351 # 334 Slave caravan.txt (1/2)

Set up the warp point and return to the leapfrog and get ready to go. Once I'm done getting ready, I head back to the oasis.

My members are Setia, Love Fire, Ix, Noah, Livina, Waxx, Gray, Gale, Mir, Hix, and Sinsu. Gray and the others left to teach me that Sunasaki's story was true. It would also intimidate them.

Setia, Noah, Livina, and Sinsu are hiding.

If the opponent is a man, Livina is the Joker. There is no way for the other side to know.

We'll fish the oasis until they show up. Not gonna catch anything.

”....nii. There he is. ”Nii's right.

We have an additional enemy. A group of black-clad figures.

”I don't think he's an amateur in his movements. It's probably an enemy...

I knew they wouldn't come in friendly. He's probably some kind of assassin.

”I knew it...Setia, Ix, Mir. You take care of that one.

I'll take care of it.

”Mission aye, sir.

When I got the news from Noah, he called out from behind me.

'There's no fish in that oasis.

That's a shame.

I stopped fishing, got up and turned around. There was a man with a black cloth wrapped around him. So the markers are already indicating the enemy, but we have to talk to him anyway.

Sunasaki was with the Cerian Beasts, who were wearing the same collar. It's something that doesn't go as well as one might think. At any rate, I'm glad that Sunasaki is safe.

I hear you want to buy a collar?

Yeah. Someone told me that you guys were coming here but that it wasn't what we were told... and you're the leader?

That's for sure. If you're going to buy information, you might as well choose.

'It hurts my ears...I've heard of a crazy dark summoner equipped with a ring...'

Koibito and Wufu react to my statement. I knew it was a mistake to turn Koibito and the others into a monster... but they were stupid over there.

''Kuu. That's a mistake...''

You know that it's a mistake... the dark summoner at that time said he was selling the Japanese fox or something. So he's the seller and these guys are the buyers.

I'll put Grey, Gale, and Hicks away.

Yeah, well, that's okay. I'm going to need that collar. Do you sell it?

”We're not slave collar dealers by any means.

That's too bad.

I manipulate my inventory and pay out a lot of money.

HUH?

Money brings out the best in people, doesn't it? Now I know who their leader is.

Well, I'll take the money...

Wait, wait!　Wait a minute. Is that what you want, a collar?　There are plenty of Cerian Beasts out there. Not good enough then?

Well... you get the idea. Before you go in, I'm still willing to pay you. So, let's negotiate.

Oh, yeah. It's gonna be a fun negotiation. Hey!　Get me a desk and a chair!

So we negotiate. Then I get a call from Ix.

”Mission accomplished, sir.

Good work. Good luck. Livina... our target is the red cloth.

”Done.

Now, the state of affairs over there is... unchanged.

All I've been given is the information that the collar is for slaves. I'm going to need details. I will be the only one to hear it.

Of course. Hey, get those slaves back.

We'll talk about it together.

'First of all, about this collar, you can use the ring to detonate it. When you want to detonate it is up to you.

It's not like you're deciding to be rebellious or anything, after all.

Don't you have to worry about being broken or getting away with magic or skills?

'The countermeasures there are perfect. The seal keeps the magic and skills sealed. If you break it, remove the collar without permission, or break the seal, it will detonate.

Great.... but what will you do if that ring is taken from you?

That's the problem... and if that happens, I'm going to have to call the collar lord and detonate it.

So there's another switch...well, of course. So if I can't convince you, I'll have to do it.

”So you're not going to give up your slaves, are you?

What?　You paid good money for that slave.　Well, if you want to buy it all, I'll be happy to sell it to you.

I knew it was a bad idea.

Well, I guess I'll just have to get rid of them.

”Do it.

Huh?　Gwah!

I take out the numbing needle I had hidden in my robe and throw it in my face. It's handy. This.

At my command, everyone moved in unison. Livina, who jumped out of Noah's shadow hiding, used her whore wards on my designated man, blocking his movements and finishing him off with her dark claws.

Love Fire unleashes a change and slays anyone but the caravan's slaves. The wizard in the distance was bitten by Sins and pierced by a parasitic tree that flew in from the forest.

Then a few people escape from the shadow of the leader's people. They were the black-robed enemies that Setia and the others had mentioned. However, the magic arrows of lightning and lightning lasers pierce it and it is defeated.

''Ki, you...''

I'm sorry... but there's no bargaining.

I take out my silver sword and cut the guy I was negotiating with. If I use the scarlet ring on this guy, Setia will be pissed at me.

Everyone gathers around the slaves.

”Who are you... who are you?

Probably the wolf Serian Beast guy asks. Sunasaki rushes to speak, but stops.

'You shouldn't speak yet. I'm Tact, a Freetian adventurer and summoner. I was asked by the boy to move to help you guys.

The slaves break down in tears as I produce my guild card as proof.

'It's real...'

”...are we safe?

To be honest, I can't say I've been saved yet. You can't really say you're saved until you remove that collar, you know. That's why I'm going to take everyone to Freetia now... okay?

If we don't deactivate them sooner than later, they may blow up. I don't think they'll be contacted by the Daigen immediately since we've wiped them out, but they'll know about these guys' annihilation soon enough.

Okay, okay. Our lives are in your hands. All right?

They all nodded. I send them to Fretia at the warp gate.

I know that the collar doesn't detonate in response to magic. Well, I guess they think it won't matter if it detonates far away.

Then Cain-san and the others who contacted us will protect them.

''The Beast Demon Guild will take responsibility for you guys.

When Nephi-san said that, I was called by Cain-san.

'I knew it wasn't good to bring you here?

''Not at all. I would rather give you an award from the Beast Demon Guild, but we'll talk about that another time. In the meantime, can you tell me what information you've learned?

I tell Mr. Cain everything.

'I see... then I guess we could use a room with a blocking ward to keep us safe.

The warding off?

Yeah. It's one of the strongest barriers to prevent an attack from the outside world. If you're going to send a signal to detonate it, you can make that signal impossible to reach.

'I didn't know such wards existed...'

The fact that it's from the outside probably means it's weak against attacks from the inside, but it's still powerful.

'Tact-san, can I have a moment?　One, the Cerian Beast would like to talk to you.

'What is it?　In the meantime, can we go to that room and listen to the conversation?

Do so. Nephi, take them to the blocking ward room.

Nefi-san leads me into the wardroom and talks to the Cerian Beast who wants to talk to me.

''Wow, I'm Serian Beast of the Snanaco. Do you know D'Artagnan by any chance?

Ah... this boy, that village boy... I remember that D'Artagnan said that some of the children sometimes escape and go away.

'Ah. I know D'Artagnan.

'I knew it!　Would you please tell D'Artagnan that I am safe?　I'm sure he's worried about you.

I can get you that much. I'll go tell him right now.

Thank you!

So I headed to the village of Necot. When I arrived at Necot village, D'Artagnan came easily.

Anya?　What's wrong with you, brother?

Protecting the snare cat Cerian Beast in the Sandwall Desert.

Meow!　Oh, is she all right?

'I'm safe for now... only they put a slave collar on me. He's now under the protection of Fretia's Beast Demon Guild.

D'Artagnan is relieved.

'Thank goodness... oh!　Thank you for saving that boy!　Brother.

No need to thank me for that. I'll bring you back here if I can release you safely.

Please?

I told Serian Beast of Snanaco that I had told him properly and logged out.

Name Takuto, Summoner of Affection Lv9.