Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Lend Me Some Money (1)
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Jamie was flustered by the sudden turn of events.
There had never been a single instance where Perfect Cell activated on its own like this.
He gripped it tightly in his hand, but the vibrations only grew more intense.
"Master, what's wrong?"
"Perfect Cell...!"
Vena frowned as she stared at the bracelet shaking wildly of its own accord.
"What's that about?"
"I don't know. It just suddenly..."
Even injecting mana into it did nothing to stop the vibrations.
He had no idea what was causing it.
That's when a group of people appeared out of nowhere. There were five of them, carefully transporting a large box.
As they drew closer to the box, the vibrations intensified even further.
Jamie irritably eyed the box they were carrying, and his eyes suddenly widened.
'Sealing magic?'
At least three layers of sealing magic were overlapping on it.
It seemed to contain something extremely important.
An item so crucial and extraordinary that it made Perfect Cell react like this.
As far as Jamie knew, there were only two such items in the world.
"No way..."
"What is it?"
Vena asked at Jamie's mutter, but he wasn't in a position to answer.
His mind was already filled with an unbelievable thought.
As Jamie stared silently at the box, one of the carriers approached with a stern expression.
"Hey, kid. What're you staring at?"
"..."
"Beat it, you little punk. What the hell are you kids doing out here in the middle of the night?"
The man spat harsh words, clearly annoyed, trying to shoo Jamie and Vena away.
But the man's attitude didn't register with Jamie at all.
Pretending not to notice, he tugged at the man's pant leg and pointed at the box.
"What's in that? You guys were carrying it so carefully..."
With innocent eyes, he asked, and the man scratched his cheek before replying.
"That's for the auction in two days... Argh! Why am I even telling a kid? Whatever, just go home! Your parents are probably waiting."
With that, the man hurried back to help with the box.
Once he was gone, Vena, standing beside him, made a slightly disgusted face.
"Did you have to ask with that look on your face?"
"An innocent child's face is a pretty powerful weapon."
A child's innocent face was far more effective than the saying "you can't spit in a smiling face."
Just look at what happened.
The man who had tried to chase them off with harsh words ended up responding politely and kindly.
"An auction item, huh..."
He had figured as much.
Transporting something so precious in the dead of night like this already reeked of something illicit.
"I think there was some kind of magic on the box."
Vena, no great talent but still a black sorcerer in her own right, seemed to have noticed part of the magic on the box.
"At least three. Maybe six or more."
"What?!"
"Keep your voice down. It's the number of sealing spells on the box. I couldn't pinpoint it exactly."
Sealing magic was essentially a locking mechanism. Layering multiple ones made it hard for even skilled mages to fully analyze.
"What on earth could require so many seals?"
"Beats me."
Jamie replied vaguely as he fiddled with Perfect Cell.
As they moved away from the box, the vibrations nearly stopped, and now it was completely still.
If Perfect Cell was reacting this strongly despite breaking through multiple sealing spells, then it had to be one of the two he suspected.
'All Might... or God Killer.'
Both were among the three great divine artifacts he had favored.
His grip tightened on the hand holding Perfect Cell.
He didn't know which one, but it was definitely one of the three great divine artifacts. Both was possible, though unlikely.
'If both were inside, it wouldn't have stopped at just vibrations.'
When all three great divine artifacts gathered, something special happened.
But nothing had occurred.
It wasn't blocked by the powerful sealing magic either. Humanity's current level of magic couldn't suppress them.
"Master?"
"I was just going to check it out casually."
Looks like he'd have to participate in the auction himself.
The problem was money.
Count Welton had given him plenty of pocket money, but it was only enough for snacks and treats.
That kind of cash wouldn't even let him compete at an auction.
'Maybe ask Siegfried?'
The man seemed loaded.
But borrowing was another matter. It wasn't clear if he'd even have enough to secure the item.
Above all, borrowing money would require explaining the three great divine artifacts to some degree... and he didn't want that.
"Steal it?"
But he quickly shook his head.
It was a secret auction. An event putting out a divine artifact would be massive. Could he breach their security with his current skills?
There was bound to be at least a master-class expert guarding it.
As Jamie pondered deeply, Vena, watching impatiently, finally yelled.
"Master!"
"Wah! Why are you yelling?"
"What is it already?!"
"What is what?"
"That box from earlier made it react like that, right? Tell me too. Don't just think to yourself!"
"Oh."
Come to think of it, he'd gotten lost in thought and forgotten about Vena.
Jamie pulled Vena to a secluded spot.
This was a story that couldn't leak out.
For good measure, he cast a spell to prevent sound from escaping.
"Listen up."
"Yes! Ears perked!"
Vena cupped her hands to her ears like she was tuning in.
Jamie, annoyed by the sight, flicked her forehead.
"Ow! Why'd you hit me..."
"Just listen normally."
Vena nodded with a pout at Jamie's irritated expression.
"Looks like one of my divine artifacts is in that box."
"...Divine artifacts? Like this one?"
Vena nodded toward Perfect Cell.
"Yeah, same as this guy."
"Whoa. How? You said getting that one was a huge stroke of luck."
"It was."
The tombstone of the black sorcerer Ganon, slumbering in the Maytrey Mountains.
If the blue dragon Maytrey hadn't recognized him, he would have passed by without even knowing Perfect Cell existed.
"Then we have to take it! What are we doing here?"
"...Idiot. You think they'll just let us?"
The box carriers were nobodies, but there were surely escorts protecting it beyond them.
He didn't know their skill level, but causing a commotion could lead to who-knows-what.
'My power right now is just awkwardly in-between, and it's frustrating.'
If he were at archmage level, he'd do as Vena said, but attempting it at 6th class was too risky.
"Anyway, it'll be up for auction at the secret auction in two days."
"Oho."
"But there's a problem."
"Money! It's money, right?"
She was quick on the uptake here.
Jamie nodded.
Vena excitedly explained why money was the issue.
"An auction handling something like a divine artifact would be huge, with massive tycoons attending. They won't just let a divine artifact slip by. They'll bid like crazy and throw around insane amounts of money. Right?"
"Spot on."
"But... then we're screwed."
Despite her enthusiastic explanation, Vena saw no way for Jamie to acquire it.
There was no way he had funds to rival those giant capitalists.
"Borrow from Sir Siegfried?"
"Not sure he even has that much, and if he does, I'd have to explain the divine artifact somewhat. No."
"Or sneak in and steal it?"
"That's no different from ambushing them earlier. Probably even harder."
"Ask your family?"
"...No. They'd find out where the money's coming from."
Count Welton might even come after him.
He'd pass on that.
"Or..."
After repeated rejections, Vena pondered seriously and soon spoke up.
"What about that grandma?"
"Grandma?"
"The owner of Ars Magna!"
Jamie’s eyes widened; he hadn’t expected her name from Vena’s mouth.
"Right! Kiriel!"
Siegfried had said she was the greatest alchemist, an 8th-class archmage, and a businesswoman with ventures worldwide.
Recalling their daytime conversation, he could guess she had an absurd amount of money.
She’d surely have enough to win the divine artifact at auction.
The issue was...
"How do I ask her?"
Would a shrewd old lady who had everything really grant his request?
"Still, worth asking! Worst case, we lose nothing."
"...Yeah. You're right."
For once, Vena was spot on about everything.
"Let's go."
Time to try.
That was the decision.
Kiriel was resting in the sub-space she had created herself. She gazed sadly at something through glasses she rarely wore.
It was a small picture frame containing a child's photo.
"Finn."
The boy in the photo was apparently named Finn.
She rubbed the frame with her finger. It was worn from years of handling, evoking that much time passed.
The frame's subject had likely left the world long ago.
"Today, I miss you even more."
She set the frame down.
Even after so much time, the image of the child running around was vivid in her mind.
The whiny voice clinging to her at bedtime lingered in her ears.
"But don't worry. Your mom will come see you soon."
Finn was Kiriel's only son.
Not biologically hers, but she had raised him with all her love. Yet he contracted an incurable disease.
She tried everything to cure him.
She begged high-ranking priests for healing at great expense, but they failed.
She gathered so-called panaceas, but they failed too.
All skilled healers failed.
No one knew, but she even asked a black sorcerer. He tried to cheat her instead, so she erased him from existence.
Finn weakened rapidly, and his final day approached. She still clearly remembered his words.
-Mom... I don't want to die.
Kiriel closed her eyes.
Memories of that day flooded back.
"But it's okay now."
Siegfried had visited today.
She tasked him with acquiring the Shadow Sheep's Heart from the upcoming secret auction.
She'd provided ample funds, so he'd surely bring it.
'With the Shadow Sheep's Heart, all materials are ready.'
Materials to open a door to the Shadow World.
Legends said the Shadow World connected to the afterlife where souls went.
Her own research suggested it was somewhat true.
That possibility alone was enough.
She had gathered materials over long years, and now it was within reach.
"Finn. My baby. Wait just a bit. Mom will bring you back here."
For that alone, she built businesses worldwide and poured fortunes into alchemy.
At some point, she became known as the greatest alchemist, but alchemy was merely a tool to access the Shadow World.
As long as she could meet Finn, nothing else mattered.
That's when it happened.
"Who's there?"
Someone had arrived at the Saint-Dermann branch.
Checking via her magic orb, she saw familiar emerald hair.
It was Jamie Welton.