Chapter 101
An employee neatly dressed in a suit strode forward and opened the door.
Through the crack in the door, I saw an old gentleman, sunk deep into the sofa, flipping through docunts while smoking a cigarette.
It was the very auctioneer who had presided over the bidding at the Auction House.
The employee approached the old gentleman, bowed his head, and spoke.
“Boss, today’s VIP is……”
Before the employee could even finish, the old gentleman exhaled smoke.
“I know.”
He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, then tossed the docunts at the employee.
The old gentleman walked toward the settlent waiting room where the winning bidder should be waiting.
That old gentleman’s na was commonly known as ‘Boss Skoll.’
He was both the auctioneer of the Auction House and the man who owned its managent rights.
Every week, he ran auctions with items either purchased by or entrusted to the Auction House.
The Auction House’s strategy was to always put at least one ‘hit product’ on the line as bait.
Among the consigned items this ti, the one given by the Finjer Family of the Four Great Families, ‘Clovarium,’ was exactly that.
Skoll had estimated it at around 400,000 gold, but…… thanks to ‘a certain soone’ showing off, it had been sold successfully at more than double the expected price.
Of course, it was a consignnt sale, but the commission alone brought in considerable profit.
It should have been a situation that left him pleased……
Yet Skoll’s face was filled with worry.
An unknown anxiety tightened around his chest.
Right, because the winning bidder was none other than Dedenkman’s infamous troublemaker, Villed.
‘When I first heard that Dedenkman was going to participate in the auction, I was honestly pleased.’
Skoll rembered that mont.
He had checked the list himself.
Even among the employees, rumors had spread that one of the Four Great Families had applied for the auction.
But the applicant wasn’t Count Doshik Deron of Dedenkman, nor was it his eldest son, even Lord Toledo.
‘Not the eldest, but instead the second son, infamous as a good-for-nothing.’
What if, by so chance, Dedenkman’s troublemaker had just co to fool around in the auction hall?
What if, without money, it was just a whim born from a shallow desire to flaunt himself?
It was worriso, but he was still undeniably a son of Dedenkman.
If the family paid on his behalf, the sum would be more than sufficiently covered.
That was what Skoll had expected, but then he heard an unexpected answer from Villed.
“…What?”
Skoll blinked in front of Villed.
That little unease that had lingered deep inside his heart…… had finally co true.
“How many tis do I have to say it before you understand? I can’t pay right now.”
“……Ah.”
As expected.
Skoll’s intuition had not been wrong.
The mont Villed declared it so rudely, Skoll realized his mistake.
For a split second, fury surged within him, but his opponent was the bloodline of one of the Four Great Families.
Grinding his teeth, he forced himself to calmly ask again.
“Then…… young master, how do you intend to settle the paynt……?”
“Well, you don’t need to worry about that.”
Villed shrugged casually as if it were nothing and answered right away.
“I’ll pay the full amount within a month.”
A month?
Before the stunned Skoll could even question it, Villed gestured toward the packaged goods.
“Yeah, for the sake of trust, I’ll pay for these first.”
Villed pulled out a heavy pouch from his pocket.
Without much expectation, Skoll opened the pouch.
Using mana, he quickly counted the gold coins inside.
……Exactly 81,000 gold.
It was the amount calculated for the items excluding ‘Clovarium.’
‘In front of a million gold…… and he calls a re eighty thousand trust?’
Skoll was dumbfounded.
He barely managed to hide the curse that almost slipped out onto his face.
“Since I’ve settled the paynt, I’ll be taking the goods with .”
At Villed’s response, Skoll flinched in shock and opened his mouth.
“What? Young master, you haven’t yet settled the amount for Clovarium!”
“Why are you making such a fuss? I’m only taking the things I already paid for. Do you think I lack even that much conscience? I’ll collect Clovarium once I’ve paid the auction sum.”
It was misfortune within fortune.
Since his opponent was a worthless scoundrel, he had feared there would be not even a shred of conscience.
“Very well, understood. You may take the goods whose paynts have been settled.”
Skoll answered while wiping the cold sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.
Though he ran an auction house often attended by nobles, he despised this type of aristocrat.
Nothing more and nothing less than vanity, born from the desire to flaunt their wealth.
He could only think that the bid had been driven up as a form of entertainnt or idle amusent.
‘From the beginning…… why did he even buy that Spirit Grass?’
Skoll could not understand.
It was truly baffling.
Unless one were an investor or a farr, there was no reason for a high noble to purchase ‘Spirit Grass seeds.’
Among the cheaper items in the auction, Spirit Grass took five years to grow.
Why would a noble buy such a thing……?
Surely it was just a passing curiosity, or for amusent.
Like buying a superstitious gemstone or an old artwork, an act of vanity to own sothing useless — or rely to stave off boredom.
“As you wish, I’ll extend the deadline for paynt by one month. However, there are conditions.”
Skoll received a parchnt docunt from an employee.
The Four Great Families could normally be trusted without such contracts.
But as it was Dedenkman’s second son, he was far from reliable.
“You must sign a contract to extend the deadline. After all, for the Dedenkman Family, a million gold isn’t even that much money.”
“That’s insulting. Do you think I’d be incapable of gathering such a trivial sum?”
When Villed raised his voice, Skoll wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed his head.
“No…… you misunderstand. It is not that, but rely a matter of formal custom due to the high price of the item.”
When Skoll snapped his fingers, a pen appeared in midair and began writing letters on the parchnt.
“This contract will take effect only if, by so chance, a natural disaster prevents the paynt of one million gold within the month.”
He handed the completed parchnt to Villed.
「Riz Villed Dedencman Ludwig, should he violate the contract, will have his family compensate the loss according to auction law, covering both the item and its price in penalty damages.」
Though the contract spanned ten pages of parchnt, this was the essence of its contents.
“If you agree to this docunt, I will extend the paynt deadline by one month. Surely, you will agree, won’t you? After all, are you not from the great Dedenkman Family? Since the family will pay in the end, what need is there for concern?”
“Hm……”
Perhaps because of his flattery, Villed let out a short hum and nodded.
“I’ll sign it.”
Villed only glanced briefly at the lengthy contract for a few seconds before gesturing for a pen.
“Thank you. In accordance with custom, it has been drawn up as a mana contract.”
Skoll answered as though it were only natural.
A mana contract was not a simple signature, but an absolute bond sealed with one’s mana.
The only ti one could escape a mana contract was after death.
Because it was such an absolute contract, one worth staking one’s life on, Skoll spoke carefully, watching Villed’s reaction, fearing he might refuse.
“Fine.”
As if ignorant of the dangers of a mana contract, Villed accepted without hesitation.
When he signed with blue mana, the letters seeped into the parchnt.
The mana was so weak that Skoll doubted he could even complete the contract.
Fortunately, he managed to seal the contract with mana.
……Ti passed, and the next night arrived.
“Boss, here is a letter for you.”
Skoll received a thick envelope from an employee.
The sender written on the stationery was…… ‘Crow.’
He was the greatest information broker of the underworld.
If it ca from him, the intel would be worth every coin.
Swirling his wine glass, Skoll read through the information.
“Kuh, kuhuhuhu……”
The more he read, the harder it beca to suppress his laughter.
‘I had already thought sothing was strange.’
Everything was proceeding exactly as Skoll had expected.
‘Villed is in a situation where he has been all but abandoned by his family.’
According to the information provided by Crow, there was absolutely no way for Villed to pay back a million at present.
‘……A month from now will be quite interesting.’
Imagining one million gold, along with Clovarium and other treasures, falling into his hands, Skoll tilted back his wine glass.
On the morning of a holiday, as dawn broke.
I stood before a small garden plot, holding a small shovel.
The plot was only about one and a half ters across in both directions.
This was the land for planting Spirit Grass.
“Shall I begin?”
The first step was preparing the soil.
I carefully mixed the soil with an item called ‘Goddess’s Premium Fertilizer,’ ensuring it blended well and softened.
After tilling the ground, I touched it with my hand.
It was good soil, with drainage, aeration, and nutrients balanced in harmony.
Once I confird that, I began sowing the ‘Spirit Grass seeds.’
‘Spirit Grass is one of the most difficult plants to cultivate in this world.’
That was why I planted the seeds with even more care, placing them at intervals of ten centiters.
The total number of seeds to be planted in this land was one hundred and ten.
‘Since Boogie can only affect about one and a half ters in both directions……’
I did not force more than necessary, and planted only the amount of seeds needed.
After planting all the seeds, I was catching my breath.
Boogie, who had been watching plant the seeds, began to move.
Even without being commanded, Boogie crawled slowly to the center of the field.
– Kkiiiik……
A faint light blood around Boogie.
It was the sight of the ‘Illusory Paradise’ skill activating, boosting the growth rate of the surrounding crops.
Out of concern, I spoke to him.
“Boogie, you’re really not overexerting yourself, are you?”
– Kkiik!
Boogie replied as if he was perfectly fine.
Well, I could feel directly the state of a spirit beast as its master.
‘Indeed…… even before, Boogie had radiated energy all day long without it affecting his health or mind at all.’
Thanks to that, I could entrust the Spirit Grass field to Boogie without worry.
After so ti, a small movent was detected in the soil.
All at once, sothing green popped out.
Tiny sprouts.
‘Already?’
The plant that normally took five years of careful cultivation was growing rapidly, as if ti itself had been fast-forwarded.
With each passing day, Spirit Grass underwent countless changes.
The sprouts raised stems, sprouted leaves, and as if waiting eagerly, advanced to the next stage every day.
Without magic, without dicine, relying solely on Boogie’s energy.
‘At this rate, there shouldn’t be any problem.’
Watching this sight every day, I wore a faint smile on my lips.
Ti passed, until the day before settlent at the Auction House.
Early in the morning, I went to the Spirit Grass field, knelt on one knee, and checked by touching the leaves.
‘……The color is vivid.’
The stems were firm and sturdy.
Neither the leaves nor the stems showed the slightest discoloration.
There was not a single sign of withering or death.
‘The fruits have grown beautifully too.’
As if to announce the completion of growth, small blue fruits had even blood.
I stood up and rolled my shoulders.
‘This will do.’
It was the perfect harvest ti.
I put on work gloves and began harvesting the Spirit Grass.
‘Let’s carefully dig out the soil first.’
I must not damage the roots.
I dug the earth slowly, making sure the roots would not snap.
It was delicate work of gently loosening the soil with my fingertips to expose the roots.
Only that way could it be harvested whole, without injury.
‘If I were to yank it out by force, the roots would be wounded, and its effectiveness halved.’
Thanks to the soft soil, I succeeded in harvesting one stalk without damage.
After shaking off the dirt, I rinsed it lightly with water.
Once I drained the water, I examined the Spirit Grass thoroughly.
‘It overflows with vitality……’
A smile naturally spread across my face.
It was the reward of nurturing it carefully for a month.
I was certain it was of the highest quality.
I proceeded to harvest the remaining Spirit Grass as well.
‘I don’t have the ability to manufacture anything with herbs myself.’
The only person even remotely connected to alchemy that I knew was Senior Shuniel of the Alchemy Departnt.
For a student, she was an excellent pharmacist, but it was still too early.
It would only be after further honing her skills that she could make use of Spirit Grass.
‘Right, Spirit Grass is a costly and difficult material to handle.’
I decided to sell it for money to another specialist who wanted the ingredient.
I packed the bag containing the Spirit Grass and boarded a carriage.
‘Let’s make money with this.’
My goal was to use the Spirit Grass to secure a supply contract with a pharmaceutical company.
There were countless pharmaceutical companies in this world.
‘……But at this ti, there is one company offering the best terms.’
Ti passed, and I stepped down from the carriage and looked ahead.
A building about five stories tall.
On it, the sign read ‘Erion Pharmaceuticals.’
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