Ah, greetings, friend traveler! Prepare to dive into an ancient desert tale sprinkled liberally with absurdity. Hold on tight as we embark on this peculiar journey!
—
### The Second Pyramid?
At my question, the bipedal camel creature shrugged its shoulders as if genuinely surprised.
“Hmm, from your reaction, what is it? You didn’t know? Most of Cairo is crawling with treasure hunters who are after the legendary treasure of Ojimann Dias, the king who founded this place and sleeps eternally in underground ruins and pyramids. The fact that you don’t seem very interested in pyramids… well, you’re clearly more into tourism, aren’t you?”
As the camel spoke, I replayed the name “Ojimann Dias” once again in my mind. Wasn’t he the legendary hero who founded Cairo and happened to be the king of the Stone Dwarves?
“By ‘the king’s treasure,’ do you mean the one that supposedly grants wishes?”
“Oh, so you do know! It’s the mighty lamp forged by the greatest blacksmith, brimming with otherworldly power. I thought so! You’re definitely here for the treasure, huh? I knew it. My instincts are never wrong.”
The camel nodded smugly, pleased with its own brilliance.
“Hmph. So, you figured me out. Do I also smell like violence and primal beastliness? Not that it matters much. Am I any good at fighting?”
“Enough to not get eaten and d*e, I suppose.”
“Fantastic! Then let me introduce you to a great place nearby where we can chat more. I’m sure the conversation won’t bore you. I’ll even treat you to dinner!”
The camel’s offer made me wary. Sure, there are kind souls in this world who help those less fortunate, but equally, there are plenty of con artists eager to fleece naive newcomers like me—like, say, some random guy selling rocks at the market.
Narrowing my eyes, I shot a suspicious glance at the camel. It chuckled nervously, revealing its wide, flat teeth.
“Ho ho, no need to worry so much. Sure, I admit I might look a little shady, but once you hear me out, you’ll understand why. Besides, weren’t you staring longingly at the grilled kebabs back at the market? You must be hungry, right?”
“Did you notice me staring?”
“Of course. Unless you’ve come all the way from the northern peaks of the Ancient Nest, your white fur stands out like crazy around here. Honestly, I wasn’t the only one keeping an eye on you, buddy. Anyway, this noisy marketplace isn’t the best place for deep discussions, so let’s grab a bite. There’s a cozy spot nearby with beautiful girls and amazing food.”
With a reassuring thump on my shoulder, the camel gently shoved me forward.
—
‘Alright, let’s follow along for now. He doesn’t seem strong enough to cause trouble, and my stomach is definitely growling… Besides, if he tries anything funny, I can always turn him into today’s special.’
“Huh… suddenly feeling a chill down my spine. What’s going on? Anyway, we’re here.”
The camel stopped in front of a rickety old tent tucked away in a corner of the bustling market square. Despite appearing quaint and charming from afar, up close, the thing was practically falling apart. Riddled with holes, it seemed to whisper ominous warnings of its own instability.
“Come on, what are you waiting for? Inside, the Sphinx cats have been waiting patiently for us. C’mon, let’s go!”
Cautiously trailing behind our guide, I kept my claws ready just in case. Before entering, I carefully peeked inside…
“Down here, please.”
Inside the tent wasn’t what I expected at all: instead of fancy meals or comfy seating, there was a trapdoor leading underground through a square passage, with a ladder snaking down into darkness. A faint musty smell filled the air, causing me to wrinkle my nose.
“I’ll go first, so stay close behind me. The tunnels down here can get pretty confusing, and there are all sorts of creatures lurking about. We don’t want you getting lost.”
And with that, the camel confidently scrambled down the ladder, disappearing into the depths below.
“Guuuiiee… He doesn’t seem dangerous, does he?”
“…”
“Perfect, then let’s follow him.”
—
### The Roots of Cairo
Much like the roots of towering trees hidden deep beneath the earth, the underground of Cairo revealed secrets unseen above ground.
“This is the root of Cairo,” explained the camel as we walked through dimly lit corridors. “Anything that isn’t available upstairs? You’ll find it here. Down here, with enough coins, you can buy anything.”
And he wasn’t kidding. The bustling underground black market exceeded all expectations. Rows upon rows of stalls sold goods ranging from magical artifacts and forbidden spells to… people.
I blinked, startled, as I noticed a pair of male and female individuals chained together by iron collars. Their dusky skin and pointed ears marked them as Desert Fairies, kin to Abrahamic tribesfolk. Beside them stood a turbaned merchant with a fox-like face, loudly hawking his wares.
“Just caught these Sam tribe members fresh from the desert! Male workers are incredibly strong—even two days without food won’t slow them down—and the women? No task is beyond them, whether it’s weaving or cooking!”
His boisterous sales pitch caught the attention of a short Stone Dwarf woman walking nearby.
“Anything younger? Preferably something… small?”
“Uh, we’ve got younger ones, but anything much smaller doesn’t exactly pack the same strength.”
“Good. Lead the way.”
The merchant gestured toward a rusted cage holding trembling young boys and girls.
“Excellent choice. Take your time browsing—we guarantee quality.”
As the Dwarven woman inspected the captives, her sharp little face curled into a terrifying grin.
“Mm, excellent. They’re quite cute, as descendants of fairies should be.”
—
### An Underworld Marketplace
“Slave trading, huh.”
The camel glanced back at me, tilting its head curiously. “Looking to buy a slave?”
“Are slaves common around here?”
“Not exactly. Feeding and maintaining them can be costly unless you’re wealthy. These days, with all the guild regulations and charters for adventurers, taking a slave along isn’t as easy as it used to be. That’s why you’ll only find such trades in hidden places like this. Even then, things aren’t as chaotic as they once were.”
“Hm, slaves…”
It’s strange how certain concepts feel so alien to someone with a modern mindset. At over a hundred mental years old, I still struggle to grasp the idea of human ownership as a normal part of life.
“Black Jackal slaves for sale! Male: 10 gold pieces; Female: 3.”
At the mention of jackals, my ears perked up. Could it be…? Turning my head, I saw several humanoid jackals standing quietly, their limbs shackled with iron chains.
The females among them weren’t too different from humans, save for their fur-covered faces. In fact, some might even call them attractive.
The camel whistled low under its breath at the sight.
“Woah, Black Jackals, eh? No wonder they carry such a hefty price tag. I doubt even wealthy patrons could afford one. They must’ve been cursed into these forms by some strange divine interference, making them easier prey.”
“So, males are pricier than females?”
“Hm? Sure, that makes sense. Male slaves can serve as combatants during dungeon expeditions or work as manual laborers. Meanwhile, cursed female slaves usually end up limited to certain… specialized roles.”
“Roles involving s*x?”
The directness of my question startled even the camel, who simply shrugged it off.
“Well, yeah, probably. But honestly, if you’re into that kind of thing, why bother paying top dollar when Cairo offers plenty of alternatives? This city is all about indulgence, after all. There’s a reason places like this are so popular.”
The camel grinned slyly before turning a corridor, stopping abruptly in front of what looked like a dead end.
“Knock knock.”
Click-clack. A section of the stone wall creaked open, revealing an eye that glowed like molten red.
“Ah, so it’s you, Jack of the Tomb. And who’s the white-furred fellow behind you? New treasure-hunting buddy?”
The camel, Jack, smirked and scratched his cheek.
“Not yet, but maybe soon. How about hooking us up with some of your most charming girls?”
“Our entire shop is filled with nothing but beauties. Come on in.”
The stone doorway slid open smoothly, revealing a hidden room glowing softly with warm lights.
### A Secret Hideaway
As we entered the secret space, I was greeted by the strains of stringed instruments, heavy air, and an overwhelming scent of incense that almost made my head spin.
Even as a novice adventurer unfamiliar with Cairo’s underground culture, I could guess immediately what kind of establishment we’d stumbled upon.
“Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be a dining place?”
“Sure! But this is a place where you can indulge in food of all kinds… if you catch my drift.”
“Jack of the Tomb?”
“Call me Jack,” the camel grinned toothily. “I’m a well-known grave robber in these parts. So come on, let’s see what this place has to offer.”
Leading me through the threshold, we entered a spacious room clouded with pink mist. Various creatures lounged around casually, interspersed with humans and… cats.
“Welcome! First-time guest, aren’t you?”
A sleek woman lying seductively atop a table greeted us with a slow, confident walk. Her smooth voice tickled my ears as she circled me, rubbing herself against my fur.
“Such beautiful white fur! My name is Roxy, the owner of this establishment, ‘Meow Meow.'”
‘This woman… she has a tail! And cat ears?’
Indeed, this Roxy was no ordinary cat enthusiast. Her cat-like features were fully functional: tail, ears, and all. To my mild confusion, however, she wore absolutely nothing on her body.
‘Sphinx cat? That must be it.’
Back in my world, Sphinx cats were hairless breeds. Perhaps here, their lack of clothing was inspired by the same trait.
As I observed, most of the other women with cat ears nearby weren’t wearing much either, glancing at me occasionally with flirtatious smirks.
“Let me show you to a seat, or if you prefer, my private chambers await.”
“Hey, Roxy, isn’t that a little unfair? Back when I came here—”
“Ho ho ho… A rare sight like your snow-white fur is irresistible, isn’t it? So soft, so radiant… I’m practically dying to groom you! As a hairless one, I’m envious.”
Without warning, Roxy wrapped her arms around me and flicked her tongue along my fur.
‘This… this is marking territory. She’s seriously treating me like prey. And Azidahaka is going to k*ll me later.’
Fumbling with the compass in my leather pouch, I noticed something unsettling.
‘The needle… it’s stopped moving.’
And so, my adventure into Cairo’s hidden pleasures continued, but not without complications.
—
And with that, dear reader, the chapter ends. Be kind, and consider giving it a thumbs up if you enjoyed!
