Chapter 86. Be Careful

“……?!”

I never expected to meet a familiar face here.

I quickly pressed down my cloche hat and tilted my head at an angle. Skillfully hiding my face from number 13, I had to calm my anxious heart.

Why is Andrei here…?

Isn’t he Mihail’s loyal subordinate?

I naturally assumed he would be in Sahar, never dreaming he’d be in Elmon. And especially not in a place where dark money flows…

‘Why on earth is he here?’

Of course, he must have come to participate in the auction, and he was indeed participating very actively… But I couldn’t quite grasp the real reason why Andrei was here.

He didn’t seem particularly wealthy…

Did he have a hobby of collecting relics?

Curious, I turned my head slightly, and Andrei was looking forward again.

The second auction item appeared. At a glance, it seemed more precious than the first item. It was a sword that exuded the breath of a master craftsman.

“Twenty million.”

“Twenty-two million.”

“Twenty-three million.”

Hmm…

I decided not to participate in this one.

It was no joke from the start.

As expected, within a minute, the price skyrocketed. The last two people were fighting over it, and Andrei was among them again.

It seemed that he was the main culprit for driving up today’s auction prices.

Andrei, this guy.

I didn’t expect this from him.

Was he planning to sweep everything away by himself…?

The greedy guy should have gracefully conceded after winning one, but he was coming out aggressively.

In the end, Andrei took the second item as well.

“Number 13. Seventy-four million shillings, sold.”

What did I just hear…?

It sounded like a voice from another world.

I started to worry that maybe I should have somehow purchased the first item. Could it be that increasingly expensive items would appear?

Seeing the auction staff bring the third item with great care, I was engulfed in anxiety.

What if I can’t launder the money?

Would I have to abandon the 2 million shillings I worked so hard to save over two and a half years…?

The thought alone was terrifying.

Ha.

I felt like I could understand the mindset of people who collapse in despair after being scammed out of their entire fortune. At least with a scam, you can blame the scammer, but here I had to blame my own incompetence for not winning a single item.

Alright.

Let’s see how far we can go.

With determined eyes, I clenched my fists.

The third item, hidden under a veil, was revealed.

No way…?!

“You will have a chance to glimpse the magic of the Charbon Kingdom. This summoning book might be the key to reclaiming the lost glory of the past.”

A murmur of excitement arose around me.

It meant it was an incredible item.

It was the ‘Torn Summoning Book.’

“Ha.”

I let out a short sigh.

I remembered the summoning book Johann gave me years ago. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but after fully adapting to this world, it felt like such a waste that it drove me crazy.

To think I used that precious thing in such a way…

Stupid Seraphina. I should have sold it. If I had sold it, I could have run away immediately back then. Sob, sob.

Of course, since I didn’t know any dark sales routes, it would have been impossible anyway… But the thought that I knew the gentleman even back then made me wonder if I could have somehow been introduced to such an auction, a useless assumption swirling in my mind.

Well, at least I’m here now.

But still…

Should I have somehow won the head ornament or the sword…?

I looked around the room with anxious eyes. Damn. It seemed like the most active participation was happening for this item.

What was so special about a used-up summoning book?

I grumbled inwardly.

During the Charbon Kingdom’s glory days, it was probably used up and tossed in the trash. Did people back then even know it would sell for such a high price a hundred years later?

It was laughable.

While I was having the pathetic thought of whether the spoon I use now would sell for a high price in a thousand years, the auction began.

“Ten million shillings.”

…Are you crazy?!

I glared at the first participant, who came out strong from the start, with dagger eyes, internally shocked.

It was that damn Andrei.

“Twenty million shillings.”

But the atmosphere seemed unusual. Everyone seemed to dive in like moths to a flame, as if their eyes had turned over.

When the Charbon Kingdom fell, much of the magic that enriched the world was lost. But it wasn’t completely gone, so why were they acting like this?

It was as if they were ready to offer their entire fortune for a piece of trash from a hundred years ago.

Watching participants playing around at thirty million shillings, I swallowed dryly. It felt like I could hear the gentleman’s voice echoing in my ears.

<The price doesn’t matter. However, the current liquid funds… try going up to ninety million shillings.>

Right.

Don’t be scared.

I have money too.

“Eighty million.”

I heard gasps of surprise from people who had been hovering around sixty million. A large number of people started giving up.

But number 13 was persistent.

“Eighty-five million.”

“Eighty-six million.”

I felt like my heart was shrinking even as I called out the numbers. I had never even pronounced such a large amount with my tongue before.

“Ninety million.”

Then Andrei mentioned the maximum amount I could offer.

Damn it.

Could the gentleman possibly pull another million somehow?

I bit my lower lip, thinking thoughts typical of someone in debt.

It took me a whole year to save up a million shillings. But here in this auction house, my year of hard work was nothing more than a cute little joke.

“Ninety-one million.”

It’s a gamble.

My hand was trembling.

Is this really okay? But if I move on to the next item, it feels like I’ll truly miss my chance. I stared at the torn summoning book like a hyena with its eyes turned.

I must win you.

You useless, expensive trash of a fallen kingdom!

“One hundred million.”

“……!”

But the next moment, I snapped to my senses as if cold water had been poured over me.

A hundred million? A-a-a hundred million?

The unexpected figure reached my brain through my eardrums, and I thought this can’t go on.

I was sure I thought that, but did my brain malfunction or something?

“Two hundred million.”

My lips did something crazy.

It’s quick to fall into gambling debt.

Now people were watching the showdown between Andrei and me without making a sound.

The auctioneer shouted excitedly.

“Two hundred million! It’s two hundred million! If there’s no more, participant number 47 will win.”

…What?

No.

No way.

“Three.”

The auctioneer began the countdown.

I felt like my heart was shrinking.

I wasn’t even this scared watching the enchantments of heroes. Not when I was attacked by a wyvern in the Grodes Mountains, nor when I was isolated alone in a landslide did I feel this level of fear…

“Two.”

Was money always this terrifying?

I looked at Andrei with pleading eyes. Just then, Andrei turned back, and his gaze was sharp. It seemed like he was annoyed.

So, he could make such an expression.

Thinking that, I lowered my head, hiding my face with the brim of my hat.

“One.”

I’m dead now.

The moment I resigned everything…

“Two hundred and one million.”

A light of salvation shone down.

Without a word of a lie, I heard the sound of heavenly trumpets in my ears. I looked at the back of number 13’s head with renewed eyes.

Andrei, you’re an angel!

* * *

Footsteps echoed in the dark alley.

I carried a suitcase in one hand as I searched for the headquarters of the information guild. When I knocked on the door, the guild member who now recognized me silently led me to the gentleman’s room without asking anything.

I had come a few more times while preparing to run away.

I had also decided on a refuge, and the funds I had gathered were well laundered.

Thinking about that day’s auction still sent chills down my spine. If the last item hadn’t been an insignificant cornerstone, I might have had to start the second act of my life in debt.

People who showed such enthusiasm for the head ornament made of magic stone, the sword that exuded the breath of a master, and the torn summoning book showed no particular interest in the cornerstone occupying a corner of the building.

Andrei seemed intent on sweeping that up as well, but it seemed my bid of two hundred million had a significant impact.

Thanks to that, I was able to win the cornerstone at a fairly low price.

<You won this for eight million shillings? You’re lucky.>

That was the gentleman’s evaluation.

He seemed genuinely impressed.

The cornerstone became the gentleman’s property. The full amount was withdrawn from my account, and the difference was paid by writing the necessary amount on the blank check the gentleman gave me.

“Is that all your luggage?”

When I entered the room, the gentleman greeted me with a smile.

“I didn’t have much to begin with.”

I answered with a broad smile, feeling relieved. He muttered, “That’s good,” and then looked at me with calm eyes.

“Our connection ends here.”

“Yes.”

“Not contacting us is the best way to avoid being tracked.”

“Ah, about that.”

I hesitated and then took out an envelope from my pocket.

“I have a favor to ask. I have a really close friend, and I’m worried they might be concerned…”

I cautiously handed him the letter. Marc was still on my mind.

The gentleman looked at the letter silently, as if lost in thought. Unable to read his expression, I quickly added, feeling anxious.

“Please deliver it just once. It just says I’m doing well, so they shouldn’t worry.”

“I see.”

The gentleman’s eyes wrinkled into a smile, and he nodded as if to say there was no problem.

“Shall we get going then?”

After explaining the escape route one more time, he escorted me to the carriage.

I looked at him as I squeezed myself into the luggage compartment.

“Thank you, sir.”

Despite having provided such great help, he gave a light bow and offered his final words.

“Take care.”