Episode 132
The top floor of the auction house, an area under strict surveillance.
"Is that... a real demon?"
"Heavens. The horns, those red eyes, and even a black tail... they must be real demons!"
"Good gracious. Now they've gone as far as selling demons as slaves. What a surprise."
Unlike other areas, an unusually large crowd had gathered around a single cage.
"Of course they are real demons! Thoroughly verified, possessing purple demonic energy!"
Among the crowd, a guide with a greasy mustache was introducing the merchandise to the people with an exaggeratedly stylish voice.
"For the past several hundred years, demons who had hidden themselves not only in the Empire but also across the Western and Eastern Continents have revealed themselves here today!"
In the cage that the guide and the crowd were staring at, a boy and girl who perfectly resembled demons were hugging each other with terrified expressions on their faces.
"How can I purchase them?"
"Is there a certificate? How was the guarantee processed, and who participated?"
"I heard demons are powerful and evil. Are they properly tamed?"
At first glance, they looked quite pitiful, but the people gathered to watch these demons were asking questions to the guide with greedy eyes.
To the nobles who staked their lives on rare things and luxury, the fact that they were demons was merely one form of value.
"The guarantee is certain! Although we couldn't entrust the request to the Magic Tower due to security issues... a great mage from the Western Continent and a great sorcerer from the Eastern Continent conducted cross-verification and gave us confirmation!"
"So, the certificate is..."
"Of course there is a certificate! We plan to show you the magically processed certificate before you make your purchase."
Because of this, the slave market and the guide were in high spirits.
The slave market was generating higher revenue than ever before, attracting unprecedented interest by exhibiting demons, and the guide stood to receive an unimaginable commission and advantages if the demon transaction succeeded.
"And yes, it is true that demons are strong and evil! But worry not! The mages who participated in the guarantee have personally cast submission magic on them!"
"But what if they still don't listen? I prefer them obedient."
"I'd actually prefer one that resists. That feels more taboo somehow."
Thanks to this, a heated atmosphere was circulating on the top floor.
This was because a rare transaction that satisfied both the slave market and the participants was proceeding successfully.
"For such customers, we've divided the temperaments in half! You can choose between obedient demons and rebellious demons! Of course, since quantities are limited, I'm not sure if you'll be able to make your choice!"
Therefore, the only unfortunate ones there were the demons who were about to be sold off and humiliated without knowing why.
And at the same time, the royals who were the hopes that would lead the Cloud Kingdom.
"I'll buy them! How much is the price?"
"Wait a moment, I came here first!"
"What are you talking about, I came first?"
The atmosphere on the top floor briefly became heated as people competed to purchase them.
"Ha, making a scene just for arriving a few minutes early. Doesn't everyone know the rules here well?"
At someone's words, the atmosphere temporarily settled.
"Yes, that's correct! The person who offers the highest price takes ownership of the slave. That is the absolute rule of our slave market!"
The guide, who smiled brightly at them, spoke while spreading his arms.
"Currently, all of these demons have already been purchased!"
"...What?"
"What does that mean?"
At those words, the nobles who had come for the first time began to frown deeply.
"Ugh, the VIPs must have monopolized them again."
"Well, there's no way those folks wouldn't buy them."
Those who had visited a few times and knew the market rules well began to converse while sighing.
"Since they're VIPs, they must have purchased them at a high price. So let's pool our money again this time."
"Let's do that. Let's decide after purchasing first."
"Sigh, looks like we'll be sharing slaves again."
The guide, who was watching them with a greedy smile, began to read the note he was holding.
"Then, I will announce the price right here."
"Huh? You're not distributing the invoice?"
"There's no need. All of these slaves have the same price."
The guide who said that revealed the price with a smile.
"""..........!!!"""
And the people on the top floor who heard that price were all plunged into shock.
"Why is it so expensive?"
"Did you say it wrong? Even if they're demons..."
"W-who on earth..."
Even though they were demons, the price was outrageous.
"...If they're a VIP and offered that ridiculous price, there's only one person."
"Is it Frey again? That bastard?"
"Damn it, he swept everything away last time too."
Among the atmosphere filled with shock, nobles who were already familiar with this market began to gossip while mentioning Frey's name.
"Well, what can we do. He's buying with his own money."
"Sigh... yeah, let's just gather money."
"If we're lucky, we might be able to pick up one or two."
But that was only for a moment.
Giving up was difficult because the rarity of demon slaves was too tempting.
"This won't do. We need to pool our money too."
"...Can't be helped. I tried to buy at least one somehow, but at this rate my fortune will be ruined."
Even nobles who were about to give up and return began to band together out of sheer determination.
"Damn bastards... those children are..."
And there was one girl quietly grinding her teeth while watching such a scene.
"They're not merchandise..."
She was none other than the youngest of the Cloud Kingdom royals who had become slaves.
Princess Aishi.
.
"Frey, this bastard deserves to die."
Thanks to Frey who had purchased all her family members right in front of her, Aishi, the princess of the Cloud Kingdom, was steeling her resolve.
Whatever he wants, she would grant it all. Whatever he orders, she would follow everything.
No matter what humiliation she had to endure, she was determined to endure somehow to save her family who were in danger of being sold off as slaves.
And if he still refused to negotiate even then... she planned to threaten him with the curse she had placed on Frey.
Of course, given the nature of the curse she was under, she wanted to save that as an absolute last resort.
But.
"At the very least... at the very least..."
She hadn't even been able to meet Frey, let alone negotiate with him.
"You should have at least given me a chance to negotiate..."
The reason was simple.
Frey had ignored all of her communications.
Because of this, she became anxious and even inquired at Sunrise Academy, but the only response she received was the news that he had suddenly collapsed.
At first, she was frightened thinking it was the curse she had cast, but when she recalled that the curse slowly freezes the heart, Aishi was finally able to make a judgment.
Frey was intentionally avoiding meeting her.
"Don't worry, everyone. I'll save you soon."
As a result, Aishi had no choice but to give up on negotiating with Frey and make her decision.
- Finally, have you decided to use my power again?
Today, at this place, she decided to awaken the power given by the inner voice that had tormented her since childhood.
The power she had vowed never to use again.
Just once more.
"...I haven't fallen for your words. I'm choosing this of my own will."
- Is that so?
"I'm using it just this once to protect my family... so give up any vain thoughts."
- Very well, I suppose that's what you'll say.
Aishi, who let the sneering voice pass through one ear, began to take deep breaths.
- Shuuuu...
Emitting deep purple demonic energy from her entire body.
She was drawing out the demon power she had sealed for a long time.
"If... if I survive this..."
She finally muttered in a low voice.
"...I will definitely kill Frey."
Cursing Frey who had brought things to this state.
"Well, even if I die here, I'll die from the curse anyway."
She was taking the first step into the path of corruption that the inner voice had so desperately wanted.
"I will purchase them."
"...Huh?"
Until someone's clear voice rang out on the top floor.
.
"Customer? What did you just say?"
"Did you not hear me? I said I will purchase the slaves."
As a man wearing a robe who had pushed through the crowd and come up to the platform said that, murmuring sounds could be heard from here and there.
"...What?"
Aishi, who had transformed into her demon form to save everyone, began to stare blankly at that figure.
"Is that so? Then... which slave would you like to purchase?"
Meanwhile, the guide who had been staring blankly at him quickly composed himself and asked with a smile.
Although Frey had purchased them at an outrageous price, if they were imperial nobles with excessive wealth, it was an amount they could afford if they were prepared for massive financial loss.
Of course, there was a high possibility of anemia from the blood loss, but it was still a possibility.
The guide began to speak while internally sneering at the somewhat blurry-looking figure before him.
"That slave over there is rebellious but has cute eyes as a charm point, and that slave over there is..."
"I will purchase all of them."
"...Excuse me?"
The guide stopped talking and stared blankly at him at the man's continued words.
"Not just one, but I will purchase all of them."
After glancing at the guide, the nobles, and Aishi who was watching the situation with trembling eyes from afar.
"...At twice the original price."
He made a shocking statement that would turn not just the top floor but the entire slave market upside down.
"W-wait... uh..."
"I just need to sign here, right?"
"...Huh?"
In the atmosphere filled with shock, he had even calmly signed the magically-binding invoice.
"Then, goodbye."
He quickly offered a greeting and made his exit.
"What? Did he really buy them all?"
"That's impossible, there's no way he has that kind of money..."
"But that invoice, you can't even sign it unless you have that much money in your account!"
At this unprecedented incident, the gathered people began to chatter noisily.
"W-wait... just a moment...!"
Aishi began to urgently chase after the robed man.
"Headquarters, can you hear me? This is an emergency. An unidentified human has just purchased all the demons."
The guide began quietly radioing headquarters.
"Will this throw off the plan..."
- Emergency, emergency! This is an emergency!
"...Huh?"
But the guide who had connected to the channel via wireless magic tool began to show a bewildered expression.
- An unidentified intruder in the hallway of the waiting room is attempting to move to the lower floors! The security captain has fallen! All staff, assemble in the hallway...
- This is headquarters. Notifying all staff. The radio communications of the guards in the market have suddenly started cutting off simultaneously. We need to quickly assess what is happening...
- I saw it... I saw it... A terrifying existence that can't even be described, and a girl who destroys everything just by snapping her fingers... So everyone, get out of the market right now...!
"...What on earth is going on?"
The slave market had already descended into chaos.
.
"...As expected, the coffee here is delicious."
An unidentified man who had purchased all the demons and been granted new VIP status was resting in the VIP waiting room.
"Exc-use me!"
"Hmm?"
Someone came running urgently into his room.
"You can't do this!"
"Damn it, the security force has thinned out because of all the chaos..."
It was Aishi who had evaded the reduced security personnel due to the chaos occurring throughout the market and entered the room of the man who had purchased all the demons in bulk.
"...I'm fine, so everyone please leave."
"Th-thank you!"
The guards, who had been closing their eyes thinking they would be held responsible for the security failure, breathed a sigh of relief and went outside when the man spoke calmly.
"E-excuse me... there's something I want to talk about...!"
"Please sit down first."
The man who had sent out all the guards pointed to the sofa across from him, interrupting Aishi who was about to speak urgently.
"...I know your identity, Princess of the Cloud Kingdom."
"......!"
When she finally sat on the sofa, the man rested his hand on his chin and whispered quietly.
"W-what do you mean..."
"I also know well that you and your kingdom's royals are half-demons. So let's put aside unnecessary talk for now and get straight to the point."
The man, who whispered once more in a low voice to Aishi who was trying to deny his words, began to gaze steadily at her.
"W-what do you want..."
"It's simple."
Since she was already mentally cornered, and thinking that perhaps this might be her last hope, Aishi asked with a trembling voice.
"Could you lend me the cabinet?"
"...Excuse me?"
The unidentified man wearing a robe, Frey.
"...Let me play the hero for a bit."
Answered with a refreshing smile.
- Young master, is that the woman? The one who froze your heart?
- You fool, are you crazy!? It's already difficult enough, what if you take on such a terrible curse instead!
- Cloud Kingdom, was it? Yes, I've remembered it. Very clearly.
Inside his head, cold voices continued to ring out.