Cannot Escape the Devil - Chapter 15

“They were only aiming at the vital spots.”

 

Leah, who was scrutinizing the body, declared that. Then the crowd began to mumble when they saw Leah and Asaya. Both of their attire drew the crowd’s attention, one for wearing a shabby cloth with a sword while the other one wore a modest dress.

 

 

-Isn’t it ominous these days?-

 

–Not long ago, a low-ranking demon appeared at the checkpoint entrance and started a riot… Now, three sturdy generals were killed. I don’t know what on earth is going on. –

 

-It’s bad luck.-

 

“Isn’t this what happened when the Duke brought the impure inside the wall? It must have bedeviled us! –

 

 

They proclaimed that the estate atmosphere was peculiar. In the end, they condemned the Outsiders brought from outside the wall. Some of them were aware of their identity as the Outsiders.

 

 

“That’s right, they always denounce someone else.”

 

 

Leah muttered faintly and grabbed Asaya’s hand.

 

 

“Let’s go. I can’t stand being here.”

 

 

Immediately, they walked away from the crime scene. Asaya was pulled out of the scene by Leah. Yet, from time to time, she glanced at the pile of dead bodies.

 

‘’It’s ominous.”

 

Compared to the corpses she had seen outside the wall so far, those corpses were still in good shape, but Asaya couldn’t help but feel unsettled. While passing through the crowd, a man chastised them for leaving the scene right away. Leah stopped and lifted her middle finger at the man.

 

“We will live a long life because of profanity.”

 

Even with Leah’s sarcastic comment, Asaya couldn’t laugh for some reason. Could it be that her mind became so accustomed to peace in the wall, and seeing something like that made her feel anxious?

 

The short walk ended, and Asaya hoped that this ominousness was just a momentary.

 

******

 

Loving beautiful things is a natural human instinct. Some might say it was hideous, but others might see it as it was stunning.

Whether it was clothes or jewelry, animals or humans, the desire to pursue beautiful things was an innate instinct and shall not be changed. And everyone who shared the same enthusiasm about that instinct gathered here.

 

“No. 512, I’ll start the bidding! It starts at 2 million gold!”

 

The ‘Polaria Auction House’, which bought and sold all beautiful things, was always a place where people fought for them. Countess Lishayas Schrandel also loved the Polaria auction house more than anyone else. The daughter-in-law of Archbishop Taison Schrandel and the wife of Bishop Reibene Schrandel, she was famed as a virtuous woman. But the art, jewelry, and slaves she bought on the black market here every dawn amounted to hundreds.

 

“The Bishop says he will return after this August inspection is over. The itinerary has been shortened. I think he will return two days earlier.”

 

“Why all of a sudden?”

 

“I don’t know why. The content of the letter is lengthy. Madam, you should check it.”

 

 

‘’Oh, it’s so bothersome.”

 

After the auction began, Lishayas, who was thrilled more than anyone else, was out of steam. The news of her husband’s early return could not be more unpleasant to her, who had been enjoying a break from his long business trip.

 

“Did you hear about the recent scandal around August?”

 

“Scandal?”

 

“The Grand Duke Kabelheider is engaged to a low-class woman from outside the wall.”

 

 

“Outside the wall?”

 

 

Lishayas was amazed at the shocking scandal but was also interested in it. The Duke was coveted by many women even married noble ladies. Many women treated it as a competition to charm him, they even tried to marry him. And Lishayas was one of them.

 

“I’m curious about how beautiful and amazing the woman is that the aloof Grand Duke fell for her. I would love to attend their wedding.”

 

 

The engagement of Grand Duke Kabelheider, who had briefly attracted Lishayas’s attention, soon fell out of her interest when she noticed a slave who had climbed on the platform.

 

“It’s the guy I got out of the wall. As you can see, he’s very handsome and obedient. Just by looking at his face, I think he’s the best one I’ve ever found. He has a gentle personality and will be easy to handle. It’s such a special offer that we start with 10 million gold!”

 

 

No one was shaken by the inhumane situation where people were expressed as ‘for sale’ and grade them as ‘high quality’.  The people gathered with masks that covered their faces simply glaring at the young male slave, who looked mesmerizing with his eyes twinkling.

 

“11 million!”

 

“15 million!”

 

“23 million!”

 

With a fearful momentum, the bid amount began to rise. People in beautiful dresses and suits eagerly jumped into the bidding competition. Everyone started to increase the amount as if they were possessed by something. It was like a mass fervor.

 

 

“The price keeps surging with dreadful momentum! Yes! Look at this shiny silver hair. How beautiful it is! He looks very healthy and has good strength! This beauty that wasn’t covered even with his shaggy hair and dirty outfit! Isn’t it tempting?”

 

 

The beautiful boy, no, the beautiful young man on the podium became the object of praise, like meat on a showcase, and was engulfed by people’s sordid desires. Still, the boy was composed rather than agitated. Lishayas was fascinated by that beautiful young man.

 

“70 million gold! Are there any more?”

 

The auction fever intensified. The amount that had risen with fearful momentum had reached 70 million gold. It would be the most expensive of the recent transaction prices. Fewer people wanted to bid for a huge amount. 70 million gold was too expensive for a lowly male slave.

 

“If there is no more, the auction ends at the successful bid price of 70 million gold…’”

 

“100 million!”

 

The inside of the room, which was noisy and chaotic quickly became calm at the huge bidding amount of money that popped out of nowhere. No one was willing to offer a large amount because the amount of 70 million gold was already a lot out of the market price. What kind of crazy person would buy a slave for 100 million gold? It was large enough to buy land as well as people. The auction coordinator exclaimed in excitement, sputtering.

 

“The highest price ever! 100 million gold came out! Are there any more?”

 

It couldn’t be. There’s no madman here who was going to pay 100 million gold for a slave.

 

“100 million! The winning bid is 100 million! The winning bidder please come up.”

 

Soon, a red-haired woman in a black dress climbed onto the podium.  Although her face was covered with a mask, anyone could tell she was a very beautiful woman. How could such a young woman possess such a large sum? Each person began to make an analogy about the woman. There, Lishayas stood in front of the handsome, silver-haired young man with a smile.

 

“How pretty. What is your name?”

 

The young man was not shaken at all by the noisy atmosphere of the hall. He just smiled lightly at her with a serene gaze.

 

“It’s GT.”

 

“That’s a pretty name. But aren’t you scared? You were sold to me and I can’t guarantee what kind of treatment you’ll get in the future?”

 

Lishayas thought the young man’s calm yet still eyes were so charming and beautiful. Unlike other slaves, she really liked the unique atmosphere that was well polished without any knowledge. And the new slave, who she loves so much, replied nonchalantly.

 

“I came here because I wanted to.”

 

It was a bold answer. Lishayas liked that boldness. He was not an average man. She had seen many people for sale, the slave that was brought in this time was not just beautiful in appearance, but there was something subtle that could not be expressed in words.

 

Lishayas immediately paid 100 million gold. Then she grabbed GT’s hand.

 

“Let’s go to my mansion.”

 

🌸🌸🌸

 

Meanwhile, the news about the murder was also delivered to Edwin.

 

 

“Three guards in the Riverarden area were found dead. In all three, traces of wounds were found near the neck and the stomach. The autopsy on the scene suggests that the same area was hacked several times with a short dagger. The cause of death is said to be excessive bleeding.”

 

 

The Riverarden was a private house located not far from the Kabelheider mansion. Although it was a bit far from the center of the territory, it was one of the most well-managed areas because it belonged to the Grand Duke. More talented militants were placed in the outskirts rather than the center. For a simple reason; It would be easier to direct the military forces in case of an emergency.

 

Therefore, the guards in the Riverarden area weren’t so lax that anyone would die. Among those who were chosen, they were capable and brave. It was a serious problem that not one such person but three died at the same time.

 

“And it seems that lady Asaya was at the scene. She went for a walk to Riverarden. There were quite a few people who recognized her, and some even spread the rumor that a stranger outside the wall killed those guards.”

 

“Is the suspect specified?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

“Let’s look at the church’s tour group first.”

 

“We are already watching them.”

 

 

Until now, this kind of incident has been rare but there was always the church at the center of it. However this could not be determined, but it was necessary to keep an eye on the tour group sent by the church.

 

 

“How is the investigation going with that case?”

 

“Miss Asaya’s friend is cooperative with the investigation, so recently, together with the Lubedoa family, we have secured and organized the personal information of the family members who were involved in the case. Also, since all of them were from  Adonis Monastery, I plan to track those involved in the scattered Adonis Monastery.”

 

 

“Let’s make it a priority to find Count Lubedoa assuming he is alive.”

 

 

Marshall nodded at Edwin’s words.

 

“I am going to organize an investigation team and go out of the wall to investigate.”

 

Marshall said that he would personally conduct an investigation outside the wall with only a small number of people. This was a confidential investigation, so moving on a large scale was not a good idea. There would be a high contingency of being followed by concealed spies.

 

“I think I have to go. Not many people know about the geography outside the wall well, and I have something else to check. ”

 

“Go do it.”

 

Edwin didn’t stop Marshall from going on his own. Marshall has always been proficient working solo. Furthermore, he was the finest aide in business as well as having the skill to take the lead in the expedition to eradicate demons, so there was no need to fret over anything. He wasn’t so feeble that he couldn’t protect himself, but rather, he had more experience with demons and outside the wall than others. Edwin rubbed his forehead and leaned back. His eyes were full of fatigue.

 

 

“Go home early today and tell Asaya to go to bed first.”

 

 

“Yes, My Lord.”

 

 

Today Edwin had to spend the night in the company office.  Before Asaya came to the mansion, it was a routine for him to spend the night in his private office, so Marshall nodded flatly. As soon as he decided to work overtime, he felt tired. He always had scads of work to do.  Adding a murder case amid the piles of unfinished payment documents. If it was your typical murder case, then it would be handled by a low-ranking officer. However, three elite soldiers have been killed.

 

 

‘’I’m exhausted.”

 

As he looked out the window with his half-dropped eyes, he suddenly thought of a cup of tea which Asaya made at dawn that was so hot that it was annoying. Edwin didn’t know why that distasteful tea came to his mind. Did he miss the tea or the face of the woman who gave him the tea and smiled proudly? He closed his eyes, reminiscing the tea’s warm aroma and Asaya’s dazzling bright smile at dawn that day. Relief washed over the extreme exhaustion that seemed to break his body.

 

 

*****

 

 

After hearing Edwin’s message from Marshall, Asaya went to sleep in her bed. However, she was wide awake. Was it because she couldn’t feel the warmth from the other side of the bed? Asaya thought that humans were surprisingly versatile creatures. It should be far more convenient and comfortable to sleep alone without staring at someone else, but why couldn’t she fall asleep?

 

 

“If he overworked; he would be a wreck…”

 

 

Although Asaya treats Edwin’s body with divine power every day, she was worried because he has a sensitive body. There was no way that the workload on that frail body could be tolerable. Of course, he said he doesn’t work much these days compared to 120 hours a week in the past. Still, Asaya was perturbed. A royal body was like a bomb that may explode at any time. It was known that the unique hormone that destroys the body could be subsumed by divine force, but it was not perfect. Remembering Marshall’s words that some royals died due to the hormone eruption.

 

 

“I feel stuffy.”

 

 

On sleepless nights, Asaya would overthink. It was natural to feel stuffy inside. Asaya rose from the bed and opened the window, assuming that this stuffiness would disappear with some fresh air. Not far away, in front of her eyes, she stared at Riverarden village, where she had her morning walk. It was dimly announcing its existence in the dark by the streetlights. The fierce wind scattered her hair. The cold night breeze stung her, but she felt tranquil. Asaya inhaled the fresh air while relishing the wind to her heart’s content and stopped momentarily. Suddenly her eyes widened in shock, focusing on the smell that passed through her nose, she was stunned.

 

 

“This is…”

 

Asaya, feeling something strange, hurriedly grabbed her coat. Then she kicked the door open and ran out. As she went outside, the smell from before became stronger. She couldn’t understand it.

 

How could she smell the plague from outside the wall at this place?