Chapter 62

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 62

Chapter Title: The Ancient Compass

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It was a tricky situation where I couldn't exactly dig in my heels and refuse because of what I'd just done.

"Hmm... This isn't it."

She didn't stop there. She took a bite of a nearby dessert, shook her head, and began frantically ringing the signal buzzer mounted on the wall.

"Potatoes! I need potatoes!! Hot baked potatoes!!"

...

The young lady from a ducal house, ignoring elegant desserts to throw a fit for potatoes in the VIP room of all places.

Misha the head maid looked even more embarrassed than anyone, covering her face with both hands and letting out a sigh.

Pretend I didn't see that.

Beep!!

Soon, the signal announcing the start of the auction blared, and a hologram-like projection appeared on the previously blank red wall.

The screen showed a massive platform where the auction items were displayed.

As expected, the Queen's Twilight—one of the most valuable items—would almost certainly be auctioned off last.

"Let's just watch leisurely."

"Not interested."

Figured as much. For Luna Basilrin, who had endless treasures far superior to anything here slumbering in her sub-space, the trinkets on offer weren't all that appealing.

Luna flopped face-down on the long sofa, looking thoroughly bored, while one black reaper sprawled out on the round bed.

The only one still standing primly beside my chair was Misha the head maid...

"Sit down and take a break. You can't stand the whole time."

"I gratefully accept your kindness."

Misha the head maid had a subtly brazen side to her.

Soon, the auctioneer appeared on screen and launched into his pitch.

I shot to my feet.

So suddenly?

Gazes converged on me from my abrupt movement, so I sat back down.

'Now of all times?'

Of course, this was already the fourth one. Had it really been less than two months ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠since I opened my eyes?

Honestly, it felt a bit early to be receiving the fourth memory already.

That said, with all the new abilities I'd gain, there was no reason to refuse.

'Start right away.'

'Never had this happen before. How long?'

One week. No big deal.

I smiled in satisfaction.

Preparations for Marrow Cleansing were nearly complete. Now I could attempt it anytime I wanted.

Time to check the status window.

Ping!

Necromancy at the 6th Circle. For aura-based swordsmanship and martial arts, crossing the Master threshold was just a matter of completing Marrow Cleansing.

My specs weren't lacking anywhere right now, but getting stronger was never a bad thing.

Tapping expand would list everything I'd mastered.

"Whatcha doing?"

Luna stared at me as I gestured into empty air.

"I see strange flows of power at your fingertips. Doing something?"

I shook my head at her question and dismissed the status window.

It was really just for confirming what I'd learned anyway.

I'd know what I had even without it.

"Nothing much."

That said, I was pretty curious about what the Fourth Hall would turn out to be.

Not just memories, but the clear rewards—like aura or necro-mana—came along intact.

It'd be nice if it was something reliably powerful, but I couldn't choose, which was a shame.

I watched the auction proceed.

Nothing special: jewelry, artifacts, equipment, monster materials. But participation was lower than I'd expected—not very lively.

Luna was a walking treasure trove, I had no intention of buying, and Lady Isna from a wealthy house showed little interest.

Our only concern was whether the Queen's Twilight sold properly.

Then, something unexpected happened.

-And now!! Straight up! A relic imbued with ancient magic! It looks like a compass, but its purpose is...

Thud!!!

The moment the strange compass appeared on the platform, Luna bolted upright. Her hands trembled.

She stared blankly at it, then thrust her hand into empty air, rummaging to pull out items.

Small gems, expensive-looking jewelry at a glance.

Misha the head maid and Lady Isna—who wore a reaper's robe and mask—both looked at her in surprise at her odd behavior.

"Luna?"

"Th-that thing."

"Why."

"I need to buy that. I'll give everything I have, Leon!"

Her frantic shout bordered on panic.

Seeing her wildly pulling out her wealth, I knew I had to calm her down. I swept up the items she'd taken out, trying to shove them back into her sub-space.

But she wouldn't budge.

"Please! Leon! I need that! I'll give you everything I have!"

"It's fine. I've got enough money to buy it. No competition anyway, and I promised. I'd get it for you."

Her demeanor made it obvious. That compass was something she needed to find the ring she'd been searching for—Fate Road.

Though she'd said the ring had no special powers.

I wondered if such a compass even existed.

But her expression was so desperate I didn't pry.

I hit the bid button right away.

Starting bid: 1 million cel. About 1 million won from my past life.

Not expensive. Hardly anyone was bidding.

"5 million cel."

I bid aggressively from the start to crush any spirit.

These were filler items anyway.

No sane collector would pay top dollar for something like that.

-There we go! 5 million cel! Anyone higher? If no bids in 10 seconds, it goes for 5 million!

No takers despite the auctioneer's excited voice.

"No idea what it is, but see? We can snag it."

With the 45 million cel bullet provided by the handler who brought me here, it wasn't a big dent.

Of course, I'd need to check if it was a grant or a loan later.

For now, it was plenty.

As 3 seconds, 2, 1 approached, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Luna grew more anxious.

Then.

Beep!!

-7 million cel! Anyone higher?! 7 million cel!

I whipped my head around at the auctioneer's shout. A panel on screen showed 7 million.

"This cheeky bastard..."

I slammed the button for an overbid.

"Don't overbid on my compass."

-Whoa! 7.5 million cel!! Up to 7.5 million!

The price was climbing decently for an early item, drawing faint interest from others.

Beep!

9 million cel.

I swallowed my irritation at the escalation.

Wanna play money games, huh?

I bid exactly 9,000,001 cel.

Opponent countered with 12 million.

As numbers rose, I calculated mentally.

Then.

15 million cel.

Still room.

Won't hit the 45 million cap yet.

Even by past life standards, 45 million won was real money.

After my 15 million, opponent went to 20 million.

It'd exceed my immediate limit of 20 million, but a promise was a promise. I kept bidding.

20 million.

25 million.

30 million.

40 million.

We were at the limit now.

Luna, seeing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the endless climbs, grew frantic again and tried pulling gems from her sub-space.

"L-Leon..."

Should've bragged about a bigger budget when registering for the auction.

First time participating, and my inexperience showed.

I'd amassed immense power in Labyrinthos.

But I'd spent that time utterly detached from people and worldly ways.

This world had more I didn't know than I'd thought.

Anxiety mixed with intrigue.

If I lost it here, I wouldn't even know who snagged it.

Maybe call the handler and raise my limit.

But even at best speed, it'd fall hammer before procedures finished.

Then.

Beep!!

-2... 200 million cel, 200 million cel!!

The panel next to mine—the inactive one—lit up and dropped a bombshell.

"Huh?"

I turned in shock at the sudden jump. There sat the black reaper, one hand on a different button.

Ragged black robe, reaper's mask.

It was Isna Mielephon.

"Young Master Leon, do you need that?"

Her bid: a whopping 200 million cel.

A whole different scale from our 20-30 million tussle.

"Lady Isna?"

"Well, VIP-grade items mean good commissions, but your participation limit's 45 million, right? Black Friday's such a pain with these things. Anonymity means rigid caps..."

I stared blankly at her calm explanation.

Opponent wasn't sane either—quite the bold move.

Beep. 250 million cel.