I tried to retrace my memories to remember how the original novel went on from here.

According to the original novel, I was supposed to be selling my body in the streets to raise my twin siblings.

Aerta in the book was supposed to be a devoted caretaker who constantly sacrificed herself for the sake of her family.

Her life flipped upside down once the twins manifested into wizards.

Powerful empires from far and wide fought among each other in an attempt to sway the newly found wizards in their favor, showering us with gifts, highly ranked noble titles, and more.

Our debt of five hundred million markas disappeared overnight, and the three Arlez siblings had become the most exalted beings in the entire empire.

Then things got a bit gruesome.

Aerta from the original novel wanted to be rewarded for the sacrifices she had made.

Her first ever transgression was burning down the red-light district she used to prostitute herself at.

Whilst watching those people agonize and beg for their lives in the scorching flames, Aerta burst into laughter.

The fire lit by the Wizard of Flames burned down everything in sight for an entire week.

Her second transgression was to find each and every one of those who bought her body, and to behead them all, as well as their families.

Those who heard the rumors attempted to run away but hiding from the Wizard of the Winds was an impossible deed.

It wasn't long before Aerta fell into an endless chasm of massacre, extravagance, and hedonism.

She became an arrogant, murderous monster.

Everybody despised this newly found brute, but the two wizards Cheryl and Ethan continued to serve and protect their sister.

Those who maligned her would lose their tongues, and those who threw rocks at her would lose their hands.

This was the case for the other wizards as well.

She was the one and only Purifier in the entire world, after all.

Aerta went on to live a life like that of a royalty among the protection and servitude of all-powerful wizards.

That is, until the day she landed her eyes on the forbidden fruit: Zahid El Carnoire.

She immediately fell for his immaculate beauty, but he was not an easy target, even for Aerta herself.

Zahid had his magic sealed within himself at that time, in an attempt to prevent malignity from taking over his body.

Even with his powers sealed, he still happened to be talented in many other areas.

Thus, he didn't need Aerta or her powers.

When things didn't go her way, she even went on to use illicit drugs to force herself upon him.

The consequences were lethal.

The protagonist lost control of himself due to the drug's side effects along with the effects of coming in contact with the Purifier.

It is in that moment of utter delirium that he smelled the scent of the Purifier's blood.

The scent of the Purifier's blood wasn't something a wizard drowning in malignity could resist.

He demolishes Aerta, right there and then.

The descriptions of Zahid devouring Aerta alive was so vivid and cruel, that it earned the novel the title of a gore novel.

Aerta's death was the focal turning point of the novel, where the conflict between the protagonist and the other wizards aggravates.

Having devoured the Purifier, Zahid realized that he no longer has to worry about malignity taking over his body and began to utilize his powers to his fullest potential.

The devastating death of Aerta also prompted Cheryl and Ethan to swear to seek revenge upon Zahid, as well as the root of a newly developed alliance among the other wizards.

Looking back at the horrid fate I had to face, I was taken aback in fear.

I wasn't too concerned about things like how my actions could mess up the original novel's storyline.

I was starving to death, for goodness sake.

What I was worried about was the fact that I might quite literally get eaten alive - that he might bite into my flesh before I even get the chance to negotiate my terms.

That was the only thing I was afraid of.

Caught up in my own thoughts, I was pacing through the dark streets when a familiar irking voice caught my ears.

"Aerta!"

I scrunched my face in irritation, and slowly turned around.

There stood Gale, someone I didn't want to spend my time talking to.

This pathetic soul would regularly march around the slums, acting as if he was the leader of these people under the reasoning that he was physically the strongest of them all.

Not to mention, he constantly managed to follow me around and annoy me with his 'pleasantries'.

"What is the matter, Gale?"

I answered, my tone colder than the top of the frosted mountains.

Anybody with the tiniest bit of sensibility would understand that I wanted nothing of this conversation.

Alas, Gale couldn't care less.

His foul gaze laid upon my bare neck.

Harassing my neck with his eyes, he muttered under his breath.

"You fool, you could have just taken the easy way out of all of this...... You may seem smart, but surely are not that wise."

The 'easy way out' he was referring to was the same path Aerta from the original novel had walked.

I tried my very best to ignore him, like I have always done.

I knew deep in my heart that giving him as much as a glance wouldn't be worth it.

For some reason, things were different this time.

Maybe it was the thought that I was on my way to die because I couldn't hold back my tongue any longer.

"Shut your shithole of a mouth and get out of my way, Gale. I'm already on my way to pimp myself out."

His jaw dropped to the ground.

I turned towards the streets filled with saloons and brothels and walked away.

"You crazy bitch......!"

As he reached out to grab me, I escaped his grasp and quickly ran into the group of people.

I felt it in my guts that getting entangled in a quarrel with him would end in a disaster.

Gale, furious out of his mind, came charging after me, but he lost me in the crowd.

I was exhausted and out of breath.

Looking around, I was able to realize that I was in the middle of the capital's red-light district, a couple miles away from the slums that I came from.

These streets were filled with all sorts of adult nightlife, and every night people swarmed towards the bright lights of the establishments like flies.

Zahid el Carnoire would most definitely be here somewhere tonight, as it was Die Soleis: the last day of the week.

He comes here every week on the very last day to meet up with the members of his guild, whom hide themselves among the nearby establishments.

By this time in the novel, he would probably be somewhere around twenty-two or twenty-three years old.

He lost both his parents at a young age and succeeded the Duke titleship when he was just twenty years old.

His family legacy had already fallen to the grounds at the point of his succession, with nothing but the title itself left. No honor, no wealth, and definitely no reverence.

The new and young Duke of Carnoire with his fallen castle easily became a target for other nobles to come at, but those who attempted to manipulate the protagonist failed miserably.

He was, after all, the main character of this universe.

It was quite obvious that Zahid was written to be the protagonist of this world.

Not only did he have ravishing looks and extraordinary powers, but he also had the odds in his favor.

Everything he did somehow managed to work out, and he managed to surmount any hardship that came his way.

With extraordinary intelligence, power, and luck at his disposal, nobody could bring him down.

The protagonist soon brought the fallen Carnoire name back on the map.

Out of all things, the thing that played the biggest role in such recuperation was his guild.

The information that he gained from the guild allowed him to manipulate the other nobles like his pawns, which eventually allowed our protagonist to take over the entire political scene of the capital.

The guild was one of his most prized assets, as it always managed to play an important role in navigating through embroilments.

Trying to juice every detail there was about the guild from my memories, I searched the street for familiar signs.

After hours of unproductive searching, I finally arrived at a run-down inn that closely resembled the guild lair.

It was a shabby inn that doubled as a saloon.

The hanging wooden sign with chipped corners made creaking noises in the wind.

I stood in front of the inn, immersed in thought when a group of heavily drunk men passed by, singing at the top of their lungs.

Startled by their clamor, I opened the heavy wooden door and entered.

The creaking sound of the rusty iron hinges made all the heads turn immediately.

Though all the tables had glasses of liquor on them, the people at those tables seemed completely sober.

They were all members of the information guild.

Ignoring the piercing stares that I was getting, I walked straight up to the bar.

At one corner was a large cauldron. A man was slowly churning the rich, bubbling stew inside it.

I beckoned him over and said the code phrase.

"I've heard about your specialties here. Could I order one now?"

He ceased the churning and looked up with a doubtful expression.

"For how much?"

"Five-hundred million markas."

The room went dead silent.

A clear, honeyed voice spoke out from the deepest corner of the room.

"I don't know how you cracked our code, but we don't tolerate mischief here."

The sweet voice sunk into my skin, leaving an impression that I knew would last for a lifetime.

I turned my head towards it to find a man with the hood of his robe covering his face.

It was pretty obvious who he was.

My heart began to pound, and my mouth dried of nervousness and exhilaration.

I slowly trod across the floor towards the man.

The sounds of swords rustling as the men in the room drew them at me filled the room in unison.

With a flick of his hands, he dismissed the sharp blades that were aimed at me.

I stopped right in front of his presence, and quietly let the words leave my lips.

"I would like to sell myself."

His expression remained hidden underneath the robe.

It didn't have to be much; just a light touch on his arm would be enough.

I gently placed my hand on his arm.

The moment my fingers touched him, a tingling sensation trickled down my hand.

I removed my hand immediately, but a large hand snatched my wrist like the talons of a hawk.

He dug his fingers into my wrists like he was never going to let it go.

The tips of my fingers trembled in pain from the burning sensation that lingered at his grasp, but I continued in a voice as unwavering as the eye of a storm.

"For five hundred million markas."

The condescending laughter that filled the room did not faze me, as I was without doubt that he knew that this wasn't a losing deal.

The corners of my eyes bent into a crescent moon as I continued my hustle.

"It's not a very large price for what you're getting, you know."

He burst into laughter.

His pellucid laughter continued for a couple moments more, until it finally dwindled down.

His long, slender fingers undid his hood, revealing a sight that made me freeze in awe.

Under the hood was a face so ethereal that just laying my eyes on it made chills go through my spine.

All the words in the world would not be enough to describe his perfectly carved features.

He almost reminded me of wildflowers, but his eyes told a different tale.

They glistened in a shade of iridescent amethyst ever so vividly, that it made me doubt the integrity of his humanness.

And with those captivating eyes, he pierced through me.

I was standing before Zahid el Carnoire, the protagonist of this very novel.

I let out a deep, yet silent sigh.

I had always thought that Aerta from the original novel was extremely foolish, but in that moment I couldn't help but understand her a little.

How could anybody not get enchanted by such an alluring man?

Alas, knew exactly what this man's true nature.

He was a merciless tyrant.

His smooth lips slightly twitched as he slowly tilted his head.

Midnight-colored strands of his hair brushed across his translucent, porcelain face.

"Indeed......"

He spoke, my wrist still in his hand.

"A true bargain, indeed."