I continued going deeper into the heart of the city.

Apparently, this place was called Siesta. And Richard had said that Siesta was indeed a nocturnal city, but not for the reasons I thought it out to be.

This was the only 'entertainment district' of the entire country of some place called the Luna Empire. There is some sort of war being waged between the humans, other races and the demons in this world. The dots in the sky I had spotted earlier were actually wyverns that were part of the Demon King's army.

...Scary...

I stretched the fabric of my new shirt.

And really... I can't get used to this thing...My skin is acting up, am I really such a wimp? Bear with it, White.

There wasn't a library around here. Nothing that seemed like a place that collected books or an information counter of any sorts.That conversation earlier with the female clerks just made me realize that my language wasn't very commonly spoken around here. Words inscribed onto the front of the stores I had seen so far were all unrecognizable symbols and words.

I really need to get my hands on books in this world desperately. At least I can figure out the pattern of speech after reading them for a while, maybe it'll take a few days for me to write something legible.

As I browsed through the available stores, I found out that no one understood what language I was using. I couldn't converse with them at all. Which came as a surprise to me. I had thought that English was just a rare language, something that only nobles and important merchants understood.

My theory based off Richard's ability to comprehend English was wrong after all.

Looks like it isn't as common as I thought.

I left the blacksmith dejectedly.

Incidentally, the inside of the place kind of felt like a tavern mixed with some kind of workshop. It was pretty dusty, and the entire place was littered with tools and broken equipment.

Some of those equipment looked really normal to me. Medieval weapons like the mace, iron swords and flails were all kept there, probably for repair.

In the end, night came with me having my sweets, wallet and keys intact in my pouch. The only takeaway today was that 4 gold coins and 27 silver coins. It made the awkward trip with strangers worth it.

People began to flow in naturally. The street lamps were lit up, with some kind of flame inside of it. It looked like a big candle inside, which made me curious of how it actually worked within the confined space of the lamp when no oxygen was in it to supply the continuity of the flame.

A wasted trip after the exchange... Anyway, I need to find some lodging... That doctor wasn't around anymore when I was awake, and it seemed that the women at the counter didn't know what I meant as well. It also doesn't fit well with me sleeping in an infirmary... I'll look around a little more since the stores are starting to open up at night.

Well, the infirmary will be the desperate option this time.

As I was thinking how to secure a place to stay tonight, another horse carriage went past me.

The people around me swerved about to avoid the two horses at the front. It didn't seem like there was a separation between the pavements for walking and the concept of a road for vehicles.

All I saw was a car trying to get through a beeline in a crowded wet market.

Thus, I was pushed around as people started to squeeze around me. I made careful note to hold on to my pockets in case someone attempted to pickpocket me. I was already seeing a few kids moving about suspiciously while everyone was being jammed together.

And this obviously made me look towards the source of discomfort.

The carriage that was inconsiderately pushing itself forward through the sea of people.

Huh?

...But it wasn't carrying cargo.

It was carrying a cage.

Inside of the cage the horses were transporting, I could see them.

Humans?!

A dozen of them, like a pile of bones, malnourished. Their bodies look horribly shriveled up, as if they'd had no food for a long time.

No wait, they had cat and dog ears on top of their heads?! It's that, aren't they...! Demihumans!!!

Truly the most common trope of all. Demihuman slaves. Although reading these kind of situations in novels wouldn't make me bat an eyelid, the reality of it is very much different.

Their lifeless eyes and bony bodies were enough to make me feel a surge of discomfort all of a sudden. The flies surrounding them were telltale signs of the horrible sanitation of the cage, and the buzzing slowly got to me, like a sinister rhythm drilling my ears incessantly.

I quickly moved through the crowd and found some space in an alleyway where no one was occupying it.

I vomited pathetically onto the floor.

"U-uerrghhh!"

A few passers-by who passed by the alley saw what I did and gave me a disdainful look. But that was all they did, as they continued moving along in the main streets. It seemed like these kinds of things were a common occurrence for them to just respond in that way. Probably because it was an entertainment district, there would be drunkards as well.

This is too much... I want to go home... this place is too much...

The carriage went past me.

And my useless sense of heroism was triggered. My mind cleared up slowly, as I felt a surge of determination to find out what was going to happen to them. All thoughts of getting a lodging first was temporarily suspended.

"This ...kind of treatment... cruel..."

Wiping my mouth with my sleeve, I followed the carriage.

The carriage continued for a few more minutes of travel on the cobblestone floor, before it stopped before an alley.

The slaves were lined up obediently and followed a merchant-like person in a single file. They soon disappeared into the alley.

Do I follow them? N-no... what if they're doing something shady in there? My safety would be compromised again... n-no... not again, I'm not doing something like that again... Being reminded of that series of assaults to my life from before made me want to throw up a second time.

I gulped it down quickly.

And then without warning, a voice appeared beside my ear.

"-Excuse me, is this customer here to inspect the fresh batch of merchandise?"

"W-eh?!"

A silly sounding voice came out of my mouth, as I was caught off guard from the close proximity of a person beside me.

"Ah, my apologies. I must have startled you for my sudden appearance. I am the slave merchant Olga. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

The man known as Olga put out a hand to signal for a handshake.

Dressed in some kind of grey outfit, Olga used the other to adjust the monocle that was resting on his left eye. His sharp eyes and demeanor gave off a sinister atmosphere.

N-no, I need to stand my ground here. Or I'll lose before I even begin!

My eyes lit up a slightly reddish hue in response to my feeling of urgency.

"Yeah, can you show me inside?"

"Certainly, if you're a customer, anyone is welcome to patronize our merchandise!"

Olga smiled brightly, as if he had just met his long lost friend. Money was everything to a merchant.

Olga led me into the alley skillfully. There were some twists and turns, but I memorized it properly.

I have a good memory trained and molded from birth.

On the way, Olga continued talking about the contents of the merchandise with terminologies that I did not understand. Nevertheless, I listened intently and tried to make sense of them.

Apparently, they had captured a bunch of Snow Wolf demihuman girls from the mountains. They were supposed to be extremely rare, but he offered to give me a discount considering it was a coincidence to meet me here he said.

...This is sickening. Treating people like goods.

Finally, we've arrived.

"Here we are, so what kind of slave are you looking for today?"

Olga rubbed his hands together like an experienced merchant.

Now that we've arrived at the establishment safely, I released my tension that I was holding onto. It was then that I realized that I had followed Olga into a slave store.

W-wait a minute. What do I do now?

"Dear customer...?"

O-Olga's stare is scary!!!

What is this place!? It reeks of filth...!!!

I mean I know where am I bu-but... this atmosphere...!

I knew I couldn't stop speaking here.

I need to say something... Say something!

...Okay, brave front again. Brave front...

"...M-mm... I suppose I'll take a look at one of th-those Snow Wolf girls that you were so proud of huh."

"Mm? Ah, yes. By the way, what is your budget?"

"3 gold coins." I answered dishonestly.

I have to give myself a leeway here in case something goes wrong.

"In that case that is fine, follow me. This way, dear customer."

Olga seemed to notice my sudden stuttering, but replied normally. There was a small chill felt on my back when he stared at me. In retrospect, I should have realized that something was wrong then.