Auction (Part One)

A ray of morning sunlight pierced the clouds, spilling warm radiance across the earth. A new day had finally begun once more.

This morning seemed especially lively. Many people had risen early, including nobles who ordinarily lived pampered, privileged lives.

Today, they were going somewhere—to select warriors who could safeguard them, warriors who would protect them and their families in the future. Today's time was precious to them.

"A-San, is the carriage ready?"

"Reporting to you, my lord, it is ready. It's outside."

"Hurry up. The gathering is about to begin. If we're any slower, the good slaves will be snatched up by others."

"Got it, got it!"

Conversations like these kept taking place throughout the morning.

As the demon army invaded without cease, many villages and towns with weak defenses had been breached by demons, aside from the larger cities. Count Sangukan's city had now become a temporary refuge for nearby nobles. Great numbers of nobles had poured into the city to take shelter. Fortunately, these nobles all possessed property in this great city and had brought jewels, wealth, and food with them, so settling in was not a problem.

The Demon Calamity throughout the inland regions had also brought prosperity to a certain market—the slave trade.

Slave trading had existed since ancient times. Those who became slaves had once held all kinds of identities, and the reasons they became slaves were equally varied.

However, most slaves came from Free Citizens who had lost their land and freedom. Some were soldiers captured in battle, craftsmen and commoners plundered from defeated nations, while others had been abducted through various channels.

In short, this trade had always flourished without decline. Slaves could be found in the household of every noble in every nation.

They were their masters' private property, free to