Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Auction House (2)
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Auction time arrived, and a masked man stepped onto the stage.
-Thank you all, ladies and gentlemen, for participating in today's auction.
The man's voice filled the theater. All eyes turned to him.
-The auction items will come up in the order listed in the catalogs we distributed earlier. If you're interested in something, just write the amount on your paddle and raise it.
Demian examined the paddle he'd received earlier. Being a magic tool, it allowed him to write and erase text freely.
-With that, let's begin the auction! The first item I present is a bundle of Moon Dream Herb!
A woman wearing the same mask as the man appeared, pulling a handcart. On the cart sat something like weeds glowing sky blue.
-As you all know, Moon Dream Herb is a rare plant that only beastkin can harvest. That's why you can't get it no matter how much you order from herbalists.
It was a plant Demian knew about. More precisely, it was in the black magic knowledge Dorgo had implanted in him.
-It looks pretty, but be careful. It's a dangerous poison herb that causes extreme hallucinations. Considering its rarity, we'll start the bidding at 20 gold!
Paddles rose from the audience seats. The auctioneer called out busily.
-21 gold... 24 gold! The moment I speak, 27 gold!
Demian listened to the next room over. He heard Alexander Apple's voice and a woman's.
-Your Excellency, Marina insisted we must secure the Moon Dream Herb.
-No need to rush. We have plenty of money.
The sound of writing came. Soon the auctioneer shouted.
-35 gold! The current highest bid is 35 gold!
No one else raised their paddle. The auctioneer asked again.
-Any more? If not, sold for 35 gold...
At that moment, Demian raised his paddle. It read 60 gold.
-60 gold! 60 gold has been bid!
It jumped from 35 to 60 gold, but Demian didn't care.
They'd said it was something they absolutely needed.
-60 gold? Does that puny grass have that kind of value?
-Moon Dream Herb is hard to obtain, it's true... It's a bit expensive, but at this price, it has sufficient value.
A voice full of bewilderment came from the next room.
-Your Excellency, we absolutely need the Moon Dream Herb.
-Can't we get it somewhere else?
-It's so rare... We could commission beastkin, but it would take a long time.
-Damn it!
A curse and the sound of writing followed. Soon the auctioneer shouted loudly.
-70 gold! 70 gold has been bid! We've handled Moon Dream Herb several times at our auction house, but this is the highest price yet!
Demian didn't raise his paddle right away. He focused on the voices from the next room.
-Your Excellency, if the price goes higher again...
-Don't worry. We have more than enough money.
At the word "more than enough," Demian wrote a number on his paddle and raised it. The auctioneer shouted excitedly.
-90 gold! 90 gold has been bid! I didn't expect such heat from the first item!
As Demian raised the bid again, Alexander Apple vented his irritation.
-Who the hell is that guy! Damn it, he wants to see who wins!
-Your Excellency, please calm down. The price is too high. We still have many items to secure. Raise it once more, and if they bid higher again, let's give up.
At those words, Demian lowered his paddle. If they had no intention of continuing, neither did he.
-100 gold! 100 gold! Anyone else? No one?
And so the Moon Dream Herb went to Alexander Apple. Though he'd gotten the item he desired, the mood in the next room wasn't good.
-We took a loss on the first deal. If I find out who that bastard is, I won't let him off.
Soon the next auction item appeared. The auctioneer pointed at it and shouted.
-Now, the next item is a basilisk's eye! You know just from the name. It's extremely dangerous and must be handled with care!
The basilisk was a monster known as the king of snakes.
True to its epithet, it had the form of a gigantic serpent, and it was said to inflict a petrification curse that turned anyone who looked directly into its eyes to stone.
-Your Excellency, it's finally here. We absolutely cannot miss this. It's the most important item.
Demian smiled as he listened to the woman.
For a poison-handling Myriad Poisons School, a basilisk's eye would be a treasure beyond anything else.
This time, he figured he could start by jacking up the price right away.
-Considering its rarity, we'll start at 50 gold! Please enter your bids!
Basilisk eyes were hard to come by, so the competition was fierce.
Paddles rose here and there. Even without Demian's intervention, the price rose steeply.
-74 gold has been bid! Anyone else?
As the price nearly doubled, no one raised a paddle.
-Now we should enter a bid.
Alexander Apple's voice came through the wall. Demian prepared to raise his paddle too.
-90 gold! 90 gold has...
Before the auctioneer could finish, Demian raised his paddle.
-O-One hundred thirty gold! 130 gold has been bid! I never imagined someone would desire a basilisk's eye this fervently!
At that instant, curses erupted from the next room.
-Who is it! Who jumps it by 50 gold!
-Your Excellency, the basilisk's eye...
-I know! It's important! I get it, so stop nagging!
Now he could even hear teeth grinding. A moment later, the auctioneer shouted.
-160 gold has been bid! Anyone else?
No chance. Demian immediately wrote 180 gold and raised it.
-Damn it all! Who the hell is that guy!
The reaction was far more intense than before. It seemed their capital was finally hitting its limit.
Demian didn't raise his paddle this time.
-Basilisk's eye! Sold for 180 gold!
He'd secured the most important item, but Alexander Apple wasn't happy at all. He kept spewing curses.
-We've already spent 280 gold! At this damn place!
-Your Excellency, please calm...
-Do I look calm! Hah... I'm warning you. This plan has to succeed no matter what!
Demian let out a snicker as he listened to Alexander Apple's threat.
-Now, the next item is mandrake powder! If processed well, it can be used as a panacea! We'll start this at 20 gold!
At the auctioneer's words, the woman spoke cautiously.
-Your Excellency, we need the mandrake powder too...
-Yeah, of course we do!
Demian pondered how much to bid this time as he listened to their conversation.
It was quite an enjoyable dilemma.
* * *
After that, Demian drained Alexander Apple's funds several more times.
-Now, the next item! What we're showing this time is a mana cultivation method! Unfortunately, more than half was burned...
Demian also bought the mana cultivation method he'd eyed midway through.
-Sold for 12 gold!
It wasn't that attractive an item, with no competitors. The common belief was that a damaged mana cultivation method couldn't be restored without a renowned expert.
The cost of commissioning an expert would obviously exceed the purchase price.
Thanks to that, Demian got the mana cultivation method cheaply.
-The next item we're showing... It's so rare that even we don't know what it is!
The auctioneer pointed at a crystal on the handcart.
Inside the transparent crystal was a large ice crystal.
-The amazing thing is, we've received info that holding this lets you withstand cold and ice magic!
The auctioneer gave various explanations about the spirit's heart.
-Considering the unknown nature, starting bid is 10 gold!
A few people raised paddles. The auctioneer called out busily.
-12 gold! 14 gold! 15 gold has been bid!
The increments were small, suggesting no one knew the item's true value.
They were probably buying it because it looked pretty and mysterious.
Before writing an amount, Demian first listened to the next room.
-Your Excellency, we need that item too.
-It doesn't seem necessary for making poison... Can we skip it?
-That crystal is filled with spirit power. With it, it will greatly aid Your Excellency's 'Thornwood Sword.'
-Thornwood Sword?
At the mention of Thornwood Sword, Demian perked up his ears too.
-As I said, most of the Thornwood Sword's power is sealed. Only pure mana can unseal it.
-So you need the crystal for that?
-Yes.
Alexander Apple groaned. After agonizing briefly, he made up his mind.
-...You brought me the Thornwood Sword, so you know it best. Fine, buy it.
A relic sword procured by a Pandemonium black mage—far too suspicious.
'It might not even be a relic sword.'
He'd already felt something off about it.
As Demian suspected, it might not be a real relic sword but something dubious.
-30 gold! 30 gold has been bid!
The auctioneer's shout snapped Demian from his thoughts. Alexander Apple must have bid.
-30 gold! Anyone higher?
Demian immediately wrote an amount and raised his paddle.
-40 gold! 40 gold! What a big spender!
It was a hefty sum, but it didn't matter. The spirit's heart was worth far more.
Demian was prepared to secure the spirit's heart at any cost.
But the conversation from the next room was a bit odd.
-Your Excellency, bid quickly... Your Excellency?
-Damn it... I can't raise it any higher.
-But the spirit's heart...
-I said we have no money! It's all spent!
Their sole competitor, Alexander Apple, had run out of capital.
-Anyone else? Sold for 40 gold!
Thanks to that, Demian snagged the spirit's heart at a bargain price.
-Your Excellency...!
-What do you want me to do! We have no more money!
Demian chuckled softly as he listened to them.
Meanwhile, another auction item appeared on stage.
A wooden box filled with rainbow-shimmering orbs.
-Next item! Antidote orbs directly made by the Elixir School! Just one counters any poison...
It was an item Demian hadn't checked. He opened the catalog and scanned the later pages.
"Antidote orbs, alpaca lungs, air detection ring..."
There were quite a few remaining items that countered poison.
Demian's expression turned peculiar as he looked at them.
Poison was extremely dangerous, but if prepared for in advance, it held no terror.
"Looks like I need to spend more money."
Muttering that, Demian began writing amounts on his paddle.
By the end of the auction, Demian had secured all the items he wanted.
* * *
After that day, Demian focused on preparations for the subjugation.
Oliver Apple's stellar performance shortened the timeline dramatically. Thanks to him, Demian and the knights could depart much earlier than planned.
"We've secured ships, so we'll travel downriver to the Arden Plains."
Oliver Apple's abilities shone here too.
With every route and method prepared, the group moved comfortably and swiftly.
When they arrived at their destination, Walnut Territory, the group faced it with their own eyes.
-Roaaar!
-Uroooar!
The orc legion pounding on the territory's walls.
-S-Sir Demian! The castle is under attack!
Oliver Apple turned to Demian in panic. Demian shrugged.
"Well, what of it? Your Excellency just needs to give the order."
-Th-The order?
-Aren't you commanding us, Your Excellency?
At Demian's words, Oliver Apple's expression changed. But his eyes still trembled.
It was his first time in such a position, so a natural reaction.
"Your Excellency, you need to speak loudly here to look cool."
Demian added a joke. Oliver Apple unwittingly burst out laughing.
-The entire force...!
That laugh eased the tension. Oliver Apple shouted in a clear voice.
-Charge!
Demian drew his sword. He pulled the reins. He charged at the orcs first.
The remaining knights followed Demian, leaping toward the orcs.
-Let's go! Uwaaaah!
The dozen or so knights raced across the plain.