The first auction house on the Alminus Central Stock Exchange, which even at regular auctions with decent items was never more than half full, was currently flooded. And these people were no one either.
«The master of the Nenma clan is here.»
«He probably intends to give it to the Iron Wall explorer instead of using it for himself. Didn't the first team guard die not long ago? It's probably to fill the empty place».
«Oh? Does the Lagman Company also seek that essence?»
«Is there anything a merchant can't buy when the price is right?»
«Hmm, but it won't be easy for items bought at auction to sell for the same price...»
«The value of an object does not only lie in cost. After all, Duke Kudo's birthday is approaching soon».
«True, if you can use that as an excuse to attend the banquet, you will be able to impress many nobles».
From a scout with brilliant equipment to people who weren't scouts, but clearly made money, I didn't see anyone participating just as a spectator. That was natural. As the auction became a hot topic, tickets apparently also sold at high prices.
Item value or not, ticketing was hell to begin with.
If Amelia hadn't announced the news of the auction before the information became public, she would have barely managed to get a ticket and come alone.
«Stop looking around like that. Nothing good will come of attracting attention».
I saw the first signs of discomfort and changed the subject familiarly. «Have you often been to places like this?»
«...I've run enough.»
It's true that she had been an explorer much longer than me. «Then I can ask you all my questions». I then spent the time exploring the surroundings out of the corner of my eye. «Surprisingly, there are many people who wear masks like us. I heard the auction winner will be processed as anonymous anyway».
«There will always be people who do not want their participation to be known».
«Oh, who is that guy in the suit over there? He doesn't look like a trader or an explorer».
«He is an agent sent by an influential family. He may be well dressed, but he is probably not from a noble family. A nobleman would first think about the reputation of the family even in such matters».
«Oh, really?»
Was it an encyclopedia or something? All questions I asked were answered without delay. As he asked more questions to confirm his performance, the auction had begun.
«Amelia... can we buy that?»
«...If you give up what will come next.»
«That's a no...»
The other items also seemed to have been carefully selected. Including the first article presented, the following ones were also of a very high level.
What type of exchange auction does a triple number item have?
It wasn't even a triple number with a poor performance. Although it was less useful to me, all attackers who used swords could use it.
Wow, if I had the money, I'd buy it too and keep it in the safe.
Every time a new article appeared, I saw the competition intensify despite my disappointment.
«140 million stones! We have 140 million stones. Are there more bidders? The article goes to the anonymous bidder!»
The auctions at this time were very refreshing. Instead of a system where bids could only be increased in increments determined by the moderator, it was a free bid system that allowed a high bid to be entered immediately. For a system like that, the bidding method was strangely modern.
Bip, bip, bip.
On the right armrest of each chair, there was a magic device that allowed you to dial a number. Once you set your bid and pressed Enter, the price appeared on the electronic podium board. Thanks to this, the identity of the bidder remained anonymous.
Admittedly, without a method of protecting anonymity like this, it could lead to a fight later.
For reference, this method was first used in the sky auction house. I learned this during my studies in the library. Apparently there was an incident where prestigious nobles started competing with each other under their real names and it turned into a fight.
«Now, here is the seventeenth article!» A new element appeared on the podium as if it were a sign. It was a test tube kept in a luxurious box. Many essences had appeared until now, but the circumstances of this one were different in many ways.
«Yandel.»
«I know.» Unlike the previous essences, there was a large image next to the box. It was a drawing of a large beast covered by a thick shell, roaring: Vol-Herchan.
Did they even prepare that? They really put a lot into this auction.
Auction participants were excited by the dynamic drawing that seemed to come to life at any moment.
«Oh...? Curious...»
«I thought this essence would appear at the end».
«Yeah. It's strange. A total of thirty-five items were shipped today, so there should still be more than half left...»
Some questioned the fact that the essence was presented in the middle of the auction, but it didn't seem strange to me at all. No, on the contrary, it was a tactic worthy of praise.
«The Alminus Company used his head».
If the essence were the final auction, those who saved their money would have had no choice but to wait until then. That left less room for bids on the other items. If this were auctioned in the middle to determine its owner from the beginning, that would change things. Since the fate of the remaining capital would have disappeared, they could bid on a necessary item without any psychological resistance.
«This item is the essence of Vol-Herchan obtained by Thunderfire of the Marel Clan in the last expedition by personally killing said ferocious beast...» The moderator began to officially explain the product and the story behind it, which changed the atmosphere in the room.
«Ejem ... »
People who chatted comfortably and established contacts with each other began to remain silent. Desire burned in the eyes of the explorers and the eyes of the merchants showed a sharp light like that of a wild cat waiting for an opportunity. They may not have wielded swords, but they seemed to be about to go into battle.
Tsk, who are you trying to win?
Bip, bip, bip-bip, bip.
I wrote the amount in advance.
«Now, the initial price is 50 million stones».
As soon as the auction started, I pressed enter.
Bip.
In response, a number appeared on the electronic board: 870 million stones. This was the reason why this auction became famous enough to enter Amelia's ears in the future.
There was only one offer. After a momentary silence following the truly violent increase, the moderator exhibited professionalism and spoke in a calm and forced voice. «870 million stones...! We have 870 million stones».
Then the commotion began.
«870 million stones?»
«What kind of crazy bastard...»
Some gaped in disbelief.
«Who would offer such an amount at once?»
Some were curious about my identity. While those who left the competition simply looked with amused eyes, people who were seriously searching for this essence were different.
«You must decide quickly before the offer is completed».
Their expressions changed as they quickly began to argue. Reactions here too were divided.
There were those who had already exceeded their budgets. «870 million stones is not reasonable...»
There were those who made their decisions based simply on profitability. «It can't be undone, but... Paying so much money for an essence that only guardians use is crazy. We lose the offer».
There were even those who began to suspect the offer.
«Why are you telling me not to bid?»
«It could be a trick on the part of the exchange».
«Are you talking about a decoy?»
«It is possible... but the exchange could have used this essence as bait with no intention of selling it from the beginning».
Some even expressed the possibility that the essence of Vol-Herchan was a fake list used to promote buyers, but that was not important. Even when their heads went numb at the dizzying amount of money, and even when it was difficult to make a clear decision on whether to make an offer or not because of conversations about how to increase the confusion, time passed.
Tic, tick.
«Any...more bidders...?» The moderator who had been lowering the offer without hesitation until now went on three times longer than usual before finally opening his mouth. Seeing the busy crowd looking at each other, he announced the end of the offer.
Burst! Burst! Burst!
When the clear bell rang indicating that he had not bid, I nodded several times with a satisfied smile.
Mhm, the flower of an auction is immediate purchase.
***
Once the storm-like auction was over, we went to the merchandise delivery room, paid the amount, and received the essence of Vol-Herchan.
«870 million stones...confirmed.» The staff member who handed us the products seemed to be quite tall, but other than looking at us cruelly for creating those strange rumors, he seemed to be very curious. But I figured this was what you called professionalism. «Goodbye.» She only looked at us from time to time, but didn't ask us who we were or make any unnecessary comments.
«What are you doing? Let's go».
When we left the goods delivery room, I felt gazes from all sides. Everyone seemed curious to know what we got, but since there was no way to know what item we bought from the thirty-five, no one rushed to talk to us.
«Does anyone follow you?»
«Not anymore. Judging by their level, they just followed me out of curiosity».
«¿Sí?»
«Where are you going?»
Where could I go except to one place? «To the temple».
After boarding a carriage out of Kommelby, we immediately entered the Church of Reatlas. The time was approaching to close the doors to outsiders, but we arrived on time.
«I see that you have come to erase the mark on your soul».
«Here, donation».
«Yeah. Will your comrade wait outside?»
«Use haré...»
I paid the exact amount of money we had left and removed the essence. The erased essence was the Corpse Golem, as I decided beforehand.
Come to think of it, I have not erased any essence in the temple.
I had heard about it from others, but the actual essence removal process I first experienced was much stranger than I expected.
Look at this address! In the game you just had to click the keyboard several times.
A white light enveloped me and I arrived at a pure white space. When I woke up naked, the blue dagger that the priest had just given me was in my hand, and around me were giant monsters. They were all locked in thick iron cages: Ogre, Orc Hero, Storm, Manticore, Bayon, and even my target today, Corpse Golem.
I watched them for a while before using the dagger to cut the thread of light connecting the corpse Golem to me.
¡Shaaaa!
When I came to, I was in the temple.
«This feels very strange».
«That's natural. After all, it is a connection etched in the soul that has been lost. This happens to most people the first time, so there's no need to worry too much. After a few days, you will get used to the void». «.
«The connection is lost, huh?» It sounded like something a priest from Reatlas would say, but I still found myself nodding. To say it was simply the feeling of emptiness from a reduction in statistics was enough to describe this feeling of apathy.
«Are you okay?»
«Ah, there's nothing to worry about. I'll be fine after eating some meat».
After finishing my affairs at the temple, Amelia and I returned to our inn. Then I took out the test tube I won at the auction.
«Amelia, are you ready?»
Amelia didn't seem to understand what he meant.
«The Records Stone Fragment might react the moment I take this, so I meant don't be alarmed».
«Ah...»
I met with the CEO and deposited the equipment in a safe. Amelia even followed her sister and took financial measures to prevent taxes from killing her in the future.
So if my prediction is correct... This should be the last piece of the puzzle.
I took out the Stone Fragment from the Records from subspace and absorbed the essence.
Well... that's why as essences.
The feeling of fullness was so dense that it was difficult to feel the empty space of the corpse Golem. As the light contained in the test tube was absorbed by my body, the force began to boil within me. Of course, the intensity was much weaker than that of the Ogre. An essence with such predetermined strength was rare even at rank 2.
Still, the important thing is skill.
Enjoying the sensation, I slowly opened my eyes. Then, seeing that the Records Stone Fragment was still unresponsive, I licked my lips bitterly. «... Was this not the case either?»
So what did I have to do from now on? Would I be stuck here for years? I couldn't even taste the joy of obtaining a new essence from anxiety.
«Yes, it's time for us to go back...» Amelia murmured a sigh.
«¿Eh?»
When I bowed my head, Amelia smiled as if to calm me down. «Don't worry, we can come back tomorrow». She seemed a little disappointed.