Hey guys heres chapter 2. I have a lot of time this weekend so I'll be writing till I stop lol. Enjoy and comment.
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Chapter 2
[Queen POV]
“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING ARTURA!”
I was taking a sip of tea when a girl barged into the office. She look flustered as she waved a crumpled paper in the air.
“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, GIVING THAT MAN AUTHORITY? MOST OF ALL, IT’S A FREE CITY. A FREE CITY!”
She slammed the paper on my table. It was the order I had given out about the hero creating a new city. We made a compromise in that he would be able to build a city if it was built in between the kingdom and the demon continents. I also had no choice but to give him full rights to the city, meaning it was going to become its own independent kingdom. Honestly it’s quite vexing, but his words kept playing through my mind.
I’m your only shot in protecting your kingdom
Sigh. I placed the teacup on the table and looked at my troubled assistant.
“Do you know anything about that man?”
She looked at me, perplexed at my question.
“No. Why do you ask me this when we’ve only just met him”
“I ask you because I seemed to have learned a lot about him”
After the compromise we had a bit of a chat. Because I gave him everything he wanted, he decided to disclose his past to me. That man is strong. He has lived through countless battles and has experienced many sad things. The worst part about it was the fact that he had no control over his life. He was an expendable as his fellow brothers and sisters were. An expendable who had power. Marlana stared at me.
“Did you talk to him?”
“Yes, I have spoken with him. His past revealed his ability to live. I feel as if he will change this world for the best”
Marlana looked at me in shock.
“To think that the queen who’s been called the Ice Demon would show such a serene smile”
I stared at her with cold stare. She immediately quieted down though her words reached me. In all my life, I’ve known hardship and have seen and experienced suffering. That man though experienced a different type of suffering but lived. With this, I feel as if we both share a common experience one that shows our destinies were entwined.
“So, how are preparations?”
Marlana shook herself as if breaking from some trance.
“As I said. I’m not willing to follow these orders. You’re giving away land to someone we just met. Also, don’t forget that he selfishly asked you for land when he himself is not going to help the kingdom. We can’t just let some scum take away our land from us”
She was really riled up, but I can’t believe she can’t see the bigger picture.
“Marlana, calm down and think for a minute. Why do you think I gave him that land?”
She paused for a minute and thought about it. It took quite a while really. It honestly surprised me knowing that she was a very smart girl. But then she seemed to realize something.
“That land is in between the human and demon continent”
“Precisely. In making a city there, we are able to separate ourselves from the demon continent. Worst case scenario, the city would be destroyed but because it is not affiliated with our nation then it wouldn’t be a total lost”
“But aren’t we giving him the resources to make the city”
“Yes we are, but it’s of great benefit. You can say if the city flourishes then the hero has a debt with us”
“But then what if that city is destroyed”
I laughed. Marlana looked at me in confusion. It’s understandable. No one else knows what Bryan was capable of doing. Even I have only seen a small fraction of it.
“Trust me, with his strength, that city falling would be a 1% chance. Actually it probably will never fall”
I continued to laugh. Marlana though only looked in confusion.
“Why do you give him so much credit? Why is it that you believe he will succeed? I know I summoned him, but looking at his actions, he seemed to have no interest in the benefit of the kingdom. Most of all, aside from the combat ability he showed, he cannot face the demon army alone. But why are you so adament that he can help us deal against the Demon army?”
She was getting agitated once again. I then stared deeply into her eyes instilling as much force as I can into my voice.
“It’s because that man is stronger than what he wants you to see. That, in itself, is worth placing your bets on him.”
I continued sipping my tea as I looked at the possible future that awaited the entire continent.
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[Bryan POV]
I have a hundred gold coin worth of currency. I kept looking at the sac to ensure they were real and what greeted me was the sparkling gold colors as well as some other colors of currency. I never thought I would have been given this amount of money, but then again I am making a city. I remember how the queen ordered the values.
1 gold coin=500,000 rubies
1 ruby=250,000 shingles
1 shingle= 5,000 silver
1 silver=250 copper
1 copper= 20 tin
I wonder if this was too much, but who knows. That’s why I’m going through the market to look for stuff to buy. The place was amazing. It was a huge Bazaar that had an assortment of stores. Before going anywhere though I should buy some clothes. I went to a store that seemed to be selling clothes.
“Welcome to my stand. How may I help you?”
A man greeted me. He seemed to be in his thirties. He had short brown hair and black eyes. A normal person I should say.
“I’m here to buy some clothes, one that’s suitable for traveling and concealing knives”
“Please go to the back and get yourself measured. I’ll go through some stuff after I receive your measurement”
The man smiled as he pointed at a back door. I thanked him and entered the hallway.
“Welcome. I will be your assistant”
A girl greeted me. She was around the age of fifteen. She looked adorable with her pony tail and freckled face. Her green eyes also seemed to sparkle. I nodded towards her as I stood still.
“Um… mister if it’s not too much of a problem, can you please sit down over there. You’re too tall”
What is this creature? She was too adorable. I gave her a smile.
“Don’t worry about it. Just make sure you get my proper measurements alright”
She nodded. In a matter of minutes I finally had my measurements. I went back to the front and showed the shopkeeper my measurements.
“Perfect. I may have some clothes you would like”
He presented several clothes to me. Some of them were pretty flimsy but one attracted my attention.
“Is this one imbued in magic?”
I grabbed a shirt that seemed to glow faintly.
“You have good eyes mister. That shirt does indeed have magic. Its properties are [chain mail] and [lamellar padding]. This can basically block most stabs and slices depending on the weapon”
The effects were amazing. Not only that, the shirt looked badass. It was an adventurer type long sleeved shirt. The outside had a leather looking overcoat that is actually combined with the shirt. Also two straps crisscrossed in the center. To top it off, there was two hidden compartments big enough to hide two full size knife. And it was light. It was perfect.
“How much is this?”
“It is 20 gold coin”
I froze. Tw..tw..tw.tw….twenty gold coin? I mean, I know it’s overpowered but… Isn’t that too much. I mean that’s like one fourth of my current assest.
“Is it possible to lower it down a bit?”
“No can do good sir. That shirt was made using magic as well as dragon scales. Originally it would have cost 50 gold coins, but today I’m selling it for 20.
Well that makes sense. Then again, if I buy it it’s a good purchase. I mean even I understand the strength of it.
“Sigh… I’ll take it”
The man smiled.
“Alright. Also, because you bought that, the store will be throwing in a couple more items for free”
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Ehhh. I gave him a stupid look. The man went to the back and grabbed some more stuff. In the end my list increased to the shirt, adventurer’s pants and a cloak which had camouflage capability. Honestly, this was too broke. No way is this store normal. But you know what, I’m not complaining. These clothes are going to help me without hindering me my movements, a great purchase.
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After losing a good portion of my money I continued walking through the bazaar. I learned that the store I was before was apparently the only clothing store to sell highly made merchandise. Other stores only sold normal clothes and materials. I ended up using around three coppers worth of merchandise that included an assortment of normal clothes and knives. My stomach began to grumble. I realized that I haven’t had food since I came here. I should probably eat something. I let my nose guide me around. I then spot a stand. It was some kind of noodle shop which I did not expect. I was excited and made a dash to the stands.
“This one girl is being sold for 1 silver coin”
I looked at the source of the voice and saw a man with a noble’s getup. He was screaming to the audience as he pointed to a line of people. They were barely wearing any clothes. Those who did have clothes were only wearing ripped up cloths that barely hid anything. You can tell that some of them were crying while others merely looked at the crowd with no soul. I knew that this was a fantasy world, but I didn’t expect to see any slaves sometime soon. For some reason, they really reminded me of myself.
“Sold to that gentleman over there”
A man could be seen eyeing one of the female slaves. She was on the floor hugging another girl. That only seemed to incite the man as he licked his lips.
“Now be a good girl and come over here”
The man cooed towards the girl. She stayed where she was and continued to hold on the younger girl. The man looked annoyed and signaled to the men behind him. The girls shivered as two men came to take the girl. The girl was pulled as she tried to reach out for the younger girl.
“Please, let me take my sister with me. Please”
“I’m sorry but I don’t have enough money to buy both of you. Rather don’t worry someone else will take care of your sister. As for you, well. I’ll make sure to take care of you every night”
The man smiled as he reached for the girl. Yeah, I can’t handle this anymore.
“I’LL TAKE THEM BOTH”
The man’s smile instantly faded. He looked back at me, annoyance could be seen in his eyes.
“Who do you think you are. I’ve already bought them so you have no aut…”
“I’ll buy them both twice their price”
The slave owner’s eyes instantly grew wide. He then looked at me and seemed to have gotten a sudden realization.
“SOLD to the adventurer over there. Please make your way to the tent at the back”
He pointed at a tent behind him. The other noble’s face became red with anger.
“THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS, YOU CAN’T JUST...”
“Move it”
I was close enough to whisper the words to the noble and it seems the man noticed my killing intent. His face paled as he fell on his romp. Ignoring him, I quickly walked over to the girl and pulled her. After picking up the younger girl I quickly led them to the tent.
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What have I done? I looked at the two girls who sat opposite from me. The elder sister was a red haired girl who also had red eyes. She was pretty and seemed to be around eighteen years old, the same age I was. Her little sister was a bit different. She was younger, of course. She had the same striking hair color, but her eyes were white.
“Hey, the little sister over there. Are you by any chance blind?”
The two girls suddenly perked up.
“And what if she is”
It was the older girl who replied.
“Not much, I was just wondering”
The elder sister seemed to grip harder on her younger sister.
“It’s ok Onee-chan. He seems to a good person”
“You can’t just say that. Remember we can trust no one”
“You know I’m still here right?”
Their little conversation was funny. I could barely manage to control myself from laughing.
“So back to the question, are you blind?”
“Yes. I’ve been blind since the day I was born. Because of it I’ve been troubling my onee-chan ever since”
The girl kept hugging her younger sister.
“It’s ok, you know you’ve never been a bother to me. I’ll make sure to protect you no matter what”
I smiled at their familiarity. It was something I’ve never had before. Something that I have been constantly searching for. No wonder I immediately bought them. Before I could continue, the man from before entered the tent.
“Hello again and congratulations for buying those two. Actually I would also like to thank you”
He bowed which surprised me. I looked at the two girls and saw that they were also surprised.
“I know how much these two meant to each other, so I was honestly hoping that someone could buy them both. But as you saw, they were about to be sold to two different owners. That’s why the moment you came in, I was honestly glad that the two can stay together especially with someone of your caliber”
“Oh, so you know who I am”
The man snickered.
“Who doesn’t know about the hero who declined the queen’s offer. Every official guild in this town knows it. We also know that you are making a city in the borders of the kingdom”
I was surprised. News travels fast here. Like unbelievably fast. It’s only been one day and theirs already information about me. That is scary. I then looked at the two girls. They were shock as they looked at the slave owner then at me.
“Well, let’s just say I now have a different goal than before”
The man laughed as he snapped his fingers. Several people came inside. They were slaves, though I could tell that they were special.
“Then I guess it’s up to me to also help right. I know the moment I’ve seen you that you will change this world for the better. Frankly, I’m not a bad judge in character so I’ll make you a deal right now. I will give you these two girls as well as thirty of my best slaves. In return, I want to gain access in making a slave guild in your city, deal”
“You know I really don’t want slavery in my city”
I let out some of my bloodlust, but he only shook it off and laughed.
“Before I continue I should introduce myself. My name is Baron Cleinard. I am in charge of the slave guilds in this kingdom. A pleasure to meet you hero Bryan”
He even knew my name which frankly is now over the top stalkish. But this world must really rely heavily on information. The wrong info could probably lead to disaster. I bowed to him showing my respect.
“Now that formalities are gone, let me properly explain my request. The Slave guild is mainly used as a punishment system. Debts, crimes and treachery. Anything that goes against the law will immediately turn a person into a slave. This system is rather odd since it only works once a person is caught on the act. Therefore, they will not be labeled a slave if they are not manually caught by the city. As a result slavery is automatic in that it immediately brands you a slave once you’re caught by the local enforcements. No matter what part of the continent you are in, this system is active”
In other words, I have no choice but to place a slave guild in the city. Quite annoying. I studied the man before me. I really don’t want slavery to occur in my city. But I guess if it’s a must then I’ll have to add it in. It too also has its merits as a punishment system. I guess I’ll just have to keep tabs on it and make sure that the punishments fits the crime.
“Alright you win. I’ll comply with your arrangement. Just know though that the moment I smell even a hint of false dealings, I will destroy the guild alright?”
“Deal”
We shook hands, and just like that I’ve acquired a huge amount of slaves. With this, my goal of creating the best city has finally reached its starting point.