The first thing he saw when he woke up was darkness.
Despite opening his eyes in panic, drenched in sweat and gripped by fear of the unknown, he couldn't see anything. It didn't take long for him to realize the cause—a tightly wrapped cloth covered his eyes. His chest was bare, his shirt missing. His pants felt shorter somehow. As he tried to move his arms, he felt the cold bite of metal—handcuffs dug into his wrists, locking them together and rendering him immobile. He was kneeling... and around his neck, a thick, heavy collar pressed tightly against his skin.
His ears gradually adjusted, piercing through his confusion. Whispers. Dozens of them. Most filled with scorn... even disgust.
"Just a worthless mule. How boring."
"The only decent thing is his looks. And even that's average."
"When are the minks supposed to arrive?"
"What...? What are they talking about?" I whispered, overwhelmed. I pulled at the cuffs with all my strength—but they didn't budge.
Then suddenly, a voice boomed through a microphone. Judging by the sound of footsteps on the wooden platform beneath me, he was standing right next to me.
"Alright, alright, dear guests! I know you're eager to get to the main event, but as everyone here knows… you always serve the soup before the main course!"
He spoke like a showman, theatrically, while I remained blind and lost, clenching my teeth in frustration, unable to understand what the hell was happening.
"Okay! Without further delay—let the auction begin! Starting at 100,000 Berries!"
An auctioneer. His excited voice was followed by the sound of people calling out their bids.
(What the hell is happening!? Why are they bidding!? Why am I in chains!? SOMEONE TELL ME SOMETHING!!)
My mind was spiraling, a thousand thoughts racing through my head. Kneeling, trembling with a mix of rage and fear, I couldn't take it anymore. I shot to my feet, aimless and desperate, and screamed:
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?"
My shout, filled with confusion and despair, left me gasping, my whole body soaked in sweat. I suddenly realized just how dehydrated I was.
The room fell silent.
I didn't know why—until I heard it. Laughter. One voice, then two… three, four… then dozens more. Laughing. Mocking. I was stunned—frozen.
> "Why...? Why are they laughing?" I whispered, my voice trembling, barely holding back a breakdown. I just wanted one answer—something. Anything.
"WHY THE HELL ARE YOU LAUGHING, YOU BASTARDS!?"
I couldn't contain my anger. I raised my head and my voice, even as the cuffs kept my body hunched forward. The laughter abruptly stopped. And then—pain.
A sharp blow struck my back. I collapsed again, knees crashing against the wooden floor. This time, I felt it—a chain attached to the collar around my neck.
"Silence, slave."
The voice of the announcer again, but this time right beside me, no longer filtered through a microphone.
"Slave...?" I repeated, dazed and nearly in shock. I tried to rise again, only for someone to yank the chain and force me back down.
> "Apologies for the interruption, ladies and gentlemen. Now, where were we? Ah, yes—the last bid was 220,000 Berries! Who'll offer more?"
"500,000 Berries," said a calm voice.
The room gasped.
Meanwhile, I was frozen, still trying to process what was happening. Around me, the world kept moving, as if none of this was shocking at all.
"500,000!?" the auctioneer shouted in disbelief.
The calm voice responded again.
"Yes. What, are you deaf, trash?"
"N-no, my deepest apologies! Of course... ahem 500,000 for the Celestial Dragon! Do I hear any more bids?"
Silence.
And then, it hit me. I widened my eyes, stunned. I'd clearly heard the title: Celestial Dragon.
There was only one place in the world where that title existed.
> "No... impossible..." I muttered in denial. I tried to bring my hands to my head, but the cuffs held firm. I shook my head violently.
> "This has to be a nightmare... a cruel joke... this can't be real..." I whispered to myself, my voice breaking. Tears were threatening to escape from beneath the blindfold.
And then came the final blow:
"SOLD! To Saint Gilert for 500,000 Berries!"
No tears fell. No screams. No begging.
I understood everything now. All the questions I'd been screaming into the void—answered.
And I wished I hadn't known.
The despair sank deep into my soul. What now? Scream? No one would help. Run? They'd catch me. Beg? What would that change?
My forehead touched the floor. My shoulders trembled. I bit my lip so hard to hold back the tears that I began to bleed.
My hell had only just begun.
--->
Was that reaction a little too human for your taste?
(Here's an image of the protagonist →)