episode_0059

In the arena, there were those referred to as the Trash Trio.

Totojen, who enjoys corrupting innocent kids.

Bansuk, who enjoys tormenting those with strong mental power.

And finally, the last piece of trash.

“Hmm, they seem to get along well, don’t they?”

“Yes, yes.”

A handsome man with brown eyes and black hair down to his waist smiled warmly and looked at Oduggi. Oduggi, in turn, nodded repeatedly, sweating cold sweat.

“However, the male slave has been leased by Totojen for about a year…”

“Oh, is that so?”

The man nodded with a mysterious smile.

“It would be more interesting if it were a male slave… Hmm.”

The man covered his lower face with his palm and rolled his eyes. The corner of his mouth, hidden by his hand, twisted unnaturally, enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

Even Ansho, who enjoys sowing discord among people and causing the destruction of relationships.

Totojen, Bansuk, Ansho.

These three were famous for wandering through various arenas and committing trashy deeds. They were called the Trash Trio not only because the three were close, but also because they had similar appearances.

Oduggi stole glances at Ansho’s face, thinking,

“He looks completely different from the other two?”

He had never seen Totojen’s face properly, but he could infer to some extent what he might look like just by looking at his wrinkled hands and the glimpses of his chin.

There were rumors that he looked similar to Bansuk, so he must have looked somewhat like him. However, the man in front of him, Ansho, looked nothing but a young man no matter how you looked at him.

“Is he maintaining his youth with black magic?”

As if reading Oduggi’s thoughts, Ansho suddenly contorted his expression and snapped,

“Get out.”

“Yes, sir?”

“I said get out!”

“Yes, sir!”

Ottogi was startled and dashed outside. Those who were tormenting Ottogi also rushed out of the room. Alone, Angshu twisted his expression and raised his hand to his face.

Grrr.

His face began to melt like a slime.

“Tsk, is it already at the end of its lifespan?”

He caught what was flowing down with his tongue. Then, as if peeling off his facial skin, a white face fell out.

“It’s fortunate that I prepared extra.”

His face had too smooth skin for a young man. The wrinkles that appeared naturally with age were not there.

It looked as if many wrinkles had formed on his young face. It was the side effect of dark magic.

Angshu rummaged through the dimensional bag and took out a pure white mask. When he put it on and gently stroked it, it melted onto his face in an instant.

In no time, Angshu regained his smooth face. After putting the mushy thing he had been holding in his hand into the dimensional bag, he slumped onto the sofa.

Perhaps because there was no one watching, a wicked smile hung on his face.

“A younger sister who relies on her older brother. She’s the perfect toy to destroy…”

Angshu tapped his knee with his index finger, then got up from his seat with a pleasant smile.

“I should have a little talk with Totojen.”

Angshu immediately left the room and headed to Totojen’s lodging.

Meanwhile, a gloomy atmosphere hung over Totojen’s lodging.

“So… you’re saying you failed too -”

“What…! We haven’t even started yet, how can it be a failure… ugh…”

Totojen looked at Angshu with a bewildered look, clutching his waist and groaning. It seemed absurd that the one once called a demon by the slaves had become so pitiful.

“Age is frightening.”

He felt scared at the thought of possibly ending up like that later.

“Mr. Totojen, Angshu has come to see you.”

“Angshu?”

TotoGen asked Bansuk with a glance if it would be okay to bring him inside. Although this was supposed to be his home, Bansuk was the first guest to arrive.

Bansuk, TotoGen, and Angsho were quite close, so Bansuk readily nodded. Shortly after, Angsho arrived in the living room.

“Good afternoon, everyone.”

“Long time no see.”

“Welcome.”

Up until then, TotoGen and Bansuk had intended to temporarily set aside their concerns about Lian and engage in casual conversation with their friends for a change of mood. That was until Angsho brought up Lian.

“What about you…?”

“Me? What about me?”

“In fact…”

Before Angsho could mention Lian, TotoGen and Bansuk explained the current situation with somber expressions, omitting the humiliating details and presenting the story in a somewhat circumspect manner.

“Well, if that’s the case, may I join as well?”

“You too? But…”

“Hmm…”

Even though it seemed too much for three people to cling onto one slave, it wasn’t easy to dismiss the idea. However, there was no clear answer.

“Since Bansuk is already involved… it shouldn’t matter if I join hands with Angsho.”

As TotoGen had already sought help from Bansuk, he had no objection to Angsho’s proposal. However, Bansuk felt differently.

“I can’t possibly hand him over to Angsho after showing such weakness! Absolutely not!”

In reality, Bansuk’s opinion didn’t matter. TotoGen held the authority over Lian. Consequently, a decision was easily reached.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Indeed.”

The three joined hands to cast Lian into the abyss.

***

“Why do I seem to be so popular?”

I was in the elevator with a blank expression on my face. It had only been a few days since I met the frail grandfather, but I was going up again because a new guest had called for it.

“Should I be relieved that Iris wasn’t called?”

No matter where I get hurt or stumble, I quickly return to my original state, so there’s not much impact, but it would have been fatal for Iris.

“I feel a little better thinking that I’m being called instead of Iris.”

As I entertained empty thoughts, the elevator arrived. Now, passing through the familiar corridor, I found myself in front of a door I had never seen before.

“This time, it will be a bit more comfortable.”

Joo Soo-in had started giving tips and acting friendly all of a sudden. Everything else was fine, but… he smelled because he didn’t usually bathe, so even though he acted friendly, I felt repulsed. After nodding vaguely, I approached the door. Then Joo Soo-in opened the door for me.

“I wonder who I’ll meet today? And… what they’ll do?”

The faint-hearted zombie fainted at the sight of my organs, and the frail grandfather left, clutching his waist.

“Come to think of it, there were no pleasant encounters.”

Remembering that the endings were never great, I moved inward. The corridor connected to the door I had entered was generally dark.

The curtains on the corridor windows blocked the light, and only the candlesticks on the wall illuminated the corridor. The light was brighter than expected, making the carpet pattern on the floor clear. There was no hindrance to moving forward.

“It’s this way.”

“Oh…!”

I habitually walked straight ahead, but I heard a strange voice from behind. When I turned around, a woman dressed as a maid was standing there.

“When did she appear? Is she a ninja or an assassin?”

Lost in thoughts of a battle maid, I quickly regained my senses and looked at the place she was pointing to. There was a door I hadn’t noticed earlier.

“I feel like I’ve become a character in a fairy tale.”

I approached the door with a bewildered feeling. Then, a maid came and opened the door.

Thud.

“Ah…”

As I opened the door, the smell of saliva filled my nose.

“Welcome.”

Beyond the door, there was a table set for a sumptuous meal and a man I had never seen before waiting for me. I swallowed dry saliva and went inside as the man sitting at the head gestured for me to come in.

“Please, have a seat and make yourself comfortable.”

In response, I sat in front of the food that looked appetizing. The man chuckled softly and spoke.

“It seems you were very hungry.”

“I’m not that hungry, but… seeing such delicious food in front of me makes me feel hungry!”

The man just smirked in response to my answer.

“Is that so? Then please eat as much as you like.”

“Wow, is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s a table prepared for you.”

“Thank you!”

‘He seems like a good person!’

I thought to myself and began to eat the appetizing food on my plate.

***

“Hmm, quite an interesting type.”

Angsho watched Lian eating and quickly turned her head.

“He must have been a slave for quite a long time, yet where does that confident attitude come from? More importantly… who just accepts and eats delicious food right away? How ignorant can one be to do that?”

No matter what Angsho did, she couldn’t affect Lian in the slightest, and there was no way for Angsho to know this.

“A fool who can show respect and cares for his younger brother… he could easily be ruined.”

In Angsho’s mind, the image of corrupted Lian mistreating her younger brother and ultimately betraying him, leading to his death, was vividly emerging.

The dream was becoming ominous.