The protagonist, Harold, a twenty-five-year-old man with no particular talents, finds his newly purchased home engulfed in flames. Devastated and unable to comprehend the cause, he is left with nothing but the ashes of his decade-long hard work. With his entire savings of 150,000 Rob spent on the house, he withdraws his remaining meager funds, feeling a profound sense of despair and a lack of motivation for his job.
Wandering through the city, Harold overhears a conversation about adventurers making fortunes in dungeons. This sparks a fleeting thought of wealth, but he dismisses it due to his perceived lack of skills. His aimless stroll leads him to a back alley where a suspicious man is advertising a slave auction. Initially uninterested due to his lack of funds, Harold is persuaded to attend as a spectator when the man mentions that some slaves start at a mere 10,000 Rob.
The auction is held in a small, crowded underground venue. The first item presented is a stunning Elf, described as a "princess of the forest," who is sold for an astonishing 526 million Rob. Harold is shocked by the exorbitant prices, a stark contrast to his own financial situation. As the auction progresses, various demi-humans are sold for tens of millions of Rob.
The final item is a Dark Elf girl. Unlike the initial excitement surrounding the Elf, the Dark Elf's appearance is met with apprehension and whispers of misfortune. Despite the negative reputation, the auctioneer desperately tries to sell her, starting her at a drastically reduced price of 150,000 Rob, which is exactly Harold's remaining fortune. Driven by a mix of curiosity, a lack of anything left to lose, and a pragmatic assessment that his luck couldn't get much worse, Harold bids and successfully purchases the Dark Elf.
After the transaction, Harold learns from the man who recruited him that the Dark Elf, named Ati, was bought for an incredibly low price compared to her potential value in other continents. He also receives a "collar of subjugation" that binds Ati to him. Harold, now the owner of a slave, learns her name is Ati and introduces himself. He notices her striking emerald eyes and a peculiar sense of calm they evoke. He also observes a subtle animosity between Ati and the Elf who was sold earlier.
With no home and no money for lodging, Harold proposes they temporarily stay in an abandoned hut he knows of in the mountains. Ati readily agrees. Harold, realizing his own lack of preparedness, decides to buy her some clothes and necessities. He also learns that Ati, despite her current situation, has experience in dungeons and suggests they enter one to earn money for travel, as she wishes to visit the Astradi Grand Canyon in the Southern Continent. Harold agrees, and they begin to prepare for their journey, with Harold purchasing basic equipment for himself and a rifle with a silencer for Ati. He also receives a substantial sum of money from his former employer, a silver craftsman, as a parting gift.
The next morning, Harold witnesses a large contingent of Imperial soldiers marching east, a sight that sparks concern about potential conflict. He decides they should leave the area as soon as possible. Ati, having overheard the conversation, expresses her desire to visit the Astradi Grand Canyon. Harold agrees, and they plan to earn the necessary travel funds by entering a dungeon. He also shares a tender moment with Ati, kissing her to convey his desire to keep her by his side, regardless of her reasons for wanting to go to the canyon. Ati, visibly flustered, admits it was her first kiss.
The chapter concludes with Harold and Ati preparing to enter a dungeon, their immediate goal being to earn enough money for their journey. Harold, though equipped with basic gear, is aware of his limitations, while Ati, with her rifle and dungeon experience, seems more prepared.
