Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Black Market (2)
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1.
Dragon.
That's exactly the one that comes to mind when you think of fantasy.
A massive lizard covered head to toe in scales, with enormous wings—that's the dragon we all imagine.
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It can soar through the skies at incredible speeds and, depending on the type, spew fire or blizzards from its maw. Truly the ultimate air conditioning unit.
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Sure enough, such dragons appear in Novel Online too.
On average, they're around levels 200 to 300—not all that high compared to a max level of 500 per class.
Of course, this is measured before that insane major update that expanded the max level to 1,000.
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Characters in Novel Online can have two classes total, each capping at 500, so there wasn't an overwhelming spec gap with max level...
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Plus, no stat points were awarded, so it was really just a way to learn more skills from other classes.
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'So dragons are mid-to-high-tier monsters.'
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They're not weak by any means, but not overwhelmingly strong either.
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There are the occasional overpowered boss mobs called ancient dragons, but those are the size of mountains, so best to exclude them.
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Even so...
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"Too weak after all, this one..."
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Captured Red Dragon (Hatchling) – Lv. 150 ❤️ HP: 2,000,000 / 💙 MP: 15,000 ⚠️ Special: Stats Reduced by 50% 📖 Description: Abandoned by its mother, this hatchling dragon was gravely wounded in battle against the Minotaur King and left weakened. "You dare call me weak, you mere High Elf? Me, a dragon?!"
Whoops, slipped out loud by accident.
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No big deal.
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-Clank! Clank!
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"Graaarrgh!"
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Infuriated at being called weak, the massive dragon starts thrashing about.
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Bound tight by chains enchanted with restraint magic, all it can do is flail, but even so, it's the strongest thing I've encountered so far—fitting for a dragon.
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Plus, it's still just a hatchling, so maybe around 100 years old?
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It could grow stronger with age, but...
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"Yeah, so weak it's sigh-worthy."
"What?!"
"Getting captured by humans is proof enough of your weakness. What kind of dragon ends up alive in a black market like this?"
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Honestly, the disappointment was huge.
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When I first saw it, there was a bit of an imposing aura, but that was just the dim lighting.
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"You dare, you dare...!"
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Lore-wise, it's so weak even its parents abandoned it, leaving it to wander alone until humans caught it—what can you do? Even accounting for that, though...
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No, maybe I just had overly high expectations for a 'pet'.
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'Novel Online had a pet system.'
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Pets fell into three categories.
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'Combat / Mount / Hybrid'—they'd fight alongside you or serve as player mounts.
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Combat pets could grant invincibility buffs, heal HP, and even attack.
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Useful for farming and boss fights.
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'But only one at a time.'
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Mount pets, meanwhile, were purely for travel—nothing more, nothing less.
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In an open-world RPG, they were incredibly convenient, better than manually casting movement spells or the mana-draining 'Fly' skill at 1% per second.
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Some could even fly, so despite the limitations, many players chose mounts over combat pets.
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'Then the hybrid type was introduced.'
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Pets that could do both combat and mounting.
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That was the core of this hidden quest.
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Clear one quest, and you'd get a pet with buffs and rideability for free.
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The 5% spawn rate and one-and-done failure chance made it worth trying.
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And the very first—and last—hybrid pet released was this dragon right here...
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'Looks like it's only good as a mount.'
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Level 150 with 2 million HP? It'd die in any high-level hunting ground.
Pets ignore defense against regular mobs, so low-HP ones like this aren't for combat.
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"You dare, to me...!"
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And its personality is a total pain too.
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Might be less hassle to fly myself.
I know flight magic, but my senses make it iffy...
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"Graaarrgh!"
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This thing's been screeching annoyingly non-stop.
Its mountain-sized body makes the noise deafening.
The prison's Silence magic keeps sound from escaping, but inside, it's ear-piercing for me.
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Already hard to focus, and now this.
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"Shut up, or I'll kill you."
"Hah, you, a mere High Elf, think you can kill me? You're bound by restraints too! A magicless High Elf—what can you even—"
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Enough.
Time to shut it up quietly.
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-Crack!
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"...Huh?"
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I just snapped the chains around me with raw strength.
These are the ones Stran brought to catch me—same restraint magic, but breaking them isn't hard.
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With my magic resistance, this is like rubber bands.
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-Crack, crack.
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Stretching out.
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Guess hours in the same position stiffens the shoulders inevitably.
Looks pretty on the outside, but not comfy for the wearer.
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"Hoo."
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-Boom!
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Smashed one of the barriers holding it.
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Now I see—they layered barriers triple-thick for a dragon. Even without chains, escape would be tough.
Just in case, let's make sure it can flee on its own.
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"Wait, stop. You're really a High Elf? How did you break something even I couldn't so easily...?"
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Time to test some melee skills.
Perfect chance to see how they work on 'giant' attribute foes.
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Melee skills excel at debuffs and crits, but lose effectiveness against huge monsters.
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Hmm, does Back of the Blade Strike's effect halve too?
Here's hoping it's just damage reduction—let's find out.
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"Relax, I won't kill you."
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⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚠️ Special: Stats Reduced by 50% In this state, it'd just get in the way for the next quest anyway.
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Come to think of it—that's why I failed this quest in Novel Online. This thing died.
Couldn't imagine a level 150 dragon dying to level 60 humans, even halved...
I got careless back then.
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"S-Sorry...! I'll be quiet...!"
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So, just nap here for now.
🔊 ANNOUNCEMENT 🔊 Thank you, esteemed guests, for gracing us today. Now, the moment you've all been waiting for—the auction begins! Looks like the slave auction's starting outside. I can head out when it's my turn.
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"N-No, stay back! Stay away...! Please don't come closer...!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
《 Story Stage: Black Market - Slave Auction House 》 The auction house was buzzing with heat.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Congratulations! Lion Mask guest! You've won a skilled mercenary for 1,000 gold! Today seemed like a good day—plenty of quality goods on offer.
Skilled adventurers, beautiful young ladies.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ooh, Wolf Mask guest knows quality! Snagging that cute girl for 300 gold! But none of the previous items could compare to this one.
It was labeled 'special grade' after all.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ladies and gentlemen! Next up is the special-grade item you've all been waiting for! We had just one planned, but right before start time, the absolute top-tier addition arrived! The host on stage bowed to the masked guests.
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An hour had passed since the auction began.
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Yet the fervor showed no signs of cooling—this gladiatorial atmosphere only intensified, heralding the slave auction's highlight.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ At last...! The special-grade star! Everyone ready to bid? Cheers erupted from the guests.
The host grinned beneath his mask.
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Luck was on his side today.
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The new slaves included elves, skilled adventurers, and some lookers—the masked nobles were thrilled.
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Over a hundred guests too—wealthy nobles dodging national and guild eyes for 'rare' wares. Even unnamed royalty.
All waiting for the 'special slave'.
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But you can't show your hand too early.
That scares off bidders—amateur mistake.
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Merchants maximize profits.
Keep them waiting too long, though, and haughty nobles might leave. Time to play a card.
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-Clank. Clank.
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Chains dragged from backstage.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Here comes the item! Eyes wide open, folks! Behold—the pinnacle of elves, the legendary High Elf! A High Elf with crimson eyes stepped onto the feverish stage.
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The guests went wild.
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Silvery hair like threads woven by gods, even tousled; porcelain skin befitting an elf; soft curves peeking through thin cloth—proof why High Elves reign supreme.
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Worth tens of thousands to the Ires Empire's Swordmaster.
Even the host was momentarily entranced—imagine the guests. Utter madness.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ahem! The High Elf of legends! Untouched silver hair! Top as a female and pet—better than anything today, guaranteed! All eyes on the High Elf.
Lifting her hair released a fresh, pleasant scent.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ High Elves guard their purity above all in pursuit of truth—perfect for those tastes! Even better! Guests primed to bid.
The instant the explanation ended, bells would ring from every seat.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Superior magic too—great as a guard! Can't miss this special! Explanation over.
Host figured 100,000 gold start was lowball—last High Elf topped 1 million easily.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Bidding starts at 100,000— Bidding hands rose...
Normally, it'd soar past 1 million, maybe astronomical sums.
These guests could afford it.
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However...
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"No, a mere 100,000 is laughably insufficient."
-Thud!
No one bid on the High Elf.
"To value me, that won't cut it. So, what should the starting bid be?"
It was the High Elf's voice, not the host's.
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The auction halted.
Simple reason.
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The host—who should've run it—collapsed suddenly. Same for all other guests.
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Only the High Elf stood calmly.
She closed her eyes thoughtfully, then opened her red ones again.
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-Rumble...!
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Objects in the auction house began floating.
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"It's a loss for me, but... starting with your lives as the price seems fitting."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Giga Graviton – Area Magic Attribute: Physical / Range: 100m / Max Targets: 1~1,000
> ▶Manipulates gravity in a set area, inflicting chaos, stun, bind, etc. on targets within range.