Chapter: 194
The reason why the Sloppy suggested I disguise myself was simple.
The problem with entering the Auction House was the existence of Lucy Allen itself.
So, if I become someone other than Lucy, then there would be no problem at all.
I could understand that much. I thought it wasn’t a bad suggestion.
However, the moment I saw the disguise the Sloppy brought, I gasped and shook my head.
A black parasol to block the hot sun. A large black hat to hide my noticeable hair. Plus, a flowing black dress.
I knew what to call this outfit, having been close enough to Japanese culture not to feel repulsed by creating a Mesugaki character.
Gothic Lolita.
Clothes often worn by shady little characters hiding something or with dark secrets.
“Excuse me, Sloppy. Are you a pervert?”
“Sloppy, why do you have to inject your sexual preferences into the disguise? It’s so blatant it’s disgusting!”
“No! That’s not it!”
There was a reason Sloppy offered me this outfit.
It hid my conspicuous face with the parasol and hat, covering my pale skin with the long dress.
Young Ladies in such outfits often have a shy personality, so it wouldn’t be weird for me to be quiet, allowing me to conceal my voice and distinctive way of speaking.
I understood the utility of that outfit.
I understood, but I still hated it!
I was in this situation because I didn’t want to wear those clothes, yet I was being offered them voluntarily?
Would I do that?!
“I think it would suit you well.”
The Sloppy Fox perched on my head mumbled something, but I ignored him.
Then I stubbornly asked Sloppy if there were other outfits available.
However, despite my whining, he only smiled awkwardly.
“Time is the issue.”
If I had had a leisurely time to prepare, I might have been able to disguise myself differently.
At the very least, if I had contacted him a few days in advance, I would have had more options.
Unfortunately, I had dropped by here unexpectedly just two hours before the auction started.
With nothing prepared and no time to prep, Sloppy wasn’t in a position to offer anything better than what he had now.
“If you’re planning to purchase items rather than enjoy the auction, sending a proxy could be an option. Here’s what’s written…”
Sloppy said this while handing me a list.
I received it, but didn’t read it seriously.
After all, I already memorized the items written in the auction list.
The auction at Nig’s Auction House has two types of products.
One is rare and valuable items that are worthy enough to be listed.
This is the kind of item that attracts many people vying for it.
The other consists of miscellaneous items deemed unworthy by the auction house.
These are inserted sporadically to give the attendees some breathing room, in between the expensive and precious items being continuously auctioned.
Among these, the former is always fixed, while the latter is randomly determined each time.
And usually, items that make users shout “jackpot” are discovered among the latter group.
I came here targeting both types.
Given my veteran gamer knowledge, continually enhanced Emotion Skill, and my high luck stat, I thought I could aim for a big win.
Thus, I wanted to participate in the auction in any case.
With a sigh, I lowered my head as I tore my gaze from the list and fixed it on the Gothic outfit hanging on the clothing rack.
[Do you really hate that outfit so much?]
While I hesitated, the Grandpa’s voice chimed in.
“Yeah. I hate it.”
[Why? I don’t think it’s a major flaw, nor do I think it’s unflattering on you.]
“Of course not.”
It wouldn’t be particularly strange to think of a cute girl wearing that.
The color may be slightly gloomy, but that’s all. Depending on the person, it’s a dress that could very well be deemed cute or pretty.
However, that’s all from the observer’s perspective.
Thinking about wearing it myself? And standing in front of others? That’s a whole different story.
[Is it embarrassing?]
“It’s similar yet different.”
The word “embarrassment” is indeed mixed in there.
But describing this feeling purely as embarrassment wouldn’t suffice.
There are simply too many emotions encapsulated within.
If I had to specify, it would be resistance.
A resistance to femininity.
It hasn’t even been a year since I possessed Lucy’s body.
Although numerous events had occurred during that time, I still consider myself a man.
It’s true that I’ve gotten used to wearing skirts due to forcibly wearing the academy uniform.
But there’s a limit to that.
An outfit that flutters and looks cute? That’s a bit much.
It’s much more normal than the clothes in Lucy’s wardrobe, but still…
[Last time, wearing that bizarre outfit in the forest didn’t seem to bother you.]
“That was an unavoidable situation!”
Grandpa! I had just barely managed to erase that from my memory, and now you have to dig it up?!
“And besides, it was under the condition that I would only show it to the Sloppy Fox!”
Eventually, all my party members ended up seeing me in that bunny girl outfit, but I never intended for that to happen.
I had planned to show it only to the Sloppy Fox and bury the memory within me.
Isn’t that how extraordinary conduct works?
The difference between doing something crazy alone at home and doing it in front of others feels entirely different!
The former ends with a brief moment of clarity, but the latter becomes a lifelong embarrassment buried in the past!
Do you know how painful it is to recall the moment I was caught wearing that bunny girl outfit by others?!
I don’t want to go through that experience again!
[Ring that Changes Light.]
Huh?
While I was half-heartedly flipping through the list, responding to Grandpa, I raised an eyebrow when I spotted an item that should not be on this auction list.
I roughly know what that is.
It’s a pair of rings that change color when you infuse them with magic power. When one side changes color, the opposite side does too.
Usually, it’s used for urgent communication by setting meanings for each color.
I remember it from a side quest.
It’s somewhat valuable, but not particularly expensive, categorized as a junk item. So why is it on the list?
Curious, I asked Sloppy, and he replied that the list he handed me was of all items being auctioned this time.
So, he meant that the list includes every item available for the auction, not just the ones set to be auctioned?
“If that’s the case, just say that sooner!”
“Hey, Sloppy! If that’s the case, you should have said it sooner. Are you so preoccupied with girls that you can’t think of anything else? Gross and incompetent pervert.”
“I’m pretty sure I mentioned it!”
Did he? I turned my gaze sideways, where Possell was giving an awkward smile.
He said it, but I simply didn’t hear it.
It’s all Grandpa’s fault.
Bringing up the bunny girl outfit and making me uncomfortable!
[I mentioned it before you spoke to me.]
Well, at least that’s good.
Now I can send a proxy without worry.
Just tell them which items I want and in what order, and they’ll take care of it.
Having set my mind at ease, I leisurely browsed through the list.
Gems that consume magic power?
Oh. So this is here too. This would be good for Joy.
If you steadily infuse magic power, it turns into a pretty useful item.
This is an item that boosts efficiency during paperwork, right?
This would be good for Benedict.
And then this…
While I pondered my budget in my head and considered what to buy, I froze when I read a line written on the list.
‘Key, this item…’
“Sloppy, is it true that this item is actually up for auction?”
“Yes, it’s not something extraordinary, but I heard there weren’t many items coming in this time.”
According to Sloppy, who said he learned this from the person in charge of sorting the auction items, I scowled fiercely at the line.
[Stone Tablet That Shines When Imbued with Divinity.]
At first glance, it looks like a junk item.
It shines brightly when someone who has walked the path of a god imbues it with divinity, but that’s about it.
In practical terms, it has no effect whatsoever.
There’s a notable phrase in the description, and each tablet has a different explanation, which made people wonder if there was something more to it, but most users didn’t care.
Nonetheless, everyone welcomed it when it dropped.
The drop rate of this stone tablet is extremely low, but when sold at the store or auction, it fetched a high price.
I heard that rich merchants who collect items related to the Lord Jushin buy it for a good price.
However, as weeks passed since the game’s release, the item’s evaluation flipped.
It was revealed by a user that this item served as a clue or a key to obtain specific gear.
Since then, ‘Stone Tablet That Shines When Imbued with Divinity’ has become an item to keep if you ever had leisure while leveling up a clergy-type character.
For other characters, it swiftly became better to sell it without a second thought.
But you know what?
Right now, I’m in the position of riding the Holy Knight tree.
There’s no way the shoddy lord is going to let me go, so I can’t change jobs either.
My head started to hurt.
‘Stone Tablet That Shines When Imbued with Divinity’ is expensive.
So unbelievably expensive.
Even investing my entire budget would just barely suffice.
If I were to purchase this, I would have to give up everything I had planned.
All the gifts I intended for others, and even the Bracelet of Recreation.
This is a jackpot.
If I announce that this is up for auction on the bulletin board, it would be recognized as a massive win.
But straight up purchasing it isn’t an option.
I have no clue whether this is a clue tablet or a key tablet.
I don’t need the clue.
I’m well aware of everything about it, so there’s no reason for me to seek clues.
However, I do need the key.
As a Holy Knight in the clergy class, it’s crucial.
“Can you differentiate between the two?”
“Of course. I can easily tell with my Emotion Skill.”
In other words, that means I need to head to the auction house.
“Lady Allen, what will you do?”
Perhaps because time was of the essence, Sloppy urged me with an awkward smile.
Behind him, the Gothic outfit was still flaunting its cuteness.
As a man, or as the rotten water of Soul Academy.
My contemplation didn’t last too long.
The former was a useless pride, but the latter was reality.
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