Rygar narrowed his eyes. The answer made sense, but he wasn't ready to believe it so easily.
"And where were you planning to sell me?" he pressed.
"There are... there are lots of places in the city!" the man trapped in the earth replied, his voice trembling. "Merchants, selling points... anyone would buy!"
"Show me," Rygar said, pointing at the man with the severed arm. "Use your finger to mark the places on the map you know. Don't even think about lying—it won't end well for you."
The man hesitated for a moment, but Rygar simply stared at him in silence. Trembling, he pointed out the locations, trying to be as detailed as possible.
"Good," Rygar said, storing the map away. "Now, one more thing: who else is involved in this?"
"We don't know! We just... just do small jobs! We're low-level adventurers! We don't know anything else, I swear!"
Rygar stayed silent, watching the two. He could smell the fear radiating from them. When he finally stood, the men sighed in relief, thinking they might actually be released.
"Thanks for the cooperation."
Before they could react, Rygar slit their throats with a wind blade, silencing them forever.
He stared at the bodies for a moment, then used magic to bury them in the earth and hardened the ground, leaving the alley clean and without traces.
"That should avoid any trouble for now," he thought, dusting off his hands.
Without further delay, he leaped onto the nearby rooftop and began moving across the buildings, heading back to the Black Sails Tavern.
The sun was already setting when Rygar reached the rooftops near the Black Sails Tavern. From there, he could see the street activity starting to wind down as workers ended their days and merchants closed their stalls.
He descended nimbly from the rooftop, landing silently in a narrow alley beside the tavern. Walking toward the main entrance, he noticed the weathered wooden sign swaying in the wind, the words "Black Sails" nearly erased by time. Upon entering, he was greeted by the stuffy atmosphere and the smell of stale beer and old food.
The barkeep, a wiry man with thinning hair and shifty eyes, watched him enter. There was something different in his gaze now—perhaps fear, perhaps distrust. Either way, Rygar didn't care. He approached the counter and spoke in a firm tone.
"Call the old fat man. Tell him I need to speak with him."
The barkeep quickly left without another word. While he waited, Rygar scanned the room. A few regular patrons glanced at him briefly but didn't seem inclined to start a conversation.
A few minutes later, the barkeep returned and nodded. "He's waiting for you. Back room."
Rygar followed the barkeep down a narrow corridor to a plain wooden door. Upon opening it, he found the old fat man seated behind a desk, his expression shifting between interest and caution. He was a corpulent man with a short, well-kept beard that contrasted with his otherwise disheveled appearance. Beside him, two armed men stood watch, their eyes fixed on Rygar.
The fat man gestured to a chair on the other side of the desk. "Take a seat, boy. I don't know your name yet, and I haven't told you mine. I'm Peikak, the owner of this humble inn and tavern," he introduced himself with a proud smile.
Rygar accepted the invitation and sat down. He knew this meeting could be crucial for his next steps. "I'm Rygar Adoldia. I hope it's a pleasure to meet you..."