Auction (2)
Auction (2)
I boarded the vehicle driven by Shin Su-ah and headed to the auction house.
Perhaps because it was a long-standing auction, the location where Monochrome was held was on the outskirts of Seoul, in a spot where transportation wasn't inconvenient.
We arrived at the entrance of the auction house grounds, and after verifying our identities, we were able to enter.
The Monochrome staff members were easy to identify because they wore badges on their chests with a white diagonal line engraved on a black circle.
I got out of the car, handed the parking over to a staff member, and scanned the inside of the vast grounds with magic detection; security was being maintained thoroughly with double and triple layers.
"They say accidents happen at every auction, but the security is thorough."
"So what? An accident is scheduled to happen this time too."
"An accident happens even after breaking through this level of security?"
"Do accidents only happen from the outside? They could happen from the inside, too."
"Don't tell me this accident is going to happen from the inside?"
I asked Shin Su-ah, who would know the future, about the incident that would occur at this Monochrome event in advance. She pondered deeply, as if contemplating the past before her regression, then shook her head.
"I don't remember exactly either, but it feels like it might have been an outside intrusion... But you know, right? The future has changed so much that this memory is meaningless."
"Still, I thought I might be able to know in advance who would cause the accident."
"I don't remember that far either. Well, even if I don't remember, there won't be any danger as long as Nidhogg-nim is here."
"That goes without saying."
Even if they cause an accident, they're just humans.
There's no way I'll be in danger just because those guys cause an accident.
Judging by the skills of the humans gathered here, wouldn't Shin Su-ah be able to escape on her own?
While we were talking, we moved and arrived in front of the building where the auction was taking place.
Perhaps because they verify identities twice, they checked our identities once more at the auction house entrance.
The Monochrome staff member started sweating even before Shin Su-ah took out the invitation, and then radioed somewhere.
Then, a staff member who appeared to be of a higher rank came out from inside and greeted us.
"Are you Shin Su-ah-nim and the Dragon-nim who came as her companion?"
"Yes. What is it?"
As Shin Su-ah nodded, he bowed politely and spoke.
"I will escort you to the VIP room. Would you follow me?"
"VIP? But the seat number written on the invitation is..."
"It's fine! There was an order from above to upgrade the seats for Shin Su-ah-nim and Dragon-nim free of charge."
"Well, if that's the case..."
The staff member wiped away cold sweat and spoke quickly without pausing.
Upon Shin Su-ah's agreement, he let out a sigh of relief and guided us inside the building.
As expected of an auction held by a coalition of large guilds and criminal organizations.
I don't know how they built the inside of the auction house, but it looked even bigger and wider than it did from the outside, and many people who had arrived before us were already walking around the lobby, looking at the items on display.
Perhaps noticing my gaze, the staff member who was guiding us spoke.
"Those are items being sold via private contract before the auction starts. If you are interested, I can show you around."
"No. I'm not that interested, so let's just go."
Various items were on display, so my gaze had just lingered for a moment, but since I could tell immediately after a brief glance that there was nothing worth buying, my interest faded.
Rather, I felt the surrounding gazes focusing on my appearance as a Dragon, so I wanted to leave this place quickly.
I refuse to be treated like a zoo monkey.
However, a group of people blocked us as we were about to head to the VIP room.
Various outfits full of personality, tattoos covering their entire bodies, and even rugged, muscular physiques.
The staff member's face stiffened instantly upon identifying the group blocking his path.
"Mr. Viktor."
"What is it. Are you the one in charge of security this time? Marco."
"Yes, that's how it is. More importantly, I am in the middle of escorting guests, so could you please step aside?"
"Guests, you say..."
The gaze of the man called Viktor left the staff member, Marco, and scanned us for a moment.
A deep interest flashed in his eyes.
"Where are the guests?"
"Well, right behind me..."
"I mean. Where are the guests?"
Viktor, with both hands in his pockets, stepped forward and pushed Marco aside with his shoulder.
And while looking at us with eyes still full of interest, he spoke.
"Monochrome has really hit rock bottom. Do you let monsters in as guests these days?"
"Wait. Are you talking about Nidhogg-nim right now?"
"Of course. Is there anything else here that could be called a monster bastard besides that thing?"
At the sight of Viktor grinning slyly and pointing at me, a vein popped on Shin Su-ah's forehead.
She seemed quite angry at his action of referring to me as a mere monster.
The magic power flowing from Shin Su-ah's body was so vicious that it looked like it would materialize and target Viktor at any moment, but this was Monochrome.
According to her, it's a place where acts of force other than self-defense are prohibited.
At her murderous aura, as if she were about to cut down the man in front of her right then and there, Viktor twitched one corner of his mouth and said.
"Why, are you going to hit me? I don't mind if you draw a weapon at any time, you know?"
Despite Shin Su-ah's magic power, which could knock down an ordinary Awakened with just its aura, his attitude was to push forward, saying he liked it even more.
Just then, Marco, who had been pushed aside after bumping into Viktor, blocked his path.
"That's enough."
"Marco. Do you really intend to let that monster participate in the auction?"
"You have already crossed the line too much. If you back down now, it will pass with just a slight penalty, but if you continue to act on your own... you will be making an enemy of Monochrome."
"Whoa, whoa. Even I don't intend to make an enemy of Monochrome, okay? I was just making a legitimate complaint as a customer."
"That is what I mean by crossing the line. These people were formally invited by the higher-ups and designated as VIPs. Even if you are a VIP yourself, you have no right to insult them."
"Haha! VIP, you say. A beast that might turn around and bite our throats off at any moment?"
"Viktor!!"
"That's enough."
There's no end to it if I just keep listening.
Viktor, who shows no intention of backing down, and Marco, who is angry at his words but worried about a conflict with him, a high-ranking Awakened and a large client.
And finally, our Shin Su-ah, who is still angry but is holding back that anger for the purpose of coming here.
Since I had no hobby of listening to such insults any longer, I stepped forward.
Viktor licked his lips as if looking at delicious meat, watching me step forward at last.
He is definitely a strong one.
Just the aura I can feel is beyond that of an average S-rank Awakened, and his subordinates also all possess magic power beyond that of mediocre Awakened.
However.
'Even so, they're just at the human level.'
There's no need to compare them to Odin, Freya, Apophis, Poseidon, etc.
Even compared to Linnea, no. Park Gwang, they fall a bit short.
The immense magic power flowing through my body.
I released that magic power, which I had naturally kept hidden, and filled the inside of the auction house.
The magic power that filled the space pressured everyone present except for Shin Su-ah.
Kugugugu-
"Keuh!!"
"Ugh. D-Dragon-nim?"
It's not just Viktor and Marco.
The subordinates standing behind Viktor, and everyone else who was looking around this place as well.
Everyone staggered and was forced to their knees.
"Viktor. Did you say?"
"Ha...! That's an amazing power, monster!"
"You're still able to call me a monster in this situation."
"Do you think a son of Mother Russia would succumb to mere power?"
"Your spirit is good. But you picked the wrong opponent."
The gazes of the other guys, who were looking at me with interest at first, are now filled with fear.
Marco is a person assigned by Monochrome from the beginning to assist us.
Therefore, I withdrew the magic power directed at the others and pressured Viktor and his subordinates even more strongly.
At least three times the initial amount.
That's the amount of magic power pressuring them.
At this point, unable to hold on, his subordinates became one with the ground completely.
Viktor is also unable to even lift his head.
Ignoring them as they couldn't even speak and were just holding on against the increasingly intense pressure, I called Marco.
"Marco. Continue guiding us."
"Yes? Ah, phew... Thank you. But what about Viktor and his group..."
"I intend to release them when the auction starts, so leave them be."
"Understood."
After reassuring Marco, who was worried about them until the end because they were customers, we followed his guidance and arrived at the VIP room.
A terrifyingly heavy silence lingered in the place where Nidhogg and his party had left.
Everyone participating in the auction withdrew their initial gazes of interest and curiosity, and either left their seats or trembled in fear.
Nidhogg's overwhelming presence and magic power, felt just a moment ago, gave a fresh shock to those who usually had no reason to feel inferior anywhere.
Due to the people who left their seats, forgetting even to look at the displayed items, the auction house lobby became deserted.
And Viktor and his group, still lying down, pressured by magic power near the passage leading to the VIP room.
Although they were still unable to move, Igor, the subordinate who had adapted a little to the pressure of the magic power, groaned.
"Aigo- Boss. I told you not to mess with him."
"Cough! Hahaha! How was I supposed to know he'd be that strong?"
"True. Even I couldn't tell the difference between him and a big lizard just by looking."
"Hehehe. He's damn strong. I really can't move a muscle."
"Still, he said he'd release us when the auction starts. Let's wait."
The Krasniye organization members chatting cheerfully even while being crushed by magic power.
Just then, Viktor heard familiar footsteps.
Stomp-stomp-
Multiple footsteps walking in a steady rhythm.
Realizing the identity of these footsteps, he clicked his tongue inwardly.
'Damn it. Of all times, why did I have to run into them now.'
Viktor, who could only barely lift his head due to the magic power still crushing his body, frowned fiercely at the sight of the opponent, which did not deviate from his expectations.
Black combat boots, a uniform-like outfit unified in black, and even pale skin.
"Severniye Teni."
The rival organization of Krasniye, where Viktor is the boss.
The action leader of Severniye Teni, standing at the very front of them, looked down at Viktor and spoke.
"Viktor. It's been a while."
"Damn it. Talking to you guys just turns my stomach. Get lost right now."
"Don't be so cold. More importantly, why are you lying on the floor? It's a bit too bizarre even for your usual incomprehensible behavior."
"I knew it. Can't you see this magic power?"
"Magic power. I see. Magic power strong enough to crush you. Who on earth is it? Ah, don't tell me you provoked the Dragon that is said to live in this land?"
"Damn it. If you've figured it out, get lost."
"I suppose I should. Even if we are compatriots, I don't want to incur the Dragon's wrath by appearing close to you."
Alexei, the action leader of Severniye Teni, who had conversed with an expressionless face without the slightest change from beginning to end, passed by Viktor and Krasniye with his subordinates.
And he spoke quietly, loud enough only for Viktor to hear.
"Have a pleasant auction."
"What?"
Swish! Viktor turned his head and was startled, opening his eyes wide.
Severniye Teni, whom he had only ever seen with expressionless faces until now.
Because one corner of the mouth of Alexei, an executive-level member among them, was raised.