episode_0006

‘Lloyd’, possessed by Lee Han, was a special child.

Maid Bella said that Lloyd had been gifted with intuition since he was young, and that he learned to speak and walk faster than others.

While other children played with dirt, he read books. While scribbling, he drew magic circles.

He said that when he focused on something, he got so absorbed in it that he even fell asleep several times.

When Lloyd learned mana sensing and was able to float small objects, even his parents began to suspect that he was a witch.

Expectations for genius.

That anticipation was shattered over time.

His heightened senses gave him neurosis. Every night he reacted sharply to all kinds of noises, and his concentration was disrupted during sleep.

As he grew thinner day by day, his body and head collapsed, unable to withstand the sensation of mana. He collapsed while walking down the street and lost consciousness.

The Arenberg family had no money and could not afford to hire doctors all the time. Even doctors often returned without finding a cure. Even Lloyd’s parents gave up on him.

The one who took care of Lloyd in the Seongsimseo was maid Bella.

Even though she was only three years older than Lloyd, the young master who had taken care of her since she was a child was no different from her younger sibling to her.

There must have been some repayment for the fact that the Countess Arenberg had taken in the orphan Bella.

When Lloyd woke up. To be exact, when the spirit possessing Lloyd’s body woke up.

Bella held him and cried for a long time.

— Rumble!

The carriage shakes violently.

Lloyd frowned as he felt his back scrape against the wall.

The floor and walls of the carriage that transports those who will become slaves are all rough. The chains that bind their hands are harsh.

The rusty iron chains made an unpleasant creaking noise every time the carriage shook.

Still, it was better than the conversation I heard before I got on the carriage.

— I’m sorry, Lloyd. I’m so sorry…

— I thought it was for the sake of the family. I feel ashamed. But I did ask that they send me to a better place…

I didn’t feel any sense of betrayal.

Ever since he took possession of this body, Lee Han had been feeling disillusioned with humans.

He didn’t even feel affection towards his parents.

Maybe that’s why Lloyd is being sold.

My mind was surprisingly calm, except for the discomfort caused by my entire body being restrained.

And one more thing.

Thoughts about Maid Bella.

She won’t sell.

She was the only maid in the family, she was more useful than Lloyd, and above all, Lloyd was going to be sold for a high price.

only.

I felt uneasy without her.

The only time I felt at ease was when I was with Bella.

Perhaps it was because the owner of her body remembered her warmth.

And now she’s not around. Probably never will be.

— Clap clap clap clap!

The mocking sound of applause won’t leave my head. Tinnitus that constantly swirls around in my head.

And then a voice was heard.

— ‘Let’s get revenge. Let’s kill everyone.’

It always said this.

Lloyd bit his lip.

Hood thud.

Drops of blood fell and stained the floor of the carriage red.

◆

— Swaaaah!

A middle-aged man and a boy stepped into the auction house, stepping through the mud that had turned into a muddy mess due to heavy rain.

“Damn it. It’s raining cats and dogs.”

As the man shook his outer garment, large drops of water fell down. He smelled of mud, rusty iron, and a faint smell of blood. He roughly shook his hair and clothes and then dragged the boy away.

“Walk, kid. Don’t be nervous.”

“How can you not be nervous when you’re at a slave auction?”

The slave trader chuckled as he watched the little boy named Lloyd talking back to him point by point.

“You’re so nervous, but you’re still in good spirits?”

“I usually become calm when I’m nervous.”

“Heh heh. That’s right. Are you a second-time brat?”

The merchant didn’t see the little boy flinch.

He explains as he walks away, his mouth watering.

“Your status is clearly a commoner. You are not a slave.”

“Then what is this?”

“Auction market where commoners are sold.”

“Isn’t that slavery?

“… That’s true, but I think it would be better to use the word “recruitment agency.” ”

“Human Resources Introduction…?”

“Yeah. You can think of it as a public guild interview. But you only have to work at the place you were sold to for 10 years. ”

Thud thud.

Footsteps echo through the cold stone passage.

The man glanced down at the boy. Normally, he would be crying at this point, but the boy still had a blank expression. For some reason, his calmness and weakness sent a chill down his spine.

“Little kid. Why aren’t you crying? Your parents abandoned you.”

“I knew this would happen.”

“What…?”

The boy continued speaking calmly.

“The Arenberg family has always been in debt. The recent doubling of the Empire’s toll on transit has hit the family hard. If you have to give, it’s only natural that you give your most valuable thing.”

The slave trader stuck out his tongue.

“I can’t believe you’re eleven.”

“Thank you.”

It’s a story of a flowing river.

I’ve sold countless people in my life, but this is the first time I’ve seen a kid like this. And he didn’t even hide his own value. Usually, people who are dragged into something like this instinctively hide themselves.

To this question the boy answered:

“Since it’s going to be sold anyway, it should be sold for a high price.”

“Why?”

“Whether it goes into a warehouse or a jewelry cabinet is determined by price. If it goes into a jewelry cabinet, wouldn’t it be better?”

The slave trader hurriedly swept his arm away. It was creepy. How could an eleven-year-old say something like that? No. Even adults would never say something like that. This child was already extraordinary.

The noisy sound of an auction can be heard from far away.

How much can this child receive? It will never be small.

“…Applause.”

The merchant raised the corners of his mouth as he watched the boy clenching his fists in front of the large door.

◆

— Now, the grand finale of this splendid auction is drawing near. Only three boys remain! As for this boy…

“This auction is particularly hot.”

At the highest point of the auction house. One of the scouts who was quietly watching the auction from the VIP seats stuck out his tongue.

At the end of his gaze, the three heroes, Aina, Aria, and Claire’s scouts were competitively sweeping up the boys from the auction.

— “Harold top! 5 million kroner! ”

— “We, the Knights Templar, will call for 6 million!”

The auction atmosphere is becoming increasingly heated.

The woman sitting next to him opens her mouth.

It seems like he just blurts out the words, but he seems deep and wise.

“There is information that a revelation was received from the saint.”

“Are you there? A prophecy given directly by God?”

“Yeah. If I were to summarize the holy whatever… it would be like this. ‘Today, at the place where people are bought and sold, the demon king and the warrior of the other world will reveal themselves as children.’”

“If you are a warrior from another world, are you talking about a demon? The one who was executed?”

“You know that character well.”

“Because the execution ground was near my neighborhood. No! Isn’t that a big deal? The Demon King being resurrected. ”

“That’s why it’s like that, right?”‘

The woman extended a long finger and pointed towards the three heroes, who were constantly raising the stakes.

Tsk. Olivia, a professor emeritus at Lichten Academy and temporary scout for the Grey Dukes, clicked her tongue.

“They’re probably causing a fuss at auctions all over the continent. Even so, there are probably only two or three places where auctions are being held today.”

“… There must be at least a few dozen of them. What are you going to do with them after you buy them?”

Olivia frowned at the innocent question.

“I’m going to kill you.”

“Yes?”

“There’s a prophecy that the Demon King will be resurrected. Will you let him live?”

“That… that’s true, but…”

Olivia rested her chin on her hand, leaving her junior in a state of confusion.

“What a shame. A kid like that should be in the academy.”

Her gaze was fixed on the boy with sharp eyes.

◆

The auction went quickly.

Before he knew it, Lloyd was dragged to the center of the auction stage.

The host raised the excitement as if he were broadcasting the finals.

“Okay-! Finally, today’s highlight! The next boy is rated [A+] by the Emotion Guild! He’s a top-quality boy who’s been around for a while! He may be young, but wouldn’t it be fun to raise him?”

“”Ahahahaha!””

Lloyd looked around quietly.

A lot of people are looking down on you.

It’s a nasty, judgmental look.

They were the buyers who would buy Lloyd.

It will be sold to the highest bidder here.

All I can do is hope that I will be sold to a rich family and live in a comfortable place.

Sigh.

Lloyd raised the corners of his mouth, finding his own appearance funny.

In my last life I was sentenced to death, in this life I am a slave.

If I make some money, I might have to do something good.

— Clap clap clap clap!

Applause from the audience.

Lloyd barely resisted the urge to cover his ears.

If it looks like you have mental health issues, it won’t sell for a high price.

People treat expensive items with great care.

Value is determined by price.

Lloyd knew how to act like he was a luxury item.

His head was raised proudly and his posture was dignified.

He looked at everyone who was watching him as if he was looking down on them.

And as soon as the first bidder appeared, Lloyd frowned.

“The Saint’s Guardians of the Deus Church bid 1 million… oh, no! 10 million kroner! The highest bid ever for a boy auction in one go!”

The Saint’s Guardians. It refers to the knights who are directly under the Saint. And the Saint is…

‘It must be Aria.’

Lloyd bit his lip.

Aria, now a saint.

Lloyd, who had not looked into information about his comrades after his reincarnation, had no choice but to hear their names, as they were praised as the ‘three heroes’ who saved the continent.

Aria, the youngest saint and the first saint in 100 years of the church, is doing well.

Aria had clearly claimed that Lee Han had hypnotized her.

She was the one who put Lloyd up for auction to buy him. Of course, it wasn’t Aria herself, but someone under her.

“…….”

I feel sick.

—Wow!

— Clap clap clap clap!

The applause that came from the outrageous bid price only drove Lloyd further into a corner.

But the bidders after that were even more interesting.

“The flag of the Riepenstein Imperial Family! Her Highness the Second Princess Aina has bid 11 million kroner! May the noble bloodline be honored!”

Second Princess Aina.

The woman who brought the sword to Lloyd.

“Ah, it’s on fire! Harold, all the way to the top! You bid a whopping 13 million kroner in one go!”

Harold Top Claire.

Even his childhood friend from his previous life who claimed to have been brainwashed by Lloyd.

The ‘Three Heroes’ were desperately looking for Lee Han.