Translator: Nox

The Baddest Villainess Is Back

Chapter 27

Roselyn peered intently into the iron cage, then tilted her head like someone who had found a product to their liking.

“This one is decent.”

“Ah, this specimen hasn't been fully broken in yet. He is a Kaluta, after all. As you know, those Barbarians aren't easy to tame, so…”

The guide explained slowly.

“But as you're well aware, once broken, they make the ultimate slaves.”

Roselyn nodded without saying much.

The boy inside the cage widened his eyes and glared at Roselyn.

His green eyes seemed to study her closely before shifting his gaze to the guard standing behind her.

After a slow observation, the boy lowered his eyes sluggishly.

“Of course, we intend to provide a Control Device made of Soul Stone as well, but since we spent quite a lot to capture this one, the immediate purchase price is high.”

“How much?”

“698.5 million Ollang.”

Roselyn hesitated.

“Expensive.”

Even if this money wasn't hers but Marquis Gerren’s, it was pricey. Considering the average price of a slave ranged between 100 and 200 million, this was bordering on a total rip-off.

“400 million.”

Roselyn said, clicking her tongue softly.

The guide, who had been speaking in a flat, monotone voice, faltered at Roselyn’s words.

“Unless you're ignoring me because you take me for a fool, I’d appreciate it if you stopped playing games.”

“…….”

“If you're being serious, you’d better be prepared for the consequences.”

Behind her mask, Roselyn’s red eyes stared directly into the guide's brown ones.

The guide swallowed hard.

‘They sold him for 400 million before, so what is this…’

Just as the guide was about to nod at Roselyn’s words—

“500 million.”

A voice suddenly rang out from behind Roselyn.

“I shall buy that child for 500 million.”

Roselyn stiffened at the sudden intrusion and narrowed her eyes behind the mask.

‘They’ve shown up already.’

Roselyn sighed inwardly.

“…….”

She turned around to identify the owner of the voice.

It was a man wearing a Gray Wolf mask, leaning on a cane. He was meticulously covered, even wearing gloves, leaving not a single inch of skin visible.

The Gray Wolf was accompanied by a guide wearing the same expressionless white mask.

Beside him stood a personal guard clad in a robe and a black mask.

‘Gray Wolf mask, green eyes, gloves, guard’s black mask.’

It matched the information from the other world that Roselyn knew.

That meant the identity of the person inside was likely the same as well.

“I decided to buy him first.”

Roselyn stated.

‘I wanted to leave before running into these guys if possible.’

She frowned beneath her mask.

“But you had not yet finalized the decision.”

“No, I was merely haggling.”

“Which is why I offered a higher price.”

Roselyn let out a short laugh.

The man’s hand tightened around his cane at her blatant mockery.

“You seem to have forgotten in what capacity you've come here. Ah… or perhaps this is your first time?”

She chuckled.

“Even so, you shouldn't let your lack of breeding show so clearly…”

“……See here, what on earth have you been talking about this whole time?”

Roselyn tilted her chin up.

“Unlike lowly commoners, we have privileges.”

Roselyn flicked her finger, opening her mouth leisurely as she felt the eyes watching her from all directions.

“There is no need to swarm like a pack of dogs over a single item. Do you think this is some common marketplace auction?”

The VIP auction was different from the general underground auctions.

To begin with, what took place here wasn't an auction. It existed to satisfy the superiority complex of the VIPs.

In other words, during these ‘three hours for VIPs,’ no bidding wars occurred.

Once a purchase was decided, the price was simply paid.

The first person to claim the item owned it, and it was customary to yield to the one who spoke first.

“If you're going to reek of the common folk like that, why don't you go participate in the public auction instead?”

The man’s eyes flared behind his mask at her mocking tone.

‘You can hide your skin, but you can’t hide those green eyes behind the mask.’

Roselyn smiled.

“I have one question, guide.”

“Yes, please speak, Red Cat-nim.”

The guide replied, sounding even more disciplined than before.

“How much does an adult Kaluta go for?”

The man in the Gray Wolf mask flinched at Roselyn’s question.

The guide looked puzzled.

“Adult Kalutas are not easy to capture. They're difficult to tame as well… Truly, the minimum starting bid would be around 1 billion.”

Roselyn tilted her head at a sharp angle.

“I’ve been smelling the stench of a beast since a moment ago, and I simply can't stand it…”

She laughed lowly.

“If I’m not mistaken, I suspect the gentleman before me might actually be a Kaluta.”

The man in the Gray Wolf mask inhaled sharply and glared at Roselyn with a murderous gaze.

“……What do you all think?”

“How rude! I have no idea what you're talking about!”

“Aren't those vivid green eyes a characteristic of the Kaluta? Of course, I can't be certain since you've wrapped your skin up so tightly, but…”

The corners of Roselyn’s eyes crinkled beautifully through the holes in her mask.

“If you have nothing to hide, why don't you take off those gloves?”

“……A Kaluta?”

The white-masked guides in the slave section turned toward the Gray Wolf and his guard simultaneously.

“What have you been talking about! Is this how you treat your VIPs?!”

“Then you can simply prove it by taking off your gloves. All we need to do is check your skin color.”

Someone said, stepping into the area.

“Ah, pardon me. It was so noisy I thought I’d step in for a moment.”

This time, it was a man wearing an expressionless Red Mask, unlike the others.

‘A Red Mask…’

Roselyn’s gaze shifted to the man in the red mask.

The white masks were merely hired help. The Red Mask was a key associate.

In short, he was a middle manager.

“…….”

The Gray Wolf fell silent.

He wouldn't be able to prove it.

If Roselyn’s guess was correct, that man was the half-brother of the Kaluta King. A brother who, jealous of the sibling who became king, had personally traveled all the way here to eliminate his brother’s child.

In her previous world, that man had succeeded in killing the boy. After killing him, he cut off the boy’s head and sent it to the Kaluta King, making it look as though it were the work of an Imperial noble. Then, the Kaluta King, driven mad after losing his child, started a war. The Emperor of Dianitas killed the Kaluta King in that battle, but the wounds he sustained there became a problem, and he died shortly thereafter. Shortly after that generational shift, Roselyn had died as well.

Since the broad strokes of history tended to repeat, this event was bound to happen the same way.

‘I have no intention of starting another war in this world too…’

She had come to the auction because taking this child would allow her to start negotiations with the Kaluta on much better terms. Naturally, she had no intention of being interfered with.

“No answer, I see,” the Red Mask said.

“Which means…”

Roselyn saw the blue eyes behind his mask curve into a crescent.

“We can consider you livestock.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Gray Wolf and the black mask looked at each other and bolted for the exit. It was the very exit where the Red Mask was standing.

Watching them rush toward him, the Red Mask burst into laughter.

Soon, something pitch black stretched out from around him. The abyssal darkness coalesced into a sphere, becoming a massive circle that ensnared the two fleeing men. Those consumed by the darkness were left with only their heads poking out above the circular orb.