That night, Muriel and Lilith were sitting on the bed together, looking at a picture book. Muriel couldn't read the modern dialect, and Lilith had never learned to read before. Several books were scattered on the floor, most of them filled with long pages of text. Deep down, Muriel wanted to teach Lilith how to read, but without the translation book that Melenia had given her, she couldn't do much.

“Ah, as you can see, Lilith, this is the Lophania tree. It grows in the regions around here. These trees use magic to help them grow, and some can reach hundreds of meters in height. The forest elves in that area use them as homes,” Muriel explained to Lilith while pointing at an image of a towering tree. The tree was painted in a silver-blue color, giving the impression that magic constantly flowed through it.

“The elves… don’t live together in one place?” Lilith asked. The only elves she had seen up close were Veenciel and Hari. But Hari was only half-elf, and her appearance was strikingly different from Veenciel’s, which made Lilith curious.

“Elves, huh… Well, I don’t know that much either. But I’ll tell you what I do know. There are three main types: forest elves, dark elves, and city elves. Forest elves include wood elves, high elves, and snow elves… I think? Not sure. The one thing they have in common is that they’re all obnoxious. That’s about as much as I know,” Muriel started explaining, pausing for a moment as if even she wasn’t sure of her own knowledge.

“Dark elves mostly live in the Malicia Magic Forest. The magic concentration in the air there is so high that it’s lethal to humans if they stay too long. But dark elves have survived there until now, like weeds that refuse to die.”

“As for city elves, they live in cities among different races. Examples would be Hari and Veenciel. City elves are usually born and raised alongside other races, so they’re not as irritating as the others. I met another one before… What was that red-haired girl’s name again…?” Muriel trailed off, trying to remember.

“In any case, just know that elves will look down on you the moment they see you, for now at least, you are still a small one,” Muriel concluded before flipping to the next page. The picture showed a vast mountain range stretching across the northern and southern parts of the western continent.

But before Muriel and Lilith could continue their conversation, she heard footsteps approaching the door. Her ears twitched slightly, and she immediately turned to look at the door. Then, a knock echoed through the room.

“Muriel, I’m back,” Hari’s voice came from the other side. Muriel stood up, walked to the door, and took a deep breath, sniffing the air to confirm it was really Hari outside. The scent matched, so she quickly opened the door.

“Syra’s ass, you sure took your time. It’s almost two hours past sunset. I didn’t think you’d actually pull it off, H— Sheria,” Muriel greeted her, then immediately grabbed Hari’s arm and yanked her inside before slamming the door shut.

“Whoa, easy there.”

“Well, it wasn’t too difficult. The moment I started, the guards just conveniently looked the other way. Now we have nearly a hundred weapons,” Hari said while handing the bottomless coin pouch back to Muriel.

“Is that all you found? In a city this big, I thought there’d be a massive storage warehouse or something,” Muriel took the pouch and immediately slipped it into the pocket of her skirt.

“Weapons aren’t allowed for commoners here. Most of the population consists of slaves. The only ones with real weapons are the city guards—just over a hundred of them,” Hari replied while sitting down on the bed.

“Only a hundred? Then tonight’s going to be even easier than I thought.” Muriel grinned, then walked over to the silver jug of wine on the tray, pouring herself a glass to rinse her throat. Meanwhile, Hari watched Muriel drink in silence, as if lost in thought.

“Muriel, what exactly are you planning?” Hari asked, uncertainty clear in her voice. Muriel glanced at her mid-drink, her smile gradually fading. She set the empty goblet down and poured herself another.

“Tonight, I’m breaking every slave’s chains in this city. And nothing will stop me.” Muriel’s tone was indifferent, almost as if she were bored by Hari’s question. She should have known the answer already.

“I… I must warn you, this might be too risky. The nobles who come to buy slaves usually bring their own guards, and the slave trading companies hire adventurer groups for security as well.” Hari

“You think my power is comparable to yours. But no, half-elf. I am a dragon and a Demon Lord. Everything that stands in my way tonight will kneel before me—one way or another,” Muriel said, no longer looking at Hari as she raised her goblet for another drink.

“This is reckless and insane, Muriel. Do you realize that people will die all over the city?” Hari let out a sigh and covered her face with her hands.

“Am I really helping a Demon Lord slaughter people? What was the point of everything I did back then?”

Hari let out a soft, bitter laugh for no reason, barely aware of herself. She felt so drained that she couldn’t even sit up straight, letting herself collapse onto the bed. Her head tilted back, and she found herself staring at Lilith, who was watching her with the worried gaze of a child. Seeing those orange eyes filled with concern made Hari snap back to her senses, but it only made her feel worse

Muriel watched Hari’s pitiful state for a moment before finally setting her goblet down and stepping closer.

“I’m not killing for the sake of it. I’m doing this because a continent that still tolerates slavery is disgusting beyond words,” Muriel said, looking down at Hari with an expression as cold as ever.

“You’re just like your damn father. Is that Rabbit the only reasonable one in your whole house?” Hari muttered, meeting Muriel’s gaze for a fleeting moment before looking away.

“You might as well sink into that bed tonight. If you’re already breaking down like this, you’re better off staying put,” Muriel scoffed before walking around the bed toward the window on the right side of the room.

“If you’re not going anywhere, then keep an eye on Lilith for me tonight.”

Muriel spread her wings before climbing onto the windowsill and flying out of the castle, heading toward the city of Oviliae. Hari sat up on the bed and turned to the window just as Muriel flew away. She raised a hand, wanting to reach out and stop Muriel from causing destruction unlike anything this city had ever seen before. But she was too late. There was no stopping the dragon now. Slowly, she lowered her hand, uncertain of what to do next.

“She really is just like her father, acting without thinking. Doing whatever she wants. Why are that silver-haired bastard’s kids such a headache for me? Maybe I should just buy a farm and grow vegetables after this is all over,” Hari muttered, not realizing Lilith was still sitting in the room with her.

“Lady… Hari, are you alright?” Lilith asked with concern. Hari turned to look at her and sighed softly.

“I’m fine, But what’s with all these books?” Hari forced a smile while replying, but as she looked around, she noticed that the floor near the bed was covered with scattered books.

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“Lady Muriel was trying to read books for me, but… since neither of us can read the letters of this era, we just looked at the pictures instead,” Lilith explained.

“Oh? Muriel can’t read the modern script? Not surprising,” Hari fell silent for a moment before getting up from the bed to gather the books from the floor.

“Did I ever tell you I was the one who taught Muriel’s father how to read?”

At the same time, Muriel’s silhouette blended into the dark night sky. She soared over Oviliea unnoticed, until she finally descended upon a massive slave auction house. From the outside, Muriel thought it resembled a grand theater with its domed roof. Perching atop the auction house, she carefully slid down its slanted surface before leaping into the alleyway below, emerging from the shadows dressed in a black princess gown. No longer would she wear that abhorrent arachne silk uniform.

“Hey, have they started the slave auction yet?” Muriel asked one of the guards at the front entrance. Seeing Muriel in her elegant black dress, he immediately mistook her for a noble’s daughter accompanying her parents to bid on slaves.

“Oh, it should be starting about now. Where are your parents?”

Before he could get an answer, Muriel simply walked past him, uninterested in anything he had to say beyond the word “starting.” The guard, seeing her rudeness, decided not to bother with her and resumed his duty. This mistake might lead to his death.

As Muriel entered the auction house, she saw that it truly resembled a theater. The interior featured two levels of tiered seating surrounding a rectangular stage. A walkway led from backstage to the center, likely the path where slaves would be paraded for bidding. Disgusting beyond words.

Muriel walked to the second level and chose a seat near the stage for a clearer view. Scanning the crowd, she noted that while there were still hundreds of empty seats, nearly a hundred people had gathered here. Just by their attire, she could tell they were nobles—ranging from wealthy landowners to lords governing entire regions. The sight of them filled her with so much revulsion that she wanted to transform into her full dragon form and burn this place to the ground, reducing it to nothing but ashes. But she had to wait. If she acted now, the slaves held captive here would perish in the flames as well.

The longer she observed, the more convinced she became that this place was indeed a repurposed theater. The grand central stage, the hundreds of empty seats, the abandoned ticket booths now guarded by armed men outside—it all suggested this place was once meant for performances. She wondered what Fumiko would think if she saw this place in its current state. She had never asked Fumiko about her views on slavery, but since Satoru had openly allowed and supported this trade, she feared that Fumiko might have condoned it too.

No. She knew Fumiko better than that.

In all the time Muriel had known Fumiko, not once had she ever devalued human life or any other races. On the contrary, she saw worth and kindness in everyone, even those who didn’t deserve it. This realization only deepened Muriel’s hatred for Satoru. It wasn’t enough that he had taken her sister—he had let this place, this theater that should have been a haven of entertainment, become a market where people were sold like cattle.

As she sat there fuming at everything around her, the lights began to dim, and a spotlight illuminated the center stage. Looking down, Muriel saw a young man, nearly thirty, dressed in a fine suit, holding a cane likely enchanted with magic to amplify his voice. He stood at the center of the stage.

“Lords and ladies, my sincerest apologies for keeping you all waiting. This month’s slave auction will begin shortly. First, we must apologize that there are only forty slaves instead of fifty for the auction tonight because our transport carriage was delayed. But don’t be discouraged. There are still plenty of slaves for you to bid on tonight."

"We have humans, elves, halflings, beastkin, and to conclude the night, we have a rare slave for you all. So then! Let’s begin!"

As soon as the announcer finished speaking, five slaves entered from the side of the stage. When Muriel saw them, she felt an overwhelming rage. A chain linked their necks and ankles together as they were led to the center of the stage.

"First up, we have five–"

"Five gold coins for those five," Muriel called out, tossing five gold coins down from the second tier of the theater. Her mere words drew the attention of everyone in the auction house. But even more surprising was the way she tossed gold coins as if they were mere copper.

"Well now… well now, young lady. Don't you want to hear what these slaves can do first?" The man on stage picked up the gold coins and examined them, confirming their authenticity before looking back up at Muriel.

"I don’t care what they can do. I just need people. You know what? I’ll give you another fifty gold coins if you sell all of them to me." Muriel spoke while looking down at him, not caring what the nobles around her thought. In fact, they were more astonished that she was willing to pay such a price.

"Well now, with such a fine offer, I’d love to sell them all right away! Very well! Fifty-five gold coins for almost every slave in tonight’s auction!"

"Almost?" Muriel thought, puzzled. She distinctly remembered saying she would buy them all. It must be that so-called 'special' slave.

"Fifty-five gold coins going once! Going twice! Sold! Thirty-nine slaves—six human males, four human females, three elf males, ten elf females, three beastkin males, seven beastkin females, four halfling males, and two halfling females—are sold to the young lady in the black princess dress! After the auction for the last slave, come down and pay the remaining fifty gold coins."

"Heh, I thought buying in bulk would at least come with a discount," Muriel muttered through gritted teeth, trying to blend in with the wretched people around her.

"Unfortunately, this is an auction, not a wholesale sale. If it were, I would have given you a discount. But let’s put that aside because our final slave tonight is so rare that we cannot place a normal price on her. Bring her in!"

The auctioneer continued speaking and gestured toward the entrance. As soon as he finished speaking, a large fishbowl was wheeled onto the stage, with a mermaid swimming desperately inside. She seemed terrified by the many people staring at her. When Muriel saw the mermaid, her first instinct was to want to eat grilled fish for some reason, but she quickly shook the thought away. The fact that the mermaid had made it this far inland was unbelievable to her. Now it made sense why her price wasn't counted with the other thirty-nine slaves.

The mermaid had light blue hair that almost looked white. Where human ears would be, what appeared to be long fish fins grew out from her body. Her eyes were clear blue, like the waters of the Alderia Bay. Her figure seemed thinner than the mermaids Muriel had seen before, almost as if she had been starved for days. But what was more important was that her gills, which should have been on her neck, were restricted by a slave collar, forcing her to breathe only through her nose on land.

"I must say, catching this one was quite difficult. We went all the way to Alderia Bay to catch her by hand. This is a mermaid!" the auctioneer said again, looking around the room. The other nobles in the audience, who had now seen the mermaid, showed notable interest. Muriel, watching from above, felt pity for the mermaid who was struggling not to drown in the bowl.

"This rare mermaid. Let’s start the bidding at 30 gold coins!"

"31!"

"35!"

"36—"

"500 gold coins!"

Muriel's voice echoed across the entire auction house, and everyone fell silent, slowly turning to look at her. 500 gold coins was enough to buy land and build a castle, and Muriel had chosen to spend this sum on the mermaid. The slave dealer couldn’t believe his ears. 500 gold coins? That was as much as his company earned in a year, and it could all be his with just one purchase. He quickly made up his mind and pointed at Muriel.

"500 gold coins! Sold to the young lady in the black dress! Thank you all for joining us today. Please return home safely. As for the young lady in the princess dress, please come to the back stage with us!"

The slave auction ended immediately once the mermaid was sold, and her fishbowl was wheeled off behind the stage. Muriel wasn’t surprised. Humans were greedy, and only a dragon like her could surpass them. Even though many of the nobles were displeased with Muriel’s actions, they couldn’t match her wealth. In less than half an hour, after just sitting and waiting, Muriel had already memorized the faces of the nobles around her. After finishing her business with Satoru, these people will be next.

Muriel followed them behind the stage and saw over thirty-nine slaves locked in a small, dimly lit cell. The room wasn’t very large, and it was completely dark, with no light for the slaves. They were all sitting on the floor with their heads lowered, waiting for a master to purchase them, not expecting the legendary black dragon to save them today.

"You’re not lying about the 550 gold coins, are you? If you are, we’ll have to sell you back to your parents as a slave," the slave dealer suddenly threatened Muriel. His true face was revealed once he was away from the eyes of the crowd. Muriel didn’t respond. She simply stared at the slaves sitting on the floor, the voice of the man standing next to her barely registering in her mind.

"Huh? Oh, the money? Here it is."

"It should be around 600 gold coins, no need for change."

Muriel took out her bottomless purse, reached inside, and pulled out a large, bloated pouch filled with coins. The slave dealer’s eyes sparkled when he saw the bulging bag, and he held out his hands to receive it. But Muriel glanced at him for a moment to think, and then, in an instant, her tail shot out and grabbed the man’s legs, causing him to fall immediately. Before he could scream, the pouch of over 600 gold coins slammed into his head with such force that his skull shattered, and he collapsed at once. Muriel, watching the man fall, looked down at him with hatred but then smiled with so much glee that her smile became that of genuine happiness.

"After handing over the money, you doesn’t even accept it. How pitiful."

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