NOVEL WEB Chapter 10 – Vale And Covered Surprise
The woods soon parted, revealing a castle wall.
“Is that the town of Vale?” I couldn’t help but stare at the stone walls in front of me, they were well-constructed; the stone was cut and fit together almost perfectly.
“Yes.” There was pride in the merchant’s tone as he answered me.
“It’s very big.”
From what I could see, the wall would easily be a kilometer in length; I wasn’t perfect at guesstimating size.
It couldn’t compare to a city on Earth, but--cities on Earth didn’t have any walled cities of this size.
Outside the walls, there are well-maintained fields--though they spread out like a massive ring of cleared land around the city, I didn’t see them until we left the forest.
It was much lighter than when we left, and if I were to judge by the position of the sun and the shadows--it probably took us two or three hours to get here…but that depends on a lot of variables: Length of an hour, Hours in a day, Rotational speed. However, I couldn’t ask the merchant, since it would be common knowledge.
“Vale is the best city around.” The merchant speaks proudly, looking over and smiling at the shock evident in my eyes.
We keep approaching Vale, bypassing a line of people who stood by the gate, as though waiting to enter the gate.
There were no obvious soldiers, only a man in blue clothing. The person in line would walk up to the man, who would ask them questions in a voice I couldn’t hear--before looking at a wooden tag that the person would show him…the person would then be let in.
“It is so easy to enter the city?” I ask the merchant.
“It’s not as simple as it seems. That man is part of the Inspector’s Guild, he is trained in Truth Magic. If the person trying to enter, and they lie, Magic Formations will activate and guards will be called.” He grinned as he answered.
“Halt.” A different man in blue clothing stopped us as we were about to enter through a larger door, one obviously meant for wagons.
One we had stopped, he asked simple questions such as why we were there, our names, if the merchant was smuggling, if we had any had affiliations with a long list of kingdoms--among other things.
It was simpler than I expected, and when the merchant said that I didn’t have an ID--I just had to pay 10 coppers.
“Well, our first stop is the slave dealers, then the Knight Headquarters, followed by the armour and weapon shops. How does that sound to you?”
“Good.”
The merchant turns to me, asking what I think of his plan, which I have to go along with anyway if I am to get the money from selling the equipment and the bounties.
Our wagon advanced into the town, the road is wide and paved with close-fitting white stones. The buildings on both sides are large, towering as high as four stories--and covered in plaster.
This is rather remarkable, when considering the civilization-level that I had seen so far.
While there are quite a few people walking around, though I wouldn’t call it crowded--it seems like a rather calm town. I saw villagers, Merchants, Pugilists, and Swordsmen walking around; I only know what they are, because Appraisal.
“The center of the city is just ahead,” The merchant pointed, “But, we are heading to the right.”
The wagon turns right, heading down another, darker, road.
“This area of town can be considered a bit dangerous, I would suggest that you don’t go down the back roads.”
“I’ll be careful.” I look at the road, which is narrower--there is less lighting, and garbage is piled up along the edges.
Oh?
There is a shop that looks like a brothel--with scantily dressed girls, and guys, waving or gesturing provocatively from behind glass windows.
There seem to slums nearby, ruled by gangs.
Again, the wagon turns right, stopping next to the second house along, which is constructed from red brick. The building is three stories tall, but looks like more of a house than a shop.
When the wagon stops in front of the door, a young man dashes out, “Are you here for business?”
“I came to deliver a criminal.”
I couldn’t help but look into the back of the wagon, I was wondering why there was a sheet covering the contents; the merchant wouldn’t tell me, and when he spoke to the young man, he glanced over at me.
The young man picks up the sheet and looks down at a cage. Laying in the cage is a young man, who’s face and exposed skin is covered with bruises and splits.
“Alright, please enter the shop--I will have someone come and get him.”
We both follow the man into the shop; it struck me as strange when the door opened easily…it felt disappointing when the hinges didn’t squeak.
The young man, who happens to also have the class of Merchant, leads us to the back. The merchant from the village is called Bikka.
The merchant leads Bikka and I to a sofa, where we sit down as he leaves the room again; a few moments later, another man comes out through a door leading further into the building.
Name: Alan
Age: 63
Sex: Male
Class: Slave Trader
Level: 44
So, there seems to be a Slave Trader Class--well, I doubt I would get the chance to unlock it…I am unlikely to kidnap and sell people, or open a store which does the same.
This man is has the highest level that I’ve seen in the two days I have been in this world--it makes me feel curiousity to what the highest possible level is, and how strong Humans can actually become.
“Greetings, customers, My name is Alan and I am the owner of this store.” The man gave a polite bow.
“My name is Bikka, and I am the merchant of Somara Village.” Bikka spoke in a polite tone.
When Alan’s gaze moved from Bikka to me, I introduced myself, “My name is Alex.”
“The city seems to be quite busy today.” Bikka starts with simple small-talk.
“Didn’t you know? A Dungeon was discovered two days ago.” Alan responded like this was the normal way that these trades went.
It seems that there are Dungeons--well, come to think of it, I did choose a setting with both Dungeons and an Open World.
Since both men were obviously experienced, I decided to sit back with my mouth shut and listen; learning the basics of trading, and gathering miscellaneous knowledge.
Alan asks a question this time, “Didn’t you encounter more Demons than usual as you approached the town?”
“We did, two of them; but it wasn’t too close to Vale.” Bikka responded with a look of consideration on his face.
“Hmm, it seems that other nearby Dungeons may be strengthening because of the appearance of this one.” Alan stroked his long, white beard.
“Well, we encountered a Gumi Slime today.” Bikka said, throwing a look at me.
“Wow, how are you still alright?” Alan asked with a slightly worried look on his face.
“It’s because of Alex here.”
Alan raised an eyebrow at me, “On his own?”
“Yes. He mentioned something about a weak spot in the Gumi Slime, which allowed him to kill it--he also, recently saved our village from Thieves.”
I feel uncomfortable at getting praised--but it also makes me feel oddly good…
“The man who snuck into the Thieves’ camp and gave them information on when and how to attack--he has become a slave, in accordance with the Chief’s benevolent judgement.” Bikka says, pausing to pull a letter out of his pocket, “This is the letter of ownership from the village chief.”
Now I understand why the man was in a cage--he had betrayed his entire village, gave murderous Thieves the information to come in; information that would result in the murder of the guys, and the kidnapping and rape of the women.
Alan accepts the letter, “Give me a moment, I will look it over.”
“We will be giving half the sales to Alex.” Bikka said.
“I see, that is rather reasonable.” A small smile tugged at Alan’s lips, before he went back to reading, “Well, it seems that everything is in order. The man is healthy and in the prime of his life. I think 300 silver would be a reasonable price.”
I just watch, since I don’t know the market price--nor do I really have any authority to interject.
“I see, that sounds reasonable.” Bikka nodded.
“Thank you.”
“Please pay half to me, and half to Alex.” Bikka speaks up--Alan nods with a business-like smile.
Alan turns a curious look to me, “Alex, is it your first time in Vale?”
“Yep.” I answer with a single word, but a polite tone.
“Is that so? Are you an Adventurer?”
I wonder if I look like an Adventurer? Or if he is talking about the fact I saved the Village of Somara?
“No, nor am I part of a Guild yet either.”
“Then, are you thinking of buying a slave in the future?”
Hmm?
I wonder why he phrases the question like that? I mean, I can understand trying to sell a slave normally, but why ask like that after discovering that I’m neither an Adventurer or in a Guild.
“Can, you buy an Adventurer?”
“Yes, there are quite a few.”
I hadn’t considered buying a slave--but it could make up for my lack of common sense, and teach me more about the world…without betraying me to someone who may be interested in someone from somewhere else; or something like that, anyway.
Also, if I were to buy a female slave, what kinds of things could I have her do?
“Really? It hasn’t been long since I left my teacher--where I was trained in the mountains--ever…ever since my parents died. So, I’m a bit ignorant on how things work.”
I used the excuse that I had spent a fair bit of the wagon journey considering. People would feel sympathy for me, if I said that my parents were dead and I lived secluded in the mountains, they would be less likely to doubt me.
“I see.”
I could see the pity flash through Alan’s eyes.
He continued, “You look quite young, do you plan on becoming an Adventurer and then going to the Dungeon near town?”
“Yes, I probably will.”
If there is a Dungeon, you explore it.
If there is a hole, you stick it in.
If there is a Monster, you poke it.
That’s what it means to be a man.
“In that case, let’s discuss it at another time.”
“Sure, I’ll come by at another time.”
Alan leaves the room briefly, and returns with the money, “Here, 150 silver coins.”
He gives half the payment to Bikka first.
“Thank you.” Bikka accepts the 1 gold coin, and 50 silver coins.
“I am looking forward to the future trade with you, young sir.” Alan grins, “Here is your half.”
He gives me 1 gold coin and 65 silver coins.
So, I am the only one who receives the 10% bonus?
Well, that makes sense.
“Thank you, I look forward to it too.” I respond with a smile.
I do plan on coming back and making a trade--while slaves are illegal on Earth, I read about them in fantasy books…I would fantasize getting a female slave.
Bikka and I leave the slave trader’s shop.