Volume 8, Chapter 12 – An Unexpected Auction

As Yisi was quietly explaining the truth to Laxy, the auction officially began.

Most of the attendees were nobles over the age of forty; young men and women were rarely seen. The higher one’s status, the closer to the front they sat. Additionally, there were many people like Cynthia who wore masks to avoid being recognized. Perhaps to accommodate customers like her, the auction house had specially assigned a female staff member to each guest to handle the bidding. As long as one whispered the price, the staff member would raise a paddle with the price written on it for the buyer, further preventing their identity from being revealed. Since Cynthia’s veil made her unnoticeable to the staff, the bidding price was relayed by Cynthia to Yisi, and then from Yisi to the staff member.

Just as Cynthia had described, most of the auction items were perfumes, monster materials, and magic weapons. The prices for the first two categories were generally low, and there were few bidders. The entire venue only erupted when a dragon egg of a lesser dragon species appeared on stage. The starting price of one hundred gold coins was bid up to one thousand gold coins, and it was finally bought by a person of earl status.

According to Cynthia’s explanation, that earl’s territory bordered the Empire, and he had bought the lesser dragon to defend against imperial raids. Even a lesser dragon, once it reached adulthood, would have a strength of over level thirty. A lesser dragon’s physical strength was far superior to that of a human; at the same level, it would take three level thirty humans to defeat one adult lesser dragon.

“What a lucky guy, buying a lesser dragon for just a thousand gold coins. With a dragon as a mount, he can be called a dragon knight.”

Cynthia murmured under her breath, a hint of envy in her eyes.

Yisi smiled and shrugged. The [Omniscient Map] indicated that the egg, which was larger than an adult man, was not a lesser dragon at all, but the egg of a monster called a ‘Whale Turtle’. The earl had been duped.

Although Yisi felt that the earl would surely be furious when he found out, the host had stated at the beginning that this egg had not been appraised. The auction house was only acting as an intermediary, collecting a handling fee and a venue fee. In short, if a buyer bought an item that was not to their liking, they could only consider themselves unlucky; the auction house was not responsible.

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After the Whale Turtle egg, as the items presented became better and better, the atmosphere of the auction house grew more and more heated. In the middle of it, Yisi even saw a bottle of distilled wine from Margaret. Because it was from the first batch that had been aged for a long time, its flavor was mellower than the new wine, with much less astringency, so its selling price was far above the market price. Many noble lords, with what Yisi considered terrifyingly fierce expressions, vied to outbid one another. Two marquises even got into a verbal altercation over it. Fortunately, a duke finally stepped in and ended the bidding with a closing price of five platinum coins—that is, five hundred gold coins.

A single bottle of Margaret could sell for five platinum coins. If Shinku and the others knew, they would probably be so happy they’d throw a grand party at the tavern. Yisi couldn’t help but rub her chin. If she remembered correctly, according to the last report Fran had submitted, there were still more than ten barrels of the first batch of wine left. If every bottle was this price, Margaret could definitely make a huge profit.

Wait, that’s not right.

Yisi, who had glanced at the [Omniscient Map], now wore a strange expression. The map showed that Shinku and Fran were sitting in the front row of the venue. In other words, the bottle of Margaret that had just been sold was very likely from them.

Are they deliberately reducing the quantity flowing into the market to raise the price of each bottle…

How malicious.

Of course, Margaret wine was not a necessity, and only the wealthy nobles participated in the bidding. For most of the people here, Orichalcum-grade weapons and armor were the best choice. Among these items, a heart-guard that could generate a wind barrier when infused with magic power and an earring with a spirit-stabilizing function were very popular items. Especially the magic items that the host specifically mentioned were from the master craftsman Avis, which sold for 1.5 times the price of similar items. However, this extra expense was not a brand premium, but because the magic items crafted by Avis were indeed more powerful. For the same wind barrier, the one from Avis’s hands was much thicker.

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On the [Omniscient Map], Avis was also in the venue. Since she was sitting in the back row, Yisi could only see the back of the person named Avis—a man between 40 and 50 years old, with specks of white mixed in his black hair. Probably due to his frequent forging of weapons, his body looked very sturdy, incomparable to an ordinary soldier.

“Huh…”

While reviewing the [Omniscient Map], Yisi discovered something interesting.

Not far from the auction house, a cluster of purple mist was hovering in the area between the city wall and the slums. It was the first time Yisi had seen such an icon on the map. After focusing her attention on the mist, the map indicated that it was something called the ‘Warped Calamity’.

That sounds very ominous.

“And now, we move on to today’s main event! Loaned by the Marquis of Taris, a divine weapon from the distant Age of the Gods, forged by the gods and angels themselves, the Holy Sword, Durandal!”

“Eh?”

Hearing the familiar name, Yisi, whose attention was still on the [Omniscient Map], abruptly looked up.

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Isn’t this the sword I traded for Laxy?

The host continued his impassioned speech.

“Originally, this weapon should not have appeared here. But as everyone knows, the Taris territory was ravaged by monsters some time ago, and its finances have fallen into dire straits. The Marquis of Taris could only bear the pain and loan out the sword for a period of twenty years. During this time, this weapon, which can be called a divine artifact, must not be damaged or modified. I know that the blacksmiths present are eager to learn more about this sword, so I won’t keep you in suspense. Let’s begin directly. The starting bid is twenty gem coins!”

Huh?

Twenty gem coins is two hundred thousand gold coins, right? What’s with this ridiculously high price?

If a single sword can sell for twenty gem coins, I should just change my profession and start selling swords.

“Thirty gem coins!”

As soon as Yisi’s thought ended, Master Avis in the front row bid with a voice that suppressed the entire hall. His bloodshot eyes and a posture as if he were about to fight someone to the death reminded Yisi of a man who hadn’t seen a woman in decades suddenly seeing a completely naked beautiful girl.

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But the price of thirty gem coins was not the end.

“Thirty-one gem coins.”

“Thirty-two!”

Some prominent nobles also began to raise the price, among them members of the three great ducal families. Even Cynthia joined the bidding. She seemed quite keen on Durandal, her gaze fixed on it as if she wanted to swallow it whole.

There are so many rich idiots in this world.

Maybe I should really consider whether I should switch professions and start selling swords. I could send the money I earn back to Andrea. That way, the next time I see Andrea, maybe she’ll happily jump up and hug me, and even give me a kiss.

Amidst the rising and falling bids, Yisi thought about this very seriously.