Chapter 11

After getting my head straight I asked once again to Beloukas the woman straight in front of me "Did you just say that before you were helped by Gudako you were a man?" To my dismay 'she' nodded to my doubtful question, getting her confirmation I held my head with 1 hand to process what the hell or even how that kind of thing could happen. But seeing my dismay Beloukas simply said "Don't think about it too much, just know it's possible with magic." I raised my head to see her eyes which convey that she had thoughts about it like me but had given up using common sense on it.

Seeing her like that makes me feel like I've found someone I can relate to concerning Gudako's ridiculously abnormal common sense, it seems that she also feels the same way as we stare into each others eyes with the same resignation while a strange atmosphere enveloped us and a mysterious voice saying 'What is common sense?,What is normal?,What am I?' straight to our ears. But the atmosphere didn't last long and we coughed to wipe our embarrassment.

Beloukas said to pick up we left "Anyways, I was a man whose looks would fit the description little evil noble, what I would wear isn't that different from the clothes right now except for the size." I nodded to her to show that I'm listening, while at the same time imagining a creepy looking man with a handlebar mustache wearing glasses with chains attached on it, a tuxedo for circus ringmasters and also a top hat. Why a top hat? ...to be honest I don't know.

Aanyways she continued "I was going on a stroll I heard the sound of a girl yelling someone called Ruby to stop, and it was getting closer to me and when my curiosity took the better of me. I turned around to see a girl that looks at the age of 10-or so with white long hair and fair white skin, her eyes were red so it's difficult to forget about her when she has that unique look. But anyways what REALLY surprised me was what she was chasing, A FLOATING WAND that is strangely designed. But imagine my surprise when it started to talk and wriggle itself, but thanks to me being dazed by that I didn't pay attention to their conversation nor did I noticed that the wand started to throw all sorts of stuff from seemingly nowhere." The fact that a wand is sentient and is able to move AND wriggle itself made me pause and when I heard that the wand started throwing stuff out of nowhere, it reminded me of the inventory function.

Not paying heed to my internal turmoil Beloukas continued her story "Thanks to me not noticing the wand throwing stuff, I was hit on the face by a mysterious potion which bottle was coincidentally fragile so I was instantly wet by the potion. Thanks to the sudden impact and me being suddenly wet I let out a gasp of surprise, the wand froze as it heard my gasp and in it's surprise the girl manages to catch the wand before turning to me and started to apologize while stuttering here ande there due to nervousness to me, continuously. Before I could reply to the girl, my body started to heat up and started glowing, before any of us could react I suddenly shone brightly and felt my body changing. The change was instant and I felt no discomfort during the change, but after the change I suddenly felt that my chest was a bit heavy and that my height have changed, (in whispering voice)also I couldn't feel my manhood." ...Okay so there's a potion that can change genders, then why didn't he I mean she demand the potion, my questions were answered by the next part of her story.

"As I stood there in a daze the girl suddenly frowned and then made a panicked look and in the next moment she also shined like me, and when the light died down the girl somehow.. changed for a lack of better word. She was of the same height same hair, but her skin changed into brown her pupils were now of golden bronze coloured, her gaze were no longer as pure as before as it held a mischievous light, also her attire was more 'revealing' than before. After that she ahh.. 'convinced' me to stay as a woman and in exchange she gave me a power that is extremely beneficial for me. As for what power it is, I would only say that it's a lady's secret." When I heard that the girl changed with a flash of light I knew that it has to be Gudako, but when she got to the part of where Gudako 'convinced' her she held an awkward gaze which made my imagination go wild for a bit, and when she mentioned that Gudako gave her a power... now that's the part which made me extremely curious.

Unfortunately she shot me down immediately, but seriously using the excuse of 'a lady's secret' where did your pride as a man go? Oh wait, as a merchant she simply 'traded' her pride as a man for being a woman. Well that makes a lot of sense... anyways what IS her business then, how exactly can she help me?

As those thoughts ran through my head she smiled as though she read my mind, wait could it be but it does make sense for her to say that the power is beneficial to her. Suddenly she started clapping and with a smile she said "Congratulations Shield hero, you have successfully guessed my power. However let us move to business then, what I can offer is exactly what you lack right now."

Her frankness of admitting her power made me pause, but her next words took my attention away from it as I started to think about what I'm lacking right now. The answer immediately pops into mind 'allies', the moment I thought of that she atarted to talk again "Oh 'allies' I thought that you would say 'comrades' but indeed I do offer you allies that won't betray you." after she said the last part the air became heavy as countless of possibilities run through my mind, mercenaries no their loyalty is mostly to money, assassins are the same mostly, you can't exactly count on bouncers for the same reason, which leaves only one option 'slaves'.

The moment I thought of that she opened the 'door' behind her to reveal cages holding people shaped shadows but are somewhat different from people. The moment I thought of that again she started to explain "As you have noticed they aren't humans but demi-humans. To put it simply demi-humans are just humans that have animal traits." Hearing her explaining before I could even ask or even think about what's the difference between humans and demi-humans I nod, but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Because seeing them it's obvious that they're victims of discrimination.

As I was thinking to myself she led me to a big cage that held a werewolf like man and said "This is our current highest level battle slave, it is level 75 and for the price its." She abruptly stopped midway through her sentence because I stopped her and said "That's enough, you know that I can't afford the price for this one, just show me your cheapest slaves first."

Beloukas hearing my sentence only smiled and said "Ara~ ara~, you really are fit to be a merchant even when your displeased you don't show it. Very well then follow me." Hearing her unmasking my inner turmoil I merely frowned while thinking of how fraudulent the ability Gudako had given her. Meanwhile after telling me to follow her she puffed a smoke before turning to a direction.

After following her for a minute or so she led me to a different section, opening the 'door' to it she explained "This section holds our cheapest of slaves that are mostly sick or have a disability hence the cheapness."

I enter after her and was greeted by more cages that mostly holds childrens, most have empty stares in their eyes and some have skin that made them look bloodless. "Are you sure that they won't die the moment I walk out of your establishment?" I asked Beloukas doubtfully after seeing their condition. "Are you truly questioning my credibility as a merchant? I can guarantee that these slaves are healthy enough to survive on their own." She responded angrily right after my question.

To that I shrugged my shoulders and then surveyed the slaves once, trying to check if there's 1 that fits my needs, and by needs I mean as an ally. The sounds of coughing stopped my thoughts and pulled my attention, so I turned my head and walked towards that direction.

There I found a girl about 10 years old or so with the ears and tails of a racoon, I look at her for a while before asking her "You with the racoon ears, what's your name?". Hearing me call her she lifted her head to see me but didn't answer me as she looked dazed, seeing that made me irked a little before I questioned her once more "I said, what.is.your.name?" the last parts I said in a slow tone, but I realized it made my villian impression raise as I saw her snapping out of her daze and started trembling like a leaf before fearfully speaking "Ra.. Raphtalia."

The salve trader was right behind me as she said "Are you sure you want a racoon type demi-human as your slave? They are more susceptible to panic attacks and diseases you know? Even so are you sure?" but before I replied she said again after reading my mind "I see, very well then it is indeed your own business and I hold no control over you. The price for her is 30 silver but for you sir I'm selling her for 20 silver. But before you pay let us first bind the slave to you, yes?"

After hearing the price and her offer of binding the slave to me I raise an eyebrow at her sudden 'generosity'. To which she shrugged of while leading to another room, after taking a drop of my blood and dripping it to the 'magic ink' that Beloukas provided she used the ink just by using a brush and used it to make a stroke to the existing slave mark, but the ritual seemed painful as Raphtalia screamed when the brush touched her.

After the 'ritual' was finished I paid her 25 silver coins, when she saw the amount she said with a doubtful tone "Sir, you overpaid?" I responded "Yes but that includes the ritual fee, otherwise you would've overcharged me." After hearing what I said Beloukas merely smiled and commented that I really have the potential to become a merchant.

Speaking of which, I just remembered as I asked "What are you going to do to the remainder of the magic ink that's fused with my blood? If you're going to throw it away, how about selling it to me I'll pay 1 silver for it?" I asked the question because I remembered the shield's power and I saw that Beloukas seperated the ink into a small plate like the ones used for sauces before mixing it with my blood, I believe that she won't reject my offer especially when 1 silver coin is clearly generous.