★9
YAMI'S POV
Yami was a young man clad in a jet-black kimono. His crimson eyes gleamed with quiet intensity, and with that stern, unreadable expression, he was almost a mirror image of his creator, Asteri.
A day after traversing the vast forest, I finally stepped out of its shadows. Ahead, the kingdom stretched beneath the morning sun, its walls glimmering faintly in the distance. Just a short walk more, and I'd be standing at its gates.
<
I thought as I made my way to the city. Focusing only on the task at hand, I went straight into business. I'm a foreigner, so I have to ask to get information on the slave trade. More thoughts kept bubbling as I went past the gate. I walked up to the first seller.
"Excuse me."
"How may I help you, son?"
The bearded old man asked.
<
"I'm looking for a slave market."
I said calmly, masking the intent behind my words.
"My wife is in the 'family way', so I need someone to take care of her."
"Oh, that's good news. Fortunately, there is one nearby, but it is only open at night."
"Thanks. Can I get the location?"
"Umm, it's hard to point it out, but Sally."
He called out.
"Yes, I'll be there in a minute."
She replied, and after a few seconds, a young lady appeared. She is an NPC, and I don't give a damn about her.
"Can you guide this young man to the Night World?"
(Lame name, I know. Just plot devices.)
"Sure, follow me, mister."
<
"Thanks."
Sally led the way, and I followed her.
"Just curious why you wanna buy slaves?"
"... can't tell anyone about that.
Just mind your own business, you bot.>>
"Hmm, well, no problem. Just keep in mind.."
She paused and spoke in a harsh tone, staring at me.
"The night world isn't for everyone, especially not for people like you."
<
"Whatever, just take me there,"
"We're here already."
She said, yet in front of us is a bar.
"This is a bar."
"Of course, you'd expect it to be opened to the world? The government has been keeping an eye on slave traders, so it's best to move low-key."
<<'Best to move low key'? I think there's a connection here.>>
"You can go now."
Not wanting to keep her around, I dismissed her.
"Jeez, you're boring, you know."
She said as she bounced off.
<
I took off strolling around the city, observing the fragile race doing their stuff. With my acute hearing, I picked up a faint voice and a cry.
"Shut up, you no-good elf!"
The man barked.
I turned and headed towards the location. I took a turn observing the commotion. I don't need to hide, I'm not afraid of some humans. The man slapped the female elf to the ground, most likely because he was annoyed by what she had done or simply for fun.
<
"Hey, hey, easy there, she's worth more, you know. Damaging her will only reduce the price."
They didn't seem to notice my presence.
"I know. But a little slap is nothing, boss."
The man said, flickering his wrist. I stood still, but none of them was about to look in my direction. As the attacker spoke, a metal object, most likely a sword, rested on my shoulder.
"Move, and your head is gone."
<>
<
<
With the master giving me a green light. I slowly turned to face the foolish person who was brave enough to use his rusty blade on me.
"H..hey. I say don't move."
The moment our eyes met,
<
He immediately fell trapped to Antares's Art, which has two functions. Full Possession transfers all of your consciousness to the target, while Half Possession transfers half. Even with Half Possession, I could easily take over his body, so I had to restrain myself. With this, I gained control over him and sent him back to his group.
"Took you long enough, Jake."
"S... sorry."
<>
The squad moved the slaves inside the building. And the real me left the scene.
<
Time passed, and night had fully awakened. I deliberately lingered until midnight before making my move toward the bar. Sally, the NPC who'd taken it upon herself to follow me, trailed quietly behind. I didn't bother acknowledging her; she'd chosen to come, after all.
As I entered the bar, every conversation halted. Eyes turned my way, hungry and suspicious, the kind of gaze you'd expect from street scum pretending to be men. The air reeked of stale ale and arrogance.
<
I ignored their gazes and headed straight to the bartender. Without sitting, I asked.
"I'd like to visit the Night World."
I jumped to a conclusion.
The bartender was shocked at my straightforward request.
"Um.. I think you're in the wrong place.."
"It's ok, old man. You, follow me."
One of the men sitting opposite the bartender spoke up and gestured for me to follow. Without a word, he led the way toward the back door of the bar.
Beyond it, it stretched a narrow corridor, dimly lit by flickering lanterns. Doors lined both sides, and another waited at the far end. As we walked, my hearing picked up muffled moans and indistinct noises leaking from the rooms, business as usual in a place like this. I paid them no mind and kept my pace steady.
We reached the final door, a reinforced slab of dark wood with a metal plaque reading "Ye Night World." The air here felt heavier, tainted with secrets and silent transactions waiting behind that single door.
"Before we proceed, where did you get information about this place?"
The man asked.
"I randomly ask. "
"Randomly, huh."
As we approached the door, the guard literally placed his hands on me to search me. My eyes are on his filthy hands that're burning off my godhood by the second.
"No weapons here."
"You don't have to touch me, you know."
I slipped free of the katana-adorned belt and stepped into the room. The sight hit me like a fist, elves and ogres bound and caged, treated like refuse.
I felt nothing on the surface, no rage or pity, but beneath that stillness, a slow, cold ember of justice began to glow. Those in charge would pay.
"Is this all of them? I need young elves and mature ones."
I asked, suppressing the justice beast within me from exploding.
"Hmm, it seems like I've misjudged you. The high class is up ahead."
He led me to the high-class section, the place where the young and the mature were kept. The same men I'd seen outside were here too, including the one I'd possessed.
"Is this all of them?"
I asked.
"Y-yeah. Which one do you want…?"
"I'll buy all of them."
"Heh?"
My declaration caught the attention of the others around us."
"Hey Scarl, what is this kid talking about?"
The boss, who's someone I met before, asked. A person's signature doesn't lie.
"I don't know the boss, but he said he'll buy them all."
They all laughed.
"Name your price."
"You can't buy them all. Just bring what you have and you'll take it according to your price."
I produced five heavy purses bulging with gold and flung them to the floor, coins spilling out in a molten tide, scattering across the boards.
"H..hey, are you serious?"
Scarl asked.
"I won't go back on my words."
The other guys came and packed the coins. Scarl was called up by the boss who was with the guy I possessed. I walked to the caged demihumans. The other men gathered the coins, counting and packing them carefully.
Scarl was called forward by the boss, standing alongside the man I had possessed. I walked over to the caged demi-humans.
"Don't worry, everything will be alright."
<>
The door opened, and someone was holding Sally.
"Is this girl with you?"
He asked, the lady NPC's eye on me basically crying for help.
"Nope. I've never seen her before."
"Seriously, that's what you're gonna say after risking my life to show you this place?"
<
"What is she talking about?"
"I saw her with him earlier on. They're together."
Looks like we've been busted since, but wait...
<
"Hmm, whatever your plotting ends here. We'll kill you, and the girl will be sold to someone else."
Said the boss of the group.
"Even though I'm a customer of a lifetime?"
"Well... It's a business kid, can't let the lady go."
"Nice play, bearded old man."
He flinched at my words. Not expecting me to identify him through his mask.
"K...kill him!"
"Kill them."
At the same instant, we gave the command. My puppet drew his sword, cutting down his former allies with ruthless precision until a single headshot from his boss forced him to halt. He spun around, gun now trained squarely on me..
"I don't know what's going on, but you'll die now."
He pulled the trigger, and I closed my eyes, releasing rippling waves through the air.
<
I opened my eyes, catching the bullet effortlessly between two fingers. Shock rippled through everyone.
"I... impossible!"
The boss emptied his gun in a frantic barrage, but not a single shot tore through the fabric of my clothes.
"Done?"
I asked calmly.
The group froze, unsure of how to react. I moved first, flicking the captured bullet back at him. It struck with precision, severing the boss's leg. He crumpled to the ground, wailing, as his mask slipped, revealing his true identity.
<
"Babylon."
A portal shimmered open, and I drew my sword. In a single, fluid motion, I split the old man and Scarl, making them vanish and reappear behind the man holding Sally.
"Hey,"
I called.
As he turned, my blade pierced through his head effortlessly. The door burst open, revealing a security guard brandishing a gun. For a man of his size, he screamed in terror as his hands were severed before he could even pull the trigger.
"This is for touching God's attire without permission."
I twisted the blade sharply to the right, severing his head despite the distance. I watched as the divine weapon slowly faded.
"I'll accept my punishment."
Unbeknownst to me, the NPC reached for her dagger, but it was gone.
"Looking for this?"
I asked, catching her attention.
"Um…" yeah. I was going to untie myself."
"You weren't bound in the first place."
"I… I… I'll use it to free the slaves."
"So daggers can be used as keys in this world? That's new."
"You bas..."
I threw the dagger straight at her chest. She teetered on the edge of tears before a magic circle materialised beneath her, engulfing her in flames until she turned to ashes. I then opened all the cages, setting the slaves free.
"Wait, here, I'll be back."
I drew my katana and moved through the rooms, cutting down anyone in my path and freeing the slaves before transporting them to the Night World.
"Anyone here, you know being held captive?"
I asked, and after a moment, one of them found the courage to speak.
"..n… no."
"Good."
A blue magic circle materialised around the room, and we were transported to a secluded spot in the forest. One by one, the freed slaves expressed their gratitude.
"Thank you so much."
"How can we ever repay you?"
"We cannot thank you enough."
"I appreciate you."
<>
I raised my hand, commanding silence.
"I'll state the two options you have.
Once you join me, follow me....join my master and make his dream come true or you can walk your way."
In total, there were approximately sixteen female elves, five female ogres, and two she-goblins. After a few moments of discussion, one of the elves spoke up.
"We appreciate your help but sorry, the four of us live in a small village nearby so we'd like to return home."
"That's completely fine. Just know that you may never see me again in case you change your mind."
"I'll volunteer to follow him. If you want to visit our village I'll show you."
One form the group added.
"That depends on my Lord's decision. We'll spend the night here tomorrow we'll leave."
"Ok."
I used magic to light up some woods to reduce the cold temperature. The next morning, we woke up, had breakfast, and headed our separate ways.
On our way, I asked a question to chase away the silence
"Hey goblins, where do you live?"
"Great, J..Jura Forest."
"And you ogres?"
"Same region, too."
"You guys naturally fight each other, right? I mean, the goblins are weak, so they're your prey."
"It's true that out of all monsters, the goblins face more risk."
We chatted as we headed to our destination. Right before the sun set, we approached the sea.
"Heh, where are we going?"
One of them asked, and a portal shimmered into life, and the palace can be seen from this side.
"Go in and wait for me."
I entered last as they all entered one by one. The guests couldn't believe what was in front of them.
"Is this truly real?"
"I've never seen anything like this,"
They were all taken aback by the island's beauty and the majestic palace that stood tall.
"Let's go. He's waiting for us."
"Who?"
"My creator. Your real saviour."
I led the way to the palace ahead of us, and they followed me.
To be continued...