Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 53

53. Shadow of Anti (2)

There are always two sides to everything. Where there is light, there is shadow, and where there is joy, there is sorrow.

That simple truth held true for Anti as well.

Always a bright and vibrant city, even this place, seemingly full of laughter on the surface, had someone’s tears supporting it behind the scenes.

‘Why…’

The being inside the iron bars had the silhouette of a human, but it was not human.

There were webbed fingers…

Scales covered the long legs instead of skin.

[A Water King: a member of a race that dwells in or near bodies of water, often possessing aquatic features.]

‘Could it be that interspecies trading is also taking place here?’

It was impossible not to think so. The Water King girl trapped in the iron bars was crying so sadly.

Her stolen tears were the shadow of this place, Anti.

‘I caused such a ruckus a thousand years ago. And they’re still doing this?’

A thousand years ago, nobles kidnapped all sorts of different races simply because they looked unique. More than a few locked them up and tormented them just for fun.

Moreover, the more unique the different race they possessed, the higher the noble’s status became. Thus, a culture of buying and selling different races was born.

‘I taught them such a lesson…’

I had quite a few different-race companions back then, so I couldn’t just stand by and watch.

Back then, I showed no mercy to those who kidnapped or traded different races. To them, I must have seemed like the grim reaper.

[They haven’t come to their senses.]

I couldn’t help but frown at the sight of the Water King trapped in the iron bars.

‘Where is that carriage headed?’

The carriage carrying the Water King was heading towards a huge tent.

[Looks like a pop-up shop: a temporary store that appears briefly, often selling specialized or rare items.]

A pop-up shop. A mobile store that sets up a temporary tent, opens briefly, and then disappears.

It was also a store that mainly traded items that were difficult to handle in general stores or auction houses. In other words, illegally obtained stolen goods or slaves.

“Let’s go over there.”

I dragged Admun and Drew, who were distracted by the surrounding scenery, towards the nameless tent.

‘It’s popular.’

Even though they hadn’t done any promotion on the street, the front of the pop-up shop was crowded with people.

“It’s been a while since the last pop-up shop.”

“What did they bring in today?”

“Well, I saw them taking a Water King girl earlier.”

“Oh! Really? She’s mine!”

I passed by the guys who were talking nonsense and entered the interior.

Only simple chairs and a modest platform were there, but the popularity was enormous. Nearly 200 seats were about to be filled.

“Let’s hurry and sit down.”

“Oh, this is amazing. What is this place?”

Drew looked around the crowded interior.

“It’s a pop-up shop, a place that travels around and sells things.”

“Pop-up shop?”

“Yeah. You never know when or where it will open, so it’s called that because it pops up unexpectedly!”

“Oh, then there must be a lot of interesting things.”

“There’s a high probability of that.”

Due to these characteristics, when a pop-up shop appears, a large crowd gathers around it.

When all the seats were filled, a man with a mustache stood on the platform.

“Now! This isn’t an everyday occurrence! The long-awaited Dorn’s Auction House is back!”

It was the host announcing the start with amplification magic.

‘They’re proceeding in an auction format.’

The operating methods of pop-up shops were also diverse. They either set a price and sell, or they did it through an auction.

“Everyone in Anti! How long have you been waiting!”

Cheers erupted as he encouraged a response.

“Oooooh!”

“What is it today!”

“I saw a Water King earlier!”

The mustached man smiled with satisfaction.

“Good. Since everyone seems to have seen it anyway, I shouldn’t make you feel frustrated by showing it from the beginning, right?”

“Of course! Of course!”

“Dorn is the best!”

“Start with the Water King!”

As expected, the main event here today seemed to be the Water King girl.

The iron bars were placed next to the platform.

* * *

“Ten gold coins! I’ll take that kid!”

“Only ten for a Water King? Get out of here!”

“Hahaha!”

The atmosphere of Dorn’s Auction House was quite different from that of Hallat. People were throwing out jokes as if they were kidding.

‘Damn bastards.’

That sight made me even angrier. The girl in the iron bars was trembling with fear.

‘They’re laughing and joking at that.’

I barely suppressed my rising anger. I couldn’t cause a riot here. If I had Adonis’s power, there would be no one to stop me. But now, I was just a fledgling at the 4-star level.

“Twenty gold coins. Don’t joke around, let’s start from here! Those who are going to drop out, drop out!”

“Oh! You’ve got some guts.”

“You have to spend that much to take such a cute child!”

“Then I’ll do twenty-five!”

They were even proceeding on their own without the host saying anything.

[Hold it in.]

It was disgusting. They were living beings with wills, just with different appearances. People who tried to put a price on them with money. Moreover, the dirty greed in their eyes made me even angrier.

‘I have to participate.’

[Really? It’s good to help her, but that won’t solve the root of the problem.]

That was right. It probably wasn’t just the problem of that one girl. These behaviors that occur all over the continent were not something that I could stop right now.

“Twenty-six!”

“Twenty-eight!”

“Thirty!”

Unless I built a huge organization and eradicated them, I wouldn’t be able to quell their madness.

‘Still, I saw that, so I can’t just stand by.’

A girl trapped in despair. I wanted to let that child know that not all humans are bad.

The price was skyrocketing. It wasn’t that I thought I could put a price on that girl with money either.

[Yeah. I don’t like seeing it either. Get the bid quickly.]

I raised my hand.

“One hundred gold coins.”

That was the only way I could help the girl right now.

“Wh, what?”

“One hundred?”

“Who is it?”

The venue stirred for a moment. At the end of their gaze was a red-eyed boy.

“Ha, haha…”

“Oh well. I struck out today.”

In the end, they were acknowledging it.

“A young friend has already fallen into this kind of taste.”

“Still, one hundred gold coins. That’s too much.”

“Next time, call out the market price!”

I wanted to shout at them to shut up, but I barely swallowed my voice and stepped forward.

“It’s the young master of Delemah. One hundred gold coins. I’m just grateful.”

The host, with a grin from ear to ear, bowed to me.

“Enough. Bring the iron bar key. If you tell me where to send the gold coins, I’ll send them separately.”

“Of course. It’s Delemah.”

I snatched the iron bar key from the grinning mustached man.

* * *

The condition of the Water King who was taken out of the tent was even more serious. A small Water King girl who barely reached my waist.

There were large and small wounds on her body. Clearly, they were traces of beatings she had suffered from humans.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

I spoke as warmly as possible, but the girl was still trembling.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to take you away.”

Only then did the girl look at me. Eyes twice as big as a human’s were fixed on me.

“…You’re not going to take me away?”

“Yeah. I brought you out to save you.”

“Th, that can’t be.”

That trembling voice held a glimmer of hope.

“It’s true. I’ll take you to the river. From there, you can escape on your own.”

The girl nodded slightly in affirmation.

“Wear this for now.”

I took off the robe I was wearing and wrapped it around her body. The attention of those around us was focused on the appearance of the Water King. Even that must have been a source of fear for her.

“Th, thank you.”

We walked silently like that. Drew and Admun were also silent, showing consideration for the young girl.

We arrived at the river. Since it was a river connected to various parts of the continent, the girl could go anywhere she wanted.

“Leave. And don’t ever get caught by humans again.”

The girl, who flinched as I took back the robe, raised her head.

“Um…”

“What is it?”

“Could I at least know your name?”

A word spat out through fear. I readily answered.

“I’m Ian Delemah. Now go quickly.”

The girl nodded at those words and headed for the river.

[Why is she coming back?]

Soon, she turned back and approached me. Then, the girl reached out to me.

“…This?”

In her hand was a small stone.

“It’s a Water King’s token. It’s something we give to benefactors.”

The teardrop-shaped stone placed on my hand. It was something I knew well.

‘A Water King’s token.’

[She must have been very grateful.]

It was a Water King tradition that those who had this token were considered friends.

“And my name is Karis. I will definitely repay this favor someday.”

Then, the girl ran back towards the river. I smiled as I watched Karis, who disappeared into the river in an instant.

“Let’s go back too. To Iath.”

* * *

That afternoon, all the freshmen and mentors gathered in the Magic Tower’s grand auditorium.

“Everyone has successfully completed their missions.”

Alois, who was standing on the platform, was in charge of the mission evaluation.

‘He’s completely adapted to the Magic Tower now.’

Since Alois was receiving overwhelming support from the freshmen, he was in charge of all the positions in front of the children.

[He’s become a total social butterfly: someone who is very sociable and popular.]

‘Social butterfly? What’s that?’

[…He’s good at greeting people. It’s just a saying.]

‘I see. He’s cheeky, but he’s good at greeting people.’

Alois’s gaze reached the Apate team members.

“I heard there was a commotion in Apate. Are you okay?”

Noah, who attended this event as our mentor, opened his mouth instead.

“Yes. We ran into the Centrifugal Force, but fortunately, Comas’s people supported us.”

The grand auditorium stirred at the word Centrifugal Force. It was a natural reaction since everyone had been their target.

“Okay. I’m glad there were no problems.”

Alois wrapped up the event before it became even more chaotic.

“Then I will give everyone here 2 performance points each. You’ve worked hard, so everyone rest well today. Let’s work hard in class again from tomorrow!”

“Yessss!”

The children ran out of the auditorium as if they had never worried.

“Drew, eat with Noah today. I’m meeting Admun.”

“Ah, you said you had somewhere to go? Okay! Be careful.”

We also moved our steps outside.

I had already told Admun in advance.

“Young master.”

Admun was waiting outside the Magic Tower entrance.

“What did you call me for?”

“I’m going to my residence.”

“Ah! I will guide you. Is there anything you need to do there?”

Admun walked ahead. His steps faltered at my next words.