“Sell him to me.”
How used to buying and selling people did someone have to be to ask that so calmly?
He was truly disgusting. Whether Ren glared at him or not, unlike before, the man gripped Ren’s shoulder hard.
Ren silently glared at the faces of the men surrounding him.
So he could remember them.
Because he would get revenge.
Even if he became a ghost!
Still, he had achieved part of his goal. Whether he was sold /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ to this man or not.
Ren waited for his dizzy vision to return to normal and looked around.
‘Running will be hard right now. Wait first.’
“Ah, that child is not for sale...”
“Why would the owner boast about a child who isn’t for sale? Ah, surely not. Do you think I cannot afford him?”
“What? Ah, that isn’t...”
“I will buy him.”
The middle manager looked at Ren with a conflicted expression. The men who had run over to catch Ren looked bewildered.
“This is quite an expensive item, you see. And he is still so filthy...”
“You don’t seem to understand. I’m saying I’ll buy him no matter the price. I don’t like repeating myself.”
“Ahem. But.”
“Name whatever price you like to my attendant. Whatever you ask, I’ll give you double.”
The man’s eyes gleamed. At the madness hanging over those jewel-bright eyes, the middle manager promptly bowed his head. It did not seem as though further conversation would get through to him.
“If you understand, I would like to be alone with what is mine now.”
The man’s eyes seemed to glow.
Ren muttered a curse. When the middle manager glared at Ren, the man looked displeased.
“He’s my property, so I’ll handle him myself. I can borrow any room, yes?”
At his question, the middle manager made a face as if to say, Of course, and handed him a key.
The man lifted Ren without a care and carried him into a room.
Ren stayed still and did not struggle.
He did not know what the man wanted to do alone, but Ren had something he wanted to do too.
‘Good. Let’s go.’
Ren’s teeth clicked together. His bite strength worked. Ren had already confirmed that through experience. No matter how sturdy this man was, unless he covered his entire body in armor, he would not be able to avoid Ren’s attack.
Click.
The doorknob turned with a metallic sound.
First strike wins. Feeling the carpet beneath the soles of his feet, Ren tensed as much as he could.
But in the next moment, something completely unexpected happened.
The man suddenly set Ren down and knelt before him.
“...What the hell?”
“May I ask your name?”
The man gazed up at Ren’s face for a long moment, then lowered his head and carefully brushed Ren’s wounded ankle. When Ren recoiled in horror and stepped back, the man looked pained.
“Crazy...!”
“You’re terribly frightened... I’m truly sorry. It would only be proper for me to introduce myself first. I am Fel. It is an alias, but it was also my childhood name, so it is not an inaccurate introduction.”
The softly whispering voice brushed his ear. The fine hairs on Ren’s body stood on end. At this bewildering turn, Ren rubbed his ears hard and stumbled backward.
“So what am I supposed to do with that!”
The eyes looking at Ren as he shouted were clear and sparkling.
At Ren’s stare, like he was looking at a pervert, the man who had introduced himself as Fel made a wounded face.
“I believe in fate. Do you believe in fate as well?”
The man looked almost possessed. The hand that slipped toward him stroked Ren’s cheek through empty air.
“What kind of bullshit is this all of a sudden...!”
“I must have come here to meet you. Please, know my name.”
“...Are you insane?”
“Please listen seriously. I mean it.”
After saying that, the man let out a deep sigh. Hearing that trembling breath, goosebumps rose all over Ren’s arms.
“I wish I could take out my heart and show it to you, if that were possible,” the man muttered, dragging a hand over his face. The light of the magic lamp brushed softly over his features.
Facing Ren’s incredulous stare, the man’s lips trembled as he spoke.
“...I fell in love at first sight.”
“...What? You did what?”
“I have fallen in love with you at first sight. So please, do not misunderstand me, and hear me out.”
He must really be insane.
Right. Anyone who came in and out of a place like this could not possibly be in their right mind.
Wasn’t he a complete lunatic?
But he did not seem likely to harm him. Ren eyed the lamp on the table and stood crookedly with his arms crossed. The truth was, it was hard to stand. He was forcing strength into his trembling legs.
“What exactly am I not supposed to misunderstand about a person who won’t even give his real name?”
Ren spoke sharply and glared at Fel.
So don’t pull any tricks and... what should he say? Ren thought with a serious face.
Let me go? Help me escape?
‘...I can’t do anything alone.’
It was something he had realized over and over since being captured. Ren had no strength to even save his own body. No wisdom, no force...
“Hic.”
When Ren lifted his head, he met eyes that shone like lamps.
Fel’s eyes widened as if he had realized something, and he shook his head.
After blinking quietly, he rose from his place. Then he greeted Ren with a gesture Ren had never seen before. In the light of the magic lamp, Fel’s hair scattered with a smooth shimmer.
“I was foolish.”
Fel gazed steadily into Ren’s eyes.
“I have no reason to lie to you. I will not hide my identity. My name is Peruan. I am the son of a count, and the reason I set foot in this filthy place is...”
The man drew it out, smiled radiantly, then strode closer and whispered in Ren’s ear.
“Because of the king’s command. To eradicate the slave traders. If I had known I would meet you here, I would have come sooner. Ah, that does not mean I was careless with my work or dragged my feet. Please believe me. I only mean that the time I spent unable to meet you feels that pitiable.”
“Move.”
Peruan, who had come too close, stepped back. He rummaged in his coat and took out a neatly folded paper.
“This is the king’s order.”
He unfolded it fully and held it out to Ren.
“Take your time. But please understand that I cannot give it to you entirely. I need this for my actions to be legal.”
Ren lifted his eyes to the king’s order.
In truth, he did not need to look closely. Ren had seen the king’s orders again and again. Distinguishing the king’s handwriting and the royal seal was far too easy for Ren.
When Ren said nothing, Peruan even swore by the goddess that the document was not forged.
“If there is falsehood in my words, I will fall into a wine barrel and die miserably.”
Peruan’s voice, making such a brutal oath, almost sounded cheerful. He looked relieved. His eyes seemed even more unhinged than before.
Was there a shortage of manpower? Sending someone this far gone?
No, maybe a lunatic like this was perfect for people who bought and sold humans.
Ren corrected his earlier label of Peruan as a “disgusting human.” He was not that kind of human. He was a lunatic.
“...So. You’re saying you can save everyone who was dragged here?”
This man talked a lot.
His endlessly rambling purple eyes lit up brightly at Ren’s question.
“Yes. All of them.”
Seen up close, Peruan’s eyes were round. But what was inside them was not. They looked gentle, but those eyes held blades. Before Ren could look more closely, however, his gaze turned mild.
“To do that, I have a request. First, please treat me the way you did a moment ago, as if I’m a villain. It will pain my heart, but in many ways, that will help both of us. However, please do not run away. My side will be the safest place for you. Please, believe me.”
“...”
Peruan seemed to think Ren did not believe him, or the king’s order he had shown him. His voice as he tried to persuade him was rather desperate.
He neatly folded the order again, put it inside his coat, and waited for Ren’s answer.
...He really was strange.
Was that bullshit about love at first sight actually true?
His eyes were half-gone...
For some reason, if Ren said he believed him, he felt like this man would lose control completely.
As Peruan watched Ren’s suspicious eyes with a heartbroken expression, his face abruptly changed.
“There is one more thing... I must ask your understanding for.”
“What is it?”
Ren asked indifferently. His face was swollen as he scowled, but Peruan, as if something about that pleased him terribly, touched the corner of his mouth and burst into laughter.
“Say it.”
“Haa. I came in here having spread a rumor that I am a perverted young master. So it seems I may have to dress you in thin clothes... no. I’m sorry. That would be unforgivable. Let’s simply change you into something pretty. Not those rags.”
With a smile, Peruan called his attendant and had him bring clothes.
But there was no way any of the clothes here would be normal.
There were only rags or revealing clothes.
And that was the most decent one they had?
Peruan clutched his head as if in agony. Ren, on the other hand, merely looked somewhat uncomfortable.
Ren waved his arms. The glitter-covered clothes fluttered like butterfly wings.
“...I dislike seeing you in rags, but I dislike seeing you in those clothes even more. I like it, but I cannot allow it. Haa. Let us simply wrap a hood over you as you are.”
What did “I like it, but I cannot allow it” even mean?
Ren did not answer as he watched Peruan’s helpless expression.
Peruan told him to sit for a moment and left, then soon returned. He had a hood in his hand.
As he wrapped Ren tightly in the hood, Peruan smiled in satisfaction.
“I still need to investigate what further crimes they intend to commit, so please understand. It is official duty, so it cannot be helped.”
“...The king’s command.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m so sick of it...”
Ren muttered before he could stop himself.
This was the sort of person he did not want to get involved with. Ren was sick to death of the royal castle. He did not want to know anyone connected to that place.
“My you, what do you mean by that?”
“Nothing. I wasn’t really talking to you.”
Peruan stared at Ren for a moment, then nodded.
“Then shall we go, carrying our thrilling secret between us?”
Peruan held out his hand to Ren.
Ren ignored him, but Peruan begged. He pleaded so desperately that he looked ready to lick Ren’s feet. Completely fed up with him, Ren gave in and held out his hand.
Peruan was moved as he carefully took it.
As they passed through the maze-like hallway, a man walking quickly from the opposite side spotted the two of them and rushed over in an instant. He had a ridiculous mustache stuck to his face.
“Young master! Where on earth were you?!”
“Ah, Tom.”
“What? My name is John.”
The attendant made a serious face.
“Tom. You are Tom again. I swore to speak only the truth in front of this person, you see.”
At that sweet voice, Tom looked appalled.
“Why are you suddenly doing this? And who is the person beside you...”
Tom looked at Ren and jumped in shock, then examined his appearance. Beneath the tightly wrapped hood, clothing like dragonfly wings dangled from his sleeves.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me you bought a person? No... you said you hated buying and selling people... did you develop a taste for it in that short time?! Oh, dear God, what in the world! Oh, this is not right! Dear God! You were not merely pretending, but truly... What on earth did you do?! Did you not just come out of a room?! You...”
Peruan, who had been quietly listening, covered Tom’s mouth as he trembled and cried out in contempt.
“Tom. Listen carefully. I am in love with this person.”
“Yes. Yes? Yes...?”
“I felt fate.”
“Yes?”
“So treat me as you would treat this person, and treat this person as you would treat me.”
“What does that even...”
“Then the explanation is finished, so we will be going now, Tom.”
“Y-young master! No, my lord...! Wait...!”
Ren poked Peruan.
Peruan trembled as if he had been shocked, then looked at Ren with a radiant smile.
“...That man is calling you.”
“How kind you are. He is simply calling. He has his own work to do, so do not mind him. Shall you come with me?”
Ren looked at Tom, who was calling Peruan desperately, and came to a conclusion.
As expected, this person was strange and insane.
