'Let's dance. Should I do the national gymnastics, at least?'
Participant number 6 did the national gymnastics first.
“Boooo!”
“Boring! Throw him off!”
Lee Hyun was relieved.
'It's lucky I didn't do the national gymnastics. Then should I sing a song? Seems like the classic ‹I will love you until the end› would be good.'
Participant number 14 sang that song first.
Although Lee Hyun thought the participant had an outstanding singing ability, he wasn't able to get a high score.
Now the problem wasn't getting a good score. He just needed to pass this situation somehow.
“Now we'll watch participant number 23's talent show.”
Suddenly it was time for Lee Hyun's turn. Since it was a short talent show, there wasn't time for him to think leisurely.
“Get me a knife…”
“What?”
“I will show you apple peeling.”
“An apple. Is there an apple prepared? Yes, they're saying they can get one with a knife prepared for you shortly. Participant number 23's talent show is apple peeling. Everyone, please enjoy.”
The nicely ripening apple and fruit knife the event crew gave him!
Lee Hyun rubbed the apple as he turned it around and around. Then, in a single moment—
Sliiiceeeee.
In a single breath the knife cut the apple and the peel slipped off.
When the blade grazed by, the apple peel fell, as if taking off its skin. There was no break in between or any residue left behind.
“Did you peel it already?”
“Yes.”
“You peeled it really quickly. In any case, we've seen a nice trick!”
The announcer praised him to drum up the amusement. It was because of the thought of seeing a new trick after only watching commonplace talent shows of songs or dance.
The audience also applauded moderately.
'Phew. Looks like I was able to pass.'
7 more people did their talent shows after Lee Hyun, and then it was time to set the prices of the slaves.
The announcer lined up the slaves.
“Good looking people in the back! For those of you who think they look ordinary, please stand in the front!”
In accordance to the announcer's words, Lee Hyun moved to stand in the front.
'It's probably better to be sold first.'
But other slaves had bounded up first, filling up the front.
A slave could be purchased by only one person from the audience!
The people with friends to purchase them already had prearranged the selection, so they went to stand in the front.
The people who'd come on their own were only Lee Hyun and a few others.
“Sold for 30 thousand won (~$30).”
“Sold for 15 thousand won (~$15).”
“The slave this time is quite valuable. 48,000 won (~$48)! As for words for the purchaser, today you can really work them and get your money's worth!”
Lee Hyun's turn rolled around.
The announcer looked over Lee Hyun and sighed deeply as if depressed. Then he said into the microphone.
“If I were to tell you able the slave this time… It looks like he has good strength. I give up on a price. We'll start from 10 won (~1 cent).”
A slave priced at 10 won!
Although the other slaves had started at a few hundred or even thousands of won, at least… Even though he knew it was a joke, Lee Hyun felt miserable.
But even at 10 won, no one was raising their hand.
“Here. 20 won!”
A middle aged woman with a child on her back within the audience must've felt sorry for him, because she raised her hand.
Then a hand from another side went up.
“I've got 20 won and another 10 won more!”
When he looked at the place where the shout had come from, it was his little sister Lee Hye Yeon.
To call out 30 won with such emotion, all for the sake of family!
The announcer shouted, “Now, it is up to 30 won. Does anyone want to go for 40 won?”
“40 won!”
“55 won!”
“80 won!”
Since it was cheap, more people started calling out prices.
“175 won.”
“199 won!”
“390 won!”
“390 won! If there isn't anyone who'll bid more than 390 won, then the winning bid will be awarded as it is. I'll count from nine. Nine. Eight… Seven…”
A miserable price of 390 won!
As no one who would call out a higher price appeared, the announcer was going to award the winning bid.
It was when the countdown had gone down to two—
A girl in jeans, baseball jacket, and a hat jammed on, raised her hand.
“2 million won (~$2,000)!”
“2 million won! I heard 2 million won. Did I really hear someone say 2 million won?” The announcer shouted excitedly.
The crowd's eyes also moved as one towards that girl. They thought it was really definitely a joke.
However, when that girl took off the baseball jacket and sunglasses, sounds of wonder emerged.
“It's Jung Hyo Rin!”
“Jung Hyo Rin came to our school festival.”
She, who sang on world-renowned stages and was called a fairy, Jung Hyo Rin, had called 2 million won in the Slave Dating. Lee Hyun was sold to Jung Hyo Rin like that.
“Slave, your arm!”
“Yes.”
Lee Hyun hurriedly locked arms with Jung Hyo Rin.
They were so close that he could smell an alluring fragrance. They locked arms and cleared the crowd as they headed toward another location
There were constantly people trying to ogle at Jung Hyo Rin, and the attention was focused on them.
Jung Hyo Rin couldn't stop smiling.
“Hey, you'll show me through the festival, right?”
“But I don't know it well either…”
“It's fine. The fun part is trying this and that while wandering around together. Although I'm a college student too, I haven't been able to come to school much. You see, it's my first time sightseeing a festival, though there have been many times when I sang at a festival.”
“Why don't you just go around with someone else. Since I'm a busy person…”
“Slave, shall I return you?”
“…”
An explicit threat to return him!
For the slave, there was no freedom of choice. He couldn't get onto the stage again or return the 2 million won, either.
“I'll show you around the festival.”
“You should have said that earlier.”
Jung Hyo Rin understood Lee Hyun well and had gotten used to the way to handle him.
'A threat is the most effective!'
Jung Hyo Rin clung onto Lee Hyun's arm tightly. Lee Hyun could feel her body every time he walked. Her body which possessed not a shred of fat and her cushiony chest kept bumping into his arm.
“Hey, Master. Is it alright to do this, even though you're a celebrity?”
“Do what?”
“If we go around holding arms, it could create a misunderstanding.”
“What kind of misunderstanding?”
“In general, if you see a guy and a girl and attached like this…”
He heard people's voices.
“Jung Hyo Rin-ssi, she's really nice.”
“They say she donated 2 million won to the charity event Slave Dating.”
All the proceeds from the Slave Dating were to be used as charity donations.
“Just look at them holding arms.”
“Shhh! It's fanservice. Fanservice.”
“Since it's the kind Jung Hyo Rin, she's treating him well like a boyfriend even though it's a guy like him.”
“A newb slave that wasn't even getting sold has completely grabbed a golden chance, jeez.”