Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Abyss Auction
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Sitting quietly in the room, a subtle, odd smell began to waft through the air.
It was the kind of scent that made tension melt away.
Like sinking into perfectly tempered bathwater—body and mind alike growing languid.
Come to think of it, how should I contact the Iron-Blooded Duke?
No specific instructions were given, so maybe I should just spring into action the moment something shatters with a crash.
‘But what exactly am I supposed to do?’
My role from the start was bait, so I probably didn’t need to help the Iron-Blooded Duke smash this place...
Still, causing a ruckus in a secret auction house like this seemed like it could be a pretty fun experience, so I wanted to lend a hand if possible.
That was the moment.
Boom...
My heart plummeted, and the sensation of the air against my skin twisted in an eerie way.
How to describe it?
It felt like all the air was being sucked toward a specific spot in space.
‘Magic?’
I could sense the flow of mana.
I subtly circulated my internal energy, bracing for any contingency, but nothing happened.
Click.
The next instant, the door swung open, revealing a man wearing a wolf mask.
He was dressed in pitch-black formal attire, with a rose tucked into the breast pocket of his jacket. Obviously artificial.
“You’ve kept us waiting.”
His voice was bizarre too. You could tell it was deliberately distorted the moment he spoke.
“Participants, please follow me. I’ll guide you.”
At his words, the guys in the room began to sluggishly rise and move. We joined the procession.
The moment we stepped out of the room, I sensed the location had changed.
This wasn’t the mage tower corridor with the occasional mage wandering about. The walls, the width of the hallway—everything was different.
‘So that thing earlier was spatial transfer magic.’
It couldn’t have been far.
Moving this many people at once was a feat only possible for an archmage, and even then, wildly inefficient.
No archmage would waste precious mana on it.
Anyway, right in front of the room was a table laden with dozens of different masks.
The wolf mask who had just appeared spoke in an amused tone.
“Please pick one.”
I pondered for a moment before selecting a baby pig mask.
For reference, Haru went with a dolphin mask, and Zial chose a bull mask.
‘This is a bit cliché, isn’t it?’
Trying to hide identities with just a mask... and this method of ensuring anonymity...
Compared to the grandiose name “Abyss Auction,” it felt a little deflating.
The masks were even designed to only cover the area around the eyes, so I doubted they hid much.
Wearing the mask, we trudged down a dimly lit corridor, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of looking ridiculous.
A moment later, a woman in a honeybee mask sidled up to me and said,
“You’re Black Opal grade, right? Please come this way.”
Her words caused a slight stir around us.
The waddling pig startled and glanced our way. The guy had picked a tiger mask that didn’t suit him at all.
‘They must identify the grade from the gem embedded in the pendant.’
Judging by the reactions, it seemed like VIP level.
“Oink oink.”
I made a pig nose with my middle finger to tease him, then followed the honeybee mask.
The spot we were led to was a private seat with a clear view of the stage.
It was positioned high enough that we had to climb a separate staircase, surrounded by walls and curtains—making it hard to spot anything even if someone died inside.
The stage’s overall layout evoked the Imperial Theater.
You know, the place where the empire’s top theater troupe, orchestra, and singers perform plays, concerts, and operas.
‘Why do important people always like being up high?’
A trivial question crossed my mind, but my own first thought upon being shown here was “I’m getting the proper VIP treatment,” so I wasn’t in a position to judge.
My guess was it was meant to give off an air of being untouchable.
In any case.
Though it was quite a distance from the stage, my eyesight was sharp enough to see not just the stage but even behind the curtains if I focused, so no issue there.
A table had been prepared in the private seat.
As I sat down, the honeybee mask bowed at the waist and asked,
“Is there anything you need?”
“My mouth’s bored. Got anything to chew on?”
“I’ll prepare something right away.”
While the honeybee mask was gone, I surveyed the surroundings.
Being in the highest spot had its perks—I could clearly see the faces of all the auction participants.
They looked comical, each sporting a different mask.
‘Oh, right. I need to locate the pig.’
To outbid that guy on his auction items, I needed to pinpoint his position first.
As I scanned the area briefly, I noticed something odd.
“Huh?”
I spotted the tiger-masked figure in the seat below mine...
The key point was that the wearer’s build was completely different from before.
The obese slob who could barely walk had transformed into a slender girl.
Had someone else put on the mask as a proxy?
The thought crossed my mind, but something felt off.
My senses were telling me, somehow, that the pig from earlier and this girl now were the same person.
After pondering briefly, I activated my Fiery Golden Eyes.
‘Aha.’
It was the power of the mask.
The masks handed out right after leaving the room were magic artifacts, concealing the wearer’s appearance.
Different from the Linchal tribe masks I possessed.
Unlike those that physically mutated the user’s body, this type seemed to refract and reflect incident light, confusing the viewer’s visual perception.
The reason I sensed something amiss was that information beyond sight remained unchanged.
Even so, I’d memorized everyone’s faces back in the waiting room...
Actually, thinking back, that peculiar scent in the room might’ve been hallucinogenic herb.
Anyone without mental training would probably have fuzzy memories.
Meaning, by tomorrow, they’d completely forget the faces they saw in that room.
‘As expected... this is how they ensure anonymity.’
I’d thought it sloppy, but it might actually be airtight.
“Here you go.”
In the meantime, the honeybee brought snacks.
Black tea and cookies. After taking a bite of one, I said,
“This is from [De Marlin Tea Shop], isn’t it?”
“You have broad knowledge. Yes, it is.”
“Tasty. The owner must have good taste.”
“...Yes.”
The honeybee gave an awkward smile.
Most masks only covered the eyes, so that’s how I could tell.
“Got any bags?”
“...Bags, you say?”
“Yeah. And more cookies too.”
“Ah, understood.”
The honeybee rolled her eyes and vanished, soon returning with a bag and more cookies.
“Thanks.”
“...You’re welcome.”
I stashed most of the cookies in the bag.
‘Now the bribe’s secured...’
I munched on the remaining cookies while overlooking the auction hall.
The lights were starting to dim.
[Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome!]
A man in a turtle mask appeared on stage.
No visible amplification tools, yet his voice boomed enormously.
[I’m “Turtle,” your host! May the blessings of the gods be with all of you here today.]
“Well, well.”
These types always invoke the gods.
Unfortunately for them, the ones they’d face instead of gods were the Iron-Blooded Duke and Sky-Splitting Sword combo...
Anyway, it was the opening announcing the auction’s start, so it wouldn’t be odd for the Abyss Auction’s owner—Raizen Bednicker—to make an appearance.
But there was no sign of that. The host called Turtle prattled on alone, spittle flying.
Mostly flattery toward the participants and flowery praise for the auction’s history and grandeur.
‘Pointless...’
I yawned while gazing at the stage.
It was past midnight now—a time when I’d normally be asleep in bed—so sleepiness was creeping in.
‘Come to think of it, I heard auctions have their own etiquette.’
You know, elegantly signaling bids with hand gestures.
Boom...
Around then, the lights dimmed once more, and the auction proper began.
[And now, the first item! Extreme Flame Herb!]
“Oh ho...?”
An item I recognized right off the bat.
[Harvested directly by experts from the Jewel Mountains—a top-grade specimen! Look at the soil clinging to its roots! Doesn’t it feel as fresh as a fish just pulled from the water? Of course, you’ll want to brush it clean before consumption. Haha! Or who knows? Maybe the soil it slumbered in holds mystical power too.]
Ignoring the host’s needless jokes, I rested my chin on my hand.
Extreme Flame Herb from the Jewel Mountains.
I thought the cult had already secured one, but I never expected to see it here.
Of course, it could be a fake.
Or a different Extreme Flame Herb from the one the cult obtained.
I asked the honeybee beside me,
“How do I bid on this?”
“Ah... So you’re new to auctions.”
“Yeah. Came in Dad’s place.”
“......”
The eyes behind her mask shifted slightly.
A familiar gaze to me.
The kind that treats someone like a spoiled brat.
“...Normally, you’d raise your hand and call out, but since you’re in a room, just tell me.”
“Got it. Then I’ll take that one.”
I grinned as I spoke, and the honeybee nodded.
[Oh...! A bidder already, before the explanation even ends! B-3 with 500 gold!]
“Damn it?”
A tenth of my fortune vanished in an instant.
Even if spirit medicines command their price, 500 gold was exorbitantly high.
I felt a twinge of annoyance, but then remembered it wasn’t my money, and my mind eased.
In any case, 500 gold wasn’t chump change—nobody followed up.
The result felt a bit like I’d overpaid.
“If you guys see anything you want, buy it.”
I said this to the two, who’d been unusually quiet since entering the auction hall.
“N-No, I’m good.”
“...Me too.”
Haru seemed terribly tense, while Zial looked lost in thought.
Letting such a rare experience pass without engaging didn’t sit right with me.
After all, with Abyss Auction likely ceasing to exist after today, this was their first and last time participating.
Of course, nagging them about it would be old-man behavior, so I shut my mouth.
More items poured out after that, but as I mentioned, I lacked the knowledge to appraise them—
So I bought whatever the pig bid on, per plan.
[100 gold! 110 gold! 120 gold! Ah! B-3 jumps straight to 200 gold! “Randel’s Cloth” is sold!]
[200 gold! 250 gold! Ah! 300 gold! The giant tribe’s spine bone goes to its new owner!]
Crunch.
I could clearly hear the pig grinding his teeth.
From my high perch, I waved cheerily while grinning.
He probably saw me differently now than before, but thanks to this conspicuous pig mask, he’d know exactly who I was.
“By the way, how do we receive the items?”
“You pay after the auction ends, then collect them.”
“Gotcha.”
Payments all at once, apparently.
More items traded hands after that, and by the end, I’d bought over twenty.
By then, not just the other participants but the honeybee mask beside me—even the host on stage—were paying attention to me.
“Y-You must be pleased with many items.”
I chuckled in response to the honeybee.
“I’m a bit greedy. More cookies.”
“...Understood.”
Around then, the stage lights dimmed slightly, and the host delivered his exit line before vanishing.
Soft music began drifting from somewhere.
“What? It’s over?”
“Part 1 has ended. Part 2 begins in about an hour.”
“Ah.”
“Shall I prepare a meal?”
“Hmm... Nah.”
I’d eaten a hearty dinner, plus devoured cookies here like they were free, so I wasn’t hungry at all.
“Understood. Call if you need anything.”
“Oh, right.”
“Yes.”
“No catalog? I wanna preview the auction items.”
“Ah... You didn’t receive one beforehand?”
“I told you, subbing for Dad.”
“P-Please wait a moment.”
The honeybee left with a flustered expression, soon returning with a catalog.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
“Yes. See you for Part 2.”
“Sure.”
I flipped open the catalog and skimmed through.
Skipped Part 1 since it was done.
As with these events, the real high-value stuff was clustered in Part 2.
Part 2 felt dominated by slave auctions.
Come to think of it, not a single one appeared in Part 1.
Humans, elves, dwarves, giants, beastkin—along with the seven races...
There were monsters like goblins and trolls, cubs of hard-to-rear beasts, eggs of rare spirit creatures, and more.
Then I spotted the text at the very end.
The item meant to cap off this auction—and I let out a hollow laugh.
“...These bastards are insane, aren’t they?”
Selling something like this?
The problem with Abyss Auction wasn’t just handling slaves.
That’s when it hit me why the Iron-Blooded Duke wanted to raze this place.
Not that he’d mobilize for mere slave trading.
He might turn a blind eye or send underlings, leverage connections... Plenty of ways to dismantle an auction without getting personal.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Someone approached then.
A glance revealed it was the wolf mask who’d guided us earlier.
“I’m Wolf. Enjoying the auction?”
“The cookies are friendly, and the auction’s delicious.”
“...De Marlin Tea Shop’s cookies are always right.”
The wolf mask smoothly glossed over my nonsense before cutting to the chase.
“The organizer wishes to see you. Do you have a moment?”
The bait had finally bitten.
Brotherly reunion sooner than expected.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never started off on good terms with any “brothers.”’
Same with Hiiro, and Hector.
Would Raizen be different?
Harboring the question, I rose from my seat.
“Let’s go. Hurry up.”