Chapter: 07
It wasn’t long after Sisrein headed toward the mansion, saying he was going to change out of his wet clothes, that a scream echoed through the estate.
“…!”
Startled, I immediately ran toward the sound.
As I rounded the corner, I saw the silhouette of an adult trying to drag the boy away, gripping him so hard that his clothes were nearly torn apart.
“So you thought if you ran away, I wouldn’t find you? Because of you, I’ve suffered tremendous losses, you ungrateful little brat!”
His gray eyes, set against yellowish whites, gleamed with greed. He was a man with a hunched back and thin, branch-like arms that were surprisingly strong.
From his distinctive appearance and the way he spoke, I immediately knew who he was.
What was his name again?
Then it hit me like lightning.
Baron Putterio!
The slave trader.
The cruel man who had given Sisrein his lifelong trauma of water.
Baron Putterio dragged Sisrein without the slightest bit of care, as though he were nothing more than livestock.
“I’ll make sure you never run away again! You’re my slave. My property!”
Sisrein only lowered his head and trembled.
It was as if fear, drilled into him over countless beatings, had completely paralyzed his body.
The moment I saw those crimson eyes, I was overwhelmed with sadness and rage.
“Let go of him right now!”
Baron Putterio frowned deeply when he saw me.
“Who the hell are you to interfere? Get lost before I smack you!”
I glared straight back at him.
“Let him go. Now.”
“…You little brat! You’ve got some nerve!”
His rough hand shot into the air, ready to slap my face.
Right then—
“AAAAAGH!”
With a scream, Baron Putterio staggered wildly.
Heinri had sunk his teeth into the man’s arm with all his strength.
“Don’t you dare lay a hand on my sister, you filthy bastard!”
“You little rat!”
Enraged, Baron Putterio glared at Heinri as though he wanted to tear him apart.
Just then—
“What exactly is all this commotion?”
A cold voice sliced through the chaos like an arrow.
Perfectly styled blonde hair.
Strict golden eyes.
It was Madam Mimosa.
“Raising your voice in our forest is unacceptable. Especially in a place where children are growing up. Absolutely unacceptable.”
Baron Putterio flinched.
For a brief moment, he looked intimidated by Madam Mimosa’s icy presence.
But he quickly straightened his posture and stiffened the collar of his coat.
“I am Baron Putterio, the one who requested an interview regarding my runaway slave today. On my way to meet you, I happened to find my lost property!”
He pointed at the terrified Sisrein.
“That little runt belongs to me. I’m taking him back!”
“…Madam Mimosa.”
Holding Sisrein protectively in my arms, I looked at her.
My eyes silently begged for help.
She was the only adult in this mansion who could protect us.
I can’t let him take Sisrein.
Especially not someone who referred to a child as “lost property.”
Madam Mimosa silently observed us with an unreadable expression before speaking to Baron Putterio.
“Please come inside first.”
With that, she turned and walked toward the mansion.
“That boy was my slave at the Perdes Slave Market! During the fire, the ungrateful little pest escaped!”
Baron Putterio adamantly insisted that Sisrein belonged to him.
Looking at him, memories from the original story surfaced.
He earned his fortune through the slave trade and bought himself a barony.
Originally, he had been nothing more than a commoner.
But through his talent for business and his ruthless willingness to buy and sell human beings without a shred of guilt, he had become an immensely successful slave merchant.
Using that wealth, he purchased the title of a ruined noble family and became a baron.
But no amount of money could buy him dignity.
“That child was my property. Naturally, I should take him back.”
Madam Mimosa replied calmly.
“Any child who has become a tree is under the protection of this forest. You cannot simply take him away.”
“…Then what about my property? Are you expecting to steal it from me?”
Merely hearing Baron Putterio’s voice caused Sisrein pain.
Even while tightly holding my hand, his body continued trembling.
Madam Mimosa quietly watched him before speaking.
“I will pay for the child.”
Thank goodness…
Since he had come for money, paying him off seemed like the cleanest solution.
Madam Mimosa clearly thought the same.
“I will offer you ten million gold.”
The average market price for a child slave was around three million gold.
An adult slave generally sold for ten million.
Prices varied slightly depending on gender, health, and background, but not by much.
The amount Madam Mimosa offered was far above what Sisrein would normally be worth.
It was clear she wanted to settle the matter peacefully.
But—
“Hah! Do you take me for a fool?”
Greed shone in Baron Putterio’s gray eyes beneath his green hair.
Twisting his lips into a sneer, he declared,
“I won’t accept anything less than fifty million gold!”
“…!!!”
That was outrageous!
Even Madam Mimosa seemed momentarily surprised.
Her usually expressionless face cracked ever so slightly.
“The fact that you’re willing to pay ten million just to send me away tells me that this ‘tree’ must be extremely valuable. Perhaps… an awakened ability user?”
“…”
Apparently, Baron Putterio had already learned something about the forest.
Although it was meant to be a secret institution, rumors had quietly spread among the nobility.
As someone who could smell profit from miles away, the greedy slave trader had no intention of letting this opportunity slip.
“So my property was actually that valuable… Had I remained ignorant, it would’ve been one thing. But now that I know, there’s no way I’ll sell him for a bargain.”
He chuckled smugly.
“That boy’s price is fifty million gold. Not one coin less.”
Madam Mimosa lowered her gaze.
“…Then our negotiations have failed.”
“As expected.”
Baron Putterio smirked.
“This is the territory of Marquis Corel. Naturally, we should leave the decision to the lord himself. I shall formally request his judgment. Tomorrow would be ideal.”
“Very well.”
The two agreed to present Sisrein’s case before Marquis Corel the following day and abide by his ruling.
Meeting Madam Mimosa’s marble-cold expression, Baron Putterio smiled knowingly.
Foolish woman. She doesn’t even know the relationship between Marquis Corel and me.
Baron Putterio was in an exceptionally good mood.
He was certain he would win tomorrow’s hearing.
Over the years, whenever he obtained particularly fine slaves, he often sold them cheaply to Marquis Corel.
The marquis would then resell them to his vassals at a profit.
Of course the lord will side with me.
Once that happened, the incredibly valuable slave would once again belong to him.
An awakened ability user…
Whoever he sold such a rarity to would easily pay fifty million gold.
In reality, the children of the forest were worth far more than that.
But Baron Putterio had no way of knowing.
Licking his lips greedily as he stared at Sisrein, he was suddenly blocked by Anette.
“Stop looking at him like that! You’re scaring Sisrein!”
“Tsk. You’re barely bigger than a chestnut, yet you’re trying so hard to protect your little friend. It won’t matter. Your friend will be mine again.”
“…You can’t know that.”
At Anette’s bold reply, Baron Putterio let out a mocking laugh.
He knew people like this all too well.
Lives born as insignificant as insects.
Weak.
Powerless.
Children.
“You know, your parents abandoned you.”
“…”
“…”
Both children froze at his cruel words.
“Ordinary children are born because they’re loved.”
“But every now and then, a child is nothing more than the byproduct of someone’s lust.”
His gray eyes gleamed with cruelty.
“Just like you.”
Anette’s face went pale.
“So whether you cherish each other, love each other, or cling to whatever human emotions you possess…”
“…”
“…your lives will be spent being bought and sold like merchandise.”
“For the rest of your lives.”
“People without anyone to support them—people as insignificant as insects—have no other way to live.”
Baron Putterio narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“What a pitiful fate.”
Having said his piece, he cast one last look of contempt at the two children clinging tightly to each other before climbing into his carriage.
Anette stood there silently, staring blankly as Baron Putterio’s carriage rolled away and disappeared beyond the garden.
