Chapter 05
“Aren’t you investing in the Demon Slave Trading Post?”
I grinned and opened the door to the secret. The countess’s pupils dilated greatly.
“I don’t know anything about such a place. Don’t make strange accusations.”
“You’ll be hearing good news soon. Just wait and see. Well then, I’ll be going now.”
I’d found out what I needed, so there was no point in continuing to talk and provoke her further. Too much provocation and she might go into hiding, which wouldn’t do me any good.
I left the countess alone, exited the lounge, and returned to the party hall. At that moment, Evan, filled with worry, came running to me and called out.
“Leticia! Are you okay? What happened?”
Evan grabbed my shoulders and carefully inspected every part of me.
“Huh? I’m fine.”
“I saw you arguing with someone and wanted to rush over, but I got held up by the elders and couldn’t. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Let’s dance one more time.”
I soothed the deflated Evan and changed the subject. He seemed so happy to dance with me that his expression immediately brightened.
And so, I spent my time dancing with Evan several times and enjoying delicious food.
Parties usually lasted until the next day, but since I had things to do at dawn, I asked Evan and ended the party at midnight sharp.
We left the cleanup to the staff and went to our room, bathed, and lay down in bed. In case Evan tried to talk to me or bother me, I immediately closed my eyes.
“Leticia, are you asleep?”
“……”
“Good night.”
Evan gave me a goodnight kiss. I resisted the urge to kiss him back and waited for him to fall asleep. But perhaps because I’d had a tiring day, drowsiness washed over me.
Yawn, I need to use that item.
‘I’ll use the <Let’s Look Overworked by Caffeine Intake> item.’
<You have used the item: Let’s Look Overworked by Caffeine Intake.>
As soon as I used the item, the drowsiness vanished completely. As expected, this is the best when you need to work late at night. Feeling refreshed, I waited for Evan to fall asleep. About an hour later, he showed no sign of movement, and I carefully got out of bed. Fortunately, he didn’t notice me getting up.
‘I need to hurry and get back before Evan notices.’
If I leave as soon as I become an adult, Evan will definitely follow me. If Evan came along, things would get resolved quickly, but I don’t want that because it would make it hard for me to act freely. I prefer to handle things myself upfront.
And more importantly, if he finds out I did something dangerous alone, he’ll definitely lecture me endlessly. He might even lock me in my room. Every male lead I’ve met so far has done that.
I used an item to eliminate my presence and another to heighten my hearing, easily left the mansion, and rode off on horseback.
‘I’ll use the Human Navigation item.’
<Using the Human Navigation item.>
Thanks to the item that helps me find my way easily, the route to the Demon Slave Trading Post was smooth.
‘The Demon Slave Trading Post.’
I arrived in just an hour and a half, so it was closer than I thought. Illegal activity was happening so close by, and I was too foolish to notice. Han Soyoon, your senses have really dulled.
I chuckled, keeping the items I’d used active, and sneaked in through the back door of the Demon Slave Trading Post. Thanks to the items, entering the building and finding the owner of this trading post and the countess was easy.
“Hey!”
Finally, I heard a raised voice. In the direction of the sound, the countess and a man who appeared to be the trading post owner were arguing. I hid and listened to their voices.
“We agreed to keep the investors a secret! So how does someone else know I’m investing here!”
“Everyone has kept their mouths tightly shut. I’m sorry. I’ll investigate who opened their mouth.”
“I told you to absolutely keep it a secret that I’m investing here!”
“Yes.”
Ha, what an amusing person. To think she’d come running on the very same day after just a little provocation. It’s laughable how foolish someone who wants to hide things can be.
“We got some good new merchandise today. Would you like to see it and lift your spirits? Their appearances are outstanding, so they’re a sight to behold.”
“Oh, really? I’m in a bad mood, so I should relax a bit before I leave. Show me quickly.”
“Yes.”
I can’t let villains be sent to innocent children.
‘Remove items.’
I deactivated the items I was wearing and revealed myself. As I deliberately took heavy footsteps to announce my presence, the trading post owner and the countess, who turned to look at me, were shocked.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who wants to uphold justice?”
Every villain needs a hero.
“The Duchess of Valentine? How did you get here so quickly…”
“I came quickly because I thought you might try to hide soon. I never expected the Countess to be here, though.”
“She came alone! Call everyone and capture her!”
The countess, who had been trembling in shock, shouted at the trading post owner. He took something out of his pocket and pressed it. A loud “Beeeeep” sound echoed.
How pathetic, calling for backup because you can’t handle it alone. I shook my head in disapproval.
“It’s true that I came alone, but doesn’t it matter *who* came alone?”
I drew the sword at my waist and took a perfect stance. The two of them looked down at me with expressions of contempt, as if they never imagined I could win.
I could bring down those arrogant noses right now, but to rescue the children safely, I waited for the others to arrive.
***
Soon, men armed with swords rushed in and surrounded me. I chuckled as if it were nothing and readjusted my stance.
“Come at me, all of you. I’ll take you all on.”
I’ve fought fifty people at once before. Trying to catch me with just a dozen or soāhow laughable.
“That confidence ends now!”
Apparently displeased with my relaxed demeanor, all the men charged at me angrily. I effortlessly dodged multiple swords, then counterattacked, taking them down one by one. And so, I defeated them all.
“Th-this can’t be!”
“How could she take down so many alone…”
The trading post owner and the countess shook their heads and backed away. With a fierce glare, I approached them slowly, bloodied sword in hand. The two of them immediately fell to their knees and began begging.
“Please spare my life! I have a bear-like wife and fox-like children at home!”
“If you have children, that makes it even more despicable.”
How dare you have children of your own while making someone else’s precious child a slave? There’s a limit to how detestable one can be.
I slashed the trading post owner’s arm.
“AAAAARGH!”
The man let out a wretched scream. Having lost one arm, he probably won’t think about making children into slaves again.
The countess, trembling violently as she watched the trading post owner writhe on the floor in agony, her lips quivering as she waved her hands frantically.
“I-I’ve done nothing wrong! Even if I have, you can’t attack me.”
Well, she’s not wrong. Although I hold a higher position, I can’t actually harm a countess. Even lightly injuring her would cause enormous problems. But that doesn’t erase the wrong she’s done. So I plan to attack without dirtying my own hands.
“I don’t intend to harm you. I plan to ruin your reputation so you can never set foot in high society or appear before people again.”
That isāsocial banishment.
“I’d r-rather you wound me! Just don’t banish me from society, don’t ruin my image!”
The countess bowed her head deeply and begged with her hands clasped together. As expected of a countess, she cares greatly about her image.
“That’s for me to decide.”
I smiled pleasantly, finished what I had to say, and glared at the weak trading post owner still writhing on the floor in pain.
“Hey, where are the children?”
“Th-that is…”
“If you don’t want to lose your one remaining precious arm, you’d better talk. As you can see, I have a bad temper.”
“Th-they’re in the lowest basement level.”
So you locked up children who barely live by the light of day in the basement? Ha, truly human garbage.
I lightly slashed the human garbage’s remaining arm.
“AAAAAH!”
Thinking he was about to lose even his remaining arm, the human garbage screamed and passed out. I ignored him, used the ‘Human Navigation’ item again, and headed to where the children were.
The children were huddled together in a narrow cell, sobbing. I broke the cell with my sword and reached out my hand to them.
“Kids, are you okay?”
“Wh-who are you?”
“Someone who came to rescue you. You’re going to be okay now.”
Even though it was a statement they might not believe from a stranger, they all widened their eyes and began to wail loudly. They were tears of relief and joy.
I led the crying children out of the Demon Slave Trading Post. Then I took them to a nearby inn so they could rest. I told two or three of the oldest and most trustworthy-looking children the name of a nearby orphanage and told them to go, giving them all the money I had in case they needed it. I didn’t forget to firmly instruct them to stick together and go as a group.
After that, I returned to the Demon Slave Trading Post. Because there was unfinished business that I couldn’t do with the children present.
‘I need to finish this quickly before people come.’
I boldly entered the Demon Slave Trading Post and smashed every piece of furniture. I slashed with my sword, and using the ‘Fist Strengthening’ item, I punched things apart.
As I went around breaking everything, the trading post was soon reduced to a complete mess. It was to the point where you’d believe the building itself had been demolished.
‘Ah, this feels great.’
When there was nothing left to smash, I stretched my body and left the trading post.
