Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

The sun was setting.

With the hood of his robe pulled low over his head, Richard stepped into the damp, gloomy back alley. The air was thick with the mingled scents of moldy dampness and lingering blood.

This was the entrance to the Black Market, a place where those seeking forbidden items, banned books, and rare spoils of war gathered in secret.

It was not unfamiliar to him.

The hem of his robe fluttered in the strong wind, and the tents lining the winding alleys swayed rhythmically.

Richard cautiously surveyed his surroundings as he searched his memories.

There was only one person he needed to find.

The one-eyed merchant.

If his memory served him correctly, a one-eyed merchant here would be selling "that book."

It should be somewhere around here...

Richard ventured into the deepest part of the alley.

Gravel and dirt crunched beneath his feet.

How long had he been searching?

Found it.

Richard murmured under his breath and peered at the pile of books stacked beside a tent. Among the heap of old tomes, one book emitting a peculiar black light caught his eye.

He approached the stall.

Then he picked up what appeared at first glance to be an ordinary old black book.

"How much?"

"Five gold coins."

The one-eyed man answered indifferently without even bothering to look up.

"I'll take i—"

Just as Richard was about to pull out his money, a snickering laugh came from behind him.

"Why would you buy such a useless book?"

Richard turned around and saw a burly man dressed sloppily like a laborer approaching him.

"I buy plenty of old books here, so I know."

The man casually draped an arm over Richard's shoulder and spoke as he carelessly flipped through the book.

"This sort of thing is nothing but decoration. I don't know about the others, but this book has nothing in it."

Just as he said, the pages were empty.

They were quite literally blank.

"..."

Rather than point out the man's rudeness, Richard smiled and gently pushed his arm away.

Until now, no one had known.

No one knew that such tremendous power lay hidden within this seemingly blank book.

"It's a book I truly need."

"This useless thing?"

"I have a hobby of collecting useless things."

"You're an odd one."

The man cocked his head several times before shrugging and walking away.

"Anyway, I'll take th—"

Just as Richard turned back toward the merchant—

"Twenty gold coins."

The price had changed.

"What? You said five gold coins just a moment ago."

"You said you need it, didn't you? Are you buying it or not?"

The one-eyed man answered while fidgeting.

"Hah."

Richard let out a hollow laugh.

What a swindler.

"If you're not buying, get lost."

The man growled, his brows twisting menacingly as though shooing him away.

After a brief hesitation, Richard truly turned his back.

"Very well. I'll get lost."

"...!"

The flustered merchant shouted after him.

"Wait! I'll give you a special discount. Ten gold coins."

The price had dropped, but Richard did not even glance back.

"Still too expensive. I won't buy it."

"Seven coins."

"No."

"Five coins."

It had returned to the original price.

However, Richard pretended not to hear and scratched his ear.

"Is there a dog barking somewhere?"

"..."

Without hesitation, he turned away again.

Just as he was about to take a step—

"Four coins."

The merchant spoke through gritted teeth.

"..."

Richard stopped again and slowly stroked his chin. He pretended to consider it for a while before suddenly turning back toward the stall.

"A wise decision."

He smiled brightly and firmly placed four gold coins in the man's hand.

Of course, he did not forget to take the book.

Smooth sailing.

With the Book of Nullification tucked beneath his arm, Richard hummed as he strolled through the Black Market.

Well, the job is done.

Thinking that he should head back now, he turned the corner of the alley.

When he returned to the Black Market's main street, the area was still bustling with people.

At one tent, rare monster horns were being traded. At another, fragments of gleaming golden armor were displayed.

Then a particularly noisy crowd caught his attention.

"..."

The clanking of iron chains grated strangely against his ears.

Driven by curiosity, Richard pushed his way into the clamoring crowd.

Everyone was staring at a dark tent.

What is this...?

Following their gazes, he approached the edge of the tent. Between the iron bars, an arm covered in distinct whip marks brushed past.

The silhouette of someone bound in iron wire swayed faintly.

Richard held his breath and looked inside.

This is...

An illegal slave market.

A place where slaves were bought and sold.

His interest lasted only a moment, and Richard soon averted his gaze.

It has nothing to do with me.

Slavery had been officially banned throughout the Empire since Emperor Raios's ascension, but it continued to flourish in secret.

Measures had been taken to prevent it, but they were not very effective...

In any case, the important thing was that it had nothing to do with Richard.

Just as he thought that and prepared to walk away, a vivid flash of green entered the corner of his vision.

"..."

Richard's body went rigid.

Nothing to do with him?

No.

He was mistaken.

He quickly turned back and peered closely into the iron cage.

A man covered from head to toe in whip marks.

His green hair hung limply, his arms were bound in iron chains, and his green eyes burned with contempt for the spectators.

That man...

Richard swallowed dryly.

Another second male lead.

There was more than one second male lead in this "story."

Although less important than the other, there was one more.

Enoch.

Another character in this "story" who diligently followed the heroine around.

After being captured and sold as a slave, he would one day be rescued by the heroine, Daphne, and become her follower.

"..."

Richard clicked his tongue as he watched him.

He's not as bad as Cailus, but...

He was still quite unpleasant.

The way he constantly loitered around Daphne as though he mattered was irritating...

The corner of Richard's mouth twisted briefly.

So.

Of course, Richard had never simply stood by and watched.

I interfered every time to keep them from becoming entangled.

Throughout dozens of repeated regressions, Richard had destroyed the slave market in advance each time, eliminating the very catalyst that would allow Daphne and Enoch to meet.

Unlike the male lead, whose actions could not be stopped no matter what Richard did, altering the future of the barely noticeable second male lead number two was surprisingly easy.

I should do the same this time...

He slowly stroked his chin.

There was still some time, but it was something he would have to deal with eventually.

Should I take care of one more troublesome matter while I'm here?

Destroying the slave market.

Richard grinned.

The bustling alleys of the Black Market were filled with people who had come in secret to purchase various goods. Yet now, their gazes were all drawn toward one particular figure.

A beggar?

Tsk, he's filthy.

A man wrapped in a mud-caked robe walked unsteadily through the crowd.

To those with enough influence to secretly obtain goods from the Black Market, he was an unwelcome sight.

Then the beggar suddenly stumbled.

He had tripped over his own feet.

Thud!

With a heavy sound, his body struck the ground.

He must not be eating properly.

Tsk.

People clicked their tongues and glanced at the beggar.

Yet no one stepped forward to help him.

"..."

The beggar slowly lifted his head from the ground.

As the long hood of his robe naturally slipped down from his neck, the face hidden beneath it was revealed.

Skin as pure as freshly fallen snow.

Eyes that shone with crystalline clarity, as though they held an entire lake.

Long eyelashes trembled faintly as though in pain.

"A heavenly being?"

Someone murmured.

Everyone who saw him stopped in their tracks as though bewitched.

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