Chapter 25
After a fierce bidding war, the price finally exceeded 2.2 million gold.
Only two bidders remained.
“2.3 million gold! Will anyone bid 2.4 million?”
The competition was so intense that even Baeksan felt tense watching it.
Finally, the lady in the front row dropped her paddle. Though she had raised the price frantically, it seemed she could no longer continue.
“2.4 million gold! My lady, please give it one more try!”
Though the auctioneer encouraged her, she appeared to have lost her fighting spirit.
The winner was a bidder behind Baeksan whose face she couldn’t see.
The auctioneer called out loudly.
“2.4 million gold, 2.4 million gold, 2.4 million gold!”
Bang!
The gavel struck the auction block.
“Sold to participant number 15!”
Applause erupted along with the auctioneer’s breathless announcement.
‘No wonder they’re clapping when someone just burned 240 million next to me.’
As she lazily clapped along, thinking like an outsider, Baeksan suddenly had a belated realization.
‘…Wait, should I really let that thing be sold like this?’
This wasn’t just an ordinarily cursed item. She was the one who had unsealed it.
‘This item contains a very wicked curse. How it’s used will depend on the winning bidder…’
“…”
Confirmed evil spirit. Earth’s destruction.
‘We’re doomed.’
Just as Baeksan hurriedly stood up and turned around—
“…?”
[Grand Duke Zahig Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder]
Baeksan’s jaw dropped at the golden text gleaming before her eyes.
‘Exa?’
He was already leaving his seat and exiting the auction hall.
It seemed the “Orb of the Ghost King” had been his target all along. Seeing him move with the Gahasu staff, she sensed he would take possession of the item immediately.
“Exa…!”
“What are you doing? Sit down quickly!”
“Lady Minervina! Please sit!”
Oh no.
“Miss Elize, I need to—!”
Baeksan was about to rush out after the Exarch.
She would have, if she hadn’t seen what the Gahasu staff was bringing out.
“…!”
Baeksan couldn’t help but widen her eyes at the large canvas being hung on the partition wall above the platform.
[«Angels at Play»]
A study by Angela Moss depicting angels playing by a river.
The true value of this painting has yet to be revealed to the world.
If the outer canvas is peeled off, there’s another painting behind it, and when discovered, the auction price would be at least….
“No way, are you serious?”
“Pardon?”
“Elize, you must buy that! No matter what!”
“Hey! Sit down!”
“Lady Minervina! Where are you—!”
“I’ll find my own way back!”
Baeksan rushed out of the auction hall, leaving Elize behind.
* * *
After leaving the Gahasu auction house, the Exarch was nowhere to be seen.
“Damn. Where did he go?”
[→ → →]
…Oh. Thanks, system.
Baeksan followed the system window’s arrows to an alley behind the auction house.
The alley was as dark as night even during the day, probably due to the tall buildings surrounding it.
There stood a tall, broad-shouldered man wearing a robe.
[Grand Duke Zahig Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder]
Fatigue 12%.
The golden text remained. His hood was down, revealing a face that looked like that of a noble young man.
Baeksan lowered her gaze.
The Exarch’s sword had pierced through the orb.
[Shattered Orb of the King]
Lost its power after being pierced by one blessed by the goddess.
The orb no longer emanated the malevolent energy she had felt before. It was now nothing more than fragments of gilded metal.
‘Whew.’
Baeksan unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
She’d heard the Exarch was being mistreated by the Emperor.
She had rushed out worried that, worn down by the mistreatment, he might do something crazy with it….
‘Seems I worried for nothing. Was that some kind of purification?’
…Now, what excuse should she make?
While Baeksan was hesitating, the Exarch spoke, seeming slightly surprised.
“I didn’t expect to meet you in a place like this.”
He bent down and began gathering the pieces with the hem of his cloak.
Baeksan asked before she could stop herself.
“Why did you break it after paying so much to win it?”
The Exarch paused, then replied, appearing confused:
“Because it’s dangerous?”
“But it was expensive?”
“But it’s dangerous.”
“But it was really expensive?”
“I didn’t know there was someone besides my butler who worried about my financial state.”
The Exarch joked with a smile, but Baeksan was more surprised that he could smile at all.
[Grand Duke Zahig Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder]
Is happy to be able to destroy King Tigris Colossus’s orb.
His words about breaking it because it was dangerous seemed genuine.
‘Huh…. He’s really something else.’
2.4 million gold.
That’s a fortune even for nobility.
‘And he burned that money just because it was dangerous….’
Baeksan glanced at the system window.
[Grand Duke Zahig Ridim Exarch Perato Schröder]
Fatigue 9%.
…Why did his fatigue decrease?
‘In any case, someone like him should have become Emperor.’
Even Baeksan, who had no interest in politics, thought it was a shame.
‘Come to think of it, even though he has the same golden text, I didn’t get a quest to become friends with him.’
Quests only appeared to guide the world toward destruction.
In other words, while becoming friends with Bathilda might lead to such events, the Exarch was definitely not that type of person.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.
‘If I helped him, couldn’t he become Emperor?’
With these abilities, it might be possible.
Her mouth opened unconsciously.
“You should be Empe—no.”
She closed it midway, after their eyes met.
His calm black eyes looked too pure and tired.
‘…He reminds me of myself in my past life.’
While Baeksan’s expression fell blank from the strange feeling, the Exarch showed a subtle smile.
He seemed to have guessed what words she had swallowed.
“Emperor?”
“Long live His Imperial Majesty.”
The Exarch whispered softly.
“Be careful saying such things elsewhere.”
Baeksan nodded.
“What will you do with the broken pieces?”
“Send them to the ‘Lightning Rhodium.'”
…She didn’t know where that was. But he wouldn’t just leave them anywhere, so it must be some kind of sacred place.
‘At least the world won’t end because of my mistake.’
Baeksan let out a relieved sigh.
‘So now… can I leave?’
But the Exarch was quicker.
“By the way, Mine.”
“Yes?”
“Have you been well—”
“Lady Mine!”
At that moment, Elize’s scream-like shout cut across the alley.
Elize stood at the end of the alley.
Upon discovering the Exarch, Elize was so shocked she nearly lost her breath, then approached with unbelievable speed and knelt down.
“I bow before the Hidden Moon of Orquenina.”
The atmosphere suddenly turned solemn.
The Exarch smiled awkwardly, and Baeksan seized the opportunity to kneel as well.
“I bow before the Hidden Moon of Orquenina!”
“Mine.”
“This is my superior, Miss Elize Barrett. It seems she came to fetch me, so I must go.”
“What?”
“Mine, wait…”
“Lady Minervina, I’m—”
“Well then, goodbye! Come on, Miss Elize!”
Baeksan quickly grabbed Elize’s hand and rushed out of the alley.
* * *
The purple-blue braided hair swayed enticingly before disappearing around the corner.
The Exarch stood blankly, staring at the empty alley.
“Commander?”
Evil Mudo, a knight of the Black Lion Knights which the Exarch commanded, approached.
The Exarch muttered to him.
“Sir Evil. Have I ever been intimidating to that young lady?”
“No? You’ve always been gentlemanly. If anything, that lady was the discourteous one from the start.”
“…Then why does she run away?”
The Exarch knew well what he possessed.
Though he never particularly cared about it, he was handsome, had power, and held high status.
He knew those things generally made a good impression on the opposite sex.
So why would she flee in such panic?
‘Though her family was ruined because of the Imperial family, she should know I’m not close to them…’
Suddenly, he felt a sharp sensation in his chest.
“…”
The Exarch pressed his hand against his chest for a moment.
He never deceived himself, and so he could tell immediately.
‘Am I feeling hurt?’
