Chapter 134
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Auction House
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The three days mentioned by the dungeon merchant passed in the blink of an eye.
During that short time, I endured praise from my subordinate dungeon masters once more, as they marveled at how I'd known about the auction ahead of time. I even fielded offers from them to accompany me there...
Unlike Renne, these three dungeon masters had only become Dungeon Masters after the massive subjugation in the south. I'd figured they wouldn't know much about the auction, but they'd heard stories from long-lived demonkin or those from other dungeons, so they had a decent grasp on it. Made for easy conversation.
"Then, Master. With the hand signals you mentioned..."
The auction house was a place where it wasn't an exaggeration to say Dungeon Masters from across the entire continent gathered. To step into a space like that, the more allies the better. So even though we'd conceal our appearances with illusions, we'd set up a few signals to recognize each other.
And right on schedule, the dungeon merchant who visited the ruins handed me a strangely shaped magic tool.
"This is?"
"It's a special magic tool for entering the auction house. Use it somewhere comfortable, and a gateway to the auction house will open. Note that passing through the portal will plunge your real body into a deep sleep."
After relaying a few more rules about the auction house—ones I'd already heard from Renne—the dungeon merchant departed. I summoned the pre-selected group and lifted the magic tool.
"Phew... Lilith. What do you think?"
"I can sense dream demon magic... but it won't harm your body."
Lilith assured me it was no different from just falling asleep and dreaming, so with a bit of relief, I activated the magic tool. One of my other companions grumbled softly, looking displeased.
"Is it really necessary to bring that dream demon, Master?"
"If you hate it, stay behind."
"...That wasn't what I meant."
My second companion was none other than Erzsebet.
Excluding Rio, she'd spent the most time with me. She knew plenty, and the others came with too many complications for travel... Process of elimination left Erzsebet.
"No causing trouble?"
"...What the hell do you take me for, Master?"
What else? A gold digger through and through.
She hadn't stirred up much lately, but that didn't erase her track record. Truth be told, her history made me hesitant to bring her along...
"That 'Empress' demonkin or whatever. She's getting under your skin?"
"........."
"I don't know the full story... but invitations went out to every Dungeon Master linked to the dungeon merchants. High chance that Empress will show at the auction."
Of course, whether I'd even get to interact with her... Everyone hid their looks, so recognizing the Empress? Even if we crossed paths, who knew how Erzsebet would react. But her vibe lately had been off—weird and troubled—so I figured taking her along might help.
Had I grown attached? Seeing her so listless just rubbed me the wrong way.
"...Thanks, Master."
Maybe she got my intentions. After a bit of grumbling, Erzsebet quietly thanked me.
For Pandora, who threw a fit about sending me to some unknown place, I soothed her by asking her to guard my defenseless body. To the pouting Aqua, I promised the next trip would be hers first. Then I activated the magic tool.
-Tzzzzzt...
Sparks flew from the mirror-like magic tool, reflecting our trio. I took in the sight calmly, willing entry to the illusory auction house.
And to avoid any illusion resistance blocking entry, I removed the [Cleaning Mask (Lv.Max)]—something I'd never taken off before.
"Hm? Master?"
"Eh...?"
The two beside me flustered a bit at my bare face for the first time, but I ignored them and focused on the mirror tool. Just like with Lilith before, dream demon mist billowed from it, seeping into my unmasked nose.
I repeated in my mind, over and over, that I wouldn't resist this power. Gradually, my head fogged up.
When I snapped back to full awareness,
"Welcome, customer."
A golden-skinned Gord stood before me. Specifically, the monocled one I'd met before, waiting to greet us.
"Kench?"
"Oh! For a nothing of a dungeon merchant like me to be remembered—what an honor."
The Gord who'd introduced himself as the dungeon merchant guild's owner at our first meeting. Kench bantered while welcoming me and my companions, who'd somehow entered alongside.
"What're you doing here?"
"Can't have our VIP customer handled by regular staff. For a VIP who always graces our dungeon merchant guild, the owner himself—Kench—will personally guide the auction house."
"VIP customer, huh..."
I had tons to ask the long-absent Kench, but he pressed an index finger to his lips in a hush gesture.
"Oh, and even VIPs—no private questions unrelated to the auction here."
As if he'd predicted my very question. Sensing zero chance of answers, I shelved it and asked about the auction house instead, as suggested.
"How do you change your appearance?"
The basics first: the rule about illusion disguises. The dungeon merchant said we could hide freely, but our trio—me, Erzsebet, Lilith—looked unchanged.
"Nothing to it. Like this..."
Kench rubbed his face to demonstrate.
"See? Changed, right?"
".....?"
He tilted his head expectantly, but I figured it was a joke. He'd done something, sure, but he looked identical.
"Hm. Like this?"
"It's familiar to me."
The two behind me rubbed their faces too, getting it... but while Kench admired, their looks stayed crystal clear to me.
"You picked that form again? No creativity."
"Ugh... No one here knows my real self anyway, so who cares?"
"...Slap on a shell, and your mouth gets cocky again."
"Hieeek...!!"
Erzsebet and Lilith's reactions said the disguises worked fine. But to me, they—and Kench—looked exactly the same. I rubbed my face like he showed. No change.
"...Hm? Why isn't Master changing?"
Ah, so it wasn't just perception—I really hadn't.
"Kench? I'm not changing."
"Pardon? Impossible. Just rub and stir a bit of magic."
...What?
"See? No big motions needed. Rouse your magic, and this space's illusion overlays naturally."
"........."
Fuck. Screwed.
.
.
.
.
.
I tried a few more times after that, but without magic to begin with, disguise was hopeless. Good thing an unexpected helper stepped up...
"Like this, Master."
Lilith reached for my face and layered on an illusion. Still no difference to me, but Kench's admiration confirmed it worked.
"...Lilith. Keep handling my disguise."
"Pardon? No need... I'd have to stick right by your side..."
"...Yeah. Stick right by me."
"...Kyaa!"
Snag right out the gate, but smart move bringing Lilith. Illusion expert—could handle her own and others' looks.
"........."
Erzsebet's glare from the side was uncomfortable, but shameless it was.
"Ohoho... Leaving it to his woman instead..."
Kench seemed to misread it too, but I stonefaced. Can't make magic outta thin air.
'Why can I see through it, though?'
Kench's reactions and Lilith's words said illusions were on everyone... but my eyes pierced to true forms. Like Lilith's usual disguise—I always saw the real, withered her...
'Illusions here bounce off me too?'
But entry worked. Semi-realized space? Or 'cause I accepted mentally?
'Whatever...'
Better this way. Spot hidden true faces? Kench didn't seem to know I could...
"Well, you didn't do it yourself... but disguised now. Enter. I'll guide the interior."
"...Hard getting used to that goblin-lookalike yapping in that form."
"M-Me too..."
What? What form? Don't ice me out.
"...What does Kench look like to you two?"
"Hm? A beautiful woman with reddish-brown hair?"
"........."
Shouldn't have asked.
.
.
.
.
.
"Here we are."
Kench—not some beauty, but golden goblin to me—led us, hurling open a massive door. A lavish hall unfolded: chandeliers glittering, huge fountain centerpiece.
"The waiting lounge. For customers to mingle freely while the auction preps."
Demonkin of every stripe already roamed the vast space: chatting ones, growling hostiles, wary glance-ers... Wait, that's the dwarf dungeon's owner.
"Oho... Who's that guy? Serious presence and aura... powerhouse vibes."
...I know him. True form: dwarf.
"Ugh... Pretty lady... M-Master, don't look."
...Dude. Wrinkled beard geezer.
'These are Dungeon Masters?'
As my Dungeon Master fantasies cracked, a huge door on one side slammed open. And...
"...Ugh?"
Even through illusion, a spine-tingling aura hit. Every demonkin gaze locked on one spot.
There...
-Thud!!
A colossal figure—simply colossal—strode through the huge door. Others reacted the same, so no personal illusion.
"Oh. A special guest."
Kench spoke casually amid the stunned crowd, like he knew the giant.
"...Who's that?"
"Hm. Famous one—you probably know already."
Kench named the newcomer.
Western continent's apex predator of the inhuman great forest. One of now only three supreme demonkin.
Master of the western demon realm 'Utgard'.
Giant God. Ymir.