My vision slowly returned. I realized the key I used to open my cell door doesn't open Koukova's. Apparently, every lock has a different key. It didn't help that everyone was screaming and yelling for help. The door opened, and men came in with some sticks, ready to restore order. I turned around and gulped.
Kidnapper
"What the fuck... This guy just killed Jeanbe, you fucking slave."
I didn't have time to think. I saw Koukova, and she saw me staring, pleading with me not to leave her in this place. But there wasn't much I could do. I ran toward the wooden planks and launched myself at them, destroying them and crossing to the other side of the wall. I ran away from the place.
Ban
"Damn it... I promise I'll come back for you, Koukova, and everyone else." After running a few blocks through the Kingdom, I hid near some bushes. But they were no longer looking for me. I realized that the city isn't pleasant at all. It's a place full of robberies and violence. One of those scenes was witnessed inches away from me.
A woman approached a man, holding a sword, and she demanded gold tokens with authority, as if out of fear or respect.
Woman
"Hey, idiot, give me 120 gold tokens right now. I don't have time for nonsense."
She said in a demanding tone, looking at the man, who saw her and grinned.
Man
"Forget it, girl. I have to have enough tokens to survive. I have to buy enough for my two children." Before he could finish speaking, the woman's sword pierced his stomach in a swift movement. This scared me and made me nauseous. Had these situations become common here?
Woman
"I didn't ask you anything, idiot. I asked for your damn money, not information about your children."
She pulled her sword from her stomach while the man on the ground groans in pain and tries to get away, but she strikes him again and again with her sword until he's dead.
Ban
"Damn... What's going on in this place..." I cover myself so as not to be seen by that psychopath and plan what I'll do.
"First... I'll sell this thing... then I'll buy some clothes. Being with these few rags isn't pleasant at all. And then I'll go after Koukova and the others. I want to free them from those cages."
I got up and walked unseen by many. I didn't want to be kidnapped again. I approached a group of people wearing armor and sheathed weapons.
Ban
"Hi, excuse me, I have a question... Could you tell me where I can sell some of my belongings?"
The group stared at me, and a woman with short pink hair carrying a huge mace on her back answered.
mallet girl
"Wow~ Well, to sell your items you have to go to a store. There are many, especially these days, since it's the beginning of... Hmm, I guess you can't really call it a server. It's practically not a game, right? Well, since it's the beginning of this world, the economy isn't very structured, but any store might want to buy your items.
Ban
"Could you tell me where the closest one is?" I need to sell my things urgently."
I asked politely, not because I wanted to do it this way, I just didn't want to end up with that hammer on my head.
mallet girl
"Well, there aren't any shops on that street yet due to the local prices. But there have been buyers/sellers on the streets." I bowed in thanks and ran off.
When I walked through these streets, I saw many people buying and selling things... Strange things. But I guess nothing here is normal. I scanned each stall as I walked. Many of the vendors were calm, as if they were comfortable in this new world. Others weren't so calm, as if life here had been very difficult and strange.
I saw a stall that caught my attention. It was a thin man with shoulder-length hair. He looked very exhausted. Next to him was a brown-haired woman, her expression irritated and she had marks of wounds on her body. Next to her were two small children.
Ban
"Hello, do you buy items too?" My words found an answer from the thin man, who stopped looking after one of his young children to pay attention to me.
Kapi
"H-hello, yes, I'm a vendor. But I also buy items you might have for sale? I'd be happy to buy your items." He smiled weakly, still exhausted, this made me smile. It reminds me of how Anri and I never have enough time for her because we're working... Or well, that was until we landed in this place.
Ban
"I'm interested in selling this item." I take the Virgin Scroll out of my inventory window. Upon seeing it, both the woman with him and I are surprised.
Kapi
"A-a scroll? I... I don't know if I can afford something like that, sir. It's a very expensive item in the market."
The other vendors and buyers heard what the man was saying, and their eyes immediately turned to my hands, where the scroll was, and they all approached, intent on buying it.
"I'll give you 100,000 gold chips, young man."
"100,000 gold chips? I'll offer you 250,000."
"Get out of the way, I know I'll buy it for 400,000."
All I heard were endless offers. Everyone was surrounding me, and it made me nervous. Do they want so much for a piece of paper? It's so outrageous that they could want this much.
Kapi
"F-sorry, young man, but I couldn't offer that much for that. I could sell it to someone else. The little I get goes to my family." Her words were sad, as if she hated losing this opportunity. I only saw her for a few seconds. But another voice caught my attention.
"I'm going to buy it!" It was a female voice. When I turned around, I saw a woman accompanied by two other women who didn't stand out as much as her. Her purple hair, golden eyes, and a curvy, delicate body walked toward me with elegance in every step. Everyone stared at her, which surprised me. "Who is this woman?"
Miss Fortuatnet
"A pleasure. I'm Miss Fortuatnet. I'll buy that parchment from you." I saw her, curious about her confidence, but I raised an eyebrow.
Ban
"Mmm... sorry, miss. But I'm doing business with this man." I said, trying to keep her from coming any closer and making it clear that my intention of negotiating was only with Kapi to help him with his family. She looked at Kapi and his family with suspicion and then looked at me, calming her fierce eyes.
Miss Fortuatnet
"Oh~ really? And how much is this man offering you? I'm going to offer you the value of the Blank Scroll. The market is scarce, and buying one right now is almost impossible. But the database shows its price, and I won't hesitate. I offer 20 million gold tokens.
The surprise on my face was visible, as well as on the faces of many others. Apparently, it was a lot.
Kapi
"Well, that's practically what an Empty Scroll is worth. I can't offer those amounts, young man." My eyes shift to him, and his family is a pile of money that I can't simply refuse, but my curse for wanting to help those in need is something that sometimes gets the better of me.
Ban
"That's... a good offer, miss. But I'm doing business with this man. I don't think it's a good idea to stop negotiating with someone just because someone else demands it." It was the first thing I said without thinking. But I didn't really want to reject that amount. The woman frowned irritably, as if she really wanted to have this magical piece of paper.
Miss Fortuatnet
"You're clever... I'm offering 30 million. It'll be my last offer. I hope you're not that stupid. We're all just starting out. Will an amount like this be enough to live on?" My eyes went to her. Her smile was so confident it bothered me a little. But she was right. I've only been on this world for 3 days, and it's been a pain in the ass. If I run into Anri, what home could I offer her without any money? Besides, how will I free Koukova?
Ban
"Okay... I accept the 30 million for the scroll." As soon as I nod, she smiles with gratitude and a certain arrogance. Kapi just looks at the floor and then at her children with a smile, trying to tell them that everything will be okay.