"Aldis, Rona, fast!"
About two months have passed since the harvest festival.
With the village life settling down, Aldis resumes mercenary work again. However, the main purpose is a journey to find clues to return to the original world, and it's only a matter of receiving a request and getting rid of demons.
However, as usual, there was a person who stopped when he was about to go out with Rona. Philia and Liana.
Lactor Previously, when living in the Forest of Caucasus, Aldis had set the task of getting two people out of the city, saying, "I need to be able to beat them." Even after moving to the village, he repeatedly trained with Nere, and in addition, gained experience in hunting that also served as a tour around the village, so he finally cleared it.
No. As a result, Aldis couldn't sneak up on his head. Aldis reluctantly allowed him to accompany him, but added further conditions beyond the last resistance. It meant that they would be allowed to accompany each other, not at the same time. He never sought to leave for a while from the time he met him, describing himself as "Philias" or "Liana", and did not think that the twins who claimed to be inseparable would accept it. .
Prospects But such an Ardis's collapses easily.
Three months after coming to the village. The twins, who seemed to have finally overcome the abominable memories of the past, looked at each other when they were informed of the conditions and began to discuss which one would travel with Aldis first. As a result, Philia was the first companion, now waving to Aldis and Rona in the Albanian town, urging him to come early.
"I don't mean I'll accept it anyway ..."
Aldis murmurs with slight remorse for the unexpected twin reaction.
"That's why they're growing up. It's been years since Al has been protected, and shouldn't we be pleased with it?"
He peers into Aldis from his feet, whispering so that his golden partner cannot be heard by others.
"Al forever treats Filia and Liana as children."
"I don't treat them as children ..."
"Then I ask, what did you do when Al was the same age as Philias? Did you live warm and protected by the adults?"
"..."
Pointed to by Rona, Aldis remembers when she was fourteen or five, and silently makes no sound.
"The first birth is bad. I promised I would take you outside if I could beat Lactor, but when Philia showed their ability, I said," I can't take them together "It's a condition that you take them one by one."
"..."
Further pursuits forced Aldis to remain silent.
In this case, Rona was in direct opposition to Aldis who still refused to accompany the twins, and was on the side of the twins. Despite Aldis, who was stunned by his sudden betrayal of his buddy, Philia was decided to accompany her, and she had to leave the village with Rona and the other two.
"Hey Aldis. Are you staying here today?"
Philia returns and asks her, hugging Aldis's left arm, as to whether she has boiled herself to the slow-moving Aldis.
"... That's right. The field lodgings have been going on for a while, and will you sleep slowly in bed today?"
"I did it! I like the goodness of the rice! Rona."
"Yeah, that's what I agree with. I'll let you stay in a decent hotel because it's a bit expensive, Al."
"Well, I don't have to worry about the inn ......... The problem is that I stayed at a proper inn and got a decent meal."
The Alban kingdom, where Aldis and others are, was in the midst of a civil war. Originally it would not be appropriate to bring Philia, but there is a reason I can not say that.
It was because Aldis's face was known by the church's heresy. Of course, being heresy does not mean you are caught and punished under state law. To this end, heresy is a legally unlawful decree issued by a church without governing authority.
However, it is a decree issued by an influential church that has followers throughout the continent. It is highly likely that harm will be directed outside of the state or lord. No, it would be more obvious to look at the fire than to look at the fire, given the treatment of the twins.
Aldis alone can hide his face with a hood and wear a robe that wraps around the entire body, but Rona's conspicuous golden body is no exception. However, if Rona was removed from his companion, he was worried about Filia and could not take a nap.
"In the civil war, logistics are shattered. It is not functioning to maintain security. It is possible to eat something better than preserved food, but it is better not to expect much."
I chose Albahn, who was bothered by the civil war, because I couldn't afford the people here to spare the church decree. Few people can afford to hire a mercenary, even though the church has found it heresy, when their lives and lives are threatened.
Of course, some people will still do harm, but what if the whole world, or the whole town, doesn't turn to the enemy? Rather, she protected her villages and villages, which had been in trouble due to the deterioration of security, from beasts and robbers, and was not thanked once or twice. Some of you may have noticed Aldis, but so far there is no wave. What was far from their point of view was the current state of the country, Albahn.
"Well, there were many refugees out of town ... I don't think I have enough food."
"What is a refugee?"
"These are people who have lost their homes in war or monster raids, or those who have fled."
"Are you just like us before?"
Rona rounds her eyes in an unexpected Philia's words.
"Hm ...? Ah, maybe if you ask me,"
Aldis and others who had to leave the Caucasus forest where they had lived for some reason could be described as refugees.
"That's different from refugees outside of town right now because we just left the forest to avoid hassle."
Refugees are not just outside the city. Even as you walk around the city, you can see a large number of people crouching behind the alley, who turned their eyes. Refugees who could enter before the town gates were closed.
Sleeves Refugees will not rush inside the outer walls, as they will not be able to get inside unless they have to go under. But at the same time, the morals of the soldiers guarding the gates are going down. He did not confirm his identity, and the bribery was low and the passage was decided. Because of the iniquity, people like Aldis and Rona entered the town without being seen, but if this situation persists without discipline, the corruption should soon seriously damage security.
There is no doubt that the price spike and the disruption of distribution have been spurred. There are few stalls on the boulevard, and the prices of the products are high.
"Wow, it's high! Six apples in a bag of six apples?"
Rona is surprised to see the price of the fruit she sells at the stall. As he walked while looking at the stalls, Philia caught a crowd in the direction of travel and pulled Aldis's arm.
"Oh, Aldis. There are many people over there. Let's go!"
There are more people than I expected while being pulled by Philia. Sadness Only one corner of the town where the impression was lost was hot. A number of low stands are lined up in a large space that was originally a vacant lot, on which humans in modest clothes stand side by side. People looked at the human beings on the table as if they were walking around and looking at them.
"What is this?"
"... It's a slave city."
With a frown, Aldis answers Filia's question.
"slave?"
A strange-old woman on the table calls out to Philia, who tilts her head.
"Hey, there's a cute lady. Don't buy me? I can do all the washing and cleaning, and I'm confident in my cooking skills. I can cook some rare western dishes here. I can talk to you. "
Filia was confused by the smiling woman who appealed to her, without knowing what to do.
Peeling: "Isn't it a mercenary, apparently? Then buy me! I'm a former mercenary and I've hunted the beast king. As a force, as a luggage holder, as a material stripper I will definitely do that. "
In addition, a middle-aged man standing next to him sold himself.
"Bad, but the food and strength are in time."
"Yes, sorry."
"I'm sorry. Call me if you change your mind."
When Ardis returns to the two instead of the embarrassed Philia, the woman and the middle-aged man withdraw with a disappointing look.
"Oh, I hope you can meet a good employer."
"I'm with you"
Finally, Aldis sent words of encouragement, and a middle-aged man showed thumbs up while giving thanks.
"Let's go, Philia."
Aldis, who wants to leave this place, pulled Philia's hand.
"Ah……"
"What happened--"
Following the sight of Philia who notices something, Aldis looks bitter.
One temporary hut was in front of them. In the corner of the city of slaves, several figures came out of the hut, which was secret, but different.
Two men, armed like escorts, are led by a man with a good shape like a merchant. Behind them are men and women with rings on their wrists and ankles. Everyone has the same greasy, darkened skin, gully body that may not have eaten easily, and eyes that have lost hope. In spite of the appearance of shame, the face where emotions have disappeared can be felt even tragic.
Inspired by a man who seems to be a servant who has a chain connected from the collar, this product is shaped like a person riding a wagon parked in front of a hut. He was a man.
If there is a slave city, there will naturally be merchants who deal with the people. Aldis frowned first because he did not want to show it to Philia.
"That's a site company of the Sites Shokai."
"That's still terrible."
"Oh, it's a bit of a treatment, whether it's a slave or a person ..."
"The black rumors are continual, but when you see that, you have to convince them."
"But surely those people are cheap."
"Is it all that customers want is cheap?"
Apparently, it seems to be an unfamiliar firm, and like Aldis, people who were watching the scene repeatedly spoke offensive words.
"I don't want to be there just to take care of it."
I can hear such voices from the slaves. In the meantime, the wagon carrying the people starts moving.
The waves broke to make room for nature and its course. I guess I have repeated my former self. Philia's eyes shook as she saw the wagons passing by and the people on the bed.
"Aldis ..."
Philia appeals with silly eyes. Aldis understood what Filia was looking for without saying.
"No use"
But just because you know, you can't do anything. Aldias shakes her head, and Philia looks like she is crying.
It is legal for a person to trade in Alban. Slave and person are recognized as property of the owner. If you release it for no good reason, Ardis will be more guilty. Aldis, who has already turned the church to the enemy and has no shelter throughout the continent, is a new story, but that does not mean that Philia is involved.
Hesitation has also been shown to set a bad example of ignoring the law by force. I, of course, Aldis himself has been ignoring the law several times before. But that's to protect what the legal order cannot afford to the enemy, at least including the risks and making the decision yourself. If we ignore the law and try to push me, Philia should make his own decision.
"Oh, Philia. Both slaves and people are recognized in the country. They can't buy or sell them, and they're not praised for their treatment, but they can't blame the face."
Satoshi In a country of civil war, there is probably no law at all, but Aldis smiles inwardly and laughs at Philia.
Thief "Forcibly releasing them is the same as stealing the property of the owner. So if you want to save those people, you have to pay the owner a reasonable price. If Philia buys them, at least You can release them from the people, but just releasing them will turn them back soon, giving you clothes, food, a place to live, and a job. There will be dozens of other people in this city alone who will be treated in the same way, will they be able to save all the ones they see, and every one they see in the future? And if you think you have the resilience and power to do so, you can like it. "
Filia still eroded, tears tearing Aldis's words.
"But ... but Aldis helped me and Liana."
"At that time, the merchant who owned Philia was annihilated by the assault of the robbers, so you were no longer with anyone. If the merchant survived, I would be my own I couldn't take you away. ''
"... Why don't you help them like us?"
"I can't save everything. My hand doesn't turn that far. It's my best to hold Philia and Liana with my two hands."
If Philia and Liana were not twins in the first place, they would probably not be together this time. He must have been taken to the town of Tria and sold off appropriately.
"..."
Sleeves Philia's hand grips Aldis's hand and comes into force.
You may have thought that if you appealed, Aldis would do something for you. But then you'll always be embarrassed by Aldis.
Aldias embraces Filia, who begins to cry silently, in her pocket. Rona, who was silently listening to the whole story, looked into Aldis's eyes with a hard work. Aldis laughs at it and begins to think a little bit with a heartache.
Sites Shokai. It seems to be a firm that is notorious for saying that the people around him were talking about it. Aldis squinted, as dust would hit one or two if hit.