Chapter 139

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Episode 31 - Auction [3]

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"Attention, everyone present, ladies and gentlemen, and special guests who came to Black City this year. We welcome you to the beginning of this year’s grand Auction."

A voice echoed powerfully throughout the entire Auction.

The damn Witch, who had gone back to spouting nonsense, finally shut her mouth.

The man wearing a smiling mask at the center of the stage gave a slight bow.

’So it’s already started.’

According to the butler, the first part of the Auction will last at least an hour, or a little longer.

In any case, the auctioneer continued his speech.

"We will begin with the most basic items: slaves, magical items, and other simple goods."

Clap!

The man snapped his fingers.

Behind him, cages covered by large cloth drapes appeared.

There were ten cages in total. In some of them, the presence of one or more people could be sensed, most likely children.

’Perhaps because I experienced Luminus’s emotions, my own emotions rose slightly.’

I could feel my emotions, now somewhat clearer due to the degradation of my Trait Mastery. I felt emotions much more strongly.

Although they only increased slightly, it was enough for me to realize that, even though I no longer possessed Luminus’s emotions,

somehow, the memories of the experiences I had in that Memory Gate still remained firmly rooted.

Like a weight pressing down on my emotions, pushing them to reveal themselves.

"Allow me to present ten boys and girls of different races. Each of them carries a lost bloodline whose ancestors were true monsters in the past."

"Although their blood has become very diluted, they are excellent material for alchemists. You may experiment with an ancient bloodline, or even ten different bloodlines at once."

"They are around ten years old. They are neither skinny nor starving; they have been carefully cared for to satisfy those alchemists seeking quality products."

"The starting price is one hundred thousand gold coins for all ten slaves, or ten thousand gold coins for each individual slave."

Almost instantly, many Private Rooms made their moves.

Bids began flooding toward the auctioneer as he shouted loudly.

"One hundred and ten thousand for Room V87!!!"

Clap! Clap!

"One hundred and fifty thousand for Room V97!!!"

Clap! Clap!

"Amazing! Two hundred thousand in a single jump from Room V21!"

"Two hundred and ten thousand for Room V56!!!"

Clap! Clap!

Not long afterward, the bids began to slow down.

A total of ten people had started bidding, and now only two remained.

"Three hundred thousand for Room V67!!!"

"Four hundred thousand for Room V68!!!"

"Five hundred thousand for Room V67!!!"

"..."

I wondered who the hell was being so persistent, and who the other person was who was starting to become a nuisance.

The two Private Rooms did not stop bidding until the price of the ten slaves reached one billion.

The auctioneer shouted while displaying emotions of happiness, joy, and delight.

Clap! Clap!

"Wonderful, the first item is exploding today, ha."

"One billion and two hundred thousand for Room V67!!!"

Private Room V68 did not respond after the other man’s bid.

The auctioneer began counting.

"The item will be sold on the count of three. One, two, and... three. Sold to Room V67."

If you ask me why I didn’t buy the slaves to set them free—

I certainly could have done so, but after that, escaping the Auction would be far too dangerous.

Escaping with Clana while already being a target of other villains would put me in great danger.

I could save them.

Yes, but at the risk of giving my life.

’I can’t do anything about it. Luminus and my master would probably beat me up.’

Fortunately, my master was inside my Inventory. It was impossible for her to talk to me at this moment.

"Wow, darling. I thought you were going to try."

The Shitty Witch’s voice reached my ears.

Since I was wearing a mask, I didn’t need to change my expression; instead, I changed my tone of voice.

"Well, I didn’t actually come here to buy many things, and I’m also interested in seeing the last five items."

The Shitty Witch nodded in understanding.

"Ah, I see. Me too, although it’s a shame. Those children aren’t my target today."

"..."

"Then who is your target?"

The Shitty Witch looked away from me and turned her gaze in a certain direction.

Apparently, she was looking at a Private Room, but unfortunately, I had no way of knowing which one.

Even so, a faint suspicion lingered in my mind.

’I hope she doesn’t interfere.’

"That’s a secret, dear."

She looked at me while letting out a light laugh. Shortly afterward, the auctioneer’s voice rang out again.

"Attention, ladies and gentlemen. This time, the next item is not a living being. We are talking about magical items."

Very quickly, the remaining items began selling for astronomical prices.

They surpassed one billion and reached nearly five billion gold coins overall.

There were all kinds of items, from alchemical materials and genuinely useful magical items to elixirs created by one of the three Mythic-rank alchemists.

The first part of the Auction was slowly coming to an end.

As I understand it, there will be about thirty minutes before the second part begins.

’I have the entire economy of a military city at my disposal, so I hope the gold I have is enough to bid on a few items.’

My targets were the ten Ascension Stones, which could appear during the second part of the Auction, along with a few other things.

’It would be great to get that equipment.’

There was an item I would like to buy, but it seems it won’t appear until the second part.

In any case, the Shitty Witch started talking to me while irritation and the urge to smash her mouth were suffocating me.

"Darling, what did you think of the first items?"

I took a sip of the tequila the butler had brought me, feeling... absolutely nothing in my throat.

’Well, the burning sensation is part of pain, right?’

I turned my head to "look" at the Shitty Witch and said:

"It wasn’t bad at all. Overall, the prices went up quite a bit."

"Ha, ha, that’s true. There were some interesting items, so I wonder what the second part will bring. I’m already excited about what’s coming."

"Oh, me too. I think I might bid on a few things if they show up."

"Wow, me too."

The Shitty Witch burst into laughter as she drank a demon’s urine.

"...."

’It’s a good thing I can’t see like a normal person.’

***

"Ah, that was exhausting."

Clana muttered while the butler behind her congratulated her.

"Congratulations on purchasing ten slaves, my lady. Do you have any use for them? I believe you are not an alchemist, correct?"

Clana frowned behind her mask while pretending to use a kind voice.

"I have many quite capable alchemists under my command, and as for what I will do..."

’I’ll take them to an orphanage.’

"... Well, we shall see what uses they have. They come from ancient bloodlines considered extinct."

"You are right, my lady."

Private Room V67 was Clana’s room. Naturally, none of the special guests knew who occupied each private room.

After seeing the first "article," Clana did not hesitate to bid on it.

’I am not and do not want to be like my "family." I never will be.’

Feeling disgusted for having been born into the Imperial Family, Clana rubbed her temples and said,

"I would like a drink that doesn’t contain much alcohol. Is that possible?"

The butler behind her replied,

"Of course, my lady. There are many unique beverages available."

"Good. Then serve me something mild."

"As you wish, my lady."

The butler went to his small bar to retrieve the specific bottle.

Shortly afterward, he returned with Clana’s drink, and the auction continued.

Several items passed by, but in general, none of them attracted her interest.

There were certainly many useful things, but Clana could obtain them without having to spend money.

She wanted to save all her money in case she decided to bid on the final item.

’But... will it be safe to buy the final item?’

What if someone tries to steal it, or if the villains who will probably try to kill her when she attempts to leave Black City stop her?

Clana felt a slight concern, but then she made up her mind.

’They said that as long as I work with them, they will ensure my safety.’

She let out a sigh.

Perhaps she was being overly paranoid, but for some reason she always had to think of a backup plan.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the first part of the auction. The next part will begin in thirty minutes."

The auctioneer left shortly afterward and disappeared from the stage.

Clana leaned back in her seat, and then the butler appeared at her side.

"My lady, here is a list of the items that will be sold during the second part of the auction. Would you like to take a look?"

The butler handed her a long list containing the names, characteristics, and images of the items.

Clana took the list and glanced through it.

There were many items, truly far more than in the first part of the auction.

’At least twice as many.’

As she read calmly, her expression gradually shifted from curiosity to anticipation and then to surprise.

’There are... many things here that will be extremely useful to me, as well as some that could help me create my backup plan in case I cannot leave Black City.’

She looked at the images of several items and read their descriptions.

A smile formed behind her mask.