Test
Chapter 47.1. Auction 4
“Well, if it’s about breasts, it can’t be helped.”
“Yeah, if it’s about breasts, it can’t be helped.”
“Boys will be boys, right?”
“Yeah, if you’re a guy, it can’t be helped.”
“Please stop.”
Things got worse when we regrouped with Father.
After joining up with Shanze-sama’s group and exchanging information, they even ended up talking about breasts.
Even Kuon reacted intensely to the conversation.
“W-W-Well, I’m confident in mine too, you know!”
Yes, that’s obvious just by looking.
“So let’s sleep together!”
No, I don’t understand how it came to that.
“It’s fine! I won’t do anything!”
No, I really can’t trust that look in your eyes.
Also, Kuon, your breathing is a bit heavy.
Anyway, with time running out, we forcefully ended the conversation and took our seats, waiting for the auction to begin.
However, I can't help but wonder—what caused such a change in Kuon and the other former trainees?
They’re completely different from the first time I met them.
What on earth happened?
“Anyway, the auction is about to begin. Stay sharp.”
“You’re too serious.”
“You’re nothing like Aslad.”
“Shut up. You don’t get to say that.”
Though Father and his group seem easygoing, they do their jobs properly.
Based on the information we gathered, we found several suspicious people, but none stood out more than Modef, the guy who approached us.
“Well, we already have them under surveillance, and they’re being tailed. But the main target is him.”
So, we’re all set.
If we were on modern Earth, surveillance and tailing would be done by intelligence agents or spies.
In this world, it’s handled by the dark division, currently led by Sebas, who isn’t here.
Both Sebast and Noella are working under his orders.
Lily, on the other hand, hasn’t received such training, so she’s back at the castle, working with Tina and the other apprentice maids.
“It’s time. It’s starting.”
The auction is beginning.
That said, nothing is likely to happen during the auction.
Frankly, if anyone planned on causing trouble here, we would’ve caught them by now.
Not only is Elmbarn present, but so are two demon kings—Gaul-sama and Shanze-sama.
There are also ministers from other nations and representatives from major trading companies.
If something were to happen and any of these figures got hurt, it would mean turning all those nations into enemies.
No one is foolish enough to do that.
Hiring a band of thieves might be more their style, though.
“Thank you all for waiting. The auction will now begin.”
The auctioneer announces the start.
I’ve never participated in such a grand auction before—not in my previous life, and this is my first time in this one.
Honestly, I’m a bit excited.
“Well, normally I’d love to entertain you all with my wit, but I know you’re busy, so let’s dive right in. The first item—an enchanted branch from the World Tree, brought to us from the magical nation of Grimmoire!”
Oooooh!
The audience buzzes with excitement at the sight of the first item.
Starting with such a highlight is unexpected.
“This is how they raise the room’s energy.”
“With high energy comes loosened purse strings. Later items will fetch higher prices this way.”
As expected of someone who runs the royal auction.
He knows what he’s doing.
Or maybe he’s just following a well-established playbook.
“Bidding starts at ten gold coins! Let’s begin!”
“Ten gold!”
“Twelve!”
“Fifteen!”
The World Tree branch seems popular, but the bids are increasing slowly.
Is everyone testing the waters?
“This is the item you’re aiming for, right, Shanze-sama?”
“Yes, of course. I’ll bid. One hundred gold!”
Ooooh!
“One hundred gold! Any other bids?”
All bids are made in gold coins.
Though silver or platinum coins can be used for payment, the bidding currency is gold.
In Japanese yen, that’s about one million yen per ten coins.
So one hundred gold coins are equivalent to ten million yen.
Demon kings sure know how to spend.
“Well, I doubt I’ll win with just that.”
“Really?”
It’s just a branch, after all.
Even a hundred gold coins seems excessive.
“One hundred twenty!”
“One hundred fifty!”
“See? World Tree branches are rarely available. If you miss your chance, you don’t know when the next one will come. Those who really want it won’t mind the cost. Neither will I. Two hundred gold!”
Though she seems composed, Shanze-sama may be getting caught up in the auction’s excitement.
She doesn’t seem suited for gambling.
In the end, Shanze-sama won the branch with a bid of five hundred gold coins.
That’s fifty million yen for a branch.
Is this really okay?
She seems delighted, though.
“Shanze-sama, didn’t you overdo it?”
“No worries! Don’t underestimate the Demon King of Fremlyra. Right, Yufa? We brought two thousand gold coins, right?”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes, I gave it to you, didn’t I?”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Wha—?”
The cheerful atmosphere takes a sudden heavy turn.
Everyone, including Cornelia and the knights, breaks into a cold sweat.
“Shanze-sama? You’re not about to say you forgot the money, are you?”
“Well…”
“You do know that failing to pay for an auctioned item is a serious crime, right?”
I don’t know how auctions worked on Earth, but in this world, failing to pay can lead to slavery.
While it’s unlikely that a demon king will face that fate, she’ll probably have to pay more than the initial bid.
“Aslad?”
“I can’t lend you the money. This is my kingdom’s auction. I can’t break the rules.”
“We’re here for a dragon. Our funds are limited. Sorry.”
Though their responses seem cold, they’re reasonable.
This is Shanze-sama’s mistake.
“Uh, Jun? Could you help your future wife out?”
She clasps her hands together and tilts her head, pleading.
I guess I have no choice.
“Fine. But you owe me, Shanze-sama.”
“Of course! Thank you!”
“No need to hug me!”
“Oh, I’ll pay you back with my body.”
“No, that’s not appropriate. What are you saying?”
That’s not something a demon queen—or any young woman—should say.
“Not enough? Greedy, aren’t you? I’ll throw in Cornelia and Yufa too. Even the knights, if you’d like.”
“That’s not okay either!”
I blurt out a retort.
What is she even thinking, offering people without their consent?
“Well… if it’s for Shanze-sama…”
“If it’s an order, we have no choice.”
“We have no objections.”
“Wait, what?”
No comments:
Post a Comment