“It’s a beast folk. This one who can stand on two legs loves blood. These bulging muscles can only be described as sculptures crafted directly by nature!”

The growling sound could barely be heard. The wolf beast folk had struggled so much to remove its muzzle that the area around its mouth was soaked in blood, and both arms were restrained by steel chains.

Despite such cruel treatment, the people participating in the slave auction didn’t flinch at all. They didn’t seem to consider at all that beast folk were a race with life like themselves.

“This one, who is so good just to look at, will become your best bodyguard if properly tamed. After all, no human can defeat a beast folk with bare hands.”

The auctioneer boasted as if the beast folk standing behind him was his own masculinity.

The wolf beast folk, having lost its wildness to whipping, could only twitch helplessly. They had caught a wild beast, removed its teeth and claws, and then forced it to try and growl.

‘Damn it.’

“Imagine this. This one will bring in enormous income in underground fighting rings, and for those of you with private prisons, it will be the finest torture tool without having to let it outside!”

The spirit tattoo on my arm burned as if on fire.

“Excluding demons, humans are the ones who act most like monsters.”

The sylph’s whisper felt infinitely cold, without any warmth.

“Even though I’m human too, I don’t want to be lumped together with those over there as the same kind.”

“Now you find them disgusting too. There’s a reason demons make contracts with humans. You’re the only race that can be influenced by such evil.”

We had come out for reconnaissance. Lucian and Barbarossa were infiltrating separately along the secret path they had discovered. We couldn’t act yet when we hadn’t found anything out.

“Darius, you’re not angry now, are you?”

“What about you, Anette? Your voice sounds choked with anger.”

“You got me. I guess I’m not as good at controlling my anger as I thought.”

“You’re slow to realize. The Anette I’ve known has always been like that.”

The fist of Darius that I grabbed was filled with hard anger. Even as we exchanged jokes, we were trying to soothe each other, not knowing when one of us might lose control of our anger.

“Hold it in.”

“But I don’t think I can hold it in.”

“Well, should we kiss?”

“Ah, what nonsense. Forget it. I’ll hold it in.”

During all this, a young elf who was actually older than most people here, a beautiful woman’s coffin that looked exactly like she was sleeping, and the heart of some creature said to be essential for magic experiments were being sold off.

Darius and I were holding each other’s hands so tightly that they bled.

“The next item is a cursed diary, said to have brought an uncomfortable death to all who possessed it. There are also rumors that the entire diary is soaked in a terribly potent poison.”

Why would anyone pay money for such an item? Contrary to my bewilderment, the cursed diary was sold for a high price to some black magic collector.

“When will those two arrive?”

“We split up so at least one would arrive on time, but they’re slower than expected.”

“The climax is approaching. It’s almost time for the mermaid to appear.”

“Show us the mermaid!”

“That’s right, we don’t need anything else we can see elsewhere!”

“Mermaid!”

People shouted excitedly in anticipation of the rarest item. The excitement that had been swirling around the hall converged into one.

“If the final item isn’t real, it looks like they might start a riot.”

The auctioneer, sweating profusely from the jeers, signaled towards the back. Then came the sound of water splashing. A huge water tank was being moved, covered by a black curtain.

Splash splash. Plop plop. Even though no one had amplified the sound, everyone was holding their breath and straining their ears to listen.

‘Could it really be a mermaid?’

That’s something that only exists in fairy tales.

But when the curtain covering the tank was finally removed.

“Ahhh!”

Wet hair. Pale blue eyes that seemed to trap anyone who met them in sadness. The lower half of the woman, who was looking around nervously with a fearful face, was not human.

“It really is a mermaid!”

A commotion broke out in the audience.

“She’s beautiful!”

“How much magic power does she have?”

“I heard mermaid meat is good for longevity.”

Every time her rainbow-colored scales sparkled, ugly greed flowed in people’s eyes. Beauty and dirty desires coexisted in this place.

“Everyone, please calm down. This beautiful mermaid hasn’t been sold yet!”

“I’ll pay any amount, sell that to me!”

“Yes. How much money you pay, that is the question!”

People were so fixated on the mermaid that they shook their gold coin purses.

People were so enthusiastic that no one noticed the vibration coming from the back of the audience. Even though it was an anomaly occurring in the VVIP auction house that should have been completely quiet.

The mermaid swam gently inside the tank. Adapted to the outside world, she climbed onto the artificial rock in the tank and shook the water from her hair. The falling droplets looked as beautiful as pearls.

The mermaid captivated people’s attention by her very existence, and she knew it.

“――― ―…….”

“It’s the mermaid’s song.”

“Ahhh…….”

Even the auctioneer, who should have been calming the guests’ excitement appropriately, was standing with his mouth wide open at the beautiful melody.

A dreamlike voice of waves crashing on a night sea. That transparent and rhythmic voice was heightening people’s emotions.

The sadder the mermaid’s voice became, the more ecstasy appeared on people’s faces.

“That’s mine!”

“What are you talking about! I have plenty of money too!”

The mermaid stood on the artificial rock, looking down at the people with sad eyes.

Clink, clink.

Even the beast folk who had been sold earlier were barking. The sound of handcuffs clashing was rough.

The mermaid stimulated the emotions of every being in this place.

Every time she opened her mouth to sing, people began to crawl towards the mermaid, trembling all over.

“Making the mermaid sing! This wasn’t in the plan, you damn fool!”

“But… what’s wrong with the mermaid singing? It’s so beautiful…”

“You idiot, what are we supposed to do if the one we’re trying to sell gets enchanted!”

Someone covering their ears could be seen shaking the auctioneer’s neck. That’s when it happened.

“Everyone put your hands down and stay in your seats! This is an order from the lord, we will no longer tolerate any illegal activities taking place here!”

“Eeeek!”

The door burst open and soldiers in military attire began pouring into the hall.

“In the name of our just and righteous lord Darius Inkhart, I declare! Everyone will be held responsible for what has happened here!”

The voice, grand from the start, was that of Sir Lucian.

‘I have to save the mermaid.’

Barbarossa, who arrived soon after, was helping Lucian capture the slave traders and customers and rescue the beast folk.

So I had to save the mermaid.

“Anette.”

“We have to save the mermaid.”

“You’re enchanted.”

What do you mean enchanted? This being blocking me was cumbersome. The mermaid is crying so sadly over there, what are you doing? I need to hurry and save her.

The mermaid’s eyes met mine. The mermaid, her eyes shimmering brilliantly, sang with a voice that touched emotions even more.

“Get out of the way.”

“Of course we’ll save that mermaid too, so there’s no need to rush in like this.”

“She’s suffering so much!”

I raised my nails to push Darius away. I was serious. If he kept interfering like this, I was prepared to even draw my sword against Darius.

“Anette, calm down for a moment. Close your eyes. If you don’t want to, just look at me.”

He hugged me as if restraining me. I could feel the hard scabbard in his embrace.

“Everyone don’t move!”

“The mermaid! I must have that mermaid no matter what!”

“Get out of the way!”

Amidst the commotion, his voice was heard once again.

“If you want, you can listen to all the stories in the world. But just for now, please only listen to my voice.”

Blood beaded along Darius’s cheek, seemingly scratched by my raised nails.

“Grrrr!”

The beast folk rescued by Barbarossa began running towards the mermaid in front of the tank, not caring about their own freedom. The soldiers were flustered by this clearly abnormal reaction.

Darius didn’t loosen his arms embracing me at all.

Thump, thump. I struggled and jabbed his chest with my elbow, but only my elbowing arm hurt while his firm chest didn’t budge at all.

The mermaid sang more sadly in an elevated voice.

“It’s alright, Anette. It’s okay. You don’t need to be so impatient.”

Suddenly, a warm energy flowed into me.

“Starting from the left hand to the right hand, remember?”

He whispered calmly, never panicking.

“Take a deep breath, that’s right, like that. You know how, just draw out your mana like this and face me.”

The mermaid’s voice that had captivated me faded.

Darius’s warmth overlapped the mermaid’s voice.

“Back then, under the tree, I embraced you when you were flustered and breathed mana into you. It’s exactly the same.”

All the noise around cut off and only Darius’s voice could be heard.

At that moment, his rough hands that held swords carefully covered both my ears.

“Are you okay now?”

“Darius.”

“Put cotton in your ears. We don’t know when the mermaid might sing again. That mermaid, it seems she was aiming for this moment from the start. To make a mess of the auction house and then escape.”

“You’re hurt.”

Blood was dripping from the wound that none other than I had inflicted.

“It’s nothing.”

How could I have hurt Darius, no matter how excited I was?

I couldn’t believe what I had done. My hands started to tremble.