🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 27
Was I lucky… or just unlucky?
I curled myself up in a corner, pretending to be terrified, holding my breath.
How much time had passed since I started hearing those pathetic vulgar jokes?
After chatting among themselves, they moved me to a different location.
Though, really, one prison-like place is no different from another.
“One more added. Take care of her.”
“Yeah, yeah, don’t worry. This isn’t our first time doing this.”
No one paid much attention to someone like me who looked small and helpless.
“When’s it supposed to start?”
“Any minute now. Get her moved quickly.”
So that disgusting auction is about to begin, huh? I perked up my ears.
No one really spoke to me or dared to touch me.
I was shoved into a larger-looking iron cage than the one before.
As the sound of footsteps grew distant, I glanced around.
“This is…”
A dark, gloomy basement.
A musty moldy smell coming from old wooden structures.
“These are… cheap restraints?”
Just in case, I checked my physical condition again — as expected, no issues.
I touched my ear lightly.
I could feel the earring in my hand.
Hmm… I started thinking hard.
“What should I do?”
What now? Ashidwa must be waiting.
I decided to contact Kiscel first. I discreetly curled up and placed my hand over the communicator.
“Heuk… sniff… Is anyone… there?”
Gasp — what was that?
I listened carefully. It wasn’t just one or two people. There were several presences.
My eyes, now adjusted to the darkness, slowly began to recognize shapes.
At the end of my gaze…
‘Young women!’
There were women sitting there.
I couldn’t see them clearly in the dark, but they were definitely women.
‘Disgusting.’
I was so disgusted by the situation I could almost vomit.
‘Thanks.’
A meaningless thank-you to those men from earlier who “helpfully” transported me straight here so I didn’t have to search.
I crouched low and approached the women.
Multiple pairs of eyes glinted in the darkness, all fixed on me.
“Shh.”
I placed a finger on my lips.
Not sure if they could even see it.
In a very low whisper, just enough for them to hear, I said:
“Don’t worry.”
I was originally planning to turn back if things seemed too risky, but that plan was already out the window.
“I’m here now.”
I prayed that the sharp tension in the air of this dangerous place would ease just a bit.
“I’ll get you all out safely.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The guards started moving, banging the iron bars threateningly.
Calling them “guards” was honestly generous.
“Excuse me.”
At least I had managed to contact Kiscel.
The communicator had a location-tracking spell, so unless something unexpected happened, this would be resolved soon enough.
“You… are you really here to save us?”
A soft whisper tickled my ear from behind. I nodded.
I put a finger to my lips again, signaling her to stay quiet, and focused on the watchers.
‘He should be here soon. No need to worry.’
The musty stench that had been assaulting my nose since earlier was giving me a headache.
Even the scent of alcohol drifting through the air.
Suppressing the urge to pinch my nose, I glanced sideways at a man approaching.
“I’m hungry.”
“Hold it in. It’ll start soon.”
Soon, huh?
I tried to gauge how much time had passed. It hadn’t been long, but it felt like it should be around the time Kiscel would arrive.
Then the man who had said he was hungry looked into the cage.
He was standing right at the front.
“Oh…”
He grabbed my chin.
I frowned in disgust, but he didn’t care. He moved my head side to side as if examining my face, with a perverse smile.
“If you don’t want Lord Pabel to scold you, get over here right now!”
A loud shout came from behind.
The bearded man in front of me flinched.
‘Pabel’ — that name caught his attention.
‘Who is he, to cause this kind of reaction?’
Was he the boss here?
The man, who had looked ready to cause trouble at any second, now hesitated.
Pabel… Pabel… I carved the name into my mind.
It was a fairly common name, but I tried to recall anyone who might be connected.
As I clasped my cold hands together, my mind raced.
I hoped no unexpected situations would pop up.
“Tch!”
Luckily, the watcher clicked his tongue, spat on the floor, and let go of me.
I wiped the area he touched with my sleeve.
Disgusting.
“Start preparing them!”
Soon, we were moved again.
How far did we walk?
A bright light, not candlelight, came into view.
A chandelier lit up with lavish floating light balls.
‘They really spent a lot of money.’
We walked through a long hallway.
The further we walked, the more confused I became. Was this a noble’s home decorated to excess, or a damp underground den?
Ugh… this is just too fancy.
I let out a mocking scoff.
Besides…
‘There’s not a single window.’
We were underground.
‘Bold of them.’
Hiding such a luxurious space underground, right in the heart of the capital.
“Lord Pabel is in a foul mood today. We’d better be careful.”
“Ugh… Why’s he in a bad mood this time?”
Pabel.
The name that kept coming up. I repeated it to myself.
That man clearly seemed to be the head of this disgusting operation.
Let’s see his face for myself today.
I focused on keeping a neutral expression and stepped onto the cold marble floor.
After walking for a while, we gathered behind what looked like a stage.
Just beyond the divider, we could hear sounds of a party in progress.
“It’s starting soon!”
“Important people are present! Don’t cause a scene or make a fuss, got it?!”
Just how “important” are these people, auctioning off a duke’s daughter? I want to see for myself.
“Don’t shout at the women. How’s the preparation coming along?”
That was when I heard it.
Through the garbage of worthless words, a low voice pierced through.
‘That voice…’
Creak. I looked up.
“Lord Pabel!”
“My, what brings you here?”
“Ahaha, let me take your coat, sir!”
I had been trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible, but now I couldn’t help but turn toward the voice.
“…Ha.”
A breath escaped me involuntarily.
That low, distinct voice.
‘As I thought…’
The man who scanned the area to confirm the situation — he looked straight at me.
‘You’re the kind of person I hate the most.’
Pavelo Herka.
It was him.
✦ ✦ ✦
The moment our eyes met, of course he recognized me.
His mouth hung wide open the moment he saw me — and it didn’t look like it was closing anytime soon.
“What the…”
His trembling eyes locked onto mine.
Like an arrow piercing a target, his gaze drilled into me.
Before the others could notice his strange behavior, I quickly turned my head away.
“Ah, you haven’t seen this girl yet? Hedon brought her earlier. Looks like you’re interested too, Lord Pabel. Seems like he brought in a good one. Hahaha!”
Someone next to him blabbered nonsense, while Pavelo turned his neck like a broken wind-up doll.
“…Who brought what? That woman?”
“Would you like a closer look?”
Someone grabbed my arm.
It hurt enough to make me scowl, but Pavelo grabbed the man’s wrist tightly.
“Let go.”
“E-excuse me, Lord Pabel! I—yes, sir!”
He squeezed so hard there was a chilling crack in the air.
His gaze stayed fixed on me, unmoving.
“From where…”
“Ah, from where did we find her? Back alley, alone. We thought she might be a noble, but given her clothes, probably not. Nothing to worry about. We were lucky.”
No, you weren’t lucky.
You weren’t just unlucky — your luck was rotten.
Because today will be the last time you ever see sunlight.
And to think I’d see the heir of the Herka Marquessate here of all places.
“I’ll take her out for a moment.”
“Y-yes, sir! Understood!”
Out of habit, Pavelo extended a hand like an escort, then suddenly pulled it back.
Not that I would’ve taken that hand anyway.
So, you want to take me somewhere?
Should I say thank you? Let’s see what kind of filth comes out of that precious mouth of yours.
With his face pale, he said:
“…Excuse me for a moment.”
