Chapter 935
Chapter 935
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 935
Chapter Title: The Academy's Savior
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A massive figure approached Sung Ha-ri and Choi Jeong-hwa. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, a matching fedora pulled low over his brow. Standing over two meters tall, his sheer bulk was triple that of Ha-ri's frame.
"Welcome to Baengnyeong Island. I am Unit 351, assigned as your guide. May I see your invitations?"
The giant bowed with robotic politeness. Or rather, he wasn't a man at all—he was a golem forged from enchanted rock and steel, a hollow shell of life.
"Typical of Baek Young-jik's handiwork," Choi Jeong-hwa remarked, eyeing the construct with professional interest. "That’s a high-quality golem. I wouldn't mind buying one for myself."
Baek Young-jik.
The chairman of the Baek-o Group—ranked 31st in Korea's business hierarchy—and the undisputed sovereign of the nation's black market. He was a master puppet sorcerer and the hidden hand behind the Baengnyeong Auction.
"You want to buy a hunk of junk like this? You’ve got weird taste," Ha-ri said, her voice flat.
"You just don't have an eye for quality! A golem of this caliber could trade blows with a C-rank Hero. Plus, since it’s a machine, there's no need to worry about human rights or labor laws. Do you see the value now?"
"Eh. From where I’m standing, it looks like it wouldn't last through a single punch."
"...That’s only because you’re a monster, Ha-ri."
It was a fair point. A C-rank equivalent golem was a wall to a civilian, but to an A-rank Hero like Sung Ha-ri, it was essentially a paperweight.
"Please present your invitations," the golem urged. The sensors beneath its fedora glowed a warning red. It was clear that ignoring it would provoke an immediate confrontation.
Choi Jeong-hwa and Sung Ha-ri pulled plain white cards from their pockets. These were invitation keys to the Baengnyeong Auction, doubling as digital wallets pre-loaded with bidding funds.
The golem scanned the cards, its sensors returning to a neutral glow.
"Verified. I will escort you to the auction hall. Please follow me."
They followed the golem into what appeared to be a mundane warehouse. Inside, a hidden passage led deep underground, eventually opening into a reinforced tunnel that housed the illegal auction house. Choi Jeong-hwa cast a quick sound-insulation barrier so they could speak freely.
"They seemed pretty desperate for you to attend today. How much 'ammo' did you bring?"
"3," Ha-ri replied.
"...30 billion?"
"No. 300."
The unit was, of course, in hundreds of millions. Choi Jeong-hwa’s mouth fell open. **300 billion won.** Even for a woman of her standing, that wasn't a sum you threw around casually.
"You’ve been racking up quite a fortune working with the Association lately. Why not start your own company instead of just hoarding it?"
"I don't know how to run a business."
"Your family runs plenty. Investing in them is always an option."
"......"
"What? Still on bad terms with the main family? Then invest in Geumhwa Group. We’re launching a new subsidiary soon—hey, are you even listening?"
"Not interested."
The golem opened a heavy door, ushering them into a private viewing room. They took their seats on a plush sofa, facing a one-way glass wall that looked out over the central auction stage. Dozens of identical rooms lined the perimeter, and over half were already occupied. The golem took its post by the door, standing guard like a gargoyle.
"Why the isolation?" Ha-ri grumbled, adjusting her wolf mask.
"Organizers' choice. Remote bidding lacks trust, and showing faces leads to blood feuds between guests. The Baengnyeong Auction found this to be the optimal middle ground."
"...No catalog? How are we supposed to know what's on the block?"
"It’s not that kind of auction. But anyone invited should have a rough idea of the treasures being moved tonight. You came for something specific, didn't you?"
Ha-ri nodded silently. Her primary objective was an item capable of lifting curses.
Spirit King's Shackles (SS) were slowly eroding her vitality. She still maintained A-rank physical prowess for now, but she knew it could plummet to B-rank at any moment. She couldn't afford to retire yet. Not while Yu-jin was still at the Academy. Just days ago, he’d been attacked by an assassin disguised as staff. In this harsh world, she had to remain strong—for him.
Ten minutes before the start, a heavy tension settled over the hall.
"There are far too many annoying bastards in this place," Ha-ri muttered irritably. She could feel the lingering gazes of villains and scouts trying to peer into their room.
"Ease up, Ha-ri. We agreed—no trouble tonight."
"...How do you even know my expression under this mask?"
"I know your temper. Just focus on the stage."
"That's the plan..."
Choi Jeong-hwa tilted her head. Ha-ri had been staring at a specific corner for a while now. She followed her friend’s gaze to **Room 217**.
Two participants sat there. One wore a childish Power Rangers Red mask, while the other wore a ridiculous clown mask. The atmosphere in their room seemed lighthearted, almost juvenile, as if they didn't belong in such a high-stakes environment.
"Ha-ri? Is there a problem with Room 217?"
"...No. Just... they feel familiar. It’s probably nothing."
The lights dimmed, and the auction began.
???
We were escorted to Room 217.
Wearing the Fiendish Clown Mask, I ignored the golem at the door and plopped casually onto the sofa. Kim Cheon-woo, fidgeting in his Power Rangers mask, sat down with visible hesitation.
"Dude, these masks are embarrassing," I whispered. "Look around. No one else is wearing toy store crap."
"Y-you said it would be fine as long as we were fast! I thought it would be a lighter vibe... but this place is terrifying. It feels so dangerous..."
Cheon-woo straightened his posture, his mana reacting to the tension.
"Relax."
"...There’s a demon in here, right? I can't drop my guard."
"They won't start a fight during the auction. They aren't idiots. Just loosen up."
"Okay..."
As we waited, I felt a sharp gaze from across the hall. **Room 351.** Two women—one in a wolf mask and jeans, the other in a butterfly mask and a designer dress.
Even through the mask and casual clothes, the silhouette was unmistakable. The big chest, the slim waist, the way she sat—it was definitely Sung Ha-ri. *And those white jeans... she wears those all the time.*
I activated Heavenly Eye to peer through the glass. Yep, that was Mom. The woman next to her was a beauty as well; I’d have to remember her face for later.
The host, a man in a tuxedo and mask, stepped onto the central stage.
"Our first item: a Blue Drake Egg! Blue Drakes are easily tamed and grow into formidable B-rank monsters. Feeding is simple—just high-quality meat. Starting bid: 10 billion won!"
The numbers began to fly across the central screen. Cheon-woo swallowed hard, his face pale behind his mask. To a high schooler who didn't even have 50 million won to his name, watching billions trade hands in seconds was a massive culture shock.
The auction rolled on smoothly. *Same as the original. No changes to the items.*
In the game, wealthy characters like Ryu Hana could trivialize the early stages by grabbing these items. But some of these treasures were hidden gems that only truly shone later in the story. I was after three specific targets tonight.
"Next up: the Black Rosary!"
My first target. The appraisal document flashed on our screen along with a high-definition image of the dull, obsidian beads.
"It looks cursed, I know," the host chuckled. "But as the appraisal shows, it is an S-rank Holy Power Amplifier! Just owning it grants 'Divine Protection,' which can block a single fatal blow per day. Curses, poisons, lethal strikes—this rosary handles them all!"
The Black Rosary was incredible, especially for Holy Power users.
"Starting bid: 70 billion won!"
The interest was lower than I expected, likely due to the class restriction.
[Item: Black Rosary]
Rank: S * Amplifies Holy Power. * Grants 'Divine Protection' once per day. * *Constraint:* Only usable by Holy Power users.
The bid hit 120 billion. I smirked and tapped the '+5 billion' button on the reader built into my armrest.
"125 billion," the screen updated.
"Yu-jin! Stop! That’s over 100 billion won!" Cheon-woo whispered, gripping my shoulder. "We can't afford this!"
"It's fine. 130 billion is a steal for this. Now, quit being obvious—you're giving away the fact that we're the ones bidding."
"Gasp!"
Cheon-woo froze, realizing he was a terrible actor. I ignored him and scanned the other rooms.
"Cheon-woo. Find the person glaring at us like they want to skin us alive."
"...That one. Room 60. The guy in the skull mask. He’s staring daggers."
"Those are the demons. Keep your eyes on them. They might try to stir up trouble if they lose."
The bid hit **330 billion won**. It had turned into a direct duel between me and the skull mask in Room 60.
"Yu-jin, are you sure about this? What if they demand payment right now?"
"The cards are pre-loaded, Cheon-woo. You can't even enter a bid if you don't have the funds."
"...I see." Cheon-woo looked relieved, but then his brow furrowed. "But why are demons bidding on a holy rosary? They can't even touch the thing."