# 046. The King’s Arrival (17)
“It’s not too late. How about severing the connection with your avatar and returning now?”
[Hahaha, you’re quite amusing. Do you know how much goes into creating an avatar? It’s not easy to make even such a mediocre body. Even if it’s a disposable avatar, it would be no fun to leave already.]
The Constellation spoke directly through the avatar body. Its light and cheerful voice felt grotesque, completely mismatched with its monstrous appearance.
“Isn’t the timing of recouping an investment more important than the timing of making it? Even if you leave now, haven’t you already gained what you needed?”
[Well. Who invests just to break even? Investment is all about the big score! I do like you, but business and personal feelings are separate, so don’t take it too personally.]
Listening to the conversation between Jeongwoo and the Constellation, Jaehee got the impression that Jeongwoo already knew about this Constellation. Could it be that being a Zero allowed one to know about all Constellations? Or was Jeongwoo special?
Jeongwoo swung his sword over the black flame that it had spewed out. Flame met flame. It was a strange expression, but there was no other way to describe it. As if engaged in a battle of energy, the red flame and black flame each flickered intensely, but eventually, the black flame died down.
Jeongwoo eliminated the black flames spewed by the creature one by one.
[Your insolence reaches the heavens. Are you doing this because you believe in ******? Even if ****** is special among us, that doesn’t mean you are ******. Don’t dare to pull such obvious tricks in front of a Constellation.]
“Tricks? I’m hurt you would say that. Dawn of Whispers. We’re just doing our best in our position. Just as you do your work. If you make a deal with me, everything will be easier, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to deal.”
Jeongwoo spoke calmly as he swung his sword.
The red flame burning above the blade grew as if roaring. It seemed to read Jeongwoo’s thoughts and will directly.
Jeongwoo swung his sword faster and faster. At first, it seemed like he was simply thrusting into the air, but at some point, Jaehee realized Jeongwoo’s intention. Jeongwoo was cutting the space where the avatar body was located. Jaehee couldn’t understand how this was possible, or what would happen when space was cut. But the space where the avatar body was located increasingly felt like a detached area.
The red flame on Jeongwoo’s blade burned more fiercely. It was as if it were purifying the space contaminated by the black flame.
[You cruel one! Stop! Stop it! Do you not pity this young one?]
“It’s fine. I’m just doing this because it’s bothersome, not because I can’t handle it. I plan to cleanly cut and carve out that poor young thing, then feed it to my flame.”
[Now I see you’re a truly terrible being! Harm to an avatar is a challenge to a Constellation. I gladly accept your challenge!]
“My, how can you say that? I’m not daring to cut the avatar body.”
[What nonsense are you speaking?]
“I’m just conquering this Daejeon Station dungeon. Isn’t conquering dungeons both our duty and our right?”
[This… this…! $%%@&!]
Even while speaking, Jeongwoo continued to swing his sword enthusiastically. The avatar body kept spewing black flame, but due to the cut-off space, it couldn’t reach outside. It looked like it was trapped in a narrow cage.
[Haah, fine. I never expected such a ruthless person. I can’t lose an avatar body I’ve just created like this. Return the avatar body to me. Then I will leave this place.]
Jeongwoo tilted his head and then shrugged once.
[What does that mean?]
“This is your avatar body, but right now, it’s mine.”
[What?]
“If you want to reclaim this now, participate in the auction.”
[What? What?]
[Channel, Earth, auction request has been received.]
Seller: ***. (Origin: Earth) ******* of **. Time remaining: 24:00:00
[Seller’s description: This is the avatar body of **** **. Though it’s a young avatar with inferior abilities, it has many different uses because of that. It can handle a lot of energy and flame. You can eat it directly. I can’t guarantee the taste, but it’s a nutritious food that can help you achieve significant growth at once.]
❖ All aspects of the auction are guaranteed and managed directly by the system. In case illegal actions are detected in the auction, strong penalties including fines will be applied. This auction item is open to everyone without restrictions on bidders at the seller’s request.
❖ Auction Guide
. The auction will take place for 24 hours from now. If there is no successful bidder, the item will return to the seller, and the seller must pay a partial fee to the system for conducting the auction. The fee will be set as the basic fee.
. When an auction is successful, the fee is paid by the seller. The fee is 10% of the winning bid.
. All auctions operate on the principle of immediate payment. If the winning bid amount is not paid, the auction will be canceled, and participation in future auctions may be restricted. If immediate payment of the winning bid amount is difficult, you can use the system’s loan program according to your credit rating. Loans for auction items start with an interest rate of 16.9%.
[Aaaaargh! You! Crazy #@$%&^*#@@! #$$%^&!]
Suddenly, a screeching sound echoed through the space. It was a terrible sound that seemed like it would tear eardrums. It sounded like something being scratched or torn.
“Um, Jeongwoo?”
Jeongwoo smiled at Jaehee. His smile was so innocent that it was hard to grasp what had just happened.
[Constellation, Dawn of Whispers raises an objection to the system auction. It states that since the ownership of this auction item is uncertain, the auction itself is not possible.]
[Constellation, Scale of the Judge says don’t make ridiculous claims. There’s no law that says it’s okay when you cheat but not okay when you get cheated.]
[Constellation, Winter Night Traveler laughs saying a scammer got scammed.]
[Constellation. Ancient Memory bids. 320]
[Constellation, Dawn of Whispers shouts that it’s his and to not even dream about it.]
[……Constellation, Dawn of Whispers, this $%&* #$^&%^*]
[…. The system encourages kind and proper language for a beautiful channel life. Continuous use of inappropriate language may result in permanent sanctions.]
“What’s going on? An auction…? Did you do this?”
“Yes.”
“How… that…”
Jaehee looked at the avatar body, now curled up in a small space cut off by Jeongwoo, continuously spewing black flame. Although it had been vicious and repulsive, seeing it like this made it seem somewhat pitiful. It was almost like an endangered species captured by a poacher.
“Can you put that up for auction even though it’s not yours? What exactly… is happening here?”
[Right! Now that I think about it, I quite like you! But it seems you’ve chosen your friend poorly. To put someone else’s property up for auction, that bas… @#$$%^# just #$%$]
“Wow, I can’t understand a word you’re saying. It’s all being filtered out. Sorry, Constellation, but I don’t know what you’re saying.”
Jeongwoo spoke, annoyingly flicking his tongue. Jaehee was a bit dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected such an ending.
“The auction went up because the system recognized it as my property. I may not have killed it directly, but I have enough skill to subdue it, and that’s why the ownership was recognized. The system can be surprisingly fair in these matters. Now, let’s see how high the price goes. If we make a lot here, I’ll buy you a gift too, Jaehee.”
[Alright! Alright! I’ll do what you want! This is going too far, isn’t it? If you don’t want to be enemies with me forever, cancel the auction!]
“Oh my, even if I cancel the auction, I’ll have to bear all the fees. As you know, I’m a poor human from Earth, so such fees are burdensome… Plus, the auction price is higher than I expected?”
Jeongwoo retorted with a smile, and the Constellation’s scream was heard.
After a while, the Constellation spoke again.
[Fine. I’ll bear all the costs, and I’ll pay you compensation, so cancel that auction. It might not be as much as the highest auction price, but I’ll make sure you don’t lose out.]
“Then, as a token of our contract, first release the humans who have become parts of the dungeon.”
[Agreed.]
After that, a faint light began to spread all around. It was like the dawn light that appears when the dark night ends and dawn breaks.
As the soft light spread, the transformed people began to return to their original forms one by one.
One of them was the water deer that had been staring at Jaehee from the railway tracks.
Jaehee watched as the water deer transformed into a familiar face.
