Chapter 19: Reunion with the Spider Princess (01)
To start with an explanation, slavery was currently prohibited within the kingdom.
However, this ban applied only to humans and demi-humans. As for chimeras or monsters, transactions involving them weren't strictly outlawed, provided certain safety measures were in place.
It wasn't entirely legal, but neither was it outright illegal. Such a gray area was exactly where the underground slave market operated.
"Of course, it's illegal anyway."
Officially, they claimed to sell chimeras crafted by wizards to meet demand, collecting commissions in a legal manner. But one could imagine what the actual situation looked like without even seeing it firsthand.
"Still, sending a second-year trainee knight? The Magic Knights Order's prestige must've hit rock bottom."
The slave market in question was supported by the thieves' guild and several nobles, so sending a senior knight could provoke significant political controversy.
Moreover, the faces of senior knights were already well-known, making covert infiltration nearly impossible.
Even so, sending a trainee knight, despite the availability of external knights, made no sense to me.
"That's because the conditions match only you," came the answer.
"What conditions?"
"You're not publicly recognizable, and you have the skills to protect yourself without the Magic Knights Order's equipment."
Ah, well, if I'm that exceptional, what can I do?
The mana saber I carried now wasn't one of the supplies distributed by the Magic Knights Order but a regular mana saber anyone could buy on the market. If I got caught, the Order would deny any connection to me and claim it was a personal misstep.
Truthfully, I wouldn't face much disadvantage even if I refused or messed up the mission. But the reason I was tackling this task with enthusiasm...
"Slaves... slaves, huh?"
It's just one of those things.
Call it a... fantasy about rescuing slaves?
Like in those old knightly tales where captured elves are rescued from slave traders, and the protagonist wins over their mistrust to become their lover.
You'd say that's just a story?
For the record, Professor Pandel's parents got married in such a way.
His knight mother disguised herself as a slave, infiltrated the market to confirm the elves' capture, then requested external reinforcements while leading the slaves to escape. She ended up marrying an elf she bonded with during that process. Their union gave birth to Professor Pandel, a half-elf, and his younger sister. So, it's not entirely an absurd story.
The alley between the capital's bustling streets—normally lined with food stalls—was unusually clean and empty today. According to intelligence from senior knights, this alley led to the underground slave market.
"From now on, watch your mouth," I was warned.
"Got it."
"Actually, just shut up. That's safer."
Dane pouted but nodded, seemingly aware of his poor acting and lying skills.
"Can you give me your name?" asked the guard.
"Ban," I replied.
"Dane."
Given Dane's lack of acting ability, we avoided using aliases or fake identities. Instead, we disguised ourselves as mere knight trainees.
After all, we were knight trainees. We only concealed our affiliation with the Magic Knights Order. Even Dane, a simpleton, could manage such a basic cover story.
"There's no invitation registered, though..."
'Invitation? Was that necessary?'
"Huh? I thought we could just walk in like last time."
His tone was so obviously fake that I glared at Dane, who promptly clammed up like a shell.
"My apologies. Things have been tense lately. Those knights have been fervently tracking us, and who knows if they've sent spies?"
"Then wouldn't it be standard procedure not to hold auctions?"
"But we have some exquisite goods right now!"
"And what kind of goods would that be?"
"Heh heh... wouldn't it be better to save that as a surprise for later?"
This gatekeeper sure knew how to toy with people.
'From the way he's explaining things, it seems they intend to let us in.'
"Honestly, the invitation thing was just a lie. How could we hand out invitations without risking exposure? The whole point was to make spies flustered while searching for one."
"That does make sense."
"Go ahead. You may enter."
Apparently, they were cautious about spies from the Order.
I managed to maintain a poker face in front of the gatekeeper, avoiding detection. Meanwhile, Dane kept his mouth shut as instructed, which also helped.
"One small verification, if you please."
"What is it?"
"You must have at least one item that matches the theme of our association, don't you?"
'Association...?'
The goods traded here were monsters.
In other words, they wanted proof that we were carrying a monster to ensure our credibility. Fortunately—
"Will this do?"
I had Mollang.
She wasn't in her humanoid form in front of others but appeared as a squishy, round slime resting on my hand. Seeing her, the doorman's face broke into a bright smile, and he stepped aside to let us through.
"A slime saves the day for us."
"It's not what you're thinking."
Thanks to Mollang, we passed the checkpoint effortlessly. I patted her on the head and tucked her back into my coat.
Normally, Mollang was stored in a canteen issued by the Magic Knights, but given the circumstances, she was temporarily stashed in my inner pocket.
After clearing the checkpoint and stepping into the alley, we were greeted by a labyrinth of narrow backstreets that seemed perfect for thieves' guild activity. Members of the guild stationed here guided us deeper toward the underground slave market.
'This place is massive.'
The twisting alleyways were like a spiderweb. I kept track of our direction and the number of steps we took, quickly realizing they were deliberately leading us in circles.
Even though the actual distance wasn't far, they were intentionally disorienting us to make it difficult to pinpoint the location.
'Of course, I remember everything.'
For knights, this level of spatial awareness was second nature. Although I briefly struggled with the rapid turns, Dane and I devised a method: I memorized the left turns, and he took note of the right ones.
'There's a scent.'
Soon, the distinct smell of monsters wafted through the air, signaling we were nearing our destination.
'270 meters north, 187 meters west from the right alley of the central bank.'
As I confirmed our position, our escorts stepped back, and Dane and I finally beheld the hidden underground slave market.
"...Whoa."
Countless monsters were caged within.
From gnolls, goblins, and trolls—formidable foes in their own right—to lamias and harpies—monsters with human-like appearances.
'These bastards are making a fortune.'
Even centaurs, classified as demi-humans and strictly prohibited from being traded, were imprisoned here.
"What are you looking at?"
A centaur warrior glared at me with hostility, his expression brimming with defiance.
Naturally, as a Magic Knight, I wasn't the least bit intimidated.
'They couldn't have captured him by strength alone.'
Centaurs, the ultimate mounted warriors, were incredibly hard to catch due to their speed. However, they were often sold as slave mercenaries after being defeated by rival centaur tribes.
'That's probably what happened to him.'
BANG!
Perhaps interpreting my gaze as a challenge, the centaur approached the bars of his cage, pounding against them with a ferocious expression.
"Don't stare at me like that, you two-legged bastard."
I hadn't expected the number of legs to be used as an insult.
'The crest on his neck shows he was defeated by another centaur tribe and sold into slavery.'
Regardless of his circumstances, the trade was illegal. Still, causing a scene here wouldn't end well, so I ignored him and walked further inside.
"Chitter!"
"Damn it, another web attack!"
"Just kill it already. These things are useless."
CRACK!
A mercenary with a long scar across his face smashed the head of a giant spider that had been spraying webbing.
'...That spider.'
Pieces of the giant spider, similar to the ones that had kidnapped me previously, were scattered everywhere.
While some mercenaries were harvesting the webbing for its value, others were burning the carcasses due to the stench. Among them, one cage stood out, heavily guarded and veiled by a thick curtain.
'Is this the prized item the doorman mentioned?'
Unlike the other monsters, which were openly displayed for buyers, this cage was carefully concealed.
'An elf, perhaps? Definitely something illegal.'
Our mission was to gather intel. The plan was to report any illegal activities to the Magic Knights, who would then organize a raid to eliminate the market.
"The private booths must be for VIPs."
Several rooms equipped with soundproofing and magical illumination lined the area, but our destination was a less opulent auction hall further down.
Most seats were already occupied, but to my surprise, the front row was entirely vacant.
'Why is the front row empty? Usually, those are the most desirable seats.'
We sat down, puzzled. Soon after, the hall filled with over 200 attendees, leaving only our seats empty.
'This many people? There's no way this place is a secret.'
As I clicked my tongue at the lack of discretion, a man with an impressive mustache stepped onto the stage, holding a magic orb that amplified his voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our auction! Let us first express our gratitude to the knights and mercenaries who work tirelessly to ensure these 'contracts'—and I emphasize, not illegal—are brought to you."
Polite applause followed.
"Now, without further ado, let's begin. Our first lot: harpy sisters captured directly from the Canyons of the Angry Winds!"
Thunderous applause erupted as three harpies, bound in chains, were brought onto the stage.
"Caw!"
"Squawk!!"
The harpies screeched loudly, forcing Dane and me to cover our ears. The sound was so piercing it felt like my brain was vibrating.
'Damn it! So that's why no one wants the front row.'
Unlike regular slaves, these were monsters. Sitting up close exposed us to their unpredictable behavior, as well as the physical and auditory risks.
Looking at Dane's seat, I noticed it was riddled with claw marks from previous attacks.
"What is it?"
"Nothing... never mind."
If things got dangerous, I'd throw Dane to the wolves and make my escape.
"These harpies belong to the parrot species, known for their vibrant feathers."
'There are different types of harpies?'
"While they lack the combat prowess of raptor species, they are highly intelligent, long-lived, and can even mimic human speech if properly trained."
The auctioneer lifted their feathers, treating them like exotic pets.
"And as you all know, harpies are renowned for their... unique qualities. Not only that, but they lay fresh eggs daily, making them an excellent addition to any estate."
As the auctioneer extolled their virtues, he revealed their cloacas to the audience.
Dane and I watched with curiosity, but the other attendees seemed unimpressed.
"Perhaps a demonstration is in order."
At the auctioneer's signal, a mercenary wearing gloves stepped forward, preparing something.
"First, let's induce egg-laying in one of them."
'Wait... here? Seriously?!'