Chapter 27. Catching Two Rabbits (2)
Episode 27. How to Catch Two Rabbits (2)
An elegant silence enveloped the VVIP room. Because of Sylvia and me.
When I spat out the tea I'd been drinking, Sylvia frowned as if disgusted.
"I'm warning you. I don't like you."
"...I know."
In my previous life before regression, I had loved Sylvia.
I'd pursued her relentlessly. And been thoroughly rejected.
Perhaps she perceived it as some sort of confession assault.
She began avoiding me.
But. Not anymore.
"Whether you realize it or not, rejecting someone takes effort too. Understand? I hold no ill will toward you, but that's only because I respect your swordsmanship as a fellow knight. Don't misunderstand."
She's unusually talkative today. Was she always like this? Then again, in my past life, I'd never truly held a proper conversation with her.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"I'd prefer we remain just friends. Comrades."
I nodded.
It meant I agreed.
It also meant this conversation was over.
Sylvia eyed me suspiciously as she withdrew. I quietly watched her retreating figure.
"Ha."
A sigh escaped me. My head shook involuntarily.
Before regression. In my teens, just seeing Sylvia would make my heart pound and my vision swim.
By my twenties, trapped in inferiority complex, my affection had diluted somewhat—yet I'd still loved her.
But now, truly not. Though I pretend otherwise, I've been worn down.
Before regression. I spent decades roaming battlefields. Even during my Resistance days, there were those with whom I shared affection—but they died quickly.
Those who loved me died. Those I held dear died. Comrades died. And I too killed as many lives.
Now I've no desire to paint such futures.
Therefore. Romance is a luxury I cannot afford.
Sylvia and I should remain good comrades. That's for the best. I won't fall for her again. And she must grow stronger by my side—for humanity's sake.
Then.
-"We announce to our honored guests at Unique Rain. The auction will now commence. Please follow the attendants' guidance. Thank you."
The speakers chimed, heralding the auction's start as I rose. En route to the auction hall.
Sylvia eyed me skeptically and asked:
"You really didn't follow me here?"
"I told you I didn't."
"Fine. Act all nonchalant then."
"I didn't. I said I didn't."
She doubted me to the end.
And I denied to the end.
Thus.
We took our separate seats.
Unique Rain's auction hall was extraordinarily lavish.
Seats were upholstered in red velvet favored by nobility, edged with golden craftsmanship. The auction podium gleamed as if plated in platinum—white, red, and gold in harmony.
A subtle, refined woody scent wafted through the hall as laughter from the wealthy and noble lightened the air.
I perused the auction catalog placed on the VVIP seat's armrest.
"Hmm."
Rings, necklaces, porcelain, artifacts, swords, bracelets, shields, spears, staves—quite the assortment, but I skimmed through.
Then the final page.
Meteorite.
Literally "iron fallen from the sky," but this was no ordinary metal.
The catalog description read:
『Meteorite chooses its master.
Thus it is finicky.
Thus it is alluring.
Once bonded, it attunes to its master's mana—becoming a reservoir that stores and amplifies it.
Spears forged from meteorite never break, piercing steel like tofu.
Shields forged from meteorite never yield, crumpling spears like cloth.
A material embodying paradox.
That is meteorite.
The dream of smiths who command iron and fire.
The ideal of all warriors.
Therefore, valiant warriors, skilled artisans, wealthy merchants, noble aristocrats—claim this meteorite and become masters of the stars.』
Though blatantly commercial, it wasn't wrong.
Meteorite's market price ranged from 1.5 to 3 billion jenny.
Clearly not something just anyone could buy.
-"First, we express our deepest gratitude to all distinguished guests attending Unique Rain's auction today."
The auctioneer's voice resonated broadly.
All interior lights extinguished.
As the hall settled into quiet.
-"As the relentless cold fades and warm sunshine graces us these days..."
Items began ascending the podium.
-"...Spring has come to the North at last! And heralding this spring is our first item!"
Black dress shoes engraved with runes.
-"Behold this elegant masterpiece! A masterwork painstakingly crafted stitch by stitch by ancient artisans—'Shadow Room'! When imbued with mana, it silences footsteps and can manipulate shadow size!"
Starting bid: 5 million jenny. Increments of 100,000 jenny.
Initially, I intended to buy only the meteorite. But seeing "Shadow Room" changed my mind.
"Why is this here?"
Shadow Room.
Alias: Weaver of Darkness.
No mere artifact for moving shadows. It has a hidden trait.
If continuously infused with pure mana for a month without pause, an alternate space manifests within the shadow where the wearer can hide.
Once concealed, one could lurk undetected even amidst demon legions.
An absurd stealth tool, truly...
But what lunatic would infuse mana nonstop for a month?
"Only some Resistance nutjob would."
An artifact whose hidden trait is hard to discover—hence this price.
-"Number 44, 5.5 million jenny! Ah! Immediately, number 504, 7 million jenny!"
Had its hidden trait been known, many would've paid billions. Should I count this as fortunate?
-"Yes! Number 44 again, 7.5 million jenny! Ah, number 990, 8 million jenny!"
8.5 million, 9 million, 9.5 million. The bidding stalled at 15 million jenny.
-"Now, number 77, 15 million jenny! Any higher? Then three calls! 15 million jenny. 15 million jenny. 15 million..."
Shadow Room's bid: 15 million jenny. My funds: 20 billion jenny. No need to hesitate. Pocket change.
I tapped the small crystal orb on my seat's armrest.
-"Yes! Distinguished guest number 99! 18 million jenny!"
Number 77, who'd bid 15 million, countered.
-"Number 77, 19 million jenny!"
Without hesitation, I pressed the orb again.
-"Number 99! 20 million jenny!"
-"Number 77, 21 million."
-"Number 99! 22 million jenny!"
The price kept climbing. No matter. Ample funds. With this, survival odds rise in all scenarios.
-"Number 99, 35 million jenny. Any further bids?!"
-"If none, 35 million jenny. Three calls! 35 million, 35 million, 35 million jenny. Sold to number 99!"
Shadow Room was mine.
Clapclapclapclap—
Applause rang out as I gave a slight wave.
Getting such an artifact at this price? Is this how auctions usually are?
Though likely because I have 20 billion to burn, it was fun.
-"Next, a mystical orb! The Ether Core. A legendary orb said to contain immense condensed mana within! Starting bid: 10 million jenny. Increments of 1 million!"
I briefly studied the orb on stage. Why the hell is this here?
Ether Core.
Alias: Nucleus of Gigant Machina.
Among ancient relic weapons, the pinnacle—the golem weapon Gigant Machina, standing 1 kilometer tall.
The "core" powering that colossal frame was this very Ether Core.
Sealed by ancient magic, current technology can't harness it...
But in the near future. Gigant Machina is discovered in southern ruins.
The Leonhardt family reportedly bought it then for 200 billion.
No deliberation needed.
-"Number 333, 11 million jenny! Number 77, 13 million jenny! Number 904, 15 million jenny!"
I waited briefly. Letting the price stabilize minimizes losses.
Even if it's chump change, I'd rather not toss money into the void.
16 million, 18 million, 21 million, 25 million...
-"Number 77, 30 million jenny! Any others? Yes. Number 904, 35 million jenny! Ah! Here, number 77 bids 40 million jenny! From now, increments of 5 million jenny! 40 million jenny. Any higher?"
Tap. I touched the orb.
-"Yes! Number 99, 45 million jenny! Ah, number 77, 50 million jenny! Then, number 99, 55 million jenny! Any further?"
The auctioneer called three times.
-"Again, number 99! Ether Core sold for 55 million jenny!"
A 200-billion-jenny item for 55 million. Electric thrills surged through me. Auctions—this entertaining?
The auction continued. I bought useful items, haggled moderately over others.
Sometimes I just joined bidding wars—number 77 seemed quite greedy, so I played along before bowing out.
Engrossed, I ended up buying quite a few items... but no matter. Funds are ample.
Sylvia felt complex emotions watching the auction unfold.
-"Number 99. Acheon's Gap. Sold for 43 million jenny!"
Or more precisely, she felt both contempt and relief seeing Sion Karsen splurge recklessly.
'I thought he came for the meteorite too. But now it seems mere vanity.'
Moreover, his rival bidder number 77 was... Brener Winston, a central noble.
A man infamous for ostentation and vanity clinging to him like second skin. Sion Karsen was competing with him now.
-"Number 99! Lunatic Requiem sold for 65 million jenny!"
'They're amusing themselves just fine.'
Sion Karsen engrossed in bidding, tapping his orb—or Brener Winston opposite him, greed laid bare. No difference to her.
During the Golden Star Tournament, she'd thought Sion had truly changed. Taller frame, refined musculature, swordsmanship... She'd wondered if he was finally transforming. But.
'Seems his vanity remains unchanged.'
Sylvia shook her head slightly and flipped to the catalog's last page.
Meteorite.
The reason she'd come despite disinterest in auctions.
She needed more combat experience. And in battle, weapon quality decides life or death. Hence the meteorite.
"You're here for the meteorite, I see."
A nobleman beside her smiled smoothly, initiating conversation.
"Yes. Indeed."
"Meteorite would make an excellent lifelong blade."
"I hope so."
"None doubt Lady Sylvia's prowess. Your Golden Star finals were deeply impressive."
Natural praise lifted her mood, though she showed nothing. More knightly that way.
"Perhaps if Sir Sion Karsen is here, it might be..."
"Enough."
That Sion Karsen once loved Sylvia Meyer was widespread knowledge among nobility.
The man alluded to this, but when Sylvia growled—
"My apologies. That was presumptuous."
He retreated awkwardly with an embarrassed smile.
-"Number 77, 42 million jenny! Ah, number 99, 43 million jenny! Number 77, 50 million jenny! Yes. Any higher?"
Sylvia ignored the irksome numbers, quietly biding her time. Combining her knight's salary, family assets, and merit bonuses—
5 billion jenny.
Enough to buy the auction's meteorite and more.