Chapter 23

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 23

Chapter Title: New Sales Outlet (2)

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"Ten billion won?"

A dumbstruck sound escaped my lips. Not five billion, but ten billion. For a single necklace, no less.

Yu So-jeong nodded.

"Yes. At least ten billion won. If it's auctioned off, it'll fetch even more."

"No way, what kind of necklace...?"

It was beyond my common sense. I'd understand for an A-rank weapon or armor, since those directly tied to a hunter's attack power or survival.

"Mana recovery speed is a dream option for every Awakened. It boosts dungeon raid stability and sustainability, while cutting required rest time."

Yu So-jeong carefully lifted one locket.

"A 50% mana recovery boost means rest time drops to two-thirds. And that's not all."

Sunlight streaming ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠through the window made the locket gleam gold.

"This necklace's 'Dignity' effect. It's something no crafted item has ever had. Do you know about the 'Cursed Crown' item that reduces the user's physical abilities?"

"Cursed Crown?"

That didn't sound like a great item name. What was it?

"Yes. The Cursed Crown lowers the user's strength and agility by 10%. But it infuses a subtle dignity into their mana. Even with that 10% physical drop, it sells for a billion won. Just for the 'Dignity' effect."

"What? People buy an item that nerfs their stats for a billion?"

Twenty billion could buy a small house on Seoul's outskirts. Paying that to weaken yourself by 10% was hard to grasp.

"Awakened mana has unique traits. And 'Dignity' is an ultra-rare trait that gives psychological dominance over anyone lacking the same 'Dignity'."

"So...?"

"Yes. This item's value is too high for me to price myself. The guild auction will set the true worth. Starting bid: ten billion won."

At least forty billion. Maybe even pushing a hundred billion. Made from just eight scales and a bit of tail fur. My head spun. The numbers were so huge, they lost all sense of reality.

"So, what do we do with these? Register them on the platform right away?"

"Yes! Yes! Sell them!"

My tail thrashed unwittingly, messing up the blanket behind me, but that was trivial now.

"Yes. K-Item Platform launches in three days. Item notice goes up today. Transaction method... probably premium auction item."

She placed the four lockets into special-looking vinyl packs, then into a custom storage case.

Her touch was as gentle as handling a baby chick.

"Then I'll head out. Auction schedule confirmed? I'll notify you right away."

"Yes! Thanks for your hard work!"

About an hour after Yu So-jeong left, I was rolling around on the bed hugging Yong-yong, spam-refreshing the Hunter Gallery.

'It should be up any minute now...'

Government announcement, so nothing past 6 PM. Rush hour considered, it was due now.

And my guess was spot on.

At exactly 6 PM, the Awakened Management Bureau's official site and media outlets simultaneously announced the K-Item Platform launch and first premium auction items.

The notice dropped, and Hunter Gallery's post count started climbing. Five minutes later, posts exploded too fast to keep up with refreshes.

Watching the gallery erupt in speculation and analysis made me chuckle.

"Heh heh heh..."

Being at the center of all this chaos sent thrills through me. Like holding the world in my palm, watching it spin.

I tossed another bait from my 'King of the Unemployed' account.

No one bought it, of course. Which made it even more fun.

Savoring the leisure of knowing the truth, I bit into an expensive macaron.

Three days later, ten minutes before auction start.

I sat on the bed with Yong-yong in my arms, shoulder-to-shoulder with Yu So-jeong. Adult woman on a narrow bed meant contact.

"Miss Lee Da-yoon. Not nervous?"

Yu So-jeong beside me asked. She held a popcorn tub now. Prepared sometime for movie-like auction viewing.

"Not at all. Excited, actually. Hee hee."

I popped a macaron in my mouth as I replied.

What started with two scales was shaking Korea's hunter world. What could be more entertaining?

Auctions ran one Golden Mana Locket every 30 minutes, in sequence. Launch hook for tension.

Countdown hit zero, first bid flew in.

"Oh, it's on."

First bid sparked it; auction window ignited fiercely.

[Kim Jin-hyuk] 10.4 billion won

…

[True Nature Guild] 11.1 billion won

…

[Azure Rose Guild] 13 billion won

[Flame Dragon Guild] 18 billion won

Mid-tier guilds to top names all dove in madly.

Domestic-only, no foreign access, yet price rocketed. From 100-200 million jumps to billion, then 5 billion strides.

"Ooh...!"

Imagining bank numbers felt like F1 cars zooming up. Massive track of guilds racing to win my favor.

Each car bore different guild emblems, speeding in my mind.

Price smashed 25 billion quick; down to Azure Rose vs. Flame Dragon duel.

[Azure Rose Guild] 26 billion won

[Flame Dragon Guild] 27 billion won

[Azure Rose Guild] 28 billion won

Like pride battle, they upped by billions in tense standoff.

"This might top 100 billion?"

"Very possible."

Yu So-jeong munched popcorn indifferently.

One minute to end.

Prime time for final bid. Who'd win between Azure Rose and Flame Dragon?

As all held breath, an unimaginable number flashed on screen.