Ex-level Player With the Greatest Civilization of All Time - Chapter 38

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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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Episode 38

The morning of the auction.
Baek Jin-seong called me early in the day.
He recounted what had happened the night before.
People had come trying to kidnap him.
“That so? Thank goodness you’re safe.”
My first thought was simply that preparation had paid off.
There’s an old saying—preparedness prevents disaster—and the ancients were never wrong.
Still, with such thorough precautions already in place, this was merely the expected outcome, so I didn’t make a fuss about it.
“What about the bodies?”
— “We called people from the Association and took care of it quietly.”
Disposing of the corpses discreetly was because making the incident public would be difficult.
If we escalated the matter, it could spiral into a diplomatic crisis and create an awkward situation.
Not that I’d hoped for such complications in the first place.
‘But Baek Jin-seong himself is keeping quiet about it too.’
He was simply unloading last night’s events as if they were someone else’s problem.
And it felt strange for me to step in and demand publicizing it, even at the cost of diplomatic trouble.
“What about Krail? He’s not hurt?”
— “He’s right here beside me. Should I put him on?”
Right beside him?
Was that because I told him to keep watch?
Thank goodness Baek Jin-seong wasn’t sharp enough to catch on.
If he was being that obvious, I worried he’d notice.
‘Anyway, consulting with Neia that day turned out well.’
I’d honestly been thinking Krail was the most suitable person for the job.
But I couldn’t just hand him over like that.
I had no idea how far his repairs had progressed.
Fortunately, Krail’s repairs were nearly complete.
The timing for his return was perfectly opportune, which is why I’d deployed him into this operation.
I felt bad throwing him into an assignment the moment he left the recovery ward, but—
well, Krail actually seemed pleased about it.
“No, it’s fine. Just tell him to proceed as planned.”
— “Understood.”
I hung up with Baek Jin-seong.
Now, once Baek Jin-seong entered the Tower for the auction,
Krail would leave just a few drones behind and slip back here quietly afterward.
Then I’d drop them off in Peronta again, and that would be that.
Krail was scheduled to handle the auction’s security work there.
“Might as well grab some food.”
This morning’s breakfast was a steaming bowl of hangover soup.
The weather outside was drizzly, and I couldn’t resist.

* * *

After eating my fill, I sprawled out on the floor.
“Guess having money doesn’t change much.”
In movies and novels, people go to department stores and flex their wealth.
Maybe I should try that too.
I’d finally gotten what I’d been after—plenty of money.
But aside from not looking at the price tag when choosing from a menu, I’d barely done any actual spending, which struck me as a bit absurd.
“Moving… might be nice.”
To be honest, I wasn’t feeling any real urgency about relocating.
The Core Center building already had excellent private quarters for my use.
Of course, the internet there was cut off, and I’d never actually lived there full-time out of concern about becoming out of touch with what was happening in the wider world.
‘But… I suppose whether I move or do anything else depends on when I can stand properly as Kang Seon-woo, not as Neia.’
That’s not possible right now.
For now, Kang Seon-woo is an F-rank Player who awakened around the same time as Neia.
Assets suddenly ballooning under someone else’s name? That’s basically a confession.
That’s basically a confession.
Ding-dong.
I was lying down, digesting and daydreaming about the future ahead.
Just then, someone rang the doorbell.
It had to be Krail, but I checked anyway.
I confirmed through the security window.
Same clothes as when I went out last time.
I opened the door and Krail spoke.
“I have returned.”
“Welcome back.”
I pointed to the Gate I’d opened earlier.
“Head inside and stand by.”
“Yes.”
“Hunter Drones, you too.”
Once Krail and the several Hunter Drones who had returned with him deactivated their concealment and stepped through, I closed the Gate behind them.
“Gate closed.”
Then I entered the Tower.

[Will you enter the Tower?]

“Yes.”
The moment I arrived in Peronta, I headed for the auction house.
By now, having rented a room there and calling for Baek Jin-seong had become perfectly routine.
Before he arrived, I summoned Krail and a large number of drones to be used for today’s security detail.
Sermin was among them.
“Sermin, you understand the mission clearly?”
“Yes, no issues.”
The task I’d given her beforehand was to protect Baek Jin-seong in case anything went wrong.
“Is this the VIP?”
“That’s right.”
Baek Jin-seong greeted Sermin warmly first.
“So your name is Sermin—nice to meet you.”
He’d already dealt with Ar and Krail before.
So this time too, Baek Jin-seong naturally expected her to respond accordingly.
She even looked like a young girl still.
Considering her estimated age and gender, I thought she’d show that radiant, springtime smile—different from the cheap grin she usually wore around viewers.
“Be quiet, monkey. Pointless chatter will only interfere with the mission.”
At that reply, Baek Jin-seong’s heart sank, and his spirits crumbled.
“Monkey? That’s… not fair, is it?”
“Seems she has high standards.”
I offered Baek Jin-seong some light consolation and handed him over.
“Then I’m counting on you for the auction.”
“…Understood.”
There shouldn’t be any real trouble.
I’d never seen Sermin act like that before.
But it seemed she hadn’t forgotten the mission itself.
Besides, today’s auction had additional personnel.
Kang Seong was participating as security management staff overseeing the auction.
Truth be told, it was almost forced—I’d pulled him in to fill the shortage.
But somehow, when Kang Seong heard my request through Baek Jin-seong, he seemed delighted.
Did he think he’d paid off another debt?
“I’ll be outside watching the broadcast then. Let’s meet after midnight.”
“Yes.”
When I glanced at Krail, he lowered his head as if asking me to leave it to him.
Sermin said nothing either, but her expression was serious.
I trusted them and headed back to my studio apartment.
Then I turned on Baek Jin-seong’s broadcast, which was just starting.
“The preparation is thorough, at least.”
I just hope nothing goes wrong.

* * *

Whoooosh—
Rain had come to Peronta that day as well.
What had started as a steady drizzle was gradually easing, but rain, by its nature, always dampens spirits.
It makes people reluctant to venture outside.
Because of this, Baek Jin-seong’s viewers were worried about the auction’s draw.

– After all this prep, we’re about to tank this, huh?
– Of all days, it rains today lol
– But honestly, a tank would be entertaining in its own way.
– I want to see Neia looking bitter lol

For my part, I’d come in confident there’d be no tank to speak of.
The rain posed no real problem—the auction was being held indoors anyway.
More than that, I had information only insiders would know.
The list of expected participants, as it were.

– Wow, Japan’s Amaterasu Guild!
– Isn’t that Himejima, ranked eighth, over there?
– Rarely see that face. And here she is.

Baek Jin-seong, busy positioning drones around the hall for security, had these faces on his broadcast.
The core members of Japan’s top-ranked guild were visible on his stream.
But that was far from all.
Walking further, what came into view was China’s Heroes Association.
Britain’s Knights.
America’s Arc Guild was there too.
“Jin-seong, you made it.”
Of course, not every face was unfamiliar.
It was Cha Sun-a.
“Ah… hello there.”
That was when Baek Jin-seong offered his greeting.
Chat messages came flooding in.

– lol Cha Sun-a.
– Sun-a must be gutted. Of all auctions, this one’s got the biggest catch of the year in her box lol
– If Sun-a’s regretting it, upvote.
Cha Sun-a spoke with tears welling in her eyes.

“Upvote…”

– Are you crying?
– Yeah, cry it out.
– She looks even prettier when she cries.

Baek Jin-seong watched Cha Sun-a being roasted by his viewers and tried to comfort her.
“I’m sorry… my viewers can be pretty harsh, can’t they?”
“I mean, of course I regret it. Why did the Goddess’s Tears have to be in there of all places? Because of that, my father has nightmares every day.”

– The only person allowed to cry on a happy day.
– Agreed.

Baek Jin-seong, though it wasn’t his fault at all, found himself at a loss for words, stung by guilt.
She spoke with a sniffle.
Then his eye fell on Sermin, dressed in a green raincoat.
“But who is this person?”
“Ah… well, that is…”
“She’s a humanoid, isn’t she?”
Cha Sun-a forced a bright smile and greeted Sermin.
“Hello.”
…….
Sermin’s response was crisp silence.
An awkward tension settled over the room.
‘This is going to be a problem.’
Baek Jin-seong felt as though mountains kept piling on top of mountains.
The truth was, he’d already noticed Sermin’s interest from moments ago.
But knowing Sermin’s temperament, he’d been doing his best to pretend he hadn’t heard or seen anything.
Now, with Cha Sun-a here, even that wasn’t going to work anymore.

– Who’s the newbie?
– Doesn’t she look like Ar?
– Are they siblings? The hair color’s a dead giveaway.
– Jin-seong, get her to introduce herself! What are you doing?

Baek Jin-seong stole a glance at Sermin.
“So… want to say something?”
Sermin let out a sigh, gave him a brief side-eye, and spoke.

“I’m Captain Sermin, Medical Corps. I find excessive commentary unpleasant, so please refrain from mentioning me unnecessarily.”

Sermin’s introduction was cold and terse.
There was something rather dismissive and sharp about it.
Yet the viewers’ reaction was even more enthusiastic.

– The cool act is adorable.
– Is she embarrassed?
– I want Sermin to look at me with that contemptuous gaze.

Baek Jin-seong had expected the cold reception to dampen spirits, but when the opposite happened instead, he felt oddly deflated.

“In any case, the auction should begin soon, so I’ll get moving.”
He finished positioning the drones outside the hall.
Then he parted ways with Krail.
“Well then, Krail. I’ll see you later.”
“Of course. You needn’t worry about security.”
Today, Krail had been assigned to suppress any would-be troublemakers outside.
Baek Jin-seong’s protection fell entirely to Sermin.
“Let’s head to the auction hall.”
Baek Jin-seong entered the interior of the auction venue.
There, the high-ranked players from various nations he’d glimpsed outside were already seated.
Watching the subtle tensions crackling between them, the viewers voiced their impressions.

– I think I’m about to throw up…
– The atmosphere is absolutely brutal.

When they’d been scattered earlier, he hadn’t noticed it.
But gathered in one place for the auction, the air felt suffocating.
Baek Jin-seong waited for the appointed time, then began with a faint smile when the moment arrived.

“Well, thank you all for your patience. I’m grateful to everyone gathered here today, and I’ll now commence the auction.”

Access was restricted and the hall dimmed.
The first item then emerged from Baek Jin-seong’s inventory.
The spotlight on stage focused on the merchandise.

“Our first lot is the Ancient Stone Tablet.”

The least popular item.
So it was placed at the front of the lot.
Even so, the opening bid was substantial.

『The opening bid is 100,000 Gold.』

Of course, if it failed to sell, it would fall to them…
But the consensus was that it was better not to sell it than to let it go for less than a billion.
Baek Jin-seong agreed with that assessment.
Still, it had come from an S-rank Hidden Box, after all.
If it didn’t sell, he might as well become a collector of similar stone tablets.
With luck, if he could decipher it, he might strike gold.
But even as doubt hung over the hastily-offered lot, a bidder placed an offer the moment the auction began.

『110,000 Gold.』

All eyes turned in that direction.

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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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