Unlimited Isekai 50 Cursed Baker's Dozen (Patreon)

Dave slouched into the ornate armchair, an expression of abject defeat sprawled across his woebegone face. He sighed, a long, drawn-out exhalation that seemed to encapsulate the full extent of his self-inflicted woes. "I screwed up pretty bad, didn't I?" he muttered, massaging his temples as if to knead out the tendrils of regret that snaked through his mind.

His Archmage companion regarded him with a mix of sympathy and amusement. "You managed to dishearten a young woman who, if the stars align correctly and the political machinations don't go awry, might one day rule the city of Shandria," he observed nonchalantly, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "But all is not lost. Seek her out, offer a sincere apology and perhaps she will find it in her heart to forgive you."

Dave nodded, allowing the words to settle within the crevices of his conscience. "Yeah," he agreed, a note of determination seeping into his voice. "I suppose I don't have a choice, since I haven't seen her or Murdoc in Rimzadria for days now."

"May the winds of fortune be at your back, young mage," the old man intoned sagely, as the rich tapestries of the Archmage's opulent office disintegrated into the ethereal mist of a fading dream.

The first rays of morning light streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm, golden glow upon the room. Dave's eyes fluttered open, and he rose from his bed, the remnants of his conversation with the Archmage still fresh in his mind. He found Remicra in the kitchen, her lithe, sinuous form bent over the stove as she prepared breakfast. Her iridescent scales caught the light, scattering a myriad of colors around the room.

"What's the plan for today?" she inquired, her voice a melodic purr that seemed to resonate deep within Dave's bones.

"I'm heading out," he replied, his voice tinged with an uncharacteristic solemnity.

Remicra cocked her head, her curiosity piqued. "For?"

"To purchase some slaves," Dave sighed, his face a mask of resignation. "We're not going to be able to fulfill our Bakelite orders without additional help."

"Very well," the dragoness acquiesced.

Dave hesitated, then added, "And I need to see if I can find Cedez."

At the mention of the name, Remicra's eyes narrowed, and her dragon tail twitched involuntarily, betraying the roiling emotions that simmered beneath the surface of her breakfast-preoccupied demeanour.

"Why do we even need her?" Remicra demanded, her voice a mix of disbelief and indignation. Her nostrils flared. "We've been managing just fine without her meddling presence. She's not causing us any trouble, and I see no reason for us to go out of our way to seek her out."

Dave shifted uneasily, rubbing his arm as if trying to erase the lingering guilt that clung to his skin. "I feel bad," he admitted, his voice low and tinged with remorse. "I yelled at her without understanding what or more precisely who she really is, and that's not fair to her."

Remicra snorted, her eyes flashing with exasperation. "What she is, is an irritant. A distraction," she insisted, her voice dripping with disdain. "We don't need her meddling in our affairs. If she chooses to keep her distance because you've managed to ruffle her fur, then I say good riddance."

Dave crossed his arms, his jaw set in a stubborn line. He refused to back down, despite Remy's palpable disapproval.

"What?" Remicra challenged, her voice heavy with incredulity. "Don't tell me you've grown fond of a mere ward echo!"

"She's a person, not some inanimate object," Dave countered, shaking his head in frustration. "I've learned some things from Lord Rim that have made me see her in a different light."

"You're taking advice from an insane dungeon core that's been relentlessly pelting us with rocks?" The dragoness raised an incredulous eyebrow, her tail flicking angrily behind her as she struggled to comprehend Dave's sudden change of heart.

"Yes," Dave asserted, his voice steady and resolute. He proceeded to recount his conversation with Alaster, the words tumbling from his lips like a cascade of revelations. As he spoke, he couldn't help but notice how the dragoness's expression shifted subtly, transitioning from disdain to a grudging acceptance of the new perspective.

"I see," Remicra conceded once he had finished. Her voice was reluctant, but there was a note of understanding buried within it. "I suppose there may be some merit in having the future sovereign of Shandria on our side, especially since our activities are not exactly within the confines of the law." She sighed. "Very well. Find her and offer your apologies. Try not to get arrested."

Dave nodded, a surge of gratitude filling his chest. He took a moment to savor the sensation before quickly finishing his breakfast and bidding Remicra farewell for the day. With a deep breath and renewed focus, Dave put an inconspicuous gray robe on and passed through the imposing front gates of Rimzadria Estate.

As he walked through the bustling streets of the town, Dave couldn't help but be swept up in the lively atmosphere. The cobblestone pathways wove through a tapestry of colorful storefronts, each one vying for the attention of passerby with vibrant displays of wares and the enticing aromas of freshly baked goods. The air was filled with the cacophony of laughter, conversation, and the clatter of beast hooves against stone.

After some meandering through the maze of streets, occasionally asking for directions, he eventually found himself at the entrance of the Bondsmen Guild - a looming building that seemed to cast a shadow over the surrounding area, both literally and metaphorically. The heavy wooden doors creaked open as Dave pushed his way inside.

The interior of the guild was a stark contrast to the lively world outside. The air was thick with an oppressive silence, disturbed only by the occasional shuffle of feet and the whispers of sales associates as they guided prospective buyers to private rooms. Dave felt a shiver run down his spine, the weight of the place settling upon him like a smothering blanket.

He had barely taken a few steps before he was approached by a sales associate, a man with a showman's flair, a lush moustache and a smile that seemed to stretch just a bit too wide. The salesman looked like a mixture of a dark elf and a human and was wearing a black suit and a dark robe with gold trim. His eyes gleamed with an unsettling mix of enthusiasm and greed as he clasped his hands together and asked, "Ah, welcome, welcome! I'm bondsman Zippermin. What type of slave are you looking to purchase today?"

The question hung in the air, a sinister echo that seemed to reverberate through the hallowed halls of the slave merchant guild. Dave steeled himself, preparing to delve into the dark world of people-acquisition.

"I was told that you recently acquired a group of slaves?" Dave inquired, his voice carefully neutral. "One that could be purchased at a discount?"

"Ah," Zippermin nodded knowingly. "Yes, the group. Come, I shall show them to you, and you can decide whether the elkin worth the investment."

"What's wrong with them?" Dave blinked, a twinge of unease creeping into his gut as he followed the bondsman into the depths of the building.

"They've contracted a magical sickness in the wilds," the salesman explained, absentmindedly twirling his lush moustache. "I'm afraid that it is incurable. They have a few years at best and it takes a special client to tolerate their… unique appearance, which is why they're on discount."

Dave frowned as Zippermin opened a heavy metal door, the hinges groaning in protest, and ushered him inside.

The room was dimly lit, casting an eerie gloom over the captives within. Dave's eyes fell upon a group of thirteen antlered elkin teenagers that inhabited the stone room. There was a see-through barrier between him and the shackled slaves. As Dave looked closer, he couldn't help but notice a very peculiar sight that adorned their majestic elk antlers.

The once-proud appendages were now covered in a tapestry of spiderwebs, the delicate silk strands weaving intricate patterns around the antlers. Amidst the webbing, blooming white fungi-like forms flourished, their fragile petals unfurling like the spread of an ethereal disease. Tiny white spiders skittered between the dandelion-like flowers, their spindly legs dancing across the webbing as they tended to their unusual garden.

Dave felt his heart clench at the sight, a mixture of pity and dismay welling up within him.

"Are those spiders?" Dave asked, his voice barely concealing the growing unease at the sight.

"Alas! These young, capable elkin, who should have been reveling in the prime of their lives, are condemned to a slow, painful decline!" Zippermin tutted, his voice imbued with a dramatic flair that seemed almost mocking. "Our healer tells me that the fungi go all the way into their brains and across their bones, taking on the function of many of their organs. If it is removed, they will die."

Dave clenched his fists, anger and pity warring within him. "How much for all thirteen of them?" he asked, his voice steely.

"One thousand silver," the salesman replied without missing a beat, his eyes glinting with avarice.

Dave's frown deepened, but he held his tongue. He needed these workers, as tragic as their circumstances were.

"You will get a lot out of them, even if their time is limited," Zippermin said, attempting to sweeten the deal. "They're exceptionally well-coordinated. They managed to kill three Shadow officers while being detained. The only rule is—you must keep them confined. I suggest using them in a small mining or an enclosed workshop operation. They must not be allowed to come into contact with other elkin, as the magical malady is capable of spreading."

Dave frowned.

"Don't worry, it has no effect on humans like yourself or other races," the bondsman assured jovially. "From what I was told, it is a highly specialized type of curse affecting only those who have been already severely weakened by malnutrition or other injuries. It spreads very slowly and is only dangerous if it's not scrubbed from the antlers in time for it to take root. These thirteen must have been in the wilds for a long time. They were collared after they raided a caravan heading from Illium to Shandria."

Dave mulled over the salesman's words, his mind racing with the potential consequences and implications. The fate that had befallen these elkin was a cruel one, but perhaps he could offer them some semblance of dignity and purpose in their final years. As he considered the offer, the weight of the decision bore down upon him, and he knew that whatever choice he made, their lives would forever be entwined with his own.

"I don't have a thousand silver," Dave admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "Would you..."

"Mmmmm, no," the salesman interrupted, shaking his head with an air of feigned sympathy. "A thousand is the lowest I can go. They’re already highly discounted due to their condition. A single, healthy slave goes from three to ten thousand silver because they can provide a lifetime of service.”

Dave sighed. It seemed that this situation required the charisma of the future Sovereign of Shandria to get the salesman to budge. His own persuasive skills were insufficient to sway the overly-cheerful bondsman.

"I'll be back," Dave said, casting a final, pained glance at the doomed elkin, feeling the weight of their gazes upon him like a physical burden.

"We're open from sunrise to sundown," Zippermin smiled, the gesture failing to reach his eyes. “Come back anytime.”

Dave nodded, his heart heavy with the knowledge that time was running out for the unfortunate elkin. He pushed open the door and stepped out of the oppressive gloom of the slave merchant guild, the fresh air outside almost jarring after the stifling atmosphere within. As he walked back through the town, his thoughts were consumed by the plight of the elkin and his need to find Cedez.

The possibility that the knowledgeable vixen might know a specialised healer in town who could help the unfortunate elkin buoyed Dave's spirits somewhat. Clinging to this hopeful self-invented idea, he continued his walk to the front gates of Shandria.

As he approached the entrance, the giant snail that housed the Cambria Snail Cafe came into view. Wizard Murdoc, as usual, was perched atop the gargantuan gastropod, surveying the scene below. Dave's eyes darted through the cafe crowd, seeking the familiar sight of a dark tail and a dark leather dress. But Cedez was nowhere to be found.

A snow-white owlkin, dressed in a flowing blue gown, approached him with a warm smile. "Welcome to the Cambria Snail Cafe!" she greeted him with a mellifluous voice, the white feathers on her head bristling. "How can I serve you? Our snail cake special is..."

Dave barely registered her words as his pulse quickened, his chest tightening with anxiety. Cedez was gone. The gravity of not seeing her brilliant smile crashed against him like an ocean tide, as the bustling world around him seemed to fade into a blur.