The Monster Monarch System-Chapter 251: Cairn

The trader raised an eyebrow, but quickly adjusted his pitch. "Ah, a warrior type, then. You looking for one with experience in the arena, or do you prefer raw potential?"

Rem folded his arms. "Someone with fighting instinct. Doesn’t have to be trained, but they should be able to grow strong."

Selene scoffed softly.

Rem glanced at her, finally acknowledging her disapproval. "What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. Just... it’s not what I expected."

Rem didn’t press her for an explanation. Instead, he turned back to the trader.

The man nodded, rubbing his chin. "I have a few that might interest you."

He led them toward the back, where a separate cage stood. Inside were three beastkin — each looking vastly different from the other.

The trader’s voice droned on as he listed off the qualities of the beastkin in the cages, but Rem barely paid attention.

His eyes scanned each of them, observing, analyzing.

The first two barely held his interest — both had strength, yes, but their souls were dim. Even if he trained them, their potential had already reached its limit.

He wasn’t looking for a mindless brute or a fighter who had already plateaued.

He needed someone who could grow. Someone like one of his former comrades when he was an Apprentice.

Then he saw him.

A small figure, curled up in the corner of a cage separate from the others. His silver hair was unkempt, strands falling over his face as he lay on the cold, rough ground.

His crimson eyes were unfocused, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in whatever distant place his mind had taken him.

Thin.

Malnourished.

Weaker than the rest.

But Rem saw it — the faint flicker of something beneath the exhaustion and emptiness. A dormant flame waiting to be ignited.

The boy’s stomach rumbled, but he didn’t react to it.

He had already given up.

Rem stepped forward, stopping in front of the cage. His presence alone made the trader pause mid-sentence.

"This one," Rem said, voice firm. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The trader blinked. "That one?" He chuckled, rubbing his chin. "You sure? Kid’s been here a while. No one wants him. Weak, barely eats, doesn’t even fight back. He’s got the look of a beastkin, but he’s just another broken doll."

Rem ignored him. He crouched down, resting his forearms on his knees as he peered inside the cage.

The boy didn’t move.

Not even a flinch.

"Hey," Rem called out. His voice wasn’t harsh, but it wasn’t gentle either. A simple, firm acknowledgment of the child’s existence.

Nothing.

The boy’s crimson eyes remained distant, unfocused.

Rem frowned. The others in the cage had some kind of reaction to him.

Wariness, hostility, at the very least recognition. But this one... it was like he was already gone.

Then, for the briefest second, Rem saw it.

A flicker of soul energy — buried, muffled, but still there.

It was small, barely a spark. But it was restless, bubbling beneath the surface.

Alive.

And that was enough.

Rem reached into his cloak and pulled out a pouch of coins, tossing it to the trader without hesitation. "I’ll take him."

The trader caught it, his grin widening as he opened it to check the contents. "Well, your money, your choice." He gestured to the guard beside him. "Unlock it."

The guard hesitated, as if questioning why anyone would buy this one, but a sharp glare from the trader got him moving.

He pulled out a heavy iron key and twisted it into the lock, the cage door creaking open.

Still, the boy didn’t move.

The guard muttered something under his breath before reaching inside and grabbing him by the arm, dragging him out of the cage with little care.

The moment his body hit the cold stone ground outside, his knees buckled. He didn’t even try to stand.

Rem watched.

There was no resistance. No fight.

His crimson eyes slowly flickered upward, finally landing on Rem for the first time.

And for just a moment, the emptiness cracked.

A sliver of confusion.

A silent question — why?

Rem didn’t answer.

Instead, he reached down, grabbing the boy’s wrist and pulling him up with little effort. The boy stumbled, weak limbs struggling to hold him up, but Rem didn’t let go.

He steadied him, gripping his forearm firmly.

A pause.

The boy stared at him again.

Rem held his gaze, his grip unrelenting but not cruel.

Then, finally, the boy took a shaky breath and forced his legs to move.

Selene, who had been watching the exchange quietly, exhaled. She had expected Rem to go for one of the stronger, more aggressive beastkin.

Instead, he had chosen this? A half-starved kid who looked like a stiff wind would knock him over?

She crossed her arms. "Alright, I’ll bite. What do you even plan to do with him?"

Rem didn’t look at her as he turned, guiding the boy along with him.

"He’ll be useful."

Selene scoffed. "He looks like he’ll collapse in an hour."

The boy flinched slightly at her words, but Rem didn’t let go of his wrist. His grip remained steady.

"He won’t."

Selene sighed, shaking her head. "You’ve got some weird instincts, I swear."

Rem didn’t respond.

They soon finalized everything that had to do with the Slave ownership and left the filthy place behind.

As they walked through the bustling streets of Sorin, the boy’s steps remained hesitant, his crimson eyes flickering between Rem and the ground.

His frail frame barely kept up, and yet, he said nothing. Not a single word.

Rem glanced down at him. The kid wasn’t just quiet — he was empty.

Even when people brushed past them, shouting about fresh produce and fine silks, even when Selene made a snide comment about Rem’s terrible taste in purchases, the boy didn’t react.

It was as if the world around him didn’t exist.

Rem wasn’t the type to pry, but this was inconvenient.

He couldn’t keep calling him hey, you.

So, without breaking his stride, he asked, "What’s your name?"

Silence.

The boy didn’t even glance at him.

Selene chuckled. "Looks like this one’s dead from the inside out. You sure you didn’t just waste your coin?"

Rem ignored her, keeping his focus on the boy.

His grip on the child’s wrist wasn’t tight, but it was firm enough to remind him that he was still here. Still moving.

They walked a few more steps before the boy suddenly whispered something.

Too quiet.

Rem barely heard it over the noise of the city.

He stopped, turning his head slightly. "Say that again."

The boy hesitated before speaking a second time, just a little louder.

"...Cairn."