The Massive Variable
"Aigoo, Young Master Frey! You've arrived? We wholeheartedly welcome you to our slave market!"
As Frey strode forward, dragging the fox beastkin along by her leash, a man approached with a beaming smile and a hearty greeting.
"If I'd been here last time you visited, I could've treated you much better! What a shame! If there's any special service you need..."
"Cut the fuss."
Frey interrupted the man with an irritated expression, then spoke in a low voice to the fellow who was still grinning ear to ear at him.
"Isn't the head honcho of the slave market supposed to be too busy for chit-chat like this?"
"Haha, no worries! This auction's on a historic scale, so we've hired top-notch staff. It runs smooth even without me!"
Frey frowned slightly at the man's flippant, unmistakably merchant-like tone.
"So, what do you want?"
"Ah, well... I had a few questions!"
The man flashed a cheeky grin at Frey and launched into his spiel.
"Have you decided to sweep up every single beastkin slave here today?"
"What're you talking about?"
"What do I mean? You're wiping out the beastkin stock, aren't you, Young Master Frey?"
With a mischievous glint in his eye, the man continued.
"I get it, though—with your reputation, even all the female slaves here wouldn't satisfy you..."
"Spit it out. What do you want?"
As Frey's voice turned icy, the man rubbed his hands together and got to the point.
"So, here's the thing... How much are you planning to buy today?"
"As much as I feel like. Problem?"
"Well... Normally, I'd be thrilled, grinning from ear to ear..."
The man looked troubled as Frey replied nonchalantly.
"You know this, Young Master Frey—among today's visitors are a bunch of our market's VIPs."
"And?"
"If you monopolize all the slaves... well, not everyone will be happy."
Desperate to persuade the selfish, arrogant Frey, the man poured his heart out. VIPs were already flooding them with complaints because Frey had bought out entire races, leaving them empty-handed.
"Monopolize? Can't they just bid higher than me? That's how it's always worked here."
"To outbid you... even nobles would feel the pinch."
"Is that so?"
Frey scratched his head at that, and the man put on his most pitiful face, pleading.
"Please, Young Master Frey! I never thought I'd say this, but go easy, just a bit..."
"Fine."
"...Huh?"
The man had braced for a punch from the furious Frey, but when he agreed so readily, he looked utterly baffled.
"I've only got so much cash anyway. Was planning to slow down soon."
"R-Really? Got it! Thank you!"
After a moment of dumbfounded staring, he bowed deeply as Frey responded indifferently.
"...Kek."
"Anything else?"
Frey glanced at him, then tugged on the fox beastkin's leash to head down the hall. But the man followed quietly, so Frey tilted his head and asked.
"There's something, but it's minor! Just a quick survey!"
"Survey?"
"Yeah, we've been polling VIPs on slave preferences lately!"
Frey furrowed his brow, but the man smiled and started firing questions.
"Favorite slave type? Race? Age range? Build?"
"I'm busy now. Later."
"Oh ho, speaking of which... that's a fox beastkin, right?"
As Frey stepped back from the eager man, he eyed the beastkin at Frey's side, licking his lips.
"Lemme see... Tail shape and color say East Continent breed. Wow, sharp eye—you don't mess around. Those are top-tier, one-in-a-decade finds..."
With just a glance, he rattled off her details, then muttered regretfully.
"If she'd caught my eye, I'd have made her off-limits for VIP entertainment. Too bad she's sold."
"So you don't know everything here after all?"
"Of course not! Place this big? Even an expert like me has limits!"
"...Yeah, figured."
"Pardon?"
Frey murmured meaningfully, then smiled.
"Nothing. Gotta walk my new slave now."
"Have fun! Nobles' secret lounge is across from the waiting room!"
Frey left the bowing man behind and dodged the fox beastkin's glare as he sent a telepathic message.
'Everyone hear that? Even the head guy doesn't know everything. Stay flexible. And note the secret lounge location.'
He sent another group message, then leaned on his cane and shuffled down the hall.
"Human."
"...Hm?"
After a long walk down the quiet corridor, Frey turned at the fox beastkin's call, puzzled.
"Where go?"
She glared coldly and asked. Frey looked exasperated.
"Wrong title, and casual speech? You don't know your place. One word from me, and you're done."
"Continental tongue... clumsy. Forgive... Kek!"
She replied softly, but Frey yanked the leash hard, making her choke.
"If you don't know, keep your mouth shut till you learn."
"Kek, kugh! Urgh..."
Frey watched her clutch her throat, eyes watering, then tugged lightly to signal go.
"...Human."
"Hah."
After more walking, her low voice came again. Frey whipped around, fuming.
"No fear? Or suicidal?"
"Question."
She glared fiercely, voice icy.
"Why do this? All this?"
"...What?"
She gripped a hidden blade tightly, senses sharp as a predator.
"Why buy kids? Like me?"
"Hmm..."
"Untrained slaves rare. Ones clueless about situation, rarer. Fun to break."
"Answer, human."
"You really don't know?"
Frey smirked.
"Throw 'em in my basement as sex slaves. You, especially pretty, get exclusive duty."
"...Kids."
"What?"
"Younger than me. Than you."
She growled savagely, gripping the blade harder.
"No guilt... Kugh!"
Frey yanked the leash again.
'Chance!'
The moment she'd waited for since grabbing the blade.
—Shing!!
"...Hng."
In a blink, the blade was at Frey's throat. Weakened by the bracelet, but her agility and the yank's momentum made it her triumph.
"...Human, don't move."
Rebellion success. She pressed close to the stiff-faced Frey, whispering coldly.
"Your life mine now."
"Yeah?"
"Yes. Obey me."
Frey smiled.
"What's funny, human?"
"Nah, just... first slave to try me. Kinda novel."
"Don't get it? You're—"
"Can't even attack anyway."
As Frey reached for her throat, she scowled and tried to stab, but...
".....Uh?"
The blade at his neck wouldn't budge, no matter the force.
"What? Why...?"
Panicking at the anomaly, she froze as Frey caressed her throat.
"Bracelet's not just weakening curse."
"C-Curse?"
"Yeah. Also 'Obedience Curse'."
He whispered in her ear.
"Don't move. Stay still."
".......!"
Her body froze instantly.
"Ugh, urgh..."
Struggling futilely, she realized and looked ahead.
".........Hik."
Terror hit. The boy arm's-length away caressed her defenseless throat. His other hand tightened the leash, cutting air. Magic's alien chill, first time felt.
"Ugh, uuu..."
She grasped true oppression—not village rules, but raw, irrational violence. Escaping for freedom, now forever this man's toy. It paralyzed her mind.
"S-Sor..."
"What?"
"S-Sorry... My fault. Forgive. Please, stop..."
She apologized to a human she'd secretly scorned.
"Hik..."
Frey gripped her throat gently, wrapping fingers around.
'He can kill anytime...'
That implication amplified her fear.
"S-Spare..."
Soon, she whimpered, begging Frey.
"...Spare me."
No matter her pride as noble fox warrior, this world's first evil crushed the young, barely molted beastkin worshipped in her village.
—Sss...
"Hiiiik..."
Terror-bound, every brush of his hand felt like neck-snapping chill. She endured eternal seconds in silence.
"...What's your name?"
Finally, he released, asking softly.
"M-Miho."
"Right, Miho. No more of that, yeah?"
She nodded frantically. Frey led her to a door.
"Wait here."
"Wh-Where...?"
"My private lounge. Other slaves I bought are inside."
He stroked her head, whispering.
"Finish business, come get you. Walk again, fun stuff."
"U-Uh..."
He pushed her in, smiled briefly, and turned away.
"........Agh."
Left with the slaves, Miho drowned in fear and despair, then cautiously scanned around.
""..........""
All slaves same. Each had suffered similarly from Frey before entering— even stronger ones.
'Home... wanna go home.'
Feeling powerless first time, Miho buried face in knees, trembling quietly.
Her naive dream of freedom, sprouting from earth, about to be crushed.
Until a suited gentleman appeared in their midst, on cue from someone.
""......!?!""
No warning, slaves stared shocked at the sudden intruder.
"...As expected from him. Each one's top of their race."
Drimirkan eyed them approvingly.
"Straight to it."
His clear, low voice reached all.
"...I'll give you power to destroy this place."
Slaves gawked. He added quietly.
"In return, join the Demon King's army."
......
—In return, join the Demon King's army.
"As if. Who do you think you are?"
After stashing Miho in the lounge and catching his breath, Frey smirked at Drimirkan's telepathic words echoing in his head.
"...Bunch of useful ones, huh?"
—Frey, cracked the self-destruct spell on the slaves' collars! Come here quick...
Irina's telepathy followed.
'Been smashing with star magic till now?'
—Yeah... possible?
'Just infuse magic into collars, worked.'
Scratching his head, Frey sent group telepathy.
'All report. Any anomalies or variables?'
—Kania here, all clear. Young master, that girl really not sub-heroine?
—Too busy fixing magic, dunno.
—Clana here, problem.
Frey closed eyes, listening intently. Frowned at Clana's report.
—Imperial Knight Captain and Holy Knight Captain showed up.
"Pfft, that's it?"
He relaxed.
'They're scouting talent lately. Obvious. Probably grabbing strong male slaves.'
—B-But...
'Ignore. Just here to browse. Not strong enough to mess plans.'
Casual reply, whistling as he walked.
—Another variable.
"......!!!"
He froze mid-step.
—Don't panic, she's here now...
'I know.'
—Huh?
In his sight:
"Frey!!! You shameless, wicked!!! Vile, lowlife, reckless, evil human!!!"
'Right in front of me.'
Perloché Astellade—the massive variable—stormed in.
"Today, I'll kill you!!!"
How she'd play out? No one knew yet.