Auction (3)
As soon as I stepped out of the room, a waiting attendant approached. "Is there anything making you uncomfortable, sir?"
"Yeah, I wanna be alone, but the auction's too damn bright. Got any private rooms?"
"Of course, sir. However, if you move to a private room, you won't be able to participate in the auction. Is that alright?"
"Doesn't matter. Just show me."
"Understood."
The attendant bowed and led the way. As expected from an illegal back-alley auction, the corridor security was no joke. Guards stood ready every 100 meters for any contingency, and various spells flickered in my line of sight.
"We've arrived. Please call if you need anything."
The attendant opened the door as he spoke. The private room wasn't much different from the one with my group—just more focused on relaxation.
"You're dismissed."
"Yes, sir."
He closed the door carefully and left. Thud, thud. The attendant's footsteps faded. But I could still sense the guards nearby.
No problem there.
The guards were only Expert Mid to Peak level at best. They wouldn't catch on to what I was about to do. Sure, there were probably Masters lurking somewhere, but by the time they noticed, things would be too far gone to fix.
I pulled out a bomb I'd modified from a chunk of black magic stone. With a sigh, I also took out the original stone.
"Didn't plan on using this too..."
Honestly, the bombs alone should've been enough for the plan. I knew the auction house layout, and Barto Bennet was helping me out. Stir up some chaos, rescue the elf, and slip away—no big deal.
But seeing those kids up for auction... I couldn't just walk away. Leaving them behind, I could already picture the hellish lives ahead.
Of course, the kids ranked low in priority. Less than extras, really—just bit players. But I couldn't ignore them.
I couldn't save everyone in the world, but the pitiful ones right in front of me? I could reach out.
"Villainy ain't my style, but..."
A little terrorist flair wouldn't hurt.
I drew out the black magic stone's power. Pitch-black light crept forth. I wrapped it around my body. My clothes turned black, a dark cloak forming on my back. A pure white mask covered my face.
Couldn't show my real face if I was stepping out.
Preparations complete. Bomb on my belt, black magic stone in one hand.
"Time to raise some hell."
Black magic—Lich Summon. Let's start light.
***
The auction proceeded. Bidders called out from a minimum of a million units to tens of millions, countless items falling into their hands.
Humans took the biggest share—men, women, age no object, sold off one by one.
Watching it all, Evan muttered softly. "Did you see hyungnim earlier?"
"Yeah. I saw."
"First time I've seen him that pissed."
His face was the usual, but the vibe? He looked ready to smash the whole auction house. The killing intent was so thick it made your skin crawl.
"Kyle likes kids."
"Yeah, he does."
Thinking back to the festival with Ria or the orphanage scenes, hyungnim clearly loved kids.
"H-He won't do anything weird, right?"
"Who knows?"
Rana couldn't give a firm answer. Kyle would handle the mission perfectly, no doubt. But his personality? Things might not stick to the plan.
"Hope nothing goes wrong..."
Evan felt the same revulsion toward the auction, the rage boiling. He wanted to round up everyone here and toss them in jail. But he knew priorities: rescue the elf first.
Just worried about how hyungnim would play it. Even the all-capable hyungnim had his quirky outbursts sometimes.
"Idiot. Stop fretting over your master and watch yourself."
"Senior, this is huge. If hyungnim slips up..."
"He won't slip."
"Blind faith like that..."
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion filled the auction hall. Kyle's signal.
"Rana-senior."
"Yeah."
Rana nodded and got the signal from her summon. She'd already sent it scouting the auction interior.
"Hop on my back, quick."
"...Don't wanna."
"No choice. Or you wanna run?"
"No..."
Ruina reluctantly climbed onto Evan's back. Timing was everything in this plan. Any delay could spiral things out of control.
As they waited for the second signal, something emerged from the auction hall's shadows.
"Wh-What's that...?"
"A lich..."
A familiar sight, not exactly the same but like the one from the library incident.
"No way hyungnim did that, right?"
"Possible. With a black magic stone."
Ruina knew a black magic stone—the essence of black magic—could easily summon a lich.
"Hyungnim, how's he gonna deal with the fallout..."
Evan rubbed his forehead against the incoming headache. A lich crossed the line. If caught... But hyungnim would handle it somehow.
Figuring the plan had gone a bit sideways, Evan readied to kick down the door.
BOOMMMM!!!
A roar five times louder than before. The go-time alert.
But Evan and Rana froze. Following the lich, a figure stepped out.
Face masked, clothes black—but the build gave him away.
"Ah, screw it. Whatever happens, happens."
Evan stopped thinking. More would just hurt his head.
"Rana-senior. Let's go."
"Uh, y-yeah..."
Rana, who liked Kyle, felt the same. The trio dashed toward the waiting room holding the elf.
***
Before the auction, slaves underwent baths and quality checks in the waiting room. Couldn't show flaws to their soon-to-be owners, right? A magic tool scan took about ten minutes.
The star item of this auction, the elf Elena, waited there too.
The empty interior. Guards all gone somewhere, leaving Elena alone.
She didn't know why, but seizing the moment, she saw her chance and acted.
Clink. She fiddled with her handcuffs.
"Ugh—"
But Elena grimaced. Needle-like pain stabbed her nerves, wracking her body.
Still, she endured, trying to dislocate joints or smash against the wall. But her magic-suppressed body couldn't manage.
Not the look of a World Tree guardian knight captain.
"If only I had holy power... no, even mana..."
Elena gritted her teeth, muttering. No need for holy power—just mana to summon spirits, and she'd escape.
But the magic tools weakened her to goblin-slaying levels, sealing holy power and mana.
Perilous, near-impossible escape. Her sole comfort: the link to her mother, the World Tree, held strong.
If that broke, she'd have lost her mind.
[Elena?]
"Yes, Mother."
Her mother's voice came. Elena knelt on one knee.
[How's your body?]
"Fortunately, no issues."
Being prime auction goods helped—unlike other slaves, she got decent treatment. "Decent" meaning barely human conditions, not luxurious.
[I'm glad, and sorry. I sent you on a needless errand.]
"No, Mother. I'm sorry for getting caught."
Elena had come to the great desert to retrieve an item. Her capture was her own failing.
[Just got word. They're moving to rescue you.]
"...I see."
She looked uneasy. Her mistake forcing her mother to act directly.
[Don't blame yourself too much. It hurts me when you do.]
Elena smiled faintly. Only Mother cared like this.
[By the way, the one coming to save you... his personality isn't the best.]
"Kyle Arden, you mean."
Not her contractor, but the insolent human contracted to Mother.
"Why him of all people..."
Even as World Tree guardian, Elena knew the wastrel's name and rough reputation. She couldn't fathom assigning him this.
[Don't be like that. He's cute in his own way.]
"Understood."
Elena held back further complaints. For elves, the World Tree's word was absolute.
[I'll cut the link now. They're busy too.]
"See you upon my return."
[Come back safe.]
"Yes."
The World Tree link severed. Then—
BOOM!!!
Explosion rocked the waiting room. Elena recognized it as a signal.
Plan a rescue quieter, why don't they? It screamed "here to save you!" everywhere.
But what could she do? Too weak now. She had to wait for help.
BOOMMMM!!!
Another blast. No guards left. Elena waited silently.
Time passed. Crack! Someone smashed the door open.
Elena's head turned. That human Kyle Ar—huh?
She blinked at the intruder's looks. Arden family: blondes with golden eyes, Kyle known for sharp gaze.
But this one had navy hair, and his face was... quite...
"Hi! I'm Evan Felix. Hyungnim's drawing attention, so I'm here to get you out."
He swung his sword, slicing the bars and handcuffs effortlessly.
"Let's go. Time's short."
As he offered his hand, Elena tentatively reached out.
"Y-Yes..."
Their hands met, and for some reason, heat rose to Elena's cheeks.
She's pretty... Evan thought the same.