Summoned and Unwanted

Sofy smiled and wished for the time to stop as she enjoyed a glass of cool juice and looked at the peaceful bustling scenery of the city she lived in for decades and could never see.

[This shop is a bit pricey since each glass of juice costs five copper coins each, but at least they know how to attract new customers. They gave us the bowl of milk for free after Plow asked to drink milk.]

-Yeah. The waitress was surprised at first, but then she chuckled a Plow’s wish to grow stronger after drinking milk.-

‘Sofy looks much better with every passing day. But Ninty years of suffering... I hope she can overlook the past and live for herself instead of others. ‘ Vincent pondered as he saw Sofy drinking and looking at the fountain, people, and small stands selling their wares.

‘It is ironic... I want to save both Sofy and the little girls, but the method of saving is another shackle and a dangerous one at that. They are fine as they are since we don’t treat them differently.’ Vincent thought as he drank his glass of cool juice and looked at the fountain.

After staying for about half an hour, they headed back home.

[The carriage behind us has the Lionheart family insignia on it. It must be Leonis coming here to take us to the Graymoon Auction House. Time flies when it is peaceful or having fun.]

Vincent was waving at Eliara and Fliara when Kazumi saw a carriage approaching from behind them. He and Sofy moved to the side and let the carriage stop beside them.

.....

The carriage door opened, and Leonis poked his head out. “The auction should start soon today. I came a bit earlier to arrive in time.” Leonis waved his hand to enter inside and waited for Vincent inside.

[It is better to go alone. Plow and Sofy will surely attract the wrong attention in a place where legal slaves and familiars are sold.]

-I am of the same thought.-

Vincent lifted Plow from his shoulder and gave her to Sofy. “I can’t risk placing you two in danger. So I will go alone.” He explained.

Sofy nodded and understood his intentions, while Plow had a small bead of tears welling in her eyes as she wanted to go. However, Sofy whispered, “I will give little Plow an extra portion of meat if she can be a good girl.” And like that, the tears stopped.

Vincent gave Plow a head pat, waved at the two sisters guarding the front gate, entered the carriage, and went to the next destination.

*Graymoon Auction House*

Vincent exited the carriage, looked at the sky, and took a relaxing breath. He was out at last.

Vincent feared he would have a nightmare tonight because traveling accompanied by a worrying father-in-law with mountains of questions about his daughter made it an exhausting ride.

“Great, we are early. There aren’t too many carriages parked today.” Leonis said.

The Graymoon Auction House was a massive building. Kazumi guessed it was the size of one and a half mansions or possibly two. The area around the auction looked well maintained and luxurious.

Many maids and butlers had the slave tattoo on their necks and the Graymoon insignia on their clothes. Most were non-humans, while a few were humans.

Those bound by the Graymoon family didn’t look unhappy or worked as if their lives depended on it. Multiple groups of maids and butlers cleaned the streets and the surrounding area while chatting leisurely as if they had all the time in the world.

Furthermore, the gazes of nobles didn’t bother them. It appeared they trusted the Graymoon family to protect them if a problem arose, and it wasn’t their fault.

Vincent and Kazumi could now begin to understand why Nick hated those who mistreat others simply because they had an unlucky fate and became a slave. As Nick mentioned, maids and butlers had more working relationship than slavery with an iron fist one.

While Vincent stepped away from the carriage to wait for Leonis to give the hired coachman and the old butler orders, he noticed about twelve carriages parked and many more empty spaces left. It reminded him of a shopping mall on Earth.

Leonis soon led Vincent to a door to the side of the main and grand entrance to the auction house. Two large non-human butlers looking like boars guarding the side door, and both looked intimidating.

.

[Name] Hogan

[Race] Orc

[Age] 22

[Condition] Healthy, High Slave Curse (Owner – Victor Graymoon)

[Traits] Tough Tendons

[Class] Warrior

[Stats] Strength 97 || Agility 17 || Perception 16 || Mana 0

.

[Class Warrior]

*Wild Blow

*Strong Body +22

.

[Name] Hogy

[Race] Orc

[Age] 21

[Condition] Healthy, High Slave Curse (Owner – Victor Graymoon)

[Traits] Tough Tendons

[Class] Warrior

[Stats] Strength 92 || Agility 19 || Perception 18 || Mana 0

.

[Class Warrior]

*Wild Blow

*Strong Body +20

.

[Third Eye activate.]

[Tough Tendons description.]

[The body is born with stronger muscles attached to the bone. The tendons are resilient to more physical punishment with their toughness and quicker recovery rate of the damaged tendons with their vitality.]

.

Vincent felt intimidated by the two furry orc bouncers that were almost seven feet tall, bulky, yet wearing elegant large pants and sleeveless vest to look the part as civilized and less intimidating orcs.

“We are the Lionheart family. Can we enter?” Leonis said. He showed them his silver identification card and pointed at his name, Lionheart insignia, and a sketch of his face.

The two orcs confirmed both pictures as they were learning to read the important details of an identification card. One of them opened the do and said with a raspy voice, “PlEasE... EntAr...”

[These orcs remind me of the Great Yok Boar we had to fight at the beginning of our journey. But man, these two are slow, but can throw a mean punch.]

-Yeah, I fear Lupa might get hungry if she sees these orcs and starts a fight.-

[Haha. That hungry girl is always unpredictable. She might really drool.]

Leonis entered as if he was a frequent user of the entrance. Vincent shook his head to remove the thoughts of fighting an orc and followed Leonis inside.

Nick soon entered their sight. He was accompanied by a beastman with gray wolf ears and tail. Vincent decided to also peek at his stats.

.

[Name] Vivid

[Race] Beastman

[Age] 29

[Condition] Healthy, High Slave Curse (Owner – Nikolai Graymoon)

[Traits] Blood Tempered Body Stage One, Keen Sense

[Class] Warrior

[Stats] Strength 48 || Agility 52 || Perception 66 || Mana 0

.

[Class Warrior]

*Wild Blow

*Strong Body +18

*Nimble Body +9

.

[Third Eye activate.]

[Keen Sense description.]

[The animal senses such as smell, sight, vibration, and sound will increase drastically depending on the perceptiveness the mind has.]

[The perception stat is passively increased, and it can further but temporarily increase when the mind believes the body is in danger.]

.....

.

Vivid informed Nick the guests had arrived. He turned his head and saw Leonis with Vincent behind him.

Nick approached them and greeted, “Good day Lord Leonis and Lord Vincent. I was in charge of today’s arrangement, and the VIP balcony room is being prepared.”

Nick turned around and signaled to be followed. “Please follow me to the backstage storage room. My parents allowed me to lead you there and let Vincent choose on one item of rare quality and below before the auction starts.”

[Oooo! I can’t wait to see what we can choose.]

Vincent smiled after hearing the excited Kazumi about to beg to hurry up. He saw her exit his body and curiously entered each room.

[Oh my... the gray moons are so rich... hey look at this room, so many items... wow, this one has a gold statue.]

Kazumi mentioned multiple times how wealthy the Graymoon family must be. She looked more excited with each new room she visited.

Kazumi entered a changing room next. She saw two women button their blouses. One was a wolf girl and the other a human.

“Humph! Why did I fall for that trick! I had to become a slave to erase my debt, or I would have ended becoming the loansharks plaything.” The human woman said. She looked at the wolf girl and pushed her. “Yuck! My clothes now have filthy animal hair.”

The wolf girl looked down and didn’t reply. She moved to another corner of the room and continued wearing her maid outfit. Even though she was being bullied, it appeared there were rules as the human woman glared at the wolf girl and left.

Kazumi remembered why the face looked familiar. It was the same sly woman who previously worked in the Adventurers Guild as a receptionist. It appeared she landed herself into a mess and chose to become a slave under the Graymoon family as they treat the slaves under them as permanent contracted workers.

Kazumi rushed to inform Vincent, but the woman walked in their direction. She noticed Nick, Vivid, and Leonis. Next, she noticed and recognized Vincent looking at her with a frown.

The sly woman presented herself well as if she didn’t just bully another person. She bowed and stood to the side with her head down to allow the four men to pass.

First, it was nick, then Vivid, and later Leonis. They passed by her as she was simply a maid to them. However, Vincent stopped in front of her.