…First, let’s calm down.
I pinched the back of my hand, desperately trying to quell the heat in my heart.
Thump, thump, thump…
Cold head, hot chest, cold head, hot chest, hot head, cold chest… Oh, wait, that’s not right.
Swirl, swirl, swirl…
Lava crystal.
A gem formed from hardened lava, infused with magical energy, that occasionally appears near the volcanic crater in the latter half of the original work. Among materials infused with fire properties, it was something used to create near-endgame level equipment.
While it could be used as an enchantment material just as it is, the fact was probably unknown at this point—after all, the recipe appears as a dungeon reward.
So, it’s likely that few people understand the value of that stone.
Compared to previous items, the competition would surely be less fierce.
But because of that, I needed to be more careful in planning my operation.
What if I raised my hand recklessly?
Whoosh!
What if I threw a fortune?
If luck was on my side, I might just be treated as a diversion, but if it wasn’t, I could blow my entire fortune or end up without winning the bid at all. If I missed this, I wouldn’t be able to get it until at least the second semester of my sophomore year. So, I must be cautious and carefully plan my operation to secure a satisfactory deal.
I bit back the desire to raise my hand and rolled my eyes.
The auction hadn’t started yet. I could see the host, Robron, taking a bit of time, perhaps trying to gauge the mood of the guests.
There was still plenty of time.
I needed to assess who my competitors were first.
I quietly scanned the possible competitors. The overall atmosphere leaned toward disinterest in this particular item, but there were still a few who showed curiosity about the lava crystal.
“A lava crystal, huh… I don’t know what it’s used for, but should I buy it just in case? Hehehe…”
The pig mask who had splurged a terrifying amount on a magic sword.
“It looks like an interesting material. I doubt the bidding will be too fierce; shall I give it a try?”
A wolf mask that seemed to be an adventurer.
So, two notable competitors?
The main competitor would probably be the pig mask. I recalled the amount of gold coins I had brought.
500 gold coins.
Considering the materials I originally planned to buy, I could realistically use about 300 gold coins. It wasn’t a small amount, but neither was it a lot. Given the value of the lava crystal in the game, this was incredibly cheap, but since everyone here was unaware of the stone’s worth, they likely wouldn’t bet too much on it.
The competitors probably had bigger capital than I did.
Especially the pig mask, who was throwing around 2000 gold coins, not to mention the wolf mask who bid up to 1000 for the magic sword auction, which made me disadvantageously outmatched in terms of capital.
I could say that opting to simply throw in a large amount of money for a straightforward win was going to be tough.
Alright, let’s rethink this.
What’s my weapon?
“…Rue. Can you, by any chance, mesmerize that man?”
[That’s impossible. There’s a barrier here that prevents the use of magic. If your magical power were substantial, you might manage it somehow… but with your meager power, it’s out of the question.]
So, the simplest method won’t work. Somewhat expected.
Then, for now, the idea of overwhelming him with magic to force him out of the competition is off the table. The next option… is to make him think, ‘Is that item really worth this much money?’
How can I do that?
“Then, I will start the auction for the lava crystal! The rules remain the same! To bid higher, you must put in a sum greater than the last bid!”
As the auction began and attention shifted toward Robron, I quietly spoke to Millia and the kids.
“Millia.”
“Eek?!”
“Don’t make strange noises. People are looking.” I casually glanced around to see that everyone who had been interested was now distracted, then looked at the three little ones in turn and said,
“You have a job to do…”
—————————
‘Indeed, there are few participants.’
The auction house owner, Kaliba Robron, scanned the crowd with a sharp gaze while smiling.
Lava crystal.
An ambiguous item among today’s auction offerings. It seemed less like it was put up for sale and more like a tool to give guests a brief pause before the main course began to cook.
‘It’s something I retrieved in lieu of a debt, but I don’t know what it can be used for.’
Even when consulting an appraiser, all I got was “a stone infused with fire property magic.” Perhaps I could get a decent price if I sold it to a magician, but compared to the brilliant flame stone, it appeared far too meager, so Robron had long since abandoned that thought.
The main item of today’s auction was ‘Noam’s Magic Book,’ so there was no need to fuss over such a trivial stone. Therefore, Robron had expected this auction would end for a petty price that wouldn’t even add up to a handful of gold coins.
“Now, can I see a hand from those who wish to purchase this gem? We’ll start at 5 gold coins!”
“10 gold coins.”
‘The head of the renowned Lawrence family from the continent… More important players have entered the game than I thought.’
He was a VIP who frequently visited this auction house, so even with that mask on, it was easy to recognize him. After all, he insisted on wearing a pig mask. Realizing the situation, Robron pointed at the pig mask with his palm and exclaimed,
“10 gold coins! 10 gold coins are here! Is there anyone willing to take that item from this gentleman?”
“That person is…”
“I was going to consider it, but I guess I’ll have to pass.”
“Besides, there’s going to be a magic book auction soon; no need to throw money around here.”
A chorus of sighs and resignations echoed from the crowd. Robron inwardly cursed at the somewhat dull progression. With a big player participating right from the start, no one was willing to challenge carelessly. Still, from his position, wanting to make as much profit as possible, it was an unpleasant situation, but it was unavoidable, considering the next item.
Robron hid his disappointment and shouted,
“Is there anyone for a higher bid? If not, the lava crystal will go to this gentleman…”
“20.”
‘Not completely dull, I suppose.’
Here comes a competitor.
The wolf mask called out in a low voice, raising his hand, with his arms crossed, as if he thought winning would be nice, but not a big deal if it didn’t happen. The pig mask immediately raised his hand to announce an upper bid.
“30 gold coins.”
“Hmm. 40.”
“50 gold coins.”
As the auction, which he thought would be trivial, picked up some excitement, people who had been in the restroom or chatting began to refocus their attention on the auction. For Robron, this was good news.
He could stoke the room before the next auction started.
It was disappointing to know the victor was practically predetermined, but…
‘It’s a pity that Mr. Lawrence is the one guaranteed to win.’
It might’ve been more fun if mediocre competitors were struggling against each other, but just Lawrence’s participation meant the lava crystal was already fulfilling its role. At this rate, even if it sold for 50 gold coins, it wouldn’t be a loss.
Just as Robron, satisfied, was about to announce the end of what looked like a stalled bidding war.
In the corner of the audience seats, a small hand raised in a new upper bid.
“100 gold coins!”
“Lady?”
With the sudden appearance of a three-digit bid and the bewildered voice of a man, all eyes turned to the new competitor.
‘What, she’s just a kid?’
‘Is she seriously going to spend 100 gold coins on that stone?’
Soon, a hulking man in a calf skull mask started to discourage the lady in a bewildered voice.
“100 gold coins for such a stone is way too much, Lady. Shouldn’t you save a little for the magic book bidding coming up?”
“W-well. Mill, no, Ch-i-friend, I think this is a waste…”
“Right. You came to see the magic book, right? You should save some for that auction.”
Small voices, though audible enough for those nearby. The lady with red hair’s friends and the knight-like man were actively trying to dissuade her, but the girl stubbornly retorted.
“But it’s pretty! Displaying it at the store will definitely be beautiful!”
The sight of her shouting back at the man like a childish little girl made the onlookers’ expressions sour.
‘Whoever she is, she seems like a spoiled brat.’
‘Just when it was getting interesting, she splashed cold water on it.’
‘A noble lady with neither discernment nor decorum… I wonder what family she belongs to.’
Robron, keenly aware of the unusual shift in the auction’s atmosphere due to the involvement of the red-haired girl, subtly furrowed his brow. While it’s a good thing that the bidding amount jumped into three digits, the excitement was likely to die instantly now.
Yet, the auction had to continue, so Robron clapped his hands vigorously and announced powerfully enough for everyone in the hall to hear.
“Let me hear it! 100 gold coins! A whopping 100 gold coins have been offered! Is there anyone wishing to bid higher?”
“150.”
The heartless wolf mask raised his hand and declared.
‘Is that it?
“I profit! 200!”
“Lady, your lord will scold you for this.”
“But I want it… The magic book can be bought later…”
‘Ha. Such a spoiled child.’
‘What a dull opponent.’
With her pure childishness on display, the pig mask and the wolf mask, observing from the sidelines, couldn’t help but smirk. Their thoughts were aligned as they leaned their hands on the armrests.
No further upper bids would come.
To bid higher on such a trivial item while bullying a child could only come off as cruel to both.
Neither had the motivation to show such a regrettable sight just to acquire the lava crystal.
Ultimately, both clearly decided to forgo the lava crystal.
‘It’s over.’
Robron, feeling in his gut that no hands had been raised for nearly a minute, instinctively declared the auction over.
“200 gold coins! The lava crystal has been sold for 200 gold coins! The lady in the rabbit mask is requested to receive her item once the auction concludes!”
‘I won for less money than I expected.’
The sole victor of this battle wore a smug smile on his face.
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