Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Pointy-Ears and the Auction House
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Rare ores.
Swords forged by master craftsmen.
Ancient grimoires, and so on.
Every time someone raised their paddle and shouted a bid, the numbers shot up like crazy.
"100 million! 120 million! 150 million! No more bids? Sold!"
It was a money bonanza with billions flying around.
But I didn't raise my paddle.
'My budget won't stretch that far.'
My targets weren't these 'appraised' items with fixed values.
Anything already evaluated would just sell at market price.
No room for me there.
What I was after were the 'unidentified' ones that others overlooked.
An hour passed.
Just as boredom had me yawning...
The auctioneer raised his voice.
"Alright, you've waited long enough! The highlight of the evening—event auction time!"
The murmurs from the crowd grew louder.
Event auction.
Otherwise known as 'random box' time.
A cart rolled onto the stage.
Atop it sat five boxes of various sizes.
From dusty old wooden crates to hefty metal ones.
These were items found inside gates but hauled out whole because they lacked keys or trap-disarming was impossible.
Or maybe the hunters just didn't want to risk it.
'Or lugging this heavy crap out wasn't worth the hassle.'
They were white elephants to most hunters.
Forcing them open could ruin the contents, or trigger an explosion that blows off an arm.
Too wasteful to toss, though.
So they turned the risk into cash.
Basically Russian roulette with a jackpot gamble thrown in.
"First item up! An iron box from the C-rank dungeon 'Silent Monastery'! Witnesses say skeleton mages were guarding it, so high chance of magic-related loot!"
The crowd buzzed at the auctioneer's salesman pitch.
"Starting bid: 50 million won!"
The game of chicken began.
'Hmm.'
A C-rank box could hit hundreds of millions on a jackpot.
But a dud? Could be rusted scrap or cursed bones.
"55 million!"
"60 million!"
Paddles rose sporadically.
I narrowed my eyes.
'Insight.'
[Unidentified Box]
Contents: A:5%, B:6%, C:30% ... Type: Deadly Poison
Special: 3% chance of poison leakage.
The world flipped to black and white, with only the boxes on stage glowing in color.
Text windows popped up above them.
Probabilities shifted by the second.
But the big picture stayed consistent.
'Trash.'
Poison wasn't bad if used right.
But only 41% chance for C-rank or better, and it was consumable.
Even the best case was maybe a fifth of top gear's value.
For 60 million? The guy who won let out a cheer. I clicked my tongue.
You just flushed your deposit down the toilet. And if you're unlucky, hospital bills too.
The second and third boxes were the same.
Mostly C or D-rank.
Not enough to burn my 500 million on.
'Am I striking out today?'
Another month wait?
Disappointment was settling in when the fifth and final box was wheeled to center stage.
A weathered wooden box the size of a grown man's torso.
Moss clung to its surface, riddled with rot-holes.
Looked like discarded junk to anyone.
"Last item! Ancient wooden box! Found inside an ancient tree in the B-rank gate 'Forgotten Forest'!"
"That's B-rank?"
"Scam, right?"
"Good for kindling maybe."
Jeers erupted from the seats.
B-rank boxes came silver-plated at minimum! Gold if lucky!
'That's the cliché.'
Sure, high-rank gates sometimes yielded duds.
But those should've been filtered out before auction.
The auctioneer sweated, flustered.
"But! Appraisers say the material is 'ebony wood'! At least centuries old!"
"Whatever, bring the next one!"
The mood chilled.
But not for me. My heart was pounding like mad.
Because the info in my eyes was different from everyone else's.
'Insight.'
[Unidentified Box]
Contents: A:20%, B:30%, C:20% D:10% ... Type: Skill
Special: Imbued with elf aura.
'Forgotten Forest.'
A named gate.
Where elves were driven out by lizardmen.
'Ebony wood and elf skill...! If it's a skillbook, even F-rank me could fetch billions...'
Awakened typically unlocked one skill, two at most.
I had three thanks to the possession status window, but the thirst remained.
Was that the end of my talents?
'No way the game's that stingy.'
Skillbook.
The ultimate cheat item that lets you slot up to six skills! One of a kind in this world!
My 'gacha instincts' were whispering.
This is a winner.
'If it's a skillbook, I have to win it.'
Could turn support-specialized me into an all-rounder.
"Starting bid: 10 million won!"
The auctioneer slashed the price.
'Dirt cheap!'
No one budged.
The gacha gods must be smiling on me.
'Good karma from living right?'
Silence stretched.
The auctioneer called again.
"10 million! Anyone? We'll pass if not. One, two..."
I raised my paddle.
"10 million!"
All eyes snapped to me.
A kid in a hoodie slouched in the corner.
"What? Kid pranking?"
"Must be dying to burn cash."
Sneers rang out.
Whatever. While you laugh, I'll reel in the real prize.
"10 million bid! Higher?"
Please...!
I prepped over 500 million.
But saving where I could was ideal.
But—
"20 million."
A low, clear voice sliced the quiet.
Beautiful tone, easy on the ears.
Like a princess voice actress.
I turned.
Front row, shadowed behind a pillar.
Someone in a black hood just like mine raised their paddle.
"20 million bid! 25?"
"30."
I countered instantly.
Can't lose.
This was my future on the line—a gacha roll.
Opponent flicked their paddle right back.
"40."
"50."
"60."
Auctioneer's voice pitched up.
Ping-pong bids flew.
Crowd stirred.
"What? Gold bars in that rotten box?"
"Both nuts?"
Not nuts.
At least I was sane.
'That bitch is the crazy one!'
'Ebony wood' + 'elf aura' combo meant over 50% for B-rank+ skillbook.
50% was guaranteed pull for a gacha cultist like me.
Plus my skills...!
'But who the hell is she?!'
Does she know and bid accordingly?
Or just a rich lunatic blowing cash?
"200 million!"
I raised my voice.
Straight unit jump.
Follow if you dare.
But no hesitation.
"250 million."
"...Hah."
Lips dry.
I licked them and raised again.
"300 million."
"350."
"400."
"450."
Insane pace.
50 million evaporating per second.
'Stop, you psycho!'
Heart hammering out my throat.
Palm sweat slicking the paddle grip.
"500 million!"
I shouted.
My limit. Balance: 524 million.
50 million increments meant this was my line.
Please stop here.
Please.
'Gacha God, please!'
But mocking my plea, she slowly raised her paddle.
That instant, her face flashed in the hood gap.
Delicate jawline.
Red lips curled in a smug sneer.
Triumphant smile.
A woman.
She stared me down.
Like a queen certain of victory, she declared loftily.
"550 million."
"...!"
Breath caught.
Over limit.
Auctioneer's hyped voice hammered my ears.
"550 million! Anyone higher?!"
Mind blanked white.
No.
Can't lose this.
It's mine.
My life-changing cheat key!
But reality was cruel.
Insufficient funds.
Those words shackled me.
'What now?'
Forfeit?
Wait for next?
No, one-offs like this don't come twice.
Gacha addict instincts screamed.
Miss it, regret forever.
"Time chip!!!!!!"
Auction house borrowed poker rules.
Each bidder got three 30-second time chips.
I slammed all mine down.
Fumbling pocket with shaky hands.
Smartphone.
My lifeline.
Screen on, found the name.
[Jin Su-bin (Sis)]
Fingers flew over keys.
Typos be damned.
[Sis lend money urgent plz]
[Plz now super urgent plz!!]
Hit send. One chip vanished.
Bzzz-.
Reply instant.
-Seo-ah? What's wrong? Hurt?!
-No auction missing item 200mil no 300mil plz quick!!
Insane request.
Freeloading sis of a week hits up for 300 million.
I'd block and call cops.
Lucky she didn't ask if I got scammed.
Auctioneer started countdown.
"550 million, 30 seconds!"
Heart exploding.
No time.
Please, Su-bin sis.
Trust me.
Show that blind affection once!
I'll lick your feet, be your attachment doll daily!
Bzzz-.
Vibration.
-[xx Bank] 200,000,000 won deposited. (Jin Su-bin)
"...Huh."
Hollow laugh escaped.
Then another message.
[That's all in account. Can't do 300. Sorry.]
Sorry?
Is she an idiot? A sucker?
[I trust you. Know you wouldn't waste it.]
Nose tingled.
This debt? Lifelong wouldn't cover it.
Sentiment later.
Now, turn it to ammo.
"550 million, 10 seconds left!"
Auctioneer raised gavel.
Opponent woman smirking, rising for victory.
I shot up, paddle high.
Screamed like a demon.
"6-ack-ack-ack-ack-illion!!!!!!!"
Venue froze like ice water dumped.
Eyes locked on me.
I pierced the silence.
War reignited.
Her smile crumpled.
She glared in disbelief, then irritably raised her paddle.
"650 million!"
"680 million!"
I didn't waver.
Backed by a solid patron now.
720 million in account.
Ready to dump it all.
No backing down.
"690 million..."
Her voice shook.
Limit hit.
Even she couldn't print money forever.
My lips twisted up.
Hood hid it, but my eyes gleamed mad.
Last one.
End it here.
"710 million!"
All but 10 million of my fortune.
My final bet.
Take it if you dare!
I'll grind gates three months for next shot!
No, don't take it...!
"..."
Silence.
She bit her lip.
Hand trembled, then slammed paddle down.
Forfeit.
"710 million! Higher? 710 million!"
Auctioneer's voice soared joyful.
"Sold!!!"
Bang-! Bang-! Bang-!
Gavel thuds synced with my pulse.
Done.
Won.
'I did it...!'
Strength drained as brain-melting ecstasy flooded me.
Dopamine deluge.
'Ahh... this is it.'
I won.
If I were a guy, might've pissed myself.
I eyed the woman.
Fuming, glaring daggers.
Her visible eyes burned murderous under the hood.
Whatever.
Winner's me.
I laughed at her—and the long-missed dopamine high.
"Kee-hee-hee-hit!"
Murmurs rose.
Finger-pointing: psycho girl.
"Kuhahaha! Won! Yes!"
Yeah, I'm the psycho.
Gacha-mad, money-mad, probability-mad girl.
Dopamine drought four months!
Gate dives daily, no breaks!
'Only weird if I wasn't cracking, you idiots!'
That battered wooden box heading my way.
SSR-grade guaranteed character-changer—how not to lose it?
Laughter unstoppable.
Belly-hurting.
Tears-streaming levels.
Black cargo pants, baggy gray hoodie.
Black mask and cap.
Mirror showed a shady dealer.
"Kuhahaha! Won! Yes!"
Yeah, I'm the psycho.
Gacha-mad, money-mad, probability-mad girl.
Dopamine drought four months!
Gate dives daily, no breaks!