Chapter 3
Chapter 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Buying the Hero
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Anyway, since Cain isn't going anywhere, maybe I should go shopping.
[Adelian Krueger, Guardian—Golden Young Noble]
Main Traits: [Wealth(A)] [Arrogance(S)]
Hidden Traits: [Affluence(S)] [User's Eye(SSS)]
My trait Wealth(A) would just be a device in the game showing how utterly incompetent Adelian was.
Because most traits are either innate or honed through effort, but something like Wealth simply means having a ton of money.
Of course, for it to qualify as a trait, it takes more than pocket change. And what about Arrogance? It means a guy with zero real talent but a rotten personality.
Even though the core inside me has changed, the fact that it lingers means my unconscious gestures, speech patterns, even my glances probably come off as arrogant to others.
'But right now, it's pure honey.'
If it were modern me, the best traits I'd have would be something like Computer Skills C, right? In that case, inheriting Adelian's traits wholesale is a godsend.
Arrogance isn't so bad either. This body's born a noble, but the core is a modern guy, so I'd naturally act casual without realizing, which might feel off—but the Arrogance trait will smooth it over.
Humming to myself, I wandered the auction house wares.
"Luna. What looks good to you?"
"Me? M-Me?"
"Who else do I have here besides my squire?"
"I-I'll go look, young master……."
I deliberately narrowed my eyes into triangles as I spoke, and Luna flinched before scampering off somewhere.
Sorry, Luna. If a person changes too suddenly, the people secretly watching me without drawing attention would notice something's up.
Still, my hand won't be raised against you anymore, Luna. I promise……
The original Adelian was such a scumbag that the other maids either fled or quit after getting beaten.
With her Timid trait and being a beastkin—tougher than humans by nature—Luna must have stayed by Adelian's side half by force, half by choice.
Then, after Gadia killed Adelian, they needed someone for errands and took her along.
Wandering while thinking that was probably the route for Luna joining the main party.
'I wanted to test if User's Eye could appraise items, but no dice on merchandise.'
Still, I remember the looks of rare items pretty well, so if I spot one, I'll gift it to Luna.
"This one and that one. Uh, that, that. Oh, and 300 vials each of high-grade potions. For rares, I'd like unlimited buyouts."
"Aigoo, young master, as if we'd say no."
"And a small space pouch too."
Right now. At my words, the hunched golden goblin manager rubbed his palms and hustled off.
I'd love a large one too, but if my memory's right, soon I'll officially become head of House Krueger, inherit the bloodline magic, and get free access to the family vault.
Then what's a large sub-space pouch? The world's biggest sub-space will be mine.
"Well, if it isn't Adelian."
Just as Luna and the auction manager tailing me were gone, a greasy voice came from behind.
First time hearing a voice like this in my life—must be one where even the vocal cords are fattened up.
"Oh, if it isn't him."
Turning around, some brown-haired orc… no, human? Half-breed maybe?
I put all my heart into saying who the hell are you while smiling.
"Hey, where's Dimitri? Oh, Adelian."
A guy about my height and weight dabbed his forehead sweat nonstop with a handkerchief while pretending to know me, and a woman who seemed part of his group approached too.
'Looks similar but not.'
Her curly brown hair, brown eyes, and height were spot-on copies, but the moment the surprisingly pretty girl called the orc half-breed in front of me "Dimitri," something clicked.
'Ah, Dimitri. The antagonist from the academy arc.'
That was years ahead in game time, so I didn't recognize the still-youthful orc.
If the guy's Dimitri, then the girl must be his sister Dubuona.
"Wanna grab dinner together since we bumped into each other? With drinks on the side."
"Yeah, your birthday was last week, right?"
One blatant flirt, one blatant sneer.
Looks like Adelian's traits have already spread through high society by word of mouth.
Makes sense— in the game, temples restored health and revealed traits, so it's probably similar here.
"Luna!"
I loosely crossed my arms and bellowed for Luna.
I'm just a pretty-faced rich punk scumbag anyway—do I really need to manage my image with these non-protagonists now?
"Y-Yes? Yes, young master……! I haven't found anything good yet……."
Lying—she was probably hiding because she was scared to come back to me.
Ignoring Luna's pale face, I opened my mouth.
"Don't you smell pig around here, Luna?"
"Huh?"
"Pfft, pig smell!"
At my words, Dimitri's face turned beet red, and Dubuona burst out laughing, pounding her brother's back.
"I-I don't really sm— Ow! Yes, yes, I dooo……."
Luna, teary-eyed and fidgeting her white ears while trying to slip away—I yanked one ear free, and her words flipped instantly.
Don't play hurt. I know rabbitkin go crazy for ear pets, and as a martial artist, Luna wouldn't feel pain from my strength.
"A-Argh! You talking to me, Adelian?"
Shrugging at Dimitri's ripe-red face, I said,
"When did I say you? I just asked if there's no pig smell around."
You saying I'm the pig? Why yell then? I laughed.
What're you gonna do about it? And speaking of, you were a total ankle-biter in the academy arc.
After Dubuona dragged away the huffing, flaming-pig Dimitri—who was bent double laughing—the goblin manager returned.
'What a shame.'
Should've chewed him out with more people around.
Smacking my lips in regret, I slipped the ring the goblin manager handed me onto my left index finger.
"A mithril ring artifact extravagantly crafted with sapphires matching your eye color. It holds a sub-space the size of a wagon, plus enchantments for body temperature maintenance and minor poison resistance."
I half-listened, half-ignored as he rubbed his palms.
It shrank perfectly to fit my finger the moment I put it on—I nearly gaped in admiration but schooled my face into an "eh, it's okay" nod and jerked my chin.
"Auction time now, right? Lead the way."
Unlike the wares gallery I'd been browsing, the auction hall dealt in illicit goods too, so I donned a face-concealing mask and took a seat on the top-floor terrace.
Obviously nobles-only. What's the point of a mask when you can't slim down the body?
Ignoring Dimitri at one end and Dubuona openly waving at me, I eyed the stage.
Fine china, rare books, pet magical beasts.
Nothing I needed, and early auction meant junk flying by fast—soon humans and demihumans started appearing.
"A fine leopardkin guard. Middle-aged but still usable. Starting at 3 gold!"
Even with Affluence making me chill, my foreseeable future has me so on edge that aside from day one here, I haven't slept properly these past few days.
As a result, the auctioneer's booming voice lulled like a lullaby… and this VVIP sofa's way too plush……
I nodded off into sleep before I knew it, vaguely hearing a droning voice through my half-open ear.
"This one's… for… boy… looks… great… 10 gold!"
"Dimitri, I want that one! Buy it for me!"
"Wow……."
What jolted me from near-coma sleep was Luna's gasp—her, who hadn't even breathed beside me.
That scaredy-cat making noise? Why?
I wiped my mouth with my sleeve and looked up without thinking. And……
"Wow……."
I knew female readers went nuts over his illustrations, but honestly, what reason do male readers have to simp for Cain's looks?
Handsome, peerless beauty—whatever, it's a guy, so who cares?
Same for me. I liked Cain, sure, but it was just fondness—no real visual memory from the novel descriptions. I only learned he had black hair from the game art.
But… wow, in real life, it's on another level. True protagonist. Bastard has it all……
Even from afar, his face was crystal clear like I'd had LASIK—part of me wanted to just butt out and live quietly.
A guy with no silver tongue reeling in six heroines on looks alone—if I just fixed his temper a bit, he'd probably bring world peace on his own, right?
Still, I wanted to at least eyeball Rachel in person. If Cain looks this good, the other heroines……
Nursing a bit of personal curiosity, I raised the bidding panel.
"Yes, 35 gold there—oh! 40 gold. Now 45 gold! Hot item, lots of bidders!"
Why did original Adelian buy Cain anyway? If just for a punching bag, a sturdy demihuman or beastkin would've been better, no?
Pondering that nagging question, I mechanically raised the panel again.
'Ah, no way…….'
Did that idiot get drunk, see his face, mistake him for a girl, buy on impulse, then rage-quit into sandbag treatment?
"Eek! I won't lose to that guy, Dimitri!"
"100 gold!"
Some shrill yell from somewhere… yeah, my guess seems spot-on.
"Ah, seriously, I want him. What're you doing, raise the panel!"
"You're too obsessed with some no-talent commoner, Dubuona……."
"Come on~"
Man, my bonus NPC was even dumber than I thought…… Heart burning, I downed the complimentary champagne in one go, shoved the fruit snacks to Luna, and raised the panel.
"10,000 gold."
How much is that in won? Like ten billion?
Leaving the other bidders with mouths sewn shut and the siblings stunned, I stood.
"Head to the castle now, Luna."
I shrugged and smiled at Luna, whose already big eyes had gone saucer-wide staring at me.
"Young master, don't tell me your… tastes are……."
"No, Luna……."
No, not that!
God, shocking. The queen of timidity, Luna, giving me that look.
Unable to bear the suspicion in those pink eyes, I pinched her cheeks.
They stretched, stretched.
"Ow, eek……."
"Impudent eyes, Luna."
Every spot I touched felt like jelly—addictive. Letting go, I called my assigned goblin manager.
"Aigoo, young master! More champagne?"
Must've begged for booze a few times before… the champagne's perfect mouthfeel tempted me, but priorities first.
"They call this the continent's top auction house? Big letdown. We're done for today. But first, confirm what I bought."
A willful image helps me for now, so I scowled on purpose—the manager's hunchback hunched further.
"Ah… well, the real gems are on specific days……."
"Whatever, bring it."
I know, I know. I get it. Good stuff every day? No way.
With customers continent-wide, top items only popped up monthly in the game too.
Still, after nitpicking for show, I waited for him.
Truth is, I bought on face alone without checking the name—might not even be Cain.
What then? Release him and build some goodwill?
Legs jiggling nervously without me noticing, another gasp came from beside me.
"Wow……."
Locking eyes with those golden ones, I knew.
'That's the protagonist. Has to be.'
Why so cheap—and on a weekday auction? They must've figured he'd die or break before prime.
How much did he resist? Seeing the blood-soaked cuffs and gag, I activated User's Eye.
[Cain Reyners—Survivor with Only Hatred Left]
Main Traits: [Indomitable(S)] [Genius(S)] [Appearance(S)] [Physique(S)]—Unverified
Hidden Traits: [Misfortune(C)] [Tenacity(A)]—Unverified
Insane, look at those traits.
Birthday hasn't passed yet, so unverified at the temple, but jaw-dropping stuff.
And the highest rank among them: Indomitable……
'I have to be the one to break that?'
Highest rank means it most powerfully shapes Cain's convictions and ego.
Unbreakable. Unyielding.
Like reeds bend but trees don't.
Smiling at those golden eyes glaring at me like flickering flames, I thought,
I'll be the one to snap you, Cain.