My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 11

The road to the black market.

It’s late at night, and as I venture further into the deserted area, an unsettling chill runs down my spine.

Whether it’s because October has brought cooler weather or due to the lowly brutes lying in the streets, I couldn’t tell, but the feeling was unpleasant.

I felt as if a murder could happen at any moment, and my hand instinctively moved towards my sword.

Without letting my guard down, I continued walking down the path where the moonlight barely shone.

Thus, I arrived at the black market near the slums on the outskirts of the Pretéum Empire.

Fortunately, nothing happened on the way here.

Though I knew something would surely occur on my return, I’ll think about that after purchasing the Third Hero.

The entrance of the black market was even more desolate than the road I came from.

It felt like a test of courage. I almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it.

From here on, this was a place teeming with infamously dangerous criminals. Even making eye contact was risky.

Especially for someone like me, who radiated killing intent indiscriminately.

I pulled my robe tightly around myself when a voice suddenly called out to me.

“What’s this? Who are you?”

‘See? I’m already in a pickle.’

“Are you talking to me? You seem to think you have two lives to spare.”

……Will I make it back alive?

With no choice but to respond, I could only look at the man who was provoking me. I tried to glare with resolve, and he gulped back a scream, distracted.

“Yikes! No, I must’ve misseen.”

‘Well, that’s a relief.’

“Watch your mouth. Unless you want to die.”

I warned him as I walked past.

Phew, feels good. I’m relieved.

“What’s up with that guy… Why is someone of that caliber here… Could he be a knight?”

I halted, turning back at the man’s mumblings.

A knight, huh? I can’t let him misunderstand like that.

‘If misinterpretations arise, it could draw too much attention, so maybe I should clarify beforehand.’

“Do I look like an absurd knight to you?”

……Huh? Did I just insult knights?

“An absurd knight, you say?”

The man staggered back, taking a few steps away from me. He seemed rather shocked.

“I never thought you’d look down on the Royal Knight Order. Even the most insane S-Class Adventurers wouldn’t dare to ignore them…”

This is strange. The magician at the Magic Shop said there was a perception-inhibiting spell on me.

I fiddled with my mask.

I had bought the mask along with the staff at the Magic Shop, but it seemed it couldn’t stop killing intent from leaking out.

“Wh-what are you?”

‘Can’t tell you that.’

“Those who tried to learn about me ended up dead in my hands. You want to join them, huh?”

As I openly gripped my sword, the man flinched and bowed deeply, as if ready to bury his head into the ground.

“Ugh! I-I’m sorry!”

‘Oh, he apologized first. What a bonus. But I don’t intend to spill any details.’

“Don’t try to poke into my affairs, unless you want to check out of life.”

I turned my body. I was busy with my own path.

By the way, was the misunderstanding about knights cleared up? I certainly hope so.

— * —

“Do I look like an absurd knight to you?”

“An absurd knight, you say…!”

‘What a madman.’

This is what Dex, the leader of the Information Guild, Secret Garden, thought.

Having sensed something off while heading to Wyrang’s Indulgence for the slave auction that occurs every few months, he just wanted to strike up a conversation.

Yet suddenly, the guy was threatening to kill him and was now insulting knights representing the Empire.

From his perspective, it was simply absurd.

‘The Royal Knight Order represents the Empire. Each one of them possesses combat power rivaling A-Class Adventurers. To insult them? Even S-Class Adventurers wouldn’t dare… Does he really think he can take on the entire Order by himself?’

“What the hell are you?”

Instinct had kicked in to discover the other’s identity. He hastily shut his mouth after unintentionally speaking but it was too late.

‘I’m dead. Damn it, my tongue was too loose.’

“Aren’t you one of those who have met a gruesome fate with me? You seem eager to join them, huh?”

“Ugh! I-I’m sorry!”

The overwhelming pressure forced Dex to reflexively bend over.

As Praus shot him a brief warning, he turned away.

Dex sat there, reassured by the fading footsteps. His back was already drenched in cold sweat.

‘This… isn’t the time to worry about the slave auction. I need to find out who that guy is. He must be at least an S-Class Adventurer. Anyone below that level wouldn’t have that kind of arrogance!’

Struggling to rise, he finally spoke.

“Is that so?”

‘Come to think of it, I heard rumors of an eighth S-Class Adventurer circulating for several months now. Their identity hasn’t been revealed yet… but could it really be… the eighth one?’

He reminisced about the killing intent directed at him, overflowing with excitement. The greed for new and valuable information began to fill his eyes.

“Come with me.”

“You called for me, Leader?”

At his words, members of the guild who had been hiding in the shadows stepped forward.

“You didn’t run, huh? That ‘fellow’ has already pinpointed your locations.”

“It seems so. Considering the killing intent he sent our way.”

“I almost lost my ‘Silhouette’ with that tremendous killing intent.”

Silhouette was a skill that anyone from the Secret Garden could employ, allowing them to hide in shadows or darkness.

The members exchanged hushed whispers, pondering the man they had just encountered.

They marveled at his ability to immediately detect their locations and send killing intent their way.

However, contrary to their admiration, they were merely standing where Praus had been looking, which was why they felt killing intent directed at them.

In other words, they were living in a total misunderstanding.

“Dex, do you remember the Dink murder incident from a few days ago?”

“Yeah. I remember.”

The guy with black hair who had instantly taken down those promising apprentice knights who challenged the Royal Knight Order was now a rising star in the underworld.

“They said the way he killed without moving a single step was astonishing according to the people in the slums.”

“I couldn’t see his face, so I’m unsure if the mask had a perception-inhibiting spell, but considering his body shape, it somewhat matches.”

“What…? The guy who killed Dink in one shot!?”

“I can’t say for certain. It was dark, and he wore a robe, so I couldn’t see properly, but when I compared his hair color, head size, shoulder width, and stride, it felt similar.”

‘If that’s true, that’s huge. Dink might be able to easily defeat even B-Class Adventurers, but to also eclipse our Silhouette detection skill, and show that kind of confidence, is akin to an S-Class Adventurer. Truly, one could disregard knights with such strength.’

“Find out anything about him right away. But be careful not to get caught trailing him. If you do, it could ruin the guild.”

‘This information will be worth a lot. Even if he’s not the eighth S-Class Adventurer, a strong individual like him is worth the risk.’

Dex grinned as he began directing his guild members.

Meanwhile, Praus, completely unaware they were from the Information Guild, was sincerely hoping for lower auction prices.

— * —

The characters on the sign didn’t look like Korean letters.

They seemed somewhat like Arabic script in my eyes.

But thanks to Praus’s memory, I understood.

Wyrang’s Indulgence.

A massive tavern where a slave auction would be taking place.

Finally, I arrived.

It was brighter than I expected for a black market.

These places do often see knights come to drink, and it’s right next to the red-light district.

Glimpsing the pink light shining from around the corner reminded me of my original goal.

I only needed to buy one person.

Please, let it end with 1,300 gold!

“Hmm-hmm.”

I cleared my throat to ease the tension and stepped forward.

At the tavern entrance stood two burly men standing guard.

“What brings you here?”

As I approached, one of the men blocked my path.

“I’m here for the slave auction.”

I said with my head lowered, not wanting to cause trouble with my killing intent.

“Sorry, but this is a place where the scale of money varies. We need proof of identity—”

Clink.

I opened my coin pouch showing them the gold coins. Upon seeing the heavy pouch, they exchanged glances and stepped aside.

“My apologies. You may go in.”

Money really does talk.

Plus, due to the nature of slave auctions, it was very convenient that they didn’t require identity verification.

Nobles frequently visit here, so to protect their sordid private lives, there was an element of anonymity in place.

That’s why I’m wearing a mask to avoid being recognized.

“Basic drink charges must be paid to participate in the slave auction. The fee is ten gold coins. Please remember that.”

“I know. Don’t worry about it.”

“We will temporarily hold your weapon. Once the auction ends, we will return it to you, so no need to worry.”

“Understood. Proceed as you must.”

Among them, nobody would have appraisal skills, so they’d probably think my sword was just a regular iron sword.

I felt safe with that.

“Yes. Then, I wish you find a good slave.”

At times like these, arrogance can be beneficial.

Those brutes must think I’m just some noble’s offspring.

Having passed through the gates, I entered the tavern.

As the muscle-bound guards mentioned, a neatly dressed female guide stood at the entrance. She bowed toward me.

“Welcome. May I ask the purpose of your visit to Wyrang’s Indulgence?”

“For the slave auction.”

“Understood. Please go to the bartender and tell him ‘Slave,’ then pay ten gold coins. We will hold your weapon, and you may rest assured that it will be returned after the auction concludes.”

“I will.”

I handed my sword over to her.

Then, I settled at the single table where the bartender stood.

“One ‘Slave,’ please.”

The bartender cast a brief side glance before preparing a drink. I didn’t know what it was, but he moved gracefully.

“One Slave has been served.”

He offered me a glass filled with black liquid. I placed ten gold coins on the table.

He smiled, took the coins, and placed a numbered sign in front of me.

It read ‘87.’

So that means nearly ninety people gathered for this slave auction?

What kind of high-class slaves are they offering that the nobles go wild for?

I quietly pondered while staring at the glass.

Out of curiosity, I lifted the glass and took a sip.

It tasted sweet and bitter at the same time. Perhaps it was like grape wine?

Given that I only knew soju and beer, I couldn’t accurately identify it.

I placed the glass down.

I relaxed my eyes as much as possible, trying to dispel my killing intent while surveying the surroundings. I wasn’t sure if it was working, but I attempted it sensorially all the same.

Everyone was talking as if they were at some grand banquet. Some quietly sipped their drinks.

But one guy was standing out the most.

A tanned man showing off his gaudy muscles while wearing a shirt that barely covered his chest.

Even just casually glancing around, I could tell the atmosphere around him was unusual. Was it simply that there were too many women around him?

……Oh, what is he doing, grabbing his own chest?

Is that really an S-Class Adventurer?

“Sigh.”

“Sir, what’s with the sigh in a place like this?”

“Mind your own business.”

The bartender shot me a glance.

“It seems that sigh can’t be ignored. Why not forget your woes outside and enjoy the moment?”

‘If only I could enjoy it. My life’s at stake here.’

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”

“Very well, as you wish.”

He responded with a smile.

— * —

As I finished the drink, the atmosphere of the tavern began to shift.

The two large wooden shelves displaying drinks suddenly moved, creating an entrance in the wall.

Through it, a man wearing a goblin mask stomped out.

“Hello everyone! We will now begin the third slave auction! Those holding signs, please enter! Seating is first-come, first-served! It would be advisable to sit close, so hurry in! Come on in!”

The goblin-masked man snapped his fingers, and people with signs began entering. The man I had been closely observing proceeded in as well.

The goblin looked down at the signs of entering participants while continuously bowing.

“Welcome, Auctioneer 56.”

“Greetings to Auctioneer 31.”

I rose from my seat.

“Have a great time.”

“A great time… I certainly hope so.”

At the bartender’s remark, I chuckled and stepped to the entrance of the auction house.

“Welcome, Auctioneer 87.”

It was about to begin.

Please, let it go smoothly. Seriously.