Chapter 56: Black Market Auction (3)
How long had I been resting?
I had turned away several guests who knocked on my door, choosing to rest alone.
That was, until the director realized something was wrong and burst into my room.
“Gasp! What happened here?”
The moment he unlocked my room door with a master key and entered, he sniffed the thick, metallic scent of blood hanging in the air.
His eyes widened, and he instinctively gathered his magical energy.
I waved my hand dismissively to let him know everything was fine.
Only then did he retract his power. However, he approached me, his worry and unease evident, even through his mask.
“…I’ll bring you some new clothes.”
He glanced at the bloodstains covering my outfit as he spoke.
Only then did I realize the state of my clothes and nodded.
“This is the one Chorong bought me.”
I’m in trouble now. This expensive outfit didn’t even last a day before being ruined.
“Could I ask you to get an identical outfit? Someone might get upset if they find out I had to discard it after just a day.”
At my words, the director allowed the serious atmosphere to dissipate slightly and let out a soft laugh before nodding.
“Then, there’s nothing else wrong, is there? If there’s any issue, please let me know immediately.”
“I’m fine. I just felt a bit unwell earlier. It’s all resolved now.”
As I said that, the director’s eyes glimmered briefly as he glanced above my head.
“It’s gone. The item that even I couldn’t identify, not even its name.”
“Well… something like that happened. It’s a painful memory, so let’s not talk about it anymore.”
Anything more would be unnecessary meddling.
Even though the director and I were close, I had no intention of revealing my full capabilities or strategies to him.
The director seemed to understand the boundary I set and apologized with a slight bow before leaving the room, mentioning he would send the clothes through a staff member.
Now, it was time for the auction to resume. I intended to soothe the sting of sacrificing that Mythical-grade item through this auction.
“Buy it all. Buy everything. Let’s indulge in a little spree.”
Though it was nearing the end of the auction, the items being presented were all of significant value. Without hesitation, I pressed the bidding button repeatedly.
By the time the ancient rune appeared, I had successfully secured 17 items, all of which were immediately transferred into my inventory.
***
“And now! The final item of the auction! The one you’ve all been eagerly waiting for!”
With grand music playing in the background, the floor opened up, revealing a small fist-sized stone encased in glass.
The stone was the very embodiment of mystery.
Its exquisite radiance defied human comprehension, shimmering with a transcendent light that seemed to surpass even the finest works of art.
“That’s a rune…!”
Due to its rarity and immense value, it was rare to see such an artifact in person.
For someone like me, a bottom-rank hunter, it had always been a distant object of speculation. Naturally, seeing it for the first time filled me with awe.
Gulp.
Greed surged within me. I wanted it. I wanted to own it.
Just as my desire began to boil over, I snapped my eyes open and regained composure.
“What the hell?!”
It was that powerful.
So potent that even I, who possessed the Ultimate Soul, momentarily lost myself in greed.
My mental protection abilities hadn’t even deemed it a threat, further proving its allure.
I swallowed hard. Meanwhile, the auctioneer began to speak slowly.
“Have you all been captivated by its beauty? Before we discuss who might purchase this gem, let’s first reveal its name and grade!”
With a wave of the auctioneer’s hand, the information about the rune appeared on the screen behind the podium.
“The name of the rune is… Crown of the Evolution Monarch! Its grade? SSS+! This is the highest-grade rune ever revealed in any auction! However, there’s a catch. To unlock its effects, you must possess a summoning-type ability. The seller, lacking such an ability, decided to put it up for sale.”
My eyes sparkled more brightly than ever. This was it. I had to have it.
The job I was aiming for specialized in summoning, a one-person army-type class.
‘To avoid being betrayed by anyone, I must be capable of handling everything on my own.’
It was a resolution I’d made the moment I became a hunter. I refused to suffer the same fate as my parents, betrayed and powerless.
I would rise so high that no one could catch me.
With an overwhelming power that no one dared challenge, I would stand alone.
Of course, easier said than done.
Being truly capable of doing everything alone was virtually impossible. But if I obtained that class?
It would become achievable. I wouldn’t need to handle everything alone. My summoned beings would cover any shortcomings I had.
In that sense, this rune was the perfect match for me.
“So that shape in the center must be the emperor’s crown.”
The circular formation at the center of the rune, surrounded by its mystical energy, resembled an imperial crown.
“Unfortunately, as this is of Ancient grade, proper appraisal was not possible. However, it’s certain that this is the best choice for those with summoning-related abilities or professions! Let the bidding begin!”
I didn’t hesitate any further.
“Start with a high bid. I don’t intend to drag this out.”
I raised my hand and wrote down my bid. The amount I entered was displayed for all to see.
***
“Gasp! What… what is this?! Starting with such an enormous amount! Bidder #3 has wagered 500 billion!”
The auction hall instantly erupted into chaos.
500 billion?!
Even though an Ancient-grade rune was undoubtedly valuable, that amount was equivalent to what was expected to be the maximum bid right from the start.
The message was clear in that bid.
This item is mine. If anyone dares to challenge me, I’ll take them on without hesitation!
The confidence and arrogance emanating from the bid left ordinary participants in awe, VIPs shaking their heads and stepping back, and VVIPs deep in contemplation.
The rune, tailored specifically for summoning-type abilities, had the highest level and grade of any rune revealed thus far, but 500 billion was an exceptional amount to spend.
“The auction house played their cards well. No wonder they kept all the information under wraps.”
“Well, at least it’ll be entertaining to watch. Isn’t he here too? If so, he’ll lose his mind trying to get his hands on that rune.”
“Yes, he’s here. And he does have summoning-related abilities and a profession, doesn’t he?”
The VVIPs’ gazes shifted toward one of the top five private rooms.
Room #1. Inside, a man sat surrounded by mystical beings playing around him. He glanced at both them and the rune displayed on the podium before picking up his bidding device.
“This is a fight I can’t back down from. For the sake of my companions.”
His name was Romanov van Schleimann, one of only two SS-rank hunters in Russia, ranked 11th globally, and a Spirit King’s Contractor—a Spirit Master.
One of the beings beside him whispered softly.
“Romanov, this rune also holds immense potential for your growth. Such a rune is rare, even in the Abyss’s deepest stages. Acquiring it will never be a loss.”
She, a mysterious entity formed of emerald-green wind, was Aishia, the Spirit King of Wind.
The Spirit Kings were not mortal beings. They transcended death, existing as entities beyond such concepts. Often, they were compared to the gods—Celestial Thrones—that occasionally appeared deep within the Abyss.
Of course, they were slightly inferior to gods, but their status as transcendental beings was undeniable.
Though much of their power and status were limited due to their contracts with weak mortals, Romanov’s potential was extraordinary enough for a Spirit King to accept such restrictions.
And if he could combine that with a rune possessing such alluring power?
It would be a foundation for her to regain her strength and for his companions to grow faster.
Romanov shared her thoughts. He couldn’t give up on acquiring such an extraordinary item.
‘I don’t have many bullets left.’
Not long ago, he had spent nearly 3.5 trillion won—most of the money he had accumulated since becoming a hunter—to purchase a legendary-grade skill book.
He had bought it from another SS-rank hunter, who was both a personal friend and a fellow Russian.
Thanks to their friendship, he had even received a significant discount.
To cover the massive payment, Romanov had liquidated all his businesses and sold anything that could be turned into cash.
Now, he had only 1 trillion won remaining.
Of course, that was still an enormous sum.
Even an SS-rank hunter would need years of Abyss exploration and good fortune to amass such wealth.
He had to be cautious.
Failure wasn’t an option.
Romanov pressed his bidding device with a resolute gaze.
“510 billion.”
He started small, testing the waters.
By gauging how much money the opponent had, he aimed to secure victory as efficiently as possible.
‘In the end, the rune will be mine!’
There was no way a mere South Korean hunter would have enough money to bid in the trillions!
Unless the world’s third-ranked monster, Dangun Genius, was here in person, the auction’s victor would undoubtedly be him.
He didn’t know.
Having arrived late to the auction and interacting solely with his spirits, Romanov was unaware of how much pure gold his opponent had sold within the past three weeks or the fortune that had been amassed from it.
He only knew that his opponent was an unknown South Korean hunter with mysterious ties to the Black Market, earning its favor.
That limited information was his downfall.
Moreover, it was Romanov’s first time participating in the Black Market auction, so he didn’t understand the significance of Room #3.
‘They must all be of the same rank.’
A simplistic assumption. In a world where even noble-class hunters had distinct hierarchies, such naivety was foolish.
‘His bullets must be running low.’
Room #3 had spent a considerable sum earlier, buying up nearly every item in the auction.
If they had already spent so much, there shouldn’t be any unexpected surprises!
When Romanov raised the bid to 560 billion, his opponent immediately countered as if they had been waiting for that moment.
The new amount was enough to leave Romanov speechless.
“This… this is impossible! Bidder #3 has wagered 1 trillion!”
“What… What is this?”
Romanov was at a loss for words. Was his opponent some kind of heir to a powerful family?
Was there such a family in South Korea? Apart from the Dangun family, Romanov couldn’t recall any.
The battle ended with that single strike.
Raising the bid by a few hundred billion wouldn’t be enough to compete.
Realizing his opponent was on an entirely different level, Romanov let out a hollow sigh and stared at Room #3 with a complicated expression.
—
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