Chapter 5: Trying to Live a New Life

Early in the morning...

*Yawn!* What a nice bed. Haven't had laid on a nice bed since being whipped a few years ago by a master that was sadistic.

I opened the window and.. WOW... A nice town with bustling people all over. It's calm here... Maybe I can live the rest of my life here... peaceful and nothing to worry abou-

"SCOUR THIS AREA! YOU, FIND THEM! FIND THEM!!!"

"Damn it, who's making so much noise so early in the morning?...Wait that symbol... Isn't that... no... it must be my imagination... but it oddly looks familiar. I think some of the clothes that I left in a specific carriage had that symbol on them?... Is the caravan owned by a Merchant Noble?? ...No, that's not it. If it was... it should have the symbol engraved to the carriages used... but...it didn't.

Something is suspicious... I'm sure the clothes with that symbol was only in a specific carriage. It's almost feel like... unique or... isolated...? wait... hidden? The clothes I saw... might be owned by someone who was hiding from... them. If that's the case then... someone might come looking for me... It's just a matter of time before those knights find out about the incident at the forest. They'll come for me... DAMN IT!! Do I really need to travel to another town again??? It already took so much of me just to arrive here!

"Keep calm and think about it for a second"

Ah... If person they are looking for were only hiding in one specific carriage and was just using the caravan for disguised... then I still have a chance!

No need to panic. Let's just wait for them. You're Emmanuel, the only merchant who survived the massacre from the large pack of wolves with 3 alphas. You're a... clothes... no...i don't even know much about clothes... I'll get found out if I say that. How about... stones? precious stones like gems and crystals. Let's say jewelries. A merchant who trades and sells jewelry. I remember seeing some on one of the carriages and more importantly I have some knowledge of the jewelries from when I was a slave. I guess transporting heavy goods filled with jewels for noble ladies all by myself while getting beaten and listening to trade talks in the corner wasn't a waste. Still... I don't want to go back to that life. This damn slave collar. I need to get this out of my neck.

I should wait on the 1st floor where the dining area is. If they wanted trouble, they might get second thoughts to capture me if it's in public... but I hardly doubt that knowing from living as a slave. In this world, as long as you have the strength and a power backing you, you can even commit murder on broad daylight and just seeing how fine the armor and clothes the Knights who are searching definitely tells the power backing them has a lot of authority. Even then, it's better to wait down the dinning area where there are people than to be interrogated in my room where there's a big chance of dying 'accidentally'.

After almost an hour...

'Hmmm? so they're here. Sigh. At least I enjoyed a decent hot breakfast... but still ...it's embarrassing how I had 3 served meals. I had to put some extra coins for the 2 extra meals haha. Let's do this properly shall we.'

"Are you the one called Emmanuel?"

"Oh hohoho, what would this valiant knight want with this lowly merchant?" Emmanuel acted like a nice old merchant.

"We are here because we heard from the townsguard that you are a survivor of the wolves massacre in the forest?"

'Yes, act as a polite merchant first then show a sad expression'

"Yes... the caravan... they all died... I was the only survivor...I lost all my companions.I can only start business here now. " gloomy expression plus a look that says 'Life is hard and cruel' plus look into the distance... Perfect!

"Is that so? We heard there was 3 alphas and a large pack of wolves enough to massacre the caravan in an instant. So how did you survive alone?"

"It's embarassing ...but a warrior who I hired, a very strong and brave warrior...toss me."

...

...

...

"Toss you?"

"Yes...He tossed me with all his might and in the end he was exhausted and was trapped In the encirclement while I was desperately running for my life to the next town. I must have been a fool to think the wolves would ignore someone who escaped. Two wolves chased me and it was only because I was lucky enough to just get a wound to my neck rather than losing my life, I was able to get away. I ran until I arrived to the gates of this town where the guards were. Finally, I stayed here at this Inn...but I will be returning to the forest to get the rest of my products and also the products left by my companions.The dead cannot sell their wares, after all."

"I see" This knight seems to be convinced. Hopefully that's the case.

"May I ask what you're business is with the caravan?" Emmanuel asked to further look the part of a someone who was concerned about the lost caravan.

"We are looking for a person, a traitor. He is the son of the past Head of our noble family. That's all you need to know. This is him. Look familiar?"

He handed me a drawn poster of a man who looked young and handsome with s cold stare. The knight was observing me. Looking for any slight reactions. Of course I wouldn't show it. Not just because I am used to having a blank face for all the beatings and abused they've done to me as a slave but also because I never saw the man in the drawing since I wasn't really part of the caravan."

"I'm afraid not."

"...I see. We will leave now."

"Oh...So suddenly. Will you not come and join me to the forest and look for the person's corpse there?"

"We already did that. The body is missing but there is blood inside the carriage."

"Oh... I see then farewell, valiant knight. I hope you find the person you are looking for."

I bowed a little but he just snorted and turned away.

'It all worked out in the end....But still...

He left so easily. I have a feeling this isn't over.'

After that dreadful interrogation, I went to the gate where the guards were and as they promised... joined me to the forest. It was already early in the afternoon when we finished moving all the safe products. This is damn too hard. Going back and forth is not easy. Of course, how could I not know that some of the guards pocketed some stuff... but what can I do? As long as the majority of these products reached the town, that's fine with me. I don't have the power nor the backing to defend myself right now. That's why the next plan is to choose the things I need from the caravan then sell the rest as soon as possible lest the greedy people in this town try to steal it. There are always greedy people whenever you go. Greedy enough to murder and steal just to get what they want.

I already prepared and bought a manor for my future store and also my home. Its a small manor fit for lower nobility but not as eye-catching.

These past few days, I sold all the stuff I got on the caravan. The stuff that I sold was so much to the point that the Merchant Guild couldn't ignore me anymore. As a fake merchant, I used the reason of 'I lost it in when the caravan was ambushed.' There were bootlickers too since they thought that I was rich and capable. I did buy a manor in an instant and pretty much attracted the people with my "On Sale" tactics. Sister Rea always did like to buy things for us when they were on sale...

Let's stop thinking about it. This is my new life now...but I can't stop thinking... if I can ever go back to my world.

I was busy these past few days so I decided to stroll the town while comparing prices of other shops and greeting them too. A good merchant, has to have a good reputation and an open mind.

While I was strolling though... I saw something that made me stop... A Church...

which reminded me of the reason and the person ...the woman(bitch) that send me here

.

I was curious so I entered not knowing I would regret not stepping into this Goddess' church 20 years earlier. Slaves has no place for a church or so most people say. But otherworlders like me? I soon learned that for otherworlders like me who had made a contract with the Goddess, its important to step inside her church at least once... Just one step inside... to receive the power, the ability to help defeat the demon king. Some call it blessings, I call it my compensation for kidnapping me.

[YOU HAVE RECEIVED A UNIQUE ABILITY: SPACE MAGIC]