Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Mask Auction (2)
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The fake saintess sat blankly on the floor, marked with a serial number for sorting auction items and a slave seal for behavioral control.
"Hic."
Suddenly, as the prison door opened, she lifted her head with a pale face.
"No...."
Seeing the white-masked boy slowly approaching her, she spoke in a trembling, tearful voice.
"Don't...!"
Just as she began to struggle with an expression like she was about to burst into tears at the boy's hand slipping into her clothes—
"Shh."
The boy placed a hand over her mouth and began whispering in a low voice.
"Listen carefully to what I say from now on."
At that voice, which somehow sounded so pure and harmless, the fake saintess stopped struggling and unconsciously leaned in.
"I'm the one here to rescue you."
"...Pardon?"
"You see, I know."
The next moment, the boy's bright voice rang in her ear.
"That you're the real saintess!"
At those words, the fake saintess's eyes widened like a startled rabbit, and she stared blankly at the masked boy.
"Ah."
Tears soon welled up in the fake saintess's eyes.
"Uuu...."
No matter how hoarsely she screamed it, no one believed her—the fact that this boy affirmed it right before she fell into ruin.
"Th-thank you.... Eek."
No matter the circumstances, after that day's incident, she had endured all sorts of humiliations not just from her family but from followers and the world alike. To her, this was like a dream.
"But I can't get you out right now. Since Big Sister is connected to the Holy Church, convincing Mom and Big Sister would be tough, and there are too many eyes watching."
"......Then?"
"So we need a plan to escape."
Wiping away the tears streaming down her face urgently with her tattered sleeve without a hint of doubt, the fake saintess began listening intently to the boy before her.
"What's the plan...?"
Of course, the boy before her was undoubtedly a suspicious figure who frequented an illegal auction house, but the fake saintess had no other choices left.
Even if she refused the offer here, her life afterward would just be an endless nightmare.
So it might be better to grasp this last slender thread of hope.
"From now on, take me hostage!"
But the fake saintess, who had resolved to bet her last coin on this chance, suddenly doubted her own ears and snapped to attention.
"...Pardon?"
At the same time, realizing what the boy intended, she began trembling.
"That's how we can make the switch!"
Nevertheless, Kairen whispered the strategy into her ear with an unchanging innocent voice.
*****
Thus rewinding time back to the present.
"Didn't you say twenty years without incident?"
"Th-that...!"
"If you're thinking of excuses, shut your mouth."
Astridje glared coldly at the flustered staff member, then suddenly turned her gaze toward where her son was being held hostage.
- Pajijik....
In that fleeting instant, her eyes flushed red as she lightly flicked her finger.
"...Guhk!?"
Suddenly, immense physical force pierced her abdomen. Without time to react, the fake saintess released Kairen and collapsed against the corridor wall, limp.
"Ah."
Seeing his mother's power and crisis response far exceed his expectations, Kairen, who had been watching blankly, broke out in cold sweat.
"Kairen, are you alright?"
"......"
"That's why I told you to be careful..."
Then, as Astridje cautiously approached him, Kairen rolled his eyes.
"U, uwaaak!"
"Kairen...?"
Suddenly clutching his head with a whatever expression and rolling on the floor, Astridje's eyes widened as she was about to step forward.
"M-Mom. Something's wrong with me!"
"......?"
"I-it's like... even without touching, my head hurts remotely!"
Gauging Astridje's reaction, Kairen recited his lines in a somewhat stiff tone, then clutched his head again and rolled wildly on the floor.
"Aaaahhh."
The fake saintess, slumped against the wall and watching blankly, forced her trembling legs to stand and spoke with a pale face.
"E-even if you knock me down, it's no use."
Glancing briefly at Kairen, she forced a cold expression and declared.
"I've already taken that child hostage!"
But her opponents were Astridje, versed in schemes and stratagems, and the little monsters of Belverk who had broken through such hastily made plans countless times.
Moreover, they could subdue the girl before them with a mere flick of a finger, so there was no way they would fall for such a bluff...
"Kairen!!!"
"Kid!!!"
...They did. The moment the hostage was Kairen, Astridje and Lilien had already lost their reason.
"Hmm......"
Only Uriel, who had been closely observing the situation, tilted her head and cast a suspicious glance at Kairen.
"...This is bad."
Meeting Kairen's pleading eyes as he rolled on the floor for a moment, she pondered slightly before muttering with a serious expression.
"Judging by the eye twitching and expression, it's unlikely to be acting... She really seems to have taken him hostage with that item's ability."
With advice from her, deemed the empire's top intellect, the atmosphere grew even graver.
"Wh-what... If that lady doesn't personally dispel the ability she used on me, it feels like my head will hurt forever!"
On top of that, Kairen openly added to the setup and rolled even more violently on the floor.
"You there."
Finally, Astridje, biting her lip, spoke with a gravely serious expression.
"State your demands."
The fake saintess alternated glances between Kairen and Astridje, unable to believe this was actually working.
"Th-that's... um..."
She began stating her demands in a deeply trembling voice.
"My demands are..."
And by the time her words ended.
"......"
Deep silence descended the corridor.
"Oh, my god."
Only the staff member, drenched in cold sweat from the disaster happening on his watch, let out a low sigh.
*****
About an hour later.
"W-welcome, everyone!"
Despite the emergency shattering twenty years without incident, astonishingly, the mask auction proceeded smoothly with the gathered guests.
"We extend our heartfelt thanks to our esteemed guests who have visited today... Kkh."
However, the chilling killing intent emanating from the Belverk women in the VIP section pierced through their masks, leaving the host stammering tensely.
"As always, please remember that our auction house's currency is 'Credits,' exchanged at a fixed ratio of gold and reputation..."
Nevertheless, displaying remarkable professionalism, the host continued.
"Th-then... let us begin."
But as grinding teeth sounds came from the Belverk side where Astridje and her three children sat, the auction started without further delay.
"For our first item..."
At the same time, the first item, shrouded in cloth, was wheeled onto the stage.
"One million credits."
"We present the Twilight Mask from the southern continent... Pardon?"
But before the cloth could even be lifted, a cold voice from the Belverk side made the host doubt his ears mid-explanation.
"One million credits."
"Uh... We haven't even started the explanation..."
"One million credits."
At the same time, the audience's atmosphere chilled.
"...A-any higher bids?"
Of course, the first item was a desirable artifact, but hardly worth a million credits.
"Sold."
Sending off the first item at a brisk pace, the host glanced nervously at Belverk and began the next explanation.
"For our second item, the Void Chalice, an artifact of ancient heretics..."
"One million credits."
"This item absorbs surrounding light... Again?"
Yet again, before the shrouded item reached center stage, another high bid from Belverk.
"Third item, the Crimson Contract. This was hard to acquire..."
"One million credits."
"Fourth item, the Wraith Mirror..."
"One million credits."
As the third and fourth items sold in the blink of an eye, the host wiped sweat from his brow and frowned slightly.
"Th-the fifth item is truly extraordinary!"
He began the explanation in a challenging tone, as if daring them to bid immediately.
"None other than! The Cursed Crown said to have been worn by the Blazing Sovereign who destroyed an ancient kingdom..."
"Ten million credits."
However, the host's competitive spirit was powerless against wealth that could sway the entire southern continent's merchant guild alliance.
"...Sold."
With a sullen expression, unlike the usual lively auction hall, the host scanned the seats and declared the bid.
"Sixth item, Dragon Blood Pill from the eastern continent..."
"Twenty million credits."
"Seventh item..."
"Thirty million credits."
As subsequent items sold for massive sums without even being introduced, participants began murmuring suspiciously.
"...Has that woman lost her mind?"
"Something's off today!"
"Feels like we're being rushed."
Voices that shouldn't be here—likely from ducal heirs, coinciding by chance.
"...Doesn't matter."
A cold mutter from a mysterious woman observing silently with two knights.
"Well, the real items start from the last ones anyway."
"Saves time, good."
"Never planned to spend on luxuries like that anyway."
Conversations among southern continent merchant guild leaders watching the situation made even the clueless ponder the identity of the 'final item' sparking this.
"...Now, the final item."
The host, blankly checking the list of bait and luxury goods that vanished quickly, finally announced the highlight.
"Don't be surprised!"
All eyes focused on the stage as murmurs ceased.
"This item is the most astonishing and greatest in our auction house's history!"
Reading the mood, the host rallied, eyes gleaming, and began introducing it.
"...Finally here?"
"Let's see what warranted blowing up the event like this."
"Probably nothing special, haha..."
In the heated atmosphere, the host gestured dramatically to the cart being pulled out beside him.
"Allow me to introduce!"
Silence fell over the auction house.
- Thud...
The cart carrying the prison cell stopped heavily center stage, freezing the faces of all who watched intently.
"Huh...?"
Even the host, who had pointed dramatically at the cart.
"Uh, that is..."
He hurriedly rummaged in his pocket, pulled out the script, and checked the last item's description—marked with a hasty strike-through and rewrite—his face paling.
"The final item is......"
Yet with tremendous professionalism, he revealed it in a trembling voice.
"...The youngest son of the Belverk Ducal House, Kairen Nox Belverk!"
At those words, an intensely cold silence blanketed the audience.
"Kwaaang!"
Only Kairen, beaming innocently from inside the cell, checked the mood and struck the scariest pose he could muster amid the silence.