Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Pointy-Ears and the Auction House
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The auction was over.
The bank balance had hit rock bottom.
710 million won.
Right after the gamble of Han Seo-ah's life ended, all that remained for her was an empty number, a sense of emptiness, and a bizarre high.
The auction house seats, where the heat of the bidding was cooling.
During the brief break, Seo-ah turned on her smartphone with trembling hands.
Balance: 11,150,000 won
Over 500 million won had vanished in an instant.
It was the miraculous result of combining her own original 520 million won with the 200 million sent by Jin Su-bin.
"Haa..."
A long sigh escaped her.
But there were no regrets.
Seo-ah immediately launched the banking app.
Send Amount: 10,000,000 won
Recipient: Jin Su-bin (Sis)
She pressed the transfer button without hesitation.
Transfer Complete
Now, only about a million won remained.
Compared to what she'd spent today, it was pocket change.
But it was enough not to interfere with daily life for the moment—
'Debts should be paid back quickly.'
She sent a message.
Me: Thanks to you, the auction went great. Appreciate it.
ZZing—
A reply came right away.
Jin Su-bin: Good work. Looks like a really nice item came up.
Me: I'll show you when I get home. And I sent the remaining money. I'll pay back what I borrowed plus interest for sure! Super quick!
Jin Su-bin: You can take your time. Seo-ah, do you have spending money?
She could picture Jin Su-bin's worried face on the other side of the screen.
Seo-ah pouted her lips and tapped out a reply.
Me: I kept a little. Can't live owing money, it's my personality.
Jin Su-bin: Hmm... Seeing stuff like this, you really are such a responsible adult.
Me: I am an adult.
Jin Su-bin: But my attachment doll?
"..."
Seo-ah pondered how to reply.
She wanted to say no, but Jin Su-bin's face, who had lent her the money, floated up.
-[If you tell me to lick your feet, I will, and I'll become your attachment doll every day!]-
She had thought that just minutes ago.
Seo-ah let out a sigh and sent an "okay" reply.
Jiiing—
Jin Su-bin: Eaten yet?
Me: About to go eat.
Jin Su-bin: Get something tasty. Expensive stuff. Tell me if you're short on cash.
A faint smile spread across Seo-ah's lips as she read the messages.
'She's a real angel.'
In this harsh capitalist society.
Even in the cutthroat hunter world without blood or tears... such a pushover...
No, an angel existed!
Seo-ah hugged her smartphone to her chest and closed her eyes for a moment.
Jin Su-bin's kindness warmed her heart like a heater.
"I'll definitely succeed and multiply it several times over for you."
She murmured softly and stood up.
The auction schedule still had a bit left.
But with the main event, the 'Unidentified Box' auction, over, the hall's heat had died down.
She checked the time by rotating her wrist.
'2:40 PM.'
Item pickup and settlement were possible only after all auctions ended at 5 PM.
Until then, she had to kill time somehow.
'Let's go out and get some air.'
Seo-ah rubbed her stiff lower back and exited the auction house.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Hunter Market square was still bustling.
Unlike the tense atmosphere of the auction house, this place brimmed with the unique liveliness of a marketplace.
Sizzle sizzle—
The sound of oil frying, accompanied by the stimulating scent of spicy spices, tickled her nose.
Seo-ah's steps naturally halted.
'Skewer stall...'
"Orc thigh skewers! 10,000 won each! Eating one surges your power!"
A burly, muscular merchant was turning skewers over charcoal.
Not real orc, of course.
The treaty between the Ain and the other races had long ago granted human rights to all intelligent beings capable of speech
'Not like grandma bossam is made from actual grandmas.'
Just visuals worthy of the name orc thigh meat.
A hunk of meat as thick as an adult's arm was browning appetizingly.
Gulp—
'Looks delicious...'
Seo-ah swallowed hard.
She'd had a hearty miso soup for breakfast.
But as tension eased, hunger clawed at her stomach walls.
'Buy that one! Boss!'
Her stomach wailed.
'Can you even eat it?'
'Of course!'
'You'll eat three bites and say you can't anymore.'
'What nonsense! Back in the day, I mixed three ramyeons with rice... Wait, I'm the stomach!'
Bullshit.
Maybe because her stomach was small.
This body couldn't eat much, but the intervals between meals were short.
'Now I get why women carry snacks everywhere every day.'
Meals were too filling; she needed something quick to fill the belly.
'Hand it over! Stuff that skewer right into me... Fill me to bursting with big, soft chunks!'
'Don't say dangerous things.'
'What's wrong with that!'
Giving in to her stomach's pleas, she approached the skewer stall.
"Uncle, one please. Lots of spicy sauce."
"Oho! Little customer, you handle spicy well?"
"How spicy is it?"
"Hmm... They say it's tasty spicy. Not sure myself?"
"What kinda owner doesn't know that."
"I don't like skewers."
"Just... give me one."
"Here ya go!"
The skewer the merchant handed over was bigger than Seo-ah's face.
She took it with both hands and took a big bite.
Crunch.
Crispy outside, moist inside.
Juices burst, filling her mouth.
'Pork after all.'
Maybe a secret sauce that even ten orcs dying wouldn't reveal.
The heap of spices stung her tongue sharply.
"Mmm...!"
Her brows furrowed.
Delicious.
A wild flavor worlds apart from convenience store hotbars.
'This place is a gem.'
"Little miss. Like it?"
"Munch munch... Decent. I'll come again."
Seo-ah strolled the square, cheeks bulging as she chewed.
Plenty to see.
A craftsman tanning freshly caught monster hides.
A blacksmith repairing broken weapons.
Peddlers selling potions of unknown origin.
Each sight hammered home that this was the 'hunter world.'
"This is polish mixed with C-rank mana stone powder. Keeps blades from dulling!"
"Fresh glowing moss from the dungeon. Can use as lighting."
"Heard about us. Our guild this time..."
Seo-ah enjoyed window shopping.
Not much cash, but looking was free.
How long had she wandered?
'Legs starting to hurt.'
149cm petite frame.
Plus F-rank trash stamina—roaming the vast square was heavy labor.
Her calves felt swollen.
"Ah... this stamina sucks."
Seo-ah plopped onto a bench.
Clock showed just past 4 PM.
'One hour till auction ends.'
A long time.
But no energy to wander more.
'Just go sit there.'
Auction seats were cushy.
Better to go watch remaining items, conserve stamina.
Might be a 'hidden gem.'
Seo-ah stuck the remaining skewer in her mouth and trudged to the auction entrance.
Even after an hour, she hadn't finished one skewer.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The entrance still had burly guards.
They already remembered Seo-ah's face (precisely, her balance).
They parted without issue.
That was when.
"Hold on."
Someone blocked Seo-ah's path.
A person in a deep black robe.
The shadowy figure obstructed her view.
Seo-ah looked up at the opponent.
'What...'
The jawline visible under the hood looked familiar.
And more than that.
The chilling aura emanating from the opponent stirred memories.
'Ah, that person.'
The woman who had bid up to 710 million at the auction.
'That crazy bitch...! Stole my money!'
Auctions were competitive by nature...!
But the rage of buying an item worth a few tens of millions for double!
If favorability showed in the status window, it'd be 0, Seo-ah thought.
She pulled the skewer stick from her mouth, showing wariness.
"Who are you? Move."
"Let's talk."
Her voice was calm, but the coercive force within was unmistakable.
The woman didn't wait for a reply.
She grabbed Seo-ah's slender wrist.
"Ugh...! What!"
The grip strength was considerable.
For an F-rank like Seo-ah, impossible to shake off.
"What are you doing! Let go!"
"How about a quiet place. You don't want to cause a scene here."
"What if I say no? Guard uncle! Over here!"
As Seo-ah tried to yell, the woman's finger touched her lips.
"Shh."
The woman leaned down and whispered in Seo-ah's ear.
"I'll give you more money. Hand over that box to me."
"......What?"
"710 million, right? I'll give 1 billion. You'd earn 300 million right there. Not a bad deal."
300 million.
Seo-ah's eyes wavered briefly at the words.
Earn 300 million without moving.
Pure capitalist logic: pure profit.
But.
'Don't make me laugh.'
That was for normal people.
Seo-ah's gacha instincts rejected it.
That box held 'possibilities' beyond monetary value.
Above all, it was a victory she'd won.
'If a skillbook really comes out, its value would be several times more.'
Her temptation would work on average hunters—
"No thanks."
Seo-ah refused flatly.
"Even if you offered 10 billion instead of 1, I wouldn't sell. It's mine."
"......Too greedy."
The woman's voice dropped low.
She tightened her grip on Seo-ah's wrist.
Pain like her joint would pop surged.
"Ow! It hurts!"
Seo-ah screamed and flailed.
Onlookers' gazes gathered.
Guards sensed the odd vibe and started approaching.
The woman clicked her tongue shortly.
"Tch. What a hassle."
She released Seo-ah's wrist abruptly.
Then sighed deeply and flipped back her hood.
Smoothly—
The black cloth flowed down.
Revealing what was hidden within.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment.
"......Huh?"
Seo-ah's mouth fell open.
Dazzling platinum hair cascading.
Deep green eyes contrasting starkly with her ghostly pale skin.
Features too perfect to believe human.
But what overwhelmed all that beauty was something else.
Long, pointed ears poking through her hair.
"E-elf?"
Seo-ah muttered in a dazed voice.
A race straight out of fantasy novels or games stood before her.
Gate Override
Shortened to 'Geora'.
In this world,異種 races had crossed over when gates opened.
Orcs, elves, fairies, beastkin, minorities.
'Still, they're so rare. First time seeing one in person.'
The perky ears felt alien to Seo-ah.
"Yes. Now do you understand? That item belongs to an elf. From my homeland, no less."
She.
"I'm Ellicia von Etelvice. Won't you hand that item over to me?"
Ellicia looked down at Seo-ah with arrogant eyes.
"I'll reward you if you wish. Return the item to its owner."
She crossed her arms and continued.