Alminus Central Exchange, Auction House 1.
Even during regular auctions featuring only the finest goods, this place rarely filled more than half its capacity. Today, it was swarming with people.
And not just any riffraff, either.
‘Look, the Nenma Clan Master is here too.’
‘He’s not planning to use it himself; it’s for that explorer called ‘Iron Wall.’ Didn’t the First Team’s guardian die recently? He’s probably filling the vacancy.’
From explorers whose gear gleamed with polish…
‘Oh ho, is the Ragman Merchant Guild also after the essence?’
‘If the price is right, what wouldn’t a merchant buy?’
‘Hmm, but the items at auction are unlikely to fetch that much when sold…’
‘The value of an item isn’t just in its monetary worth. Isn’t Duke Kudo’s birthday coming up soon?’
‘Indeed, just being able to attend that banquet would allow one to make an impression on many nobles.’
To those who, while not explorers, clearly had money to burn.
There wasn’t a single person who seemed to be there just for the spectacle.
Well, that was to be expected.
The auction had become a hot topic, and even the entrance tickets were selling for exorbitant prices.
‘In the first place, getting a ticket was hell, regardless of the price.’
If it hadn’t been for Amelia, who announced the auction news before the information was fully released, I would have barely managed to get a single ticket through the black market and come in alone.
‘Stop looking around so much; it’s not good to draw attention.’
Seeing the signs of a lecture starting, I smoothly changed the subject.
‘But have you been to places like this often?’
‘……Enough to have been.’
Right, she has way more experience as an explorer than I do, doesn’t she?
‘Then I can just ask you if I have any questions.’
After that, I just spent my time glancing around.
‘Surprisingly, there are a lot of people wearing masks like us? I heard that the auction winners are processed anonymously anyway.’
‘There are always those who don’t want their participation known.’
‘Oh, what’s that guy in the suit? He doesn’t look like an explorer or a merchant.’
‘He’s an agent sent by a powerful figure. He’s dressed neatly, but he’s not from a noble family; noble families prioritize their family’s reputation, even in such matters.’
‘Oh, really?’
It’s like she’s a walking encyclopedia.
Every question I ask is answered without delay.
So, as I kept asking questions to test her knowledge, the auction began.
‘Amelia… can’t we buy that?’
‘……If you give up on the one later.’
‘So, we can’t buy it……’
Did they put a lot of effort into not just the 3rd-grade essence but also other items? Not only the first item put up for auction but also the ones that followed were of a considerably high standard.
‘What, are triple numbers showing up at an exchange auction?’
And they weren’t even triple numbers with poor performance.
It was useless to me, but it was a common item that any dealer who used blades could use.
‘Hah, if I had the money, I’d buy that and put it in the vault.’
I watched the escalating competition with regret each time a new auction item was presented.
‘140 million stones! 140 million stones have been bid. Are there any more bidders?’
‘……’
‘……It has been won by an anonymous bidder!’
The auctions of this era were very straightforward.
Instead of a system where bidders could only raise the bid little by little in increments set by the auctioneer, it was a free bidding system where one could write down a high bid at once.
Yet, the bidding method was strangely modern.
Click, click, tick-tick-tick.
Each chair had a magic tool on the right armrest where numbers could be entered, and when a bid was entered and the enter key was pressed, the price would appear on the display on the platform.
Thanks to this, the bidder’s identity was hidden.
‘Well, if they didn’t protect anonymity like this, there could be fights later.’
For reference, this method was first used at the Sky Auction House.
I learned this when I was studying history at the library. Apparently, things escalated when prestigious noble families competed with their real names, and they ended up fighting—.
‘Now, for the seventeenth item!’
After one auction ended, a new item was placed on the platform as if it had been waiting.
It was a test tube stored in a luxurious box.
Essences had appeared several times so far, but this time, the situation was different in many ways.
‘Yandel.’
‘I know.’
Unlike the previous essences, a large picture was set up next to the box. A picture of a giant beast roaring, its entire body covered in thick scales.
Vol-Herchan.
‘To prepare even this, they really put a lot of effort into this auction.’
The dynamic appearance, as if it would come to life at any moment, caused the auction participants to buzz.
‘Oh ho… indeed…’
‘I thought this essence would come out last.’
‘Yes. It’s a bit strange. There were a total of 35 items to be put up for auction today, so there should still be more than half left…’
Some questioned the appearance of the essence in the middle of the auction, but in my opinion, it was not strange at all.
No, it was rather a commendable tactic.
‘The Alminus Merchant Guild is using its head.’
If the essence came out last, those who had saved up money would have no choice but to hold onto their capital until then.
Therefore, there would be less room to bid on other items.
But what if it appeared in the middle and its owner was decided early?
Then the story changes.
Since the use of the remaining capital has disappeared, if a necessary item appears, they will be able to bid without psychological resistance.
‘This item is the essence of Vol-Herchan, which the ‘Thunderbolt Flame’ of the Maruel Clan directly defeated and acquired during this expedition…’
As the auctioneer began to explain the item along with the story behind it, the atmosphere in the hall changed.
‘Ahem…’
Those who had been chatting comfortably and building friendships during the previous auctions were now eyeing each other.
Desire flashed in the eyes of the explorers, and the eyes of the merchants shone with a sharp light like jackals anticipating an opportunity.
They were like people on the verge of battle, except they weren’t holding swords.
And in that situation…
‘Tsk, who’s going to try to take what’s mine.’
Click, click, tick-tick-tick, click.
I entered the amount in advance.
And.
‘Now, the starting price is 50 million stones—’
At the same time as the auction began.
Beep.
I pressed enter.
As if responding, a number appeared on the display.
[870,000,000]
870 million stones.
This was the reason why this auction became so famous that it would later reach Amelia’s ears.
‘……!’
‘……!’
The silence after the truly violent raise was only temporary.
‘870 million stones…! 870 million stones have been bid.’
The auctioneer, displaying professionalism, opened his mouth with a deliberately calm voice, and the commotion began.
‘870 million stones?’
‘What kind of crazy person starts with such an amount…’
Some were gaping, as if they couldn’t believe it.
‘Who on earth would bid such an amount at once…’
Some were curious about my identity, etc.
Those who had given up on the competition simply watched with interest, while those who were seriously aiming for this essence were different.
‘You must make a decision quickly before it’s sold.’
Their faces changed, and they hurriedly began to discuss.
Ah, for reference, the reactions here were also varied.
‘870 million stones is too much…’
Those who had already exceeded their budget.
‘It’s not that we can’t pay it… but buying that essence, which is used by guardians, for that much money is crazy. We’re giving up on bidding.’
Those who simply made a decision based on cost-effectiveness.
And…
‘Why are you saying not to bid?’
‘It’s possible that the exchange is playing tricks.’
Even those who were hesitant to bid due to their paranoia.
‘Are you saying they’re using shills [fake bidders]?’
‘That’s a possibility, but… the exchange may have only put up the essence as bait from the beginning, and it may not have been their intention to sell it.’
Some even seemed to be considering the possibility that the Vol-Herchan essence was a fake item to attract customers…
But that wasn’t the important thing.
‘……’
‘……’
Their minds were blank from the unexpected amount.
And even in that moment when they were struggling to make an accurate judgment on whether to bid or not, due to the confusing words around them.
Tick, tock—.
Time was passing.
‘Are there… no more bidders…?’
The auctioneer, who had been striking the gavel decisively, dragged out the time three times longer than usual before finally opening his mouth.
And…
‘……’
‘……’
Seeing them only busy looking at each other, he announced the end of the bidding.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As the clear sound signifying the final sale rang out.
I nodded my head alone several times, a satisfied smile on my lips.
Yes, the flower of the auction is immediate purchase.
***
After the auction, which felt like a storm had passed, we went to the item delivery room, paid the price, and received the Vol-Herchan essence.
‘870 million stones… confirmed.’
The employee who delivered the item seemed to have a fairly high position within the exchange, and despite not liking us for creating strange rumors, he seemed to be very curious.
But is this what professionalism is?
‘Goodbye.’
The employee only occasionally glanced at us, who were wearing masks, and didn’t ask about our identities or even say unnecessary words.
‘What are you doing, not leaving?’
As we came out of the item delivery room, I could feel gazes from all around. Everyone seemed curious about what we had taken out.
However, since they couldn’t know which of the 35 items we had purchased, no one dared to approach us.
‘Are there any followers?’
‘There aren’t any now. Judging by their level, it seems they were just trying to follow us out of curiosity.’
‘Is that so?’
‘Where are we going?’
Where else would we go?
‘We’re going to the temple.’
After that, we left Commelby in a carriage and immediately entered the Leatlass Order [a religious organization]. It was almost evening, when they started restricting outside visitors, but we made it just in time.
‘You have come to erase the mark engraved on your soul.’
‘Here, this is the donation.’
‘Yes. Would your companion please wait outside?’
‘I will…’
I paid the money that I had set aside for the priest and removed the essence.
The essence I removed was, as planned, the corpse golem.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never removed an essence at the temple before.’
I had heard about it from others, but the actual essence removal process was a much stranger experience than I had imagined.
‘Look at the production, in the game, I just had to move the keyboard a few times.’
A pure white space where I was enveloped in a white light.
I woke up there naked, holding a blue dagger that I had just received from the priest in my hand…
And around me, there were huge monsters swarming.
They were all trapped in thick iron cages.
Ogre, Orc Hero, Storm Gush, Manticore, Bayon.
And the corpse golem, which was my goal for today.
After watching them for a while, I used the dagger to cut the thread of light connecting the corpse golem and my body.
And…
Whooshhhhh-!
When I came to my senses, I was already back at the temple.
‘That feels very strange.’
‘It is natural, as the bond that was engraved on your soul has been severed. It is something that most people experience at first, so do not worry too much. After a few days, you will get used to the emptiness.’
‘A bond has been severed, huh…’
It sounds like something a priest of the Leatlass Order would say, but it also makes sense somehow.
It was because the feeling of lethargy was considerable, rather than just the emptiness caused by the decrease in stats.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Ah, it’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be fine if I eat some meat.’
After finishing my business at the temple, I returned to the inn with Amelia.
And I took out the test tube that I had won at the auction.
‘Amelia, are you ready?’
‘……?’
At my words, Amelia looked like she didn’t understand what I meant.
‘I meant that the fragment of record might react the moment you eat this, so don’t be surprised.’
‘Ah…’
I had met the GM, and I had also entrusted my equipment to the vault.
Amelia had even followed her sister around, taking economic measures in advance to avoid tax evasion in the future.
So, if my prediction is correct…
‘This must be the last puzzle piece.’
I took out the fragment of record from my subspace and absorbed the essence.
‘Ah… this is why I eat essences.’
A sense of fullness that filled me so densely that it was hard to feel the emptiness of the corpse golem.
The light particles contained in the test tube were absorbed into my body, and power began to surge from within.
Of course, it was much weaker than when I absorbed the ogre essence.
Essences that give that much raw strength are rare even among 2nd grade or higher.
‘Still, the important thing is the skill.’
I slowly opened my eyes, savoring the afterglow.
And I clicked my tongue bitterly as I looked at the fragment of record, which was still silent.
‘……Don’t tell me this wasn’t it either.’
Then what else do I have to do?
Do I have to be trapped here for a few more years?
At that moment, when I couldn’t even properly enjoy the joy of obtaining a new essence due to such anxiety.
‘Well, it’s about time to go back…’
Amelia murmured as if sighing.
‘Huh?’
When I tilted my head, Amelia smiled at me as if to reassure me.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll be able to go back tomorrow.’
Her eyes seemed somewhat regretful.