Like thieves in the night, we'll free the slaves of this world!! (Part 4 ~ Resolution)

After... moving Anson's body elsewhere, we set out for the slave quarters. It's been a long day, but we've got no time to rest-- Especially if those Ale-knights show up in the morning. ...We could probably put up the barrier again, but the less I think about how tired I am the better. I really doubt any of the people we free here would want to sleep in the house of the person who held them captive, even setting aside however dire their living conditions here are.

Unlocking the door, we-

...

Good gods.

It's practically a prison-- exactly as dingy and gross as you'd expect. Cells filled with (now ex-)slaves of varying beastfolk as far as I can see. Hearing the door creak open, many of them even start shouting-- before quickly dying down as they see me entering instead of Anson.

"I'm... here to free all of you. Anson Slader is dead." Might as well get to the point-- I've never been good at dramatics. I hold out the ring of keys.

"How do we know you're not tricking us?" One of the captives yells out from the back.

"Shut up, over there! She's got the keys!" Another one yells in response.

"...Her dead body is still in her house, if you need proof." I add. "I've found her stash of gold, as well. All of you are more than welcome to take what you need-- and only what you need --to get your lives back together again."

A third hostage speaks up as I start unlocking doors. "I d-don't have anywhere to go, though..." A few others echo the same sentiment

"Then you can come live with me-- not as my property, but as people, with their own agency, in need of shelter."

The first one chuckles. "What, live in a dinky-ass cave with you? No thanks."

I look over to them. They're just a teenager, they don't know any better. Still, I glare at them.

Guess I've got to start with the dramatics. "I am the inheritor to the Exgrave family name-- as well as their castle. I'm here to continue Allogor's legacy. If you don't believe me, then take it up with my right hand; the fearful Crimson Black."

Crimson stands imposingly, a draft of wind causing his cloak to flutter-- the same cloak he... well, stole from Exgrave's corpse, but still.

The kid clams up.

It sickens me how many people have been locked up here, especially knowing that Anson definitely isn't the only one participating in the slave trade. I've easily opened cells in the double digits by now. Some of them have already left, some of them remaining in the building-- presumably so we can all set out together once everyone's been freed.

...After several minutes of opening cells and receiving praises from the people within, I finally find who I've been looking for.

A kobold. Lime green scales-- though darker and paler than I've seen before. Ears longer as to suggest adulthood. The same cat-ear horns that she had.

I freeze.

"H-huh...? Something wrong?" He speaks up.

"C..." I choke on my words. "C-Crux...'nub?"

He chuckles. "That's my name-- am I more infamous than I thought?"

I fumble, struggling to open his door.

"Y-you're not here to kill me, are you?" He laughs some more, obviously joking but still confused.

"No... I..." Where do I even begin? My mind races, several topics rushing all at once as I struggle to find a tactful way of approaching any of them. "I w-was raised in Poi Village... alongside your daughter."

His expression stiffens, becoming harder to parse. "Y-you've met Khil'nub?"

I nod. "W-we were sisters... Mae'poi raised us."

"How's... how's she doing...?" He stops, face darkening as he realizes the past tense. "No, don't tell me..."

"B-Brysen... woke up the quakebugs, and-"

"I said DON'T TELL ME!" He screams at me, slamming his fist against the bars, causing me to drop the keys in startlement. Tears well in my eyes, but before I say anything else, he continues. "S-sorry... I-I-I'm sorry."

A pause. He paces the room a bit, trying to calm himself down.

He turns back to face me, speaking more softly. "After Kerr was killed, I couldn't handle myself. I couldn't sit still. I had to avenge her." He sighs, breaking eye contact from me. "I... I abandoned my own daughter, just because I wanted revenge, and now I'll never get to see her again..."

He starts tearing up, as well. "I'm such a horrible father, aren't I?"

...

"She..."

"?"

"She was a very kind girl. Absolute heart of gold. And... s-she wanted me to tell you all about her. That was her last wish."

...

He lingers on my words, before eventually. "Mae'poi raised her well, then."

"...You said you're Exgrave's inheritor, right?"

I nod.

"And this isn't just a one-time thing, this whole slave-freeing thing?"

"Of course not."

He glances over to Crimson and Zephys, before bowing his head to me. "Let me join you, then. I know I've not made the best impression, but I've picked up some tricks on my time out of the village." The plaintive look on his face suggests he wanted to add something to the effect of 'and it's not like I have a family to return to, anyway.'

Figuring it best to not linger on that, for both of our sakes, I decide to humor him. "Such as?"

"I've been dabbling in alchemy-- really just food-based infusions, though. Helped me stay strong and it's always a fun surprise when fending off bandits." He grins.

...Should I be letting him risk his life like this, even after he's lost his daughter? He's an adult, he's ready and willing, but is this even a good idea?

...

"Alright, then."

I unlock the door for him. We've got time to think things over-- change our mind, if we need to --but here isn't the place to do that.

"You won't regret this at all, uh..."

"Pento."

"Pento von Exgrave?"

I chuckle. "Pento's fine for now. The others call me Lady Pento, but seeing as you're practically my step-dad, I'd feel weird about that."

"Sure thing." He pauses, looking down at his clothing with bemusement. "We'll need to replace these rags, get replacement equipment for me, but I'm here at your side, either way."

I get back to freeing the slaves, apologizing to each one for taking so long with Crux'nub.

"I'm... Zephys, by the way. Zephys Tailwind." She extends a hand to Crux as we continue walking.

"Tailwind...?" His eyes light up. "You're Astraeus' kid, then?"

She bashfully rubs the back of her neck "Y-yeah... I'm not as good of a chef as he is though."

"I've... I've always wanted to meet him." Crux beams. "He's... my idol, honestly. I've looked up to him ever since I'd started traveling the outside world. C-can... No, I don't want to be rude."

She laughs a bit. "I-I'm sure I can arrange for you to meet him," she looks towards me, "if we're not too busy, of course. He's a busy man, too... so no promises."

"Of course, of course. T-thank you so much, Miss!"

Crimson, meanwhile, pats his chest. "I'm certain I need no introduction, myself."

...

...

"R-right...?"

Crux shrugs his shoulders. "I'm sure you contribute a lot to Pento's team-- don't be so hard on yourself like that."

Crimson nearly collapses. "I-I-I meant more that my name precedes me!"

"Doesn't ring a bell, sorry."

He's on the verge of tears now. "D-did... Lord Exgrave never speak of me, w-when visiting your village...?"

Crux thinks it over for a moment, before a look of realization hits him. "Oh, right! You're 'that nuisance Crimson,' right?"

Crimson beams with joy. "The one and only."

"Well..." Crux chuckles. "I look forward to working with you, then."

"To you as well."

Eventually, after probably over forty people, we finally make it to the end of the compound.

...

...Huh?

They're... a harpy. A male one-- with red feathers that give way to yellow tips, and scraggly hair that covers their eyes. They... seem to be a child.

"H-hello, there."

No response.

He's sat at the center, not seeming to actively avoid me-- but he's not approaching the bars, either. Is he nervous? Scared of me? ...I don't know how to handle this. I wasn't expecting Anson to actually have children as slaves.

For now, I unlock the door for him. No use standing here.

He looks confused, not moving.

"I'm... here to free you." Slowly... I approach him, sitting down next to him as to not be imposing. I soften my voice. "The mean lady isn't here to hurt you anymore."

He coos at me, smiling faintly.

"I'm Pento." I gesture to myself.

"Pen.. to." He nods.

"What is your name?"

"N-name...?" He doesn't seem to know how to respond-- not that he doesn't understand me... more so that he might not even know what his name is.

"Do you... have a name?"

"Mmm-mmh." He shakes his head, frowning.

I look to the others.

Crux shrugs his shoulders. "I think I'd heard about this. They'd taken him when he was real young. Slave owners weren't interested in harpies, though, so he's been here longer than me."

"L-longer than you...? You've been here at least three years-- how old is..."

An older batfolk speaks up. "I'd seen his information. He's 18-- no name, like the kobold said."

I stop myself from reacting with shock, as to not startle the little one.

Zephys speaks. "...Harpies mature slowly, half as fast as most races."

...So he's only about 9 years old then, mentally. That's awful.

"We're lucky to have freed him now-- more people have been wanting harpy slaves lately..." She grimaces. "...Probably because of how long they stay young." She cringes at what she said, disgusted. It reminds me of what Anson said earlier.

I turn back to face the kid. ...I don't know a better way of asking this. "D-do you have a mom or dad...?"

"Mmm-mmh." He shakes his head. Fuck.

...He grabs onto my face, his feathers tickling me a bit.

"Ma...ma... Pento?"

Uh oh.

I mean... I don't want him to be an orphan. He doesn't have anyone to turn to. But... I don't know if I'm cut out to be a mother. I've already got so much going on right now.

...

...

I... really don't want him to be an orphan.

"S-sure... Mama Pento."

Maybe mom can help. She raised me and Khil, if nothing else she can at least help me figure out what to do until we find a better suited parent for him.

He smiles, cooing once more. Then... he points to himself.

"Can I... have a name?"

Oh no.

I'm glad he's getting more comfortable being around me, but this is all moving so fast.

...

I'll play along for now... What's the worst that could happen?

"Mmmmm... nnn.... Let's see..."

I look him up and down, trying to see if anything comes to mind.

Then... by nothing but vibes alone...

"Renato. Ren, for short."

"Ren..." He repeats me, probably trying to see how the name feels. Then, he smiles wide, practically vibrating with happiness. "Ren! Ren! Ren!"

I think he likes his new name.

"Can you stand?"

He coos, standing up. Then, before I can even say anything else, hops onto my back.

"Let's go... Mama Pento!"

That's that.

Zephys giggles, whispering to me. "Renato...?"

"It's just what came to mind." I whisper back, embarrassed.

All of us head over to Anson's house for a brief water stop. Zephys and Crux raid the kitchen, making some quick meals for all those who stayed-- probably around 20-25 people? It's a bit of a trek back to the castle, and we can't really afford to stop in the middle of the night with our numbers, so we're making the most of what we can while we can.

Afterwards, everyone grabbed their share of coins, with Zephys pocketing the rest. I... was a bit nervous that even with her bag being a pocket dimension, it wouldn't be able to hold everything, but thankfully it worked out.

On the long journey home, the batfolk from before waves to me.

"Hey... Lady Pento, was it?"

"Yeah?"

"I was talking with the others, and-- while we're all grateful for what you've done for us --some of us are not exactly sure they're comfortable holding up in a Demon Lord's castle."

I nod. "Understandable."

"We were thinking... since people might recognize us as having been slaves, it might be best for us to start a village together. Somewhere secluded."

"Makes sense. ...Why are you telling me, though?"

"Well, you were the one who took on Anson Slader and lived... so maybe you could watch over us as we get everything set up? Where's this castle, anyway?"

"Oh uh, on the mountain range overlooking the Glimmering Woods."

"That's even better then!"

"Wait... I think the king's trying to cut down the forest for some dumb trade routes." I sigh. "I was going to try and stop that, though." Not even just for these prospective villagers, but because that forest is so pretty. "I know some people who can probably help, too, and I can supply my own coin to help in building the village."

"Well, thank you very much, Lady Pento."

"Of course."

...

Mom's going to be in for a treat.