episode_0111

“2000! 2000 has been bid! 2000! Is there no one else! A former saintess! Who will be the one to own her body as they please!”

The auctioneer shouted out the staggering current bid, reminding the crowd of the advantages of this particular slave.

Indeed, he seems to be quite skilled at inciting competition among the people.

With a sense of urgency, he rapidly repeated the price, creating an atmosphere as if someone was chasing after them.

Why waste such talent in a place like this, akin to a garbage dump?

“….”

As the bid reached 2000 gold, there were hardly any bidders calling out higher prices.

I waited for the auction to end and for the saintess to be awarded.

While I could have just bought the saintess myself, the entire slave market was focused on this place.

I planned to snatch the saintess away from the winning bidder after the auction ended.

Of course, that would likely cause quite a commotion, but the current situation was not favorable.

“2100!”

“2100! Unbelievable! 2100 has been bid! The competition is heating up again! The power of the saintess is truly remarkable! How far will it go!”

“2200!”

The bidding started to rise again.

Upon closer observation, it was now a competition between two individuals.

I decided to move closer to get a better look at who they were.

On one side was a significantly overweight man adorned with precious metals, typical of a ‘greedy slave merchant,’ sweating profusely as he called out the prices.

Two female slaves by his side, wearing slave collars, were wiping the sweat off the merchant with handkerchiefs.

Judging by their anxious expressions, it seemed like the bidding was reaching its limit.

On the other side was a tall man with a clean-cut appearance and snake-like eyes, who looked more like a guest than a slave merchant.

He had no slaves accompanying him and exuded an air of wealth.

Without a change in expression, he immediately raised the bid whenever the other bidder called out a price.

My intuition told me that this man would be the one to win the saintess.

“The slave market of Pifnel often attracted high-ranking officials, nobles, and even some members of the royal family as guests.

Especially the man that caught Yunoa’s attention was a figure of considerable power and wealth in the kingdom.”

If that’s really the case, then what has happened to this kingdom?

If even members of the royal family visit the slave market as guests, isn’t the kingdom itself rotten to the core?

A trash kingdom with trash heroes, it seems like there’s more than one thing wrong here.

A figure of considerable power and wealth in the kingdom…

But even so, I couldn’t give up on bringing the saintess with me.

Our fate depends on it.

If we finish the job quickly and escape, and we’re disguised as well, it shouldn’t be easy to track us down.

It might become quite troublesome if we get caught, but…

“3000! 3000 has been bid! Is there no one else!”

The auctioneer shouted.

As expected, the man who had been attracting attention was the final bidder.

The overweight slave merchant, who had been competing fiercely, was now drenched in sweat, his face contorted in frustration.

It seems this is the end.

“Is there no one else! 3000! Going once! Twice!….”

With no higher bids coming in, the auctioneer began counting the numbers.

He counted up to four, but no new bids were made.

“Five! Sold!”

With a buzz of excitement, the winning bidder was determined.

The auction ended, and the saintess became the possession of the man with the snake-like eyes who had bid the highest price.

After the auction ended, I wandered around, keeping an eye out for the man who had won the bid for the saintess.

The people who had gathered at the auction dispersed and went back to their own business.

The man who became the owner of the saintess paid the auctioneer and put a slave collar on the saintess.

“Yunoa, do you really intend to do this? That man….” Mirabel said, looking at him.

“Do you know him?”

“That man is quite famous around here. He’s the second son of a wealthy merchant and has deep connections with the royal family.”

“Why would a man like that be in a place like this?”

“Why would the kingdom turn a blind eye to such places?”

I knew from the narration that he was a person of wealth and power, but the son of a national merchant….

But I had already made up my mind.

Even if the king himself was with the saintess, I still had to save her.

I followed the man who was taking the saintess Selena away, keeping a safe distance.

The security was laxer than I expected.

Given the nature of the slave market, it was difficult to use a lot of security personnel, which worked in my favor.

But things would be different once we left the slave market.

I had to make a move before he took the saintess and escaped.

Otherwise, things could get very complicated.

The problem was how to evade tracking after stealing the saintess.

“Mirabel, could you take Meruru back to the demon sanctuary first?”

Now that I had successfully entered the slave market, Meruru’s presence was a burden when considering what to do next.

There was no need to increase the risk, so it seemed better to send Meruru back first.

“Are you sure?”

“I think it would be easier for me to be alone right now. I can’t send Meruru back alone, so please come with me.”

Meruru, dressed as a slave, couldn’t leave here alone.

But if Mirabel, disguised as a slave merchant’s bodyguard, took Meruru out, there would be a reason to do so.

If anyone saw, they could say they were taking a slave out on an errand for the slave merchant.

“Uh… Where is Meruru being taken now… What will happen to her now….”

Was Meruru still acting as a slave?

Well, it might be better to keep acting until we completely leave this place.

Mirabel looked worried at my request, but soon nodded and took the rope attached to Meruru’s slave collar from me.

“Then I’ll wait at the demon sanctuary. Be careful.”

With that, Mirabel and Meruru moved further away from me.

Alone, I continued to chase the man who was leading the saintess.

The man seemed to be pleased with the saintess, caressing her face a few times and lifting her chin.

Then he pulled the slave collar’s leash hard, causing the saintess to fall to the ground.

Saintess Selena didn’t resist.

She just followed along with a blank expression.

Fortunately, the man didn’t immediately rush out of the slave market; it seemed like he wanted to look around a bit more.

Perhaps he wasn’t satisfied with just one saintess.

“Dorian, the second son of the national merchant, had a secret hobby.

He gathered young women of his taste in his room to engage in perverted and cruel games.

Having obtained a rare and good toy in the form of a former saintess, he was looking for another slave to play with.

He needed at least three female slaves for one ‘game.’”

He really was the second son of a national merchant.

His name was Dorian.

He was an irredeemable perverted child.

The narrator mentioned something about a “perverse and cruel game,” although I didn’t know exactly what it was, it was clear that it wasn’t a typical game.

What you’re carrying is the only real saint in the world with intact sanctity.

Although I felt like I wanted to destroy the entire slave market and rampage, my first goal was still to rescue the saint.

While it was pitiful for the other slaves here, I thought it best not to take on something I couldn’t handle alone.

By now, Mirabel and Meluru would have safely returned.

I was waiting for the moment when the number of eyes around Dorian would be minimized as much as possible.

Before he left the slave market with the saint, I aimed for a time when no one else’s attention was focused on him.

It was difficult to find a perfect timing in the crowded slave market where no one would notice, but it would be less troublesome if there were fewer people watching than in a situation where everyone’s attention was focused like the auction earlier.

“Yunoa, who looks like an old veteran slave merchant in the slave market just by appearance, was almost one with the slave market.

Thanks to the excellent disguise, he didn’t feel uncomfortable walking around the market alone.”

Is that a compliment… or an insult…?

Anyway, it’s a story that the effect of disguise is excellent, so I feel a little more relieved.

That was the moment.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

“Attention! Attention! The second auction of the day is about to begin! Pay attention!”

A voice calling from the auction house was heard.

Another slave auction?

People’s attention began to focus on the auction house.

Dorian, who was carrying the saint, also turned his body to look at the auction house.

The auctioneer, who could be called a master of slave promotion, was attracting people’s attention.

This is truly a golden opportunity.

To cause chaos in the slave market, it would be effective to do so when people’s attention is focused on the auction house.

I quietly hid behind a large pillar nearby and drew my sword.

Then, filling the sword with magic, I swiftly sent a sword beam towards the pillar in front of the auction house where people were gathering.

Zzt! Kwaahhh!

The sword beam, flying at almost invisible speed, made a loud noise as it struck the large pillar in front of the auction house.

With a tremendous sound like an explosion, the pillar collapsed, covering the guys who had gathered in front of the auction house to buy slaves.

“What, what is it! What’s happening!”

“Ahhhh!”

“Hey! Someone got crushed!”

“What?! All of a sudden!”

In an instant, chaos spread from the auction house.

Dorian, with a surprised expression, couldn’t take his eyes off the auction house.

Now is the time.

I quickly approached Dorian from behind and cut the rope connected to the necklace around the saint’s neck.

Then, I grabbed the wrist of the saint, Selena, and started running recklessly.

“Huh? What, what is it! Hey! Stop that!”

Dorian belatedly realized my presence as I grabbed the saint and ran away.

The bodyguard who was with Dorian immediately pursued us.

I ran towards the exit, planning to hinder the pursuers, and one by one, I cut down the pillars I saw on the side.

Rumble! Crash!

The falling pillars blocked the path behind us.

But the pursuit continued.

As expected, the saint’s running speed was too slow.

To completely shake off the pursuers, I needed to run faster and create more chaos.

“What? You! Stand right there!”

As I ran while holding the saint’s wrist, someone blocked my way.

I didn’t know if he was from the slave market or not, but blocking the way would only render me powerless.

While running, I used the sword handle to strike the man’s abdomen who was blocking the path.

“Crack! Cough!”

The man clutching his stomach collapsed with a gasp.

Ignoring the man, I continued running without looking back.

With piles of wooden barrels and boxes around, I made a mess by knocking them over haphazardly.

Setting fire to my sword with magic, I swung it wildly around the area where flammable objects were stacked, setting everything ablaze.

I made sure to create chaos all around, making it impossible for them to chase after me.

Whoosh!

“Fire! Th…there’s a fire!”

“Ah! Another pillar collapsed!”

“What’s happening?!”

Chaos erupted inside the slave market, with shouts of confusion coming from all directions. Smoke billowed from the fire, screams echoed from the fallen pillars, curses were heard from one side, and cries from the other…

Haha… what a mess…

But thanks to the chaos, the pursuers were nowhere to be seen.

Before I knew it, I had reached the exit of the slave market.

I planned to hide in a corner of the underground waterway until things calmed down, then make my way to the demon sanctuary.

I had to be cautious, as they could still track me outside.

“Lady Selena, hop on.”

With a moment of respite, I used the tip of my sword to remove the slave necklace that was around Lady Selena’s neck and said.

Selena looked bewildered, not understanding what was happening.

There was no time to explain. We couldn’t relax until we were completely out of here.

“Hurry!”

As I urged her, Selena hesitantly climbed onto my back.

Alright, from now on, we’re getting out of here at full speed.

“Unoa’s actions to create chaos in the slave market had a better effect than expected.

Especially setting fire to the wooden crates, all the people in the slave market were focused on extinguishing the fire.

The smoke from the fire in the poorly ventilated underground was deadly.

Everyone in the slave market, including the managers, guards, merchants, and customers, were putting all their efforts into putting out the fire.”

The narration conveyed the situation inside that I couldn’t see.

If that’s the case, at least they won’t be able to chase me from inside.

And I was still disguised as a slave trader with a fake mustache.

They wouldn’t even know who did this.

Even if they found out later, it would be too late by then.

I carried Lady Selena on my back and escaped the slave market, running at full speed towards the underground waterway.

I could feel Selena’s warm body temperature and breath. And the soft touch on my back…

“Phew…”

How far had we run? We reached the farthest corner of the underground waterway.

Arriving at a secluded place where no one was around, I took a moment to catch my breath.

I checked multiple times for any pursuers, and once I was sure no one was there, I could finally relax a bit.

Thanks to my magically enhanced body, carrying the Lady wasn’t too difficult, but due to the tension, I could feel my heart pounding.

I gently lowered Selena from my back.

Is this woman really Lady Selena…?

Finally, I could see her up close.

“As Unoa caught his breath, he looked at Lady Selena and had impure thoughts.”

No, this is not the time for impure thoughts.

I was just relieved that I managed to get the Lady out of that disgusting place safely.

“Does he really think that way?

Is he denying to himself that he was very conscious of the soft touch he felt when he carried the Lady on his back?”

“…”

At those words, my gaze unintentionally drifted to Lady Selena’s neckline.

…It was impressive. Even though it was covered by priestly robes, her chest size was remarkable…

“Um… who are you?”

Caught off guard by my wandering gaze, she asked me.

Selena looked very confused.

“I will explain later. For now, just think of me as someone who has come to rescue the saint.”

“……”

There was a look in their eyes that seemed to doubt my words.

Of course, my appearance right now is that of a greedy slave trader.

Anyway, I must have hidden well enough, avoiding people’s eyes as much as possible as we make our way to the demon sanctuary.

“Can you walk?”

“……Yes.”

In response to Selena’s answer, I took off my long coat and put it on her, covering the conspicuous priestly attire.

Then, I removed the fake beard and threw it into the river.

It’s better if our appearance going in and coming out is slightly different.

“Let’s go.”

And so, we left the area with the slave market and made our way to the demon sanctuary where our allies were waiting.