Chapter 64
The amphitheater located in the center of Portplum was a structure built long ago, boasting both history and tradition.
In its original architectural style, the amphitheater had a central open-air stage and surrounding stepped seating, allowing performances to be held at any ti and viewed by anyone.
However, as the city grew into a major tropolis, the exterior stage and seating were gradually reduced.
As a result, although the site itself remained, the aning of it being an amphitheater had faded.
Instead, the building itself grew larger and more ornate.
Thus, performances that had once been held outdoors moved inside the building, and the “Old Items Auction,” which had once been a modest event for commoners, also changed its format.
While the thod of registering one’s na remained the sa, it beca a party-like event that only the wealthy could attend.
***
“I feel like I am seeing every carriage I will ever see in my lifeti right here…….”
Shen shook his head as he looked at the endless line of carriages.
Because of the extre congestion, the horses had been snorting in place for quite so ti without being able to move forward properly, and only just now had they finally reached the district where the amphitheater stood.
Inside the carriage were Aquila, Shen, rien, and Ianpel, while Cahena rode separately on horseback, escorting them.
Heinen was not with them.
As discussed previously, he had decided not to attend the Old Items Auction.
By now, he had likely returned to the Grand Temple of Portplum.
“There seem to be more people attending the Old Items Auction this ti than last ti. I expected it, but it is worse than I thought.”
rien said as she pushed up her glasses with her index finger.
Since those attending were nobles or wealthy rchants, everyone arrived in their own carriage, leading to this situation.
“Hm…… Compared to an imperial banquet, it is a bit fewer, perhaps? Still, I have heard stories about the Great Old Dust Release. It really is impressive.”
Ianpel leaned his head slightly out the window, then adjusted his square glasses.
The lines of believers who ca to see him were no small matter either, but since they visited the temple on foot, a parade of carriages like this did not seem very familiar to the Saint.
After inching forward a little more, the carriage slowed and gradually ca to a stop.
Because the curtains were drawn, the outside could not be seen, but a light knock sounded at the small window.
“Young Master. They say they will check the invitation before allowing entry to the Old Items Auction.”
Cahena spoke from outside, having escorted the carriage on horseback.
She seed to have spoken with the gatekeeper.
No matter how noble or royal soone was, those without an invitation were not allowed to attend this auction, so it appeared they were checking invitations here, before fully entering the theater grounds.
‘So that is why the carriage was crawling along so slowly.’
Aquila reached inside his jacket, took out the invitation, and handed it to Shen.
It was a red envelope embossed with gold foil.
Receiving it respectfully with both hands, Shen imdiately drew back the curtain and opened the window.
“Excuse for a mont. If you would provide your invitation…….”
The voice was polite yet businesslike.
As the gatekeeper leaned in through the carriage window to check inside, his eyes lifted—and then froze.
It was because of the people seated within.
From the crest carved into the carriage, he already knew that the person inside was the recently famous third bloodline of House Reschenhardt, but it was not just the red hair that startled him.
“S-S-Saint……?”
“Oh, no? I am not a Saint at the mont, you see.”
Despite claiming not to be a Saint, Ianpel reacted to the title, adjusting his glasses rather than his shoulders.
Then he wore a gentle smile.
“Today, I am this gentleman’s personal attendant for the day…… ah. I cannot take the place of the person already here, so let us say I am his personal secretary instead.”
“I do not recall giving you any such role.”
“You said you permitted to accompany you, did you not? Then I should at least secure a proper position.”
As he spoke, Ianpel glanced sideways at rien, who was sitting quietly without saying a word.
Though her appearance had been completely altered by makeup, she remained motionless, likely wary of being discovered.
“Well then…… instead of staring at our faces, should you not be checking the invitation?”
“A-Ah! Yes. My apologies.”
The gatekeeper, who had been looking around the inside of the carriage with a face that clearly asked, ‘Why is this person here?’, snapped back to his senses.
He accepted the invitation Shen handed over and examined it.
“Aquila Reschenhardt…….”
There was no need to verify its authenticity.
After seeing Aquila’s red hair, doubt was impossible.
That hair itself was proof that he was a Reschenhardt.
With no clearer evidence than that, the gatekeeper nodded imdiately.
“…And four accompanying individuals. Does that match the people inside the carriage and the single escort outside?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
At Shen’s answer, the gatekeeper nodded.
The representative’s identity was confird, and the status of the companions was clear.
After casting another sideways glance at Ianpel, the gatekeeper took out a stamp-shaped magic tool from his belt and stamped the invitation with a thud.
“Invitation confird. This serves as both an entry pass and proof of identity, so please take care not to lose it while inside the auction hall.”
The gatekeeper returned the invitation to Shen.
Unbeknownst to them, this had been the fastest confirmation process of the day.
Aquila rely nodded, the others remained quiet, and only Ianpel smiled warmly.
“Thank you. May blessings and peace be with you under the radiance of the sun.”
“Th-Thank you…….”
When the Saint uttered the prayer customarily added to his farewells, the gatekeeper murmured in faint awe.
Among the residents of Portplum, there was no one who did not know Ianpel, and judging by his reaction, the gatekeeper also appeared to be a follower of the Sun God.
The Saint smiled at him.
Then, as Shen closed the curtain after receiving the invitation back, the carriage wheels began to move faster than before.
Leaving the dazed gatekeeper behind, the carriage carrying them drew closer to the amphitheater.
***
As expected from the long line of carriages, the interior of the building was crowded with people.
Since up to five people, including the representative, could enter on a single invitation, it made the number seem even greater.
“The atmosphere is completely different from when I simply visited before.”
Ianpel looked around with curious eyes.
The spacious lobby, like a hall before entering the theater where the auction would be held, was bright and immaculate.
People dressed in fine clothing wandered about or exchanged greetings.
Finger foods that could be eaten easily were arranged along the edges, along with alcohol and drinks of relatively low proof.
Unlike the typical image of an auction venue, it truly felt no different from a party hall.
“…That is a Reschenhardt.”
“My goodness. To think I would live to see that red hair in person…….”
As soon as Aquila’s group stepped inside, people’s gazes gathered.
Those who recognized him by his red hair whispered among themselves.
Naturally, their murmurs included his recent aggressive actions.
“…W-Why is the Saint here?”
“Oh my. Is it acceptable for a priest to enter an auction hall?”
“Well, it is not an illegal place, so I suppose it is fine…….”
And as expected, Aquila was not the only topic of conversation.
Ianpel, whose idea of a disguise amounted to nothing more than wearing glasses, was just as eye-catching.
As people gathered around them whispering, the lobby quickly grew noisy.
“Being recognized so much is quite troubleso, is it not?”
“Even so, you do not look particularly troubled to .”
“I am used to it. Hmm, no—perhaps it is the sa for you, because of that hair?”
If one adhered strictly to the setting, Aquila rarely left Igrail, so such attention should have been unfamiliar to him.
But he had experienced both admiration and hostility countless tis, so even being stared at like an animal in a cage did not bother him.
He simply shrugged.
“Who knows.”
“Hm. It is a pity you cannot change your hair color right now.”
Ianpel laughed.
Even though he had never personally seen Aquila change his hair color, he seed to already know.
Yujelia would not have gone out of her way to ntion it, so it was likely Heinen again.
Aquila, however, found it botherso to respond and shifted the topic.
“How long until the auction starts, Shen?”
“Uh…… about thirty minutes.”
Shen answered after checking his watch.
They had left with plenty of ti and expected to arrive leisurely, but because of the congestion, there was less ti left than anticipated.
“Then let us just go inside. It is better than standing here as a spectacle.”
Moreover, among the crowd surrounding them, there was no one particularly noteworthy.
That ant there was no one here who played a major role in the main scenario.
“Agreed. Let us go in.”
rien affird Aquila’s words.
With everyone’s attention focused on Aquila and Ianpel, she had begun to feel uneasy, worried soone might recognize her.
Amid those gazes, Shen raised one hand high.
“Before we go in, do you need anything to eat? There are drinks too, so I can bring so!”
***
The bell announcing the start of the auction rang.
The hall was so large that one might have wondered whether it could fill up, yet it was already packed with people.
“There is tension, but I do not sense killing intent or hostility.”
Cahena whispered quietly.
Just as the Raiesel family had boasted, the security here seed solid.
Of course, Aquila already knew this well, having visited this auction hall countless tis across different cycles.
“It is starting.”
As Aquila’s group watched the stage with drinks in hand, Ianpel spoke.
And as his words ended—
Snap!
Lights poured down onto the stage, and a person who appeared to be the host walked out.
“Thank you to everyone who has co to attend the Old Items Auction. The auction will be held over two days, and those who wish to participate, please raise your hand and state your bid.”
Before the auction began in earnest, the host gave a brief greeting and explanation.
It was not long.
Everyone was here for enjoynt, not to listen to the host speak.
Staring intently at the stage, rien clasped her hands tightly.
Hoping fervently that Quija’s Smile would appear this ti.
“Try to relax. The item you want will appear at this auction.”
Seeing how pale rien’s hands were, Aquila added the comnt lightly.
He said it knowing that Quija’s Smile would indeed appear this ti, but to rien, it sounded like a hopeful wish.
After taking a deep breath, she nodded.
“…I hope so.”
As the host bowed to conclude his remarks, the first item was imdiately brought up for auction.
“Then we will begin. This item was discovered a thousand years ago……!”
At last, the auction had begun.
Reviews
All reviews (0)