Vuikalen Market
Meanwhile, Julian arrived at Vuikalen Market.
Today he had come for a simple reason.
He wanted to buy several slaves for his girlfriend.
The market was extremely lively. Wealthy buyers, merchants, and nobles filled the large hall.
Julian quickly noticed something unusual.
Many members of the Luxurer families were present. They were seated on elegant chairs, calmly observing the auction stage as if this was a normal entertainment for them.
Soon, the slave auction began.
One slave in particular caught Julian's attention.
His name was Verl.
Verl was trembling as he knelt on the stage.
Tears ran down his face.
A very beautiful young woman stepped forward and purchased him.
Verl immediately started crying.
"No… I don't want to go with you! Please… let me go!"
The girl looked annoyed.
Without hesitation, she kicked him.
"I am your owner now," she said coldly. "Stop crying."
Julian watched the scene silently.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He could see something in Verl's expression.
The slave clearly wanted someone to save him.
Julian slowly walked closer.
"Hey, girl."
The young woman turned toward him.
"Yes, mister?"
Julian spoke calmly.
"I want to purchase that slave from you."
"Will you sell him to me?"
The girl raised an eyebrow.
"And what can you give me in exchange?"
Before Julian could answer, a man suddenly approached.
"Ah, Mr. Julian!"
The man smiled warmly.
"I hope you are doing well."
Julian recognized him immediately.
It was John Reynold, one of his regular customers.
The girl standing beside him was his daughter.
Her name was Risiya Reynold.
John looked between them curiously.
"What's going on? Why are you talking with my daughter?"
Julian replied calmly.
"I want to purchase her slave."
John turned to his daughter.
"Risiya, do you want to keep that slave?"
Risiya shrugged.
"Of course I want him… but if you need him, Mr. Julian, I don't mind giving him to you."
Meanwhile, Verl listened to their conversation with fear in his heart.
Julian…
I've heard rumors about him.
He's cruel…
People say he tortures slaves without mercy.
Verl lowered his head.
Maybe… it would be better to stay with that girl.
Then another thought appeared in his mind.
She is very beautiful…
Even if she tortures me… maybe it won't be so bad.
Verl suddenly fell to his knees and cried loudly.
"No! Noooo!"
"I don't want to go with him!"
"Please, Miss… please save me!"
Risiya looked down at him with an annoyed expression.
Without hesitation, she kicked him hard in the back.
"No one asked about your choice," she said coldly.
"You are a slave."
Julian watched the scene quietly.
From Verl's desperate reaction, Julian understood something clearly.
Verl didn't want to go with him.
Julian sighed slightly.
"Alright then," he said calmly.
"You can stay here."
"I won't purchase you."
For a moment, Verl froze.
Then his face filled with relief.
"Thank you! Thank you, sir!"
But before he could say anything else—
Risiya kicked him again.
"Don't dare talk during our conversation," she said sharply.
"You're just a slave. Remember that."
Verl lowered his head and began crying again.
John Reynold looked at Julian with a friendly smile.
"Mr. Julian, if you really want him, you can take him for free."
Julian shook his head.
"No."
"I don't want him."
Without another word, Julian turned around and left the market.
Scene Change – Sakuya's House
Meanwhile, Black ViSage arrived at a quiet house in the town.
This place belonged to one of his old classmates from the orphanage.
The man opened the door with a smile.
His name was Sakuya Yuges.
"Welcome, Black ViSage."
Black ViSage nodded slightly.
"It's been a long time."
Sakuya laughed softly.
"Yes, it has."
"Although there's one problem."
He pointed playfully at Black ViSage's mask.
"In the orphanage… I always saw you wearing that mask."
"And even now, you're still wearing it."
Then he raised his hands.
"Don't worry. I won't ask you to remove it."
Black ViSage replied calmly,
"Even if you asked… I wouldn't."
Sakuya smiled.
"Yes, I know."
Black ViSage crossed his arms.
"So tell me."
"Why did you call me here?"
Sakuya hesitated for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"I heard that you are an Unofficial Adventurer now."
Black ViSage nodded.
"Yes."
"But stop wasting time."
"Tell me directly what you want."
Sakuya froze for a second before answering.
"I want you to protect someone."
"Who?" Black ViSage asked.
"My friend."
"His name is Hazel Kuroiwa."
Black ViSage slightly tilted his head.
"The landlord?"
Sakuya nodded.
"Yes."
"He's my friend."
Black ViSage asked calmly,
"What danger is he facing?"
Sakuya sighed.
"There's an assassin group called the Kuro Ninjas."
"They want to kill Hazel."
"But something went wrong."
Black ViSage listened carefully.
Sakuya continued,
"They accidentally killed Hazel's brother instead."
"Hazel and his brother were twins."
"So the assassins made a mistake."
"Now Hazel is furious."
"He wants revenge against the Kuro Ninjas."
Black ViSage remained silent.
Inside his mind, a thought appeared.
So that's what really happened...
Risiya's House
Inside her house, Risiya Reynold continued torturing Verl.
There was no reason.
No mercy.
In her hand was a heavy steel chain, made from extremely strong metal.
Every strike echoed through the room.
Clang!
Crack!
Verl screamed in pain.
He couldn't believe it.
This girl…
She's even more cruel than I imagined…
Tears ran down his face.
Inside his mind, he thought bitterly:
This world is too cruel for someone like me…
Why… why…
What did I do wrong?
Another strike hit his back.
CLANG!
Verl cried out in agony.
Then regret appeared in his heart.
Maybe…
Maybe I should have gone with Mr. Julian…
"Ahhh!"
"Miss… please forgive me!"
Risiya stopped for a moment and looked down at him.
"What do you think?"
"Why do you think I bought you?"
Verl struggled to answer.
"I… I don't know…"
Risiya smiled cruelly.
"You fool."
"I bought you to torture you."
"You are nothing but a punching bag for me."
Verl lowered his head.
Inside his mind, despair filled every corner.
What a cruel world…
What a miserable life…
Then—
Suddenly…
A mysterious voice echoed inside his mind.
"Do you want… power?"
Verl froze.
"Who… who is there?"
Risiya frowned.
"Hey, fool."
"There's no one here except me."
She lifted the chain again.
But the voice spoke once more.
"Do you want revenge… against this cruel world?"
Verl's eyes widened.
"Huh…?"
For a moment he hesitated.
Then something inside him finally broke.
"Yes!"
"I want revenge!"
He shouted loudly.
Risiya became angry.
"Why are you shouting, you idiot?!"
She swung the chain again.
But this time—
Something strange happened.
When the chain struck Verl's body, he felt a surge of power.
A strange energy spread through his veins.
His muscles tightened.
His senses became sharper.
His body felt stronger than before.
Then—
CRACK!
The steel chain broke apart.
Risiya stepped back in shock.
"My chain…?!"
"That chain is made from reinforced steel!"
The mysterious voice whispered again.
"Do you feel it?"
"The power inside your body?"
The voice continued, slowly manipulating his mind.
"Stand up…"
"Take revenge."
"Destroy the world that made you suffer."
Verl slowly stood up.
His voice was cold.
"Yes…"
"I will take my revenge."
Risiya looked at him with disbelief.
She could feel it.
Verl's aura had completely changed.
Before, he had been weak, emotional, and desperate.
Even while being tortured, he once thought:
If a beautiful girl tortures me… maybe it isn't so bad.
But now—
That thinking was gone.
His kind personality disappeared.
His extroverted nature vanished.
Even his fear was gone.
It was as if all his emotions had been erased.
Now, only cold hatred remained.
And Risiya could feel something terrifying.
The person standing in front of her…
Was no longer the same Verl.