Chapter 16: The Beastmen's trading company

“Are you two okay?” (Robin)

“Yes, don’t worry about us, we will be fine… we just have to believe in them” (Doraig)

“They are good and hardworking. I don’t believe any other race could build a village in a day. they will find success for all of us” (Kelsi)

Some time later

We’ve calmed down. Right now we are moving towards our first stop, Grendel.

The Beastmen, as I previously pointed out, have no place to call ‘home’. Instead, they formed a trading company which they decided to call ‘Boros’ trade company’ in honor of its founder and the Beastmen that reset their race.

When Boros had his race reset, he saw how the two ancient hegemons: the humans and the elves, treated the newly advanced races. When they were in the position of absolute power yet weren’t scientifically advanced enough to cope with the scarcity of food, living with an unstable political system, and at the same time living with the risk of having their position as ‘stronger races’ usurped, they tended to be extremely aggressive towards new races.

When he saw this, he wanted to avoid the Beastmen to be trampled over and destroyed, and thus he decided to head towards the human capital of olden, Gralace, along with all of the Beastmen.

This act was called ‘Boros’ pledge’, because the moment they arrived, startling everyone who lived in the city, he and all of the Beastmen knelt down towards the king of Gralace.

The Gralace King, needless to say, was completely flabbergasted at that moment. He couldn’t understand ‘why’ the newcomer had decided to kneel at his doorstep, but the King, being in an unstable position of power, in the need to appease the human population, decided to have a show of kindness.

He took an enormous risk, allowing Boros to enter the castle and speak man to beast.

Boros, having knelt towards the king, obviously did not have the position of power. But he was smart, and his plan’s first step had succeeded.

He proposed to the king losing the right for his race to have a ‘Kingdom’ for themselves, thus appeasing the masses which were nervous and frightened of the future due to all of the newcomer races which were sprouting left and right at the time. In exchange for promising to not enter the race for territory, he and the Beastmen would be allowed to settle themselves in the human territory, and plant their headquarters in Grendel. The Beastmen would begin a merchant company ‘Boros’ trade company’ and give the Humans a part of the earnings in exchange for the right to have free trade in all of the human territories.

Obviously, the king would not allow for a possible enemy to be right next to them, and thus made a change to the ‘contract’.

He would not allow Boros’ race to carry weapons, and in exchange for this, he would help Boros by providing the merchants with protection. Boros’ merchants would be the ones making the trade without a political tone added to them, and the Humans would make sure thieves would not destroy caravans in their travels.

The humans and the Beastmen thus began their cooperation, which proved itself to be extremely successful. The Beastmen only had to focus on trading tendencies, where the food was needed the most, where weapons were required to deal with monsters, etc.

Without having to worry about spending resources on forming an army, training soldiers, or carrying weapons, they quickly formed a rich company which also helped the human society advance.

The newly formed company was so successful, that when the King of Gralace fell in favor of new blood, the new King decided not to abolish the established policies, which further cemented the Beastmen’s position. Some years later, the Beastmen expanded towards other kingdoms: those of races which did decide to join the fray, helping the continent’s economy to bloom.

Today, Boros’ trade company has an extremely stable foundation which does not shake with the political changes which occur frequently in the continent.

And Grendel, which served as the starting point of Boro’s dream, is in this day and age, the place where all of the most important trade in the continent occurs.

“Why are we going to ‘Grendel’? I thought we were going straight to the lava zone” (Kelsi)

“We need to buy some things before we do that, like food, heat resistance potions and breathing masks. the place we are heading to has some fumes which are toxic to all living things, which is why before we enter, we must go to Grendel and buy special breathing masks to filter out the toxic fumes. The hellhound lava zone is at the same time scorching hot, and thus we need to buy some potions that will help offset the damage we’d receive by just standing inside of that place. If you don’t get those two items in Grendel, the only other way to get them is by crafting” (Rize)

“I see” (Kelsi)

“And I think we should buy things for you to wear. I don’t really mind as you are a blob of slime but… I don’t think it is a good idea to have you stark naked” (Rize)

“Oh” (Kelsi)

…

We continue to fly without any problems, stopping whenever we have to eat and sleep, hunting some game and roasting it in the wilds, flying to have a vantage point to look for a water source, and sleeping while looking at the stars.

Rize is in charge of the food because it turns out that having spent so much time without leveling up allowed him to learn how to make some amazing dishes.

And like that, a week passes by.

“That’s the Trader’s Headquarters?” (Kelsi)

“Woah! It’s massive!” (Doraig)

That’s the largest city I’ve ever seen. walls as that span a distance as long as the mountain range we had to traverse right before meeting Kelsi, and which are as tall as the trees we used to build the homes for the slimes.

a myriad of different houses which make for an extremely colorful city, with colors that range from orange to white to green and even purple, giving the city a feeling of being alive. this is all contrasted by the tower in the middle of the city, a tower so big that even us, who are flying well above the 200m mark, can’t see the end of above the skies.

“What’s that?” (Kelsi)

says Kelsi, as she points towards the structure that had my mouth agape, the tower.

“That’s the trade center. it’s… more impressive that I was told it’d be” (Rize)

“How did they even manage to erect that tower…” (Rob)

“My father told me that there was once a famous female human mage who fell in love with Boros’ son, Claude. When Boros’ son corresponded her feelings, she spent the bigger half of her life constructing the tower while Claude worked for the company, stationed in the city. I have no clue how Boros’ kid manage to get her so maddened with love, though” (Rize)

“It’s beautiful…” (Kelsi)

“Let’s go down” (Rize)

We descend to ground level and join the line to enter the city.

The line to enter the city is as expected, massively long. caravans and people alike conform the biggest part of the line to enter the city, while there are also some people who most likely make a living by selling exotic animals.

“Will there really be no problems with us entering the city without asking for permission first, like in Parlor town?” (Doraig)

“It will be fine. even if we wanted to do anything we’d be instantly killed. I heard my father mention to me how the city guards in that place are all level 180” (Rize)

“180!? but they’re humans, right?” (Doraig)

“What the hell… 180? Where do they even grind to get their level that high” (Rob)

“That’s one of their best-kept secrets, actually. all my father knew is that when anyone is recruited into the city guard, they disappear for 20 years, before reappearing and having attained that level” (Rize)

“Of course, the elves have the means to get our best guards to that level as well, but in the place we do so we’ve never found any human, so we can safely assume the place is different” (Rize)

“Dude… after we patch your mother up, can you take me there?” (Doraig)

“...What do you think?” (Rize)

Party pooper

“Sorry, I didn’t lose anything by asking” (Doraig)

“The line is moving forward, advance” (Rob)

Kelsi seems to be enjoying a nap on top of my head while we are waiting in line, I don’t really mind, though.

“That reminds me, Robin?” (Doraig)

“Hmm?” (Rob)

“When we leave the lava zone we should be around level 30, are you staying with us after that?” (Doraig)

“Uh… I’m not sure actually. I’ll have to think about it” (Rob)

“Well, it should still take around a month for us to be done with it, so you still have time to think about what you want to do” (Doraig)

“Yeah, I’ll tell you at that time” (Rob)

Later on

The line slowly but surely moves forward, and then we finally are almost at the front of the line.

The caravan in front of us is talking with two guards, who check the carriage and its contents and then write something down on a book. then they ask things to the people before writing more stuff down. finally one of the guards says something to which the group nod their heads and then walk towards the entrance of the city, before entering and disappearing inside.

The two guards follow with their vision the group until they go inside, and then look towards us and begin walking.

“Hello, and welcome to Grendel. who is your party leader?” (Guard #1)

Umm… good question, who is the party leader?

“Ah, he’s the party leader” (Doraig)

I say while pointing at Rize, since he’s the one that knows most of this of this city, and besides (or more importantly), it’s annoying to speak with the guards.

“Okay, I want to confirm with you the members of your party. I will need their names, their races, and optionally you can state any special identities if they have one, with appropriate proof of course. if there is anyone particularly important among your group you will be permitted direct entry to the higher levels of the trading tower” (Guard #1)

“What do we need to do to enter the higher levels if we don’t want to state our identities?” (Rize)

“Again, it’s optional to do so, but if you don’t and later on decide to buy some especially rare objects, you will have to first make a special deposit before entering” (Guard #1)

“Deposit?” (Rize)

“Yes, this means that if you decide to enter the higher floors of the tower you will have to pay a set amount of gold by person, which will stay in the company regardless of whether you use that money to buy something or not” (Guard #1)

Wow, that’s such a bullshit policy!

“I see. well, do you think being the son of the Elven King is good enough?” (Rize)

“Son of the elven king? yeah. Do you have proof?” (Guard #1)

Wow, completely unfazed. I guess these are level 180 guards, huh.

“Here” (Rize)

Says Rize as he hands a medallion to the Guard. the guards inspect it closely and one of them seems to silently pronounce something, a skill, I assume.

“Okay, it seems you are telling the truth. we welcome you to Grendel, Son of Yaksha, Rize” (Guard #1)

Once he says that the Guard #2 writes down on the notebook.

“And these people are? A human and a Dragon with a Slime top hat as companions— that’s quite an uncommon party you have there, Prince” (Guard #1)

“Yeah, I guess. The human is Robin Caster, no special identity” (Rize)

The Guard #1 nods, while Guard #2 writes everything down

“The dragon is Doraig, no special identity” (Rize)

“You are pretty far away from the Darki continent, aren’t you?” (Guard #1)

“Yeah— does it matter?” (Doraig)

"No, not really” (Guard #1)

“And the Slime is called Kelsi, she is the Slime queen” (Rize)

Kelsi wakes up and looks curiously towards the guards from the top of my head

“Umm, hi?” (Kelsi)

They take a few second to process, before speaking simultaneously.

“The slime spoke?” (Guard #1)

“What the—” (Guard #2)

They seem to be more surprised at Kelsi than they were at Rize, how amusing…

“Uh… I’m Kelsi” (Kelsi)

“I’ll have to excuse myself here, I need to report this to my superior. Bermion will continue with the usual procedures. please enjoy your stay in Grendel” (Guard #2)

“Woah… a Slime that can talk. Did you have your race reset? Amazing” (Bermion)

“Yeah, I had my race reset thanks to my sweetheart!” (Kelsi)

“Sweetheart?” (Bermion)

“Him” (Kelsi)

She’s pointing down towards me, and Bermion looks confusedly towards me

“Damn, nicely done! so what can Slimes do now that they reset?” (Bermion)

It seems like the humans that guard this city are a lot more accepting of the new races, I assume because it means more potential customers.

“They are pretty good at construction, I guess” (Doraig)

“Construction?” (Bermion)

“Yup, they can transform their bodies, so that includes shape-shifting their limbs into proper tools for work” (Doraig)

“Wow, that’s cool!” (Bermion)

“Ah, I see you’re a man of culture as well” (Doraig)

“Does she need proof of her being the Slime queen?” (Rize)

“In all honesty, being a person from a newly advanced race is good enough to let you up the higher floors of the tower. In any case, Prince, with your identity it is enough to grant your party with permission to enter without making the deposit” (Bermion)

“Oh, okay” (Rize)

“Well then, I'll write this down on the book” (Bermion)

He writes down on the small notebook—

“Alright. you guys are done, feel free to enter the city now. Oh and here, receive this piece of paper with my direction. Bring me with you to the Slimes when you can, I want to see them too” (Bermion)

He hands Kelsi the small paper with information, and then we proceed towards the entrance of the town.

“Right, I forgot!” (Bermion)

He comes running towards us Before handing a golden-colored coin to Rize.

“You will need that to enter the top floors directly” (Bermion)

“Thanks” (Rize)

“Well then, See you some other time. enjoy Grendel!” (Bermion)

“Thanks!” (Kelsi)

“Bye~” (Doraig)

The city from the inside looks extremely lively. people shouting to sell food, drinks and there seems to be a fleas market selling some common goods. We move past all that and walk towards the center, the trading tower.

On the entrance to the tower, a sign reads ‘Boros’ Trading Center’.

We move ahead and enter the tower.

Inside, a massive space opens up. in front, around a hundred counters with lines of people in front, who are waiting for their turn. The people are of every race, including Lizardmen, Humans, Onis, Dwarfs and we can even see some people who look like white beasts and are about my size, are those the Karfi that Rize mentioned to me when we left to porter town?

“That is?” (Kelsi)

Kelsi points towards our right, where there are two circles with scribbles inside, one of which has a line of people behind.

The circle seems to produce light from time to time, and when it does, a person comes out of it. when a person in line steps into the circle, it lights up and the person disappears.

“That should be the elevator, it brings people to a floor above” (Rize)

“What about that one?” (Rob)

To our left, there’s another circle, but this one has a guard in front and nobody in line.

“No clue, maybe that’s for the higher floors?” (Rize)

“Let’s go and ask him” (Doraig)

We move towards the guard and ask him—

“Hello, we have a golden coin here, how do we enter the higher floors?” (Rize)

“Let me examine the golden coin” (Guard)

“Here” (Rize)

Rize hands the coin to the guard, who then silently casts a skill, to check its authenticity.

“Please come this way, and step into the circle” (Guard)

We do as he says, and when all 4 of us are inside the circle, my vision distorts, and when it’s well again, my surroundings have changed.

In front of us, there’s an endless prairie, and in the middle, there’s some comfortable looking furniture for us to sit on.

“Woah…” (Doraig, Robin & Kelsi)

“Not bad” (Rize)

While we are mesmerized by the view, the circle lights up and a Beastman female comes out.

The female is standing on her two feet, has feline ears and fur covering her body. I know she’s female thanks to her curves and her bust, the outline of which is visible even if she’s wearing an adorned robe.

“Hello, dear customers. please have a seat” (Merchant)

“Thanks” (Rize)

Says Rize, after which he takes a seat.

She looks at me, before saying—

“You are a bigger person so these seats might not be ample enough for you, so please wait a moment, dear customer” (Merchant)

After which she walks towards the left of Rize’s seat, and takes a massive pillow out of her inventory, big enough for me to comfortably lay on.

“Wow, thanks!” (Doraig)

“You are welcome” (Merchant)

While that was happening, Rob took a seat to Rize’s right.

Kelsi walks down from my head and lays on the pillow, next to me.

The merchant sits down on a couch directly in front of all of us.

“This should be the Slime queen? It’s a pleasure to meet you, your highness” (Merchant)

“Oh, thank you. Just call me Kelsi” (Kelsi)

“Then, with your permission, Mistress Kelsi” (Merchant)

“First, let me invite you to a cup of tea” (Merchant)

Clap

Once she claps, four cups appear in mid air, along with four kettles. the cups are proportional to our sizes, mine being big enough so I can grab it with my claws comfortably.

The floating kettles pour tea, and the cups then move mid-air towards each one of us, staying there, floating and waiting for us to take them.

Sip

Woah, this is tea? then what the hell did I drink before! this is—

“This is so good!” (Kelsi)

“I’m glad you like it, Mistress Kelsi” (Merchant)

“Can I have another cup?” (Kelsi)

“Of course” (Merchant)

“Me too!” (Doraig)

“And me” (Rob)

“Please serve me another cup as well” (Rize)

…

After each of us drinks about 5 kettles’ worth of tea, we stop drinking and finally get down to business.

“What will you buy or sell, dear customers?” (Merchant)

“We are looking for some things. First, we will need some potions that grant fire resistance” (Rize)

“How strong do you need them to be? Our potions can replace the ‘fire resistance’ buff at its basic, intermediate and advanced levels, our recipes have been tested to respectively replace levels 78, 81, and 68 of the skill. they all last for 2 hours when used” (Merchant)

“We need 20 basic and 4 intermediate ones. We also need some breathing masks that filter out toxic fumes, level 15 or less. they don’t need to offer any additional skill or protection, though.” (Rize)

“Is there anything else you need?” (Merchant)

“Yes, we need some clothes for Kelsi to wear” (Rize)

She turns towards Kelsi and asks her

“What kind of clothes are you looking for, Mistress Kelsi?” (Merchant)

“Umm… What do you think, sweetheart?” (Kelsi)

Something for Kelsi to wear? Hmm, what should a pink blob even wear?

“Uh… I’m not actually sure, honestly” (Doraig)

It should probably be something that’s comfortable, right?

“Oh… What if I do this?” (Kelsi)

She liquefies, and reforms into a slime girl, one that is about 1,80 meter tall, slender waist and a C cup. she forms long wavy slime hair that goes to waist length and her face looks very feminine. I’d say most people would find her extremely beautiful. although to be honest, I like her regardless or what form she takes.

“that makes it easier. how about a white T-shirt and a skirt? you look very athletic in that form sweetie” (Doraig)

“Okay!” (Kelsi)

“I think some underwear for you to wear is in place, too. please bring three white shirts, four skirts of the colors blue, red, orange, and green. and four pairs of underwear, please, you choose the colors and style for those” (Doraig)

“I’ve written it down, I’ll bring the clothes first, but for the masks and potions, you will need to wait a few more minutes. I will go grab the clothes and tell someone to go look for the rest of items while I bring the clothes back” (Merchant)

“Alright, Thanks!” (Doraig)

while the Merchant walks toward the elevator circle, I turn towards Rize and Rob and notice they are looking at Kelsi with their eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

“The fuck are you guys looking at her for” (Doraig)

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to” (Rob)

“Uh, nothing” (Rize)

“Are you going to stay in that form when sitting on my, sweetie?” (Doraig)

“Umm… do you not want me to?” (Kelsi)

“Uh… Let’s try and see if you can still sit on my head like that” (Doraig)

“Alright!” (Kelsi)

Kelsi moves towards me, and jumps, landing with a pose on my back. She then proceeds to walk up my spine towards my head and sits down.

In case you were wondering how she ever fit with my supposed horned helmet being there, it’s because the helmet is very small compared to my head, so I just had it rest on the horn to the left of my head.

My head has three horns protruding, one to the left and right which curve to the front, and one smaller in the very front pointing a bit upwards.

“It feels comfortable! I can grab this horn as a handle, too” (Kelsi)

“Oh, that’s okay, then. you can sit there in your— let’s call it ‘human’ form— while wearing your clothes” (Doraig)

“Yay!” (Kelsi)

“Okay, I’ve brought your clothes, Umm, Miss Kelsi” (Merchant)

“Thank you!” (Kelsi)

The clothes are floating mid-air, waiting to be picked up by Kelsi. She picks up a t-shirt and a pink skirt, while she makes her skin turn a mellow tone of yellow. at the same time, she picks white underwear to use.

“Wait!” (Doraig)

“?” (Kelsi)

“Lady, can you bring her to a changing room? I don’t trust in these two fuckers who’ve been silent this whole time” (Doraig)

“Of course, please follow me Miss Kelsi” (Merchant)

“I’ll be right back” (Kelsi)

Kelsi leaves, and 10 minutes later comes back changed into her new clothes.

“Do you like it?” (Kelsi)

“Yes, you look lovely my sweetie” (Doraig)

I say as my heart fills with warmth.

While we are chatting about random things, the circle of light lights up, and then out comes a Beastman, who looks to be middle aged, with brown fur covering his body and rounded glasses; He’s wearing a suit and seems like an intelligent man.

“Ah, hello! I have brought you the stuff you required” (Glasses guy)

“Thank you. that is all we need to buy” (Rize)

“I see. then your bill will come at 39 gold, 15 silver, and 44 copper” (Merchant)

Rize fiddles with his hands, before taking out money out of empty space.

“Here” (Rize)

"Thank you for your patronage, we hope to see you buy with us again!” (Merchant)

“Yes, we will come again to buy— and get more tea” (Rize)

We exit the room via the magic circle, which takes out by the one that was next to the line, instead of the original one that had the guard. I wonder if it’s to make us look more inconspicuous?

We then proceed to the exit of the tower and leave.

“Well then, now let’s go to the Hellhound lava zone!” (Doraig)