Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Auction Results
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As soon as the door to the tower opened, something tugged at my senses. It was such a faint, feeble, pathetic presence, but I was startled to realize someone else was here besides me.
Was that why?
Puuk!
I never imagined that tiny, insignificant presence would attack me.
-Jukko! Who are you!
Shiny skin, height that didn't even reach my waist, clumsy pronunciation, and finally, an appearance that was cuter than any goblin had a right to be.
Surprisingly, the identity of the one who attacked me was a baby Golden Goblin.
"It hurts."
Trembling fragile hands, eyes shaking like there was an earthquake, a look of pure terror on its face—yet it had stabbed a sword into my thigh. And it was speaking human words, no less.
Thud! Pshht!
A mix of surprise and irritation washed over me as I yanked the knife from my thigh and grabbed its small, thin hand, lifting the creature up.
-Eek! Let go! Here! My hand!
I nodded as I watched it flail its remaining hand and legs wildly, screeching like mad.
'So that's what they look like.'
Before my regression, when the first Golden Goblin was discovered, scholars half-mad with excitement over the new species had plunged into the Abyss themselves, desperately trying to uncover even a scrap of information about them.
But all they found was that Golden Goblins might share the name, but they were completely different lifeforms from the green monsters we knew—and fragments of research journals from another dimension about them.
A truly mysterious race, with no records, no etymology, not even a proper name. That was the Golden Goblin.
'They won't appear again in this life, though.'
They had all definitely died. The fact that ownership of this tower had come to me was proof.
Of course, it had been an honest mistake. A trivial yet colossal accident born from their desperate struggle to survive.
"Whatever. It's a monster anyway."
I immediately drew my Frostfire Sword and pointed it at the baby clutched in my grip.
-Hiiiik!!!
Seeing it squeeze its eyes shut in terror, trembling violently, my resolve nearly wavered—but I couldn't let it live.
What if it grew bigger and made off with treasures from the Tower of Gold? Or what if this demonic beast, now residing in what was my territory, decided to stab me in the back at any moment? The thought was unpleasant.
-Please... don't kill me... huwaaa!!
But no matter how I thought about it, something was off. Judging by those scorch marks, that explosion couldn't possibly have left any survivors. As I'd mentioned, ownership had transferred to me. So why was this kid still alive?
'No, did it even hatch from the explosion in the first place?'
I had no idea. My unease doubled, so I let out a deep sigh and released the hand holding it for now.
The moment it was free from my grasp, it scurried away—dodo-do—hiding behind a rock. Peeking out cautiously, wary of me... it looked utterly pathetic.
"What should I do with you?"
That young, weak, pathetic little lifeform couldn't kill me. To be honest, with my current power, I could take down an adult Golden Goblin with one hand.
Compared to the mysterious abilities of the Golden Goblin species, their physical strength was laughable. No wonder the hunter who first hunted one called them the weakest of demonic beasts.
"Kill it? Or spare it?"
That was the question. After agonizing over it for a while, I decided staying here longer might lead to misunderstandings, so I stood up to make a choice.
At that moment.
-By the way? Who are you?
It cautiously took a step toward me and asked. The instant it showed me goodwill, everything became clear.
The floating message was telling me to accept this child as a territory resident. A being with a Myth rank, no less!
'Golden Goblins are Myth-rank lifeforms?'
No, that wasn't it. This one was just special and unique. A special variant among Golden Goblins, right?
"What happens if I accept it as a territory resident?"
With that message, I didn't hesitate any longer and accepted the creature as my territory resident.
The moment I hit YES, surprisingly, nothing changed. Except the baby, which had been wary and fearful of me, now grinned broadly and toddled over.
Amazed by the change, I stroked its head.
"From now on, you're Gold. And you're the caretaker here."
After naming it, I stuffed its space with food and various items before returning to reality.
Returning through the portal to exactly where I'd been, time had flown by, and night had fallen.
To be honest, after rolling around in the pyramid's darkness for days, I'd grown to hate the dark. I slowly got up, turned on the hospital room light...
"Uwaaak!!"
And there was a familiar face, dressed in a black suit, biting into a cleanly washed red apple. He yelped in surprise, but calmly stood from his seat and greeted me warmly.
"Long time no see. I hope you've been well? Looks like you caused quite the incident."
"What brings you... here?"
Did he see it? No, he didn't. No mention of it.
"Here for the auction?"
"Exactly. Here for the auction."
I calmed my startled heart and sat back on the bed, tossing him a look that said, go on, show me.
"The auction went ahead as planned. But there was a problem in the middle."
"A problem?"
Even just hearing the plan, with all those high-rank hunters gathered, who in their right mind would terrorize it...? Did someone actually try?
But my suspicion was wrong.
"Out of the ten items, nine fell into the hands of one family. The Rothschilds. Everyone's up in arms, demanding we put up more items."
Oh yeah? They bought nine of those expensive things! But why only nine?
"One was taken by a Middle Eastern crown prince who found it fascinating."
"Interesting. So, how much did we make in total?"
The most important thing is money, after all. We risked it all for money and fame with this auction.
"Average bid around 350 billion each. Total haul: about 4 trillion."
"...4 trillion?"
Exactly ten times more than I'd expected. No, 4 trillion—that's national budget level money, isn't it?
From what I'd heard, that's about what the government invested in hunter training programs. They used it to establish the Academy.
"As you know, it's safest to keep this money in our Black Money vaults. You know why."
"Yeah, traceability. No secure account is perfect."
"Correct. Among those eyeing your gold, some would laugh at that level of security."
The branch chief chuckled haha and took another bite of his apple, then leaned back on the sofa as if business was done.
"By the way, you caused a massive stir. Completely erased a Tutorial, they say."
"Me? No, I didn't."
"Hahaha! Then what's that sun floating so impressively above your head? It's a divine object, no less. Even I can't appraise it fully. You've changed a lot, Mr. Shin Juha. You're beyond F-rank now."
His gleaming eyes, dissecting everything about me, sent chills down my spine, but I pretended not to notice and turned away.
'Speaking of, can he see this divine object's abilities?'
No appraisal means no knowing what it does. It grows with my authority, so I want the exact effects.
"Anyway, seems like you're done reporting. What's the real point?"
I shook off stray thoughts, popped a new apple in my mouth, and got to the point, staring at the branch chief.
He froze.
Placing the apple back down, he straightened up.
"More... gold, right?"
"Yes. I have it."
"How much?"
"...Who knows? How much do you think?"
Infinite amounts. Enough to squander until I die and still have plenty left.
At my vague answer, he gave up on the gravitas and smirked, finally getting to the point.
"We need to hold another auction. Too many people want the gold. There are even lunatics threatening to smash the Black Market if they don't get it now."
"Ridiculous. Sour grapes because they couldn't afford it?"
"That's the mindset of high-rank hunters and top officials. They think their existence is power, their word is law."
I was speechless. The only high-rank hunters I'd met were three.
My parents, once hailed as national heroes—brave, dignified, righteous. And Word Spirit Sorceress Seo Ye-rin.
"Not all of them, of course. Maybe half? They know how rare and valuable it is, that's why they're throwing tantrums. They wouldn't if gold was truly gone. They have faces to save and reputations."
"But no reason not to sell if we have it, right?"
"Exactly. It's a chance to make money and draw in big spenders to the Black Market."
"And my cut?"
All good, sure. But what's in it for me?
"You'll make a ton of money first off!"
"The money we already made could let generations live lavishly."
"...Hunter life needs cash! Gear, skillbooks—"
"I have ways to get those separately."
The second floor of the Tower of Gold is artifacts, first floor consumables. Who knows, third might be skillbooks.
"Hmm... not biting, huh. But I expected that. So, our offers: three benefits! First! A special grade just for you—only 3% commission!"
"With the money I bring in, that's a given."
"Second! We'll procure any item you want, as fast as possible!"
"Isn't that your job anyway?"
"Th-third! A chance to learn one skill from our Black Market boss, the Word Spirit Sorceress!"
"Oho~ Now that's tempting."
A skill from the Word Spirit Sorceress is sweet bait, but...
"No guarantee I can even learn it. Too risky. Even if I do, can I use it?"
I've never used magic in my life—can I really wield her skills?
With all proposals shot down, the branch chief's face fell, like an employee dreading the boss's wrath over a lost deal.
Watching him, I clicked my tongue softly, opened my inventory, pulled out 30 Pure Gold Ingots, and handed them over.
"Add one more condition to your offer."
"What is it? Just say the word."
"I want information. Very dangerous, hard-to-get info."
"Ha! Underestimating us? What info?"
I shook my head at his confidence and spoke.
"15 years ago, the two betrayers of humanity: Minseora and Shin Gi-jun. Info on them. Why they had to become traitors, what forces dragged them down."
"...Whew, tough and risky one."
He seemed to know the names, closing his eyes in thought.
"I see. They're your parents. But did you know? All info on them was 'erased.' The scraps that survived are Zero-grade secured."
"Zero-grade?"
"Unless every requester agrees, not even gods can see it."
"Impossible, then?"
"...But nothing's perfect. I'll scrape what I can. Don't get hopes up—it might be nothing."
"That's enough."
With that, the branch chief took the gold and left. And just like that, another day in the hospital passed in a flash.