Academy’S Gumiho Is A Magical Genius [EN]: Chapter 66

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius – Episode 66

Academy Gumiho is a Magical Genius 66

Auction House (1)

Unlike the outside, the interior of the Jongno underground auction house was incredibly luxurious.

Golden decorations, the kind that the wealthy adore, were commonplace, and passionate red and regal purple added subtle highlights.

Truly a center of luxury, I scanned the auction item catalog.

There’s more than I thought.

“The accessories I’m looking for are fairly standard, but there are also many weapons, miscellaneous goods, and luxury items. Perfect for the rich who like to splurge.”

Almost fifty items.

And at the very end was the Sessho-seki [Killing Stone, a legendary stone said to contain a powerful spirit].

Originally a treasure of the Japanese government, its market price was impossible to predict.

It’s the highlight of today’s auction and the reason so many guests have gathered here.

That means the competition will be fierce.

The card in my hand should be enough.

I trust my black card.

─From all over the world, welcome to our Jongno underground auction house! Or, should we call it a ‘luxury gathering’? Anyway, before we start introducing the items and calling out prices, we would like to express our gratitude to all the esteemed guests who have attended the Jongno underground auction!

Just then, a voice echoed from the center of the auction house.

The noise from all directions subsided, the lights dimmed, and only the center stage was brightly lit.

The eyes of the world’s wealthy were focused as a man, his plump belly straining against his suit, bowed politely.

It was the manager of the underground auction house.

─Let’s dispense with the formalities. The first auction item is!

A platform rose, displaying a glass box.

Inside was an old book.

─Despite lacking proper storage, this old book has endured hundreds of years. Knowledge is not weathered by time; it is passed on to future generations. And, of course, being in our auction, it’s no ordinary old book, but a skill book containing a skill. The skill embedded inside is a C-grade skill called 「Black Mist」.

The initial impression was just an old book of little value.

However, a faint black light emanated from it.

The moment I saw it, my expression hardened, and I approached the auction with a serious attitude.

“…Is that it?”

The old book, the black light, and above all, the skill named 「Black Mist」.

It was a combination that vaguely rang a bell.

I’m not certain enough to trust my memory, but if I remember correctly…

─The starting price is 100 million won [approximately $75,000 USD]. Minimum bid increment is also 100 million won.

That’s the same name as the skill used by the villain who steals the vampire’s hidden artifact from the Seven Stars’ forbidden library in the distant future.

The low grade of C-class is a bit concerning, since the villain uses it, but I had a strange feeling.

That’s the right skill.

─Ah, 300 million won from bidder number 44! Followed by 600 million won from bidder number 7…!

The auction was quite heated.

Skill books or skill stones with built-in skills are rare, but the market price for C-grade skills is usually around 500 million won. So, this auction was already extravagant.

─Number 29, 800 million won! Ah, number 7 bids again with 1 billion won!

1. 1 billion won, 1.2 billion won, 1.3 billion won…….

The bidding continued, and the price repeatedly soared until it stopped at bidder number 66.

─Currently, customer number 66 has bid 1.5 billion won. Since there are no additional bids for 10 seconds, we will conclude the auction for this item if there are no further competitors after three calls. C-grade skill book, 「Black Mist」. 1.5 billion won, 1.5 billion won……!

The average price of a C-grade skill: 500 million.

The current bid for 「Black Mist」: 1.5 billion.

The price has tripled.

But if that skill is used by a villain in the mid-to-late game, that’s pocket change.

It’s practically a steal.

I placed my hand on the keypad attached to the seat handle.

As I fiddled with the keypad, which only had increments of 100 million won, with no increments of 10,000 won…

Click!

─Customer number 18 has just bid 1.6 billion won.

When I expressed my intention to bid through the manager, the group at number 66 became agitated.

Click!

─Number 18, 1.7 billion! You’ve raised the price even higher!

I raised the price by another 100 million won.

It was a declaration of war.

No matter the cost, I intend to win this item.

So, if you’re confident, it becomes a battle of pride only for the rich. If you were confident in your assets, you would have bid higher here, but unfortunately, the other party didn’t seem to have that confidence.

Well, if you want to buy the Sessho-seki among these fierce tycoons, you shouldn’t waste money on unnecessary junk.

‘Well, it’s not junk in my eyes.’

1. 7 billion won.

If you add 300 million won more, you can get an ordinary B-grade skill.

To others, buying a C-grade skill so expensively would be seen as a luxury, an unnecessary and worthless extravagance.

I just have to like it.

I didn’t care what others thought.

─10 seconds have passed. If there are no further bids, 1.7 billion won. I will conclude the auction after three calls.

Number 66 also seemed to have given up, as 1.7 billion won was too much for a C-grade skill.

Yes, they have to save money to bid on the Sessho-seki later.

I’m going to win that anyway.

As I was thinking that, I won this item after the three calls.

While the people around me were clapping and congratulating me,

The manager hurriedly introduced the next item so that the excitement in the auction house wouldn’t cool down.

─Now, the next item. This time it’s a skill, but one level higher: B grade!

But as I looked closely at the item, I thought I should get that too. A long fang with a skill called 「Blood Absorption」 embedded in it.

That was also one of the villain’s main skills, like 「Black Mist」.

I participated in the auction without hesitation.

─This time too, number 18, won the bid for 4.2 billion won!

Looking at number 66 with a resentful expression, I realized.

‘That was the guy.’

A strange person who secretly infiltrated the Seven Stars, stole the vampire’s legacy from the forbidden library located in the basement, and ran away.

That must be the woman sitting at table 66 over there.

She was glaring at me, shaking her fists as the skills were snatched away before her eyes.

A man in a robe comforted her, but when I waved my hand at her, she jumped up from her seat, went crazy, and pointed her finger at me.

The eyes of those around her were on her, and thanks to that, the man in the robe was holding her arms and legs, trying to restrain her.

Haha, I’m sorry, but all your opportunities are mine.

‘Well, I’m not sorry in the first place.’

If you’re upset, bring more money.

* * *

Today’s auction was my first time ever.

There was no need to spend money in such a place; if I wanted something, I could get it just by notifying the higher-ups.

Thanks to that, my wealth continued to accumulate, and before I knew it, I became a symbol of frugality among my group.

……But now I know.

─The finest silk thread of the Western Great Spider, Arachne. If made into clothes, it boasts the best texture, defense, and magical enchantment ability: 「Arachne’s Silk」. Ah, before the introduction is over, number 2 bids 4.9 billion won! Followed by number 66, 5.6 billion won!

I wasn’t frugal; I just didn’t know the joy of spending money. But I didn’t make meaningless purchases.

「Arachne’s Silk」, which I obtained at a high price, will be the raw material for my gloves and clothing.

─Number 3, 6.9 billion won! If there are no more customers who wish to bid…….

“Up.”

─Ah! This time too, number 18 bids 7.5 billion! Are there no more bids? If not, we will move on to the next item after three calls! Top quality 「Arachne’s Silk」, 7.5 billion won. 7.5 billion won. 7.5 billion won! Customer number 18 has received this item as well!

Now, people were tired of clapping, and even though I succeeded in bidding, no applause was heard anywhere.

Ah, of course, the manager was constantly smiling and clapping.

He looks very happy.

“T, Teacher, aren’t you, aren’t you buying too much……?”

“T, That’s right! You’ve already spent tens of billions! No matter how much money Cheonho Baekga has because of the medical business, this is too much…….”

“Not really? At this level, I’m making reasonable purchases that match the value.”

The students were greatly embarrassed by my excessive spending.

Well, if you just look at the amount, it’s no joke.

I have already won the bids for items such as 「Goblin Mask」, 「Ring of Joy」, 「Choir Earrings」, and 「Andvaranaut」 [a magical ring from Norse mythology].

It was common for tens of billions of won to be spent for each.

But everything was a necessary purchase.

Furthermore, although the expenditure is large, the value of the items was greater than the amount I paid.

In fact, I think it’s practically free.

I soothed the students.

I smiled slyly at their dissatisfied expressions.

You shouldn’t be surprised at this level.

The expenditure on my black card is just the beginning.

─This is the 37th product. It is an old ring, and it is said that the owner of this ring has satisfied many women thanks to his strong stamina.

「Ring of Fertility」, starting at 2 billion won.

Fertility and stamina.

These are the words that wealthy people like the most.

The manager is also great. How can he encourage auction competition so well?

“It’s an artifact that has nothing to do with fertility and stamina. He’s quite the salesman.”

The specific abilities of the ring were written in detail in the catalog.

An ability that increases stamina below B+ by two levels.

There may be more hidden abilities that the auction house hasn’t identified, but the name ‘Fertility’ was attached because a sculpture of a pregnant woman was engraved on the ring.

But everyone rushes in even knowing that.

Because men can’t resist stamina.

When I won the ring for a large sum of 9 billion won, the kids sitting around me moved far away from me.

I scratched my head awkwardly at their actions and immediately participated in the next auction.

─Number 18, won the bid for 7.9 billion won! Congratulations!

「Ring of the Master」.

A ring with a unique ability to increase three other stats at the cost of two stats. Right now, the sum of the stats was important, so I bid without hesitation.

─This time too, number 18, won the bid for 14.4 billion won! You are really supporting our auction house in many ways.

「Ring of Covenant」

A ring that raises stats below S-grade by one level by placing a restriction called ‘Covenant’ on oneself. This was really hard to win.

Although there were conditions attached, equipment that unconditionally raised stats below S-grade by one level was rare.

After that, as I bid on items that increased stats or were valuable, the final moment came.

The highlight of this auction.

The reason why wealthy people from all over the world came to this place has now revealed its appearance in the center……?

─Now, this auction item is something that we have put a lot of effort into. A famous sword that proudly made its name in the history and legends of all kinds of divine weapons, regardless of East or West. It is the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi [Sword-Cutting Grass, a legendary Japanese sword]. As a surprise event this time, it is a special item that was not even written in the catalog.

Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.

The moment I saw it, my expression contorted in shock.

“……What the hell.”

What the hell are these guys dealing with?