Belmor showing up wasn’t impossible.
This was an auction house, and he had every right to be here.
But why now?
Seong’s mind raced.
The wink and thumbs-up from Belmor…
Was he supposed to be happy about this or worried?
‘Isn’t this dangerous?’
He had just jumped in out of nowhere and interfered.
Wouldn’t that piss off the noblewoman?
She was already clearly displeased with Beretta, even though Seong wasn’t sure why.
If she had picked up on Beretta deliberately raising the price, it made sense.
But Seong didn’t have the full picture.
Still, this NPC had helped him.
Getting on a noble’s bad side wasn’t ideal.
But then—
“B-Belmor Branch Manager?!”
The baroness suddenly jumped to her feet, startled.
‘…Huh?’
Seong blinked.
She knew him?
No, more than that—
She had just used an honorific title.
His brain spun at full speed.
She wasn’t angry about the interference?
She looked intimidated?
If Belmor ranked higher than a noble, then—
‘Guess it’s not an issue, then.’
Maybe he had worried for nothing.
Just as he ca to that conclusion—
Belmor stepped closer to him, subtly casting a skill.
[ Overpalace Pentagrid Branch Manager, ‘Belmor Arcadius,’ has used the skill ‘Veil of Sound.’ ]
[ All external sound transmission has been blocked. ]
A barrier ford around them, sealing off the conversation from prying ears.
A system ssage flashed before Seong’s eyes.
And then—
Belmor spoke.
“I thought I could be of help to the Successor, so I ca… B-But… was I in the way…?”
Seong was montarily speechless.
The branch manager of a major organization, soone even nobles feared, was more concerned about his opinion than theirs?
Seong’s expression turned blank.
‘…More than the nobles?’
Even the other nobles were clearly nervous, flinching and stealing glances at Belmor.
Seong had heard that Overpalace was a big deal.
But…
This much?
Even a re branch manager had this much authority?
His view of Overpalace rose several notches higher.
This wasn’t just so high-ranked guild.
It was practically an empire.
“…No, it was… very helpful.”
He couldn’t help it—
His tone beca more formal.
And then—
“Oh, ohh…!! I-I sincerely apologize for making you uncomfortable!!”
Belmor visibly trembled, misinterpreting Seong’s change in tone.
‘…What the hell?!’
Seong panicked.
That wasn’t what he ant!
“Ahem, no, really— it’s fine. I just… didn’t expect it, since there were nobles present.”
“Ah?! Is that so?!! Ha-ha-ha! What a relief! Then, I shall go collect the item now! Please wait just a mont!”
With that, Belmor strode toward the stage.
Even the auctioneer, who had been a calm veteran, stamred at his approach.
Was it because the bid had jumped to 100,000 gold?
Or was it…
[ A-Ah! S-Sold!!! W-We’ll have your item carefully packaged and ready after the auction! ]
Belmor nodded.
But then—
A dark aura rose from his back, making the air heavy.
He spoke slowly.
“Hm… I see. Understood. But do be thorough in your packaging. With utmost care.”
He paused for effect—
“After all, this is for soone most esteed.”
[ Hiiiiiik!!! O-Of course!!! W-We will prepare it imdiately…!!! ]
The auction hall fell into chaos.
Belmor glanced around, seemingly pleased.
Then, he turned back to Seong and lowered his voice.
“It seems my presence is making the auction uncomfortable. I’ll step outside for now.”
He smiled—
“If you need , just call.”
And just like that—
Belmor stord out of the hall.
As soon as he was gone—
A collective sigh of relief swept the room.
Seong watched in disbelief.
‘How scary is this guy…?’
Even the auctioneer let out a shaky breath.
[ A-Ahem! W-We’ll take a short break before resuming the auction! ]
The schedule was slightly delayed—
But nobody dared to complain.
Everyone understood.
Seong wasn’t the only one confused.
‘What the hell kind of connection does that guy have with Overpalace…?’
But at that mont—
Beretta, who had been watching everything—
Her entire body trembled.
She had picked the worst possible target.
There were still four items left in the auction—
But she wanted to get out.
She hurriedly packed up and left the hall.
Even the baroness had stopped paying attention to her.
All she could do was gulp nervously.
Beretta slipped out, heading for her carriage.
But just as she was about to step in—
A low voice echoed behind her.
“Hm… So it’s you?”
A chill ran down her spine.
Like a mouse before a snake.
The hairs on her arms stood on end.
No—
It was worse than that.
She couldn’t move.
She was frozen in place.
Even though she knew it was a ga, this was the most fear she had ever felt.
The air around her beca thick, pressing down on her.
It was like the entire space had been locked into a different genre.
A horror ga.
And then—
The pressure eased slightly.
A voice followed.
“Answer.”
“…W-What?”
“I asked if you were the one who disrupted Overpalace’s event.”
“T-That, um, I… I don’t… really…”
“I see.”
And with those two words—
Beretta’s mind went blank.
Pure white emptiness.
One thought flooded her consciousness.
‘DyingDyingDyingDyingDyingDyingDying—’
She couldn’t even breathe.
Her entire world collapsed into fear.
Her mistake had been fatal.
In that mont—
She swore never to return to this city.
And just when she thought it was over—
“Overpalace is everywhere.”
“…Ah.”
For the first ti, she thought about quitting the ga.
But then—
“It wasn’t a grave offense.”
Belmor’s voice relaxed.
“I’ll let it go this ti.”
The pressure disappeared.
The air beca normal.
Her mind cleared.
It was as if it had all been a dream.
And then—
A system ssage popped up.
[ You have been released from ‘Nightmare Infiltration,’ a skill of Overpalace Pentagrid Branch Manager, ‘Belmor Arcadius.’ ]
…When had it even been cast on her?
The question didn’t even matter.
No—
The skill had been active, but the system hadn’t displayed the ssage until after it ended?
Her mind had nearly been shattered, and only now she was seeing the ssage?
Beretta shuddered.
The mont she began to piece it together—
‘Did I… forget that I was under an illusion while I was in it?’
Was such a thing even possible?
An indescribable fear crawled up her spine.
And then—
A voice, cold as death, whispered behind her.
“There won’t be a next ti.”
With those words—
The presence vanished.
Beretta slowly turned.
Belmor was gone.
“…Haaah…”
She nearly collapsed.
She had almost died.
Not just in the ga—
It had felt like real life.
The imrsion had been that intense.
The terror, that real.
But more than anything—
That sa Belmor had spoken to that one user with deference?
“W-What… is he?”
Normally, she would have rushed to write about this on the forums.
But now—
The thought never even crossed her mind.
It wasn’t that she forgot.
It was that she was too terrified.
What if—
She posted sothing, and the next mont, she turned around—
And Belmor was standing behind her?
The thought lodged itself deep in her mind.
Curiosity about that user’s identity?
Completely overridden by pure survival instinct.
She left for another city without a second thought.
5.
Belmor’s storm had passed.
The auction hall settled back into its social atmosphere.
The auctioneer had announced they would resu shortly.
The guests had returned to small talk.
But Seong…
‘They’re all looking at .’
He could feel the eyes.
A significant increase in attention.
No doubt, because of Belmor.
They wanted to ask about his relationship with the branch manager—
But they were too afraid to approach.
Seong sighed.
Honestly, it was less annoying when they just ignored him.
anwhile—
“Huweeh! L-Lord! Th-This is really good!!!”
“Oh yeah? Then eat as much as you want.”
“T-Thank youuu!!!”
Piora was completely unbothered, shoveling food into her mouth.
And another issue arose—
“Huweeh… It’s all gone…”
As Piora pouted at the empty plates—
“I-I’ll bring more right away!!!”
A staff mber jumped in panic, rushing to the kitchen.
People were treating Piora with reverence.
She blinked, tilting her head in confusion.
“Huweeh?”
It was simple.
She was Seong’s companion.
And Seong was soone that Belmor Arcadius respected.
So, by extension—
She was soone to be treated well.
Well—
‘Might as well let it be.’
No reason to correct them.
Seong let it slide and waited quietly.
Eventually—
The auctioneer returned to the stage.
He looked calr now, composed again.
No stuttering, no hesitation.
[ Ahem! Ladies and gentlen, thank you for your patience!!! Now, onto the seventh item of the auction!!! ]
His voice bood across the hall.
And then—
[ This item’s true nature remains unknown… but listen well! We have confird that it belonged to none other than the infamous witch, Serpina Nightbloom!!! ]
The mont he announced the na—
The noble NPCs reacted.
“Oh my? A relic of Serpina the Witch?”
“You an Serpina of the Night?”
“Oho… This might be even more valuable than the Dragon Heart Fragnt.”
Even the baroness showed interest.
Seong, however, had no clue.
But then—
A system ssage flashed before him.
[ You have acquired the keyword ‘Serpina Nightbloom, Witch of the Night.’ ]
‘Another keyword?’
Was today just a keyword festival?
Seong watched closely as the next item was brought out.
A staff mber carried it onto the stage—
A strange slab of stone.
But then—
Only Seong could see it.
A woman.
A spirit.
With luscious dark blue hair, gently brushing her fingers through it, a seductive smile on her lips.
And then—
She spoke.
“Oh my~ Handso benefactor, won’t you buy ?”
She was flirting.
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