The Price of a Heart That Refuses to Break

The rhythmic clatter of hooves and the creaking of wheels echoed inside the carriage racing through Gran City’s streets.

Inside, Katie sat in a daze, clutching a heavy leather pouch filled with gold coins, her expression completely different from her usual self—as if she had become someone else.

On the fourth day since Daisy followed her to Gran City,

Just as Daisy was being lured into the s*ave market by that scar-faced man,

Katie was fleeing the city in a hired carriage.

She feared the worst—that Daisy’s terrifying guardian might come after her, perhaps even destroying the entire city in rage.

But more than that,

She wanted to run.

Run from Gran City.

Run from her own despicable choice.

“I never thought… he’d give me five hundred gold coins…”

Holding the heavy pouch, she felt no joy.

The money—far beyond her expectations—had come from the s*ave trader, Peter.

More than enough to save her father.

Enough to lift her entire family out of poverty.

The man with the scar had only been able to trick Daisy away because Katie allowed it.

Now, she had everything she needed.

Her family could be saved.

Her siblings could live well.

They could even receive an education and live with dignity.

Faced with absolute despair… and absolute temptation…

Could she really choose a child she had only known for days over her own family?

“As long as I have this money… everyone can be saved… Father… Airi… Joseph… Kalenda…”

She pressed her forehead against the pouch, as if praying.

But her heart felt unbearably heavy.

Outside, the noise of the city continued.

The carriage was nearing the city gates.

Taking her away from everything.

Then—

Daisy’s face flashed in her mind.

Messy white hair.

Golden-red eyes.

Waiting.

Trusting her.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHH—WHAT HAVE I DONE?!”

Katie suddenly screamed, throwing the pouch onto the floor.

She snapped awake.

She remembered everything.

Daisy’s sincerity.

Her trust.

And what she had done in return.

The driver turned back, startled.

“Miss? Are you alright?”

Katie leaned out, her usual stubborn determination returning.

“Turn around! Take me to the slums—now!”

She tossed him a gold coin.

The driver immediately obeyed.

The carriage turned.

Rushing back toward danger.

Because humans…

Were never purely rational.

Even in the face of ruin,

There were things they simply couldn’t abandon.

Inside the s*ave market warehouse,

The auction was in full swing.

“An elf girl from the northern ice forests! Starting bid—two hundred gold!”

“Two fifty!”

“Two fifty-five!”

The crying elf was dragged forward, shackled.

Daisy watched silently from her cage.

Everyone here was suffering.

And no one cared.

‘Katie… Viola… I’m here…’

She hugged her knees, waiting.

Believing.

Then—

“Ladies and gentlemen! The highlight of today’s auction!”

Peter stepped forward excitedly.

Daisy’s cage was pushed into the spotlight.

“A dragon hatchling! One in a hundred years! Starting bid—ten thousand gold!”

The crowd erupted.

“Fifteen thousand!”

“Twenty-five thousand!”

Eyes filled with greed.

Daisy felt… lonely.

Then—

CRASH!

A window shattered.

“Little Daisy! I’m here to take you home!”

“Katie!”

Daisy jumped up—

Bonk!

She hit her head on the cage ceiling.

But didn’t care.

“She came! She really came!”

Katie stood at the broken window, backlit by sunlight, holding a blade in one hand and the gold in the other.

“I don’t want the money! Let her go! Let my friend go!”

She had chosen.

Not logic.

Not survival.

But her heart.

A guard rushed her—

She smashed him down with the gold pouch.

More guards attacked.

She fought back fiercely.

“Wait for me, Daisy!”

“I’m coming!”

Daisy grabbed the bars—

CRACK.

She bent them open and slipped out.

“Katie!”

She ran toward her—

But suddenly—

Something shot out from a pit nearby.

A slimy tendril wrapped around her ankle.

And yanked her down.

“WAAAHHH!”

She tumbled into the darkness below.

At the bottom—

A writhing mass of tentacles.

A grotesque creature, like a living nightmare.

“What… is this…?”

Even she had never heard of such a thing.

Above—

“DAISY!!!”

Katie rushed forward—

But a blade struck toward her.

She barely blocked it with the gold pouch.

Coins scattered everywhere.

Her attacker removed his mask.

Gert.

“Surprised?”

“You… it was all a setup…”

Katie clenched her blade.

“I’ll save her—no matter what!”

Nearby, Peter laughed calmly.

“No need to panic! Just entertainment!”

A cloaked alchemist stood beside him, controlling the monster below.

“A show! A dragon girl versus a tentacle beast! Enjoy!”

Above the warehouse roof,

A figure stood silently.

Long black hair.

Silver-gray eyes.

Cold.

Watching.

“Now you see… this is the human world.”

“Time to come crying back to me, isn’t it… my Daisy?”

Far away, beyond the forest—

Another cloaked woman stood watching from afar.

“…Gone.”

Viola was gone.

Daisy was gone.

Everything was empty.

She clutched her stomach in pain, flames escaping her lips.

Golden-red eyes burned with hatred.

“You can’t escape… as long as I live…”