Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Villains Aren't for Bad Guys—They're for Smart Guys
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Honestly, Sion had a typical image in mind when he thought of a slave market.
A filthy space, with people screaming curses from behind iron bars, subdued by burly enforcers.
Naked figures paraded on auction blocks, sold off on the spot to the highest bidder right there.
And since this one was underground, without even proper sunlight, those grim expectations only grew stronger.
But the moment he stepped into the Viscount Konean’s slave market, Sion realized he’d have to rethink everything.
‘...This is unexpected.’
The scene was impeccably clean and organized. No screams or sobs as he’d anticipated, no guards barking at them to shut up.
Lanterns hung from the dim space like lamps on a nighttime street, and a subtle, tantalizing scent lingered in the air—not overpowering, but just enough to tease the heart.
‘No, maybe this makes perfect sense.
This isn’t a place for mutts or alley cats. It’s an exclusive spot for VVIPs like nobles.’
Just as Sion had predicted.
Heterogeneous slaves weren’t pebbles rolling on the ground, nor were there hordes captured in massive wars—the supply was obviously limited.
Naturally, their price tags were astronomical, beyond what common folk could dream of.
Only nobles could afford them, of course.
Slavery was officially banned in the name of the royal family, so demand was even lower than supply. But nobles worked their “merchandise” so harshly that it broke quickly and got discarded, balancing supply and demand in the end.
“This way.”
The atmosphere in the so-called slave market was surprisingly serene.
Viscount Konean, guiding Sion and his group to one of the tents, glanced at Lily and Risikida before sidling up to Sion.
“Young Lord Sion.
Wouldn’t it be better to have your companions wait here?”
“Mind if I ask why?”
“Well... You’re about to browse the real goods now. I’m just worried you might not get a proper look if you’re minding the ladies.
Some bring women along, but it often gets awkward for everyone involved.”
Sion let out a short chuckle at that.
He briefly wondered if this guy was scheming something shady with the two of them, but if he was, the viscounty would end up in ruins—thanks to Lily and Risikida, not Kim Yuhyun.
“Please don’t worry about how they’re treated.
They’re your Young Lord’s companions—who’d dare mistreat them?”
“Hmm.
Hard to refuse the viscount’s kindness.
Very well, we’ll do as you suggest.”
Leaving word for them to wait a bit, Sion entered the tent with Lily and Risikida.
Nothing special inside.
A chair and table, some out-of-place books on a shelf, lanterns.
‘...But damn, that’s one hell of a bed they’ve got.’
Even at a glance, it screamed luxury—big enough for several people to tumble around without a wobble.
Rumor had it a good bed made melting women easier, and this place seemed the source of that wisdom.
These guys knew business.
Setting up beds like that just for trysts.
Boing—
Splat—
Lily, sensing the bed’s quality, leaped onto it and sprawled out.
She rolled around a bit, then lifted her head slightly and spoke quietly to Sion.
“What the hell are you thinking?
Didn’t humans ban heterogeneous slaves?”
“Correct.”
“And yet...”
“Would anyone actually follow rules like that?”
There was always something thrilling about doing it on the sly rather than out in the open.
The more you’re told not to, the more you want to—the ultimate human instinct.
Especially when it involved pleasure and profit.
“I figured I’d play along a bit and pocket some cash.”
“...You sure about this?”
Lily eyed him strangely.
He shrugged, face saying, ‘What’s the problem?’
“You bastard.
This isn’t because you’re craving some other woman, right?”
“What do you think, Lily?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“You think you can’t hold my heart? That you’re just some replaceable girl?”
The succubus queen’s mouth snapped shut at his sudden counter.
In other words, doubting him meant admitting she lacked appeal herself.
“Hey, what the hell are you saying...”
“If that’s not it, just bear with me a little.
There’s a reason for this.
Coming from someone who swore no jealousy, it’s kinda fresh.
Cute, even.”
She should’ve been pouting about them coming here, but Sion brazenly laid it out with a straight face.
Already flustered, Lily nearly lost it at Risikida’s next words.
“Master.
You’re not replacing us, right?”
“Never.
Absolutely not.”
“Good.
Have a safe trip back.
I’ll wait here obediently.
I always follow your will, Sion—that’s all.”
Lily felt her chest tighten, like she’d turned into some petty jealous girlfriend.
If they’d teamed up to pressure him, they might’ve gotten their way—but this obedience left her high and dry!
“...Hey.
You didn’t forget, right?”
“Pardon?”
“I didn’t get to eat or drink anything in the carriage.
We can’t just gloss over that.
Got it?”
The heavenly ambush had ruined her planned feast, and the grudge lingered.
Fair enough—a succubus denied her meal wouldn’t hide her irritation.
“Ah, thinking about it pisses me off again.
Wanna squeeze one out here before you go?”
“...You’re joking, right?”
“The bed’s great—what’s the harm?
Just tell the guy outside you need a quick one first.”
“...”
It was the look Bear Grylls gave a prime protein source.
Sion bolted out of the tent with a firm ‘Absolutely not here.’
Any longer, and Lily would’ve pinned him for protein duty.
“Looks like you’re done talking.
Shall we?”
Viscount Konean, waiting outside, led the way again.
Some spots were tents, others makeshift buildings.
And some were repurposed plazas or shelters—wide open spaces fitting a converted slave market.
“Hm?”
Sion spotted a few people passing ahead.
Couldn’t see details, but they seemed like fellow ‘customers.’
“Plenty send agents.”
“So they sell without showing up themselves.”
“Only with precedents and solid proof.
But I don’t recommend it.
These goods? You gotta see and pick with your own eyes for longevity.”
Gone was the earlier fool; now he was a seasoned merchant, explaining away.
“What are you after?
Around a hundred total, female-to-male ratio about 70:30. Four types.”
“Four types?”
“Fairies are the most, then beastkin, followed by dwarves. A few low-grade demons too, in tiny numbers.”
“You captured demons?”
Viscount Konean nodded at Sion’s question.
Sion let out a quiet ‘ooh’ inside.
Low-grade or not, demons were demons. Capturing them alive for the market meant these slavers were no amateurs.
Yeah, you needed something fun to torment for the thrill.
Sion refocused as the viscount continued.
“But I don’t recommend demons.
Too risky—if it leaks, the fallout’s a nightmare.”
“Fair point.
Using demon slaves looks extra evil, stirring up continental chaos and all.”
“Beastkin cover catkin, wolfkin, even foxkin.
Shame, no nine-tailed foxkin though.”
The ultra-rare nine-tailed foxkin—even among wolfkin elites, few existed.
They suicided if captured, making them near-impossible to enslave or even spot.
‘Too bad.
Author said foxes over wolves in the afterword.’
Then Sion noticed one type missing.
(Note: Heavenly folk count as heterogeneous but reject the label.
Even slavers believed ‘Touch heaven, get divine punishment’ to their bones.)
“No dragonkin?”
“...That’s pushing it.
You think they’d let themselves get caught?
They laugh heartily and fight to the death—every last one.”
“Yeah, figures.”
Fairies scorned humans, beastkin fought fiercely, demons surrendered when hopeless—dropping arms, tails, will.
Dragonkin? Different breed.
They lived to fight, battling till their last breath.
No exceptions for age or gender—pure combatants.
Infinite brawl, no pause, brainless fury. Battle race incarnate.
‘Fought so much their numbers were always low. Worst enemies in human-heterogeneous wars, but too few—wiped out eventually.’
Readers lamented later: If dragonkin survived when heaven turned spears on everyone, they’d have bolstered the fight.
Post-continental war, named heroes gone—only Kim Yuhyun’s crew and a few stood against heaven.
“Overwhelmed by choices? Take your time.
Gender first—females, obviously, Young Lord?
Right?”
“No interest in males.”
The viscount nodded, relieved at Sion’s curt tone.
He’d seen pretty-boy nobles chase male slaves—tastes respected, but the awkwardness? Unbearable.
“Age range?”
“Fairies look way maturer than their years—keep that in mind.”
“Hmm.
Human-wise, late 20s to early 30s feels safest.”
“I see.
Older women your type, huh?
I always thought the younger ones, teens, had the softest skin.
Let’s see—yeah, 10s were peak.”
“...”
Don’t care about your tastes, shoe-boy.
Teens?
This creep’s heading for a beatdown from Brother Pedobear.
Sion sweated, dreading some line like ‘Women need two-digit ages? Nah, single digits rule.’
If that dropped, he’d crack the skull, call Kim Yuhyun, and raze the place—money be damned.
Oblivious, Viscount Konean kept his friendly sales patter.
“Beastkin age and grow like humans—want those?”
“...Need more time on race.
Can I inspect everything first?”
Sion’s goal here was singular.
Not buying—but scouting every detail, then turning the blade on Viscount Konean for a shakedown.
“Smart choice.
I’ll show you the prepped goods first, nice and slow.”
And so began Sion’s full slave market tour.