After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

A/N: We’re behind ~50 Golden tickets for Golden Top 1! If you have extra tickets, do send us some~! That ranking is the only source of exposure this old story could have now T_T

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The thing about older slaves was that they had seen a lot, especially if they had stayed in the same territory for a while, which was the likely case even if they changed masters. They were also humble and therefore much easier to interact with, unlike those arrogant aborigines.

Another thing about slaves was that unless specifically told to keep mum, they didn’t have to. This was likely because most slaves still needed to be spoken with and they couldn’t write or read (not that papyrus or pens were readily available for them) so verbal communication was needed.

They automatically couldn’t betray the territory or their current masters, of course, but the questions he asked sounded purely out of curiosity from a dashing young lad, so it didn’t trigger anything at all.

His master was a noble who gossiped around the house a lot. The lucky thing was that this noble didn’t think these gossips were worth guarding, so it was easy information for him.

He also gave them some barbeque he bought, though with added Alterran spices, along the way.

He spilled even more when he tasted it.

”I heard Miss Cassandra also introduced some special sauce. She made a lot of money!” he said, ”My master had bought a bottle for a very high price from the lord’s house. I know this because he ranted a lot, selling it much more expensively than Miss Cassandra did.”

After ranting about a few things, he heaved a deep breath. ”Miss Cassandra is so beautiful and capable. Her fiance is really lucky. He does not deserve her.”

Gill looked at him deeper and nodded, finally having a good impression of one person in this damned place.

Gill looked at the old man closer and realized he was really small for an aborigine. When he took the barbecue he also saw how pudgy his fingers were, and how there was a small web between his fingers.

It reminded him of someone. He also thought of the man’s open attitude to him despite him being an ’alien’ but, in retrospect, he could’ve been helpful because of it.

An idea came to mind that he couldn’t help but voice out, just throwing it out there. ”I’m friends with someone who has similar features like yours,” he said. ”His name is Gaudi.”

The man froze and looked at him. But then he chuckled and shook his head, as if finding the thought silly.

”Gaudi?” he voiced out, his voice cracking. ”Ah no, Gaudi is an uncommon name but there should still be a lot of them.”

In Gill’s eyes, it was like he was telling this to himself rather than Gill.

The ebony-haired man looked at him closely, taking note of his features. He had more prominent features of that race than Badjau, someone already recognized as a half-Nova.

Anyway, it was understandable the man was in denial. He must’ve been disappointed plenty of times in the past. However, Gill had no time to be doing therapy with a stranger.

”Who’s your master?”

”Sir?”

”I would like to purchase you as a slave,” he said. He really needed some help, especially one who knew the place.

The man almost dropped whatever he was holding.

”I… I—”

Gill raised his hand to stop him from talking. ”You mentioned that your master bought some of the special sauce for a very high price.”

”Yes…”

”Then take me to him,” he said, ”Tell him I have the sauces and at a much more affordable rate than the lord.”

”A-Ah, y-yes…” he said, still absorbing the abrupt changes. Obviously, when leaving the mansion this morning he was just going to buy ingredients, right?

When he helped this man out, it was just out of a random urge to be kind, because he recognized him as a non-native.

He had heard that there were new Aliens that came decades earlier than expected, and that they looked a lot like the locals with some differences. However, he did not expect to see one so soon—and a free one, at that.

Anyway, he felt an instant camaraderie and decided to assist.

But not to this degree!

They walked towards the mansion together, passing by the lively streets, and the slave really didn’t know what to make of it. He was just letting his body move on its own, basically.

It was broken when Gill asked him a question. ”What’s your name?”

”Ghesso, sir,” he said.

”And you are from Nova?”

Ghesso’s feet stopped and he really dropped his basket this time. He whipped his head to look at Gill with wide eyes, tears lining up.

However, he sniffled, stopping it—as if afraid to hope for too much.

Gill looked at him. ”There’re two people in my village from that place,” he said.

”They’re free people and both are living very well,” he told him, emphasizing their states. ”Don’t you want to meet them?”

…

The noble’s name was Urkin, a middle-aged man (though he was technically well into his 60s). He had pale skin, long curly hair, and a big belly.

At this time, he was munching on meat that was so delicious that he almost moaned.

It was the same meat he usually ate, but the experience was wholly different! He couldn’t get enough of it!

His family was the same. However, he was afraid they’d sneak around and take his stock, so he sent them to the academy for extra lessons!!

It was just so delicious that he and the family ate much of the food in stock. Now, the slaves had gone off to replenish the pantry, but the person buying the actual vegetables and meat had yet to return!

He was getting really annoyed, almost as annoyed as he was for losing the chance to buy more sauces from Miss Cassandra! When it was introduced, he only bought a certain amount to try it out, not knowing it’d get sold out within an hour!

He couldn’t help but feel worried if they would continue to have access to the goods when she got married. Maybe those bastards from Ester Town would get that right instead?

Annoying!