Chapter 18: Auction House

Doloris is a wise woman.

She never, ever reveals all her cards.

So this verification of the gloves was no different.

Confirming whether the enchantment had succeeded or to what stage could easily be done with a simple appraisal tool bought inside the Tower.

Artifacts like that existed among those found in the Tower, made for basic checks like this.

It measures the enhancement stage and grade of the target equipment.

Consumes mana per use. One charge allows 100 uses.

If she went back to an appraisal center, a precise check would be possible.

But that would leave a record. She'd already exposed too much information.

Doloris was regretting her previous visit to the appraisal center.

She hadn't been cautious enough then, and that's how the info leaked.

That wasn't what she wanted.

She'd just been too flustered at the time—desperate to confirm if he really was a Descendant of Fire, setting aside everything else.

So she entered the Tower, bought the item quickly, and returned to the mansion.

And then.

In her office, she peered at the gloves through Charon's Magnifying Glass on her desk.

Wondering what to do if the enchantment had succeeded. What praise and rewards to give.

As she looked through the magnifying glass at the gloves.

"……?"

She rubbed her eyes.

About ten times, it seemed.

Blink, blink.

She peered at the displayed values again.

+20?

Doloris's hand froze.

No-star work gloves at +20.

Her expression went blank. When people face incomprehensible shock, their thinking stops.

She slowly rose from her seat.

Quietly paced the office about 15 laps.

Once she'd somewhat regained her senses, she reached into empty space, opening her subspace.

Hummm.

A storage ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for gear she'd used in the past, kept there still.

She reached in and pulled out a book.

Back when she climbed the Tower, it was her cherished auxiliary weapon.

Now she used unique gear that couldn't be enhanced, so it sat unused.

Until then, she'd relied on it heavily. She was saving it to pass to Ruby later.

Countless resources, money, and time had gone into it. Too many to count.

Counting them would be inefficient anyway.

Yet even that was only +18.

She carefully removed the gloves Lionel had made.

Slipped on the work gloves. Frost formed on the surface from her cold aura.

"……."

The moment she wore them, she felt it.

Uncontrollable pure power.

Something too vast for a no-star item's vessel was trapped inside.

Doloris didn't like enchantments, but she knew the basics.

Low-grade gear couldn't handle high-level enchantments.

Why?

Because it couldn't contain the power fully, and the gear would shatter.

Like pouring an ocean into a cup—the cup breaks. Low-star gear can't withstand high enchantment pressure.

That's why the Dwarf Company blocks it.

No-star gear enchantment cap: +5.

One-star: +10.

Beyond that, enchantment attempts are impossible from the start.

Not just failure and destruction. The system rejects the attempt outright.

The filthy rich Company doesn't block without reason.

Minimum two stars.

So these gloves...

They were an impossibility that shouldn't exist.

Knock knock.

"Yes."

Ah, Duchess. You're back. It's about young master Lionel—he's awake...

"Mm."

The conclusion was set.

She steadied her breath calmly...

Pop!

And bolted at full speed toward Lionel.

Right now.

I'm being carried in Doloris's arms to somewhere.

She usually just holds my hand to lead me, but...

Knowing my hands were swollen, she hugged me tight instead.

Guess she was the one who applied the medicine.

Her face looked seriously grave as she clutched me close.

Thump.

From our pressed bodies, I could hear her heartbeat.

A bit fast. Her strides too.

Doloris brought me to a room I'd never seen.

Opening the door revealed an antique, lavish setup.

Plush-looking sofas.

A bed.

Chessboard.

Bookshelves.

Exercise gear...? Just absurdly heavy weights.

And tons of other mysterious items.

Like a chaotic mashup of every hobby imaginable.

"……."

What is this room?

Couldn't tell the owner's tastes at a glance.

Doloris carried me to the sofa.

Sat down, gently placing me on her lap.

Face to face.

Our eyes level, her blue gaze met mine.

Her hand kept softly stroking my back.

"Can you tell me how you did it?"

She asked calmly.

I organized my thoughts, then spoke.

Couldn't reveal everything.

So I explained last night's events slowly, sticking to objective facts.

First attempt was blind luck.

Second time, I saw specific circles and tapped them.

If done right, success rate skyrockets. That's what my eyes see.

Surprisingly, even the Dwarf Company's enchantment rooms show probability info via interface.

So explaining wasn't hard.

"Success rate varies by skill..."

"Yes."

Doloris nodded slightly first.

Higher stages got tougher.

Mistakes raised destruction risk.

"My eyes are just good."

My usual line.

Before, she'd have stared to discern truth.

Now, no.

Just a small smile, nod.

Reached out, kneading my cheeks gently.

"……?"

Praise?

[Yeah... probably?]

Guess so.

"Enchantment is skill..."

Doloris withdrew her hands, stroked my head slowly.

"The Dwarf Company always calls it luck."

"……."

"Step into their shop, everyone sees the same screen."

......

That part had bugged me too.

Enchantment can't be machine-replaced. No way.

But community said machines tap ahead, then pray.

If mechanisms match, Company's like smashing delicate spots wildly.

Hence shit probabilities.

"Lionel?"

"Yes."

Poke...

Doloris pulled my face to her chest, whispered.

"Congrats on becoming the Outer Tower's first enchanter."

"……."

Outer Tower's first...

Heavy words. Didn't feel real.

But hearing it sank in.

Doloris's embrace was warm. Nice scent.

Tempted to stay forever, honestly.

"And."

Doloris paused.

"Do enchantments only in safe places from now on."

"……."

"The world might not leave you be."

She smiled sweetly.

But I got the gist.

Softening it for a kid. Thirty-year-old me understood.

"Yes."

Satisfied, she stroked my head once more.

Gently set me down from her lap.

Went to fetch something, returned soon.

Held a prettily wrapped box.

Ribbon and all.

"……?"

What's this.

Doloris set the box before me, untied the ribbon herself.

Inside was.

"……."

The +20 work gloves.

They looked plain, but on red velvet...

Somehow classy.

"Why package it like..."

Doloris smiled.

"We're auctioning it."

"...Auction?"

She'd just said the world won't leave me be.

Now auctioning it?

Reading my face, she added softly.

"Ah, sell or not is your choice, Lionel."

"I see."

Doloris's lips curved up, spoke slowly.

"When you enter the Tower, there's a place for communication. We call it the community. It has an auction house too."

"Auction house."

"How outstanding, how absurd what you did is."

"……."

"Wanted you to see for yourself."

Ah, a lesson.

Praise from her might not hit home.

So show the world's reaction directly.

I was curious too.

How would they value +20 work gloves.

Doloris is a great teacher.

Scratches the itch.

"Curious?"

"Yes..."

"Whenever good news comes, I'll share. Sadly, Inner Tower auction needs at least one Tower entry."

I see.

......Yuna?

[Auction house?]

Can I?

[Sure~ big sis gotchu~]

Nice.

No waiting needed.

I nodded slightly; Doloris smiled faintly.

"Right. We'll check results together."

She repackaged the box, stroked my head once more.

"Hands all swollen today—rest well."

"Yes."

"Lionel..."

"Yes?"

Lifting my head at her call, her eyes stared into mine.

Wait. No way?

Doloris's face fell like the sky collapsing—no.

Slight exaggeration, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but deeply upset—she grabbed my waist instantly.

Plopped me firmly back on her thigh.

"Liar..."

Shit, caught.

I'd lied without thinking.

Planned to sneak out tonight too.

"No lies. Rest today. Got it?"

"Yes..."

Ziiing...

"Good."

Her words soft, but eyes demanded rest.

Hah, driving me nuts.

Ten years NEET, finally hustling, now forced work-life balance outta nowhere.

[Hustle...?]

I'm a pro.

It's work.

Anyway, Doloris finally relaxed, released me.

"If too bored, Ruby's library's on the third floor."

"Got it."

"Mm. She's sorting yesterday's books, practicing. Go watch, read with her."

A pain, but gotta go.

Ah, idea.

I do community—Ruby reads.

Perfect.

This ain't a lie.

Gonna go.

Doloris nodded satisfied.

Suddenly pressed her forehead to mine.

"Lionel?"

"Y-yes?"

"If... confirmed you went to the workshop tonight..."

"……."

"You'll sleep with me till adulthood?"

Doloris smiled brightly.

Told a terrifying tale.

Doloris left for the Tower to list my gloves at auction.

Apparently, auction listings need authenticity certification first.

Verify enhancement values and enchantments match—no fakes or scams.

Makes sense, gotta prevent fraud.

And one more.

Just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠learned: two listing methods.

Online or offline.

Offline shops every 50 floors in Tower.

Most trade online though.

Another: anonymous or real-name.

Most pick anonymous.

Real-name for shops or high-rankers above certain grade.

Tower climbers face loot threats.

I ain't climbing. Never ever.

Not relevant info.

"Anonymous, right?"

Doloris is high ranker, but +20 work gloves might draw unwanted eyes.

Unreasonable gear.

Who made it? Questions.

I knocked at Ruby's magic library door.

Knock knock.

No answer.

Just going in~

Opened door.

Ruby buried in books, sound asleep.

"Sleeping again."

Mages train mana efficiently even sleeping, they say.

Nothing to worry about.

I plopped on a comfy spot.

"Show auction house."

[Wait, before that. Something to say first.]

"What?"

Why so scary.

Bro, talk to me. That's how it sounded.

[You never entered Tower, so normally no account?]

"Right."

[This one's a ghost account I made arbitrarily.]

"...Yeah?"

[So~ just in case. Don't overdo crazy stuff.]

"What's that mean? When'd I overdo?"

[…….]

Yuna popped a suspicious interface.

Sheesh...

"……."

Flashbacks hit.

Got it.

Won't.

"Cut off gallery too. Trust me?"

Confident here.

Definitely cut.

Ignoring Yuna's warning-not-warning, opened auction house.

Semitransparent screen floated in library air.

[Inner Tower] - [Auction House]

"……."

Screen filled with gear, neatly arrayed.

Swords to armor... unnamed tools.

Scroll down for more.

All certified, it seemed.

Stars and flavor text shown.

Okay, 4,200 gold...

4.2 million won.

Wide price range.

From tens to tens of thousands gold.

Fun already.

Even funner.

Looked amazing at a glance.

Why only 10 gold?

That question in mind.

[💬]

A speech bubble icon caught my eye.

Clicked it.

[💬 Comments (47)]

Screen expanded.

Whoa...

Auction items have comments.

Bargaining, info sharing, and...

Trolling like this.

Wild.

Time to...

Search my gear?

Back to main, typed "Workman's Cotton Gloves" in search.

Screen blinked, results up.

Oh, 3,000 gold?

Nice? Not bad. Worth more than thought.

Gets why Doloris suggested listing.

Five minutes ago, looks like.

"...Can't resist comments."

Clicked for reactions.

[💬 Comments (211)]

"What?"

Just five minutes.

211 comments.

Reactions hot.

[Comments lagging hard oppa.]

[Still slow?]

Numbers climbing live.

Click.

"……."

Click.

"……."

Scroll, stop.

Scroll, stop.

Scroll, stop.

Started refreshing comments.

[Oppa.]

[Oppa?]

Devoured reactions.

This... the taste...

Perf certif shot, comments rush.

[Started again...]

How long I watched.

Yuna's sigh as BGM, comments hit 1,000+.

Then.