Rolling in Bed with the Male Lead

What is the best way to topple a single massive power?

It is, of course, to worm your way inside and shake it to its very roots.

To bring down a merchant guild, you must infiltrate it as a merchant; to overthrow a knightly order, you must infiltrate it as a knight.

Then,

what must one do to bring down a Slave Market?

I must disguise myself as a slave.

One hour earlier.

Richard was crouching in the middle of a wide, empty lot.

To make his conspicuous platinum hair and the hem of his robe indistinguishable from the mud, he took his time smearing mud over his robe.

His once lustrous platinum locks had already faded to a brownish hue, and his attire had become completely disheveled, showing no signs of grooming.

Perfect.

At best, he looked like a filthy pauper.

Then now...

Pulling the now-dirty hood of his robe low, he deliberately made his breathing ragged and stood up.

I must enter as a slave.

Do you know how to become a slave?

Surprisingly, it is simple.

You just have to get kidnapped by a slaver.

How do you get kidnapped?

Well...

Thud!

Richard deliberately stumbled in the middle of the busiest alley in the market.

"Ugh..."

Suppressing the sound that escaped him like a cry, he deliberately let his hood slip down.

Along with the damp, muddy smell, the surrounding people turned their gazes toward him all at once.

What should I do...

Should I help?

Amid the murmuring of the crowd, a vaguely familiar voice could be heard.

"Are you all right?"

A seemingly ordinary man was extending his hand toward Richard.

Got him.

Richard swallowed a laugh.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?"

The man, who had tightly wrapped a bandage around Richard's bleeding knee, asked kindly.

As the bandage gently covered the bloodied skin, the pain subsided for a moment.

"No, thank you..."

Richard answered in a timid voice, bowing his head deeply.

While deliberately making his voice tremble and avoiding eye contact, he inwardly suppressed a sneer.

He's putting on quite the act of kindness.

The man's eyebrows curved with apparent pity.

"You must be very hungry. How pitiful. My house is nearby. Are you hungry?"

He slightly lowered the flap of his worn-out bundle. Inside, a piece of bread that looked freshly baked was revealed.

Then, holding the bread up, the man smiled faintly.

"I'll give you some bread. Will you follow me?"

This man, luring him with the promise of bread, looked ordinary, but in truth, he was a slave trader.

I've seen that face so many times that I couldn't help but recognize it.

The man's name was Osman.

In this "Story," he was the slave trader destined to capture the second male lead, Enoch.

Richard had encountered this man countless times over dozens of regressions.

There was no way he would fail to recognize him.

And above all...

Since ancient times, one should never follow a strange man who says, "I'll give you bread. Come with me."

But.

Right now, the goal was to get caught.

"Yes, yes! Thank you so much!"

Richard answered hastily, like a pauper who had not eaten in days, and accepted the bread.

"Good. Follow me."

The man smiled amiably and patted Richard's head.

He led Richard from the bustling alley deeper and deeper into a more remote area. As their surroundings grew darker, people became scarce, and only humid air enveloped the two of them. In the darkness, a sidelong, watchful gaze seemed to follow them.

"Are we... going the right way?"

Richard scanned his surroundings with an unnecessarily anxious expression. Clenching his hand tightly, he trembled like someone overcome with fear.

"Yes. Don't worry."

The man lightly patted Richard's shoulder.

"Okay..."

Just as Richard bowed his head deeply and answered—

Whoosh!

A damp cloth covered his mouth and nose.

"Mmph!"

"Too naive."

The man's face twisted into a sneer.

And then, Richard's vision blurred.

When he opened his eyes, both his arms were tightly bound with rope.

His body was confined inside an iron cage that let in almost no light, and the smells of dampness and metal seeped deep into his lungs. The scent of iron and dusty air pricked his nostrils.

The sound of water dripping somewhere deep within the darkness intensified the silence.

Just as planned.

The corner of Richard's mouth curled into a smirk.

He had successfully infiltrated as a slave.

Well.

Perhaps it was only natural.

This was not the first or second time he had done this.

"..."

Rusted iron bars and listlessly bound slaves. Among them hung a sense of resignation toward life itself. After briefly surveying the familiar interior of the iron cage, Richard knelt on the cold floor and approached someone nearby.

"Um..."

Richard cautiously tapped the shoulder of the nearest slave.

"Could you tell me... where this place is?"

So as not to arouse the slave traders' suspicion, Richard began his passionate performance.

"Hah."

A short, derisive laugh escaped the red-haired slave.

"Where do you think? It's the Slave Market."

A blunt tone.

It belonged to someone who had already given up hope in life.

"Huh?"

Richard asked again, feigning surprise.

"Don't even think about trying to escape."

"..."

"If you don't want to end up like him."

The red-haired slave stretched out his hand and pointed to one side.

Where he pointed...

Enoch.

Covered in blood, he was suspended from the ceiling by his bound wrists, letting out pained breaths.

Torn flesh and bruises overlapped at every whip mark.

"..."

A bitter smile lingered on Richard's lips.

Let me say it again:

Enoch is the second male lead.

In other words, he is anything but ordinary.

He may look like that, but he is of royal blood.

Enoch is the fourth prince of the neighboring kingdom of Eloise.

However, caught up in a plot by hostile forces, he was captured by slave traders and suddenly reduced to slavery.

Hence, days of suffering.

"How can you do such a thing? He's a person!"

"Haha, what a naive young lady. Do slaves look like people to you?"

"The only one who doesn't seem human to me is you. Is this enough money? Are you satisfied now? I'm taking him! Release him immediately."

He would be saved by Daphne, who happened to be passing by the Slave Market...

And Enoch would come to follow her.

That was the original "Story."

Well, I plan to ruin it, but...

Richard had no intention of letting her and Enoch become entangled.

An event like the two of them meeting would never happen.

Because Richard would bring down the Slave Market before that.

Wait.

Wouldn't it be easier just to buy him and free him with money, like she did, without making such a fuss?

That would...

Richard's gaze turned cold and sank.

Just be a headache...

Enoch. Born of royal blood, his pride reached the heavens.

Look at him even now.

Unlike the other slaves, who crouched down as though resigned, he alone held his head high and glared fiercely at the onlookers.

If I, rather than the heroine, buy Enoch here?

"Aren't you human too?"

He would only become hostile toward Richard, and that would be nothing but a headache.

Rather, bringing down the Slave Market itself was the simplest and most convenient method.

Just as Richard watched Enoch and made his plans—

For a brief moment, their gazes met, green eyes locking with his.

"What are you looking at?"

Enoch growled.

"You think I'm pathetic too?"

Red blood dripped steadily from his back, whipped raw. His wrists, bound with rope and fixed to the ceiling, were stained a deep bluish purple.

"..."

Richard simply smiled.

There was no need to clash with him. The goal was simple: bring down the Slave Market without drawing attention.

"No."

Richard decided to give a suitable reply.

Being endlessly tormented and beaten for no reason.

It was quite a familiar experience for him as well.

"You looked lonely."

"!"

In the darkness, the green eyes churned violently.

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