The Flower of the Fire Demon
The entrance to the auction house looked utterly ordinary at first glance—a simple alleyway indistinguishable from any other backstreet in the academy district. But a closer look revealed that this was no mere passage; it was the hidden corridor of the secret Black Market, deliberately tucked away in a dimly lit corner of a narrow, forgotten street to avoid drawing attention from prying eyes. The spot had been chosen with care, surrounded by haphazardly placed streetlights that cast only a weak, flickering glow, accentuating the dark and mysterious atmosphere of the underground auction house. The alley was lined with rundown, dilapidated buildings whose windows were cluttered with strange, makeshift rags and hanging clothes that flapped lazily in the wind. At the entrance stood two hulking beastmen, each with arms crossed over their broad chests, serving as vigilant guards. Their imposing physiques screamed intimidation—the muscles beneath their arms were corded with raw power, thick chains hung around their necks, and scars crisscrossed their faces and bodies, each mark telling a story of past violence. They scanned the surroundings with emotionless eyes, carefully sifting through anyone who looked like they might cause trouble.
Luckily, I was able to pass without issue thanks to the elegant dress borrowed from Eloise. The dress made me look like a noble lady, not someone to raise suspicions. I stepped through the entrance and began descending the dark, stone stairs that led deeper into the underground. A strange blend of tension and excitement pulsed through my chest, making my heart race with anticipation.
After what felt like an eternity, I reached the bottom of the stairs. The pitch-black corridor had transformed under the influence of bright lights. My eyes widened at the sight before me—not the gloomy, shadowy place I had expected, but a surprisingly clean and well-lit space. The walls gleamed under the illumination, and there were quite a few people moving about. The atmosphere was far from eerie or dark; instead, it felt bustling with activity.
Before I could fully process everything, a woman wearing a mask and a crisp uniform approached me with a polite smile. “Guest, is this your first time here? If you don’t mind, I could provide some assistance.”
Instinctively, I turned my head, and there she was—a beastman with a cat mask. The triangular ears on the mask twitched slightly, and a neatly arranged brown tail swayed behind her. The mask of the cat beastman… Did all the staff at the auction house wear these? I didn’t need words; my gaze alone asked the question. The beastman responded with a quick, sharp-eyed explanation.
“Apologies. I am part of the auction house’s management team and am here to introduce you to the ‘Coco’ system for this auction. If you don’t need my explanation, I won’t interrupt you. Also, if you find my explanation unsatisfactory, you can request a different staff member at any time. How would you like to proceed?”
I nodded, deciding this woman must have mistaken me for a young lady from a noble house who had spent a significant amount of money. I played along, feigning confidence, and Coco began guiding me through the less crowded sections of the auction house.
“As you already know, there is an unusually large volume of artifacts, elixirs, herbs, and similar items on sale this time compared to previous auctions. Therefore, the owner of the auction house has decided to implement different rules for this event to ensure a smooth flow.”
“Ah, I heard about that. So, just explain the method to me.”
I didn’t know where we were heading, but she continued walking and explaining. I had a fleeting thought that she might be trying to deceive me, but the atmosphere suggested otherwise. In fact, the people we passed looked affluent, likely targeting wealthy patrons for sales.
“Basically, items that have been proven effective and have high auction prices will follow the usual real-time auction format, where the auctioneer presents bids based on the progress of the event. However, items judged to be of lower value will be handled separately on the first floor.”
“Separately?”
“Yes. Please follow me this way.”
As soon as she stopped, I noticed two guards with similar build to the ones at the entrance. With a subtle signal, Coco had the guards pull aside the long curtain. She pointed inside. “Here it is—the area where the separate auctions will take place. Follow me.”
Following her guidance, I entered and was greeted by a sight that reminded me of a museum or exhibition hall. Inside transparent glass display cases were herbs and artifacts, while guards patrolled the perimeter, keeping a close eye on security. Under the bright lights, the displayed items looked valuable enough for a separate auction.
“Now, let me finish explaining.”
As I nodded, Coco glanced around and moved toward a sparsely populated item. “Do you see that?”
Following her gesture, my eyes fell on a transparent glass box containing a small mechanical device. “This separate auction differs from the real-time one. It requires a bidding war. You write your desired price on the paper and place it in the machine, and that’s how you make your bid on the item.”
“That can’t be…”
“Hehe. You’re quick on the uptake. Exactly. The person who submits the paper with the highest price among all the folded slips wins the item. Simple, isn’t it?”
“It’s a simple system, but if you lose the bidding war, you won’t win the item by just a single coin.”
“You can only present a price once. The result of the auction will be announced immediately after the main auction ends, so please bid within the time limit. Oh, and as you might expect, if you don’t have the full amount of money after winning, you’ll face a significant penalty.”
Coco’s expression changed abruptly as she warned me, then she smiled lightly, as if it were all a joke. “Is there a specific item you’re looking for? If you don’t need my help, I’ll step aside. Of course, I’ll be available if you call me again. Personally, I think participating in this separate auction is great, but I also recommend joining the main auction. A little spoiler—there have been quite a few useful items this time.”
Half-listening to her sales pitch, I glanced at the artifacts and herbs on display, then decided to ask about the item I was after. “Do you have any recommended materials for making an aphrodisiac?”
“An aphrodisiac? Oh, you mean that?”
Her eyes behind the mask widened in surprise for a split second, but she quickly concealed her reaction and smiled. “Hehe. You’re quite bold. An aphrodisiac… If you’ve come here to find such a thing, it must be a high-quality item with minimal side effects and exceptional efficacy, unlike those sold in the streets.”
“Could you wait for a moment?”
Coco folded her arms and rested her chin on them, thinking intently. Then she snapped her fingers lightly. “Hmm… There might be an item suitable as a material. It’s not something used to make aphrodisiacs, but… well, it’s up to the buyer’s preference.”
With a cheerful laugh, Coco led me to the display case containing the item. It looked like a herb, but even through the glass, it radiated a faint heat.
“What is this?”
“It’s called the ‘Flower of the Fire Demon.’ As the name suggests, it’s a herb that grows in volcanic regions and is occasionally found there. Typical uses include creating potions that enhance strength or serve as stimulants, or magical devices that help maintain body temperature in cold northern regions.”
“Why are you recommending it to me?”
“Hehe. Interestingly, one of the side effects of this herb is that when consumed directly, the intense heat travels to the head and induces a state of arousal.”
“You’re not telling me this just based on rumors, are you?”
“In fact, there are quite a few related cases that can be easily found. The only issue is that there are no records of this herb being used specifically for aphrodisiac production, so I can’t guarantee the exact effects.”
Of course, no one would go to the trouble of making an aphrodisiac out of a herb that enhanced strength or regulated body temperature. But it was exactly the kind of reckless thing someone like me would do—for the sake of sex.
“Anyway, it’s helpful. I can go now.”
“Enjoy your time.”
Coco swayed her tail, bowed her head, and disappeared in an instant. I watched her go, then discreetly moved my hand to insert most of the money given by Eloise into the machine. I thought, This might not be right, but since I don’t know the market price, bidding a small amount would be sure to fail. I might as well empty my pockets. If I failed, well, I could always use hypnosis. I spent the remaining time browsing other displayed items before the start time of the main auction, then slipped away toward the main auction hall.