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chapter 1
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting! Next up is item number 28!”
The auctioneer, clad in black, extended his right arm.
Whoosh!
The jet-black cloth covering the exhibit flew backward.
“My goodness…!”
A soft spotlight illuminated the artwork. Gasps rippled through the audience.
“Who’s the artist?”
“An unprecedented masterpiece!”
The atmosphere filled with awe and shock. As the crowd murmured, the auctioneer’s lips curled into a smile.
“Allow me to introduce it. Speaking of this work….”
Gulp. The sound of swallowing echoed throughout the hall. Nobles wearing masks leaned forward with opera glasses in hand.
All eyes were on the piece as the auctioneer shouted:
“The Portrait of the Cursed Devil!!”
A cursed portrait!
The audience buzzed again. The auctioneer adjusted his white rabbit half-mask, drawing even more attention. Heh heh.
“However, before bidding begins, esteemed guests interested in purchasing this portrait should keep a few things in mind.”
This announcement was different from those for previous items. The nobles leaned in.
“This is a portrait that has driven everyone who ever possessed it to terrible ruin.”
His voice grew ominously low.
“First, we bear no responsibility for any horrific events that may befall the purchaser.”
A stir ran through the crowd, masked with colorful animal motifs. The auctioneer continued without concern.
“Second, unlike other items, we cannot deliver this portrait. It must be transported personally.”
The VIP seats fell silent.
“…And third.”
No one could guess what he would say next. Frozen in place, the audience listened as the auctioneer continued:
“This portrait cannot be destroyed by any means.”
“Cannot be destroyed?! What do you mean by that?!”
A marquis sprang to his feet. Though everyone wore masks, his identity was clear.
Those who participated in black-market auctions like this were mostly the same people:
The Kelsien Castle black-market, notorious for selling antiques with mysterious, dubious origins. Only wealthy, influential figures could dabble here without consequence.
“Exactly as I said.”
The auctioneer addressed the agitated marquis.
“Perhaps it’s better to show you than to say a hundred words.”
He signaled to an assistant waiting behind the curtain to bring a torch.
“Behold.”
The assistant brought the torch, and the auctioneer deliberately approached the frame with the flame.
“No! What is this?!”
“You’re insane!”
“How dare you—set fire to the exhibit?!”
Despite the objections, the auctioneer ignited the portrait.
Flare!
“…!!”
“No… that…”
Yet the flames did not touch the canvas. No matter how many times it was attempted, the result was the same. The auctioneer chuckled.
“No matter how hard you try, it cannot be destroyed. It contains a mysterious power beyond human understanding.”
He called the assistant again to remove the torch. His rabbit mask gleamed.
“How impressive. While it brings terrible calamity to its owner, the value of this portrait is astronomically high.”
The nobles fell silent. A hush spread across the hall.
“Now, let’s begin the auction!”
Relishing the reaction, the auctioneer shouted loudly:
“Esteemed guests wishing to purchase, please raise your bidding paddles and announce your offer!”
“……”
The nobles glanced at one another. Should they bid? No, no… haven’t they heard of the prior incidents? Even the famed Louis fire was said to be because of this.
For a while, no one stepped forward.
“20 million Gell.”
A man wearing a black bird-beak mask murmured.
All eyes turned to him.
Whispers spread. Who is he? Unfamiliar attire, pure white hair… a member of the Count’s family? No, they don’t wear plague doctor masks.
Then it happened.
“Ugh… 25 million Gell!”
Another voice called out. Eyes turned to the lower seats.
“Tch. 30 million Gell.”
“45 million Gell!”
Bidding continued between the two. 50 million! 52 million! 60 million!
The audience grew increasingly competitive. Pride awoke in the nobles’ hearts. Watching the two bidders, they thought:
“…I have enough money; why shouldn’t I have this portrait?”
“Hmph. If the curse scared you, you wouldn’t even be here.”
“I’ll have it!”
Bids erupted simultaneously.
“70 million Gell!”
“75 million Gell.”
“100 million!!”
“……!!”
“100 million! 100 million Gell!”
The auctioneer’s fists trembled with excitement as voices clashed.
“…150 million Gell.”
“Damn it!”
“150 million Gell!! Is that the final offer?!”
“Ugh……”
“……”
“If no one bids further, we will conclude!”
The auctioneer began the countdown.
“One!”
“Two!”
“Three…!”
“…Damn, 250 million!!”
“Impossible!”
“250 million Gell! 250 million Gell! Countdown again!”
One! Two! Three! Four! Five…!!
The magnate drank indiscriminately.
“Bring more!!”
Ugh. He belched, wiping his mouth roughly.
It had been seven months since he brought the cursed portrait home.
“I should just tear it apart…”
He hurled the bottle. Clang!
Shards scattered atop the countless broken pieces already on the floor.
“That plague doctor… I should’ve given up when he bid 150 million.”
He slammed his fist on the desk. A shard cut his hand.
“Master, will you not bid further?”
“…Enough. I need the funds elsewhere more urgently.”
“But you sought it so desperately…”
“Now that I know its location, I can have it anytime.”
The magnate recalled their conversation as he left the auction hall.
“Damn it……”
Looking around, his mansion was a mess.
That night, while servants transported the portrait per the auction’s second condition, an accident occurred.
The castle was on a cliff. The carriage carrying the portrait was struck—by lightning.
By the end of the auction, the weather worsened, and heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning poured down.
The strike toppled a tree. Horses and drivers were killed.
The portrait was transferred to a spare carriage, but the steward accompanying it reported:
“That… that is…”
“What news do you drag out?!”
“…Apologies! The portrait was delivered safely, but two servants went missing.”
“What?”
“One jumped in terror from the carriage, the other… went mad and fell off the cliff…”
“Have you been doing this every day?! What was there to fear!!”
“…The portrait. Everyone says they heard the devil’s whispers from it.”
The magnate gritted his teeth.
The accidents did not end there. After bringing the portrait home, strange occurrences began.
Servants frequently suffered vomiting and fevers. During night patrols, all claimed demons haunted the mansion and collapsed in panic.
Even his once-brilliant six-year-old son experienced hallucinations and seizures repeatedly. His wife, unable to endure it, took the boy and left.
When the lady of the house abandoned the household, no servants remained. The magnate was left alone with a few remaining attendants.
“…A one-of-a-kind antique in the world!”
He swept his arms across the desk.
Crash!
“All of you fools who can’t recognize its value dare betray me!!”
Objects fell to the floor. He collapsed onto the sofa, panting.
“…Huff… huff……”
The mansion, unmanaged due to a lack of staff, was covered in cobwebs and the stench of mold.
Knock knock.
The last remaining maid knocked on the door.
“Ma-Master. I brought some liquor.”
“Come in!”
Trembling, she entered with the drink and a new glass.
The magnate’s eyes fell on her swollen belly.
“…Ha.”
He snatched the drink and poured it straight down his throat.
“You managed to get pregnant in this dump?”
The maid trembled, lowering her head.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“Get outta here!”
Spittle flew from his shouting. After driving her out, he gulped the remaining liquor.
Through the sofa’s backrest, he glimpsed the edge of the portrait.
“I… ha… I have to get rid of that damned portrait…”
He downed the rest of the liquor, threw the bottle to the floor, and, drunk, called for the steward.
“Is the carriage ready?!!”
Clatter clatter. Noisy commotion followed. He grabbed the sofa’s armrest, staggered, and turned.
“That wretched woman…”
He reached for the portrait behind the sofa.
Inside the frame, a beautiful woman who had ruined kingdoms in her past life smiled.
Ptooey!
He spat, yanked the portrait down, and muttered:
“She even has the audacity… ugh, to hold value.”
Hearing the carriage ready outside, the magnate dragged the portrait downstairs, ordering it to be taken to Kelsien Castle.
“What rotten luck…”
The carriage rumbled precariously. Crows circled in the sky as a fine rain began to fall.
He blew his nose inside the carriage.
Soon, the carriage reached the castle.
“Th-this portrait… hic…”
Despite countless punches, kicks, and attempts to burn it, the cursed portrait remained intact as he climbed the hill.
The Kelsien Castle, previously a black-market hub, had long been abandoned since the auction seven months ago.
“Damn it. Even the dealers… hic… now I’m to be murdered by thieves…”
Crack!
A thunderbolt struck.
He climbed the hill past the lightning-struck trees to the cliff’s edge.
“…This devilish woman.”
He raised the portrait.
“Get lost from my life forever!!”
With all his might, he threw it.
He watched the cursed item arc through the air.
“Ha, hic…”
It fell weakly, disappearing into the turbulent waves.
“A waste of money.”
The magnate staggered down the hill.
“Who will compensate… ugh… for my life…?”
He did not see what happened next.
After some time, from the dark blue waves, a black sphere and turquoise light emerged.
….
The sea was empty, only violent waves crashed.
The strange orbs floated, hovering for a moment.
….
The turquoise light spoke to the black sphere:
“Finally, 1,000 years have passed.”
….
“Kesis Altair, your soul has not reincarnated for 1,000 years due to the sin of suicide.”
The floating entity began reciting the world’s laws to the ominously colored sphere.
“But now, 1,000 years have passed, and you may be reborn.”
….
“However, the sin of abandoning yourself is so great that it exceeds even 1,000 years.”
The sphere’s black glow rose like smoke.
“Your soul is tainted with misfortune that cannot easily be removed.”
Suddenly, the sound of the light surged like thunder.
“The blackened hue of your soul is the proof! You shall live a life of misery!!”
….
“…Yet, life must continue….”
….
“…I will guide you. To the place of your next birth.”
The turquoise light floated.
It traced the thread of fate in the air, guiding the blackened soul toward reincarnation.
The soul without selfhood followed the invisible path. The turquoise light gave its final kindness, accompanying it on the journey to rebirth.
Through stormy waves, past the desolate castle, over a dense forest path…
“…Such a strange fate.”
…To the place that had always existed: “there.”
The light followed the orb, led by nature’s cycle.
For 1,000 years, they had been trapped within the portrait, now crossing familiar walls. Rusted iron bars, decayed gray-brown outer walls.
….
They arrived at a shabby servant’s quarters.
The soul, layered with accumulated misfortune, paused. The light gazed at the figure before the soul.
“Child, you must grow up healthy.”
A human sat on the bed, caressing her swollen belly. It was the maid from the magnate’s mansion.
Finally, the cycle of life began.
Whoooosh…
The black soul was drawn into the maid’s womb. A new life was being formed.
“…I will not make the same mistake twice.”
Just before the cycle completed, the light surged, entering where the soul resided.
The turquoise light chose the blackened soul once again.
