RTTFW CH 3.7

Following Izel’s plan, they stocked up on emergency rations like dried jerky and bread. They then visited the skilled blacksmith recommended by Samantha, the innkeeper, and commissioned him to repair four of Paladin’s daggers and one of Izel’s short swords. Paladin’s daggers were particularly dull, likely from heavy hunting use.

Hearing it would take at least four days, they agreed to return on the final day before leaving Sharo Village.

The last items they came to buy were healing potions and disposable magic scroll pages. While poison and curse potions made for attack purposes did exist, Ent had no use for them on his journey, and they were items ordinary people couldn’t purchase, making them unavailable in such a common village.

“The potions are definitely high quality, probably because there’s a resident mage here.”
“Yeah, I guess so. I don’t really know much about it.”

Magical items like potions and magic scrolls are generally crafted by mages. While recovery potions could theoretically be made by priests infusing them with divine power, priests only bestowed blessings upon those they met directly; none actually crafted and sold potions. Because of this, potions from villages with mages were often of higher quality than elsewhere.

As they turned down an alley to leave the magic item shop and head back to the inn, Izel grabbed Ent’s hand and pulled him back. Ent, caught in Izel’s embrace, had no time to react before flinching at the sight of a black-robed figure passing before them, his body jerking backward.

“…”

A carriage covered in black cloth and a group clad in black robes. It wasn’t merely the near-collision that mattered. Ent’s expression darkened slightly. Ent had already seen their existence in the book detailing this world’s future.

‘… Slave traders.’

The carriage covered in black cloth made no sound. Not even the rumble of its wheels. Ent could easily deduce a silence spell was cast over the entire carriage. It was unpleasant, but there was nothing to gain from getting involved with them.

Izel stepped in front of him, worried Ent might be noticed, and waited for the group in black robes to pass.

“… Grr.”

Ent flinched at the growl coming from within Paladen’s embrace. Turning to check on Ion, he saw the cub trembling violently, more than he had ever seen before.

“Ion…?”
“A-ong, A-oong…”

Ion, trembling violently, began struggling to break free from Paladin’s hands, which were holding him tightly.

“I-Ion? What’s wrong?”

Paladin tried to calm him with clumsy strokes, but the moment his calloused hands touched the scar on Ion’s back, Ion jerked free and bolted.

“Ah…!”

Paladin, his hand sliced by Ion’s claws, reached out toward him without a moment to spare, but it was already too late.

“…”

Ion, who had suddenly dashed off, collided with one of the black-robed figures passing in front of Ent’s group.

Paladin swiftly scooped Ion into his arms, but the black robes had already closed in around them.

“… Our dog has been rude. Please continue on your way.”
“What kind of dog trick is this?”

Ion growled warily at the low chuckle. Paladin quickly intervened, but the atmosphere was far from forgiving.

The worst mistake a slave trader could make was letting a captured slave escape. The moment a slave was seized, reports were sent upward; failing to secure one was a fatal error for a trader.

Thus, slave traders often resorted to bloodshed to ensure they didn’t lose a captured slave before putting them up for auction. That was also why the merchants of Sharo Village huddled in a corner, avoiding contact with the group in black robes. Those men could easily dispose of a few commoners.

“You dare play such futile tricks when we’re in a hurry…”

The black-robed man who collided with Ion muttered this as he reached out toward Ion and Paladin. As he began to chant incomprehensible words, Ent stepped forward, leaving Izel who was holding him back.

“That’s enough.”

Ent addressed the black-robed figure who had just muttered something. Ent instantly understood what he was attempting to do.

‘This bastard is a mage.’

Magic could be cast through incantations spoken aloud and hand gestures known as sigils. Ent, who once frantically studied, suspecting he might have a talent for magic, knew this well.

He barely suppressed a frown. Born with the talent for magic, and yet his occupation was merely that of a slave trader? He felt like scolding him, asking if he wasn’t ashamed of his life.

“And who are you? How dare someone of unknown status block my path…”
“I am their master.”

Ent, accepting that he would later be scolded by Izel, slightly lifted the robe he was wearing. When the luxurious attire hidden beneath the coarse, common brown robe was revealed, the mage who had been confronting him fell silent.

“… Are you… a noble?”
“As you can see.”

Ent lowered his robe slightly, revealing an expensive brooch near his neck. While this wouldn’t prove his exact status, it would certainly indicate he was nobility.

“My puppy and servant have been rude. As their master, I apologize on their behalf. Let us all continue on our way.”
“…”
“We might cross paths again later. Best not to make things awkward for no reason.”

Since he didn’t seem inclined to let him go easily, Ent deliberately lied. It meant, ‘We’ll meet at the slave auction, so don’t do anything foolish.’ Of course, Ent didn’t want to go anywhere near such a place.

The man in the black robe gave a slight nod. Most who attended slave auctions were nobles. Ent was right. Weren’t all nobles potential customers? There was no need to create unnecessary trouble.

“May I ask your name?”
“I have no name to give you.”

The man in the black robe chuckled softly at Ent’s words. Ent was growing irritated, wondering what terrible mistake Paladin and Ion had made that warranted this constant delay. They should just hurry up and get it over with.

“Since we’ve met like this, it’s fate. Allow me to offer you a gift.”
“What?”

The man in the black robe pulled a reddish-brown wooden token from his robes. A complex pattern was carved into the token, with the number ‘21’ engraved at its center.

“I hope we meet again.”
“We’ll see.”

With that, Ent resumed his journey. Ent looked at the reddish-brown wooden token in his hand and grimaced without mercy.

‘Why did he give me this?’

Ent felt like he wanted to shove this wooden token down a sewer drain right then and there, if only no one was watching. And no wonder – this was clearly an admission token for an illegal auction house held in the capital of the Kingdom of Kerban.

“… Sigh.”

With the merchants’ eyes buzzing around him, Ent couldn’t bring himself to throw the wooden token away. He roughly shoved it into his pocket. There was something more important than that.

”Paladin, Ion! Are you okay?”
“Oh dear, young master. I’m sorry. I didn’t hold Ion properly.”
“It’s fine, Paladin. Really.”

Paladin bowed his head in apology to Ent. It was no big deal, but Ent gave a faint smile as he checked Ion’s condition. He was worried his precious Ion might have been startled or hurt.

“Grr…!”
“Ah!”

But the moment Ent reached out toward Ion, Ion extended its claws and slashed at Ent’s hand. Startled by the sudden sting, Ent pulled his hand back. As if waiting for this moment, Ion immediately began running away from Ent and the others.

“I-Ion!”

Ion didn’t stop, even hearing the voice calling his name from behind. Startled by Ion’s sudden dash, Ent steadied his nearly toppling legs and began chasing after him.

“Ion!”

Realizing Ent, Izel, and Paladin were chasing him, Ion ran at full speed to avoid being caught again. As he veered into the thicket to make sure Ent couldn’t follow, the sound of Ent’s voice calling his name gradually faded.

‘Humans…!’

Ion had seen that black robe and wooden tablet before. He had barely escaped that hellish place, only to end up beside Ent, who interacted with such people as if it were nothing.

He’d always intended to leave Ent’s side anyway, so it wasn’t exactly surprising. Still, the rising sense of betrayal made Ion unable to stay with them. Ent, casually conversing with such people, even accepting a wooden token directly from them.

Ion didn’t want to admit it, but he’d grown quite fond of Ent.

Ent, who had chased after Ion who suddenly dashed off, ultimately lost sight of him. This was because Ion changed direction and began entering the thicket, and Izel stepped in front of him.

“Get out of the way, Izel!”
“Lord Ent.”

As Izel grabbed Ent’s shoulders, Ent finally collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. It had been ages since he’d run this hard. The world spun before his eyes, and his stomach churned. As he drew in ragged breaths, the metallic taste of blood rose in his throat.

Tsk, Izel clicked his tongue softly. Pushing the frail young master this hard was going too far.

It seemed he would have to step in himself.