章 29: I'll take her
Ethan couldn't believe what he was seeing. The smaller crowd gathered around the less formal slave auction seemed more like a flea market than anything else. The air of desperation clung to both the sellers and the unfortunate souls being paraded like damaged goods.
The men running this part of the auction were shouting over each other, their voices a chaotic mix of aggression and false cheer.
"Two for the price of one! Perfect for hauling trash or—" one man hollered, dragging forward a pair of frail-looking men who could barely stand.
"Only one silver for this one!" another yelled, shoving forward a young woman whose head was bowed low, her long hair covering her face. "She doesn't talk, doesn't fight—completely docile!"
The crowd laughed at the absurdity of it all. Someone even poked at a man with a missing arm, jeering as if testing the "merchandise." The slave recoiled, his eyes filled with shame and fear.
Ethan's fists clenched. This wasn't just cruelty—it was mockery. These people had already been broken, yet they were still being paraded for scraps of coin like livestock too weak for proper work. His gut twisted, and his rational mind screamed at him to turn away.
He couldn't stand to watch something like this and he could only walk away for the time being. He had to walk away. He was not strong enough to become anyone's hero, let alone challenge something that seemed to be seeped into this new world's culture.
He let out a breath and started walking away. However, the next second a weight landed on him and he saw a woman crumpling at his feet. A fat man walked toward Ethan with a polite smile. "Lad, I saw you observing keenly. Interested in a woman or two? They are very cheap. You can use them and throw them."
The woman at Ethan's feet listlessly stared at the ground, her face hidden by a curtain of unkempt hair. Her thin frame trembled slightly, and her hands, bound in frayed ropes, twitched as if expecting another blow.
Ethan's breath hitched, his mind caught between disgust and a surge of fury he couldn't suppress. The fat man, oblivious to Ethan's inner turmoil, continued with his sales pitch, his tone dripping with sleazy enthusiasm.
"This one? Barely a silver coin. She's past her prime but still useful for chores—or whatever else you fancy." He chuckled, the sound making Ethan's stomach churn. "And if she dies, who cares? You'll get your money's worth."
Ethan felt his fists clench involuntarily, his nails digging into his palms. His first instinct was to tell the man off, to shout that no one had the right to treat people like this. But he forced himself to stay silent. "No, I am-" He was about to say something when another man walked towards them.
He had a towering presence, his broad shoulders clad in a worn leather coat and a wide-brimmed hat that cast a shadow over his stern face. The man's sharp eyes flicked between Ethan and the fat salesman, and then down to the woman crumpled at Ethan's feet.
"She doesn't look worth a silver," the newcomer said in a gravelly voice, his tone dismissive. "Half a silver at most."
The fat man's polite smile faltered for a moment before he quickly recovered, laughing nervously. "Ah, sir, it's you. Back already? Ha Ha. You've got a sharp eye, but surely you can see she's still got some use left in her. Also, she is a virgin. A full silver is a bargain, I tell you!"
The towering man ignored the sales pitch and turned his gaze to Ethan. His expression was unreadable, but there was a weight to it that made Ethan's stomach knot. "You buying her, boy?" he asked, his voice low and firm.
Maybe he couldn't save everyone but he could save this one person? "Yes," Ethan said, his voice steady despite the chaos in his head. "I'll take her."
The towering man studied him for a moment longer, then gave a curt nod. "Hmm. Okay." He then turned to the merchant and waved at him in annoyance. "You have more, don't you? What are you waiting for?"
The fat merchant scrambled to regain his composure, his smile becoming wider. "Of course, sir! We have plenty more! If you're interested, I can show you some of the finer selections in the back."
The towering man gave him a hard stare, one that immediately silenced any further chatter. He then started walking.
"Lad, hand me the silver coin." The fat merchant snatched it with a greedy grin and waddled after the towering man without a second glance.
Ethan turned his attention back to the woman at his feet. She was still trembling, her head hung low as if the ground might swallow her up. "Hey," He said softly, crouching beside her. "It's okay now. You're coming with me. No one's going to hurt you."
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