The Great Slave Merchant stepped forward, mounted on his noble black steed, while his followers remained staring at him, awaiting his orders. At the same time, some of the villagers gripped their farming tools and stepped forward to face the slave traders, leaving those who had not secured a tool in the rear.
Despite this, not one of them dared to attack. Instead, they held their tools with trembling hands, as most were mere villagers who had never killed anyone before—even those who were supposed to be guards protecting the small village.
All the slave traders obeyed Kursh's presence, remaining frozen in their positions, waiting for their leader's next command.
The horse's hooves struck the ground as it slowly approached Takeshi and Seishi. The latter ignored the tension and stepped toward Kursh, saying:
"Welcome, Chief. You have been out of sight; where were you?"
Seishi ended his words with his usual noble's laugh. Kursh shifted his piercing gaze toward Seishi without saying a word.
"Oh, right. I remembered that you do not like being prominent or appearing before the crowd—"
Kursh cut off Seishi's words with his thick voice, shattering the silence in the hall.
"Since you know that, why do you ask?"
From this conversation, it could be inferred that Seishi was the closest person to Kursh, perhaps even acting as his deputy. The fact that all the traders feared him and obeyed their leader's word without objection proved it.
But suddenly, a voice from behind Seishi interrupted the conversation between the leader and his deputy.
"So, you are the leader of these bastards?"
Takeshi said, his focus directed straight at the Great Slave Merchant. He quickly clenched his fist in preparation for attack or defense. Kursh raised his hand toward Takeshi and spoke in a voice so steady that not even a fly would stir in his presence:
"Yes. If you have a problem with that, tell me, so that I may let you hear my answer…"
Before Takeshi could take any further step, Kursh continued his speech:
"I heard your entire conversation, and how the villagers will be the ones to determine what you gain after fighting us slave traders. Therefore, I want to ask you: what guarantees that these peasants, who barely have anything to eat, will provide you with anything? Rather, what guarantees your victory over us and the achievement of peace for this small village?"
Kursh sighed, then continued speaking without pause or hesitation.
"Or did you perhaps want to ignite their extinguished morale and make courage run through their veins? If that was indeed your intention, then you and those with you have succeeded. But what is the use of this, in your opinion? To throw the chance of these villagers' survival into the trash and make them die an honorable death, as you claim?"
Thinking about it, there was no chance for him or the villagers to survive if the leader of the traders ordered his followers to attack. They were likely all distinguished by special abilities, in addition to possessing real weapons, whether long spears or sharp swords, unlike the farming tools the villagers wanted to achieve their freedom with.
'So, have I made the chance of these innocent people's survival non-existent?'
Even though Takeshi forgets nothing and remembers every event in precise detail, he had overlooked that Eve was the one who spoke first, followed by Sota, until his turn came and he spoke.
Furthermore, he felt he was the cause because he was the one who said: "The villagers can determine what I will gain after I set them free." Simply put, his thoughts became muddled. He placed all the blame on himself, especially after hearing Kursh's words about his actions. Yet, he realized he could not leave a mistake without erasing it, though he feared making the problem worse. Still, there was no choice but to try.
'At the very least, I must correct what I committed… to try and correct what I committed…'
Takeshi thought about attacking directly, but attacking two people—one whose strikes do not affect him and the other about whom he knows nothing—was not a wise idea. He had no choice but to speak.
"Really? Do you mean by your words that you prefer living as a slave over dying for your freedom?"
Takeshi gritted his teeth and sighed.
"Do you believe that people's freedom is something worth buying and selling??"
Takeshi's loud voice echoed, reaching the ears of all present. Though everyone's will was ignited, they remained silent, sufficing with listening to the dialogue between Takeshi and Kursh.
"You do not understand…"
Kursh said before reaching his hand under his robe, pulling out a massive halberd blade. Suddenly, a crimson-red halberd handle surged forth from the blade.
The halberd was fully the size of an average human, and its sharp blade shimmered, reflecting the sparkling yellow light of the hall. From its shape and immense size, one could tell the extent of its weight and the amount of strength a person would need to carry it.
This was Kursh's special ability: a legendary halberd that changes its size and shape at the user's will. However, Takeshi did not realize this and thought it was just an ordinary spear. The Great Slave Merchant pointed his halberd toward Takeshi, saying:
"Selling that so-called freedom? I will sell it for money—in fact, I will do anything for money. You do not know the value of every single coin; every coin of every denomination changes everything. Money is my first and last goal."
Takeshi furrowed his brows and took a heavy step forward, saying:
"For the sake of coins that decrease and increase, you want to trade in human beings, you damned bastard?"
Kursh did not answer for a few seconds, until he lowered his halberd and turned his back to Takeshi, saying:
"These words of yours will change nothing. I will do what is permitted and what is forbidden in order to fill my pockets."
The black horse moved without an order from its owner. As soon as it advanced a few quick steps, Kursh spoke:
"I cannot understand you, just as you cannot understand me. I have lived an experience different from whatever you experienced in your childhood that made you so attached to people's so-called freedoms."
Kursh closed his eyes and sighed.
"Our discussion here is over."
Takeshi raised his clenched fist, saying:
"Where are you going?"
As soon as Kursh moved slightly away and reached another gate at the end of the hall, he raised his hand and said:
"We are withdrawing. Take this small village and enjoy it."