Chapter 45
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: The First Asian Server Auction
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[The Transcendent Being, Insect Queen Nainquito, recommends the auction list she has registered.]
[The Transcendent Being, Inquisitive Seeker of Madness, recommends the auction list he has registered.]
[The Transcendent…]
Ten minutes before the auction began, notifications from the Transcendent Beings chimed in.
Since they were also able to list items, it seemed they had submitted quite a few of their own. Seong-hyeok couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
“Can’t you just sponsor me?”
Seong-hyeok was only human, after all.
He valued diligence above all else, but like anyone, he was crazy for anything he could get for free. So he tried to coax his patrons into sponsoring him.
[The Transcendent Being, Insect King Phraintquito, states that unless a Vassal Contract is formed, aid is restricted, as are sending messages.]
In other words, it wasn't that they were being stingy; there were circumstances that limited the Transcendent Beings' intervention in each #chapter.
It made sense when you thought about it.
He didn't know how many Transcendent Beings were meddling in this bizarre world, but their ultimate goal was to enjoy the ‘amusement.’
If there were no limits on sponsorships, a few Transcendent Beings could easily ruin the stage that had been so carefully set.
“So there aren’t any major penalties for items listed in the auction house?”
[The Transcendent Being, Insect King Phraintquito, nods, saying that is partially correct.]
But loopholes exist everywhere in the world.
The auction house listing feature, which appeared with the #2 Chapter update, was one such loophole.
Of course, to properly exploit this trick, one needed a corresponding massive amount of coins. But who was Seong-hyeok?
Honeybee of the Korean server.
The greatest profiteer of all, who had made a killing through the exclusive processed goods from his bees.
Coins Held: 682,216
Patience is a virtue, and it always pays off.
The day had finally come to unleash the 680,000-odd coins he had diligently saved up by consistently and faithfully selling his processed goods since the exchange opened.
[The 1st Asian Server Auction has begun. Would you like to participate in this event? YES / NO]
※ Upon acceptance, you can proceed with the auction using a virtual avatar with a unique nickname. Combat and skill usage are strictly prohibited within the auction house.
※ A 300-coin entrance fee is required to participate in the auction house event.
“Sigh, you persistent bastards. YES.”
A blatant rip-off of a coin-collection system that even charged an entrance fee.
But in the end, Seong-hyeok was the one who needed it.
Clicking his tongue, he selected YES.
Perhaps it was because he possessed so many coins?
[You have entered the Asian Server Auction House. A virtual avatar is formed based on the karma of your life and your profession.]
[You will receive treatment befitting the total amount of coins you possess. Your current status is VVVIP. Your virtual avatar will be moved to Room 1 (8/10) of the ★★★★★+ tier.]
Capitalism at its finest.
It was only natural that he would be given a place befitting his wealth.
Seong-hyeok was granted VVVIP status and moved to a room that looked high-end, rated 5-star+.
It was his first time entering as a virtual avatar.
His sense of wonder was fleeting.
Seong-hyeok became aware of the gazes around him.
【China/Emperor: Oh? The ones from the small country are quite something. To think not one, but two of them from Korea would show up here.】
【China/Emperor's Right Hand: Ugh. An avatar that looks like a bug. What disgusting barbarians.】
【China/Emperor's Left Leg: What does it matter if they have a lot of coins? If they value their lives, how dare they touch what belongs to the Emperor?】
The Chinese avatars snickered as they stared at him.
Then, one of them, an avatar with only a head floating in the air, approached Seong-hyeok.
【China/Emperor's Head: Honeybee. I don't care how many items you buy from the auction. However, do not touch the ones listed by the Transcendent Beings. That is, if you don't want your life to be in danger.】
It was a blatant declaration of war, warning him not to touch the items listed by the Transcendent Beings.
For a moment, he was speechless at the absurdity of the situation.
Just as Seong-hyeok was about to retort, someone else spoke up.
【Korea/Silent Harvester: What the hell. If you're going to spew bullshit, at least make it believable. They're completely delusional.】
A string of curses erupted from behind him, accompanied by a cheerful laugh.
An avatar wearing a mask that concealed its expression pushed its face between Seong-hyeok and the floating head.
【Korea/Silent Harvester: Did you lick the Transcendent Beings' items to claim them or something? The world's gone to shit, and you're ordering people around like you know you won't get stabbed in the back. Don't you know what an auction is? If you want it so bad, win it with your coins.】
【China/Emperor's Head: …You'll regret this.】
【Korea/Silent Harvester: You're the ones who should be regretting things.】
With a sneer, the avatar flawlessly flipped them the bird, its middle finger forming the shape of the character for 'mountain' (山).
At that, the Chinese avatars shot a glare at them before retreating.
The situation was resolved coolly without Seong-hyeok having to lift a finger.
He was somewhat grateful for her taking the bullet for him, but he remembered that this person was still a 'competitor' in the auction. He gave a slight nod and was about to turn away.
[Player Silent Harvester is attempting to send you a whisper.]
【Korea/Silent Harvester: Hey, Honeybee. Wait a second. I'm just asking, but do you remember Sunflower Orphanage and Director Kwon Ji-yong?】
【Korea/Honeybee: …Who are you?】
The other Korean player who had reached VVVIP status.
That is, until Silent Harvester mentioned the orphanage and the name of his greatest benefactor, Director Kwon Ji-yong.
* * * * *
Sunflower Orphanage, where Seong-hyeok had endured his childhood after being orphaned, and its pillar, Director Kwon Ji-yong.
There were countless skills in this bizarre world.
Did she figure it out with some special ability?
Or was she from the orphanage too?
Amidst his confusion, the masked avatar, its expression hidden, burst into laughter, either aware of his turmoil or not.
【Korea/Silent Harvester: You were obsessed with bees back then, and you still are now. It really is you, Seong-hyeok, isn't it? It's me. Cha Hye-rin. You haven't forgotten me, have you?】
【Korea/Honeybee: …Cha Hye-rin?】
The memory had faded over the long years he had dedicated solely to his life with bees.
But hearing the words ‘orphanage’ and ‘Cha Hye-rin’ directly, the face of one of the children from the orphanage surfaced in his mind.
A small girl who had been one of the mood-makers, always bringing happiness to the orphanage with her smiling face.
He had been so absorbed in bees, doing chores to get books, and he vaguely remembered her helping him out from time to time. It didn't take long for him to place the name Cha Hye-rin.
【Korea/Honeybee: I never expected to meet you like this. Anyway, I'm glad you're alive.】
A reunion after more than a decade.
There was an awkwardness to it, but hearing that someone he knew, however vaguely, was alive was certainly better than meeting a complete stranger. It was not bad news for Seong-hyeok at all.
Moreover, Silent Harvester.
Cha Hye-rin was a powerful player with enough coins to reach the 5-star+ room as a VVVIP.
That meant she had a high chance of surviving not only #2 Chapter but the subsequent #chapters as well.
【Korea/Silent Harvester: Heh? You haven't changed a bit. Your avatar is a giant honeybee. Should I say that's just like you? And thanks for the honey tea. It's sweet and delicious.】
【Korea/Honeybee: Thanks.】
Was it to catch up after so long?
He exchanged some more small talk with Cha Hye-rin for a moment.
But their conversation couldn't last long.
[The auction bidding has begun.]
【Korea/Honeybee: The auction's starting, so I should get going.】
【Korea/Silent Harvester: Okay, let's meet up sometime if we get the chance.】
The official start of the auction bidding.
Even if they came from the same orphanage, the fact that they were competitors as VVVIPs remained unchanged.
* * * * *
With the unique nickname Silent Harvester.
Cha Hye-rin quietly watched Honeybee as they parted ways in the 5-star+ room.
The 'so him' avatar moved forward, its plump abdomen wiggling enticingly.
A faint smile touched the lips of Cha Hye-rin's avatar, hidden behind the mask.
- What's this? A rather cute avatar. He must be important to you if he's here, right?
‘Hehe. Shut up, Lehurin.’
- You cute thing. I'll never understand your type. Well, I suppose that's part of your charm.
But at the question from her contracted Transcendent Being, the Shadow Empress Lehurin, Cha Hye-rin's expression instantly returned to its original state.
A crazed smile formed behind the mask.
A single madwoman whose 'limiter' had been removed, lost in the murderous impulse and pleasure of taking lives.
However, in this bizarre world governed by the law of the jungle, this strength and mentality were, in fact, power for Cha Hye-rin.
Just as a sane person might be considered abnormal in a world of madmen.
The fact that she possessed the qualifications for this VVVIP room was proof enough that her adaptability was far greater than anyone else's on the Korean server.
‘…Let's meet sometime, Honeybee.’
Seong-hyeok was a connection that would do her no harm to befriend, whether he became an ally or an adversary.
Having made an impression on him, Cha Hye-rin, her expression unreadable behind the mask, turned to participate in the ongoing auction.
* * * * *
The first auction since the grand integration of the Asian server.
From the 1-star- rooms that could accommodate thousands at once to the various other rooms, the players who entered each had their own goals.
【India/siwwld: Please, just one. Let me get just one decent item.】
【Japan/Kingni's Power: For real, please!】
With the coins they had painstakingly scraped together.
As the bidding began, some frantically ran around, searching for the auctions of the items they desired.
【Korea/Jeongrichung: Yes! We are currently in section A-1 of the auction house, where the bidding for Char's Gauntlet, a 3-star- grade weapon, is underway! Oh! Do you all see that? That item over in section D-2! It's the Guardian's Royal Jelly Pill, listed by Korea's pride and joy, Honeybee! My god! Blue-Tailed Bee Venom Honey Tea and Lilyger Venom Propolis Cosmetics? Are these options for real?】
【China/Emperor's Summary Hub: This is the summary hub for the Emperor. We will thoroughly investigate the bidding status of all items listed by Transcendent Beings in this auction house. To the players of other servers, we advise you not to touch what belongs to the continent and the Emperor.】
【Japan/Wind Style: Mouth Jutsu: LOL, the Chinese are so pathetic. We're going to investigate and buy whatever we want, regardless.】
【Pakistan…】
The named players of each server's community boards were moving about, trying to gather as much information as possible on the items up for auction.
Proving they weren't called 'named' for nothing, they weren't running around alone but were mobilizing numerous avatars, collecting and organizing information through whispers.
The state of the auction house was a tangled mess.
But as they say, above those who run are those who fly.
The 5-star+ room.
Seong-hyeok, receiving VVVIP treatment, had no need to run around like them.
[The authority of a VVVIP is activated.]
[You can view the auction bidding status list in real-time and also intervene.]
[A-1 Auction Status List] -> [Char's Gauntlet (★★★-)] (Seller - Transcendent Being, God Fist Char - Current Bid 57,000 Coins - China/Emperor. Time Remaining 9m 30s), [Powerful Hobgoblin's Bone Sword (★★+)] (Seller - Korea/Fergus - Current Bid 3,500 Coins - India/Ruric. Time Remaining 9m 45s), …
[A-2 Auction Status List] -> …
Possessing a large number of coins was power, whether in a capitalist society or a world governed by the law of the jungle. He could handle everything from within his room without having to break a sweat.
It was truly a welcome fit for a VVVIP, a system for the big spenders.
Of course, even with this overview, he was still busy, but Seong-hyeok had other preparations.
[Loading the recommended auction list from the Transcendent Being, Insect Queen Nainquito.]
[Loading the recommended… from the Transcendent Being, The Patient Sion.]