By Zephyria 
There are no slaves on this continent.
There had been slaves before, but that was hundreds of years ago. It was the same for the Sierran Empire and the five kingdoms. There were beggars, but no slaves. Buying and selling people for money had been forbidden long ago, and it was considered highly strange to say one had purchased a person.
Yet, that man sold himself.
There was a large auction house in Bardiol. That auction house was filled with people eager to buy and sell all sorts of rare and beautiful things. Those who won Territory Wars sought to acquire precious treasures with their newfound wealth, while those who lost had to sell the treasures they managed to keep to survive.
The man submitted an application to sell his jewels at the auction house. It was common for someone of unknown origin to sell treasures they had acquired and then flee. The auction house simply brought the man, who was covered head to toe in a robe, onto the auction stage.
And then, on that very ornate platform, the man threw off his outer garments.
Wearing only a thin robe over his bare body, he was adorned with precious jewels and acted coyly, plying his trade to sell himself. He sang and danced, seeking a noble patron who would treat him dearly. Everyone present thought it was a playful jest, but the man was serious.
One by one, people placed bets as a game, and soon everyone was clamoring to possess the man.
The one who acquired that beautiful man was none other than Rodia Diamang, the legitimate daughter of the Diamang family, whom Raul served.
Everyone listened to Raul’s impassioned speech with disgruntled expressions.
What does that matter? I’ve seen several romance novels where people were desperate to become each other’s possessions. I, too, have thought about wanting to keep Ruben by my side, but it’s a futile desire. I simply wanted to live without knowing about such things others did.
“Yes…”
“Ah… I see. Mmm…”
As the group stammered, unable to find words to respond, Hugh Benson suddenly became enraged.
“What the hell, so what? What’s the problem if your master brought home a pretty man? Is it adultery?”
“Ah, it’s not that, but the man is completely insane, so that’s the problem!”
“Of course! What else would you call someone who suddenly strips and dances at an auction, offering himself for sale?”
That was true. Everyone nodded in agreement with Hugh Benson, but Raul alone, feeling wronged, slammed his fist on the table.
“Not that kind of insane person, but, well, no, damn it, there must be something going on. Ever since he arrived, strange things have been happening!”
“What, pray tell?”
“As soon as he entered the Diamang mansion, somehow Lady Diamang started collecting jewels for him.”
How many people are there who collect treasures for a beautiful person? I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
Well, I suppose he had some talent. Many butterflies and bees are drawn to a flamboyant flower. What problem is there if the right kind of insect is attracted to a branch that’s gone wild trying to emit its own fragrance? Everyone was indifferent.
However, Raul seemed genuinely frustrated by our nonchalant reactions.
“Ah, I didn’t pay much attention at first, thinking, ‘How good must he be?’ Then, he suddenly started collecting rare beasts. I didn’t pay attention to that either. Even if they went bankrupt, it would be the Diamangs, not me. But then, he started gathering people.”
“…What?”
Those who had been laughing one by one stopped. Raul continued to chatter.
“I don’t know, he said he was lonely, so he suddenly started looking for mercenaries. We just thought it was an excuse? We figured he might want to expand his territory by attacking a neighboring domain.”
“…”
“But the mercenaries who went into the mansion aren’t coming out. Isn’t that incredibly suspicious?”
Elvin, who had been silent all along, spoke up.
“How many?”
“As of yesterday, eleven. Even Kudrang Dan is among them. I wanted to see what kind of face could have charmed him, so I went in to see, promising to tell me about it afterward, but he’s not coming out… It’s chilling and strange… I was considering running away, but then I saw you guys and followed.”
“Third-rate mercenaries?”
“Kudrang Dan went in. That means they aren’t third-rate. Even if they aren’t Sword Masters, they’re people who can roam the 40mp zone. Did they fall into a honey pot in the annex of the Diamang mansion? They aren’t showing their faces. I have no idea how that’s possible, but it’s already out of my hands.”
Raul placed his clasped hands on the table. He leaned forward, staring intently at me across the table. Did he think I was the decision-maker at this table?
“Please help me out just once. I’ll help you too. Who are you looking for?”
Hugh Benson grabbed Raul’s shoulder, making him look away from me.
Hugh flicked his fingertips as if he had touched something dirty. Raul smiled slyly again and shrugged his shoulders. I couldn’t know what had transpired between them, but at least I knew Raul trusted Hugh Benson’s abilities.
However, no matter how triumphant or affectionate Raul acted, Hugh Benson was as cold as the wind that sweeps through a twenty-year-old pine tree on a winter day.
“Alright, get out.”
“What?”
“I said, get out. We need to talk amongst ourselves.”
His entire body radiated an unwavering resolve not to give a definite answer, so the others said nothing.
Raul looked at Hugh with a deeply wronged expression. He hunched his thin shoulders up high, then let them droop, whining. Like a child, he pouted his lips and sulked.
“Ah, if you have loyalty, then even if I don’t care, you shouldn’t abandon Dan. You know? He liked you so much.”
“Damn it, I said get out.”
Raul was a grown man. I couldn’t understand why he was deliberately acting childish. He tried to stay put and not leave, but only after Hugh Benson cursed and hit him on the head did he slowly get up.
“If you decide, put any color ribbon in mailbox number 3 on 5th Avenue. Then I’ll come find you.”
“Any color?”
“You know.”
Raul winked one eye. Hugh Benson clicked his tongue and nodded. Following Hugh’s nod, Elvin took Raul and led him out. The intention was to prevent them from hiding nearby.
Everyone remained silent for a long time until he was a considerable distance away. Even with the door closed, it was a world full of people with all sorts of peculiar talents.
Only after Hugh Benson dragged his chair back with a sigh of exhaustion did everyone relax their expressions.
Marianne was the first to speak.
“Who is Dan?”
“…Just someone I knew when I was younger.”
“How much younger?”
“Around ten, fourteen. Around that age.”
He covered his eyes with one hand, letting out a deep sigh. He looked so troubled that the other children couldn’t take their eyes off Hugh Benson.
This time, Benjamin asked Marianne.
“With Black Magic… can that happen?”
“Uh, there’s something called Enchantment, but… that’s also forbidden magic, so it’s not something that’s easily passed down. We’ll have to see…”
“…Ha…”
“Ah, but it’s a bit funny. This… is this really an incident that should just fall into our laps like this?”
Indeed. It was incredibly suspicious.
Did someone investigate Hugh Benson? Was this incident planned for us, or did we just stumble upon it? I was only curious about what happened with that Divine Revelation and where the slave man came from.
Rubel, who had been suppressing his presence under a veil, turned towards Hugh Benson.
“It would be best to confirm.”
Rubel’s voice was elegant and gentle. The sound echoed muffled from beyond the veil.
Hugh Benson, who had been covering his face with his hands, looked up at the child. I also looked at Rubel, but I had no way of knowing what expression he had when he said this.
“…I am not a fool who walks into a trap when it’s obvious.”
“Neither am I.”
“Then, why?”
Rubel did not hesitate.
“We cannot stand by and watch the enemy expand their forces, can we?”
“Do you think so?”
“Yes. At the very least… he is connected to that Black magician in some way. If he is gathering jewels and people for some ritual, we must stop him quickly.”
Just then, Elvin opened the door and entered. Everyone looked up at him from their seats.
Elvin closed the door behind him and explained in his usual calm voice.
“I’ve taken him back.”
“Where to?”
“1st Avenue.”
Only Hugh Benson among the group immediately understood the meaning of those words. He let out a groan and rested his chin on his palm, propping his elbow on the table. His bangs hung down like a curtain, obscuring his face. Nevertheless, his troubled expression was unmistakable.
This time, I asked.
“What is on 1st Avenue?”
“The auction house the guy mentioned earlier. And… well, a few pubs where the back-alley types gather.”
“…What does that mean?”
“He doesn’t intend to go back to Diamang. He plans to hand everything over to us and run.”
Benjamin asked again.
“Do you think that person has also fallen to the Black magician?”
“Hmm, no. There were no traces of Contaminated Mana. The situation is coincidental, though.”
Marianne, following Hugh Benson’s example, rested her elbow on the table and propped her chin. With her other hand, she idly drew circles on the table, then let out a sigh and looked up at me.
I tensed, wondering what she was about to say, but Marianne asked with a serious face.
“So, when do we place our order?”
“…Excuse me?”
“We can’t just occupy a table without ordering anything at a restaurant. Let’s eat something first and then think.”
“…Ah.”
That was true. I was momentarily dazed, then I readily opened the order sheet.
It was a meal in a private room after a long time. I had hoped Rubel would remove his veil and eat freely, but since the child wanted to keep it on just in case, I dutifully served the meal.