Chapter 3: I Will Serve You Tonight.


    The moment our eyes met, I could instantly tell he was Cassadin.


    The deep purple eyes beneath his long eyshes were stunningly beautiful, almost to the point I felt like I was being sucked into them. And his pale pink lips and white porcin skin could involuntarily make his onlookers gasp.


    Why was it though, that upon making eye contact with me, he neither blinked nor looked away. He just stood there,pletely still.


    As if he were observing me


    Woah Thats one handsome face.


    Hes the most beautiful human Ive ever seen.


    The spectators sitting around me all praised Cassadins appearance.


    However, it only took a moment for their praise to turn into disdain and mockery.


    But is that guy even actually a ve diator?


    Thats what Im saying. Isnt he just there for the looks?


    Why does appearance even matter? Hes a ve diator.


    Even though he could clearly hear what people were saying, he only continued to look at me with an indifferent expression.


    Through his tattered clothes that were no different from mere rags, his upper bodys extravagant muscles stood out.


    I was about to lean in to get a closer look at Cassadin when the announcers amplified voice filled the stadium.


    Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience!


    As the announcer in a red hat revealed himself, the cheers from the audience grew louder.


    Yeahhh!


    Hey, hurry up and start it already!


    Im growing old from waiting!


    Quiet, quiet, everyone~


    The announcer grinned, stretching out an arm towards the shackled ves, then shouted.


    Im getting really curious who among these ves will be thest one standing!


    Yeahhhhhh!


    Before we start the game, allow me to exin the rules, shall I?


    The announcer signaled to the muscr man next to him, who then put down the heavy box he was holding.


    With a,


    <em>Thud!</em>


    The white cloth covering the box fluttered into the air, revealing the contents of the box without reservation.


    Woahhh!


    Excited voices echoed out from the audience everywhere. Upon seeing the revealed objects, I unconsciously furrowed my brows.


    Swords, whips, and even maces


    The items in the box were weapons that could all kill with a single hit.


    When the announcer signaled to the man again, he scattered all of the weapons on the ground.


    These weapons will belong to the ves who grab them first! Of course, if they dont have a weapon, theyll be at a disadvantage in the game. Theres just one rule: kill your opponent and be thest one standing!


    Wooo!


    Now, I wonder who among these ves will survive till the end. Well start the game as soon as the ves shackles are released!


    Yeahhhhh!


    They dont even see the ves as fellow humans. Just toys to be used and discarded when theyre no longer needed. A surge of difort spurred up in me when I finally saw just how they treated ves for the first time.


    As soon as the announcer finished talking, everyone in the audience began to cheer. Soon after, the heavy shackles mped on the ves wrists and ankles were released.


    Let the games begin!


    Woooooooh!


    As soon as the announcer dered the start of the game, the seated spectators began roaring, and the ves ran to grab the weapons.


    Every single one of the starving ves reached for the weapons in order to survive.


    However, even after he was freed, Cassadin didnt move an inch, and he just observed the other ves actions.


    Why is he


    I anxiously watched over Cassadin. Even if he was the man who would be the youngest Knight Commander of the Seville Empire in the future, I was starting to be worried because he looked too defenseless.


    Die!


    <em>Aarrgh!</em>


    The ves who were wielding weapons started to swing them indiscriminately to kill one another.


    <em>Aghhhhh!</em>


    Then a ve who failed to grab a weapon in time was hit by another ves mace and rolled on the ground.


    <em>Sptwooo-</em>


    Crimson blood sttered all around the arena.


    Yeahhhh! Good job! Kill him!


    As the battle between the ves grew fiercer, the excitement of the audience only grew.


    The creases in my forehead only continued to deepen as I watched what I could only call madness.


    Even if ves were treated worse than livestock, especially in a strictly hierarchical society like the Seville Empire, what I was witnessing in the arena was a whole new level of deplorable.


    And thats when it happened. Arge, muscle-bound man with dark skin raised his sword and charged at Cassadin, who was still standing there weaponless.


    Die!


    Cassadin nced at the charging man with an impassive face, and as soon as he was close enough, Cassadin twisted his right wrist with one hand, causing the mans sword to drop to the ground.


    <em>ng-</em>


    Cassadin quickly picked up the sword, and without a moments hesitation, he shed the mans throat.


    <em>Scsh-</em>


    <em>Gh, cough!</em>


    With the giant mans wail, red blood spurted from his neck. At the same time, the mans blood sshed onto Cassadins cheek.


    <em>Thump-</em>


    The man fell powerlessly at Cassadins feet. However, Cassadin didnt even give a second nce at the fallen man, and he only turned his gaze toward the remaining ves instead.


    <em>Aaagh!</em>


    <em>Ghh, krghh!</em>


    Every time Cassadins hand moved, more ves iled on the ground, unable to counter him.


    The audience that had been making all of that noise earlier suddenly fell silent. It was so quiet that one could even hear the sound of someone swallowing.


    Thats right. Everyone in the audience was mesmerized by Cassadin.


    <em>Thump-</em>


    You, you damned brat!


    Therge ve, who was thest one standing, charged toward Cassadin with a whip in his hand.


    What the, where did he go?


    Cassadin disappeared from the giants field of view in the blink of an eye, and then he was suddenly right behind him. With a sword in his hand, Cassadin cleanly slit the giants throat.


    <em>Cough!</em>


    With a ng, the whip in the giants hand fell to the ground. Soon after, his giant body also fell at Cassadins feet.


    In the blood-sttered arena, thest ve standing was Cassadin alone.


    The spectators who had been watching only then regained their senses, and they soon began to cheer like madmen.


    <em>Woaaaaaaaaahhhh!</em>


    Cassadin! Cassadin!


    My worries were for naught, as Cassadin had easily be thest man standing in the arena.


    Contradictory to my concerns, Cassadin became thest man standing almost a little too easily.


    <em>tter-</em>


    Cassadin nonchntly tossed the bloodstained sword onto the ground. Then he lifted his head to look at the audience.


    His eyes continued to move until theynded on me, who had been watching him quietly in my seat.


    Looking at his purple eyes that seemed to sink to the depths of the deep sea, I, for some reason, felt my past self ovep with him.


    Covered in blood, Cassadin stared back at me, and I couldnt take my eyes off him.


    But with the following words that the announcer said, I needed to hold back the disgust that almost surged out of my mouth.


    Alright! Our winner for this match is Cassadin! Did you enjoy the show? Its rare to find a ve as strong and handsome as him. So the highest bidder tonight will get to have a passionate night with him!


    Yeahhhhhhhhh!


    Regardless of age or gender, the entire audience howled barbarically at the announcers words. And I finally understood why Cassadin looked so empty.


    Even after hearing the announcers words, Cassadin made no movement and just continued to stare at me.


    It felt as if he were begging me to save him.


    Amidst all that, other spectators began to shout their bids, seemingly desperate to spend a night with Cassadin.


    10,000 gold!


    10,000 is nowhere near enough. Hes mine. 30,000 gold!


    100,000 gold!


    Hah! Im going all in! 200,000! 200,000 gold!


    The price for Cassadins body continued to skyrocket. The higher the bids people called out, the more the announcers cheeks rose with joy.


    Just then, an old man dressed in nice clothing, who had been quietly watching the bid, suddenly raised his hand.


    500,000!


    Woohoo~ 500,000! 500,000 gold~ Any higher bids?


    Indeed, the crowd quieted down immediately. No one seemed willing to pay more than 500,000 gold for just a single night. A faint smile lingered on the lips of the old man who called out the bid, seeming certain of his victory.


    Taking this chance, I asked the announcer a question.


    How much is his price, not for a single night, but to purchase him entirely?


    From where I was sitting, I had the best view of the arena, allowing me to ask the announcer directly.


    Eh? His price?! Hes an exclusive ve of our arena, not for sale


    5 billion.


    !!


    The announcers eyes widened enough to cover half of his face at the amount I had proposed. After all, 5 billion gold was enough to buy a small city in the Seville Empire.


    While regr nobles couldnt even consider paying such a sum, our family, deeply connected with the imperial family, was different.


    Is 5 billion gold enough?


    Am I not asking you right now?


    Ah Yes! Its more than enough!


    Fearing that I might change my mind, the announcer hastily nodded in agreement.


    Booo


    There were outbursts of jeering from various ces in the audience. Meanwhile, the old man who had bid 500,000 gold red at me as if he wanted to kill me, his eyes bulging in displeasure.


    Regardless of what they were doing, I didnt care. They wouldnt understand my actions anyway. Unless they were a member of the imperial family, there wouldnt be a fool who would pay this much for a ve.


    Of course, they probably dont even have the ability to pay that much.


    I paid the amount on the spot and took him out of the arena before the people made too much of a fuss.


    Cassadin followed me silently. I liked the fact that he didnt seem to be thoughtless enough to talk to his master first unless spoken to.


    <hr>


    The story I was about to tell Cassadin was a sensitive one, so I brought him to a nearby inn.


    The most expensive room, please.


    Yes!


    The innkeeper grinned and personally led us to theirrgest and most expensive room.


    Well then, have a good time.


    With the innkeepers words, the rooms door closed.


    But as soon as the door closed, Cassadin suddenly started to unbutton his clothes.


    <em>Plop-</em>


    Shocked by his abrupt action, I quickly tried to stop him.


    What exactly are you doing right now?


    Isnt this why you bought me? Master, I will serve you tonight.


    Even as he answered, he continued to unbutton his shirt. And seeing him boldly open his shirt, my mind momentarily came to a stop.