Riding something larger than yourself—or even a big animal—was one thing.
But riding a woman who was shorter than you, and smaller in build?
Yeah… better forget it. Not only would it feel awkward, it would be incredibly inconvenient.
After Is declined, Dorak simply smiled and didn't press further.
The female slave, understanding the situation, obediently handed the end of her chain back to her master and stepped back into place.
Using a private elevator reserved for Celestial Dragons, Is and his group quickly descended from the Holy Land of Mary Geoise to the ground level of the Sabaody Archipelago.
Wherever they passed, the road cleared, and everyone knelt.
This was the treatment afforded to Celestial Dragons—and Is had long since grown used to it.
Most faces showed reverence.
But beneath that reverence lay fear… and jealousy.
There was no doubt about it—while people outwardly respected the Celestial Dragons, they also despised them… yet at the same time, wished they could become one.
Is and his group didn't walk particularly fast, but neither were they slow.
After about half an hour, Is and Dorak entered the slave auction house together.
Normally, the auction would have already begun by now—but today, it hadn't.
There was only one reason.
They knew that Celestial Dragons would be attending.
And once the Celestial Dragons arrived, the auction would begin.
The host stepped forward and started introducing today's items.
"Stop wasting time. Just bring out the goods."
Is's voice wasn't loud, but since he was seated in the front, the host heard him clearly.
"Gulp…"
The man swallowed hard, not daring to disobey. He immediately scrapped the speech he had prepared in advance.
"Q-Quick… bring out the first item for today's auction!"
"Seems like you're in a hurry, Saint Is," Dorak said with a smile.
"I just don't feel like listening to useless explanations," Is replied calmly.
As time passed, one item after another was brought onto the stage.
Most of them were muscular male slaves. Of course, there were also a few female slaves mixed in.
But none of them caught Is's interest—they simply weren't his type.
On the other hand, Dorak, seated beside him, bought several in a row.
And he didn't have to try very hard either. As long as a Celestial Dragon placed a bid, no one else dared to compete.
Partly because of status.
Partly because of wealth.
"Next, item number 23. From the West Blue—a young woman skilled in cooking and fully capable in all household duties. Twenty-two years old, named Roz Minian. Purchase her, and you'll enjoy exquisite meals every day."
"She handles all housework, and when you're tired, she can also serve as… a source of relaxation."
As soon as the host finished speaking, murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Tsk tsk, now that's some beauty!"
"Gulp… it's rare to see someone this good-looking in the auction house."
"Everyone, you've all bought something already—don't compete with me for this one. I've been wanting a change of pace lately."
"No way. Whoever has more money gets her. This is a rare gem."
As the crowd buzzed, the host announced the starting price.
"Item number 23—starting bid: 600,000 Beli!"
The moment the words fell, Dorak immediately raised his bidding plate.
"One million Beli!"
At once, the lively discussion below came to an abrupt halt. People held their plates, hesitating.
"A… a Celestial Dragon made a move!"
"Y-Yeah… we have no choice but to give up."
"It's frustrating, but what can we do? Compared to our lives, a woman isn't worth the risk."
Without a doubt, once Dorak bid, no one else dared to follow.
Is had originally thought about bidding—just to have someone pleasant to look at—but since Dorak had already stepped in, he had no intention of competing.
And truthfully, he felt no regret. If anything, his heart remained completely calm.
After all, he didn't lack beautiful women.
"Any higher bids than one million Beli?"
The host asked for confirmation.
Silence filled the hall.
In the end, the gavel came down, sealing the deal.
The remaining items didn't interest Is either. By the time the auction neared its end, he was already getting drowsy.
…
After the slave auction ended, Is and Dorak returned to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
"Saint Is, you didn't buy a single slave this time."
On the way back, Dorak wasn't riding a slave. Instead, he walked alongside Is.
"Mm."
Is nodded, then added, "It doesn't really matter whether I buy one or not. I'm not lacking."
"In that case, this trip was a waste for you. How about this—I'll give you one of mine. Pick whichever you like. Hmm… except the giant. He's perfect as my new mount."
Is was somewhat surprised by Dorak's offer—it didn't quite match his impression of Celestial Dragons.
Even though Is himself was one, the truth was that over the past two years, he hadn't interacted much with the others.
Looking at Dorak's sincerity, Is hesitated for a few seconds.
"How about this—I can't let you take a loss. Whatever you paid, I'll pay the same."
Dorak shrugged indifferently. "That's completely unnecessary."
"…Alright then."
In the end, Is chose the female slave he had taken a liking to earlier.
Of course, there were more expensive ones among Dorak's purchases—but they simply weren't to Is's taste.
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