The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

The Everfrost Region, Aisengar, is so desolate that it lacks even proper trade routes. Some might call selling goods in such a remote area an act of madness.
Most merchants operate primarily in the bustling southern regions near the sea, where trade flourishes.

That is undoubtedly the "right" answer. The most prominent trading companies on the continent have their main bases in the south.
And yet, that makes it the wrong answer.
The southern market is already oversaturated—cheap goods, ruthless competition, and greedy major trading companies dominate the scene.

Could a fledgling trading company or a new merchant survive there?
The obvious answer is "No."
The southern trade market is a battlefield for major companies. The weak stand no chance. It’s a red ocean.

But here, a merchant known as Bipen, with his perpetually squinting eyes, is different. He found a way to survive amidst fierce competition.
"The greatest treasures are hidden in the most dangerous places."
A land where extreme cold makes farming difficult, and supplies are easily disrupted. A place where people desperately need everything from basic necessities to luxuries.

Bipen thought of the northern regions.
His reason for choosing the north was simple. He was captivated by the high profits that could be earned through risky deals.
He bought fruits, salt, various fabrics, and necessities from the south at low prices and traveled throughout Aisengar, selling them at several times the cost.

Conversely, he purchased the byproducts of magical beasts unique to the north at dirt-cheap prices. Northern folk, unaccustomed to trading and with no other avenues to sell, had no choice but to sell cheaply.
“It’s been a while! I’ve brought the items you all need.”
Thus, Bipen roamed the north and eventually arrived at Lake Fortress.

Lake Fortress, though harsher than other regions in Aisengar, was home to capable warriors. The byproducts they produced were consistently rare and of high quality.
In short, it was a place with highly marketable goods.
“Let’s see the goods.”

At Yorn’s command, Bipen gestured to his subordinates, who began unloading crates. Adults and children alike gathered, curiosity gleaming in their eyes as they inspected the items.
“I brought these with great care! Hey, you little one, don’t touch carelessly—you’ll get them dirty.”
The crates contained a variety of goods. Children examined toys, women inspected fabrics and groceries, and men checked tools.
The items weren’t particularly unique but were undoubtedly helpful for everyday life. Especially in the north, where everything was scarce, their value was even higher.

“That’s everything I have to show you. What have my northern friends prepared for me? I’m truly looking forward to it!”
Bipen’s sly smile and smooth talk unmistakably marked him as a merchant.
At Yorn’s nod, his subordinates spread out bundles and displayed the goods on the ground.

“These are the items we’ve prepared.”
“Oh?”
Bipen’s squinted eyes twitched.

“Is that a reindeer’s antler…? And this—is this a wyvern’s membrane? Such a size, I can’t believe it! And yeti fur too!”
Bipen draped the yeti fur over his arm. Thick, fluffy, and without any damage to its texture, it was of exceptional quality—a top-tier product among top-tier products.
Fur of this quality would fetch around 70 gold coins on the market.

He’d recently heard that a certain noblewoman was searching for fabric to make a winter coat. Given her love of luxury, he could likely coax 100 gold coins out of her.
Coming to Lake Fortress had been the right choice.
“These are fine goods. They are more than suitable for trade. Has the chief decided on the items for exchange?”

“Wait a moment.”
Not long after, Yorn returned with a list after consulting the villagers. Bipen reviewed the items they proposed for the trade.
First was salt—a rarity in the north but essential for preserving food and enhancing flavor.

Next were silk threads, sturdy cloth, needles for sewing leather, medicinal herbs, and rutabaga seedlings for food.
Lastly, fruits and various other food supplies. The list was meticulous, wasting nothing. A reasonable choice, indeed.
“Understood.”

Following Bipen’s orders, his subordinates presented the goods for trade.
Thud. Thud.
Yorn frowned as he examined the items laid out before him.

“What is this?”
“These are the items you requested.”
“Isn’t the quantity rather small?”

While the goods Bipen offered were more than before, they were still woefully insufficient, considering the wyvern’s membrane and yeti fur included in the trade.
“Are you underestimating our Nosgard?”
“Ah~ there are various circumstances. A poor harvest has made fruits as expensive as gold, and the increasing cold in Aisengar has significantly raised transportation costs. Do you have any idea how much it costs to deliver goods here?”

“So this is all you can offer?”
“I truly regret that it’s unavoidable for now. However, when the market stabilizes, prices will surely drop.”
Bipen’s argument was partially true, but it was mostly an exaggeration. The northern goods alone could easily trade for his entire stock, but he offered only half of it.

‘Why should I trade fairly?’
These barbarians don’t even know the true value of their goods. Paying them the proper price would be a colossal waste.
This is the real charm—and practicality—of doing business in the north.

Bipen smiled slyly, hiding his true thoughts.
“Why the hesitation? Are you not going to trade?”
“This is far too little. Bring more goods.”

“Hm, if that’s how you want to play it, I have no choice but to walk away.”
“What did you say?”
“You seem to misunderstand—I am under no obligation to trade with you.”

While it was a waste of time to come this far, it didn’t matter.
No one else ventured to such remote places to trade besides Bipen. On the other hand, there were plenty of people eager to buy his goods. Supply couldn’t keep up with demand.
Bipen could sell elsewhere, but they couldn’t obtain goods without him. If they didn’t buy, they’d be the ones to suffer.

“As it happens, the chief of Frost Hollow is in need of supplies, so this works out perfectly. They pay even more! In fact, I was already short on stock, so this is a blessing in disguise.”
“Chief, we can’t do without the medicines and salt….”
“No! I’ve lost all desire to trade with you. After all the trouble I went through to get here, and you show no gratitude. This is why one shouldn’t trade with barbarians. What are you waiting for? Load the goods!”

Bipen’s subordinates began closing the lids of the crates.
"All this fuss over such unimpressive goods."
"Is that so?"

"Indeed. Every single item is cheap junk. I wouldn’t take it even if it were free."
"What did you say? Who dares to spout such uncultured nonsense...?"
Bipen, irritated by the ignorant complaints of the barbarians, turned his head. There, he saw two women.

"Did I say something wrong?"
One was short and stout with a well-endowed chest—a figure that, while niche, might drive certain enthusiasts wild.
But what caught Bipen’s eye was the other woman. The moment he saw Ashies, his squinted eyes opened, revealing his pupils to the world for the first time.

"A woman like that among barbarians?!"
She was an incomparably beautiful woman, a sight he could scarcely believe. She looked like a goddess of winter descended to the mortal realm.
"Who is that woman?" he asked, almost breathless.

"...She’s a slave."
"A slave?!"
These barbaric bastards. There should be limits to their lack of decency.

A beauty like her was wasted in this desolate place.
"She’s truly a stunning woman. Would you consider selling her to me? I’ll pay handsomely."
"We of Nosgard do not engage in human trafficking. Besides, she isn’t ours to sell."

"She isn’t yours? Then who owns her?"
"That would be..."
"Are you perhaps interested in my slave?" a voice interrupted.

Karami approached the commotion leisurely, his hands behind his back. His attire and demeanor exuded a refinement uncharacteristic of the northern people, drawing Bipen’s wary gaze.
"Are you this woman’s master? And is she truly a slave?"
"She is indeed my slave."

"To think someone would keep such a woman as a slave... I can’t believe it! Who exactly are you?"
A noble? Or perhaps even royalty?
"I am Karami, a slave trader. Some call me the Reaper of Slaves."

"The Reaper of Slaves! You’re that infamous Reaper?"
"My, I didn’t expect even northerners to know of me."
"Know of you? Every merchant knows your name!"

The Reaper of Slaves was a notorious figure.
He was known for purchasing beastfolk in bulk and disposing of them entirely, dealing with nobles while stealing away young ladies without a trace.
Even elves, coveted by anyone interested in slaves, were no exception to his infamous activities.

Slaves’ lives and worth meant nothing before the Reaper’s depraved desires.
Could it be…?
"What do you plan to do with that slave?" Bipen asked cautiously.

"When the time comes, I’ll send her off."
What?!
He’s going to kill such a beautiful woman? This man isn’t just insane—he’s monstrous!

"Then sell her to me instead. Please, I’ll buy her from you!"
"I’ll have to decline. She is more important to me than money."
"That’s absurd!"

Losing a beauty like her was a loss to all humanity. Yet Karami didn’t seem to care in the slightest.
"By the way, I overheard you earlier. You’re refusing to trade?"
"That’s... correct."

Bipen’s attitude grew more cautious.
"Hmm, that’s strange. The yeti fur is top-quality, and the wyvern membrane is valuable enough for high-level alchemical use," Karami said thoughtfully.
"That’s true…."

"Converted to currency, it would easily secure six months’ worth of essential goods. Yet you’re offering only a few crates in return. Quite ironic, don’t you think?"
Feeling cornered, Bipen hurriedly protested.
"But I’m the only one willing to bring goods to such a remote area! Considering distribution costs, this price increase is perfectly reasonable!"

"Is that so?"
"Absolutely! And if I may, Reaper, you deal in people, not goods. When it comes to trade, I know far more than you do!"
Bipen stammered as he tried to justify himself. If the northerners caught on to his exploitation and shared it with other tribes, his business would collapse.

Surely, Karami must realize this too. Yet, this man showed no respect for business ethics.
After a pause, Karami spoke again.
"You claim to know more than I do... yet I have a feeling I could outdo you in trade."

"What did you just say?"
"Isn’t it laughable for someone with no competitive edge to talk about a merchant’s qualifications?"
"Not only do you accuse me of being a swindler, but now you doubt my abilities! I had high expectations of you, Reaper, but clearly, I was mistaken!"

Fuming, Bipen ordered his subordinates to reload the goods.
"This insult is intolerable! I’m leaving and will never return. Don’t even dream of trading with me again!"
Bipen fled the village, practically dragging his wagon behind him.

The villagers had never seen Bipen so flustered before. Though they felt a sense of satisfaction, they were also left without the crucial goods they needed.
"What should we do, Chief? We’re missing several essentials."
"…."

"Should we try reaching out to another tribe for help?"
Yorn hesitated. This was a first for him as well.
Even if they managed to secure goods from another tribe, it would only provide temporary relief. If merchants truly stopped coming, their future was uncertain.

Now that they had tasted the convenience of goods from the outside world, going back to their old ways was impossible.
As the tribe debated grimly, Karami interjected smoothly.
"You seem to be in quite a bind. Would you like some help?"

"And what could you possibly do to help us?"
"Oh, how times have changed. In the past, you would have dismissed me with ‘Nosgard does not accept help from outsiders.’ Now you’re curious about my methods."
"Spare us your nonsense and leave if you have nothing useful to say."

These men, like the merchants, were utterly insufferable.
"Ha, just a joke. I intend to take responsibility since I’m partly to blame for how things turned out," Karami said, smiling.
He had already thought this through.

After all, Bipen was a crooked merchant who frequented Lake Fortress.
Karami had anticipated this outcome from the start.
"If he doesn’t return, we’ll simply attract other merchants."

"What?"
"Merchants are a breed that would go to the ends of the earth—or even the afterlife—if there’s profit to be made."