Chapter 150

Chapter 150

150: Undying Rose “Hmm….” Emily, having entered the center of the black market, raised her head to gaze at the stage-like platform. There, men of sturdy build stood chained, wearing only enough fabric to barely cover their private parts. The merchant on the platform surveyed the bound men once before clearing his throat and shouting, “Now, these fellows here, they’re from the Rakia tribe of the South….” Slave auctions in the black market weren’t exactly a common sight, but they weren’t exactly rare either. After all, Tritia was a city of commerce and a major metropolis in the northeastern region, where the mining industry thrived. Operating mines required miners, and there was no better workforce than slaves to toil away in harsh conditions, burning their lives away. Of course, in the present day, human slaves weren’t used in mines, but thanks to the dedicated efforts of northern slave traders, the institution of slavery was still maintained. Even so, as time passed, the form had inevitably changed a great deal. Wealthy mine operators preferred cheap goblins over human slaves bound by strict laws, which led to a bit of a slump for the northern slave traders. With the advancement of taming techniques and knowledge following the development of summoning magic, people learned how to train greedy and aggressive goblins. They used goblins who could use tools and communicate simply as miners. There were, of course, problems that came with it, but the development of systematic training techniques and overwhelmingly low prices tended to overshadow such minor issues. Goblins were scattered all over the continent, and their reproductive and survival abilities were so great that they could survive even in the Mesheen Great Forest. In any case, as human slaves used as miners lost demand, slave traders had no choice but to upgrade the brand of slaves. Nowadays, human slaves were mostly bought to be used as gladiators, servants, city laborers, or prostitutes. “Alright, let’s start with one thousand Rad, shall we? Who’s buying….” The stage set up in the center of the black market was a space prepared for merchants who traded slaves on a small scale. The majority of slaves in good condition with outstanding looks and talents were sold inside the guild’s buildings, so this auction could be said to be a kind of lottery. ‘I want to buy one….’ Emily inadvertently thought to herself as she looked at the tanned, bronzed skin and the strong muscles beneath of the southern barbarian slaves. Buying a male slave to use as a servant and traveling with Layla, living together in one house, was a future she often dreamed of. It would be nice to have two or three more slaves there. “….” However, Emily quickly shook her head to clear her thoughts and looked up at the platform again. It was, literally, just wishful thinking. And recently, she had a more important goal. For that goal, she and Layla had to stay in the Kilkard Kingdom. Swish. Emily deliberately pulled up the coat she was wearing and watched the reactions of the slaves standing on the platform. The word ‘Han’ embroidered on Emily’s coat was an unfamiliar word to the people of this world, but it was a means for former transmigrators like Layla or El to identify each other. But as always, no slave reacted to the Korean on her coat. Since it wasn’t something to be disappointed about, Emily moved her feet again towards her destination. // Emily headed to the government office across the street where the black market was located. To be precise, it was the Tritia National Post Office among the government offices, an institution that transmitted letters to the capitals of each noble territory under the leadership of the royal family. It was a system far behind Earth, where you could know each other’s news with a single phone call, but it was useful in its own way once you got used to it. Only people who could read and write in this world with a high illiteracy rate could use it, and there was the disadvantage that you had to go to the post office to read the letter. “Is there any news for Rose Artion?” Emily approached the clerk at the government office and asked. If she used the delivery union, she could reduce the trouble of coming directly, but there was no need to do so. It was doubtful whether the delivery would come to Dusk Street, and Emily liked going out anyway. “…Yes, it’s here.” The clerk’s gaze lingered for a moment on the red scarf around her neck. No one liked that symbol of a prostitute from Dusk Street, but the clerk didn’t show any particular expression and handed her the letter. “Thank you.” Emily replied briefly and examined the letter she received. They were letters from Layla, El, Taliman, and Lucy-Rutricia. Emily, who was staying in Tritia, was relatively easier to exchange news with Layla in Yurkin or El near the Altarkin Mountains. The reason why she, Rutricia, and Taliman mainly sent letters to Emily was because she was a more approachable person, and because she was quick to reply. Emily put the letters in her arms and left the post office. She was curious about the contents, but she intended to read the letters later when she returned to her room. However, she couldn’t return to her room without incident. While passing through the black market again, Emily witnessed a scene where someone was arguing with a soldier in an alleyway. “Hehe, I told you it’s not allowed.” To be precise, it wasn’t an argument. The face of the woman being held by the soldier was familiar, and the her that Emily knew wasn’t bold enough to talk back to a guard. “Please, can’t you just let it slide this once…?” Emily sighed softly when she saw her face. It was a familiar face, but not a close woman. ‘Phila….’ As the ‘Night Fairies’ was also a world of women, there were various groups. Phila was a newbie on Nerr’s side, who Emily couldn’t even say she was friendly with. And the reason she was caught by the guard… was obvious. “I told you, who goes around without a scarf?” “Please, I’m in big trouble if I get caught this time….” Emily hesitated for a moment, but eventually made up her mind and approached Phila and the guard, who were making a tearful face. As she approached, she subtly examined the faces of the guards, and noticed that one of them, who seemed to be the senior, had once slept with her. ‘….But, what was his name?’ Emily wasn’t smart enough to remember all of her customers, who numbered well over a hundred. She would forget them quickly if they only passed by once, let alone regulars. But she couldn’t just let it go. Emily naturally approached the guard and tapped him on the shoulder. “Long time no see.” “….Rose?” Fortunately, the guard recognized her first. Emily breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, as she couldn’t remember his name and was unsure if he was really her customer. “Yes, that’s right. But….” Emily slurred her words, as Layla had taught her, and passed the initiative of the conversation to the other person. If the other person had a liking – or ulterior motive – for her, they would explain, and if not- ‘…Ah, I forgot.’ -She couldn’t remember. Fortunately, nothing happened that would embarrass her. The senior guard with the familiar face naturally took Emily’s words. “Hey, Rose. Do you know this woman?” “I asked because she looked familiar even though she wasn’t wearing a scarf, and she said she was a ‘Night Fairy’. Don’t you work there too?” As two questions came in succession, Emily was inwardly flustered. It seemed that not only the senior guard, but also the junior who seemed to be his companion, was her customer. Or, did they come together? ‘I think I’ll know if I take off their clothes….’ Emily nodded her head, feeling unsure, “Yes, that’s right. I know her face.” “Huh, geez. Why are the kids there so careless? You got caught once before, too.” The guard shook his head and grumbled. And the moment she heard his words, Emily realized that he was the guard who had caught her once before. At the time, she had chosen to spend the night with him instead of being dragged away and causing trouble for the store. That was probably why his face was familiar. “Ugh, I’m sorry. But, can’t you just let it slide this once?” Emily made a dejected expression, as if she was really sorry, and subtly touched the guard’s arm. Phila, who was next to her, closed her mouth as if she was embarrassed by Emily’s actions. “Hmm….” At Emily’s request, the guard made a troubled expression and stroked his chin. But Emily already knew that he had made up his mind. Fortunately, there was no one in the alley except them. “Okay. I’ll do that. But, I’ll have to receive it twice this time. Of course, twice per person.” Twice or four times, it didn’t make much difference to her. She didn’t feel disgusted by having sex with them now. It was just a little disappointing that Emily had to pay the money that the nameless guard in front of her had to pay to the store. Fortunately, she didn’t owe the store any money, so the amount of money she had to pay was less. “Yes, thank you!” She hugged the arms of the two guards tightly as a sign of artificial gratitude, and the guards, who felt the soft touch of her breasts, each made a satisfied expression and returned to their patrol route. // Phila was a woman with golden hair and a small build that reminded her of Layla. However, her eyes were brown instead of blue, and her features weren’t ugly, but they were far from being compared to Layla. Phila, the woman named Phila who was unexpectedly rescued by Emily, looked up at Emily with a sullen expression. “Thank… you.” Emily, who received her bewildered gratitude, shook her head as if it was nothing. “Just let it go. Nerr will be annoyed if she finds out later.” “Is that okay…?” “Yeah, and don’t use honorifics. We’re classmates, right?” The concept of classmates wasn’t that important to the ‘Night Fairies’, but Emily emphasized it. Emily, who had only started working for about a year, knew roughly about the subtle conflicts within the ‘Night Fairies’ surrounding her, but she felt a little burdened by it. “Ugh, okay….” Emily smiled with satisfaction when Phila nodded awkwardly. “It’s a bit much to call it advice, but it’s better to just give it to them next time you get caught.” The ‘Night Fairies’ was a brothel located on Dusk Street. Considering that the underworld of Tritia was subject to unusually strong regulations, even minor illegal acts such as not wearing a scarf could sufficiently affect the store. It was a little unfortunate for the ‘Night Fairies’, but it was much better to resolve it at the individual level than to be dragged away and recorded. The law was close to Dusk Street, but fists were even closer. While giving plausible advice, Emily was filled with a sense of accomplishment, as if she had become a senior. And in her ear, Phila’s hesitant voice flowed. “….Um, I… already told them. But they told me not to play tricks on them….” “….Uh, okay. I see.” Emily closed her mouth and nodded silently.