Chapter 74

As I descended into the basement, I saw a multitude of slaves. There were groups of four that looked like entire families, well-built Dwarves who were likely former adventurers, and various others.

“Quite a variety you have here.”

“These are just standard slaves, mostly individuals who fell into servitude due to debt. Some could have avoided this fate if they had just been willing to sell their precious gear, but pride is a costly thing.”

“I see. And where are the ‘goods’ I’m looking for?”

“The premium stock is kept in the back. Right this way.”

Following the middle-aged man, I saw a door that looked particularly sturdy.

“They are just beyond this point. They are all top-tier; I’m certain you’ll be satisfied.”

The man wore a slimy, unsettling smirk as he chuckled to himself. He was incredibly creepy. His mouth didn’t stop moving even as he worked through several locks.

“By the way, what kind of woman does your sponsor prefer? As long as I know the taste, I can provide anything from the young and innocent to the mature and seasoned. We even handle demi-humans on occasion, though it’s usually just beastfolk.”

“Heh, so you handle demi-humans too. It sounds like I might actually find something to my sponsor’s liking.”

I acted as if this was great news, though I hadn’t specified which demi-human I was looking for yet.

“Oh? A sponsor with a taste for demi-humans? What kind are we talking about? A dog-type? Or perhaps a cat-type?”

“An Elf.”

The man’s hands stopped moving. I pressed further to keep him off-balance.

“My sponsor is a massive Elf fanatic. I go out on buying trips for him every now and then, but he’s always demanding the same thing: a young, tall woman with long blonde hair. It’s a real pain for a guy like me. If he finds even the slightest detail that doesn’t look like a ‘true’ Elf, he starts screaming. Though, from what I hear, the guy hasn’t actually managed to bed an Elf yet.”

“I see… Well, those rarely hit the market. Even in my shop, I’ve only handled Elves a handful of times. Usually, it’s an Elven adventurer who fails a quest and becomes a slave because they can’t pay the penalty.”

“Out of curiosity, what’s the price tag on an Elf like that?”

“The last one we put up for auction went for twelve large gold coins. If you’re looking to make a massive profit in this country, the auction is definitely the place to be.”

Twelve large gold coins, huh? That’s steep. I’ll have to keep a close eye on the auctions. If they get shipped off to another country from there, it’ll be a nightmare to track them down.

“Can I buy an Elf at these auctions?”

“That depends on the other nobles, but most high-quality goods are sold there. The profit margins are much higher, you see.”

“…So you’d turn me down if I tried to buy one here in the shop?”

“Most likely.”

Tch. How troublesome. Settling this with gold was the best-case scenario, but an auction changes everything. I have no idea how much capital I’d need once nobles start bidding, and there’s no guarantee an Elf will even be listed. It’s too unstable. Does that mean a frontal assault is the only way left?

“…You look troubled.”

“Ah, well, it’s great that I might be able to find an Elf at auction, but it all depends on what my sponsor says…”

The man leaned in and whispered to me.

“I could make a special exception and sell you an Elf right here.”

“What? You actually have one?”

“Yes. Lately, the underground guild has been hunting Elves and Spirits—likely to raise funds for something, though I don’t know what. Regardless, I currently have one Elf in stock.”

“That’s news to me. I’d like to buy her, provided the information is included in the deal.”

“Much appreciated. This way, then.”

The man turned the final key. Descending even further beneath the floor, I found fewer cages than before, but as the man had promised, there were many beautiful women. They weren’t in shackles like the other slaves; instead, they were simply kept in cages. Most of them were sitting on beds provided inside their cells.

However, I felt a familiar, unpleasant sensation… It was the same aura I felt from the cages back when I met Dowal. It was likely a spell close to a curse that restricted power and induced lethality; I guessed a simple version was cast on each cage. At the very back stood a door that looked sturdier than the rest, almost like a high-security prison cell.

“Beyond here are the rooms for women with special or immense power. You may feel a bit of sluggishness due to the curse’s influence, but it isn’t life-threatening, so don’t worry.”

He opened the door to reveal a few women scattered about. They were in cages, but the setup was more like small private rooms.

“The Elf is in here.”

“Where?”

“The third cage from the back.”

I approached immediately, and sure enough, there was an Elf. She had long blonde hair and pale skin. Though her frame was slender, she had a distinctly feminine figure.

“Is she the real deal?”

“Yes. A genuine Elf. We bought her about five days ago. Would you like to… have a taste first?”

“I’ll pass. If my sponsor found out, it would be a headache.”

The Elf was curled up small on the bed.

“Hey, Elf. What’s your name?”

“…”

“Answer me, or I won’t buy you.”

“…Wilos.”

“Your full name.”

“Wilos Rae Solon…”

Rae Solon? Was she a blood relative of Elder Al?

“Does she meet your approval?”

“Yeah. So this is a real Elf. She truly is top-tier.”

“Thank you for your patronage.”

“I’ll buy her, but I want the information too. That’s part of the deal.”

“You certainly are shrewd. I’ll tell you what I know, but let’s head back upstairs first. We need to sign the contract papers, after all.”

Now then, I wonder what kind of story I’m about to hear.