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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: 0015_69
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Ariana looked up and gazed at Lanster. Lanster, as always, looked down at Ariana with an expressionless face.
"I want to go there."
"There's nothing in this alley."
"How do you know that?"
"I know. So, please turn back."
"But..."
"No."
"Just a moment..."
"No. I cannot allow the Princess to enter a dangerous place."
Lanster was as unyielding as his loyal gaze.
Ariana bit her lower lip, then looked up at him again.
"Are you sure I can't? I really want to go."
Lanster's eyes narrowed. He scrutinized Ariana's face before asking,
"Do you know what's in this place?"
Ariana hesitated, wondering whether to be honest or lie, before making a decision.
"The slave market is there."
Lanster's brow furrowed.
"You know, and yet..."
"I'm curious what kind of place it is. And if there's anything I can do to help."
"Princess. Slaves are base individuals with fierce dispositions. I've seen them betray their masters many times, even after receiving kindness. Cunning slaves, on the other hand, might even exploit their master's soft heart."
"I'm not trying to buy a slave. I just want to know what the atmosphere is like."
"No."
"Really?"
"Yes, no. Your lord would be very angry if he found out."
"You can just keep it a secret. It's my wish."
At the word "wish," Lanster's eyes wavered.
If it had been Isabel, Lanster would have unhesitatingly restrained her and pulled her away from the dangerous alley.
But the person in front of him was Ariana.
The pitiful and unfortunate Princess of the Eastern Territory, who had been dragged to the Western Territory immediately after birth, suffered all kinds of abuse, escaped, and returned to the Eastern Territory. The precious and beautiful Princess whom her liege, the Eastern Duke, had always longed for.
Lanster, who had been by Ariana's side all this time, knew that she was far more mature than girls her age. Seeing Ariana, who rarely showed her emotions, pleading so earnestly weakened Lanster's resolve.
"No deals."
"Okay."
"You must only observe the atmosphere for a short while and then leave."
"Got it."
"Stay close by my side."
"I will."
Lanster sighed softly and walked beside Ariana.
Ariana was surprised that her method had worked.
'I just whined a little.'
She had never pleaded with anyone before.
If she was told "no," she naturally assumed it wasn't allowed. If she was told to do something, she believed she had to, even if she didn't want to.
Pleading with Lanster to be honest about wanting to visit the slave market was a gamble. She also wanted to see how far she could go in the Eastern Territory.
'So, this works too.'
It was amazing to realize that she could get what she wanted just by pleading, without having to rack her brain for convincing arguments or devise ways to distract her opponent.
She felt like finding another forbidden thing to try and plead for, but she held back.
'I shouldn't do this too often. Calm down, Ariana.'
Ariana, her face flushed, walked beside Lanster and asked,
"Lanster."
"Yes."
"Are you perhaps angry or displeased?"
"Why do you think I would be angry or displeased?"
"Because I did something you told me not to."
"Princess, I don't get angry over such things. I am merely concerned that you might be in danger."
"I see."
Her heart pounded.
He wasn't angry, even though he had to do something he didn't want to because she pleaded.
It truly felt like being a cherished child.
'Don't get carried away, Ariana. Stay calm.'
Ariana managed to compose her expression.
Eventually, they arrived at a small tavern at the end of the alley. From the outside, it looked like a shabby establishment that wasn't open for business.
Just then, a person with a deeply pulled-down hood was entering.
Several people were loitering near the shop. They cast suspicious glances at Ariana and Lanster, who seemed out of place in this area.
Even walking among people who exuded a dangerous aura, Lanster showed no sign of fear. Perhaps due to the presence emanating from him, the loitering people made way.
Lanster opened the tavern door.
+++
The slave market was structured like a theater.
Chairs were arranged in rows facing a stage, and customers would raise signs to bid prices for the slaves presented on the stage.
Only the stage was lit, so the customers' faces weren't clearly visible, but it was apparent that most were nobles or wealthy commoners. Although mostly men, female customers were also quite noticeable.
However, there were no customers as young as Ariana.
Ariana suppressed a yawn and thought,
'This is the seventh one. Let's just watch ten and then leave.'
The Announcer shouted loudly,
"This next item is a former Gladiator slave. Hailing from the Bahog Region beyond the Western Territory, those from this area are renowned for their bravery. From the Horol Gladiator Arena, he recorded a myth of fifty wins in fifty fights, the famous Bysen!"
At the mention of Bysen's name, the hall grew boisterous. Everyone leaned their heads towards the stage, showing interest.
Ariana was no different.
'Bysen. So he was traded here too.'
Bysen's name was famous. Once a Gladiator slave with a hundred victories in a hundred fights, and then a valiant Knight of the Third Prince Harold.
Bysen would do anything for Harold, and Harold cherished him greatly. Bysen was the one who contributed most to Harold's claim to the imperial throne.
Those who scoffed at him for being a former slave fell silent when Bysen began to use Sword Aura, and the Knights who had disregarded him knelt before him after suffering crushing defeats in duels.
'Bysen...'
Bysen stepped onto the stage.
His massive build, like a bear, and his body covered in scars, were intimidating even with thick shackles binding his wrists and ankles. Despite standing on stage as a slave, Bysen cast fierce glances at the customers.
"Now, behold. How sturdy he looks! If tamed well, he can be used as a guard Knight, or you could send him back to the Gladiator Arena and make a fortune. Bysen starts at 100 gold."
100 gold was a considerable sum in slave transactions.
Slave prices usually started at 20 gold, and unless there was special talent or uniqueness, they were traded for around 50 gold.
Even with a hefty starting price of 100 gold, people everywhere raised signs and shouted out bids.
'Yes, he's worth more than 100 gold.'
Bysen was strong, highly skilled in swordsmanship, and even possessed the talent to generate Sword Aura through training. Having him by her side would be a significant asset, but she didn't feel inclined to do so.
Bysen, who guarded Harold, always scrutinized Ariana with a sinister gaze. Even though she had never exchanged a single word with him, she instinctively felt repulsion.
'But if he were mine, he wouldn't cast such glances at me. Should I buy him?'
Bysen's price rose to 150 gold.
'But I don't have that much money.'
Buying Bysen now would prevent him from being used by Harold, but she wasn't in a position to acquire him for such a large sum.
'Indeed, buying a strong and intelligent slave isn't easy. It might be better to postpone finding my own people for later. Or perhaps there's a child in the slums who could be saved.'
Being at a place where people were bought and sold was not a pleasant experience. She was already tired from the long journey, and now she had a headache.
Although Bysen weighed on her mind, she didn't want to worry about something unavoidable. Just as she was thinking of checking who bought Bysen and then leaving, Lanster, who was seated next to her, spoke in a low voice.
"He's strong."
"That strong?"
"Yes, very strong."
"If he fought you?"
"Currently, I would win. If he were to undergo formal training, then I would need to reassess."
While she was conversing with Lanster, Bysen was sold for 350 gold. The buyer was an old woman, but her identity remained unknown.
'She must be a big player in the underworld. From now on, Bysen will constantly fight in the Gladiator Arena, growing stronger and stronger, until he creates his myth of a hundred victories.'
It was just as Ariana was about to leave.
"The next item to be presented is a very famous one. You all know it, don't you? *That* is coming out."
The Announcer's voice stopped Ariana in her tracks.
'That?'
Judging by the crowd's reaction, 'that' seemed to be very famous. Just being referred to as such was enough to cause a stir.
Intrigued, Ariana sat back down.
"Among the customers here today, there may be some who came just to see *that*. Well then, let's take a look at the item."
*Grrr-ick—*
Unlike before, attendants wheeled in an iron cage.
A small iron cage, about Ariana's waist height.
Ariana initially thought 'it' was an animal. A wounded beast huddled inside the cage.
Only after noticing that 'it,' with its face buried in its knees, was wearing clothes, did she realize it was a human.
'What is that?'
Ariana herself had suffered many harsh fates, but she couldn't help but be shocked by the sight of 'it.'
'What kind of person gets locked up in something like that?'
Long, red hair, as if it had never been cut, spilled out of the cage and dragged on the floor.
"That must be the Golden Eyeball."
At the whispered voice of the person sitting next to her, Ariana realized 'its' identity.
'So it's a person with golden eyes.'
There was a legend that a child with golden eyes would bring misfortune to anyone near them until they turned 20. So, people would kill any child born with golden eyes on the spot.
Ariana had never once seen a person with golden eyes in her life...
'No, I have.'
She had seen one sometime.
'When?'
Her head throbbed.
For some reason, only that memory was faded, as if its colors had washed out.
'It's not that child. Definitely... someone older...'
The Announcer's voice reached Ariana's ears, pulling her out of her confusion.
"I know some of you are afraid because there's talk of this item having killed nine owners. And believe me, I know. I get chills just thinking about it. But consider this: if you overcome the curse, good fortune will come your way. This one is already 17 years old! Just three more years, and it will turn 20 and transform into a bringer of luck."
Despite the Announcer's words, no one raised a bidding sign. Everyone just continued to whisper among themselves.
Even if it became a bringer of luck after just three years, no one wanted to keep a slave who had 'devoured' nine masters. Moreover, rumors claimed that over twenty masters had died.
Her headache gone, Ariana dismissed her thoughts about the golden eyes and stared at the iron cage.
