Chapter 76: Suspiciously Wealthy (2)
Chapter 76: Suspiciously Wealthy (2)
“Welcome! Please, step right this way!”
“…….”
What’s this? I came with my original face this time, so why am I getting the VIP treatment?
Of course, I did receive a VIP Membership as a reward for clearing the dungeon beneath Gepp City, finding the hidden cultists, and taking down a Bishop-class enemy.
But I didn't expect to be treated like a VIP before I even pulled the card out.
Moreover, Carla was walking with her head bowed low, her face barely visible, so it wasn't like they had recognized her either.
As I stepped into the auction house with a look of mild bewilderment, I heard a faint, suppressed giggle from right beside me.
“Pfft.”
“You’re laughing? You think this is funny right now?”
I growled, giving the buttock I had been kneading a firm squeeze… but Carla only seemed to enjoy it more.
“Hehe. I’m sorry, Master. But doesn't it just mean your acting was that perfect?”
When my expression soured slightly at her brazen remark, Carla immediately began swaying her hips.
She naturally rubbed her backside against my palm, a subtle, suggestive smile playing on her lips.
“Oh, come on. You’re going to have plenty of chances to get your revenge on me soon. Just let it all out then. A little bit of ad-libbing is fine, isn't it?”
“…I’m saying this now, but isn't this ‘acting’ just your personal preference, Carla?”
“It’s a bit of both! Killing two birds with one stone!”
As she spoke, the dark corridor ended, and the dazzling interior of the auction house greeted us.
It was a circular space reminiscent of a Colosseum or an opera stage.
Carla, who had been giggling just a moment ago, suddenly flinched and leaned her body against mine.
It didn't feel like she was acting… it felt like something else.
Well, I suppose it makes sense. Even if she seemed to be enjoying herself or even thriving lately, it hadn't even been two months since she was sold to me.
Old memories must have resurfaced.
I began to pat her bottom lightly and rhythmically, and Carla slowly began to calm down.
She whispered in a voice so small it was barely audible.
“…Thank you, Master.”
“For what? If I don’t look out for you, who will?”
“Haa. Thinking that Elisha will soon be receiving this kind of treatment from you makes me a little jealous.”
“Just don't go bullying her.”
“Of course not. I’ll simply do my best to ensure I remain your favorite. …Anyway, it’s time to start the act.”
“Right. Let’s get to our seats first.”
Smack!
“Ah!”
I gave Carla’s rear a loud slap, and using that as a signal, her aura transformed in an instant.
She began to drag her feet as if being led to slaughter, looking utterly pitiful.
Even though I knew it was an act, a strange sense of sadism—the same one I felt when I first bought her—began to creep up on me.
“Move it! Do I have to drag you by force?”
“Hic! I-I’m coming, Master.”
“Tsk. You should have done that from the start.”
I clicked my tongue as Carla quickly adjusted her pace to match mine, her legs no longer dragging.
We headed toward the passage leading to the VIP section.
As I walked, enjoying the sensation of Carla trembling and clinging to me desperately, the eyes of those around us began to shift in our direction.
From those stealing glances to those staring openly.
Most of them directed lewd, sticky gazes at Carla… but those gazes vanished the moment I sat down in the VIP section.
They likely realized I was on a completely different level than them.
In reality, the VIP Membership for the Gepp Auction House wasn't just handed out to anyone.
It was reserved for those who spent astronomical amounts of money at the auction, those with achievements no one could ignore, or those who had directly aided Gepp City.
“Hah… it really is different.”
Unlike the general seating, the chairs were much more plush, and there was ample space between the seats.
There were magical tools broadcasting close-up footage so one could inspect the items in detail, and even a catalog that allowed one to see everything up for bid at a glance.
It seemed one could even order light meals or snacks, as an unknown noblewoman in the next seat was leisurely cutting into a piece of steak.
When playing H&A, you eventually get a VIP Membership regardless of when it happens, so I hadn't felt much about it then…
But experiencing it for real, I truly liked it.
Since I had suddenly become wealthy upon falling into this world, wasn't I a sort of nouveau riche myself?
With that thought, I sat there grinning like a typical upstart, and before long, a middle-aged man in a butler’s uniform approached me.
He seemed to be the staff member in charge of the VIP section. I showed him my membership card and ordered some simple fruit.
It looked like there was still some time before the auction began.
I sat Carla on one of my knees, kneading her here and there with one hand while picking off green grapes and eating them with the other as I flipped through the catalog.
It looked like a scene where a high-ranking mob boss strokes a cat, except the cat was replaced by Carla.
But would this be enough?
Earlier, I saw some crazy bastard with a coat draped over him getting a blowjob.
I didn't need to go that far, but I felt like I should show something impressive.
…It definitely wasn't revenge for earlier. Just an ad-lib.
I took my hand off the fruit plate and picked up the catalog instead. Then, with a tilt of my chin, I commanded Carla.
“Put them in my mouth, one by one.”
“Pardon…?”
Carla, who had been savoring her helplessness while being pawed at (though the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned), gulped as she looked at the lonely fruit plate.
“Then, if I may.”
With careful movements, Carla picked up a grape and placed it in my mouth.
I ate it while casually flipping through the catalog.
Sweetness exploded in my mouth. However, without showing any sign of it, I spat it right back out.
“Ptu.”
“M-Master? Is something wrong…?”
“Something wrong? Did you ask if something was wrong?”
A sneering voice escaped my lips naturally.
At that, Carla bowed her head deeply like someone utterly terrified and began to tremble violently.
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Master. If there is anything lacking, I will fix it. S-So please, have mercy….”
Was it a fragment of her pride that hadn't been fully erased yet?
A mixture of humiliation, shame, and a terror that swallowed it all bloomed across Carla’s face.
She looked exactly like a slave on the verge of total submission.
…This is definitely acting, right?
She was so awkward when acting in front of Elisha, so why is she so good at this kind of role?
I guess it’s because she’s in ‘enjoyment mode.’
Come to think of it, we’ve only been having normal, lovey-dovey sex lately.
Perhaps she found herself drawn to this kind of coercive play for a change.
I curled one side of my mouth into the most villainous smirk I could muster.
“Using hands is for humans. That’s not you.”
“Ah.”
Carla’s eyes quivered as if she had finally realized something.
She understood the meaning immediately, but she seemed to hesitate, unable to bring herself to act on it.
But I knew. The twitching of Carla’s lips wasn't from nervousness; she was trying to suppress a smile.
I gave a more specific instruction to the hesitating Carla.
“Transfer them with your mouth. Like a beast.”
“…Yes, Master.”
With eyes that looked as if she had resigned herself to everything, Carla slowly lowered her head toward the fruit plate.
Then, she plucked a single grape and brought it to my mouth.
Lips met lips with a small green grape between them.
A soft sensation. Her hot breath washed over me.
“Mnh….”
We were close enough that I could count her eyelashes if I wanted to.
Carla gave me a silent, smiling look with her eyes at an angle only I could see.
Her gaze was filled with immense satisfaction.
I shifted only my eyes to scan the surroundings and saw several people looking this way with envy.
Yeah. This should be enough.
To anyone watching, I would look like a reckless young master treating his slave according to his every whim.
I continued to eat the fruit Carla brought me while nonchalantly reading the catalog.
Before long, a man wearing a grotesque mask stepped onto the stage.
It was the auctioneer I had seen last time.
Lick.
I licked the juice and a bit of Carla’s saliva from my lips as I recalled the contents of the catalog I had just seen.
The main event of this auction was, of course, Elisha and the other elves.
But whether they were for variety or just fillers to highlight the main event, many other decent items were also listed.
Rare magic books, elixirs, high-level magical tools, and various other things.
Since I was already here, I planned to buy everything I needed.
I had plenty of money anyway.
And my status as an Academy student would serve as a good shield for me, a Golden Goblin.
I had spent money secretly many times before, but… this was the first time I was doing it so openly.
A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth involuntarily.
“Heh.”
“Hic.”
For some reason, the moment Carla saw my face, she let out a hiccup. At the same time:
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting!”
The masked man announced the start of the auction with an exaggerated gesture.