Chapter 335: To the Future (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 335: To the Future (5)
The Alminus Central Exchange's first auction house, which was never more than half full even during regular auctions held with decent items, was currently flooded. And the people there weren't nobodies, either.
"Nenma's clan leader is here."
"He probably intends to give it to the adventurer Iron Wall rather than use it on himself. Didn't his first squadron's protector die not long ago? It's probably to fill the empty slot."
"Oh? Is the Lagman Company also after that essence?"
"Is there anything a merchant wouldn't be willing to buy when the price is right?"
"Hmm, but it's tough to find an item in an auction that sells for the ticket price..."
"The value of an item doesn't just lie in its cost. After all, Duke Kudo's birthday is coming up soon."
"True, if you can use this auction to impress enough nobles, you might be able to attend the banquet."
From adventurers with shiny equipment to people who weren't adventurers but clearly gave off an air of wealth, I couldn't see anyone who was only here as a spectator. That was only natural. As the auction became a hot topic, tickets apparently started getting sold for high prices, too.
Valuable essence aside, getting tickets was already hell in itself.
If Amelia hadn't told me about the auction before the information was released to the public, I would have had trouble getting even one ticket and coming alone.
"Stop looking around like that. Nothing good will come from attracting attention."
Spotting the beginnings of a scolding a mile away, I smoothly changed the subject. "Have you been to places like this often?"
"...I've come often enough."
True, she'd been an adventurer much longer than I had. "Then I can ask you all my questions." I scanned our surroundings out of the corner of my eye. "There are a surprising number of people wearing masks like us. I heard the winner of the auction will be processed anonymously anyway."
"There will always be people who won't want their participation known to the public."
"Oh, who is that guy in the suit over there? He doesn't look like a merchant or an adventurer."
"He's an agent sent by an influential family. He may be dressed well, but he's probably not from a noble family. A nobleman would protect the family's reputation above all else, even when it comes to things like this."
"Oh, really?"
Was she an encyclopedia or something? Every question I asked was answered without delay. While I was busy asking more questions to test her performance, the auction began.
"Amelia... can we buy that?"
"...If you give up on the item coming later."
"That's a no..."
The other items appeared to have been carefully selected too. Including the first item exhibited, those that followed were also of a very high standard.
What kind of Exchange auction has a triple-digit Numbered Item?
It wasn't even a shabby triple-digit either. Although it wasn't all that useful to me personally, any damager who used a blade could make good use of it.
Man, if I had the money, I would buy that too and put it in the safe.
Each time a new item came up, I watched the competition heat up and swallowed back my disappointment.
"That's 140 million stones! We have 140 million stones. Are there any more bidders? The item goes to the anonymous bidder!"
Auctions in this era were very refreshing. Rather than a system in which bids could only be raised at regular increments determined by the moderator, it was a free bidding system that allowed you to bid high immediately. And for a system like that, the way they took bids was surprisingly modern.
Beep, beep, beeeeeep.
On the right armrest of each chair, there was a magic item that allowed you to punch in a number. Once you set your bid and pressed enter, the amount appeared on the electronic display board on the podium. Thanks to that, each bidder's identity was kept anonymous.
True, if you didn't have a method to protect anonymity like this, there could be fights later.
For reference, this system was first deployed by Sky Auction House. I learned this during my studies at the library. Apparently, there was an incident where some prestigious nobles were bidding against each other using their real names and things escalated into a brawl.
"Now, here is the seventeenth item!" A new item appeared on the podium as if on cue. It was a Magic Vial stored in a luxurious box. Many essences had appeared so far, but this one was different in many ways.
"Yandel."
"I know." Unlike the previous essences, there was a large picture next to the box. It was a drawing of a massive beast covered in a thick shell, roaring at the viewer—Vol-Herchan.
They even prepared that? They really put a lot into this auction.
The participants of the auction buzzed at the dynamic drawing that seemed like it could come to life at any moment.
"Oh...? Curious..."
"I thought this essence would appear at the end."
"Yes. It's strange. There were a total of thirty-five items on the docket today so there should still be more than half left..."
Some questioned the fact that the essence was being presented in the middle of the auction, but I didn't think it was strange at all. No, on the contrary, it was a praise-worthy tactic.
"The Alminus Company was smart about this."
If the essence were the final item in the auction, those who saved up their money for it would have had no choice but to hold off until then. That meant fewer bids on the other items. But if this was auctioned in the middle to determine its owner early on, that changed things. Since the item they had intended to use their remaining capital on would have disappeared, they would be able to bid on other items they liked without any resistance.
"This item is the essence of Vol-Herchan, obtained by Clan Marel's Thunderfire in the last expedition by personally slaying said ferocious beast..." The moderator officially began to explain the product and the story behind it, and the air in the room changed.
"Ahem..."
People who had been holding easy conversations and networking with each other started to get quiet. Desire burned in the eyes of the adventurers, and the eyes of the merchants showed a keen interest, like that of a wild cat waiting to pounce. They may not have been holding swords, but they looked like they were about to go to battle.
Tsk, who do you think you are, trying to win?
Beep, beep, beep-beep, beep.
I typed in the amount in advance.
"Now, the starting price is fifty million stones."
As soon as the auction began, I pressed enter.
Beep.
"That's 140 million stones! We have 140 million stones. Are there any more bidders? The item goes to the anonymous bidder!"
Auctions in this era were very refreshing. Rather than a system in which bids could only be raised at regular increments determined by the moderator, it was a free bidding system that allowed you to bid high immediately. And for a system like that, the way they took bids was surprisingly modern.
Beep, beep, beeeeeep.
On the right armrest of each chair, there was a magic item that allowed you to punch in a number. Once you set your bid and pressed enter, the amount appeared on the electronic display board on the podium. Thanks to that, each bidder's identity was kept anonymous.
True, if you didn't have a method to protect anonymity like this, there could be fights later.
For reference, this system was first deployed by Sky Auction House. I learned this during my studies at the library. Apparently, there was an incident where some prestigious nobles were bidding against each other using their real names and things escalated into a brawl.
"Now, here is the seventeenth item!" A new item appeared on the podium as if on cue. It was a Magic Vial stored in a luxurious box. Many essences had appeared so far, but this one was different in many ways.
"Yandel."
"I know." Unlike the previous essences, there was a large picture next to the box. It was a drawing of a massive beast covered in a thick shell, roaring at the viewer—Vol-Herchan.
They even prepared that? They really put a lot into this auction.
The participants of the auction buzzed at the dynamic drawing that seemed like it could come to life at any moment.
"Oh...? Curious..."
"I thought this essence would appear at the end."
"Yes. It's strange. There were a total of thirty-five items on the docket today so there should still be more than half left..."
Some questioned the fact that the essence was being presented in the middle of the auction, but I didn't think it was strange at all. No, on the contrary, it was a praise-worthy tactic.
"The Alminus Company was smart about this."
If the essence were the final item in the auction, those who saved up their money for it would have had no choice but to hold off until then. That meant fewer bids on the other items. But if this was auctioned in the middle to determine its owner early on, that changed things. Since the item they had intended to use their remaining capital on would have disappeared, they would be able to bid on other items they liked without any resistance.
"This item is the essence of Vol-Herchan, obtained by Clan Marel's Thunderfire in the last expedition by personally slaying said ferocious beast..." The moderator officially began to explain the product and the story behind it, and the air in the room changed.
"Ahem..."
People who had been holding easy conversations and networking with each other started to get quiet. Desire burned in the eyes of the adventurers, and the eyes of the merchants showed a keen interest, like that of a wild cat waiting to pounce. They may not have been holding swords, but they looked like they were about to go to battle.
Tsk, who do you think you are, trying to win?
Beep, beep, beep-beep, beep.
I typed in the amount in advance.
"Now, the starting price is fifty million stones."
As soon as the auction began, I pressed enter.
Beep.
In response, a number appeared on the electronic display board: 870 million stones. This was the reason this auction became famous enough to reach Amelia's ears in the future.
There was only one bid. After a momentary silence following the truly brutal raise, the moderator exhibited professionalism and spoke with forced calm. "That's... 870 million stones...! We have 870 million stones."
Then the chaos began.
"870 million stones?"
"What kind of unhinged bastard..."
Some were incredulous, and their jaws dropped.
"Who would bid an amount like that immediately?"
Others were curious about my identity.
But while those who had already given up on the competition simply watched, thoroughly entertained, the people who were seriously after this essence were different.
"You must decide quickly before the bidding closes."
Their expressions changed as they hurriedly began to discuss. The reactions were mixed here too.
Some had already exceeded their budgets. "Eight hundred seventy million stones is unreasonable..."
There were those making their decision based solely on cost-effectiveness. "It's not that it's not doable, but... paying that much money for an essence only used by protectors is crazy. We forfeit the bid."
There were even those beginning to suspect the auction house itself.
"Why are you telling me not to bid?"
"It could be a trick on the part of the Exchange."
"Are you saying it's a fake bid to get us to bid higher?"
"It's possible... but the Exchange could also have used the essence as bait to attract customers despite having no intention of selling it from the start."
Some even voiced the possibility that the essence of the Vol-Herchan was a fake listing used to tout buyers, but none of that mattered to me. Even as their heads all spun at the dizzying amount of money, and even as they struggled to come to a clear decision on whether to make a bid or not due to the whispers around adding to the confusion, time continued to pass.
Tick, tick.
"Any... more bidders...?" The moderator, who had been bringing down the auctioneer's gavel without hesitation up to this point, dragged things out three times longer than usual before finally opening his mouth. Seeing that the crowd was just eyeing each other, he declared the end of the bid.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
When the last, clear thwack signaling a failure to bid rang out, I nodded to myself several times with a satisfied smile.
Mm-hmm, the best part of an auction is making an immediate purchase.
***
Once the whirlwind-like auction came to a close, we went to the item retrieval room, paid the amount, and received Vol-Herchan's essence.
"That's 870 million stones... confirmed." The staff member who handed the goods to us seemed to be quite high up the food chain, but apart from giving us an unkind look for spawning all those unflattering rumors about the auction house, she seemed to be extremely curious. But I guessed this was what you called professionalism. "Goodbye." She occasionally glanced at us but did not ask us who we were or make any unnecessary comments.
"What are you doing? Let's go."
When we came out of the retrieval room, I felt eyes on us from all directions. Everyone seemed curious about what we were taking with us, but because there was no way for them to know which item we purchased out of the thirty-five, no one was eager to approach and start a conversation.
"Anyone following?"
"Not anymore. Judging by their level, they were just following out of curiosity."
"Is that so?"
"Where are you planning to go?"
Where was there to go except there? "To the temple."
After getting on a carriage heading out of Kommelby, we immediately entered the Church of Reatlas. It was nearing time for them to close their doors to the public but we made it just in time.
"I see you've come to erase the mark on your soul."
"Here, a donation."
"Yes. Will your comrade wait outside?"
"I will..."
I paid all the money we had left and removed the essence. The erased essence was the Corpse Golem, just like I decided in advance.
Come to think of it, I haven't erased any essences at the temple yet.
I'd heard about it from others but the actual essence removal process, which I was experiencing for the first time that day, was much stranger than I expected.
Look at these mechanics! In the game, you just had to hit a few buttons on the keyboard.
A white light enveloped me and I woke up in a pure white space, naked. The blue dagger the priest had just handed me was in my hand, and around me were giant monsters. They were all locked in thick iron cages: an Ogre, an Orc Hero, a Storm Gush, a Manticore, a Bayon, and even my target for today, a Corpse Golem.
I stared at them for a while before using the dagger to cut the thread of light that connected the Corpse Golem to me.
Shaaaaaa!
When I came to, I was back in the temple.
"I feel very strange."
"That is natural. One of the connections latched to your soul has fallen away, after all. Most people feel this way the first time, so no need to worry too much. After a few days, you will get used to the emptiness."
"A connection has fallen away, huh?" It sounded like the exact kind of thing a priest of Reatlas would say, but I still found myself nodding. It wouldn't be enough to say this listless feeling was simply a feeling of emptiness caused by a reduction in stats.
"Are you all right?" Amelia asked.
"Ah, it's nothing to worry about. I'll be fine after eating some meat."
After finishing my business at the temple, Amelia and I returned to our inn. Then I took out the Magic Vial I won at the auction.
"Amelia, are you ready?"
Amelia looked like she didn't understand what I meant.
"The Fragment of Records Stone could react the moment I take this, so I'm just warning you to be prepared."
"Ah..."
I had met the GM and deposited my equipment in a safe. Amelia had followed her sister around and even took economic measures to make sure she wasn't killed over taxes in the future.
So, if my hypothesis is correct... This should be the final piece of the puzzle.
I took out the Fragment of Records Stone from my sub-space and absorbed the essence.
Nice... this is why I swallow essences.
The feeling of fullness was so potent that it was difficult to feel the empty space left behind by Corpse Golem. As the light contained in the Magic Vial was absorbed into my body, strength began to surge through me. Of course, it was much less intense than the time with the Ogre. Essences with that much default Strength were rare even at rank two.
Still, it's the skill that's important.
Relishing in the sensation, I slowly opened my eyes. Then, seeing the Fragment of Records Stone still sitting there, inert, I bit my lip in disappointment. "...This wasn't it, either?"
Then what did I have to do now? Was I going to be stuck here for years? I wasn't even able to relish in the joy of obtaining a new essence thanks to the anxiety.
"Yes, it's about time we go back..." Amelia breathed out a sigh.
"Huh?"
When I tilted my head, Amelia smiled as if in reassurance. "Don't worry, we will be able to return tomorrow." She looked somewhat saddened by that fact.
In response, a number appeared on the electronic display board: 870 million stones. This was the reason this auction became famous enough to reach Amelia's ears in the future.
There was only one bid. After a momentary silence following the truly brutal raise, the moderator exhibited professionalism and spoke with forced calm. "That's... 870 million stones...! We have 870 million stones."
Then the chaos began.
"870 million stones?"
"What kind of unhinged bastard..."
Some were incredulous, and their jaws dropped.
"Who would bid an amount like that immediately?"
Others were curious about my identity.
But while those who had already given up on the competition simply watched, thoroughly entertained, the people who were seriously after this essence were different.
"You must decide quickly before the bidding closes."
Their expressions changed as they hurriedly began to discuss. The reactions were mixed here too.
Some had already exceeded their budgets. "Eight hundred seventy million stones is unreasonable..."
There were those making their decision based solely on cost-effectiveness. "It's not that it's not doable, but... paying that much money for an essence only used by protectors is crazy. We forfeit the bid."
There were even those beginning to suspect the auction house itself.
"Why are you telling me not to bid?"
"It could be a trick on the part of the Exchange."
"Are you saying it's a fake bid to get us to bid higher?"
"It's possible... but the Exchange could also have used the essence as bait to attract customers despite having no intention of selling it from the start."
Some even voiced the possibility that the essence of the Vol-Herchan was a fake listing used to tout buyers, but none of that mattered to me. Even as their heads all spun at the dizzying amount of money, and even as they struggled to come to a clear decision on whether to make a bid or not due to the whispers around adding to the confusion, time continued to pass.
Tick, tick.
"Any... more bidders...?" The moderator, who had been bringing down the auctioneer's gavel without hesitation up to this point, dragged things out three times longer than usual before finally opening his mouth. Seeing that the crowd was just eyeing each other, he declared the end of the bid.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
When the last, clear thwack signaling a failure to bid rang out, I nodded to myself several times with a satisfied smile.
Mm-hmm, the best part of an auction is making an immediate purchase.
***
Once the whirlwind-like auction came to a close, we went to the item retrieval room, paid the amount, and received Vol-Herchan's essence.
"That's 870 million stones... confirmed." The staff member who handed the goods to us seemed to be quite high up the food chain, but apart from giving us an unkind look for spawning all those unflattering rumors about the auction house, she seemed to be extremely curious. But I guessed this was what you called professionalism. "Goodbye." She occasionally glanced at us but did not ask us who we were or make any unnecessary comments.
"What are you doing? Let's go."
When we came out of the retrieval room, I felt eyes on us from all directions. Everyone seemed curious about what we were taking with us, but because there was no way for them to know which item we purchased out of the thirty-five, no one was eager to approach and start a conversation.
"Anyone following?"
"Not anymore. Judging by their level, they were just following out of curiosity."
"Is that so?"
"Where are you planning to go?"
Where was there to go except there? "To the temple."
After getting on a carriage heading out of Kommelby, we immediately entered the Church of Reatlas. It was nearing time for them to close their doors to the public but we made it just in time.
"I see you've come to erase the mark on your soul."
"Here, a donation."
"Yes. Will your comrade wait outside?"
"I will..."
I paid all the money we had left and removed the essence. The erased essence was the Corpse Golem, just like I decided in advance.
Come to think of it, I haven't erased any essences at the temple yet.
I'd heard about it from others but the actual essence removal process, which I was experiencing for the first time that day, was much stranger than I expected.
Look at these mechanics! In the game, you just had to hit a few buttons on the keyboard.
A white light enveloped me and I woke up in a pure white space, naked. The blue dagger the priest had just handed me was in my hand, and around me were giant monsters. They were all locked in thick iron cages: an Ogre, an Orc Hero, a Storm Gush, a Manticore, a Bayon, and even my target for today, a Corpse Golem.
I stared at them for a while before using the dagger to cut the thread of light that connected the Corpse Golem to me.
Shaaaaaa!
When I came to, I was back in the temple.
"I feel very strange."
"That is natural. One of the connections latched to your soul has fallen away, after all. Most people feel this way the first time, so no need to worry too much. After a few days, you will get used to the emptiness."
"A connection has fallen away, huh?" It sounded like the exact kind of thing a priest of Reatlas would say, but I still found myself nodding. It wouldn't be enough to say this listless feeling was simply a feeling of emptiness caused by a reduction in stats.
"Are you all right?" Amelia asked.
"Ah, it's nothing to worry about. I'll be fine after eating some meat."
After finishing my business at the temple, Amelia and I returned to our inn. Then I took out the Magic Vial I won at the auction.
"Amelia, are you ready?"
Amelia looked like she didn't understand what I meant.
"The Fragment of Records Stone could react the moment I take this, so I'm just warning you to be prepared."
"Ah..."
I had met the GM and deposited my equipment in a safe. Amelia had followed her sister around and even took economic measures to make sure she wasn't killed over taxes in the future.
So, if my hypothesis is correct... This should be the final piece of the puzzle.
I took out the Fragment of Records Stone from my sub-space and absorbed the essence.
Nice... this is why I swallow essences.
The feeling of fullness was so potent that it was difficult to feel the empty space left behind by Corpse Golem. As the light contained in the Magic Vial was absorbed into my body, strength began to surge through me. Of course, it was much less intense than the time with the Ogre. Essences with that much default Strength were rare even at rank two.
Still, it's the skill that's important.
Relishing in the sensation, I slowly opened my eyes. Then, seeing the Fragment of Records Stone still sitting there, inert, I bit my lip in disappointment. "...This wasn't it, either?"
Then what did I have to do now? Was I going to be stuck here for years? I wasn't even able to relish in the joy of obtaining a new essence thanks to the anxiety.
"Yes, it's about time we go back..." Amelia breathed out a sigh.
"Huh?"
When I tilted my head, Amelia smiled as if in reassurance. "Don't worry, we will be able to return tomorrow." She looked somewhat saddened by that fact.