Chapter 59
Hands went up, raising the bid.
“10 silver, 50 copper.”
“10 silver, 50 copper.”
“10 silver, 80 copper.”
“Yes, 10 silver, 80 copper.”
“11 silver.”
“Oh, 11 silver!”
The price climbed steadily, stopping at 15 silver, 81 copper.
The auctioneer, pleased at selling ten boys and girls for 158,100 won, smiled contentedly.
“Sold!”
The buyer’s group whispered.
“Got a good deal.”
“Hm, sell them down south for more?”
“Too far. Put them in the mines. Didn’t five workers die last time? Ten kids should match five adults.”
“Good idea!”
Disgusting creatures. I couldn’t save the boys and girls being dragged away.
Not yet.
“Hmph.”
The princess scoffed, as if hearing a lame joke.
“Next up, the second auction! We have 50 items today! Enjoy these low-quality slaves as a warm-up for the main event.”
The next person was a boy, unbound, with no restraints. His scrawny frame and lifeless, unfocused eyes looked utterly pitiful.
As if he knew the fate awaiting him.
Wild Instinct (Lv 3) senses the boy on auction is extraordinary! Definitely not an extra!
Know-It-All (Lv 3) accesses the directory! Searched for the most similar person’s information!
‘What? That boy?’
Who was he to make Wild Instinct and Know-It-All react so suddenly…
[Name: Savo Aturta]
[Age: 14]
[Gender: Male]
[Personality: Resignation (Vengefulness, Rage, Revolution)]
[Perception of You: Resignation]
[Sword Saint Dominic’s Swordsmanship Lv 1]
[Defardly Empire Secret Swordsmanship Lv 1]
[Swordsmanship Comprehension Lv 3]
[Movement Lv 1]
[Intuition Lv 8]
‘Holy crap!’
Savo! Savo, of all people! So the princess was here to get Savo!
And Aturta?! Sword Saint Dominic’s heir?! This wasn’t even in the original!
‘The Sword Demon…!’
In an era, one supreme male swordsman is called the Sword Saint, and a female, the Sword Queen.
But one man was called the Sword Demon. A young swordsman who held off Sword Saint Gilbert and Sword Queen Lina’s combined assault for 30 minutes, protecting Princess Adela to the end.
‘The Sword Demon Savo was a slave.’
“What do you think? He seems to have decent talent.”
As expected, an attendant advised the princess.
“…Really? Hm, ahem.”
The princess pondered quietly.
“No need. I already have a hunting dog. Two dogs would fight for their master’s favor, wouldn’t they?”
I frowned. Who’s fighting for whose favor?
But thanks to that, the future diverged. By choosing me, Princess Adela lost Savo.
‘She probably didn’t know her hunting dog was tailing her to uncover her weaknesses.’
Meanwhile, Savo’s auction was nearing its end.
“2 silver, 85 copper.”
“Then I’ll bid 2 silver, 90 copper.”
“Tch, 2 silver, 92 copper.”
“2 silver, 95 copper.”
“3 silver.”
“Alright, 3 silver! Haha! Just warming up, folks. Bid freely!”
The auctioneer egged on the crowd to squeeze out even one more copper. The higher the sale, the fatter his wallet.
I quietly called a staff member and conveyed my intent. The staff ran back, and soon—
“Oh! An anonymous bidder just offered 3 silver, 20 copper! Quite a jump from before! Any more?!”
The auctioneer looked around, but no one else bid. A scrawny boy who looked spiritually dead was more trouble than he was worth, unless you were a pervert with twisted desires.
“Alright! The winner, please come to the staff room now or after the auction.”
I glanced at the princess, who was yawning. Her small mouth closed, tears forming at the corners of her golden eyes.
“I thought it’d be fun, but it’s boring. I’ll have tea at a nearby café while we wait.”
“Understood. I’ll have a carriage ready outside.”
Princess Adela turned and left the auction house. I confirmed she exited the black market.
I sighed in relief.
‘I can’t let the Sword Demon join the princess.’
One key reason Princess Adela defeated Prince Kazaks and ascended the throne, nearly ruining the Imperium Empire, was the Sword Demon.
No matter how much Prince Kazaks rolled in the dirt, he was the overwhelming top contender for the throne.
Yet Adela claimed it.
The secret? The Shadow Knights and her Crimson Knight, the Sword Demon. Executioners who beheaded her opposition instantly.
‘…It’s not great to take his place.’
But I could betray her at the critical moment, couldn’t I? That would prevent the worst outcome.
And if the Sword Demon fought alongside me, future battles against disasters would be much easier.
Anyway, with the princess gone, it was time to kill Marquis Vistavern.
‘Not too late, right? Or maybe I am.’
The auction took a while from prep to start.
In the original, the protagonist party showed off their stupidity, but this time, they knew the culprit, so I needed to hurry a bit.
‘No, don’t think too harshly. They’re justice idiots, but not reckless fools who act without thinking.’
Before parting, I’d advised them to subdue or knock out the target immediately upon sight.
But you never know. I needed to finish this before the protagonist party accidentally awakened the villain…
Boom! Crash!
I stared in disbelief toward the secret meeting place. Flames and smoke rose, storm clouds swirling.
“It’s an attack! Run!”
“Everyone, escape!”
“Kyaaa!”
…Damn it.
***
The middle-aged Marquis Vistavern rolled on the ground. Like a dog that fell while fleeing, he scrambled back up.
“Huff! Huff…!”
A bell tolled, signaling his life was in peril.
‘What! What went wrong!’
As always, he woke early, ate breakfast—a fresh salad and a few pieces of meat. A fine meal to shake off sleep.
Then he began his duties as marquis. He handled routine complaints, reviewed estate reports, and held meetings with vassals.
After work, he came to the black market to start a business for those who’d lost their way and dreams…!
‘My sons?! Are they safe?!’
The sudden ambush wiped out his guards. The marquis himself barely escaped in the chaos. He didn’t even know if his beloved sons were safe.
The only silver lining was that his youngest was on his way, avoiding the disaster.
‘Back to the marquisate! Gather the army and return!’
He’d drive out the bandits, save his sons, and show the world the fate of those who crossed House Vistavern…
“Argh!”
A powerful tackle bent his waist, and he fell. Despite the searing back pain, he turned to see his assailant’s face.
“Who… who are you…!”
“Been a while, Marquis Vistavern.”
“Tauforos?!”
Bord’s thick arms wrapped around his waist. No matter how he struggled, they didn’t budge.
“Youngsik! Even a ducal family can’t treat a marquis like this!”
“We’ll see if it’s persecution or judgment.”
Bord’s eyes caught the marquis’ soldiers rounding the alley.
Marquis Vistavern shouted desperately.
“I’m here!”
“Marquis! There’s the Marquis!”
But they had a reliable archer too.
“Elisha! Cover me!”
In response to the booming call, dozens of arrows felled the soldiers. Each shot precisely avoided vitals, disabling mobility—a masterful display.
Dozens of cherished soldiers fell instantly, and the secret meeting place crumbled under rain that pierced steel.
To think the enterprise he’d built over a lifetime would collapse like this.
“So… so futilely…!”
Before the despairing marquis stood the instigators. Gilbert, Lina, Elisha, Mary, and Bord, still holding his waist. They looked at each other.
“We got him.”
“Yeah!”
As Gilbert and Elisha relaxed, Mary cautiously asked.
“Um, d-didn’t Cadet Martin say to be careful with Marquis Vistavern, to subdue him instantly or knock him out…?”
“Well, this counts as instant subduing.”
The marquis, sprawled on the ground, looked like he had nothing left to lose.
“Ha…! Ha! Ha! Ha!”
Realizing his attackers were the mighty Four Great Ducal Families, Vistavern laughed like a madman.
“Hah… I must’ve wronged the Four Great Ducal Families somehow, to be attacked like this. Don’t you think this lacks the elegant courtesy between us?”
Elisha stabbed back with icy words.
“You’re the one who betrayed the elegant courtesy owed to the empire’s people.”
“What did I do wrong?”
The marquis opened his mouth defiantly.
“Lady, I spent all day today working for my marquisate’s citizens. All day! Late into the night, nosebleeds! Loss of appetite! Suppressing unspeakable worries! That’s how I’ve lived!”
“….”
“Someone answer me! I’m one of the empire’s 20 honorable marquises! A family head! A subject of the empire! Why are the Four Great Ducal Families persecuting me?!”
The impassioned plea of a middle-aged man proud of his hard work had an emotional pull.
But Elisha scorned him.
Mary turned away from human ugliness.
Bord raged.
“How dare you spew such nonsense?!”
“Ugh, aaah!”
Bord grabbed the marquis and hurled him far.
“Ow! Urgh!”
The marquis, thrown to the ground, clutched his body in pain.
“You dine on human flesh! Hide crimes in trials! Select citizens with your vassals who won’t be missed as slaves! And you talk about courtesy?!”
Realizing they came knowing everything, the marquis dropped his facade. His true face—a deceitful elitist—emerged.
“Hah…! Youngsik, you’re naive! Those are just refined hobbies!”
“What?! You bastard!”
Thud, thud. Bord stormed over and grabbed his collar.
“Urk!”
“Done talking?! And you call yourself a noble?!”
“Of course I’m a noble!”
With unknown strength, Vistavern shoved his face close to Bord’s.
“Noble lineage! Chosen blood! I’m a noble through and through! You’re too young to understand, but this is what nobility is! The lowly exist to serve the grandeur of great leaders like us!”
“Absolutely not!”
“Did the Four Great Ducal Families only learn about fairy-tale nobles?! Heh heh heh!”
“What?!”
“Yes! I at least respect Duke Tauforos, toiling at the front! But!”
With a demonic face, Vistavern glared at the two girls in the back.
“What about Harmadun and Deminiyan? Too hypocritical, aren’t they? Did those two old monsters really not know about the massive black market under the capital, the refined hobbies of nobles like me?”
The heads of Harmadun and Deminiyan, who heavily influenced Imperium politics. They were more likely to know than not.
“They probably joined in. Didn’t they?”