When the door opened and a group of Demons walked into the room, the hunters tensed up in different ways.
“Hmm.”
One of the Demons who arrived was Rutan. He looked around the room in a relaxed manner.
11 people. All hunters and none of them were too old.
It was natural that only products under the age of 30 had been gathered for this event.
Among the group were four who were commonly referred to by them as ‘titled’ humans, and the other seven had no problems with their appearances or health.
Except for the woman with graffiti on her body.
‘In any case.’
When Rutan looked at these humans, he felt like he was looking at his bright future.
Unlike ordinary human slaves, hunters were especially hard to capture. It was not a rare occurrence for them to kill themselves after being cornered.
Because they all knew what kind of miserable lives awaited them if they were to survive.
This was a choice that the Demons were unable to understand. Not all Demons had sadistic tendencies towards the slaves. Some of them could even be considered affectionate towards their human slaves.
They had the same feeling one would have to one’s pet.
‘It’s still better than dying.’
The thought of giving up your life for your honour, pride, or rights was simply laughable. And since the humans didn’t know that, it meant that the humans were a low-class race.
“It’s time to start the selection.”
“What…”
Some of the hunters subconsciously swallowed their saliva. A white man couldn’t help but let out a sound of surprise.
Rutan’s gaze turned to him.
“Why are you surprised? This is something you should have already expected after being captured.”
“…”
After saying that, Rutan looked around.
“Today is the start of the event, so we’ll let them have a taste of two… no. Let’s show them three.”
“…!”
Lee Jong-hak, Drisa, and Allida quickly exchanged glances.
This situation was not good. They had just made a plan thinking they wouldn’t be forced into action till the last day, but now, it seemed like things would be messed up right from the beginning.
Lee Jong-hak clenched his fist.
The predictions he’d tried to deny had become a reality.
‘This is bad.’
Min Ha-rin’s urgent gaze was locked onto Lee Jong-hak and Allida. These two were pivotal in their plan to escape. Without either of them, their plan would not even start.
“Hey. Sihard, who do you think we should pick?”
“I think two males and one female would be good.”
“That’s true. Then…”
Many of the hunters shrank back when Rutan’s gaze swept across the room.
This was natural. After all, they had only just seen the possibility of escape, but if they caught Rutan’s eye now, they would be sold.
There were only two people who raised their heads and looked at Rutan with fiery eyes.
It was Lee Jong-hak and Min Ha-rin.
“Do you two want to be sold? Hmm. I’d love to respect the will of the slaves, but it’s a shame.”
Rutan’s lips curled into a sinister smile.
“You two are special products. I intend to make you the highlights of this event, so you should relax your gazes.”
“…”
He chuckled for a moment before closing his eyes. Then he took a deep breath.
“I can smell fear. I’m talking about you two over there.”
The bodies of the two men who were pointed out by him shook heavily. They were the two who had been trying the hardest to avoid his gaze.
“Let’s go with them. Understood, Sihard?”
“Yes, sir.”
The faces of these men turned blue.
Rutan enjoyed the looks on their faces before looking around again.
Now, for the last one.
“Let’s go with that woman.”
Shit.
Min Ha-rin almost cursed out loud.
Rutan was pointing at Allida.
Allida’s lashes trembled. She was concentrating in order to use her tattoo magic, but she could probably still hear what Rutan was saying.
Rutan’s subordinate, Sihard, couldn’t help but ask.
“Isn’t that woman a Wizard? She’s a rare commodity, so I think it would be a waste to use her on the first day.”
“That is certainly the case for a Wizard in good condition. However, this bitch has graffiti on her body. Regardless of the strength or rarity of the individual, such a defect makes her an inferior product. If we were to send her out later, the customers might be disappointed. So today is the best time.”
“Indeed…”
Min Ha-rin bit her lip while Sihard nodded in admiration.
‘What should I do?’
Her palms began to sweat because of her nervousness.
They couldn’t let Allida be taken. But Rutan had already said he wouldn’t take her. The other woman, a white woman, was shivering in the corner with her head down. (TL: Wasn’t it four women?)
She didn’t think about cursing her. She must have known as well. If they let Allida get taken, then the plan would go down the drain.
She just didn’t have the courage to accept it.
How could they change the Demons’ minds?
Min Ha-rin tried her hardest to think of a way.
‘We can’t.’
But even if she rolled it around in her head till steam began rising from her hair, she couldn’t think of a way to do it.
It didn’t matter if she died.
The moment she was captured, she had already let go of all of her life’s regrets. Meeting Lukas and Lee Jong-hak had changed that mindset a bit, but she would still kill herself the moment she was able to if necessary.
But Lee Jong-hak was different. He was a hero who had to return to the East Asia branch.
Losing him would be a loss for all of mankind.
“Take me.”
Min Ha-rin spoke in a cracked voice.
Of course, this was too soft for Rutan to hear. Or maybe he had heard it, but Rutan would definitely not go back on his word.
Min Ha-rin was also aware of that fact.
That’s why she couldn’t believe what happened next.
“Wait.”
Rutan paused before pulling back his outstretched hand. Then he crossed his arms and pondered deeply about something.
For a moment, he stood there, unmoving.
Then.
“…I don’t think it would be a bad idea to have a strong first day.”
“Huh?”
“Huhu.”
Rutan chuckled before pointing at Min Ha-rin.
“Forget the tattooed girl. Let’s put her in.”
Sihard was shocked.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. Ah, and…”
He gave a sly smile as he seemed to think about something else.
“Let’s put that guy with her. We can count him as a bonus.”
The one Rutan was pointing at was none other than Lukas.
* * *
They moved the two cages immediately after making a decision.
But that didn’t mean that they would present them right away.
As precious human slaves, they would be the highlight of the event, which meant that they had to be presented at the hottest moment.
Rutan placed Lukas and Min Ha-rin in a space behind the stage so that they could be sent to the stage immediately after he gave the signal.
‘It seems they decided not to bring the two men.’
The two men who had been selected first. Min Ha-rin didn’t know their names, but they had not been brought with them.
Maybe they had decided to leave them for another day. Or maybe they were just being kept in a different area.
She lowered her head, feeling like it would be good if it was the former.
‘Is this the end?’
Min Ha-rin leaned against the bars of her cage while having this thought.
Surprisingly, when her life as a slave was all but confirmed, she didn’t feel any different. Perhaps it was because she’d heard Lee Jong-hak’s words.
If she was lucky, maybe she’d be able to take down a Demon Noble.
She knew that such a thing was almost impossible, but just the thought of it made her feel lighter.
“Do you know what happens to hunter slaves?”
“…”
Lukas spoke.
Min Ha-rin glanced around.
Some Demons were guarding the area, but they didn’t seem to care what the two of them were doing.
Instead. their nervous and anticipated gazes were directed outside the curtain.
“To some extent.”
“That Duke Sandro who has his eyes on you seems to be a sadistic pervert. Most of his slaves are physically disabled women. It was none other than Duke Sandro who made them that way. He prefers slaves with strong willpower, but after he breaks them, he kills or abandons them without hesitation.”
Was he trying to scare her?
If so, then it had worked a little. Min Ha-rin could not deny the fact that she was a bit scared.
But the thing that she was the most curious about was why this man, who had always been silent, had suddenly become talkative.
Moreover, it was strange that he knew so much about a Demon Duke’s hobby that was usually veiled in mystery.
“Are you trying to test my determination?”
“No. I’m just curious why you chose to sacrifice yourself for Allida.”
“Huh? N-, no… I was just…”
Sacrificed?
Min Ha-rin was surprised by this unexpected word.
It wasn’t something so noble.
She just felt that if Allida was the one who was taken then the escape plan would become hopeless from the start. Which would lead to the worst case scenario of everyone in the room becoming slaves.
Therefore, Min Ha-rin chose the best option.
“It’s just…. This choice made the most sense.”
Lukas looked at Min Ha-rin, who had a blank expression on her face, and said.
“You have a Wizard’s aptitude.”
His face was expressionless, and his voice lacked any inflection, but Min Ha-rin felt that he was a bit happy.
It was really strange.
Lukas’ situation was no different from hers. However, she had never been able to feel even a hint of despair since their first meeting.
Why?
The thought that he was crazy disappeared as if it had been washed away. He was an incredibly rational and cold-hearted man. And he seemed to know more about what was going on than Min Ha-rin.
Nevertheless, his calm appearance had never changed.
‘Maybe…’
It might have been thanks to this that Min Ha-rin was able to stay calm in this situation.
She had been influenced by this attitude, which was indifferent to the point of being easy-going.
‘A Wizard’s aptitude.’
She recalled his murmur.
That shouldn’t have been the case.
Min Ha-rin had gotten a full examination at the association. Her aptitude was that of a hunter, a close-combat specialist.
In fact, after developing a style that matched her aptitude, she was able to gain a good reputation throughout Asia.
But she had always been interested in magic. In fact, she had wanted to be a Wizard since she was young.
As soon as she was about to say something to Lukas, he closed his eyes again. When he was like this, he would not respond, no matter how she tried to start a conversation. He always ignored most of her questions.
Nevertheless, Min Ha-rin was able to learn a few things about Lukas following her observation and their brief conversations.
“They will be able to escape.”
They.
Was he referring to Lee Jong-hak’s group?
Just as Min Ha-rin was about to ask a question, Lukas spoke again.
“But all of them will not survive.”
“Huh? What do you…”
Suddenly.
A Demon near to them swung his arm.
Woowoong-
Her iron cage rose into the air.
This floating caused her to feel sick. Just as Min Ha-rin heaved slightly, the curtain that was blocking the stage was lifted and the stage was revealed.
It seemed that it was finally time for their appearance in the auction.
“You have been waiting for this moment for a long time. The moment I dare introduce is the highlight of today’s event. The product I’m about to present is something in which every customer here will be interested.”
There was a stir in the room.
Sandro’s lips stretched into a smile.
“They have the right amount of intelligence, so you don’t have to teach them multiple times like stupid beasts. They also have just enough strength to do chores but not enough to be a threat to our customers’ safety. Even though they are just at the end of their youth, doesn’t everyone know? Flowers are most beautiful just before they wither. The short prime makes their value shine even more… So let me formally introduce you.”
The stir in the room grew stronger as Rutan’s soft voice sounded out.
“Suitable as ornaments, pets, or experiments! The finest slaves! Property that will undoubtedly enhance the dignity of any noble!”
He bowed in a polite manner as Min Ha-rin appeared on the stage.
“I present to you… a Human!”