Volume 4 Chapter 26 A Man’s Battle
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”A hair growth tonic, everyone!”
The final item of the auction appeared.
When the announcer said those words, the room fell completely silent for a moment.
Then, the murmurs began to swell.
”A hair growth tonic… seriously?”
”You can’t even fix baldness with a Greater Healing Potion, you know!”
”Is it for real, though?”
Eyes filled with hope and doubt locked onto the small vial on the stage.
”Your skepticism is perfectly justified,”
the announcer said, slowly tipping his silk hat.
”So please──just look at this.”
He took off his hat.
The entire room gasped.
There it was: a scalp covered in short, healthy hair.
”Last week, when I received this from the consignor, I volunteered to be the test subject myself. I wanted everyone to be sure──so I became the guinea pig!”
The announcer continued, standing tall, full of confidence.
”Of course, the consignor gave their full consent. There’s still 90% of the potion left. And as you can see──the results speak for themselves!”
Excitement and energy flooded the room.
”It’s definitely working!”
”If it’s real…”
”In just one week?!”
Yep.
That was the second item I brought in from ‘Love Hotel.’
A hair growth cream.
When I delivered it, the announcer offered to test it himself.
Said it’d boost the final bid.
Everyone who frequents knows his head’s “status” well enough.
So this was the best proof possible.
I agreed after he insisted.
”That announcer always takes off his hat during greetings to show off his bald head shining. This time he didn’t──and I felt something was off. Now I get it.”
Gaedaf muttered next to me, clearly convinced.
Sure, the announcer might have had some selfish reasons for volunteering as test subject.
But the effect was undeniable.
The crowd’s doubts turned into solid belief.
”This secret tonic was retrieved from a dungeon deep-floor treasure chest. Miss this chance, and who knows when it’ll ever appear again!”
The announcer’s final push shifted the bidders’ gazes──now sharp and eager.
”Starting bid: 10 million Aurum!”
At last, the final auction began.
The air hung thick with anticipation.
”10 million Aurum!” “11 million!” “12 million!” “15 million!”
The auction’s heating up.
Prices are soaring with no end in sight.
”20 million!” “30 million Aurum!”
Bids are flying back and forth.
Each jump in price stokes the fire in the room.
”This is beyond what I imagined.”
Lifia mutters in awe.
”Indeed, I didn’t expect it to go this far.”
The nobles and wealthy men are dead serious.
Sweat trickles down their brows as they raise their hands, again and again.
”35 million!”
The shout comes from a middle-aged man in an elegant suit.
His forehead shines with determination.
”50 million!” “70 million Aurum!” “100 million!” “150 million!”
The way the prices are skyrocketing is abnormal.
Lifia and Tifi are wide-eyed with shock.
It’s far more expensive than I ever anticipated.
”How high will this go?”
As I murmur, the auction only grows hotter.
”600 million!” “850 million!!” “900 million Aurum!”
The prices keep climbing, finally surpassing a billion Aurum.
A drama of men unfolds in the venue.
”You must stop, sir! Any more and your wife will have your head! Stop!”
”Don’t stop me! A man has battles he can’t afford to lose! 1.1 billion!”
The merchant-like man brushes off his servant’s restraint, boldly shouting his bid.
Meanwhile, a woman in a dress is desperately trying to stop her companion’s bidding.
”Stop it already! This is madness!”
”Wouldn’t you rather have a cooler me?”
”We don’t need that potion! I like you just the way you are now!”
”! …Honey!”
In the end, the man gives up on the hair growth potion, and they embrace.
Love deepened over the wasted expense.
The man trembles with joy.
The woman’s expression is unreadable.
Maybe she just wanted to stop the unnecessary spending.
Meanwhile, a young nobleman is recklessly challenging the bids.
”You mustn’t, young master! Not with debts!”
”That’s nothing! It’ll work out somehow! 1.2 bill──ugh!”
The young man gets taken down by a body blow from the butler and collapses.
”The young master seems exhausted. Escort him to the resting room.”
”Hah!”
Carried off by the guards, I’m hauled away.
His brow was furrowed, retreating.
So young, yet… he’s struggling, isn’t he?
Amidst that, a noble shifted in his seat.
And he began to speak to another noble, who was now his neighbor.
”Good day, Lord Dokihens. I hear they have enough medicine for several. How about it? Shall we form a united front with this one dose?”
The man addressed as Lord Dokihens fell silent, his gaze fixed on the medicine atop the stage.
Tension hung in the air between them.
Soon, Lord Dokihens broke his silence.
”Zubo, I never thought I’d share a bridle with you, my noble peer.”
As their beards met in a handshake, whispers of astonishment escaped from the surrounding seats.
Rival nobles, cutting ties with the past, deciding to join hands.
This could be that very scene.
Whirlpools of men’s schemes, conspiracies, and desperate hopes swirled around.
Various human dramas unfolded here and there.
The heat in the hall had reached its peak.
And then, finally──
”One billion 8 hundred and 50 million Aurum! Are there any higher bids──?”
The auctioneer inquires.
Silence envelops the venue.
Everyone is holding their breath, watching intently.
But no one else raises their hand in the hall.
”Then, at one billion 8 hundred and 50 million Aurum! Sold!”
A hammer strikes loudly.
The hall erupts in thunderous applause and cheers.
Excited voices fly about, untempered.
I look at Lifia and Tifi.
”Sold it, huh.”
”Yes, for an incredible amount.”
”Unbelievable.”
Lifia and Tifi both have eyes wide with astonishment.
I grit my teeth again.
I don’t need much money, but even so, it’s a dream come true to rake in such a fortune.
The auctioneer’s idea to be an experiment was the right call.
Glancing over at Gaedaf, he silently lifts his thumb.
”Not bad. Beyond my expectations.”
Words of surprise and praise.
”Sir Gaedaf, Sir Taro”
A voice calls out.
Turning around, a venue staff member stands there, bowing respectfully.
”Preparations for the payment of the auctioned item and the handover of the proceeds are ready. Please, this way.”
* * *
Following the staff’s guidance, we head towards a room at the back of the auction venue.
”Sir Gaedaf, this way.”
We were led to separate rooms.
The room I entered looked like a lavishly decorated parlor.
”Now then, let’s proceed with the payment.”
The staff handed me a bill──5.8 million Aurum.
The cost for the ‘Appraisal Mirror’ I won.
I nodded, and Lifia stepped forward, pulling out a pouch of gold coins.
She carefully began arranging them on the tray.
Her hands moved with practiced ease.
The clear clink of metal filled the quiet room.
”Let me verify the payment.”
The staff counted carefully.
After confirming, he bowed deeply.
”Payment received in full. Here is the item you won.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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