Chapter 77: Suspiciously Wealthy (3)
“This item is a potion crafted by the empire’s greatest alchemist, Lord Kliff. It reportedly regrows lost hair…”
“1,000 gold!”
“Do you see this beautiful artifact? It was crafted by the Aurora Magic Tower, specialists in studying natural magic phenomena from the wilderness! If you ask about its effect, it significantly enhances resistance to the four main elements…”
“4,000 gold!”
“The daughter of the Marquis Kalua, who was defeated in the recent territorial war! The right to have Mirk Kalua serve as your servant for three years! Ah, although I say servant… you all understand, right? Starting from 500 gold!”
“……”
“Next, an amulet soaked in tears from Yak Dekalcha, a grand sorcerer who attempted to foresee the future with divination magic and failed! He’s in a whopping 90,000 gold debt from his peak…”
“2,000 gold!”
“Pink oil that’s not only good for skin beauty but also gives you a slight thrilling sensation! Of course, it’s leagues apart from the cheap stuff out there! Look at this! It has a five-star genuine certification made at the Labernant workshop…”
“300 gold!”
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After hoarding all the seemingly useful items, murmurs could be heard around.
“Hmm? It seems like everyone’s trying to buy other items cheaply while aiming for the elf during the auction.”
“The amount of money one can spend is limited, so if it’s a wise move, it’s a wise move.”
“They might be satisfied with the slaves they already own. Look, they’re as beautiful as the elves, right? From how they’re not even looking at the other slaves, it’s evident.”
“Huh… why would someone with such lush hair need a cure for baldness cure…?”
Uh, well…
Seeing the balding middle-aged man wiping his tears in a corner made me feel a bit soft-hearted, but it couldn’t be helped.
I thought of gifting this to Professor Jason later and asking for close-combat tutoring.
After all, the same bald man would have it, so he should give up gracefully.
How many times did the auction continue like this?
There were a few who tried to outbid me, but every time they did, I savored the thrill of capitalism for a few hours by outbidding them.
Unlike before, the auction hall began to be enveloped in a silent excitement.
Perhaps it was because the highlight of the day’s event was about to start.
The emcee, who had been acting exaggeratedly to match his comical mask, now adjusted his attire with a calm demeanor.
“Now… it’s time for the item you’ve all been waiting for.”
Flash.
The spotlight that had been illuminating the emcee and the items now focused on a thick curtain behind him.
With the expansive curtain serving as a backdrop, the surroundings brightened.
Stepping slightly aside, the emcee whispered with a grin that could be sensed even beyond his mask.
“Today’s main dish… if I reveal them one by one, it’ll get tedious, right? Since you’ve waited this long, I’ll show them all at once!”
Slowly, the curtain began to rise.
Behind it stood a line of elves.
Five men and women, laden with magic-sealing artifacts, displayed faces filled with anger and humiliation.
Pointing at the elves, dressed too provocatively, just as Carla had been in the past, the emcee raised his voice.
“From the Sylvan Magic Tower! Elves prided themselves on elemental magic that could replace spirit magic! But now, they’re nothing but mere slaves! Wild slaves, who haven’t been properly trained at that.”
Men and women alike, the previously quiet audience began to shimmer with anticipation.
I also used the magic tool attached to the VIP seat to examine the elves closely.
Three women and two men.
All were undoubtedly beautiful, but two stood out.
One was Elisha, familiar to me, with her blue bun hair, blue eyes, and that notorious thigh.
The other was a young girl with long white hair.
Of course, a real child wouldn’t lead a magic tower, so she must have been the master of the Sylvan Magic Tower.
I had heard that the tower master, like Elisha, was a high elf.
In the game, she had only appeared as news of her execution, so this was the first time I had seen her face, but I was certain.
Overall, her long and slender physique was characteristic of elves, but high elves weren’t quite the same.
She was the shaman who first communed with the World Tree. Because of her bloodline, the protection of the World Tree was still passed down.
It granted immense vitality, not only extending the already long lifespan of elves but also…
This vitality influenced their growth, resulting in a different physique from ordinary elves.
Usually, they had voluptuous figures like Elisha…
But sometimes, among the high elves, there were those born with such immense vitality that, at some point, their growth stopped.
That silver-haired tower master might have been one of them.
As I had expected, the host began to explain this in detail.
I already knew this, so I listened with one ear and let it pass through the other… but others were listening intently.
After all, while ordinary elves might be common, high elves weren’t, so it could have been interesting.
Seeing the positive reaction from the audience, the enthusiastic host shared a few more anecdotes.
“Haha! Did you all know? In the distant past, some power-seekers hunted and consumed high elves in their quest for immortality. It’s quite barbaric.”
I frowned.
Had such things really happened?
While I knew the H&A settings due to my excellent memory, there was a lot I didn’t know about the history of the Eurelia continent, which wasn’t often mentioned in the game.
“They must have sought the immense vitality within the bodies of the high elves. But no one ever achieved their goal, so I hope no one makes a similar mistake… Well, maybe consuming them in another way is acceptable!”
The audience laughed at the host’s joke, creating a jovial atmosphere in the auction hall.
Of course, the elves present weren’t happy.
The most furious among them was Elisha.
She didn’t appreciate the tower master, whom she considered her mentor, being mocked.
Even though she had unjustly become a slave because of her.
This reminded me of her consistent character.
She never blamed me for tarnishing her reputation, understanding that it was merely my way of coping.
I paused for a moment of reminiscence.
Unlike Carla, who was well-trained as a slave, Elisha was intentionally left untrained to preserve her dignity.
Just as Elisha was on the verge of snapping, she was halted.
“Stop. I’m fine. Remain calm, Elisha. If you get angry, you’ll just be playing into their hands.”
The calm-faced tower master, the only unaffected one, said this.
Of course, being a long-lived elf, she would be aware of the various fantasies other races harbored about elves.
Well, while elves were proud and normally wouldn’t compromise their pride, the tower master seemed different.
She stepped forward, the chains around her wrists and ankles clinking.
“Listen! If possible, take both me and this child. If you do, no matter who you are, I will obey my new owner’s every command. Whether it’s sharing my lifelong magic, barking, or even licking, please consider it.”
She deeply bowed her head.
But did she realize?
The more submissive she appeared, the more others might desire to break her.
…Perhaps she was luring them intentionally.
If her goal was to be sold to the same place as Elisha, there was no better strategy.
Sure enough, many, observing the seemingly frail yet mentally strong tower master, emerged with a desire to dominate her.
“We’ve heard enough. Commence the auction!”
“Yes! We want to hear about the item, not the high elf!”
As voices urging the auction to begin echoed, the host, looking uncomfortable, scratched his head.
“Uhm… I still have many stories to share… but if you all insist, let’s proceed! I’ll start with the product description now!”
The host pointed to the male elf at the far right end and continued speaking.
“First of all, that elf’s name is…”
The uninterested male elf was the first to be introduced, with the host moving from right to left. Then, he said,
“Presenting Elisha Sylvan Glenchiel, once touted as the future’s great mage! Well, since she’s now expelled from the Sylvan Tower, we should probably drop ‘Sylvan’! Judging by her features, you can tell she’s a High Elf, just like her former tower master! She’s 20 years old. And yes, still a virgin!”
“Finally! The former Sylvan Tower Master, Iris Sylvan Banatis, who had the audacity to propose conditions to you, our esteemed customers! She’s a remarkable 517-year-old! And yet, still a virgin! A 517-year-old virgin! That’s premium quality right there!”
As the host finished his spiel, a tense silence filled the auction house.
Elven slaves were expensive.
Their above-average beauty, coupled with their long lifespan, ensured that beauty would endure.
Their rarity, the fantasy surrounding the elf race, strong ethical values, and more added to their value.
It would be no exaggeration to say they had all the qualities to be highly sought after.
Thus, everyone was on guard.
How could they secure the elf they desired with their available funds? Were their rivals eyeing the same elf?
Murmurs filled the venue as everyone tried to gauge each other’s intentions.
Amid an atmosphere heavy with desire and calculation, the host chuckled and began to speak,
“Now, let’s start the bidding! Name the slave you’re interested in, and state your price!”
“……”
Despite the hosts’s prompt, everyone hesitated, reluctant to be the first to bid. So, I raised my hand.
“Aha! The VIP who has purchased most of the items so far! You’ve raised your hand again! Which slave and what price are you bidding?”
Elisha, who had just noticed me, stared blankly in my direction. I responded with a sly smile.
“All of them. A total of 100,000 gold.”
A silence of astonishment ensued.
In that silence, Carla obliviously fed me a grape.
“Here.”
…Just stay still for now.
That was quite the scene.
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