Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Hecaton Beetle at Auction
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‘What is that...?’
Shin Yu-hyun's face registered pure shock.
A massive magic beast corpse had just appeared on the platform at the center of the auction hall.
‘An insect type?’
The beast's remains now on display were those of a 3-star Named Boss, the Hecaton Beetle. Its body alone stretched two meters long, with horns adding another staggering 1.5 meters.
It resembled a Caucasus stag beetle in overall form, but a single sharp, spear-like horn protruded from its head.
‘Hecaton Beetle, huh...’
Shin Yu-hyun stared at the Hecaton Beetle, lost in thought.
The beetle's tough exoskeleton was prime material for crafting armor.
And superhumans who tackled 5-star or higher dungeons often wore heavy gear.
That meant layering protector armor styled like rider jacket guards inside a barrier coat.
This led to frequent use of magic beast corpses for such protector armor or the fibers in barrier coats.
After all, items made from high-defense beasts promised exceptional protection.
‘Not a bad pick at all.’
The Hecaton was one of the toughest 3-star bosses out there.
Its rigid outer shell could shrug off superhuman strikes without a scratch, and those horns pierced standard-issue barrier coats like paper.
Beyond that, it paired perfectly with the 3-star dungeon gate boss he'd eyed as a core corpse for his undead Deathwatch.
"Our next auction item is the taxidermied remains of the 3-star Named Boss, Hecaton Beetle! Bidding starts at 100 million!"
The auctioneer kicked off the bidding for the Hecaton Beetle.
100 million was typical for rare-grade starting bids.
Though a 3-star Named Unique Boss, the Hecaton rivaled 4-stars in power, justifying the high floor price.
Shin Yu-hyun checked the Hecaton Beetle details Dia sent.
‘Not bad at all. Time to go for it.’
Satisfaction spread across Shin Yu-hyun's face as he reviewed the status window.
The stats were impressive.
Insects tended to lag in intellect, but mana was solid—and strength, agility, and vitality were top-tier.
These put it in the upper echelon of 3-star bosses, competitive even against 4-stars.
Plus those unique skills.
"140 million!"
"141 million!"
While Shin Yu-hyun studied the info, bids had climbed past 140 million.
Amid the frenzy, he spoke up.
"150 million."
"Yes! Shin Yu-hyun bids 150 million!"
The auctioneer perked up as Shin Yu-hyun jumped from around 140 straight to 150.
He'd sat out the weapons but jumped in for a beast corpse, spiking the energy.
Post-Mana Heart, everyone knew Shin Yu-hyun was a whale.
"Yu-hyun, what do you need a beast corpse for?"
"Yeah, bro. Skipping weapons but grabbing a corpse? Gonna craft it yourself?"
Nam Yeon-ah and Choi Yu-ri whispered in surprise at his sudden bid for something seemingly useless to a Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan direct heir buying an insect corpse.
"Got a use for it."
Shin Yu-hyun just smiled in reply.
No need to spill details on the Hecaton Beetle's purpose.
‘Staying quiet this time.’
He glanced back with a smirk.
He'd expected Lee Cheon-woo to hound him again, but things were surprisingly calm.
Lee Cheon-woo merely glowered, brow furrowed.
‘Funds running dry?’
Lee Cheon-woo had snagged weapons earlier, burning through his budget.
Plus, the Hecaton held no value to him.
No point messing with bids like the Dagger of Hemorrhage—it wouldn't fly anymore.
"No further bids! The Hecaton Beetle goes to Shin Yu-hyun for 150 million! Congratulations."
Few superhumans or hunters here processed beast corpses.
That let Shin Yu-hyun snag it without much fight.
‘Primary goal down.’
His main reason for attending? Securing a suitable corpse for the undead Deathwatch core.
Mission accomplished.
‘Wonder what else they'll bring out.’
He eyed the platform with keen interest.
Later auctions saw Shin Yu-hyun claim a few more items.
He picked up the Beautiful Guardian's Necklace as a gift and the Ring of Resistance for his skeleton soldiers.
Higher-grade beasts increasingly wielded elemental attacks.
"Now, for the grand finale of our main auction."
‘Highlight?’
Shin Yu-hyun's interest piqued at the auctioneer's words. Everything so far had been top-shelf.
A final highlight? Now that was something.
"This lot is the Bloodsucking Sword, Yohee."
‘What? It's here?’
Shin Yu-hyun pulled up Dia's info.
‘Bloodsucking Sword Yohee...’
Shin Yu-hyun's eyes widened in astonishment.
Yohee was a Unique-grade longsword with bloodsucking—a famed weapon from his past life.
‘The Bloodsucking Sword was the Sword of the Blood Yao Flower.’
Blood Yao Flower—Yun So-hee.
A notorious female villain from his previous timeline.
In about three years, she'd earn infamy as a gruesome bloodthirsty killer.
He didn't know how Yohee ended up in her hands.
Only that it passed through several hunters before reaching her.
‘She got hunted down for her rampage eventually.’
Yohee synergized perfectly with her bloodlust.
The more blood it drank, the stronger it grew.
Countless superhumans fell to her because of it.
A serial killer for the ages.
Among her victims were many promising stars.
Inadvertently, she'd weakened the forces fighting Getia worshippers.
‘Not this time.’
Shin Yu-hyun smiled inwardly.
Yohee wouldn't reach Blood Yao Flower in this life.
He planned to dismantle it entirely, grafting just the bloodsucking onto his skeleton soldiers.
‘And Yohee's dangerous.’
Yohee played a big role in turning Yun So-hee into a monster.
It was a cursed sword.
Demon swords and cursed blades were risky in general.
Take Demon Sword Ignis: it spewed scorching flames at unworthy wielders.
Once accepted, it obeyed faithfully.
Cursed swords? Different story.
They falsified status info and corrupted the user's mind over time.
Only those with iron wills should touch them.
But.
‘At this point in time, no one knows Yohee's a cursed sword.’
The truth surfaced only after Blood Yao Flower emerged.
Prior owners existed, but died too soon for anyone to notice.
Dungeon clears were deadly; no red flags raised.
Yohee circulated until landing with her.
‘Didn't expect it this early...’
Just to check, Shin Yu-hyun asked Nam Yeon-ah.
"Yeon-ah, when was this sword found?"
"The bloodsucking one? Not sure on details, but I hear it turned up in a dungeon recently."
"Got it."
Shin Yu-hyun nodded.
Recent dungeon find, as expected.
Had its cursed nature been known, Namdu Group would've sealed it—not auctioned.
‘I have to get it.’
To keep it from Blood Yao Flower someday.
"1.2 billion! A-rank Hunter Park Sang-min bids 1.2 billion!"
"1.22 billion!"
"1.25 billion!"
While Shin Yu-hyun pondered Yohee, prices skyrocketed.
The Mana Heart's 1.2 billion record? Already shattered.
Unique-grade with bloodsucking started at 1 billion.
"1.3 billion!"
"1.32 billion!"
Yohee's bidding showed no signs of stopping.
Lee Cheon-woo looked like he'd swallowed a turd.
Clearly wanted it, but pockets empty.
Most bidders were Namdu execs, top officials, or 6-star superhumans.
"1.5 billion."
Shin Yu-hyun called calmly amid the chaos.
"1.51 billion!"
"1.52 billion!"
Unique-grade bloodsucker indeed.
Not even 1.5 billion slowed it.
But Yohee? Non-negotiable.
The ability alone was gold, and preventing its fall to her was priority.
"1.8 billion!"
"Yes! Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's Shin Yu-hyun at 1.8 billion! Anyone else?"
"......"
1.8 billion was big money, it seemed.
Bids hesitated at that peak.
"1.9 billion."
Then someone countered.
Shin Yu-hyun turned toward the voice.
‘That guy's...’
An unexpected face stared back.
Not there at the start.
And.
"Why is he here...? I thought he wasn't coming today."
Nam Yeon-ah's face twisted in shock.
Because the one who'd just bid 1.9 billion was...