Mirajane and Erza were still enthusiastically picking out clothes inside the tenth shop of the evening.
They had completely shed their earlier adversarial attitudes and were now giggling over fabrics and ribbons.
The two girls were now as intimate as Fairy Tail's best friends, leaving Ankh utterly neglected on the sidelines.
"I'm just a glorified coat rack now," Ankh muttered.
He set down the numerous bags hanging from his shoulders and arms onto a nearby bench.
Feeling rather bored, he walked out of the store to get some fresh air.
He gazed up at the star-filled night sky, stretching his stiff neck.
These two sisters were truly something—they had shopped from morning till night, practically waiting for the sun to clock out before even considering dinner.
Evening in Magnolia remained bustling due to the upcoming Harvest Festival.
The street outside the store was still brightly lit with magical lanterns and lively with tourists and locals alike.
Ankh leaned against the shop's wall, leisurely watching the noisy night market.
A slight smile curled at the corners of his mouth as he fully immersed himself in the pervasive joy and laughter of the town he protected.
[So lively.]
Just as Ankh was squinting and enjoying the peaceful moment, Seram's deep voice suddenly spoke up in his mind, startling him.
Ankh chuckled and replied internally, "Of course. Wait until the night of the grand parade—the Fantasia. That's when it'll really be lively. You haven't seen anything yet."
He stretched lazily again and couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
"I wonder if the word 'god' represents something too cold... too distant. If it weren't for the pursuit of omnipotent power to protect this peace, I might have preferred to be just an ordinary mage in a guild... drinking beer and fighting Natsu occasionally."
[Enough with the boasting,] Seram scolded, though his tone was not harsh. [What you take for granted—this peace, this camaraderie—is the power countless mortals across worlds crave. Save such talk for after you've regained your divine power. Then you can decide if you want to be a god or a drunkard.]
"Alright, fine. I guess I don't know what's good for me..."
The cheerful and lively surroundings wrapped around Ankh's emotions like a gentle embrace, making him thoroughly enjoy the moment.
Before him was the warmth of human life, and behind him in the shop were gentle, charming beauties.
Even though Ankh hadn't improved his strength in the slightest by standing here, he felt deeply content with his current peaceful and warm life.
Just as Ankh was idly contemplating nature and the merits of retirement, Seram, for some reason, spoke in a slightly cold, sharp tone:
[Stop fooling around, Ankh. There's scum nearby!]
"Who's fooling around? I was just—"
As Ankh was about to retort but Seram cut him off, his voice urgent.
[West street corner, in the alley behind the bakery. Someone is selling a child—probably a human trafficker.]
Hearing Seram's words, Ankh's relaxed expression immediately darkened.
The historical background of this world is roughly akin to Earth's medieval kingdoms, yet with some differences.
For instance, in the Fiore Kingdom, the slavery system still exists, but it is strictly regulated.
Those from impoverished families or bearing criminal charges may choose to become indentured servants.
By selling themselves through legal channels to a master, they retain full human rights and legal protection.
After fulfilling their contractual loyalty to the master for a set number of years, they regain their freedom.
However, unlike the state-regulated system, human traffickers operate through coercion and kidnapping.
They disregard social status and laws, focusing only on the "quality of the goods."
They use various means to abduct people from all over—especially children.
After "taming" them through torture, they sell them to unscrupulous individuals for the purpose of making huge profits in the black market.
Most of the children trafficked by these criminals are young, and behind each child lies a shattered, grief-stricken family.
This is also why Ankh initially held such contempt for Bora—he believed the man was a perverted trafficker who abducted young girls.
Now that Ankh had encountered actual traffickers in his own city, he might as well take out his anger on them!
"Mira! Erza! I have something to take care of. You two keep enjoying yourselves!"
Ankh shouted into the shop, not waiting for a reply.
He leaped into the air, stepping on nothingness using his gravity magic as he soared onto the rooftops.
Hearing his call, the two women hurriedly rushed out of the shop, dropping a dress in the process.
Erza, now dressed in a Gothic Lolita-style dress she was trying on, looked around in disappointment when she saw Ankh had already vanished into the night sky.
"I finally found something I liked, and he just runs off?" Erza pouted.
Mirajane stood at the doorway in a sleek evening gown, searching left and right but failing to spot Ankh.
She then said with concern, "Ankh is still recovering from the tower incident. I'm worried he might overexert himself..."
Erza snapped back to reality and she quickly grabbed Mirajane's hand.
"You're right! Let's hurry and catch up! He might need backup!"
The two women scrambled frantically out of the shop, still wearing the unpaid merchandise, leaving the shopkeeper behind with a look of utter despair.
"Ladies! Wait! You haven't paid yet!" the shopkeeper wailed, tears streaming down his face.
...
Meanwhile, in the dim alley Seram had pointed out a so-called transaction was taking place.
A group of masked men, dressed like bandits, stood silently on both sides, guarding the exit.
From deep within the alley, the faint, muffled cries of a child could be heard.
A thin, shifty-eyed man in black with a greasy mustache crouched in front of a rusty iron cage.
He forced a fake smile as he spoke to his client.
"So, boss? This batch is top-notch, exquisite goods. Fresh from the countryside. Do they catch your eye?"
The man he was dealing with was dressed lavishly in expensive silks but was gaunt and exuded a sleazy aura.
His face was powdered more heavily than a woman's to hide his pox scars, and he reeked of cheap perfume to mask the smell of decay.
Holding his hand in an effeminate gesture, the wealthy man frowned as he inspected the goods before replying in a shrill, satisfied tone.
"Not bad. Not bad at all. This should provide some amusement for my guests."
Their words and demeanor made it seem as though the cage before them contained nothing more than livestock.
But if anyone could see the scene inside the cage, they would find the words being spoken more than just disgusting!
Inside the cramped cage, two young children clung to each other.
The little girl, quite young, had a delicate face full of terror and despair.
She was trembling violently as she curled up in the boy's embrace.
The boy, slightly older, used his thin frame to shield the girl from the prying eyes.
Though his eyes were filled with sorrow and fear, there remained a trace of defiance and anger burning within them.
Yet the masked, skinny trafficker who wanted to sell them for a good price showed no pity whatsoever.
Forcing himself to endure the pungent fragrance emanating from the effeminate customer, the skinny man couldn't hide his disgust for the buyer as he smiled and said.
"This pair of siblings are both fine-looking, handy goods. They'll last you for several months before breaking..."
The richly dressed man nodded in satisfaction, licking his lips.
He waved to the guard behind him.
The guard handed over a thick leather suitcase. The man placed it on the ground and opened it, revealing stacks of banknotes inside.
"Is this enough?" The man raised his chicken-claw-like hand, pointed at the money, and asked arrogantly.
At the sight of the money, the skinny man's earlier displeasure instantly vanished.
His eyes lit up with greed.
"Enough, of course it's enough! A pleasure doing business with you, sir!"
Meanwhile, guided by Seram's, Ankh flew from the rooftop and finally located this alley.
Lying prone on the roof tiles, Ankh looked down at the filthy transaction about to be completed in the dark alley below.
A surge of rage ignited within him.
'These vermin dare to engage in such dealings in Magnolia? A city under the jurisdiction of Fairy Tail? They must have a death wish!'
Magic Power surged in Ankh's hand as he prepared to deliver divine judgement.
He was going to beat the crap out of that damn sissy and the trafficker until they begged for mercy!
But suddenly, noise echoed from the alley entrance again.
Clack. Clack.
The group in the alley immediately grew alert.
The skinny man directed his subordinates to draw their weapons, while the gay looking man cowardly retreated a few steps behind his bodyguard.
Ankh, holding a gravity magic circle in his hand, instinctively halted his action.
He curiously turned his gaze toward the alley entrance.
After a series of light footsteps, a slender figure emerged from the darkness.
The person wore a hood and a coarse, dusty cloak, looking travel-worn.
Judging by the long hair spilling out and the physique, she appeared to be a woman.
Even more striking was the long sword slung diagonally at her waist.
Though the sheath looked utterly battered and worn, the way she carried it suggested immense skill.
Facing the hostile stares of everyone in the alley, the woman stopped.
She did not draw her weapon yet.
Her hoarse voice carried a cold, commanding tone, as if issuing an absolute order.
"Filthy scum who lurk in shadows... go to hell."
The skinny man and his lackeys were startled by the woman's sudden words.
Ankh, crouched on the rooftop, watched the scene with slight awkwardness and his magic circle fading.
'This woman... Ankh thought, blinking. 'seems to have stolen my thunder?'