It was the sword he’d seen in the catalog. A sword with a jet-black blade and a red jewel embedded in it. In the booklet’s illustration, the sacred script was written only on the handle, but seeing it in person, the sacred script wrapped around the entire sword. Rowy, who knew nothing about sacred script unless it was magic, examined it with interest.
‘That’s supposed to be a Holy Sword? Rather than holy… it looks somewhat ominous.’
Though it wasn’t something Rowy, who had never prayed to God even once, should say. In his defense, mages tended to be distant from God anyway.
‘Does it have divine power or something? I’m not sure.’
To Rowy’s eyes, he couldn’t gauge at all whether that was a Holy Sword or not.
“As you know, the Holy Sword chooses its master! Of course, the Holy Sword’s master wouldn’t be here. Is the Holy Knight Commander here by any chance?”
Whether it was a joke or not, laughter burst out here and there. What’s funny about that? Rowy tilted his head.
“Or perhaps, is there anyone who wants to kill demons? If there is such a person, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to be baptized by Elysion first.”
The laughter grew a bit louder. Rowy’s mood was getting a bit worse now. The host continued to build up the atmosphere.
“The chosen one shall lift the Holy Sword and strike down the demons, and the celestial flames shall burn the demons.”
Amen. As the host added playfully, people responded with laughter.
“It’s a passage from the Elysion scriptures. It shouldn’t matter even if you’re not the Holy Sword’s master. Even if you can’t summon karmic fire, it can sufficiently ward off evil energy! Look at this delicate refinement! Moreover, this sacred script is said to symbolize protection and purification!”
The host magnified the sword with an artifact to show everyone. Indeed, words that Rowy couldn’t read at all were carved so beautifully and precisely.
“And this jewel… from what we’ve confirmed, it’s called a sealing stone. Countless demons may be sealed within it. If you listen carefully, you might hear it. The wailing of demons.”
The host quickly imitated an eerie voice. Exclamations burst out among the people sitting at the table in front of the stage.
“Hmm…”
The response was quite good. If it’s a product people are this interested in, then the people in the private rooms would probably show interest too. Everyone was Rowy’s enemy. In fact, Rowy, who knew nothing about swords, couldn’t find anything special about that sword at all. However, Rowy thought he absolutely had to get it.
Because… Rowy looked at Van beside him. Van was staring at the Holy Sword with a completely stiff face, unable to take his eyes off it. His tightly clenched hands had gone deathly pale, and his clenched jaw trembled. Rowy thought Van might cry soon. …So Rowy decided he absolutely had to put that sword in Van’s hands.
* * *
“Now then, everyone, let’s begin the auction. The starting amount is fifty million Cen!”
Fifty million Cen? Van’s mouth dropped open as he had been glaring at the Holy Sword before his eyes as if to bore a hole through it. Fifty million Cen?
“Sixty million Cen!”
Along with the sound of a tinkling bell, the host shouted. The auction had started. Literally, fifty million Cen was just the starting price.
‘My goodness. I should have sold it earlier.’
The Holy Sword’s former owner, the baptized one, the former Holy Knight Commander, harbored an impious thought. Suddenly recognizing reality at the absurd price, Van recoiled. Though he’d only seen it from afar, that Holy Sword was definitely real. If that sword was actually real, and if it had appeared before Van’s eyes according to God’s will…
“Seventy million Cen! No, eighty million!”
…No, whatever the case, this is too expensive!
“Wh-what! Master! Why are you trying to buy that!”
Van stopped him in surprise, but Rowy didn’t even pretend to listen and kept ringing the bell relentlessly.
“One hundred million Cen!”
“Are you crazy? Really?”
Van was horrified and snatched the bell away. One-hundred-million-Cen? Van’s face turned pale at an amount of money he’d never even pronounced before.
“Why!”
“No, it’s too expensive! Master, you don’t even need a sword! You can’t even lift it because it’s too heavy!”
“Who said I’m using it? You said you wanted it! Hurry up and give it back or we’ll lose it!”
Rowy snatched the bell back from Van’s hand. It was the fastest movement Rowy had made that Van had ever seen. The bell rang relentlessly. At the soaring price, the host’s voice grew louder and louder. The price had already risen sufficiently. Most of the nobles had stepped aside from this overheated situation and were watching and laughing. Currently, there were only three people targeting the Holy Sword, including Rowy.
“Three hundred million Cen.”
Along with the sound of a tinkle, an unbelievable price kept popping out. Van now covered his ears and trembled. Suddenly, money in the hundreds of millions is disappearing? Just because I said I wanted that?
“Three hundred and ten million Cen has been called!”
Once it passed three hundred million, one competitor disappeared. However, one person still remained, immediately matching the price Rowy called.
“They’re rushing at me over something trivial. Who is it?”
Rowy, completely flushed with excitement, raised her voice. Van was at a loss at this belligerent appearance he’d never seen before.
“Four hundred million!”
“…Four hundred and ten million Cen has been called!”
“Ugh!”
Rowy got fiercely irritated at someone who kept following. Rowy had to have what he wanted. Because he’d lived his whole life that way. Rowy picked up the bell with the alarm spell on it. A one-way communication spell was carved on the bell’s surface. It was magic that conveyed an alarm to the host.
Rowy swept his hand over that formula. Having chewed magic stones, he was more than capable of slightly twisting such a simple spell even without a magic tool. Soon Rowy’s bell was connected to the entire auction house. Rowy picked up the bell and brought it to his mouth.
Ah, can you hear?
“Hello?”
A languid voice penetrated every corner of the auction house. The sound of people gasping came from here and there at the voice that suddenly rang in their ears. Soon the auction house became as quiet as a mouse.
“I need to have that. If you have a complaint, would you come find me directly? I’ll call five billion Cen.”
The flustered host kept looking at the staff in the back. Soon, having received some message, the host looked at the stage again and shouted.
“Fi-five billion Cen! Is there anyone who will call more?”
“Five billion Cen?”
Van’s mouth dropped open.
“If there’s no more, it’s sold for five billion Cen!”
Rowy smiled a victorious smile.
* * *
“Let’s get a refund.”
“I’ve never done that before.”
“How about trying it for the first time this time?”
Hmph. Rowy snorted. Van followed behind at a loss. The two were currently heading to the inner reception room with the guide to receive the Holy Sword they’d purchased. Normally, they would have received the item in the private room, but this happened because Rowy said he’d pay in cash again this time.
Carrying around five billion Cen? Van’s eyes trembled relentlessly. You’re carrying five billion Cen? The guide’s eyes also trembled relentlessly…
Since the amount wasn’t small, they needed time for verification. Once the verification was complete, they would receive the Holy Sword and were scheduled to receive simple refreshments in the reception room. Of course, Rowy wasn’t particularly eager to eat, having been disappointed by the strawberry ice cream.
“Five billion Cen? Do you still have money left in your pouch even after paying that?”
Van whispered in Rowy’s ear. He was afraid someone might hear and come running. Hm? Do you need money? Not understanding, Rowy also whispered. How much do you need?
“My goodness. Elion.”
Van called on God at the dizzying feeling. Without a doubt, this was more dizzying than standing before an archdemon. Really doesn’t know how scary the world is. I can’t keep this on me the whole time, so what should I do.
Van sat closer to Rowy. Now the two were pressed together with almost no gap. The sight of two men stuck together on a spacious sofa was quite comical, but the guide, whose mind was captured by the five billion Cen in physical form, paid no attention to the two.
“Could you wait here for a moment? After verification, we’ll deliver the item right away.”
The guide who handed over the money to the guards with trembling hands gave a polite greeting.
“Would you like wine while you’re waiting?”
“Wine?”
Rowy’s eyes sparkled for a moment. Come to think of it, it had been quite a while since he’d had alcohol. Actually, what he drank at his coming-of-age ceremony was both the first and last time.
“Alcohol is not allowed.”
“Why?”
“After taking all that headache medicine.”
Van firmly shook his head. Rowy obediently nodded.
“Mm, then give me something sweet. Anything. The ice cream wasn’t good.”
“Ahem, it didn’t suit your taste. If you wait just a moment, I’ll get something from a nearby shop.”
The guide gave a polite greeting and left the room. Once only the two remained, Van pressed even closer to Rowy. Already stuck together, Rowy was pushed back a bit.
“Are you really buying that sword for five billion Cen?”
“I already bought it. I’ll give it to you.”
“I don’t need a five billion Cen sword?”
“Just take it. You said you wanted it. It’s good to use a good sword.”
“I already have a sword.”
Van tapped the sword tied at his waist. This was also a sword Rowy had bought for him. However, Rowy’s reaction remained indifferent.
“That’s a cheap one. It’s good to carry an expensive one.”
and so the mutual spoiling begins