The reason the scoundrel suggested a disguise to me was simple.
The problem when entering the auction house was the very existence of Lucy Alrn.
So if I become someone who is not Lucy, then there would be no issues whatsoever.
I could understand that much. I thought it wasn’t a bad suggestion.
However, the moment I saw the disguise outfit the scoundrel brought, I was horrified and shook my head.
A black parasol to block the hot sunlight. A large black hat to conceal my noticeable hair. On top of that, a billowing black dress.
Having been close to Japanese culture enough to not feel discomfort in creating a Mesugaki character, I knew what to call this outfit.
Gothic Lolita.
Clothing often worn by characters who hide something or have dark intentions.
“Excuse me. Scoundrel, are you a pervert?”
“Scoundrel? Why are you injecting your sexual preferences into a disguise? This is such an overt perversion. It’s disgusting and revolting.”
“No! That’s not it!”
The scoundrel had his own reasons for presenting me with this outfit.
By hiding my notable face with the parasol and hat and covering my pale skin with a long dress, an aristocrat in this outfit is often characterized as being shy, so it wouldn’t seem strange if I kept my mouth shut, allowing me to hide not just my voice but my distinctive manner of speaking as well.
I understood the utility of that outfit.
I understood, but I still didn’t like it!
I didn’t want to wear such clothing, and now you want me to voluntarily put it on?!
Would I do that?!
“It would look good on you, though.”
The silly fox perched atop my head mumbled something, but I ignored him.
I then stubbornly questioned the scoundrel if there were any other outfits available.
However, despite my complaints, he only awkwardly smiled.
“Time is an issue.”
If I had a leisurely amount of time to prepare, I could have considered other ways to disguise myself.
If I had contacted someone a few days in advance, various options would have emerged.
But I suddenly arrived here just two hours before the auction began.
Since I had no preparations and no time to spare, what the scoundrel brought out was the best he could offer.
“If you’re not looking to enjoy the auction but rather plan to buy something, sending a proxy is also an option. Here’s what’s written...”
The scoundrel spoke this way as he handed me a list.
I took it from him but didn’t read it seriously.
After all, I memorized the items listed in the auction.
At the Nig auction house, there are two types of items.
The first are valuable items that are so precious they get written on the list.
These are items that would draw in multiple people just to buy one.
The other type consists of items deemed trivial by the auction house.
To provide a breather for the attendees, these lesser items are intermittently included to give people a break from constantly bidding on expensive and valuable items.
Among these, the former is always fixed, while the latter is determined randomly for each auction.
And typically, the items that make players say “jackpot” can be found among the latter.
I had come here targeting both types of items.
With the knowledge specific to seasoned players and my steadily enhanced emotional skills, along with my high luck stat, I believed I could aim for a jackpot.
Therefore, I wanted to participate in the auction as much as possible, but...
As I tore my gaze from the list and set my sights on the Gothic Lolita outfit hanging on the hanger, I bowed my head with a sigh.
<Do you really hate that outfit that much?>
While I was mulling over this, my grandfather spoke up.
‘Yes. I do hate it.’ <Why? It’s not like there’s anything wrong with it, and I think it would suit you.> ‘Of course, yes.’
If you think about a cute girl wearing that, it’s not weird at all.
The colors are a bit gloomy, but that’s all. Depending on the person, it could definitely be described as cute or pretty.
However, that’s only from the perspective of the viewer.
Wearing it myself and standing in front of others is a different story.
<Are you embarrassed?> ‘It’s similar but different.’
It’s true that the word “embarrassment” is mixed in.
However, I can’t describe this feeling solely as embarrassment.
There are too many emotions wrapped up in this.
If I had to classify it, it would be a feeling of rejection.
A rejection of femininity.
It’s only been less than a year since I possessed Lucy’s body.
While numerous things have happened during that time, I still see myself as a man.
Although I’ve reluctantly gotten used to wearing a skirt due to the academy uniform, there is still a limit to that.
Wearing such a fluttering and cute outfit is just too much.
It’s much more normal than the clothes in Lucy’s wardrobe, but still...
<You seemed to wear that strange outfit quite well in the forest last time.> ‘I had no choice back then!’
Grandfather! I was barely managing to forget about it, and you had to bring up that embarrassing history again?!
‘And more importantly, at that time, the condition was that I would only show it in front of the silly fox!’
In the end, I ended up showing the bunny girl outfit to all my party members, but that was never my intention from the start.
I was supposed to only show it to the silly fox and keep it buried in my heart.
That’s how mischief works, doesn’t it?
There’s a big difference between acting out at home alone and doing so in front of others.
In the first case, it’s over as soon as I feel a moment of clarity, but in the latter, it becomes a dark history I’d kick off my blanket about every night!
Can you imagine how painful it would be if I recalled the moment when I was caught wearing the bunny girl outfit by everyone?!
I never want to experience that again!
[The Radiant Tablet of Divinity.]
Huh?
While I was responding to my grandfather and casually flipping through the list, I raised an eyebrow at an item that shouldn’t be in this auction.
I know roughly what that is.
It’s an item that forms a pair with two rings; when mana is infused, the color changes, and when one side changes color, the opposite side changes too.
Typically, it’s used to communicate in emergencies, with each color holding a specific meaning.
I remember it appearing in a side quest.
While it’s somewhat valuable, it’s not an expensive item and is classified as junk.
So why is it listed?
I found it odd and asked the scoundrel, and he replied that this was a list of all items coming up for auction.
So, it’s not just the items listed by the auction house, but all items, including the ones outside?
‘If that’s the case, you should have said that sooner!’ “Hey, scoundrel. If that’s the case, you should have said it earlier. Are you only thinking about women in your head? Is that why your thoughts can’t flow anywhere else? You disgusting, useless pervert.”
“I certainly mentioned it, didn’t I?!”
Did he? I glanced to the side and saw Porcel giving an awkward smile.
Maybe he had said it, but I hadn’t heard him.
It’s all grandfather’s fault.
He had to bring up that story about the bunny girl outfit and make me suffer!
<I mentioned it before I spoke to you.>
Anyway, this turned out well.
This way, I can safely send a proxy.
If I set the priorities and items I want to buy here, they will solve it for me.
Relieved of my mental burden, I leisurely looked over the list.
A gem that consumes mana?
Oh. That’s out too. This would be great for Joy.
If I continually infuse mana and nurture it, it will become quite useful.
This is an item that increases efficiency when doing paperwork, right?
It would be good to give this to Benedikt.
And this...
While I was pondering the items I wanted to buy, thinking about my current budget, I froze upon seeing a line written on the list.
‘Kia. This...’ “Scoundrel. Is this item really coming up for auction?”
“Yes. It’s not particularly impressive, but I heard that this time the selection is quite limited, so there was no choice.”
The scoundrel’s reply, that he heard this from the person in charge of deciding the order of auction items, made me narrow my eyes as I glared at the line.
[The Tablet that Shines when Infused with Divinity.]
On the surface, this item looks like mere junk.
When someone who has stepped onto the path of the divine infuses it with divinity, it shines brightly, but that’s it.
It has no practical effects whatsoever.
I heard that it had some meaningful phrase written in the description and that the descriptions varied from tablet to tablet, which led to speculation that it might have some significance, but most players didn’t pay it any mind.
Still, when it dropped as an item, everyone was happy.
This tablet had a very low drop rate, but when sold at a shop or auction house, it fetched a high price.
It’s said that wealthy merchants collecting items related to the God’s Church buy them for a premium.
However, after the game was released, the evaluation of this item flipped over the span of a week.
It was revealed by a player that this item served as a clue or key to obtain specific equipment.
Since then, ‘The Tablet that Shines when Infused with Divinity’ has become an item to keep in reserve if you’re growing a cleric character when you have the luxury to do so.
If you’re raising another character, it would be better to sell it without a second thought.
But here’s the thing.
Right now, I’m in the position of taking the paladin tree.
The useless god won’t let me change this job, so I can’t.
My head started to ache.
‘The Tablet that Shines when Infused with Divinity’ is expensive.
It’s disgustingly expensive.
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Even if I were to invest all the budget I have in my hands, I would still feel it’s cutting it too close.
If I were to purchase this, I would have to give up everything I had planned.
Not only the gifts I wanted to give to various people, but even the bracelet of leisure.
This is a jackpot.
If I posted on the bulletin board that this was coming up at the auction house, I’d definitely hear that it’s a big deal.
But I can’t just buy it thoughtlessly.
I don’t know whether this is the tablet that serves as a clue or the one that serves as a key.
I don’t need the clue.
I already have everything memorized, so there’s no need to search for any clues.
However, I need the key.
As a cleric, especially one who is a vanguard, it’s essential.
Can I distinguish between the two?
It’s possible. If I see it with my emotional skill, it will become apparent immediately.
In other words, to differentiate between them, I need to go to the auction house.
“Lady Alrn. What will you do?”
Perhaps feeling the urgency of time, the scoundrel urged me with an awkward smile.
Behind him, the Gothic Lolita outfit was still proudly showcasing its cuteness.
As for me, was I a man or a rotten soul of the Soul Academy?
My dilemma wasn’t going to last long.
While the former was a useless pride, the latter was a reality.