Chapter 54 – Episode 54 – Masquerade (5)

After finishing the affair, I wiped the traces by evaporating the by-products scattered here and there with a spirit purifier.

For your reference, the president’s torn dress was restored with an all-powerful Yongan.

After finishing all the arrangements, staff came into the black market to see if the black market had started at the right time.

“Ah! Did the customer come first and wait for you?!”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Well, it was a place where you wouldn’t think it was strange even if you said it was a rice cake, but I put it like that for now.

“Move to the place the bracelet guides you to, and I’ll prepare something for you.”

The staff nodded and moved in an orderly manner behind the red curtain above the podium.

Perhaps that is where the auction items and various items prepared by the staff are stocked.

Ugh-!

The black bracelet on my right wrist trembled slightly and pulled me forward.

“Ohhh! It’s amazing.”

Following the bracelet shaking enough to read the direction of the force, there was a round table with luxurious red leather chairs for two.

Is this the place for the auction where you and I participate?

“Miss, please sit down.”

After gently guiding the president to the leather chair, I laid down and sat down in the leather chair.

As soon as I sat down, I involuntarily exclaimed at the supreme softness.

I really feel that this casino has paid for every little thing.

“Cook cook…”

The chairman looked at me with a cute smile.

“Excuse me, participant.”

Shortly thereafter, an employee came up to me and the chairman and set simple food and drinks on the table.

Well, it’s simple on the outside, but the taste was so delicious that I wanted to secretly take it home.

As I was eating cheese and crackers, stuffing them into my mouth, I could see the participants slowly entering the black market from the entrance.

Like me, they also went to their seats in line with the slightly trembling black bracelet.

When dozens of participants entered the black market and all participants were seated at the table.

Click.

A figure popped out from between the red curtains on the podium, and a clear, ear-piercing voice spread throughout the black market.

“Hello~! Participants! Did you wait long?!”

In-young, wearing a funny mask with a mustache in contrast to her stylish fedora and suit, greeted us with a black microphone in her hand.

Anyone can see that he is the moderator of the auction.

In other words, the reason why I finally came to the masquerade was that the ‘auction’ was about to begin.

“Did you have a good time while waiting for the auction, indulging in the pleasures and luxuries we have prepared for you? I hope you enjoyed, but…”

The moderator stroked the tender mustache once and continued.

“How can entertainment meet everyone’s needs? I’m sure there are some people who come to this casino simply for this ‘auction’.”

Perhaps because her face was covered by the mask and she was unable to express her sadness through expression, the moderator twisted her body to reveal her regret.

“If you participate in the next auction, please do! We hope you enjoy the luxury and pleasure of our new casino, which will be updated with each next masquerade!”

The host dramatically and loudly stirred the microphone in his hand.

“I’m sure a participant visiting the black market for the first time today might think, ‘Why are you talking as if you’re going to participate in the next auction already?’ It might make you feel a little offended.”

Chark.

The red curtain hanging behind the host lifted slightly, and the cart with the tray on it was lifted up onto the podium.

“If the participant doesn’t look for our masquerade again after seeing the sale on the black market today.”

The moderator cut off and slowly opened the tray on the cart.

The lid of the silver tray was opened to reveal a throbbing heart with large blue veins squirming.

“It’s definitely not because you’re disappointed with our black market stuff, it’s because you’re short on money. But if you have enough money, don’t worry! This is a dream space that sells anything to suit the taste of the participants. “Okay! Now, let’s start the auction! First of all, let’s start lightly with the troll’s heart! The starting price is 5000!”

After the moderator caught the attention of the participants with quite provocative words and actions, the auction started.

The first item that came out was the troll’s heart.

The main ingredient of the healing potion, that blue heart full of troll blood, was sold for 200 million won.

And, shockingly, the next item was a half-human, half-mage demon girl who had been airlifted from the dungeon, and this girl was sold for 6 billion won.

So many rare things came up on the podium that there was nothing really missing.

From bizarre creatures that are unpleasant to look at, to equipment with tongue-in-cheek shame.

In the middle of the auction, when an item with a fairly usable option appeared, I competed fiercely to get the item by participating in the auction.

The auction went on for over an hour, during which time I acquired several items of considerable value.

But in the meantime, jump in to win the bid and adjust the amount to make the most of the profit, and roll your head.

The whole process was so mentally exhausting that I involuntarily let out a sigh and threw myself into a leather chair to put my mind at ease.

“Ha…”

“My love, it’s almost over now. Cheer up a little.”

The president is beside me, rubbing my shoulders and encouraging me.

“No… Your lady.”

Yeah, it’s really almost finished.

I might have one last thing to salvage, so I’ll keep my eyes wide open.

“Now! Now, the long-awaited last item! Originally, our black market auction ends with a product that is rarer than any of the previous items. Did you know?”

Rare goods will be right, but the question is whether the goods are valuable to me.

Demons struggling with their limbs cut off are rare, but just as they are of no use to me, that last item may also be of no use to me and just a rare commodity.

“Introducing! Our last black market product!”

Chark.

Is it the last product? The red curtain, which had been closed until now, opened and revealed the last thing hidden inside.

Behind the curtains, inside the podium, there was a table, and a small stone was placed on top of it.

The shape of the stone with bizarre hieroglyphs on it didn’t look very unusual, but for some reason, my senses, which were hardened with a sense of humor, screamed.

‘That’s it, that one stone is more valuable than any other item ever produced’

“I’m sure no one was disappointed because it’s just a plain looking stone, right? Haha! Right? I’ve definitely said that it’s rarer than any other item that’s ever come out.”

The presenter smirked and moved toward the stone on the table.

The presenter, who took a black glove out of his pocket and put it on his hand, picked up a stone with a snap.

“Now, this boulder is part of a fragment that is believed to have been removed from a stone slab we found on a remote shore over there.”

The moderator looked back at us carefully and continued the explanation.

“It looks ordinary, but the power contained in this stone is incredible. I’ll show you now.”

Right!

As the moderator flicked his hand, a clerk who had been waiting in advance came up to the podium with a transparent basin filled with water.

“Now, a miracle will happen.”

The host held the stone in his hand and stretched out his arm toward the basin.

OK.

Chalang~

The water in the basin swayed and a stream of water formed in a whirlwind and flew out of the basin.

“This is the ability of this small stone. It is quite an extraordinary ability that even an ordinary person like me who does not have ‘supernatural ability’ can control water like this.”

As the host waved his hand, the water in the air froze.

Soon after, the emcee swiped his hand down, and the frozen stream of water dug into the podium and stood tall.

“For reference, as a result of our preliminary investigation, people with supernatural powers related to water vomited a spirit that doubled their abilities just by holding this stone.”

Fuck that! That’s it!

Also, my feelings were not wrong.

I have to get my hands on that stone somehow.

It is a very fraudulent and versatile item that can be used by me, a spirit swordsman, or by our vice president, who is a good water attribute dealer!

“Ah, it’s such a nice item, but it has one drawback. If it comes into direct contact with the body, it turns part of the skin into scales… A very minor side effect compared to its ability.”

It’s kind of a weird side effect, but it doesn’t matter.

Doesn’t that mean it won’t be a problem as long as it doesn’t touch a part of the body?

That’s really nothing compared to the ability of a stone.

“Let’s start the auction! The starting price is 20 billion won!”

As expected, as anyone can see, the auction started with a starting price that was superior to any other item that has ever been released.

He brought the black bracelet to his mouth and said 40 billion.

The auction in this black market is conducted in such a way that the moderator raises the price by saying the amount I can pay for the bracelet, not by holding a sign and raising the price.

“Oh yes! 40 billion came out from the start!”

My hands were shaking because it was a lot of money that I had never touched in my life, but now is not the time to argue.

I have to get that thing somehow, first of all, let’s think about all my 40 billion won from gambling.

“My love, I can spend 50 billion more in the future.”

The chairman next to me told me the remaining amount in a friendly tone.

Damn, if I had known this was going to happen, I would have saved up as much as I could by not buying items earlier.

“Ah, 50 billion beyond 40 billion! 50 billion came out!”

As expected, there’s no way that stone with this insane ability will end at 40 billion.

“Fuck 60 billion!”

He cursed and sang 60 billion won.

My head went torturing at the amount that went out of my mind even more, but I couldn’t stop.

You absolutely have to buy that!

“Ah~ Yes! 60 billion came out! Ah, 61 billion right next!”

“620!”

The price of stones went up like crazy.

“Poetry… Fuck…”

When I suddenly came to my senses, the price of the stone had reached 75 billion won at once.

The thought of spending so much money on that little stone came to my mind, but I soon changed my mind.

No, how do you save money anyway? Money is something you can earn somehow if you set your mind to it.

So, wouldn’t it be possible to earn that much later by picking up unnecessary items from a hidden dungeon I know of and selling them?

After convincing me by turning the happy circuit.

“80 billion!”

As he chewed his teeth, he called for the price with a feeling of vomiting blood.

“Ah~ 80 billion came out! 80 billion! 80 billion! 80 billion!”

The moderator shouts the amount I called three times in a row.

“Is there anyone next to 80 billion?”

Please…! Fuck please! Please finish here

I clenched my hands and prayed.

But the sky is not indifferent. Within seconds, the host spit out a price that jumped up from the amount I called.

“90 billion came out!!! My God, 90 billion! 90 billion!”

When the emcee exclaimed, “Is there anyone else next?” In my ears, I collapsed onto the chair in a sense of dejection.

Ah… Fuck.

Finished.

I can’t have all the money I currently own even if I lose it.

“My love, are you okay?”

The chairman petted me and encouraged me, but I sighed heavily at the fact that I missed that item.

“Ha…”

Yeah, well, you can find items like that later somehow.

Later… Later… There will be other items.

“Ah, 92 billion came out!”

He looked at the god or the emcee who raised his voice with resentful eyes.

Oh god damn I just wish everything I couldn’t have would just be ruined.

Rolling…

Perhaps reading my mind, the stone wall trembled and a loud vibration came out.

“Don’t worry! Participants, our black market is made deep in the ground, so sometimes this happens! Now, let’s continue the auction. 93 billion!”

The auction proceeded with the moderator skillfully explaining the situation without panic as if it were not once or twice.

Rolling…! Hilly!

However, the vibrating sound of the stone wall became more intense, and the wall moved to the extent that it was now clearly visible.

“What..?”

The moderator stopped talking while proceeding with the auction, embarrassed by the appearance that was not serious even at a glance.

The auction hall, where the moderator stopped talking, was filled with the vibrating sound of the stone walls.

Rolling…! Gurreung..!

The sound of the stone walls did not stop and continued to grow louder.