Damn Necromancer - Chapter 137

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Extravagant Necromancer (137)
[Dice of Fate]
[Grade: Special]
[A small die. Depending on how it lands, tremendous fortune may smile upon you—or dire calamity may befall. Yet perhaps, at the end of that suffering, a reward befitting the hardship awaits. Are you prepared to challenge destiny?]
[Effect 1. The die yields results from 1 to 6. Results 1 through 3 bring adversity; 4 through 6 bring fortune.]
[Effect 2. The closer to 1, the greater the hardship; the closer to 6, the greater the fortune.]
[Effect 3. Should you experience adversity, the next roll gains a bonus modifier toward fortune. Conversely, should you experience fortune, the next roll gains a bonus modifier toward adversity.]
[Effect 4. The die must be rolled at set intervals. Failure to observe these intervals results in the most catastrophic outcome.]
[Effect 5. ???]
The Awakeners who beheld the item swallowed hard.
‘This…’
‘It’s a double-edged sword.’
At a glance, the adversity it promised seemed far from ordinary difficulty.
Of course, on the flip side, fortune could also manifest—but.
On the first roll, the odds were fifty-fifty.
It was essentially deciding life or death with a coin flip.
And there were the onerous conditions: mandatory rolls at set intervals.
While some Awakeners studied the item with expressions of ambivalence, others gleamed with barely contained hunger.
Kim Min-woo was foremost among them.
‘It’s genuinely appealing.’
Adversity?
As if anyone avoids difficulty.
It’s universal law: the greater the challenge, the greater the reward.
Put another way, this item forcibly upgraded your compensation.
Fortune, when it came, was always welcome.
And if adversity came instead—
not only could the reward scale higher, but the next roll would carry a bonus toward fortune. That too held its own appeal.
Moreover, the Indomitable trait he’d acquired this time was an ability that granted special bonuses the more one refused to yield under difficulty.
For Indomitable to activate, hardship was necessary first.
If the adversity proved severe enough, Indomitable would surge uncontrollably.
‘I absolutely must have it.’
Letting this slip away would be a tragedy.
―The Dice of Fate! A truly remarkable item. The minimum bid is 60 trillion—oh my?
Lastan’s eyes lit up.
―How fascinating. The value of Earth credits has risen so dramatically. It seems much has transpired here in the interim. Splendid! Let us say 40 trillion—a most reasonable discount! A perfect opportunity to acquire the Dice of Fate!
‘Insane.’
‘Forty trillion?’
‘Is he joking?’
The Awakeners’ jaws fell slack. Nothing displayed until now had commanded such a price.
Even the most expensive items had peaked at 20 to 30 trillion.
Yet here was the starting bid at 40 trillion.
And that was after a discount.
Even with nations pouring funding into their Awakeners, only a handful possessed such sums.
And even if they did—
to spend it all on a single die might provoke governments to send armed agents to their doorstep.
The item’s performance, moreover, was hardly unambiguously superior—there were decidedly uncertain elements mixed in.
Kim Min-woo surveyed his surroundings.
‘There are some competitors.’
Awakeners who hadn’t flinched at the brutal 40 trillion price point.
They coveted this?
Masked, their identities were unknowable.
But one thing was certain.
‘World-rank caliber.’
The wealthy and powerful, confident in their own strength. Such ones could easily covet this die.
The reward for weathering adversity.
It was irresistible to anyone of appetite.
Each of them was scarcely sane by ordinary measures.
And those participating here naturally possessed deep coffers—at minimum, they weren’t reduced to penury by dumping everything into Skill Books.
‘I’ll need to spend freely here.’
With a second item still to come, he hoped not to go all-in on this alone.
And so the auction began.
“40 trillion.”
The moment Kim Min-woo called out the opening bid.
The Awakeners around him stared in shock.
The Heavenly Auction House was a system-governed space. Placing a bid meant you had the liquid capital to back it up—that much was certain.
‘Insane.’
‘Hasn’t he already spent 40 trillion?’
And now he’s calling 40 trillion again?
It meant Kim Min-woo’s actual wealth far exceeded what was publicly known.
It wasn’t as though they’d never suspected it, but guessing blindly and witnessing it firsthand were two entirely different things.
Then.
“41 trillion.”
An Awakener in a leopard mask jumped into the bidding.
“42 trillion.”
“43 trillion.”
More Awakeners began joining in one after another.
‘Three of them.’
Those government-funded types never had the audacity to bid like this.
Unless they were world-ranked, of course.
Not that he had any intention of backing down anyway.
“45 trillion.”
“……46 trillion.”
“50 trillion.”
“……51 trillion.”
“55 trillion.”
“Tch…….”
Two of the Awakeners clicked their tongues and withdrew. Only the one in the leopard mask remained.
“……57 trillion.”
“60 trillion.”
They’d be getting dizzy by now.
He hadn’t wandered the world gathering cash reserves for nothing.
World-ranked?
If you were going to challenge him with money, you’d better be prepared to take a beating with it.
“……Hah.”
Even the leopard mask’s final challenger gave up and withdrew.
―60 trillion! Going once, going twice, going thrice. Lot number seven, congratulations on your purchase!
[You have acquired the Dice of Fate! It has been added to your inventory!]
The dice, acquired for 61.2 trillion including the 2% commission fee. Already he felt satisfyingly full.
‘There’s still one more to go.’
He was eager to see what the next item would be.
―Now then, shall we move straight to the next item! The second special lot!
[The second special item list is now revealed!]
[Ainels Second Tablet]
[Grade: Special]
[For Ainel.]
[It appears to be a stone tablet inscribed with something of grave significance.]
[Effect 1. Can be combined with Ainels First Tablet.]
[Effect 2. When the two tablets are combined, a Dimensional Gate opens. Where it leads remains unknown.]
“Aah!”
“……?”
The moment the item was revealed.
An Awakener suddenly cried out. Had it been an ordinary Awakener, it would have drawn no particular attention, but the one who’d just shouted was…….
‘That person fought a money war with Kim Min-woo just a moment ago……..’
‘The leopard?’
The Awakener in the leopard mask.
The same one who’d called 57 trillion while playing an endless game of chicken with Kim Min-woo.
To bid such an enormous sum for a single item?
Whether it was government-provided funds or personally held cash, one thing was certain.
‘A world ranker.’
Someone powerful enough to afford to spend money so freely without worrying about the consequences.
Among the thousand gathered here, only the rarest few were genuine Awakeners.
But who exactly they were remained unknown—the masks changed every year despite the standing invitations.
Then.
Pierrot gazed at the leopard-masked figure with an amused smile playing at his lips.
“Why the interest? Is it perhaps an item you recognize?”
“…….”
“Well, never mind. Today’s featured item is a mystical tablet! Collecting all of Ainels Second Tablet supposedly leads somewhere……! As it happens, even our Heavenly Auction House isn’t entirely certain where. But I can assure you it’s not a boring destination!”
‘A Hidden Gate item.’
The Awakeners’ eyes gleamed.
A Dimensional Gate?
Weren’t Gates normally created by carving fragments from other worlds?
Entering a Gate was, in essence, entering another dimension.
An object that served as the entry point to a Hidden Gate—such a thing was invaluable beyond measure.
And yet.
“Want it? Then pay up! And pay handsomely! The minimum bid starts at 30 trillion won!”
The opening bid Pierrot announced itself subtly revealed the item’s worth.
If it were merely ordinary, the auction would have begun at 10 trillion.
But thirty trillion it was.
Moreover, this figure already factored in a discount due to Earth’s improved credit value—meaning the true price was far steeper than even that astronomical sum.
Considering that the merchant’s special inventory pieces, while expensive, were never overpriced…….
‘I have to secure it.’
Who could say?
Hunt long enough with it in your inventory, and perhaps the First Tablet would appear.
Find a Hidden Gate that way, and your entire life transforms.
Unlike the enigmatic Dice of Fate, this offered certain returns.
And the good news didn’t end there.
‘I should be running low by now.’
Kim Min-woo had already spent nearly 100 trillion won. Whatever remained wouldn’t exceed 10 to 20 trillion at most.
With that sum, he couldn’t even place a competitive bid…….
“Thirty trillion.”
“Ah! Bidder Number Seven. As expected—a most excellent patron!”
“Thirty-five trillion.”
“Forty trillion.”
The tablet’s price climbed steadily.
Since this was the final lot, no shortage of bidders remained eager to spend. The leopard-masked figure in particular showed fierce determination.
‘Does this one have the First Tablet?’
Kim Min-woo’s eyes sharpened.
That outburst earlier.
It had been nearly reflexive—the kind of unguarded reaction that escapes when you encounter something related in a place you’d never expect.
The amount shot up to 50 trillion in moments.
Then came the instant.
“……Fifty-seven trillion!”
The leopard mask blazed with intensity, eyes bright as the bid jumped to fifty-seven trillion without hesitation.
‘Is that everything they have?’
First the Dice of Fate, and now the tablet.
Both times, the figure’s bidding halted abruptly at that exact amount.
All other competitors had long since dropped out.
The eyes behind the mask fixed on him with unwavering focus.
Then he should meet the challenge properly.
“Fifty-seven trillion, one hundred billion.”
“……Fifty-seven trillion, two hundred billion.”
“Fifty-seven trillion, three hundred billion.”
“……!”
The eyes wavered.
Then, jaw clenched tight.
“……Fifty-seven trillion, three hundred twenty-one billion, four hundred thirty-two million won!”
The figure threw in their entire remaining fortune with a specific amount, making an all-in bid.
“Fifty-seven trillion, three hundred twenty-one billion, four hundred thirty-three million won.”
“Gah!”
The leopard mask’s composure shattered completely—apparently the practice of frugality had its limits.
It wouldn’t have made any difference anyway.
The Heavenly Auction House was a system-governed space.
Violence was forbidden, even if Geom-seon herself showed up.
―Oh my! Just ten thousand won short! Participant 332! Would you happen to have another ten thousand won? This is such a pity…….
The trembling leopard lowered his head and spoke.
“……42,335,237 won.”
“42,340,000 won.”
―Oh dear…… do you perhaps have another five thousand won? This is truly regrettable…….
“…….”
The leopard kept his head bowed.
The Heavenly Auction House didn’t have a system for borrowing money from others.
You could only spend what you had in cash on hand.
And he’d spent it all.
There was no way out now.
At the sight, Lastan shrugged and spoke.
―Capitalism truly is harsh, isn’t it? But what can we do? That’s how the world is. For your information, there’s no need to feel so wronged. I’m referring to participant 7 over there. He still has plenty of money left.
“……you say it’s a shame?”
―My apologies. I must earn my living too.
Lastan shrugged as he answered, then surveyed the Awakeners around him.
―573 billion, 214 million, 340,000 won. Going once. Going twice. Going thrice. Participant 7, congratulations on your successful bid!
[You have obtained Ainels Second Tablet! It has been added to your inventory!]
―Well then! This year’s Heavenly Auction House comes to a close! There’s no need to feel disappointed. We’ll see you all again next year…….
It was as Pierrot delivered his closing remarks. The leopard closed the distance like lightning, staring directly at Kim Min-woo as he spoke.
“You’re Kim Min-woo, aren’t you?”
“Who are you?”
“……Isabella.”
A baguette?
In truth, at this stage of the game, no matter what character one played, invitations to the Heavenly Auction House were rare, so there was little way of knowing who would participate.
But quite a catch had been hooked.
The eyes behind the leopard mask fixed themselves on him.
“I have one tablet myself.”
“Well then, why not take a trip to Korea while you’re here?”
“I’m busy.”
“I’m busier. Drink it or leave it.”
A Hidden Gate in the tablet?
There was no need to clear it right away anyway.
Starting with the Orc Gate, then the Cultivator’s Trial and the Ascension Ceremony.
There was no shortage of things to do.
Then it happened.
―Well then! See you all again next year, people of Earth!
Flash!
The scenery shifted along with a burst of light. The familiar interior of a room came into view.
‘I got quite a haul.’
Starting with equipment for the legion commander and guild members, he’d also snagged a Ring and a piece of armor for himself.
As for the remaining items…….
The moment he dumped the equipment out of his inventory.
―Kyuu!
Ha-yang-i appeared and fluttered his wings excitedly.
And no wonder—these weren’t the usual Magic or Rare attribute items he’d been given before, but Legendary-grade attribute equipment, no less.
It was as if the menu had jumped straight from pork to beef in one go.
It would’ve been strange if he hadn’t gotten excited.
“There now, my little one. Time to eat.”
―Kyuu!
Flap-flap!
Ha-yang-i landed nimbly atop the equipment and opened his mouth wide.
[All Fire attribute contained in ‘Lava Armor’ is being absorbed!]
[All Wind attribute contained in ‘Swift Wind Boots’ is…….]
[All Lightning attribute contained in ‘Lightning-Struck Gauntlets’ is…….]
.
.
[Fire Attribute increased by 5.1%…….]
[Wind Attribute increased by 4.9%…….]
[All Attributes…….]
Her held Attributes climbed sharply with each piece of equipment. It was then that Ha-yang-i was feeding him.
A news broadcast flickered across the television.
―Breaking news. Awakener Isabella of France has just departed for Korea aboard her private aircraft…….

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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