After subduing Adrian, I took the dagger from his waist.

I wanted to slip out quietly, but unfortunately, I wasn’t good at hiding my presence.

A powerful beast’s aura was too strong, regardless of intent.

That’s why I had to go around tweaking people’s memories to erase traces of myself—a tedious task.

The moment I broke my restraints and dealt with a mercenary, a fight was probably inevitable.

Thinking about it now, it’s kind of funny.

All I did was take a room, yet I woke up kidnapped by strangers.

Were these the bad people Lena mentioned from the alleys?
If so, killing them by mistake might weigh less on my conscience.

I couldn’t hide my presence, and I was even worse at controlling my strength.

If I fought someone, I couldn’t guarantee they’d survive.

But.

‘Let’s get out first.’

I didn’t want to stay in this damp, unpleasant place any longer.

Even if it meant killing a few people, I wanted out.

Holding the dagger, I walked down the corridor.

“Please… save me…”

“Hm?”

I turned toward the voice.
It came from where the slaves were bound.

A woman with orange hair and cat-like ears was tied up.

A beastman slave brought from another town, perhaps.

She was in bad shape.

Her body was bloodied, likely from whippings, and her clothes were mostly torn.

Her hands were bound upward, her arms bearing her full weight, looking agonizing.

Do humans do this to each other?
Our eyes met, and I read her memories briefly.

Beaten and abused just for having ears and a tail?

Such low-class behavior.

I was a beast, but I didn’t do things like that.

“Please… I don’t want to die like this.”

The nameless cat-girl begged me for help.
Did she know who I was?

It was ironic.

If I opened her cell and freed her, I might end up eating her.

She was human, and I was a beast.

Beasts attack humans, and humans flee from beasts—that’s common sense.

Was she unaware I was a beast because I looked human?

No, she knew.

I hadn’t bothered hiding my identity since breaking the restraints.
I was releasing my suppressed aura to use my illusion powers more easily.

Aura wasn’t something humans could wield, so she knew I was a beast.

Then why was she begging me?

I was a bit curious but didn’t dwell on it.
Human emotions must differ from a beast’s like me.

Before opening the cell, I asked her,

“I can help, but if I open this, I might kill you. Is that okay?”

“That’s…”

I waited for her answer.

I couldn’t promise to spare or kill her because I didn’t know myself.

I might intend to save her but change my mind.
Chasing fleeing humans was a beast’s instinct.

I wasn’t a lying beast, so I didn’t promise to spare her.

I just waited quietly, giving her time to think.

“…”

No matter how long I waited, she didn’t respond.
Or couldn’t. It didn’t matter.

Opening her cell and breaking her restraints wasn’t hard.

I swung the dagger twice.

The first cut through the bars, the second through the chains binding her hands.

“…Huh?”

Freed, she made a dazed sound, as if confused.

I had no intention of killing her.
I wasn’t in the mood today.

Run or stay—I didn’t care.

I had no interest in a human who didn’t react.
So I turned away without hesitation.

Then I thought, since I’d already caused a scene, why not go all out?

I walked down the corridor, freeing every slave I saw.

No reason.

If they didn’t want trouble, they shouldn’t have kidnapped me.

*

Buying and selling human slaves was illegal in the Central Empire.

But it happened often in dark places beyond the knight order’s reach.

The black market in the shady alleys was one such place for slave trading.

Beorn, counting the gold coins in his pouch, frowned.

The amount didn’t satisfy him.

“Hey, I handed over ten women. Forty gold coins?
We’ve got a whole crew—forty coins won’t cut it.”

“We priced them at market rates, but if that’s not enough, I’m offended.
Four coins each. That’s generous compared to other places.”

Surprisingly, the slave trader was telling the truth.

Beorn had seen slaves sold for three coins each in the next town.

But that didn’t mean the trader was honest.

The slave market worked on auctions.
A woman’s appearance could multiply her price several times, even tenfold.

Rare goods fetched higher prices, especially with competition.

Sometimes, one slave could be worth more than nine others combined.

That was the case now.

“You saw that silver-haired girl, right?
Pretty face, killer body. You’re saying she’s worth the same four coins as the rest?
Do I look like a fool?”

Beorn argued, exasperated.

In deals like this, most of the profit went to the trader.

The extra coin per head was just bait.

The trader sighed, as if wishing Beorn were dumber.

“Fine, let’s negotiate. Sixty coins?”

“For that, I’d take the silver-haired one and sell her at auction myself.”

“Seventy, then. I’m a businessman too.”

“Forget it. Deal’s off. I’m not selling.”

The trader clicked his tongue.

Beorn, the mercenary leader.
He’d heard rumors but didn’t expect him to be this greedy.

A tough customer.
But the goods were too good to pass up.

If he brought them to auction, he could easily get 250 coins.

He couldn’t let this go.

“Alright. A hundred coins?”

“Now you’re talking.”

The trader opened his pouch, and Beorn took it with a satisfied grin.

This was enough to give each man a coin and still have plenty left.

With this money, Beorn would leave the Central City.
The schedule was a bit early, but no matter.

Fortune had come knocking.
They could party later.

“Boss, big trouble!”

A man ran up to Beorn, who was grinning with the money pouch.

One of his men.

“The prison! A m-monster! *Gasp*!”

He was so frantic, gasping while trying to speak.

His words jumbled, barely coherent.

“What’s wrong? Calm down and talk.”

Beorn tried to soothe him.

He needed to hear what was going on.

The low-ranking mercenary stood, catching his breath for a while before speaking.

“There was a monster among the slaves!
It broke free and escaped! We tried to stop it, but we weren’t enough!”

“A monster?”

“Yes! Even Bradan, a second-rank mercenary, was taken down!”

“Hm…”

No one in the mercenary group was a pushover.

Living by strength alone, they weren’t easy to defeat single-handedly.

Taking down a second-rank mercenary like Bradan?
Hard to believe.

Was there anyone in the Empire, besides knights, capable of that?
And they happened to be among the kidnapped slaves?

Beorn’s head spun.

Why would someone that strong get caught as a slave?

‘Must be a joke.’

It didn’t add up, so he brushed it off.

Not that he doubted his man, but he seemed drunk.

“If you’re wasted, stop babbling and go sleep.
We’re moving out early tomorrow.”

“I’m sober! There’s really a monster coming!”

His man shouted, sounding desperate.

Then.

*Boom!*

The building’s walls shook.

The vibration came from below where Beorn stood.

Below was the underground prison where the slaves were kept.

“It’s real, boss! We need to get out!”

Maybe it wasn’t nonsense.

He didn’t fully believe it, but the sound from below was no joke.

“Tch, what a pain.”

Beorn scratched his head, annoyed.

“Gather the men. We’re pulling out.”

No need to fight someone stronger than a second-rank mercenary.
He’d sold the slaves and got his money—his job was done.

“Wait! What about the other slaves inside?!”

Someone couldn’t let that slide—the slave trader.

He’d paid a hundred gold coins for the slaves, and now they might be lost.

If that was all, he’d be lucky.

What if the escaped slave caused chaos and freed the others?
The situation could spiral out of control.

“I… I don’t know. Probably most are free by now…”

“Good heavens! What did you sell me?!
Those were special alloy cuffs! It broke them and escaped?
You sold me a monster for a hundred coins?!
Are you f*cking with me?!”

The trader, losing it, shouted.

He’d bear all the losses from this mess.

In a fit of rage, he grabbed Beorn’s collar, blaming him for bringing the monster.

“Hey, trader, you think I knew it was a monster?
You’re the one who saw the goods and pushed for the deal.
Why’s it my fault?”

“Ugh…!”

As the trader raised his voice, Beorn scowled.

He’d already been paid—what did he care?

As a first-rank mercenary, he could overpower anyone if needed.

“Get out of my way unless you want to get hurt.
I’ve got my money, and I’m leaving.”

“Wait, wait! You can’t go! You have to catch that monster!”

The trader clung to Beorn, desperate.

There were guards to prevent slave escapes, sure.

But they were hired to handle regular slaves, not this.

They weren’t weak, but stronger than a second-rank mercenary?
Hard to say.

To handle this, they needed first-rank strength or better.

Beorn, the mercenary leader.

He was greedy and odd, but his skill was undeniable.

He couldn’t leave now.

“Why should I?”

Beorn asked, irritated.

He wanted no part in this mess.
All he wanted was to leave the Central Empire.

But if the trader showed some sincerity, he might listen.

“I’ll pay! I’ll make it worth your while—just help!
Honestly, you’re partly responsible!”

“How much?”

“Thirty extra gold coins!”

“A first-rank mercenary’s fee is steep. That enough?”

Beorn smirked slyly.

Nothing was impossible with money.
If money didn’t work, it just wasn’t enough.

The trader, desperate, haggled.

And.

“Give me a hundred coins when I’m back.
Monster or not, I’ll take its head.”

First-rank mercenary Beorn drew his sword.

*

[Salang salang, it’s Iria.
Thank you.]