I wanted to ask more details, but there was only one question left.
‘Better save it just in case.’
Besides, as Arkan said, I had to obtain the necklace. If I delayed any longer here, I’d surely fall asleep without even getting my hands on it.
I pulled myself together and started walking.
Paying back Peril is really tough…….
As soon as I returned to the auction house, a chaotic atmosphere greeted .
“This will probably be your last chance to restore your forr appearance! It’s rare for the Archmage’s masterpiece to be unveiled to the world!”
“700,000 gold.”
“800,000 gold.”
Earlier, the highest bid was 500,000 gold. I sighed at how quickly the price had soared.
Then suddenly, a thought occurred to .
‘But since the owner of the necklace is the shop, doesn’t it not matter how much I raise the bid……?’
After all, the money they funded would return to the shop anyway.
At that mont, the price went up.
“1,000,000 gold.”
“We now have a bid of 1,000,000 gold! Is there anyone else who wishes to place a bid?”
“1,500,000 gold.”
No sooner had the host spoken than paddles shot up everywhere.
“2,000,000 gold! I want to give it to my wife as a wedding gift, so please, give a break!”
“2,100,000 gold.”
But a timid voice ca from seat number 60.
“Um, I really need that necklace too! I’m sorry, but I’d like to place a bid.”
“2,200,000 gold!”
“2,400,000 gold!”
As the price rose bit by bit, the guest in seat number 4 at the front raised their paddle.
“5,000,000 gold.”
Gasps were heard from all around.
‘If it were , I’d buy land with that money!’
Just as I was about to raise my paddle, number 21, sitting beside , whispered softly.
“How about just letting that person have the necklace? Actually, that person is the one it suits the most among us.”
With her words, I vaguely realized sothing.
‘That person is Hestia.’
There were only a few in the Empire who could casually throw out that kind of money.
The Head of the Hinas Guild was scheduled to attend on the second day, so the only remaining candidate was the princess.
Ricardo was also a possibility, but he was sitting next to doing nothing.
“Sure, you’ve got money too, but you don’t really need the necklace, right? You already look plenty…….”
“6,000,000 gold.”
I ignored her words and raised my paddle. Hestia imdiately turned around and looked straight at .
“Oh no, I think she’s mad. What now…….”
She fidgeted nervously, not knowing what to do. She even seed like she wanted to snatch the paddle out of my hand, fearless as she was.
Hestia scoffed and raised the bid.
“7,000,000 gold.”
“7,500,000 gold.”
“8,000,000 gold.”
“8,500,000 gold.”
As I continued to raise the price without backing down, Hestia suddenly asked a question.
“……Are you sure you actually have that kind of money?”
Well, I was definitely overdoing it.
The amount on the check Lily gave ca to mind, but who cares.
It’s all staged anyway, so it doesn’t matter how much the price goes up.
But then, Hestia stood up.
“Can I verify it?”
“You’re just another guest here like —what right do you have to verify it?”
I answered brazenly, though my heart was pounding.
At my words, Hestia opened her mouth with a sarcastic chuckle.
“Just trying to be accurate. You might be soone the shop planted as a shill.”
“People who say that are usually the ones doing it themselves. No matter how high you bid, I’ve never thought that about you.”
Wow, is she psychic or sothing.
Fortunately, she didn’t respond—maybe she had nothing to refute.
‘……The problem is, she’ll probably co to verify the money the mont I win!’
As I hesitated, a voice spoke from beside .
“9,000,000 gold.”
Hestia’s gaze imdiately turned in that direction.
‘Ricardo?’
I stared at him, unable to hide my surprise. He gave Hestia a light chin nod and asked,
“What, do I need verification too?”
“That’d be nice. Host, we’d like to verify each other’s amounts—can we do that?”
“……Haha, this is a first, but if the guests request it, of course it’s possible. Staff, could you please step down from the stage and verify on my behalf?”
This man was after the necklace too?
Then doesn’t that an I have no chance at all?
Peril, I’m sorry…….
I’ll repay the favor next ti.
Amidst the commotion, the verification of Hestia and Ricardo’s funds concluded. Taking advantage of the noisy atmosphere, I spoke to Ricardo.
“You ca to buy the necklace?”
“No.”
His answer ca imdiately.
He rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache, then looked at in confusion and asked,
“Why do you need that?”
It would be a long explanation, and I didn’t have the ti, so I answered briefly.
“Because I want to be pretty.”
“Huh, even now…….”
His voice was slightly irritable. Thinking the conversation would drag on, I cut him off.
“More importantly, if you’re not here for the necklace, then please leave now.”
This was the main point. Soon, everyone attending the auction would fall asleep.
“……Is there a reason?”
“Yes.”
I took a small breath. Just then, with a loud thud in the distance, the auction house briefly shook.
“……!”
Ricardo’s gaze turned outward. Guests began murmuring and then started getting up one by one.
“Oh no, it seems there’s been a fire nearby! But the auction house is perfectly safe, so don’t worry!”
Despite the host’s reassurance, the uneasy guests couldn’t bring themselves to sit back down.
“We’re not going to get trapped inside the walls, are we?”
“Oh dear, what a thing to say! This place is maintained by the Moon’s Shop…….”
“I’ve already bought everything I needed, so can I leave now?”
With the necklace’s price becoming unreasonably high, the guests who had co for it had no reason to stay any longer.
“A fire? What kind of managent is this! I’d like to leave too……!”
anwhile, I tried again to persuade Ricardo.
“It doesn’t look like things will get better from here, so you should go too.”
Ricardo let out a small, incredulous laugh at my words.
Then, my left pocket suddenly felt heavy. Glancing down, I saw Penny in the form of a mouse. She bead at and whispered,
“I did well, right?”
I gently patted Penny’s head.
〈If the auction doesn’t end past midnight, can you cause a small incident nearby?〉
That was a request I had made to Penny previously.
〈What kind of incident?〉
〈Anything’s fine. As long as no one gets hurt.〉
There was no way to forcibly eject the guests who ca with the single desire of obtaining the necklace. But past midnight, the auction would be more or less wrapped up.
Either the necklace had already been sold to soone else, or, as now, the price had skyrocketed.
‘Guests who are done with their business have no reason to stay.’
In such a situation, an incident would likely make most guests want to leave.
Just like now.
The host, flustered, rushed to block the guests.
“We still have free auction ti left—it’d be a sha for you to leave so soon!”
Thud thud……
But with the noises from outside, people quickly began exiting the auction house.
“Idiots……”
Hestia clicked her tongue and turned her head.
“Everyone, we’ll be fine! There’s no way an auction house ford from subspace would collapse.”
However, there were few people left in the auction house. I hurriedly spoke to Ricardo, who still hadn’t moved.
“Please go. If you really need the necklace, I’ll retrieve it and lend it to you.”
I didn’t want to drag Ricardo into Idette’s mories. He had enough to deal with from his own.
But he simply stared at silently. Just as I was about to speak again, he opened his mouth.
“I misspoke earlier.”
“About what?”
“The necklace. I did co to buy it.”
“……!”
Ricardo crossed his arms stubbornly, as if he would no longer listen to my request. Staring at him in disbelief, I finally managed to speak.
“And why do you need it?”
“To beco more handso.”
“Don’t you look in a mirror?”
Normally, I wouldn’t have said sothing so rude to soone being annoying. But my anxiety made the words slip out.
“I look very often.”
“And soone like that……!”
“There’s soone I want to look good for.”
“…….”
“It’s a pretty desperate reason, in its own way.”
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