Chapter 5: Vol 1 Chapter 5: The Slave Trader and the Shadow of the Bloody Executioner

The night fog hung heavy between the tree trunks of the valley forest. The wind that was usually gentle now carried the fishy scent of open wounds, damp earth, and the stench of human hearts.

In the midst of the darkness, a soft cry was heard from behind the thick bushes.

“A-aah… help… help…”

The small scream came from a little boy—Thomas—his body was dirty, his clothes were torn, and his wrists were bound with rough rope. He fell down, his small body covered in bruises, blood flowing from his temples.

“Shut up, you bastard,” snapped a tall, big man with a hoarse voice like chewed gravel. He kicked Thomas in the stomach with his heavy shoe.

Thomas squirmed, crying, but his screams were only answered by the man’s cold laughter.

“Scream as loud as you can, you son of a bitch, no one will help you in this forest,” the man muttered. “Cry… louder…”

From the other side of the campfire, a fat man with an oily face grinned and spat on the ground. He sat leaning against a wooden crate filled with chains and old sacks.

“Oi, Bragg… that’s enough. Don’t damage the goods, or the selling price will drop,” said the fat man in a lazy yet cynical voice.

“He’s just a boy. Who would buy a skinny kid like this?”

“There’s always a market for slave labor, you idiot,” the fat man, who was called Garel, sneered. “But we need good stuff. Cute girls. Or… fresh-fleshed women, hmm.” His eyes narrowed lustfully, “Especially those with clean skin and plump breasts.”

Brag chuckled hoarsely. “If we get something like that, I’ll taste it before I sell it. Heh.”

“Animals. Remember, this isn’t official territory yet. But if we find a village that doesn’t have a royal patrol…”

“…We’ll just pick them up one by one. And no one will notice they’re missing. Heh.” Bragg cracked his fingers. “I was even hoping we could kidnap a kid in that village. There was a cute little silver-haired girl. Heh. Or her mother, a sexy woman who… mmh.”

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They laughed. A fool.

Because they didn’t know that the night didn’t belong to them.

But to a bloodthirsty shadow.

Unheard Footsteps...

From the darkness, she came.

With silent steps like a vengeful spirit from hell, Marry el Rose followed the trail of blood and broken twigs. A cold, deadly aura enveloped her body. Her black robes blended with the night, and her eyes glowed a dim blue like the moonlight at the edge of the world.

Thomas… hold on a little longer.

His hands clenched. He had seen it from a distance—the boy lying, barely conscious, his skin blue from the blows. The world may have lost its morals, but never its face.

What kind of person sells children?

Her fingers formed a seal. Magic aura pulsed from her body.

“[Misdirection: Crimson Veil],” she whispered softly.

A wave of magic enveloped her body. Advanced Perception Disruptor. Anyone who looked at her now would only see a young girl lost in the woods—defenseless, easy prey.

A Murderous Encounter...

“Eh?” Bragg squinted as he saw a figure approaching from the mist. “What’s that? A… girl?”

Garel stood up. “What’s a girl like that doing all alone at this time of night?”

“Wonderful windfall.” Bragg licked his lips. “Look at her body. Slender waist, pale face, beautiful eyes… and silver hair. Hahaha. Probably the kid’s sibling. We got two!”

“Calm down. Check first. Don’t let her have magic,” Garel warned.

But it was too late.

The girl—Marry—stopped in the middle of the campfire circle.

She looked down for a moment, then looked at them. Her eyes were cold. Full of hatred.

“...Were you the ones who tortured the child?” she asked flatly.

Bragg laughed. “And if so?”

“...Then you will never touch anyone again.”

Bragg took a rough step forward. “Hah! Who do you think you are, brat? A sword master like me could cut you open before you even—”

Marry’s hand moved.

Instantly.

A blood sword appeared out of thin air.

Bragg froze. His neck was already open. Blood gushed out.

Garel had not even had time to draw his dagger.

“W-wait! Wait! We can talk—”

“No.”

Marry closed her eyes.

And in one thrust, Garel’s body exploded with dozens of blood thorns that pierced through the ground, sticking out from impossible directions. Forbidden magic. Pure assassination technique.

Silence.

The forest was silent.

Blood flowed, dripping onto the ground, growing blood-red roses.

Endings and Beginnings...

Marry moved closer to Thomas’s body. She checked the boy’s pulse, then lifted him gently into her arms. Her eyes were filled with tears—not because of the deaths of the two monsters, but because she had almost been too late.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

Thomas stirred softly in his stupor.

Over his shoulder, the campfire went out. The shadows vanished.

And the night welcomed its calmness again.

“I don’t want blood on these hands anymore…

But if the world touches innocent children…

Then I… am the first sword to cut that world.”