IPMPBB 27

Chapter 27

I returned to the count’s estate, arms full of gifts tightly gripped by the owls’ claws.

As soon as I entered my bedroom, I set the lantern down on the desk.

The room was dark and quiet, but my mind was a mess, as if someone had stirred it up.

A man revealed behind the curtains was tightly wrapped in chains.

But even the chains couldn’t suppress his overwhelming aura, and the people inside the auction house trembled in fear.

With jet-black hair and equally black eyes, the man scanned the auction house with a piercing gaze.

“Isn’t he dangerous?”

“Right? If he was raised by wolves, he must be ferocious.”

“But he’s definitely a rare slave.”

People whispered about the sub male lead.

I barely held back the urge to gag at how casually they treated a person like merchandise.

Carlos looked like he wanted to flip the entire place right this second.

But we had to wait.

“Does he look wild? Don’t worry! These restraints will help you control him.”

The auctioneer held up a gem-encrusted key.

“These restraints are made with heretic technology and can only be unlocked with this key,” he explained.

“Hurry up and win the bid to receive the key!”

“One million!”

Someone shouted as soon as the auctioneer finished.

“One-point-one million!”

“One-twenty!”

The bids soared rapidly.

“This time…”

“I’ll do it.”

I whispered to Carlos and raised the number plate myself.

“Guest number 36! Please state your bid!”

“Ten million.”

The once noisy auction house fell silent at my words.

“T-ten million?”

Even the auctioneer was taken aback and stuttered.

“Do I need to say it twice?”

“No! Proceeding with ten million!”

“Any higher bids?”

I thought, There’s no way anyone would—

“Twelve million.”

A calm, clear voice echoed through the quiet hall.

What? Twelve million?

Considering the supposedly “blessed” gem earlier had sold for one million (even though it was fake), this was an outrageous sum.

Looking toward the voice, I saw a mysterious woman in a hooded robe.

The only visible part of her was the pale, delicate hand holding her bidding plate.

But from her hand alone, there wasn’t much to know—other than she probably didn’t handle a sword.

“Twelve million! Any more bids?”

Startled, I raised my plate again.

“Fifteen million.”

We weren’t actually going to pay. We planned to take the key and raid the place immediately. So I bid high.

That should stop her.

“Guest number 36, fifteen million! If there are no more—”

“Twenty million.”

The woman was more stubborn—and obsessed—than I thought.

Twenty million? Is she insane?

That amount, by my past life’s standard, was about two billion won.

Sure, the Elvington Marquisate could afford it, but this was an illegal auction.

Who in their right mind would pour two billion won into an illegal slave auction?

Even the auctioneer stood stunned, forgetting to confirm the bid.

Damn it, what now?

I was considering whether to start the raid early when—

“Captain.”

Carlos gently pressed down on my hand holding the number plate.

“It’s okay.”

“What is?”

“That person…”

Just as he was about to explain—

“Twenty million! No further bids? Sold!”

The sub male lead was sold to the woman.

Since this was the final item, she disappeared to the back to collect the key.

No! My sub male lead!

“Let’s move to the next phase.”

Carlos spoke while I stood there dumbfounded and drew his hidden sword.

In one swing, he split the table in front of us in two.

“Kyaaah!”

“What’s going on?!”

People screamed at the sight.

“Imperial Knights! Stay still unless you want harsher punishment!”

“I-Imperial Knights?”

His warning stopped the fleeing guests in their tracks.

But the auction crew didn’t back down.

“Just one guy! Take him down and run!”

They underestimated Carlos and charged.

But Carlos was the main character of this story.

With near-superhuman skill, he took down every thug charging at him.

Soon, the auction floor was littered with unconscious bodies.

“…M-monster!”

The last remaining auctioneer gasped in horror.

Carlos’s brow twitched. He seemed familiar with this.

I suddenly remembered when Elia had mocked Carlos as a “mongrel dog.”

He’d worn that same expression back then.

Now I feel guilty.

“Should I help?”

“It’s over. What are you even saying?”

…It was an apology, but I didn’t even get my pride back.

“Murdin!”

Carlos shouted toward the entrance.

“Yes, Sir!”

Murdin burst in through the doors.

“Tell the gambling hall staff to detain everyone here.”

“Understood.”

They obeyed because we had promised leniency in exchange for cooperation.

While they detained the participants and staff, Carlos and I headed to the storage area.

“Here’s your ceremonial sword.”

Carlos opened several boxes and found it.

I approached him—and there it was, my precious sword.

“Thank goodness.”

I picked it up with my left hand and sighed in relief.

“But wait, what about the sub— I mean, the last slave? That woman really took him? Is that okay?”

“It’s fine.”

Carlos glanced at the sword, then nodded.

“Fine? Who in their right mind drops twenty million gold at an illegal auction?”

Carlos gave me a strange look.

“I don’t know why she was there either. But one thing I do know—she’s not a bad person.”

“You know her?”

“Yes.”

“Who is she?”

“The Saint.”

“…What?”

I couldn’t help raising my voice.

“The Saint? The one at the temple?”

“Are there two Saints in the Empire?”

“Well…”

Hard to believe, that’s all.

She’s supposed to be the female lead of this story, the most virtuous of all.

Why would she be in an illegal gambling den?

“I’m confused too,” Carlos admitted, seeing my face.

“But she’d never break the law. She’ll cooperate with us eventually.”

He’d never shown me that kind of trust before.

Carlos, you really trust the Saint…

Considering their relationship, it made sense—but still, it felt odd.

Watching him trust someone so fully when all he ever gave me was suspicion… it stirred something in me.

“Why are you staring?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

I quickly shook off the complicated feeling.

Carlos had every right to trust someone he believed in.

It would be ridiculous to be jealous of the bond between the male and female leads.

“Then we’d better go find the Saint?”

“We must.”

Carlos answered with a complicated expression again.

“The noise probably didn’t reach the inner chambers. She’s likely still receiving the key.”

Carlos stepped over boxes swiftly, and I followed after, holding up my dress.

Past the storage room was a long hallway, and at the end, a door leading downstairs.

So that’s where they’ve kept the sub male lead.

I kicked off my heels—no clicking sounds allowed.

Then, Carlos and I descended the stairs and flung open the door where we expected to find the sub male lead, the Saint, and the auction staff.