Chapter 12 Auction House (2)
The Auction House (2)
The carriage was filled with silence.
The only sound was the scratching of a pen.
Resting my chin against the window, I rolled my eyes and stole a glance at him. Abel seemed busy, reviewing documents and checking items off a list.
Do people usually do paperwork in carriages? Normally, the rocking would make it impossible, but apparently, he wasn't one for normalcy.
Perhaps because of some magical adjustment, the carriage didn't sway in the slightest.
Maybe Abel had cast that stabilizing spell himself.
"Is something the matter, Adel?"
When he lifted his gaze from the documents to look at me, I froze momentarily.
"No... I was just wondering what the Imperial Auction House might be like."
"Don't expect much. From what I've heard, it's mostly a place to procure magical catalysts or slaves."
'...Slaves.'
Come to think of it, the Arieh Empire had legalized slavery, hadn't it?
A bitter taste filled my mouth, and I let out a dry laugh. Having lived in modern times, the concept of slavery was utterly foreign to me.
"Then why are you going to the auction, Abel...?"
"I heard a rather useful catalyst is up for bidding this time. Since you were around... I thought it wouldn't hurt to take a look."
"...I see."
With that, silence settled over the carriage once more. Beside me, Lily, exhausted, was dozing off against the seat.
How much time had passed like that?
"We've arrived!"
At the coachman's call, I nudged Lily awake.
She blinked at me with bleary eyes before shaking her head and snapping to attention.
"Already?"
"Yeah. Get ready to go."
"Understood!"
Lily adjusted her dress, then inspected mine. Abel conjured a spatial pocket in midair, tucked away his documents, and spoke to me.
"Take your time preparing. I'll be waiting outside."
"Alright."
Once he closed the door, Lily began straightening my outfit.
After fussing over every fold and crease for a while, she exhaled deeply.
"There! Perfect!"
"Thanks, Lily."
"It's my job!"
She beamed brightly before stepping out of the carriage. As the door opened and Lily descended, Abel extended his hand to me.
I took it and carefully stepped down.
"Here are the masks. They're enchanted with recognition inhibition magic, so no need to worry."
Abel retrieved two rabbit masks from thin air and handed them to Lily and me. From his coat, he pulled out a wolf mask and put it on.
Strangely, his features became indistinct—as if veiled by mist.
'...Fascinating.'
As a third-rate mage, recognition inhibition magic was beyond my capabilities. Lost in thought, I hesitated just as I was about to put on my mask.
"...Abel?"
"Hmm?"
"Why is mine a rabbit mask?"
"Doesn't it suit you?"
"I'm not sure."
He smirked and stepped closer. Even with the mask on, I could almost see his face clearly, so I instinctively retreated.
Whether it was because we'd slept facing each other last night or the humiliation I'd suffered this morning, I found myself reluctant to meet his gaze up close.
Noticing my reaction, Abel spoke.
"A rabbit trembling before a wolf—seems fitting."
"...When have I ever trembled?"
"Not from fear, perhaps, but from embarrassment... Though isn't it all the same?"
"Ugh... Let's just go."
If this continued, he might say something even more mortifying. At my response, Abel chuckled softly.
"Very well."
Once Lily and I donned our masks, Abel took the lead. Past the cluster of carriages stood a massive building.
Easily over ten stories tall.
'...Magic?'
In this medieval era, constructing something so towering without magic would be impossible. It had to be enchanted.
Lost in thought, I followed Abel as he pushed open the doors.
The interior was immaculate.
Spotless marble floors and plain white walls—clearly well-maintained.
Well, it was an Imperial Auction House. Of course, they'd keep it pristine.
"Ah. From now on, don't address each other by name. Anonymity is standard here."
"Understood."
Lily nodded beside me as we trailed after Abel. Walking down the corridor, we soon reached a large wooden door.
Before the wooden door stood a knight clad in armor.
"Please present your admission pass."
At the knight's request, Abel retrieved a pass from his coat and handed it over.
The knight scrutinized the pass briefly before returning it along with a numbered placard.
"Enjoy the auction."
As the knight opened the door, Abel, Lily, and I stepped inside. The interior resembled a modern-day movie theater—though with one notable difference. The paired seats were spaced unusually far apart.
"Wow..."
Lily gasped in awe at the auction house's vast scale. Abel surveyed the surroundings before striding toward a seat and settling in.
"Sit beside me. The maid can take the adjacent chair."
"A chair? Where is—"
Before Lily could finish her question, Abel gestured toward a chair that had materialized out of nowhere. Had someone placed it there with magic? But why would they bother?
Noticing my puzzled look, he answered, "I assumed she was a maid you favored personally. Is that a problem?"
"No. Just... thank you."
"You're welcome."
With that indifferent reply, Abel turned his attention to the stage where the auction would soon begin.
...Unfathomable man.
His consideration surfaced in the strangest places.
...Well, whatever.
For now, I needed to focus on the auction.
Abel had said he'd buy anything I wanted—but was there even anything here worth wanting?
As I pondered this, a man suddenly ascended the stage, his face concealed behind a clown mask.
"Everyone, please take your seats. The auction will begin shortly."
His voice boomed through the hall via amplification magic. After scanning the audience, he continued,
"Excellent. Let us commence."
At his signal, several attendants carried an object onto the stage.
"The first item is a scale from a deep-sea fish—the sole intact specimen harvested from a monster dwelling below 400 meters. The Magic Tower has certified its efficacy as a magical catalyst. Please take note."
The covering cloth was pulled away, revealing a bronze-hued scale. Rare monster materials often sold as high-grade catalysts, didn't they?
The moment the item was unveiled, about six bidders raised their placards.
"Minimum bid starts at 10 gold."
Given that one gold was roughly equivalent to a million won... so ten million won as the opening bid? That was steep.
"12 gold!"
"12 gold, we have."
"15 gold."
"15 gold. Any higher?"
"20 gold!"
The fierce bidding war escalated until the scale's price neared 100 gold.
"102 gold. Any further bids?"
What on earth made it worth such exorbitant sums? As if reading my thoughts, Abel answered my unspoken question.
"Magic catalysts typically fetch those prices. For mages, they're the most effective means of enhancing their abilities."
"...I see."
So that was why magical progress came so slowly. Not like I'd ever been around proper mages to know these things.
A sigh escaped me at the realization of how needlessly I'd struggled.
Meanwhile, the deep-sea scale sold for 120 gold, and the next item was brought forward.
"The second item is an ancient gauntlet."
The black drape lifted, revealing a jet-black, timeworn gauntlet. Though visibly aged—with some fragmented sections—its overall condition remained impressive.
"Minimum bid starts at 50 gold."
"55 gold!"
"55 gold, we have."
"65 gold."
"65 gold. Any higher?"
"80 gold!"
"80 gold, noted."
"200 gold."
"200—yes, 200 gold!"
I startled when Abel abruptly raised his placard.
Two hundred million won for that? Granted, for the Duke's family, that amount was practically pocket change. But objectively, was the gauntlet truly worth it?
He didn't answer my questioning gaze.
"Any further bids?"
The other bidders hesitated at the staggering sum. Only one person dared to counter.
"210 gold!"
"210 gold. Any higher?"
"300 gold."
"Ghk—"
The challenger immediately withdrew.
...I don't get it.
My brain couldn't process why anyone would spend three billion won on this. Abel must have his reasons.
Even the auctioneer faltered slightly, his voice trembling.
"300—300 gold. Final call?"
After a five-second count, he nodded decisively.
"The ancient gauntlet is sold for 300 gold."