“Umm… Nya…?”
“Oh. You’re awake?”
“Lily… Nya?”
Yena suddenly grabbed her head as if dizzy and got up from the recovery room bed.
Three jewels were stuck all over her body: thick threads were tightly wrapped around her, and a prayer bracelet was on her wrist.
Lastly, a wooden clock was stuck to her forehead, ticking away.
“I didn’t know what would work, so I used all three. I wasn’t sure at first, but it worked when I used them all.”
“Nya? Just a moment. My body feels…”
“Are you okay? Even though the information restriction might still be on, the ‘Level 2 Spiritual Power Restriction’ should have been released. I’m released too.”
As I lightly clenched my hand, the immense spiritual energy within me twisted the space, causing the entire treatment room to shake for a moment.
The healing sorcerers beside us were trembling, but what was important right now was Yena.
[Are we going to kill them all now?]
[Wow]
[Going for the Sorcerers’ Association’s instant kill]
[LOL]
[Yena seems to be unfurling too]
[She can’t regain her memories, can she?]
Sre…
The blanket covering Yena slipped down as she stood up.
Wiggling her fingers, she mumbled softly and summoned a small black cat.
As the level 3 demon, or rather one close to level 1, nestled in Yena’s arms, she looked at me with a perplexed expression.
Then she began to feel around her body as if searching for something.
“…Why do you have Mahiran’s Fear Jewel?”
“Mahiran’s Fear Jewel?”
“…I shall tell the truth. Follow me.”
Kraow!
As the black cat in Yena’s arms meowed, the healing sorcerers all became dazed and started doing their jobs.
She lightly leapt to the ceiling of the tallest building in the underground market and perched on it, while I also settled down next to her.
I had sustained some injuries as well, but with the release of the spiritual power restriction, my condition was rapidly recovering.
‘Of course, it’s all due to spiritual power.’
I still couldn’t use other types of powers like holy power, true blood, mana, or authority, and I couldn’t use weapons or titles either.
At least I could use ‘inventory’, but it didn’t seem like there was much I could do with it…
‘Is there?’
“I’m actually from the auction house, you know.”
“The auction house…?”
“Currently, the auction house trades various jewels and spellbooks, along with expensive spirit stones and gemstones, but in the past, it used to sell ‘slaves’. I was one of them. Nya.”
“……”
“When I was young, I was caught by hunters in the forest. I fainted and when I woke up, I found myself trapped there… Haha. Not a good memory, Nya.”
Yena’s sharp claws scratch the roof roughly.
As if recalling the nightmarish memory of that day.
“At that time, I couldn’t use my spiritual power. I didn’t even know I had that talent. I just struggled to escape, but it was no use.”
“So how did you escape…?”
“…I didn’t know then, but the auction house owner did. First-Class Sorcerer Wuz. He had implanted a powerful jewel called ‘Mahiran’s Fear Jewel’ in my body. Just in case I ever awakened my spiritual power. He firmly sealed me away.”
Yena revealed the truth calmly, despite her anger.
Now a slave, Yena had been educated through numerous beatings and, after being “exhibited” at the auction house, was sold by a sorcerer who had received good information from the owner.
As Yena was being transported like a sack, chained all over, she reportedly met a ghost while giving up on everything in a deep forest.
‘Spirit. Black Cat.’
Having a special talent related to cats, Yena felt a “connection” the moment she encountered the black cat.
The black cat, upon seeing Yena, dashed into the line of sorcerers, killed the sorcerer sitting on the golden chair at the back, and rescued Yena.
“After that… well, you know the rest. I just wandered around, concealed my identity, and became a Level 6 Sorcerer of the Sorcerers’ Association. Since my spiritual power was restricted by Mahiran’s Fear Jewel, it wasn’t a problem.”
[Whoa]
[ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[Yena has such a story]
[So pitiful]
[Let’s go topple the auction house ㄱㄱㄱㄱㄱㄱ]
[? LOL]
[That’s crossing the line]
“…By the way, this fear jewel couldn’t even be undone by the black cat, so what exactly did you do?”
“I used my exorcism jewels quite a bit. Luckily, there was no problem up to the Level 2 restriction.”
The restrictions placed on Yena and me totaled two: one was the recently lifted Level 2 spiritual power restriction.
The other was Yena’s memory and the Level 1 information restriction hiding the dungeon’s objective.
I still don’t know how to clear this dungeon.
‘If I get the Iron Soul Sword, I think I’ll clear it.’
I also tried to pour as much spiritual power as possible to lift the Level 1 restriction, but it wouldn’t budge, maybe because there were some special conditions attached.
“I did see some strange jewel-like thing dissipate when the restriction lifted. I thought it was the effect of the jewels, but it was the jewel that was in Yena’s body.”
“…Thank you.”
“No thanks. We’re friends.”
“…Cough! Meow!”
Suddenly! Yena jumped up from her seat.
Now that her spiritual power restriction is lifted, Yena’s spiritual power is at least Level 1.
On par with Ryuin. No, there’s no comparison; with that condition, I feel like she could easily beat any regular Level 1 Sorcerer.
It seems that an average Level 1 Sorcerer could easily win.
If Yena could have unleashed her powers, she could take revenge right away…
“Are you scared?”
“Honestly, yes.”
Despite regaining her strength, Yena hesitated.
The reason was simple.
“There are Six Stars here. If we try to kill the Manager, they will definitely come running.”
A Level 1 Sorcerer cannot compete with a Star.
If Yena were the ‘User Yena’ instead of ‘Sorcerer Yena,’ she might be able to defeat Ryoko, but right now she’s in the state of ‘Sorcerer Yena.’
I chuckled and extended my hand.
“Do you want to just go for revenge?”
“Huh?”
“Isn’t revenge your target? Coincidentally, I have business over there too.”
“What did you just hear?! There are Six Stars here…?!”
Ku-gu-gugu…!!
-!
-?!
-Wha, what the heck!
-Is that an earthquake?
-The ground is shaking…
-Kyaaaak!!
As I shook the entire Underground Market with my own hands, Yena’s jaw dropped in shock.
In my current state, it wouldn’t be a problem to neutralize the spells and jewels covering the entire Underground Market and even calm the market itself.
Yena’s gaze turned fierce.
“…Alright. Let’s just kill them.”
■
“…? What’s all this commotion?”
“I’ll check it out. Manager.”
“Okay.”
At the top floor of the Auction House.
The Level 1 Sorcerer Wuz, the manager of the Auction House, frowned as he suddenly looked up at the shaking ceiling of the Underground Market.
‘As if I can’t even get slaves anymore. Tch.’
Originally, the Auction House was a place where the slave trade was thriving.
As long as you had money, anyone could own slaves under a restriction, and wealthy upper-class Sorcerers would often visit to pay for them.
But everything changed when Ryoko, one of the Six Stars of the Sorcerers’ Association, came here.
He suddenly took over a corner of the Underground Market and started giving ‘looks,’ resulting in absurd regulations like banning the sale of slaves and prohibiting killings during Arena battles.
“That damn old man. He probably has dozens of slaves in his own home while pretending to be virtuous.”
Wuz clicked his tongue and slammed down on the expensive table.
After all, this situation was also due to them not being able to properly manage even one of those damned Cheolhon.
And it was absurd that they had to clean up the mess all on their own.
Furthermore, the one in charge of the Arena, Geomhon, reportedly had to pay a lot to a woman named Lily after the Arena was split in half, going through all sorts of trouble.
Wuz apparently had to pay a fee.
“…Lily.”
Geomhon warned about her, the person Ryoko specifically told him to pay attention to.
He didn’t quite understand what this human was up to, but from what he overheard, she was one of the hidden Level 1 Sorcerers.
No matter how formidable the opponent, Wuz himself was also a Level 1 Sorcerer, the auction house’s manager.
That arrogant attitude wasn’t pleasant at all, but if he didn’t want to step into Ryoko’s territory, he needed to play nice to get through this smoothly.
‘I need to hurry and get everything ready once this underground market is over.’
Though secret, he had a few slaves prepared.
It took time to prepare while avoiding prying eyes, but if he had just a bit more time, he could bring them to the next underground market without Ryoko noticing.
Though officially blocked, he usually didn’t interfere if there weren’t any special disturbances.
Creeeak…
As Wuz finished organizing his thoughts and leaned back in his chair for a moment, the servant entered.
The servant was a slave from the Canine race, faithfully staying by his side since Ryoko appeared.
“Ah, so. Did you find out anything?”
“…Th-That…”
“Why are you stalling? Hurry up and speak.”
The servant trembled as the words caught in his throat, shaking more than when he was waiting to dispose of a precious jewel that was cracked.
Wuz narrowed his eyes at the servant, feeling puzzled.
She lowered her head even more.
“Um… she, she has come.”
“Who?”
“The woman you mentioned before… Lily…”
“Oh. That one. Let her in.”
“Yes…”
The servant hurriedly stepped back to fetch the guest.
‘Is that woman really that strong?’
But at the end of the day, she was just a Level 1 Sorcerer.
No matter how much of a Level 1 Sorcerer she might be, she wouldn’t dare keep her head high “here”.
Elsewhere might be different, but this place was a magic array space created solely for Wuz.
Creeeak…
“Is that the sorceress named Lily? Nice to m—”
“Die, aaaaah!!!”
The front paw of a black cat came flying at Wuz’s neck.
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