Wreath of Lilies, Cauldron of Poison

Chapter 28

Sakagami Akira

Otherworlders.

Heroes.

Names that are given to those summoned from another world to become a champion of the era. The knowledge of how to summon these much touted Heroes are owned by the seven kingdoms, each with their own methods.

Through these ancient rites are the Heroes called, and then it becomes their destiny to defeat the Demon King.

However, the defeat of the Demon King is not a permanent thing. Because once for every thousand years after the Demon King’s defeat, another will appear to lead the demons. And the war begins once more.

Thus, the cycle continues.

A cycle of never-ending war between good and evil.

Sakagami Akira offered his hand to Connie.

Instead of shaking it as he expected, she did a masculine bow which left his hand hanging and awkward.

“Okay, uh…these are my companions. Hannah, a master spear wielder. The blue-haired mage is Eleanora. And the man with the shifty eyes is Jack, he’s a deft hand with a trap.”

The first person he introduced was a mean looking woman with an expensive looking spear strapped on her back. She wore a typical Calendian knight armor in combination with leather leggings and gloves for ease of movements. She was beautiful, yet there was just something about the way she looked at Illumca that Connie was puzzled about.

The second one was a shy looking mage with a pointy hat and a bat pendant clipped on its brim. She held her magical wooden staff that was at least two heads taller than her as if trying to put a wall between her and the new people. Her long, witchy robe was dominated with drab black and bright blue.

The last one was a shifty looking man with a smile that reminded Connie of a lizard. He was wearing a typical leather armor and chainmail while playing with a long knife. His eyes had been looking at Illumca greedily. To which Connie reacted by pulling her behind her back.

“And that one over there is – huh – where is she?”

“That minstrel said that she was going for a walk,” Hannah replied.

Akira smiled awkwardly at the group. “There are 5 of us. 6 with Master Kaihaku. We invited him because he knows the place better than we do. We are not hunters but are allowed to enter the dungeon for training.”

“I see. Well, nice meeting you then. We are going to enter the dungeon,” Connie said.

“Wait, shouldn’t you introduce yourself and your party?” Akira said, stopping her. “I thought that is the proper courtesy for hunters.”

“No need for that. I know who she is even if she changed her look,” Hannah said. “She is Cornelia Asterium Steelheart.”

“This is Cornelia?” At that instant the young man’s face turned sour. “The one who…you know…prince and stuff.”

“I would prefer you use my family name, Sakagami Akira. We are not familiar enough for you to use my name like so. Like she said, I am Cornelia Asterium Steelheart. A hunter,” she said curtly. “The dark elf is Illumca, my partner. And this is Martell.”

Illumca did not respond, only she glared at them as she felt the men’s gazes. Martell simply nodded from behind Illumca’s back.

Hannah noticed the collar on Martell’s neck and jeered. “A slave as a member of a party? How low you have fallen, miss Cornelia. This is why the Prince chose Serin over you.”

Sakagami Akira nodded. “She is right, enslaving another living being is something that proper human being should not do.”

“T-that’s right,” the shy magician spoke out in support.

Nick and Kaihaku looked at each other and feared the way the conversation was going and was about to interrupt when Illumca stepped over and stood before Hannah. She was so tall that the brown-haired girl had to look up.

“W-what?”

“You’ve been speaking nothing but ill words about Connie, but what about your friend, Serin? As I understand it, does her family not have a cotton farm to the south? And guess who’s doing the picking? Oh, yes. Slaves. And how about you? Do your house not have slaves?” Illumca asked.

“I – “ she could not find a word to say. She was just doing it out of a desire to provoke Connie as she was her best friend’s enemy. She had often heard about her from Serin and had grown to hate her ever since she saw Connie. Connie with her perfect golden hair and well-proportioned body. She considered herself to be beautiful but Connie had a shine to her that she could not compete with.

“Of course you do. Looking at you I don’t think you can clothe yourself without having maids serve you. So, what makes you think that you can attack Connie for having a slave?”

“How dare you say my name without a honorific!”

“I’m a dark elf, little girl. I can speak to you however I want. Long after you and your grandchildren’s grandchildren are dead, I will still be alive. Why should I care about titles of a human who could barely live for a decade? You are just…a lowly human who does not understand her greatness.”

Connie stood back and enjoyed Illumca’s sudden outburst while the rest of the party was bewildered by the sudden hostility between the two. Jack knew better than to butt in into a catfight and gestured for the two veterans to retreat when he saw them awkwardly trying to hop in and top them.

“Girls, please. This is not about titles, it’s about how slavery is wrong!”

“And you, Hero. you dare speak to her in that tone?”

“Wha - ?

“Are you living in a castle? How many slaves are within the castle?”

“Guh - !” Akira clenched his fist. He was someone who lived in the modern era so he could not accept the very notion of enslaving someone.

He looked down and saw Martell tugging on his sleeves. “Don’t you worry. We’ll get you out of slavery.”

“You know, mister Hero…I really don’t need you to speak for me. I sold myself willingly and she is the best master I’ve ever had. It’s much better than seeing my family dead because we had no money or being whipped for making mistakes by my old masters.”

“But this is not right!” he said.

“I am barely a teen, mister Hero. What’d I do after you free me? I couldn’t work. No one would hire me. I’m too young!”

Martell’s words were said with the look of innocence that he had trained for years. But the one thing that he was honest was his hatred towards this type of people. People spouting niceties without understanding the problem.

While all this were going on, Connie was surprised by how fast this little row had gone downhill. “Boy, this escalated quickly.”

Though she would like to see what might happen next, this little distraction needs to end now. As she was about to make a move, they were stopped by a sudden string of melodies.

It was barely two seconds, but it managed to stop their tiff. Their eyes followed the source of the music and there they saw a beautiful woman sitting on a rock with legs crossed. In her hands was a zither from which she teased out brief notes.

She had a fiery red hair flowing down from beneath a large brimmed hat with a falcon’s feather stuck on its side. She wore an ensemble of brown traveling clothes and a cloak over her shoulder. White legs peeked out from the slit of the long skirt that she was wearing.

The woman had a certain flamboyance about her. And with the attire she was wearing, she was supposed to be eye-catching.

And yet Connie did not even notice that someone had moved near her.

“Shall we cease this bickering? Words spoken without value is nothing but a waste.”

“Who are you?” Connie asked, curious about the newcomer.

The woman’s eyes were closed, and her mannerisms resembled a blind person’s as she did not face them as she spoke. “My name is Sidonai. A humble minstrel eking out the day’s meal by selling my skill. Though it pains me to say this, at this moment I am in the Hero’s party. It would be a great favor for me if we stop this.”

Connie gave her a nod. “Why don’t you look at me straight, then? That’s what people do when they ask for a favor.”

“Pardon me for not looking at you. I was born with eyes that are weak to light, so I cannot open my eyes, else I will risk never being able to see the light of day again,” she chuckled.

Connie saw that although she was in the same party as Akira, she was very aloof to the rest and she saw that there was no need to continue the fight thus, did not argue with her suggestion.

“The minstrel is correct. Arguing over semantics is useless. So let me make this easier for us. Is there a law in this kingdom that says one could not own a slave?”

“This doesn’t have to do with –“

Connie raised a finger, causing the black-haired teenager to stop in his tracks. “The law, Sakagami Akira, is the one thing that separates us from the uncouth masses of rabbles ruled by their desires and one that holds justice and righteousness above all.”

“If there is indeed a law that forbids me from owning a slave, then I would be criminal under the law and would gladly accept my punishment. If there is not, then I am a law-abiding citizen while you are a coercive ruffian who is trying to force his desires upon a weak girl.”

Connie’s straightforward and unflinching attitude caused Sakagami Akira to feel small.

“How dare you -!”

“If you would argue about my status and whatnot, miss Barrington, I will not hide. Though If I remember right, you are an Earl’s daughter, therefore should think twice about slandering a Duke’s daughter.”

“S-she is correct. There is no law about slavery in this kingdom,” Eleanora said quickly, almost tripping with her words.

“You could change it, of course. But until then Martell is my slave.”

With Connie having the final word, Nick finally braved himself to suggest something.

“Look, I know we just had a bit of a row. But we really need to enter the dungeon. How about we give you a 15 minutes head start so that we don’t…get in each other’s way?”

Without giving a chance for Akira or any member of his party to speak up, Kaihaku agreed for them and pushed them into the dungeon.

While watching the group enter through the entrance, Illumca awkwardly asked Martell. “Were you really…living such a hard life?”

“Of course not! Even as slaves, we all have different values. And my value is among the highest! A man does not buy a slave for 500 gold and then abuse him.”

“You! You were lying?!”

“Convincing isn’t it?” Martell laughed as Illumca smacked him on the head out of anger.

“That is one hell of a slave you have, milady,” Nick commented with drooped shoulders.

“Like I said. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”