The Necromancer Commands Slaves, Not Undeads

11 – MerchantGuild Anemone (4)

Dorothy, myself, and the mercenaries led by the Black Wolf alongside trader Gilbert continued on our journey towards the Freud territory.

For the past fortnight, we had diligently journeyed towards the Freud region.

The spill of sunlight under the blue sky was dazzling. The wind was neither hot nor cold, creating a cool breeze, and the view was full of swaying flowers and grass spread across the plains.

“We’ve got about three days left. My, it’s been a long trip. We’ll have to take a bath first thing when we arrive at the city.”

Said Gilbert, who was driving from the carriage.

“Mr. Gilbert is a top merchant from Anemone, right?”

“Yes, that’s right, my lord Wizard.”

“Are you going to the Freud district for trade, Mr. Gilbert?”

“It’s not just about trade. A merchant affiliated with the Guild of Merchants has a lot of work to do. I’ve brought a cartload of goods to sell, but… the items in the carriage you’re riding in now are gifts from Anemone to the lord of Freud.”

“Gifts?”

I took a look inside the carriage Dorothy and I were in. Closer inspection revealed it was filled with food supplies.

“Yes, Freud is an important trade route from south to east. Some unpleasant incidents have recently occurred within the Freud district, so these little gifts were sent from Anemone to Freud as a gesture of goodwill.”

“Ah, I’ve heard about it. The slaves have escaped…”

As talk of slaves was brought up, Dorothy turned her gaze to me.

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“Slaves?”

“Ah, there was an accident while transferring some slaves in the Freud district, and it appears the slaves have escaped in mass and turned into bandits…”

In the middle of conversing, we heard the urgent voice of the Black Wolf.

“Hey, stop! Someone is approaching from this side!”

Gilbert made a suspicious face. At the mention of someone approaching, he swallowed hard, his face taut with tension.

The carriage came to a halt.

“Something’s happening…”

Dorothy fondled the rapier she had received from the Black Wolf while surveying the scene outside.

“Let’s get down and check it out.”

Dorothy and I stepped down from the carriage and moved towards where the Black Wolf and the mercenaries were gathering.

Swiftly, we saw figures sprinting towards us.

They were wearing cheap, tattered clothes, but each one of them was armed with crude weapons.

Their count was around twelve. They weren’t very intimidating in size, but we couldn’t help being on alert, unable to take our eyes off them.

By their side was a bear. A giant bear, almost 5 meters, was trudging alongside them, seated on its butt.

“Is that a bear…”

One of the mercenaries mumbled as he watched the bear, his face pale with fear.

It was quite difficult to take down an adult bear with just a cold weapon, even if several full-grown men attacked it simultaneously.

And this bear was unusually large, even among adult bears. I squinted my eyes.

“Do bears often follow humans like this?”

“Unless it’s tamed from a young age, it’s impossible.”

The mercenaries and the Black Wolf drew their swords. Dorothy and I stood by their side.

The people who were approaching with the bear stopped at a distance that appeared to be about 50 meters.

They were a diverse group, ranging from young children to old men and youths. Although their ages varied, they all had one thing in common- they were all male.

From the group, a young man who appeared sturdy and well-built stepped forward and spoke.

“We’ve come to propose something!”

“A proposal?”

The Black Wolf wrinkled his forehead, resting his greatsword on his shoulder.

“Yes, a proposal. If you hand that woman travelling with you over to us, we will move back. If you refuse, we’ll kill all of you, take the woman, and leave! Best to cooperate!”

An absurd statement was uttered. I was flabbergasted as I stared at him.

And as I stared at him intently, I realized who he was and who they were.

The slave engraving on their legs came into my sight.

Apparently, they are the escaped slaves, having latched on to the opportunity that arose when an accident occurred during their transfer.

The same body-“They’re even tattooed on the same spot… Considering they’re going through the trouble of putting on a show like bandits, it was clear.

However, their behavior was a bit odd. Why were they interested in Dorothy – not the food or items they needed right now?

This question also lingered momentarily as I gazed at Dorothy.

Dorothy understood everything they were saying. Her trembling figure mirrored in my eyes.

“This isn’t a proposal, but a threat…”

The black wolf looked at his subordinates with quite a troubled expression. The mercenaries were swayed.

Morale is important in a fight, but the mercenaries were frightened by the massive beast before their eyes.

Even if their leader was a skilled fighter, it was questionable whether he could defeat the bear in front of them.

Even as a magician who could summon and control the undead, the bear in front of me seemed capable of smashing such skeletons in an instant.

They had no personal attachment to Dorothy. They were just working to protect the merchant and his goods, not to protect Dorothy.

No one wanted to shed blood unnecessarily.

The world wasn’t so ethical that they would sacrifice themselves to protect a child.

The mercenaries were nervously eyeing their captain and me, and trader Gilbert was similarly swayed. The merchant came over and whispered to me.

“I’m sorry, but Mr. Wizard…I know that the girl is a slave.”

I responded to his blunt reaction as usual.

“So, what?”

That made the merchant hesitant while glancing at me nervously.

“They’re a motley crew. There’s no doubt that we’d defeat them easily with our mercenaries. But if it’s that large bear, it’ll be a different story… We’re not prepared to face that beast.”

“Indeed.”

“I will pay for the slave. So, please…”

The merchant was also the same. By now, he might be regretting inviting me onto his wagon.

He is a merchant who makes a profit. He wanted my company and that of the mercenaries to avoid harm.

If he can avoid getting bloodied, he would prefer it.

After listening to the merchant, I turned to the black wolf.

“What do you think, Mr. Black Wolf?”

He was Dorothy’s sword teacher. More likely than others, he might have sentimental feelings for Dorothy.

But he was also the leader of the mercenaries. He was skilled, but he wasn’t a hero.

He had to be able to coldly assess the situation and make a decision.

But he knew. There was a foe who was as annoying as the bear.

Because he had once fought with that annoying creature.

“Follow your decision.”

At the black wolf’s words, I nodded my head. Then, while holding Dorothy’s hand, I asked her.

“What do you want to do, Dorothy?”

Dorothy slowly shifted her gaze to me. She opened her mouth, then closed it several times.

“It’s okay. Tell me what you think.”

She looked at me with a troubled expression. Her trembling eyes gazed at me.

I waited for her mouth to open while looking intently at her.

Then, she timidly started speaking in a small voice.

“Master, you can decide…”

The answer I wanted wasn’t that.

“What I’m asking about is your thoughts, Dorothy. How can I decide your thoughts? It’s okay, tell me.”

I stroked her hair. Dorothy gradually stopped trembling at my usual touch.

“I don’t want to say goodbye…”

Dorothy confessed her innermost feelings in a whisper and desperately hugged me tight with her small arms. I felt her warm heat.

“I heard your answer.”

Dorothy had tried to protect me without running away from a dangerous situation.

With her small figure, she carried me on her back and walked for dozens of minutes to bring me to a hut.

In a situation where she could have run away, she did not and stood by her convictions.

Now it’s my turn.It was time to repay that grace.

“Please trust me.”

I drew the rapier hanging by her waist. I wrapped my other arm around her neck.

Targeting Dorothy’s neck with the rapier in hand, I yelled loudly.

“I refuse your proposal!”

The mercenaries were surprised at the sudden hostage situation. Even the escaped slaves’ attention shifted to me.

Both the Black Wolf and the merchant Gilbert began to watch me.

“Dorothy is lawfully mine. I cannot give her to anyone. If such a situation arises, I would rather destroy her with my own hands.”

I calmly spoke as I looked at them, choosing the approach of threatening destruction.

They themselves said their aim was to take Dorothy alive.

I confidently asserted that such an aim would be impossible for them.

And I believe it was sufficiently conveyed that things wouldn’t go as the mercenaries and merchants hoped.

“You…!”

“It is regrettable that you were so desperate to take Dorothy. Who’s it for?”

I spoke to them with a smile.

“Whether you win or lose, you won’t be able to take Dorothy alive. So, could you kindly leave?”

The escaped slaves glared at me, grinding their teeth. The slave who looked like their leader shouted at the bewildered mercenaries.

“Hey, over there! Persuade him quickly!”

But no one could dare to try to persuade me after I had already decided.

“I’d recommend you give up if you’re thinking of stabbing me in the back.”

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I spoke to the mercenaries. In a low, quiet, and confident voice.

“It’s fine. If a fight breaks out, I promise no one will die here. Believe not me, but those who have died. You’ve seen it already. We will win without anyone dying.”

With my final words, the atmosphere among the wavering mercenaries changed. One by one, they started preparing for battle. And the Black Wolf admired me with a smile.

“It went overboard for a show. But their morale has returned! Everyone, prepare for battle!”

Then, what will those who have prepared to fight do in response?

I laid my eyes on the runaway slaves.