Auction Items Always Have a Story

"Huh? Oh, my. I seem to have picked that by mistake."

To think an Evil God would act so petulant. Botamilli is usually a woman of few words, but every time she speaks, she gives off the vibe of a slightly airheaded younger sister. 'If Kashnakas is a scary older sister with a small age gap... and Indikron, who always takes care of me, is like a big sister... then why the hell is Sataniel a guy?' It pisses me off. I can't let this slide. Since I have the chance, I should tease Botamilli a bit more.

"Hehehe... Shall we open up that 'Void' of yours right now?"

"Hehehehe...."

I wiggled my fingers deviously, tormenting Botamilli. Mer, sitting next to me, looked at me with a strange expression. To think she’d dare look at her master like he was a lunatic. I felt offended, so I squeezed her breasts, and she turned her head away slightly, only to push her chest even further into my hand. 'Cute...'

But as I kept teasing the Evil Gods, a thought occurred to me: Botamilli has a bit of a... loser streak. Kashnakas is gloomy, Indikron is cunning, and Botamilli is a loser. Is this really the Manma-jeon? Is this the greatest organization in the current world?

"Heh... I love you, Botamilli."

"Ah... Ka, Kashnakas... *cough*..."

With the sudden intrusion of tentacles, Botamilli and I, who had been flirting innocently, had to shut our mouths immediately. For some reason, Kashnakas’s voice was razor-sharp. I could feel a burning jealousy radiating from her. The presence was so intense that even Mer, who was sitting next to me getting her breasts fondled, shuddered. A god’s jealousy was too massive for a common, ordinary human like me to handle. It felt like taking the killing intent of a master head-on, and my dick went completely limp. My mouth hung open automatically, and drool began to trickle down.

'No... she didn't say anything even when I slept with other women... why is she so grumpy now?' Why is she keeping Botamilli in check like this? Is it because they’re both gods?

'Whoa...' So that was the reason. She didn't even consider mortals as rivals. Right, Kashnakas must be eyeing my afterlife. That’s probably why Indikron and Botamilli are always keeping her in check, albeit subtly.

'The obsession that even though I can play around with other women in this life... I must be hers in the afterlife...' I felt something akin to madness in Kashnakas’s words. 'She’s even taking responsibility for me after I die... I’m so happy.'

As my brain was being pickled by this inexplicable sense of happiness, Botamilli spoke up, as if to awaken my distorted mind.

Botamilli muttered timidly and then ran away. She probably insulted Kashnakas as if she wanted her to hear it, then fled for fear of dying. Since she’d only recently been resurrected, Botamilli was still in a weakened state.

Kashnakas didn't lose out to Botamilli’s provocation and shot back a retort. Then, looking displeased, she retreated. Just as I was starting to get a headache, both of them backed off at the perfect time.

'Inhuman catfight...' I wiped the blood flowing from my nose. If gods started conversing using my brain as a medium, my head would ring and my skull would burst. It felt like my server couldn't handle the load. Like trying to run a multiplayer game on a potato server... It’s probably because my brain capacity is lacking.

Perhaps that’s why Indikron just watched quietly without interfering. It felt like she was forcing herself to hold back because if she intervened, I would clearly take damage. If Indikron hadn't held back and all three Evil Gods had used my brain like a community forum to argue, I definitely would have bled out of my orifices and fainted. I wouldn't have died, thanks to my inhumanly sturdy body, but...

"*Cough*... *cough*..."

"Master, are you okay? I felt a strange energy..."

"I, I'm fine... *whew*... I felt better after touching Mer's breasts..."

"Ah, I see... my breasts have healing properties. Here, touch more. You can suck on them too, Master."

Mer pulled her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠top down and placed her breasts in my hands. As expected, she’s loyal. "Oh... holy..." "*Gulp*..." I could feel the Americans glancing at Mer. Jealous, are we? Even Anna, who was healing people, was glancing over for no reason. I’ll have to squeeze hers later too.

'For now...' I decided to choose my next skill while kneading Mer’s breasts. I had chosen Void Observation to tease Botamilli, but since she said it wasn't ready, I should pick something I can use right away.

"Hmm..."

This seems to have a similar effect to the Vessel of Fusion. The difference is that while the Vessel of Fusion blindly mixes two races, this allows you to change a localized area using the extracted factor. I suspect it’s a divine power related to alteration.

'This also looks like an interesting skill, but... it doesn't seem like the right time to pick it...'

I acquired Projection of Ideals as originally planned. With this, I now have three Void-related skills. With three each of Chaos, Abyss, and Void, I felt a sense of stability. 'I’ve become even stronger...'

This... the skills are better than I thought. 'It’s not even that hard once you figure out the strategy...'

They said the update would restart once 10 or more Ghost Gates were cleared. If that happens, the current peace will be shattered, and the hellish struggle will begin again.

'I’d prefer there be no updates if possible... but I have to level up... Come to think of it, why am I bothering to hold back on leveling up?'

When the update starts, it won't just be hard for me. It’ll be hard for everyone. Nick, who is presumably in France, will struggle, and those unidentified Awakeners who survived tooth and nail in places I don't know will struggle too. Perhaps, since I’ve already built a legion, it might not be that hard for me.

'And the fact that I’m the seventh means... there are already people who have cleared six Ghost Gates... Those bastards must have sucked up all the honey they wanted... Why shouldn't I be allowed to suck some honey?'

Thinking that I should eat up every Ghost Gate I find, I accessed the Auction House. First, I should check how the other Ghost Gate clearers are using the Auction House. Accessing it was simple. I could see it just by trying to check my status.

A window to buy items and a window to register items I own popped up. It’s very simple. I checked the auction items first to see what they were selling.

It was literally full of junk. It looks like the guys who closed the Ghost Gates earlier uploaded them... they seem to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have put up a bunch of items that were too good to throw away but too ambiguous to use. Honestly, there was nothing that would tempt me, since I can enter the Black Market.

'It’s not like I’m picking up trash...'

I scrolled down, checking quickly to see if there was anything unusual. But what do you know...

I don't know what kind of bastard Ryuji Akayama is, but it was a letter to him. To think these guys were using the Auction House as a communication channel. They were having a blast among themselves. I felt a slight sense of alienation. It felt like I was being forced into a group of guys who had monopolized the Auction House. It’s quite unpleasant.

'A 1-coin item... a product name that seems to say "outsiders, don't read"...'

Moreover, even though it must have been written by a foreigner, it seemed like everything was translated the moment it was uploaded to the Auction House. If I leave it alone like this, Ryuji Akayama will receive this letter in 5 minutes.

'Nope, you can't read your comrade's letter. I'm going to read it.'

I decided to intercept the letter a Japanese person was sending to another Japanese person. I was curious about the content. How on earth are those island monkey bastards surviving? I’m so curious.

"Let’s start light..."

Should I try buying it for 100 coins? Looking at the economic situation of the Auction House, they all seem like similar types. 100 coins might be quite a large expenditure for these guys. I have no shortage of money because I suck up the coins my slaves earn, but these guys must be self-sufficient.

'Hoho...'

As soon as I placed a bid, there was a reaction. The price went up to 101 coins. I immediately slammed down 500 coins. Those island monkeys have now had their communication blocked. I must read Ryuji Akayama’s letter. Of course, since they’re trying to make contact, the guy who sent the letter could just write another one and register it on the Auction House, but...

He didn't bid. Is it not worth buying for 500 coins? Maybe he’s short on coins and is borrowing them. Anyway, I was able to get the Japanese people’s letter for 500 coins. It must have been a very important letter, otherwise, they would have poured in more coins to avoid ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠being caught by others.

"Oh..."

As soon as the letter was won, it fell in front of my eyes. Japanese scribbled roughly on paper was written on it. As expected, the name entered when registering an item is automatically translated, but the item itself is not. It seems it’s delivered exactly as it was registered.

"Mer, please read this for me."

"Hm? What’s that... it’s Japanese."

Mer, who is omnilingual when it comes to humans, took the letter and recited the contents to me.

"Then I will read it. *Ahem*... This is Hiroshi Kamiyama. All members have arrived safely at the target point. Unfortunately, Yamamoto and his gang seem to have already fled. I will move to Shinjuku for now. That is all for the scheduled report. I will send another letter in 4 hours."

"Hmm..."

The letter written by the guy named Kamiyama that Mer just read was a kind of periodic report. I don't know exactly what the situation is, but judging by the fact that they are chasing Yamamoto and his gang, it seemed like they were having some kind of regional conflict.

'Seeing as they wrote the content about chasing Yamamoto without any filter like this... are they the only ones who have cleared the Ghost Gate in Japan? It’s an attitude that suggests they don't care if someone else finds out... How complacent.'

Anyway, seeing as they are already using the Auction House like this, it means they cleared it much earlier than us...

'Japanese bastards... faster than I thought...'

In this regard, the fastest people in the world are definitely Koreans... Perhaps there are already people in Korea who have cleared the Ghost Gates in regions other than Seoul. Up until now, I was busy running around the Black Market basement and the Thrill Mansion, so I cleared the Ghost Gate a bit late.

'Shall I try to provoke the Koreans...'

If I write a letter saying something like "if there are any Koreans, read this," I’ll get a reaction. Then I can approach them pretending to be friendly and turn them into slaves. Then I can turn the Koreans who cleared the Ghost Gates into slaves.

'Good...'

I first ordered the Americans who were resting not to use the Auction House. Everyone who participated in the clearing battle today must have obtained the Auction House function. Then, I told the American slaves who were resting to bring paper and a ballpoint pen from an empty house.

"Let’s see... Mer, please write the letter for me instead."

"Hm?"

"Ah, it’s because my handwriting is terrible..."

"Hehehe... Are you worried about such things? How cute... Very well. How should I write it?"

"I’ll call it out, so follow along."

"I shall do so."

"Then... I am Jang... no, my real name is a bit... yeah, I am Jang Se-jin..."

Because my handwriting is terrible, I asked Mer to write a letter saying that I am in Seoul and looking for Koreans. Then, I registered the letter as a product and set the item name. After setting the price and the auction end time, the item I registered appeared in the first slot of the auction items.

This will do. If there are any Koreans who have cleared the Ghost Gates, they will see this while checking the Auction House and win the bid. This is a kind of bait. If there are Koreans, they will read this and upload a reply to the Auction House. Then I can find out their approximate location and go eat them.

'Just let one of them get caught...'

******

A reserve forces training ground somewhere in Gangneung.

"Captain!! Lieutenant!!"

"No... why are you waking me up at dawn, it’s exhausting..."

"H, hurry up and check the Auction House!!"

"What is it?"

"They’re looking for Koreans!"

"What? Really? Uh... but why is the price like this..."

"It’s been chaotic since a moment ago, like they’re competing!"

"Shit..."

"Looking at this... it looks like the Jeolla-do guys and the Busan guys are fighting over it..."

"What should we do? If they are survivors from Gangwon-do, they should join us..."

"For now... hmm... if it goes over 1000 coins, let it go."

"Yes!"

The Lieutenant lay back down on the bed. They probably don't know. The fact that the human who cast the bait is a slave hunter and a human butcher. And Jojun doesn't know either. The fact that there are already as many as three groups in Korea that have succeeded in clearing the Ghost Gates.