Chapter 4: Episode 4

In ‘Saintess Rearing’, a concept called ‘Corruption’ exists.

It wasn’t the idea that a Saintess you were raising would become corrupted if she exceeded a certain threshold.

It was an existence separate from the original story.

Beings who failed to become Saintesses, or who became corrupted for some reason after becoming a Saintess.

‘Corrupted Saintess’ was the enemy that appeared for the player.

Naturally, as they are separate beings, one can also witness battles between a regular Saintess and a Corrupted Saintess herself.

For example, if you are using Helna, the (Un)Virgin of the Sword, in your party, you might encounter her corrupted counterpart as an enemy.

Just as there are countless Saintesses, there are countless Corrupted Saintesses.

Among them, Seraphie Esnor.

She alone was uniquely different.

It wasn’t just about the strength she possessed.

She was…

‘A character not even available in gacha pulls.’

She was a character whose original form was a Corrupted Saintess.

To think I would encounter her in such a way.

I never dreamed of it.

‘I did think about wanting to encounter a Saintess in a s*ave market, but to actually encounter one!’

Many strange things happen in this world.

“Alright, alright, let’s begin the auction. We’ll start with 1 gold coin.”

Unaware of my troubled state of mind, the auctioneer arbitrarily began the auction.

The atmosphere in the auction house was heated.

Perhaps because the item was a former noble lady, everyone was busy raising their placards.

Among them were even individuals who appeared to be commoners.

“Heh heh, if I can just get that girl and have her bear children, our family will also rise to the ranks of nobility!”

– Such disrespectful and absurd ambitions were muttered.

Various types of people participated in the auction, each with their own objectives.

Mostly with sinister intentions.

However.

Among that sinister crowd, there was one person who stood out, as if they had mastered depravity.

The protagonist, whose appearance was fitting of being called a ‘great merchant’, raised his placard countless times.

He countered when the price was raised, and countered again when it was raised further.

A dark desire could be seen in his demeanor and eyes.

“Who is that person?”

“Pardon? That person…?”

Hans pondered for a moment before replying.

“Ah! I remember now.

That person is Count Pigmyne.”

“Count Pigmyne?”

It was a family I had never heard of.

“Yes.

Yuren, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know him.

He’s not from this region.”

“Not from this region?”

“Yes.

As far as I know, the Pigmyne family should be quite far to the east…

Why is he really here?”

Hans, in turn, questioned me.

“Rather, that’s what I want to ask you.”

Regardless of this conversation.

The auction price steadily rose, and Count Pigmyne’s rivals gradually began to dwindle.

Eventually.

“100 gold coins! A whopping 100 gold coins have been offered.

If there are no further bids, it will be awarded to customer number 38!”

Just as Count Pigmyne’s victory seemed certain.

I began to move my placard.

“Oh…!

Customer number 173 has raised a placard!

Now, 110 gold coins.

Are there no further bids?”

Count Pigmyne looked at me, frowned once, and then raised the amount again.

Not to be outdone, I also raised the amount.

I was determined to acquire Seraphie Esnor.

Although she had become jaded from the disappointment of not becoming a hero, she hadn’t fallen into corruption in the sense of ‘the world that didn’t choose me is bad.’

In short, just because she wasn’t chosen as a hero, she doesn’t wish for the world to be destroyed.

So, that fallen noble lady.

I decided to take her.

‘Just her absence will make saving the world much easier for the heroes.’

I will buy that lady.

And I will not let her become corrupted.

That was the plan, for now.

However.

Hans, unaware of my grand thoughts and intentions, suddenly began to express his disappointment in me from beside me.

“Ehh… Brother…

No matter how I look at it, she’s still a child…

I’m disappointed…”

****

Seraphie felt ashamed of herself, standing on the dais as an item for sale.

‘…I hate these gazes.’

It was unpleasant.

The gazes that saw her not as a human, but as an object.

Nevertheless, Seraphie showed no particular reaction.

Because she had already resigned herself.

Wasn’t it already decided who she would be sold to anyway?

So, she merely watched in silence as her price rose.

At that moment.

Something entered Seraphie’s field of vision.

‘…Count Pigmyne.’

A middle-aged man with an extremely hideous appearance, to the extent that calling him ugly would be an understatement.

Seraphie feared the desire he held.

It was highly probable that her current situation was all part of Count Pigmyne’s scheme.

Making her a s*ave, buying and selling her in such a public place – it was all Count Pigmyne’s plot.

‘He must have made me a s*ave and brought me to such a distant territory to avoid scandal.’

Making someone incur debt, causing their downfall, and then buying their child as a s*ave.

It was an act full of illegality.

However.

From what was visible, and by piecing together the series of events, Count Pigmyne merely seemed to have lent money, and her downfall appeared to have nothing to do with him at all.

The current situation looked like he had coincidentally seen the daughter of a debtor being sold as a s*ave in another territory and simply purchased her.

That’s how the situation appeared.

Most likely, that was precisely Count Pigmyne’s intention.

There was strong suspicion, but no concrete evidence.

‘He truly is a vile person.’

Seraphie found Count Pigmyne, who would go to such lengths to obtain her, even more repulsive than before.

And just as she expected.

“If there are no further bids, it will be awarded to customer number 38!”

It was the moment Seraphie was about to be sold to Count Pigmyne.

“Oh…!

Customer number 173 has raised a placard!

Now, 110 gold coins.

Are there no further bids?”

A third party appeared.

A young man with brown hair and an ordinary appearance.

If there was anything peculiar, it was his strangely narrow, suspicious-looking eyes.

‘…Somehow, I feel like that person will be just like Count Pigmyne.’

People with such eyes are usually wicked.

It was Seraphie’s prejudice.

Upon seeing the appearance of customer number 173, Seraphie believed he also possessed the same sadism as Count Pigmyne.

She had no hope.

Still.

Seraphie thought that this young man might be better than being sold to Count Pigmyne, who had caused her current plight.

The reason was simple.

‘I want Count Pigmyne to get his comeuppance.’

It was out of petty revenge.

****

After a fierce battle.

“The fallen noble lady has been successfully bid on by customer number 173!”

The auctioneer raised my hand.

“Congratulations! Wow, this must be the highest amount in the Garcia Territory’s s*ave auction!”

What the auctioneer said was true.

Even I thought I had spent too much money.

That Count Pigmyne was an incredibly persistent man.

He’d counter when I raised the bid, and counter again when I raised it further.

But who am I?

‘One shouldn’t underestimate the wealth of the Garcia family.’

I am the eldest son of a family renowned for its riches.

When it comes to money, I can even contend with the Emperor.

“…Congratulations!”

Count Pigmyne, who had been so persistent, reacted surprisingly coolly even after the item he coveted went to me.

He even seemed to be somewhat pleased.

A sense of suspicion hung in the air, but what was important right now wasn’t that.

I quickly requested a private meeting with the s*ave I had purchased.

“…Yuren Garcia.

That’s my name.”

“….”

Seraphie responded silently.

She didn’t say anything.

It was fine, as I wasn’t particularly expecting an introduction.

“….”

“….”

I met Seraphie’s gaze.

It was awkward.

I didn’t know what to talk about with Seraphie.

Amidst the continuing silence.

Since I had nothing particular to say, I spoke.

“…Follow me.”

My plan was to take her home first and then figure out what to do.

****

‘Would you like to engrave a mark?’

Slaves are, by custom, marked with an engraving.

I naturally refused.

An engraving, when I bought her with no intention of corrupting her?

Only a madman would do such a thing.

If I did, she might kill me first after becoming corrupted.

I looked at Seraphie.

She was still wearing handcuffs, just as she had been on the dais.

She looked uncomfortable.

Looking closely, clear red marks remained on her wrists.

“Should I remove them…?”

“….”

First, I needed to build rapport.

To show her that I was a good master, I removed her handcuffs.

Seraphie, having gained freedom in her hands, showed no joy or pleasure whatsoever.

She remained expressionless from beginning to end.

Her expression was so cold that one might mistake it for having no expression at all.

‘…But she can’t be expressionless, can she?’

In ‘Saintess Rearing’, Seraphie’s illustrations usually had expressions.

Though mostly a cold smile.

Anyway.

Even after her handcuffs were removed, Seraphie didn’t try to escape or anything.

Honestly, that was a relief.

If Seraphie ran away, I couldn’t just let her go, and trying to catch her would certainly create a bad first impression, wouldn’t it?

Considering that, I was truly grateful that she remained unresisting.

“Alright… your name is Seraphie, right?

I’ll speak informally.

As you know, starting today, I am your master.”

“….”

No answer.

Could it be that she can’t speak?

‘…That can’t be right.

She definitely had dialogue in the game.’

She just doesn’t want to talk.

Hmm… Is that all?

There’s plenty of time.

We can get closer slowly.

If I treat her well, Seraphie’s tightly closed heart will surely open someday.

“Follow behind me… Hmm, maybe that’s not good….”

I didn’t know how many days Seraphie had been a s*ave.

However.

Looking at her gaunt arms and legs, she definitely seemed to lack exercise.

Seeing such limbs, even telling her to walk felt a bit harsh.

I approached Seraphie.

Seraphie then took a slight step back.

“Good girl…? I’m not going to do anything strange.”

I promptly lifted Seraphie into my arms.

“…!”

It was what is commonly called a princess carry.

I decided to princess carry Seraphie and take her home.

“Alright, we’re going to my house first.

And let me tell you upfront, I will absolutely not do anything strange to you.”

“…?”

Seraphie’s bangs, as she was held in my arms, parted, revealing her two red eyes.

Those eyes seemed to be asking me, ‘Why?’

“Because you’re still a child…?”

‘Because you become a formidable enemy, I don’t intend to corrupt you’ – I couldn’t say that, so I just blurted out something vague.

But then.

Hans, who had appeared out of nowhere, spoke to me.

“Oh, as expected of Brother!

Your thoughts are truly different from ordinary people.

Since she’s a child, you mean you’ll raise her and then devour her!”

The moment Hans said that.

I felt Seraphie’s body tense slightly, and at that moment, I wanted to immediately smack Hans on the back of his head, but.

“Ha….”

…I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

My hands were tied by holding Seraphie, and I couldn’t use violence in front of her.

What if she saw something bad and learned from it?

However.

“…Hans, I’ll deal with you later.”

I decided to warn Hans for now.