Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: No Demon After All
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Of course, it’s none of my business who the Bednicker family picks a fight with. As I said, I have no particular grudges against the family that raised me.
Even so, there are two main reasons why I’m trying to stop this mess...
First, no matter how you look at it, the Bednicker family is the most aggressive about subjugating the Dark Cult.
If their influence weakens, the Dark Cult will run even more rampant.
It might sound a bit ridiculous to say that the prestige of a single family directly impacts the empire’s greatest enemy...
But it’s no joke—it’s the truth.
Even setting aside the single restraining force that is the Iron-Blooded Duke, the Bednicker family’s power has long surpassed that of a mere household.
Even I, who’s practically become the acting heir, don’t fully grasp even a fraction of the family’s total strength.
And second.
This is actually the main reason: to closely observe the Iron-Blooded Duke’s ideology.
Of course, when it comes to the cult and demons, the Iron-Blooded Duke has no room for compromise.
Probably the same with his own children.
What I want to see is how far this blood purist will tolerate his kin’s wandering, rebellion, or corruption.
If he’s trying to kill Raizen just for being somewhat connected to demons...
Then I think the Iron-Blooded Duke is wrong and needs to change.
No matter what, stubborn people always end up with a lot of enemies.
I won’t tell him to bend his convictions or compromise with his arch-nemesis.
But he mustn’t misdirect his hatred and grudges—especially someone as strong as the Iron-Blooded Duke.
‘That man needs some flexibility too.’
For now, based on what I’ve seen, Raizen hasn’t committed sins worthy of death.
Compared to the youngest son’s true identity as a Dark Cult High Priest, it’s almost cute.
“Ruan, we’ve got this place under control for the most part.”
“You didn’t kill any of them, right?”
“Nope.”
“Good job.”
I thought for a moment, then spoke again.
“Keep an eye on these guys for a bit.”
“You?”
“I need to check the backstage area.”
“By yourself?”
Haro asked in a somewhat prickly tone.
It almost sounded like, *What makes you think you can go alone?*
Before I could respond, Ziar cut in coldly.
“Just let him go.”
“What?”
“It’s family business. Haro, this isn’t our place to interfere.”
“Ugh.”
Haro flinched as if struck at her core, then muttered in a low voice.
“...Fine.”
“Alright. Thanks.”
I nodded and headed straight backstage.
The stage was brightly lit, but the seating area remained dim. Thanks to that, I could move without exposing myself.
“1,000 gold!”
“1,100 gold!”
“Damn it, 1,500 gold!”
The auction was heating up even more. Amounts were flying around that even made my hands and feet twitch...
At this point, I couldn’t even guess how much the demon—today’s highlight—would fetch.
I finally reached the back of the stage amid the overheated auction frenzy.
Not a single interrupter along the way, and hardly any auction staff in sight.
The guys we just fought must’ve been most of the auction house’s manpower.
“Who are you!”
“You’re not supposed to be back here!”
But at the very back—where the upcoming auction items were stored—there were four or five guards.
Fortunately, none wore animal masks, so they seemed like small fry.
Thud thud thud.
“Gah!”
“Gurk.”
“Hngh...”
I took out the small fry in an instant, then scanned the surroundings.
“......”
I saw slaves locked in iron cages.
I knew the typical attitudes of slaves.
Most wallow in denial, pessimism, and despair, while the more spirited ones are consumed by sticky hatred and rage.
Whether born into slavery or forced into it for some reason...
The slave status twists people like that.
But these guys’ attitudes...
“Ugh, it’s so cramped in here. Scoot over!”
“Just fold those pigeon wings of yours.”
“You think that’s easy? Damn it, who’s the idiot who put a lizardman and a wingedkin in the same cage?”
“The auction’s dragging on longer than expected... Starting to get sleepy.”
“Damn. If I’d won the draw, I’d be up for auction already.”
“......”
What do you even call this?
It didn’t feel like slaves in cages—it felt like people experiencing a “slave in a cage” attraction.
They didn’t even react when I knocked out the guards. Some even whistled.
That’s when my eyes met those of a pretty fairy woman.
“Wow... that guy’s a looker...”
“......?”
“Handsome.”
“......”
The fairy woman smiled with her eyes and asked.
“You’re from a wealthy family, right? Yeah? Am I right?”
“I didn’t grow up poor.”
“Then buy me! I’m good with spirit magic, can read ancient languages to some extent. And I’m only 120 years old. Still spry.”
“You’re lying.”
A gruff voice interrupted.
It was a dwarf in the cage next to the fairy.
“This one’s 300 years old this year. And a guy.”
“You crazy bastard! Why sabotage my sale, you prick!”
“Hmph. Payback for last time. Anyway, what about me? I’m from the south, but I’ve lived in the capital for 50 years. Got my artisan school diploma too. I can do anything from painting to sculpture, calligraphy, crafts, architecture. And right now, just 500 gold! Cheap, right? Huh?”
“Don’t fall for it! This guy’s eyesight is shot—he’ll go blind soon. Fixing his eyes would require a high priest from the Sun Church, which’d cost at least a few hundred more gold!”
“You bitch?”
I approached the bickering pair.
They seemed the most lively among the slaves.
“I have a question.”
“Hm? Uh, but...”
The fairy woman—no, fairy man—tilted his head.
“Have we met? You look familiar.”
“One of my ancestors was fairy folk.”
“Ah. Though you kinda rub me the wrong way too.”
“Black fairy side.”
“Ah.”
Fairies and black fairies share the same ancestors, but they’re worse than strangers.
Same race, but completely different temperaments and cultures. I recall there was major backlash when the seven races tried lumping them together as “fairy folk.”
Come to think of it, don’t they say similar beings repel each other more?
For humans, a talking pig might be less unsettling than a talking gorilla.
“Alright. Ask away. What’s on your mind?”
“You two seem oddly content despite being slaves.”
“Right? I brought this on myself by being dumb.”
“Exactly. Zairen Company’s contracts are pretty fair by industry standards anyway.”
“Zairen Company?”
“Yeah. We borrowed money from Zairen Company and signed to become slaves if we couldn’t pay back.”
“......”
Zairen... Raizen’s anagram. Probably a trading company he set up himself.
Not surprising.
Running an underground auction this size requires massive capital.
“Becoming slaves just for failing to repay a loan— isn’t that harsh?”
“Nah. It’s slavery in name only—no generational ownership, so you’re free when the owner dies. Shortest is 20 years, longest 30-40? Ah, of course, that’s still plenty long for humans...”
“And if there’s abuse, confinement, or any inhumane treatment, you can void the contract anytime.”
“So... it’s not really slavery. More like long-term employment?”
“Pretty much?”
“......”
Then this isn’t a slave auction.
It’s essentially just a brokerage matching employers and workers.
Of course, it’s twisted in some ways—
‘In that case...’
Most of the slaves here consented to their current situation...
And selling monster or spirit beast eggs and young isn’t illegal in the empire.
So, Abyss Auction isn’t fully legal, but it’s not outright illegal either—it straddles the line.
‘If not for one thing.’
Exactly one item in the catalog.
The one that dragged in imperial law and even the Iron-Blooded Duke.
The demon.
At first, I thought Raizen was insane, but the more I heard, the stranger it seemed. Raizen knew where to draw lines.
Business is a constant tightrope walk.
Deals, market formation, territory disputes, distribution networks... One slip in any process means immediate losses.
In that world, building enough wealth for an auction like this means Raizen’s talent is exceptional.
‘Something smells off.’
Did I miss something?
I pondered briefly, then asked them again.
“Have you seen the demon by any chance?”
“Demon? Heard about it, yeah. Haven’t seen it. Didn’t think they’d deal in something like that.”
“Zairen Company can pull it off. They say Abyss Auction has no limits—if you’ve got the money, they’ll get anything.”
“Yeah. And I heard lots of buyers are demanding the demon this time.”
“Why?”
“‘Cause the Demon King almost descended in the capital, right? Even a grand mage retired from getting caught up in it.”
Slaves, yet surprisingly well-informed.
Do they get newspapers from the company?
“The empire’s buzzing about it everywhere now.”
“No wonder. Demons were just stuff from books, then one pops up in the heart of the capital. Rich bastards would naturally be intrigued.”
“And Zairen Company’s got connections with those types,” the fairy added.
“Abyss Auction never ignores a client’s request. If they want ice from the desert, they’ll get it. That trust is Zairen Company’s biggest strength.”
“......”
The company’s image.
Raizen Bednicker’s tendencies.
The testimonies I just heard.
The existence of the demon.
The disparate clues clicked together in my mind, leading to a sudden conclusion.
‘No way, this bastard...?’
Dumbfounded, but my feet moved on instinct.
“H-Hey? Wait! I answered everything, so you’ll buy me, right?”
“No! Me over this pointy-eared freak!”
“Forget it!”
Where was Raizen?
The backstage area was fairly spacious, so searching wasn’t easy.
Instead, I thought from the Iron-Blooded Duke’s perspective, not Raizen’s.
If I were the Iron-Blooded Duke, how would I infiltrate?
‘In the least conspicuous tier.’
Overall, black tiers were most common...
The lowest seemed white—and there were the most of those.
The Iron-Blooded Duke and Sky-Splitting Sword probably entered as white tiers.
With their senses, they’d have picked up the commotion where Raizen was.
Since most of the auction’s forces converged on us, it was perfect for stealthy movement.
‘The Iron-Blooded Duke doesn’t want to reveal himself in this.’
The security here wasn’t that high to begin with.
He could’ve wrecked the place solo without a scratch.
Yet he asked for help from me, Sky-Splitting Sword, and his two disciples. Meaning he wanted it handled quietly.
‘Wolf told Raizen to check backstage, but...’
Now it seemed that might’ve been a feint to confuse us.
I’d searched the area, and Raizen was nowhere.
So “backstage” might not have been literal between Raizen and Wolf?
If so, the real meaning was...
‘Get out of here now?’
Whoosh!
I activated my Fire-Eye Golden Pupil, scanning everywhere.
Eyes that pierced darkness and saw through obstacles revealed the surroundings in detail—
A hidden staircase to the roof, and Raizen’s back as he hurried up it.
But Raizen didn’t notice.
The Grim Reaper waiting at the top.
‘Damn...!’
I immediately unleashed Thunder Heaven Step.
Sparks flew across my vision.
Using an ultimate art in my battered state made my joints creak.
In a flash, I crossed backstage, found the hidden stairs, and raced up.
That’s when Raizen and the Iron-Blooded Duke faced off.
The moment Raizen flinched, the Iron-Blooded Duke had already drawn—
Raizen had decent instincts too, twisting to dodge the sword strike.
But his opponent was the Iron-Blooded Duke.
He evaded the blade, but not the sword wind extending from it.
Just before the chilling blade wind hit Raizen, I arrived barely in time.
Kwaaaang!
First Form: Scorching Blaze.
My extended fist blocked the blade wind.
“Phew...!”
A chill ran down my spine.
First, because Raizen would’ve died if I’d been a second later...
Second, because the Iron-Blooded Duke’s sword felt utterly abnormal.
The Iron-Blooded Duke tilted his head slightly.
“What?”
A curt question, loaded with meaning. I knew if I spouted nonsense, that blade tip would turn to me.
I twisted my lips and said.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
“Yes. You can’t kill Raizen.”
“......”
The Iron-Blooded Duke’s gaze demanded an explanation... and I voiced my conclusion.
“Because there was no demon here to begin with.”
I turned openly and said.
“Right, big brother?”
“......”
Raizen fell silent with a strange expression.