Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Goddess's Tear
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"Everyone, thank you for waiting so long. Here's tonight's main event!"
The auctioneer swept away the black cloth with an excited voice.
Shwaaak.
The entire auction house seemed submerged in the ocean, filled with a brilliant blue glow.
"A gem called the Tear of the Goddess from legends. It's a blue diamond!
Behold its iridescent beauty. Top-grade mana affinity—a miracle bestowed by the gods!"
"Gasp..."
Chloe swallowed a sharp breath, nearly choking.
Dignity as a saintess?
She'd thrown that to the dogs long ago.
"Y-Your Majesty. You promised, right? The most expensive one. You swore on the name of God!"
Chloe stomped her feet and clutched Darcor's arm with all her might.
But she wasn't the only one eyeing this prize.
'Found it.'
Behind Baron's mask, his eyes gleamed like a snake's.
A magic stone condensed with high-density mana.
The final key to toppling the empire.
"Ten thousand gold."
Baron confidently raised his paddle.
He aimed to seize control from the start with a massive bid.
Or so he thought.
"Fifty thousand."
"Huh?"
A chilling silence hung in the air like a bucket of cold water.
Fifty thousand gold.
Enough to buy a decent castle outright.
Even the auctioneer gaped, speechless.
"Th-this crazy bastard..."
Forgetting all decorum, Baron shot to his feet.
"Who the hell are you? Do you even know who I am? I'm from Daroa, and—"
"A rich bum?"
Darcor cut him off with a casual tilt of his wine glass.
"If you're broke, go home, wash your feet, and sleep it off. Don't make a scene in someone else's business."
"Grrgh...!"
Baron's face flushed red with humiliation.
'If that guy takes the magic stone, the plan's ruined.'
Which left only one option...
Thud thud thud.
"Sold! To the bidder at fifty thousand gold!"
As the auctioneer's gavel fell, Chloe let out a triumphant cheer.
"Kyaaah! Loyalty! Loyalty! My faith is surging!"
She kneaded Darcor's shoulders like she'd conquered the world.
That was when it happened.
"You'll... regret this."
Baron snapped his fingers with a sharp crack.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Iron bars dropped from the ceiling, and every exit in the auction house sealed shut.
"Wh-what? What's happening?!"
The nobles screamed and dove under tables.
Amid the chaos,
"You should've picked your show-off target more carefully.
Know your place."
Only Baron wore a cold smile.
His gesture was the signal.
Armed soldiers burst from the shadows.
"Kill those bastards! Snatch the necklace now!"
The moment Baron's order rang out, they charged from all sides.
"Y-Your Majesty! Do something!
We're gonna die!"
Chloe clutched the won necklace to her chest, screaming.
Even in this mess, her iron grip on it was impressive.
"Come on, people should use words first. Straight to violence? Classy."
Darcor drained the last of his wine and stood.
Clink.
A crimson madness bloomed from his body.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Warning: Multiple hostile targets detected.] [Switching to combat mode.] [Madness Level responding.] Darcor's red eyes flickered with menace.
Whoosh!
Curses of dark magic and poison-tipped darts rained down like a storm.
"I bought you the fancy stuff, so earn your keep. Block."
"Eh? What do you— Kyaaack!"
Darcor grabbed Chloe by the scruff like a sack.
Then he thrust her forward as a shield against the arrow barrage.
"A-are you insane? How am I supposed to— Waaah! Mommy!"
Chloe squeezed her eyes shut and screamed.
Flaaash!
A dazzling golden light exploded.
Holy energy surged from her body like an eruption.
The saintess's innate power.
🛡️ SANCTUARY SHIELD 🛡️ Clang. Claaang.
The incoming spells and darts lost power upon hitting the golden barrier and bounced away.
Even a money-grubbing opportunist was still a saintess.
"Ooh, pretty solid. Keep it up."
Darcor marveled as he swung Chloe around.
A human shield with all-around defense.
"Your Majesty, I'm dizzy! I'm gonna puke!"
"Hold it. Vomit, and the necklace is mine."
Darcor's lips split into a grin reaching his ears.
'Fun while it lasted. Playtime's over.'
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Dawn Step] "Time to clean house."
Darcor shot out from behind the saintess's shield.
Thwack.
The jaw of the first charging soldier shattered and flew.
No need to draw a sword.
Darcor dented armor with bare fists and snapped blades barehanded.
Crack! Crunch!
Sickening sounds filled the auction house.
"Gahk."
"Your chants are too long. Shorten 'em."
Darcor stomped a fallen dark mage's head and leaped.
Bones snapped with every swing, screams burst with every kick.
Watching the unbelievable scene, Baron's face paled.
"Wh-what the hell is that monster?"
Daroa's elite soldiers crumpled without a fight.
To a single man.
'Gotta run.'
His instincts screamed it.
Linger here, and your head rolls.
Baron gritted his teeth and turned.
Toward the cleverly hidden secret passage behind the platform.
Creeeak.
As he grabbed the handle,
"Where you going? Pay up first."
A chilling voice hit his back.
Boom!
The table Darcor kicked flew and smashed the secret passage.
"Kgh."
Without time to scream, Baron threw himself inside.
A hair's breadth escape.
Click.
"Hah, hah... I lived."
Baron locked it with trembling hands.
Then he bolted down the dark passage, gasping.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Auction house hall.
Darcor shook blood from his hands at the sealed secret passage.
"He ran, huh. What a time-waster."
He glanced at Chloe, crouched in the corner polishing her diamond.
"Saintess, grab your necklace and follow. I'm leaving you behind."
"W-wait! Coming, Your Majesty!"
Chloe scrambled after Darcor.
She looked a mess.
Her pricey new dress was in tatters.
Yet she gripped the necklace tight—Darcor just shook his head.
Blocking his path: a massive steel door.
Locked with top-tier magitech.
"Fun."
No problem for Darcor.
He just kicked without hesitation.
Kaboom.
The heavy steel crumpled like paper and flew.
Thus began the chase through the dark passage.
Poison arrows popped from the floor, rocks fell from the ceiling.
"Saintess, duck!"
"Kyaaak!"
Darcor tucked Chloe under his arm and ran.
Pulverizing falling rocks with fists, dodging poison arrows by inches.
"Th-the necklace'll get scratched! Run gentler, I said!"
Tucked under his arm, Chloe fretted more over the necklace than her life.
'What a woman.'
Darcor stifled a chuckle.
The secret passage's end.
A dead wall.
Nowhere left to run.
Cornered like a rat on a cliff, Baron turned pale.
Footsteps echoed from the dark: thud, thud.
Darcor emerged.
Carrying the ragged saintess like luggage—a ridiculous sight.
"D-don't come closer! Stay back!"
Baron drew a scroll radiating ominous energy.
"It's an explosion magic scroll. Blows here, no bones left."
"..."
"One more step, we all die.
Got it?"
True—in this narrow passage, it'd wipe everyone.
Baron's eyes rolled with madness.
But Darcor didn't stop.
He grinned wickedly and quickened his pace.
"Die together? Romantic."
One step, another.
The gap closed.
"Do it. I won't stop you."
"Y-you psycho! I'm blowing it for real! For real!"
Baron's hand shook.
This guy's serious.
Eyes unafraid of death.
"Raaagh!"
Unable to bear it, as Baron tore the scroll—
Fwoosh.
Darcor's form blurred like mist.
A split-second where time froze.
Snap.
"Gaaaah!"
Bones shattered.
Baron's wrist twisted unnaturally; the scroll fell limply.
"Hands too slow."
Darcor slammed Baron into the wall.
Kaboom.
Pinned against it, writhing in pain, Baron looked up in terror.
"Wh-what are you...?"
Slide.
Darcor tossed off his mask.
His face sharp even in the dark.
Angular jaw, red eyes.
"..."
Baron's breath caught.
Impossible.
The empire's master, who should be on the palace throne.
Why in this hellhole?
"Nice to meet you, little rat."
A sinister smile spread on Darcor's lips.
"You wanted to see me that bad, huh?"
"H-how are you here...?"
"How?"
Darcor whispered low in Baron's ear.
"Came to see you. Thought I'd die missing you."