Chapter 36

Just after a few minutes of walking along the new road, I noticed a grey line on the horizon, and according to Tori, it was a wall around Ortas. As we were approaching the city, I noticed more people traveling just like us.

After a centaur ran past us, I paid more attention to them and spotted a few that clearly weren’t human. One woman had red eyes, another one had long spiky ears, and there was also a man with green skin.

However, among dozens of people that we passed, that was all. The rest of them looked normal, but I would never have guessed that Tori or Azura were demons either.

The latter followed slowly with us, focusing on her every step. I was curious about her story but decided to wait with questions until she got more accustomed to her human form and our company.

The remaining road to Ortas took us over half an hour. The wall that at first was just a small line turned out to be massive, easily over twenty feet high. Standing under it, I couldn't see where it ended to the left or right.

As we approached the gate, I noticed three entrances at some distance from each other. The biggest one on the right was for carts. It was only wide enough for one at a time, and the line of them waited for their turn as the guard controlled the traffic.

One of the smaller entrances was wide enough for two people to comfortably walk through, and they were moving in and out. In front of the third entrance stood a short queue, and we stopped at the end of it with Tori.

“We’ll buy an entrance pass here,” Tori explained. “Do you want to rent a room together?” she asked, glancing at me.

“I’d love to,” I replied. “But it would be good to find something with two beds,” I added, glancing at Azura.

Tori followed my gaze and nodded. When Azura heard her name, she lifted her eyes to me but said nothing. Then her attention shifted to people around us.

The queue was moving rather quickly, and it didn't take long before we entered a small room in Ortas’ wall. There was a guard sitting behind a desk on the right, and another two standing by the exit, leading to the city.

“Four passes for a week,” Tori said, putting a few coins on the desk.

The guard put the coins away, then picked up a small, black, rectangular object. Tori reached out her hand toward him, and he pressed it against the back of her hand. When he lifted it a second later, a small magical symbol glowed there briefly—but it vanished almost instantly.

“How does it work?” I asked, reaching my hand toward the guard.

“The mark lasts for about a week,” the guard said as he pressed the object against my hand. It was cold and made of metal, but other than that, I didn’t feel anything special.

“There are installations at the entrances that make it appear,” he continued, lifting the rectangle from my hand, leaving behind a magical symbol. It glowed with a faint green light, and when I brought my hand closer to my face, I noticed it was the symbol of some kind of bird—before it vanished.

“You show it to the guards when you pass through,” the guard finished, then looked at Zoe and Azura, who were waiting, not offering their hands.

I gestured for them to come forward, and only then did Zoe step up and extend her hand first. The man looked at her for a moment as he applied the symbol, but said nothing. Then Azura slowly reached out her hand, and he marked her the same way.

“Done,” the guard said. “Go,” he added, nodding his head toward the exit.

As I walked between the guards, the mark on my hand lit up again, but it faded almost immediately after I passed through the exit. As we stopped on the other side of the wall, I turned around, looking at it.

“How does it work?” I asked. I didn't see anything special in this entrance, but there must have been something that activated the symbol.

“I have no clue,” Tori replied. “I’ll show you a tavern where we will sleep, and then I need to take care of a few things,” she added, already heading along one of the streets.

Zoe held my hand as we followed Tori. Ortas looked like... an ordinary town from my old world, but a few centuries back. I didn’t see anything particularly special or magical—just house after house, low buildings, and here and there a sign indicating a shop or some other establishment.

We stopped in front of a place called the Dragon’s Inn. Unsurprisingly, the sign featured a dragon—and just below it, a plaque that read: “The strongest beer in Ortas.”

“They’ve got good rooms and food here, and the prices are low,” Tori said. “And I know the owner,” she added. “I need to take care of a few things—I’ll be back in about an hour.”

I nodded. “Where's the **** market?” I asked.

Tori tilted her head, looking at me. “You realize that you’re not even close to affording anyone?”

“Yeah, but I just want to look around,” I replied.

“That way,” Tori said, pointing to one of the side streets. “Go straight, and after a few intersections, turn right. Just follow the signs,” she added, gesturing to one standing by the road. It had arrows pointing the way to the town hall, the mage guild quarters, the market, and the **** market.

“Thanks,” I replied.

Tori simply nodded and headed in the opposite direction from the one she had pointed to. For a moment, I considered entering the inn, but curiosity won. I had not seen anything interesting in Ortas so far, and as Gemma suggested, the **** market could be a good place to visit with my class.

“Let’s go, we’ll look around,” I said, heading down the street that Tori had pointed out. Zoe and Azura followed on both my sides.

I started to wonder—if I could even afford it, would I really want to buy a ****? It felt strange... But then again, that was how this world worked, and I couldn’t change it. I could choose not to take part in it—but my class was built around it.

I glanced at Zoe, who walked by my side, watching people and houses around us. I was trying to treat her well, not really like an actual ****. So, would I hurt anyone if I bought another **** and treated her well? Samara mentioned that most people treat them badly, so in a way, I would be doing her a favor. Perhaps, it wasn't such a bad idea.

I glanced at Azura, who wasn’t focusing on her steps so much anymore and was looking around, but with her head still lowered.

“Azura,” I said to grab her attention. “Have you been in a city like this before?” I asked.

She shook her head slightly.

“But you lived among humans, right?”

Azura let out this weird humming sound that I assumed meant yes.

“How did it happen that you ended up living among wolves?” I asked.

Azura only averted her eyes and didn't answer as we walked in silence.

“It's okay, you don't need to tell me,” I said finally. “I’m just curious.”

Azura groaned only, and I had no idea what this sound was supposed to mean.

“We're turning here,” Zoe said, pointing at one of the signs.

“Thanks,” I said, smiling at her. She returned the smile and wrinkled her nose cutely.

We walked for a few minutes until we reached our destination.

The **** market was a big square lined with rows of stalls. Most were just canopies under which people sat, bound in shackles and chains. Here and there, a cage stood with someone locked inside.

I disliked the place even before we entered. The atmosphere was… grim. A heavy silence hung in the air, broken only occasionally by a merchant talking with a potential buyer.

Most of the slaves sat with their heads down, silent and unmoving, as if every last bit of hope had been drained from them. They stared blankly at the ground, looking almost like zombies. The sight was depressing, and the air itself felt heavy with despair.

Each stall owner kept a close eye on anyone walking between the rows, watching carefully for potential customers—but all it did was make you feel constantly observed.

A chill ran through me as I took in how bleak this place really was. For a moment, I wasn’t sure I wanted to go any farther.

Zoe and Azura must’ve felt the same way, because both moved closer to me. Zoe was still holding my hand, but now she pressed herself against my arm, and Azura stood so near that just a few inches separated us.

But ultimately, I still wanted to look around and see what the prices were. I could dislike this place, and even if I had doubts, it was possible that one day I would want to pull someone out and give them a chance for a better life. At my side.

“If you want, you can stay here and wait while I go look around,” I said to Zoe and Azura.

Zoe immediately shook her head. Azura glanced at me, then at Zoe, and her eyes lowered to our connected hands. I reached my other hand toward her, she watched it for a moment and then grabbed me. She watched our interlaced fingers for a moment before she shifted her gaze to the market.

I assumed that meant she was going with us. I wondered which would happen first—her learning human behavior, or me getting used to hers.

We stepped between the first stalls. On the right, three people were sitting on stools—or at least, they looked like people, not demons. Each of them wore a collar made of black metal, with small price tags attached to them.

Two thousand for a man who looked to be in his forties.

Three thousand for a slightly younger one.

And six thousand for a woman—who looked very young and was, frankly, attractive.

How does someone that young end up in a position like this?

I had barely glanced at the prices when the merchant suddenly sprang up from his seat and rushed over to me.

“Welcome, good sir! I have an excellent offer for you,” he said, immediately pointing to the woman. “Young, beautiful, great in bed, and very obedient. She’ll do anything you could ever dream of,” he added.

I just shook my head, walking away from him. Another shiver ran down my spine. How could someone try to sell a person so casually? And she just sat there, **** to listen to it. No wonder they all sat there like nothing mattered anymore—if this was how they were treated day after day, how could anything still hold meaning for them?

Every time I got close to one of the stalls, the merchants came up with their offers and tried to convince me that they had the best choice. But I just walked by them, looking at the miserable view of people that were bound in shackles.

The prices were more or less the same as the first ones, and I didn't see anything special. And the merchants always offered me the same—a young woman who could be my sex ****. But what should I expect when I walked there with Azura and Zoe?

I wanted to get out of this place, but I still wanted to know how much demons cost. I needed to walk past many stalls to finally find what I was looking for.

There were only two cages there. In one sat a woman, probably in her thirties. A sign on the cage indicated she was a feline shapeshifter and cost ten thousand ryns. In the other was a young boy—a canine shapeshifter—priced at twelve thousand.

I didn’t even go near that stall. I just glanced at the prices and kept walking.

“Let’s get out of here,” I said to Zoe and Azura, who still held my hands and walked close to me without saying a word, clearly overwhelmed by this place just as I was.

We headed to leave the **** market. I wasn't even looking at the stalls now, to avoid the merchants, but unfortunately, one of them approached us, blocking our way.

The man had graying hair and a face lined with age, and he gave me a wide, toothy smile.

“Greetings, good sir. May I interest you in the finest selection in all of Ortas and beyond?”

“I’m not interested,” I replied, trying to move past him, but he shifted, staying in my way.

“If you weren’t interested, you wouldn’t be here,” the man replied. “And I have the best stock with the widest variety—especially when it comes to demons. You won’t find a selection like mine anywhere else.”

That actually piqued my interest.

“My stall’s been cleared out for the day,” he continued, seeing my hesitation. “But I’d be happy to take you somewhere regular customers aren’t allowed. I’ll show you the rest of my stock.”

Even if I was interested, here came the problem. He had assumed that I had a lot of money and it would be worth it for him to treat me special. I could still go check what he had to offer, but on the other hand, I had learned what I wanted to and could come back to see what was available when I had more money and would be certain that I wanted to buy someone.

“I don't have money right now, maybe another time,” I replied.

“Perhaps, sir, you would be interested in a trade?” he asked, glancing at Zoe.

“No!” I said firmly, even before he finished his question.

“I could easily offer you three or even four beautiful women, just imagine that,” the man offered anyway.

I stepped toward him, staring him down. “I already said no,” I growled.

“Of course, of course,” the man said quickly, stepping back with a grin and raising his hands. “Then tell me—what kind of funds do we have to work with? I’m sure we can make a deal. I’ve got something for every budget.”

I sighed, rolling my eyes. “I’ve got maybe fifty ryns. So just leave me alone,” I muttered, trying again to walk past him.

Finally, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a frown. He didn't stop me this time as I headed for the exit. I walked past a few stalls with my eyes focused in front of me, but the same man ran up to us.

“Wait, wait—just a moment,” he called, but I didn’t stop. “I have an offer for you,” he added, walking beside me.

“I’m not trading Zoe,” I said.

“Of course not. But I do have an offer for what you can afford.”

I glanced at him. He looked serious. I stopped and turned toward him. “Fifty ryns? And I’m supposed to believe that it isn’t some scam?”

The man frowned. “I know, I know, it’s a very low price. But this person has been… problematic. I just don’t have the time or patience to deal with her anymore. Maybe you’ll be more interested.”

I frowned. It didn’t sound good. It probably was a scam, or some mess waiting to explode in my face. But it shouldn’t hurt to check it out.

“She’s a demon. Female, young,” the man began to list.

“So she should be expensive,” I interrupted. “The cheapest offers I’ve seen were over a thousand ryns—and that was for older human men.”

The merchant looked at me for a moment, his eyes shifting to Zoe, then back to me. “Are you here for the first time?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I replied, frowning.

“The exposed offers are mostly the best ones the merchants have, so the prices are high, but most of us have other options that are a little bit less… representative and interesting. And they are cheaper because—well, you can easily buy someone for five hundred ryns.”

“It’s still ten times more than I have,” I replied.

He sighed. “Like I said—this one’s a special case. Honestly, I’ve already accepted that she’s a loss. She’s costing me time, money, and nerves. I just want to be rid of her. Fifty ryns, and she’s yours.” He extended his hand.

I scoffed. “There’s no way I’m buying something blind.”

He grimaced. “You won’t find a deal like this anywhere else.”

“And that’s exactly why it sounds sketchy,” I replied.

The man nodded. “As a merchant, I’m paying not just for what I bought her for, but for her upkeep. She eats, she takes up space, and she adds nothing but stress. I bought her as part of a larger group, so I can’t even say what she cost me exactly. I’ve already made a profit on that batch—she’s just eating into it now. Frankly, I’ve considered more… drastic methods of getting rid of her. But if I can sell her for fifty ryns, at least I’m getting back what I spent on food.”

“Cut the bullshit and tell me what the problems are,” I said. I still wasn’t sold on it, and it definitely smelled like trouble—but I figured I’d at least hear him out.

“Perhaps I could explain on the way to my storage?” he asked, motioning toward a nearby building.

I just nodded, and we walked toward the building he’d indicated. At least I’d finally be getting off that cursed market square.

“She’s around level fifteen in her class. Experienced in combat and dungeon exploration. Skilled in ice magic. Young—twenty, maybe.”

“Problems,” I interrupted again. “Talk about the problems. So far you’re only making her sound like someone you’d never sell for so cheap.”

“Ah, right,” the man said, grimacing again. He opened the door to a building that looked like a regular house from the outside, but inside, it was a long corridor with doors on either side—each one with barred windows. The stench hit me immediately. To say it was unpleasant would be an understatement. It reeked—of rot, urine, and filth.

He led us down the hallway.

“She’s… stubborn and aggressive. Which is great for dungeon exploration—”

“If you try to sell me again, I’m leaving,” I snapped. He was really starting to get on my nerves.

He stopped and looked at me.

“She resists, disobeys, and refuses to follow orders. I haven’t been able to make her cooperate. She’s been through a lot and she’s… not in good shape. So yeah—there are some issues,” he admitted, then continued walking.

That didn’t sound like enough to justify such a low price. There had to be more. But maybe I could fix those problems—maybe I could convince her I’d treat her differently.

We reached the end of the hallway, where the stench was even worse and the light practically nonexistent. There were no windows, no lamps. The door the man pointed at didn’t even have bars—I couldn’t see what was inside.

“Apologies for the smell,” the man said quietly. “But like I said—nothing but trouble. I can’t even get her to bathe,” he added, unlocking the door.

A wave of stench hit me, worse than anything before. Zoe stepped back and leaned against the wall, gagging. Azura winced, wrinkled her nose, and covered her face with both hands. I nearly doubled over coughing.

After a moment, I managed to steady myself. Zoe and Azura stayed a few steps back, glancing toward the door reluctantly. Inside, it was dark. In the middle of the room was a tarp—and beneath it, I assumed, a cage. A very small cage. Not even half a meter wide or tall, and maybe a meter and a half long.

What the hell was in there? A dwarf? A goblin? Was that why it stank so badly?

The man stepped forward and pulled the tarp away, then quickly jumped back. A hand shot out between the bars, trying to grab him.

“I almost had you,” came a raspy voice. “Next time I will. And then I’ll tear your throat out, you bastard,” she snarled.

The woman I saw inside that cage looked like a ruin of a person. And suddenly, her low price made a whole lot more sense.