Kael dragged himself back to the inn like a man who'd just finished running a marathon… with a sack of bricks on his back.
He didn't bother talking to anyone—just nodded to the innkeeper and climbed the stairs like a zombie. The moment his room door closed, he flopped onto the bed without even taking off his boots.
When he woke up, it was already evening. His stomach growled like an angry dog. He trudged downstairs, scarfed down a hot meal—something vaguely meaty with too much salt—and trudged right back up to his room again.
Then it was time for the real reason he'd dragged himself back to Earth.
With a small breath, he opened the portal. The familiar ripple of energy shimmered in the air, and the Dimensional Door appeared.
Kael stepped through, arriving back in his grandfather's dusty basement.
He had a special purpose for coming here. He had recently found a diary where his grandfather gave information about all the items that were here.
Since there was not enough light, he turned on his flashlight and started searching everywhere inside.
It took him a while—but finally, tucked inside a small glass display case, he found it.
"Aha… jackpot."
Inside was a ring made of faintly glowing blue metal. Cold to the touch, but not in a bad way. It shimmered just slightly under the flashlight beam.
He popped open the case and slid the ring onto his right hand. It fit perfectly. Immediately, he felt a slight warmth, like static across his skin. The system pinged silently in the back of his mind.
[Protective Ring – Bound]
Effect: Generates a temporary defensive barrier when a lethal threat is detected.
"Now that's what I'm talking about," Kael grinned.
He didn't care if it made him look like a bargain-bin superhero—if this thing could save his life, it was worth it.
The next morning, Kael woke up back in the fantasy world.
After another quiet breakfast downstairs, he spotted Alenia near the inn's front steps. She greeted him with her usual calm nod.
Kael leaned against the railing and rubbed the back of his neck. "Hey… I'm heading to the slave market today."
Alenia arched an eyebrow. "I see. Then let me offer you some advice."
"Do not purchase a slave whose language you cannot understand. Many species here speak entirely different tongues. I am Elven, for example—our native language differs from Human. But I know the languages of Humans, so I can speak to you."
Kael nodded slowly. "Right… communication. That whole thing."
She gave him a small look of concern. "It sounds obvious, but misunderstandings can cost lives. Or worse—"
He smiled and gave a thumbs-up. "Appreciate the tip."
What he didn't mention—couldn't mention—was that he had a little cheat.
Ah! It's good that I have Universal Language skills. So there will be no problem with me in any language. This skill has benefited me a lot.
Yeah. Kael wasn't exactly sweating over alien dialects.
Still, it was good advice. And Alenia was… nice.
He waved goodbye and left the inn.
The slave market was located on the far western side of the city.
It was separated by a wall, with some guards stationed near the gate.
Kael adjusted the hood of his cloak as he stepped into the sprawling chaos of Ginip's slave market.
The place was a maze of wooden pens, iron cages, and auction blocks, all crammed together under the indifferent gaze of bored guards.
He had expected it to feel like a cattle market.
It was worse.
Men, women, and even children were lined up like livestock. Some shouted curses at passing buyers. Others stood eerily still, as if they'd already left their bodies behind.
This is business.
He walked forward, scanning the merchandise with a merchant's eye.
He didn't want just anyone. He needed someone reliable. Disciplined. Preferably combat-trained.
Not a child. Not a maid. Not a pretty toy for noble creeps.
He passed cages with iron bars.
A burly slave merchant with a scarred lip spotted him lingering and grinned. "Looking for company, traveler? We've got elf maids, dwarf cooks, even beastkin twins—We got fresh stock just in from the southern wars."
Kael shook his head once. "I need someone strong. Combat experience. Preferably human."
The man's smile dropped, replaced by something more calculating. "Ah… I see. Well then, you don't want the pleasure pens. Come. I've got someone… rare. But she'll cost you. Right this way, sir."
He led Kael past rows of malnourished workers to a separate section where the slaves stood taller, their muscles defined even under grime and bruises. These were the warriors—captured soldiers, exiled knights, criminals who'd traded execution for servitude.
Fewer people. More guards.
The slave merchant gestured grandly. "Take your pick. Swordsmen, archers, even a few with battle-mage training. All prime stock. All magically bound—no rebellions, no escapes."
Kael folded his arms. "Prove it."
The merchant snapped his fingers. A guard yanked a chain attached to a collared man's throat. The slave's body jerked forward, his face contorting in pain as the embedded enchantment flared. He dropped to his knees, gasping.
"See? Total compliance," the merchant said cheerfully.
Kael moved down the line, evaluating. Most were typical mercenary types—hard-eyed, broken-spirited. Then he noticed a woman.
Tall, even hunched in chains. Her dark hair was matted with filth, but her posture was rigid, her gaze fixed straight ahead like she was still standing at attention in some forgotten army. A jagged scar ran from her left eyebrow to her cheekbone, pale against her sun-browned skin.
She looked like she hadn't given in. Not yet.
She's not broken. That's rare.
She's not glaring like she wants to kill everyone either. Calm… but alert.
That kind of discipline doesn't come cheap. Or easy. If I'm putting my life in someone's hands, it's gonna be someone who still knows how to fight—not just swing a sword, but fight with their head still on straight.
He studied her eyes. No fear. No begging. Just a quiet, simmering readiness. Like she was waiting for orders—or a chance.
Yeah. She's dangerous. But not reckless. That's exactly what I need.
He turned back to the merchant. "Her."
The slave merchant followed his gaze and chuckled. "Ah, the problem lady."