The Game of the Greatest Black Mage

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Chapter 144

3.

The auction house Seonghyun had entered was also the dream auction house that other users yearned to get into.

But because it wasn't a place one could easily enter, it could indeed be called a dream.

Not only was it inaccessible to just anyone, but it also featured many items rarely seen in the user auction houses.

Thus, it was an auction house everyone wanted to enter at least once.

And Beretta was one such user.

‘Damn it, what a show-off!!!’

And for her, who had managed to get in here one way or another, it was an incredibly irritating scene to witness.

Seonghyun, who, after casually chatting with the Lord of Pentagrid, was now putting on a food show.

She couldn't help but look at him with displeasure.

How much effort had Beretta put in just to enter this place?

Beretta, who operated as a merchant in the game, had painstakingly scraped together Gold to barely participate in this auction.

Gathering 10,000 Gold was no easy feat, whether in real life or in the game.

Furthermore, she had tenaciously saved up in-game, and when that wasn't enough, she had pushed herself to make considerable real-money transactions to gather the Gold for this auction.

All to acquire auction items and see a huge profit.

But what was with that smug bastard?

He’d waltzed in as if it were nothing, and when the Lord deigned to speak to him, he had even been wary at first.

It was proof he didn't even recognize the Lord's face.

From Beretta's perspective, that point was infuriating.

‘I went through hell and back, trying every possible way to get acquainted with someone, just to get in here!!!’

She had tried her utmost to form connections with other noble NPCs, but she still hadn't obtained even the title Seonghyun had so easily acquired.

Well, excluding Seonghyun, no user present here, including Beretta, had obtained it.

That's why Beretta couldn't help but feel her blood boil.

Someone doesn't even know the Lord's face yet strolls in just fine.

Meanwhile, someone else puts in all sorts of effort, investigates all the noble NPCs invited here or attending of their own accord, and desperately tries to form connections.

Isn't the difference too stark?

‘I don’t know who you are, but…….’

She would make him suffer, one way or another.

At the very least, he likely had less capital than her.

‘Whatever you try to get, I’ll snatch it all away.’

As Beretta glared at Seonghyun with such venomous intent, nursing her malicious thoughts, the appointed time must have arrived, as a person walked up onto the stage.

With the clicking sound of dress shoes, an impeccably dressed auctioneer ascended.

Everyone's gaze began to turn towards him.

Though it was decorated like a social gathering, this was undeniably an auction house.

Thus, with the auctioneer's appearance, the once noisy hall was enveloped in silence.

The hall fell quiet.

The auctioneer scanned the assembly, as if taking it all in, then took out a microphone-like item and began to speak.

[Ah, ahem. Can you hear me? My name is Edward, and I will be your auctioneer. I thank all our distinguished guests for participating in today's auction, and I will now briefly explain today's proceedings.]

At his articulate voice and dignified bearing, the entire audience listened intently to the auctioneer.

Just what kind of auction would it be?

As everyone's eyes filled with eagerness and desire, the auctioneer, as if enjoying it himself, made eye contact with each of them one by one before slowly and deliberately speaking.

[The items prepared for today's auction are as outstanding as the grand reception you've given us. A total of 10 items. You might feel disappointed by the small number, but each one is a remarkable piece, so you need not worry on that account.]

At the auctioneer's words, everyone focused on the stage with a subtle fervor.

Once all attention was gathered:

[Well then, let the auction begin!]

The curtain rose on the auction.

And in that instant, the look in Beretta's eyes changed, and her campaign to secure a profit, one way or another, began.

Of course, this included her intention to interfere with Seonghyun.

4.

The auction commenced with the auctioneer's declaration.

Since this was his first time witnessing such a spectacle, Seonghyun couldn't help but find it quite fascinating.

Was it a scene rarely found even in movies?

More accurately, it wasn't a scene that commonly appeared in the movies Seonghyun watched.

He found it amazing to be present at such an auction.

[The third item is the Essence of Elements! First Edition, said to have been used by a great archmage of old! The auction will start at 5,000 Gold, with increments of one hundred Gold! 5,000 Gold, to number 33. Do I hear 5,100 Gold? Ah, number 41.]

At the auctioneer's call, people held up their number tags, joining the bidding.

Seonghyun watched the scene intently, learning about auctions.

The current item was now a contest between number 33 and number 41.

It continued like that for a while.

[Ah! Number 33 has withdrawn their bid. 6,000 Gold! Any more? Going once, going twice, three times! 6,000 Gold! Sold to number 41!!!]

Seonghyun found himself unwittingly drawn into the auctioneer's almost cheerful proceedings.

He only needed to get the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon's Heart, yet he felt the urge to buy something more.

‘There’s a certain thrill to spending money.’

As Seonghyun was thinking this and enjoying the auction, on another side, number 41 – no, Beretta – who had been glaring at Seonghyun, was shooting him sharp glances, ready to act whenever he made a move.

Oblivious to this, Seonghyun watched the auctioneer with a perfectly innocent face.

In the meantime, the fourth and fifth items were also sold.

An hour had already passed, yet Seonghyun watched with undiminished interest. And Fiora…

-Heuk?

She was eating her fill.

Having found the food to her liking, she was continuously swapping plates and eating an enormous amount.

Since Seonghyun was also having fun, wasn't it a good situation for both of them?

Just as he was waiting quietly,

[The sixth item is, ah, an item that will surely make our Black Mages drool! It is none other than the Heart of the Demonic Dragon, also known as the very life of that vile creature! One of its fragments! The bidding will start at 5,000 Gold, with increments of 100 Gold!]

Finally, the item Seonghyun had been waiting for appeared.

His eyes lit up as he saw it, and he quietly gripped his number tag.

Seeing this, Beretta likewise gripped her number tag.

‘It's not the item I planned to buy… but it’s definitely an item I can profit from.’

An item that had sold for a whopping 30,000 Gold on the user auction.

Anything below that was worth buying.

And even if not, wouldn't it feel good if Seonghyun bought it for a bit more?

With such thoughts, Beretta gripped her number tag.

And besides Beretta, another person gripped their number tag.

The Viscountess with the vibrant, healthy beauty and extravagant appearance.

She too was preparing.

The sole reason the Viscountess had come here was for that Fragment of the Demonic Dragon's Heart.

As they coveted it and raised their number tags:

[Number 11! Number 41! Number 44! You've all bid 5,000 Gold! Then we shall go up. 5,100 Gold!]

The Viscountess's number was 11, Beretta's was 41, and Seonghyun's was 44.

The auction continued thus.

Since all three couldn't hold up their tags simultaneously for the next price, as the auctioneer called it, Seonghyun was the first to raise his.

[Number 44! 5,200 Gold! Do I hear more? Ah, number 41!]

As if she couldn't lose to Seonghyun, Beretta raised hers right after.

At this, Seonghyun looked at Beretta with a surprised expression.

He understood why the one called the Viscountess wanted to buy it; he had sensed the aura of a Black Mage from her and heard she was one.

But looking at the user named Beretta, Seonghyun tilted his head.

Judging by her equipped gear and appearance, she was unmistakably a merchant class.

So why was she trying to buy that?

‘Is she planning to resell it?’

Well, that was possible, so Seonghyun didn't pay it much mind.

And again, the auctioneer's call.

[5,200 Gold! Number 11!]

This time, it was the Viscountess.

[5,300 Gold! Number 44!]

[5,400 Gold…….]

(The bidding escalated rapidly.)

[10,000 Gold! Number 11!]

As the situation grew heated, the price shot up to 10,000 Gold in an instant.

This was a price range everyone could have anticipated.

The auctioneer, thoroughly pleased with the heated auction, shouted:

[As it will take considerable time to continue climbing like this, from now on, we would appreciate it if you hold up your number tag and call out your price!]

In other words, from now on, to participate, one had to hold up their number tag and state their desired price.

From the auction house's perspective, there was nothing more welcome.

As the auctioneer laid out the new rule, Beretta, the Viscountess, and Seonghyun exchanged wary glances and gripped their number tags again.

[Then, we will start with number 11 at 10,000 Gold!]

At the auctioneer's progression, Seonghyun immediately gripped his number tag and shouted.

“Fifteen thousand.”

As Seonghyun's calm voice resonated, the auctioneer shouted with eyes wide in astonishment.

[Number 44! 15,000 Gold!!! It jumped by 5,000 Gold in a single bid!!! Anyone else willing to bid higher…….]

Before the auctioneer could even finish his words, Beretta lifted her number tag and urgently cried out.

“Twenty thousand!!!”

Beretta shrieked, as if she couldn’t possibly lose.

[Tweeeenty Thooouuusaaand!!!!! We have 20,000!!! Number 41!!! Any more bids!?]

The auctioneer roared in amazement, simultaneously looking at the other two, as if asking if they would continue.

Seonghyun was quite surprised looking at Beretta.

Was this item something she desired so desperately?

However, the Viscountess looked at the two of them with considerable displeasure.

Seonghyun, holding a knight's title, was somewhat tolerable, but looking at Beretta, a commoner and an outsider, she gave a pointedly disdainful look, then lifted her number tag and declared:

“Twenty-five thousand.”

At the Viscountess’s lofty bid, the auction hall stirred.

The highest price for any auction item so far had been 20,000.

That price had just been surpassed.

While everyone was murmuring, Beretta, without a shred of tact, shouted:

“Twenty-seven thousand!”

At Beretta's cry, the Viscountess shot her an unmistakably furious glare.

[Ah! Immediately after number 11's bid, number 41 with 27,000!!! This is the highest price of today's auction!!! Any more bids!?]

At the auctioneer's words, Seonghyun urgently lifted his number tag and shouted.

No, he tried to shout.

“Thirty thou—”

But as if to dismiss his cry, number 11’s tag went up, and the Viscountess, looking furious, exclaimed:

“Forty thousand.”

A price more than double the previous record.

At that, Seonghyun bit his lip, thinking, ‘Just as I thought.’

The money he currently had was just shy of 40,000 Gold.

He was indeed short on funds.

As Seonghyun bit his lip in apparent resignation, Beretta was smiling, thinking, ‘Serves him right.’

‘My interference is done, so now should I just focus on my own profit and bow out?’

Just as Beretta was thinking that and about to withdraw, the Viscountess’s terrifying gaze fixed on her.

It seemed she found Beretta more reprehensible than Seonghyun, who at least appeared to be a Black Mage.

‘Huh, wh-what? Why me… D-Don’t tell me.’

Under that glare, Beretta tried to avoid eye contact anxiously, but it was too late.

The Viscountess stared at Beretta for a long moment before turning her gaze away.

Although the price had risen, she was about to win the bid. As irritating as it was, securing the item was paramount.

[Ah! Forty thousand, more than double the previous auction record!!! Any more bids?]

While Beretta was thoroughly intimidated, the auctioneer continued the proceedings.

He looked at Seonghyun and Beretta, but both had lowered their hands from their number tags.

The auctioneer, seeing them, nodded and continued.

[After calling three times, we will decide the winning bid. Forty thousand? Forty thousand!? Forty thou—]

Just as the auctioneer’s call was about to end!

Suddenly, from the very back of the auction hall, someone lifted a number tag.

Another figure, neither Beretta, nor Seonghyun, nor the Viscountess.

He lifted his tag and said:

“One hundred thousand.”

[Wha-Whaaaaaat?!?!?]

“Wh-What did you say???”

The auctioneer and the Viscountess, who had been on the verge of winning, spun around.

And there stood a middle-aged man with a face familiar to Seonghyun.

A middle-aged man wearing the Over Palace mark and the highest-rank robe.

An NPC he had met just a few hours ago.

“Branch Manager Belmore?”

Over Palace Branch Manager Belmore was giving a thumbs-up and winking.

Why is the Branch Manager here???

[Translator - Prøks]

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