Chapter 51
Chapter 51
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Black Market (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Was it because of the large sums of money changing hands?
The auction proceeded at a fairly leisurely pace.
"Behold the jewel that shines most beautifully under moonlight! The Star of the East! Starting bid at one gold coin!"
The early part of the auction featured precious metals and items that nobles would particularly fancy.
Magic tomes like grimoires were placed toward the end, so while waiting, I watched Beth's auction bids.
As the auction progressed, Beth occasionally asked for my opinion.
"The Star of the East. How much value do you think that one's got?"
"If you find the right buyer, you could get 200 for it."
The Star of the East was a gem worthy of 200 imperial gold coins if it landed with a vanity-filled noble.
Finding that buyer was the tricky part.
"Then... how much would you pay for it?"
"Up to 50 gold, I'd consider."
"Why?"
"...Anything more, and it'd be hard to offload."
"I see."
Beth nodded as if it made sense.
But... that didn't mean she was taking my advice.
"Eighty gold! Sold to the gentleman at table 16!"
Asking my opinion seemed to have been just for reference, or maybe to test my judgment.
Beth secured the Star of the East for 80 imperial gold coins.
As a black market merchant, she had more experience than me, so she must have her own standards.
Jewels were just pretty rocks until you found a buyer, tying up your money in the meantime.
That made them appealing mainly to people like Beth, who had plenty of cash and time.
"You've got a good eye. Pretty spot-on with the value, too."
Beth nudged me as she spoke.
From her reaction, my memory and assessment weren't far off.
Luxury goods auction wrapped up after that, and rare equipment items started coming up.
But I had no intention of buying any.
"You don't go for stuff like that?"
"Most things at auction are just for collectors, aren't they?"
Equipment was cheaper and more practical to buy in Labyrinth City.
Black market finds were mostly playthings for rich nobles.
The value of gear at black market auctions hinged less on its effects and more on who had wielded it.
If a famous figure had used it, prices skyrocketed.
But fame didn't guarantee power.
"You said you wanted something, didn't you?"
"Came to browse the grimoires."
"Oh, right."
Recalling I was a mage, Beth shrugged lightly and refocused on the auction.
I waited patiently for the grimoire auction to begin.
Soon after.
"Next up, the grimoire auction! Every grimoire here has been appraised by the Reves School of the Magic Tower, so bid without worry!"
The grimoire auction kicked off.
The auctioneer had switched to a mage as well.
He displayed a grimoire alongside its appraisal document stamped with the Reves School seal for all to see.
"Our first grimoire comes from Robles, the mage who unveiled the mysteries of the earth's resilient life force!"
Beneath the plaque reading "Robles's Grimoire," a list of details about the tome scrolled out.
Grimoires lost significant value once opened, so their contents were often unknown.
Some creators detailed the spells within, of course.
But more often, they just slapped their name on it.
And even those descriptions were usually erased.
The uncertainty often drove up the value.
"Gonna buy the grimoire?"
"...I don't need that one."
I shook my head lightly.
Nothing among the spells I could learn from Robles's grimoire was useful to me.
"One hundred ten gold! Sold to the gentleman at table 114!"
Grimoires fetched hefty prices too.
I'd sold a 3rd Circle Void Grimoire before—already used, but it'd probably gone for 50 gold.
I focused intently on the grimoire auction, not missing a single item.
Several from notable figures came up, but none I needed.
"And now, our final item for today's auction!"
Time flew, and the auction neared its close.
"It's a grimoire that defies conventional form, yet brimming with potent mysteries..."
The auctioneer's long-winded spiel suggested it was something dubious.
"Huh?"
"What? What's up?"
"...Nothing."
The revealed grimoire drew an involuntary mutter from me.
And for good reason.
Mage Belka's handbook.
The spells inside were 5th Circle.
"A nameless mage's mere record of his life awakened with mysteries, taking the form of a grimoire! This is a tome whose very existence is enigmatic!"
The auctioneer poured enthusiasm into the finale, but his voice fell on deaf ears.
To confirm, I opened my status window and checked my equipped items.
『Berka's First Ring』
— Primordial Transcendent - Berka's Ring. +50% EXP gained on equip.
【Set 1/3】
— Berka's First Legacy
— Berka's Second Legacy
— Berka's Third Legacy
Mage Belka.
She was Berka, owner of the Primordial Legacy set.
On the cusp of transcendence, Berka recorded her life in a handbook.
In that process, two spells became sealed within.
Ordinary grimoires held one spell.
But Berka hadn't intended to make a grimoire.
A fluke birth: a tome with two spells.
The front held a 3rd Circle spell; the back, a 5th Circle one.
Appraisals were human work.
Unless it was the Tower Master, they wouldn't uncover everything inside.
Stuck with a 3rd Circle label, it ended up here.
I shot my hand up to bid.
"Ten gold already!"
Last item of the auction?
More bidders than expected.
"Fifty! Anyone higher?!"
Prices climbed fast, and soon...
"One hundred gold!"
Berka's handbook hit 100 gold.
My budget: 150.
At this rate, I might not get it. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
Then.
"You want that one bad?"
Beth spoke up.
"Yes."
"Will 150 cover it?"
"No idea."
"Want me to buy it for you?"
What?
Why was this money grubber acting up?
Reading my mind?
"It's a loan, obviously. Pay me back later."
Ah, of course.
She'd probably charge interest... but better than missing the grimoire.
"If it goes over budget, I'll ask."
"Got it."
Beth stared blankly at the auctioneer after that.
"One hundred eighty gold! Going once?!"
The price hit 180 gold before I knew it.
Last item blues, probably—folks regretting empty-handed exits, inflating it.
The auctioneer's face beamed.
An unknown's grimoire topping 100 gold was rare.
If bids lagged, he'd have leaked the 3rd Circle spell detail.
I raised my plaque.
"Two hundred gold!"
My bid closed it—no further offers.
"Congratulations! Table 17 wins the grimoire for 200 gold!"
Yes!
No one else saw its value. Snagged for 200 imperial gold.
"Happy?"
"...Yeah, sure."
I was grinning without realizing; Beth nudged me.
Hell yeah. A 5th Circle grimoire just rolled in.
"Just need 50 imperial gold from you."
"Sure."
"How much?"
"Huh? For what?"
"Fee. You charging?"
Beth smirked slyly.
"Have I ever charged you a fee?"
"...?"
Had she?
I did remember paying her... wait.
A sudden memory hit.
"Didn't you take labyrinth platinum 100 on day one?"
"When? Don't remember."
Beth flashed a subtle smile, pulling a gold pouch from her bosom and handing it over.
"No fee. Just help me with something later. Pay'll be good—don't refuse."
"...Can't commit."
Even as I said it, I took the gold pouch.
We left the underground auction house after, heading to the first-floor counter for pickup.
— 3rd Circle: Inferno
【Pages unreadable due to insufficient circle.】
Ownership changed its name automatically.
I stowed the grimoire in my inventory and left the auction house.
"Come with me a sec."
"Sure."
I followed Beth to the village outskirts.
Her guild's black market shop.
Dark inside—no one else.
Beth left a few items, then exited promptly.
"Ah, stuff like the Bell of Silence sells here."
Ambiguous auction items got handled this way.
Now, time to head back to the city...
"Anything else?"
"Nope."
"Back to the city, then."
She read my mind.
We returned to where we'd ditched the carriage.
"Kihi! Lady Beth, been waiting!"
The black market coachman from before greeted us warmly.
We boarded, and it set off immediately.
"Got what you wanted?"
"...Not exactly. Planning a Magic Tower visit soon."
"I see."
Silence fell after that.
Buying the grimoire wiped my funds—I'd need to grind hard again.
Even hitting 4th Circle, piercing spells would be tough like this.
"What about the money?"
"Plan to pay it off steadily."
"The 50 imperial gold?"
...No choice.
"Won't stiff you."
"Nah, not that."
Beth leaned in slyly.
"You hunt solo, right?"
"? Yeah."
"Wanna party up?"
...Huh?