I Became a Mythical Hunter After Killing the Golden Goblin - Chapter 56

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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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Chapter 56. Black Market Auction (3)
How long had I rested?
I turned away all the various guests knocking on my door and rested alone.
It was only when the Branch Director, who had finally realized something was wrong with me, raided my room.
“Hah! What happened?”
The moment he opened the locked room door with his master key and stepped inside, he caught the metallic scent of blood hanging in the air. His eyes widened and he swiftly drew upon his mana.
I waved my hand dismissively toward him, signaling that everything was fine.
Only then did he suppress his power again, approaching me with worry and anxiety evident even behind his mask.
“…I’ll bring you a change of clothes.”
He spoke while observing the bloodstains covering my garments. Only then did I realize my clothes were drenched in blood and nodded in acknowledgment.
‘This is what Chorong gave me.’
I was going to catch hell for this. It was an expensive outfit, and it looked like it wouldn’t even last a day before being discarded.
“Could I ask for an identical replacement? There’s someone who would be sad if I told them I threw it away after just one day.”
At my words, the Branch Director finally eased the heavy atmosphere and let out a small laugh before nodding.
“Then there’s no problem, correct? If there is one, please tell me immediately.”
“I’m fine. I just felt a bit unwell for a moment. Everything’s settled now.”
As I spoke, the Branch Director’s eyes gleamed as he briefly glanced above my head.
“It’s gone. That item—the one I couldn’t even identify the name of with my own senses.”
“Well…something like that happened. It’s sad, so please don’t ask further.”
Anything beyond this would be excessive meddling and intrusion. No matter how close the Branch Director and I were, I wasn’t about to reveal my full capabilities and background.
The Branch Director sensed the boundary I had drawn and apologized with a bow, then left the room after mentioning he would have an employee deliver the clothes.
Now it was time for the auction to resume. I needed to ease this bitter frustration—the price of sacrificing a Mythic-grade item—through this auction.
“Buy everything. I’m going to buy it all. Might as well go on a spending spree.”
The latter half of the auction featured items of considerable value without exception, so I pressed the bidding button without hesitation.
By the time the ancient runes of the latter half appeared, I had successfully won all seventeen items, sending them directly into my inventory.
***
-Now! The moment you’ve all been waiting for! The final item of the evening makes its grand entrance! That rune—shrouded in mystery, its properties unknown to any intelligence network or ability—appears before you now!
As majestic background music swelled, the floor beneath the stage parted, and a fist-sized stone encased in glass rose into view.
The stone was mystery incarnate. Within it, an ethereal luminescence—beyond human description—shimmered and danced, and merely gazing upon it granted it worth surpassing that of any masterwork of art.
“That’s a rune…!”
Given how rare and precious such artifacts were, physical displays were exceedingly uncommon, and since it belonged to a realm entirely foreign to a bottom-tier Hunter like myself, I had never delved deeply into their study. Seeing one for the first time, I could scarcely contain my astonishment.
*Gulp.*
Greed rippled through me. I wanted it. I wanted to possess it as my own.
Just as desire threatened to consume me entirely, I snapped my eyes open and regained my senses.
“What the hell?!”
That was the extent of it—I had nearly succumbed to avarice and enchantment. Some of my mental safeguards, including the Supreme Soul, had not manifested because I deemed them unnecessary, yet the rune’s mystique was potent enough to bewitch even human consciousness itself.
I swallowed hard. As I did, the auctioneer slowly opened his mouth.
-Now! Have you all fallen under its spell? Before we determine who shall claim this beauty, we must first reveal the rune’s true name and grade, mustn’t we?!
At the auctioneer’s gesture, the screen behind the podium finally unveiled the rune’s information.
-The rune’s name is~~~none other than~~~! 【Crown of the Evolution Sovereign】! Its grade is nothing less than SSS+! The highest grade among all publicly disclosed runes in history! However, regrettably, for this rune to manifest its effects, one must possess a summoning-type ability. The individual who consigned this rune lacked such summoning-type abilities, which is why they decided to sell it.
My eyes gleamed with unprecedented intensity. This was it! I absolutely had to have this.
The very occupation I sought was one that summoned summons—a job designed for a one-man legion.
‘To never be betrayed by anyone, I must be capable of doing everything myself.’
This was the vow I had made since becoming a Hunter. I refused to suffer the same helpless betrayal my parents had endured.
To stand alone, unassailable, wielding such overwhelming power that none could dare approach me.
Yet words were easy; in reality, accomplishing everything alone was nearly impossible. But if I obtained that occupation…?
It would be possible. Rather than standing entirely alone, I could cultivate summons to fill the gaps in my own abilities.
In that sense, this rune was perfectly suited to me.
“So that circular form surrounded by mystical energy must be the sovereign’s crown.”
The one at the rune’s center, that is.
-Unfortunately, since it is of ancient grade, proper appraisal has reached its limits. What is certain is that for those possessing summoning-type abilities or occupations, this represents the optimal choice! Now then, let the auction commence!
I deliberated no further.
“I’m opening with a bold bid. No drawn-out negotiations.”
I raised my hand and submitted my bid amount, which was immediately displayed for all to see.
***
-Gasp! This… how is this possible? An astronomical sum right from the start! Room 3! Today’s mad big spender has just bet 500 billion won!
The Auction House erupted into chaos. 500 billion won?!
No matter how expensive ancient-grade runes were, this was practically the maximum price anyone had anticipated—and they’d opened with it.
That bid screamed a singular intention.
This item is mine. If you dare challenge me, I’ll gladly accept any wager!
Ordinary participants who’d abandoned hope from the outset could only marvel at such confidence and arrogance, while VIP members shook their heads and withdrew their hands. The VVIP members, however, continued deliberating.
A rune specialized exclusively in summoning arts—undoubtedly the highest rank and grade among all publicly revealed runes—possessed genuine value, but not enough to justify spending over 500 billion won.
“The Auction House played this brilliantly. No wonder they kept the information so tightly sealed.”
“Still, this promises to be entertaining. He’s here too, isn’t he? If he is, he’d flip his eyes out and tear into that rune like a madman.”
“Indeed. He remained. He possesses summoning-class occupations and abilities, doesn’t he?”
The VVIP members’ gazes turned toward one of the five rooms positioned at the highest level.
Room 1. A solitary man sat within. Mysterious entities danced playfully around him, and as he observed both them and the rune upon the podium, he lifted his bidding device.
“A battle I cannot abandon. For my cherished companions, if nothing else.”
His name was Romanov Van Schlaiman. One of Russia’s sole two SS-rank Hunters, a top-tier ranker ranked 11th globally, and a spirit mage bound by contract to the Spirit King.
A presence approached him and whispered.
-Romanov, that rune possesses power that would bring tremendous growth not only to us but to you as well. Runes of such caliber are rarely discovered even in the deepest stages of the Abyss. Obtaining it would be no loss whatsoever.
The being formed of emerald wind, possessing a mysterious corporeal form—her name was Aisia, the Wind Spirit King.
A Spirit King was no mortal existence. A transcendent being half-liberated from the concept of death itself. Comparable to those entities occasionally glimpsed in the deepest reaches of the Abyss, the beings known as Gods or Celestial Thrones.
Of course, they fell slightly short of true divinity. Yet they warranted the title of Transcendent without reservation.
Though bound by contract to a pathetically weak human, her rank and power were severely constrained. Yet Romanov’s potential was so extraordinary that even the Spirit King accepted such limitations.
And if such a magnificent rune were added to the equation?!
She would reclaim her strength, and his cherished companion would grow far more rapidly.
Romanov harbored identical thoughts. He had no intention whatsoever of relinquishing that extraordinary item.
‘My ammunition reserves are not abundant.’
Not long ago, he’d spent nearly 3.5 trillion won—virtually all the wealth he’d accumulated since becoming a Hunter—to purchase a legendary-grade skill book. Moreover, he’d acquired it from a man who was both his private friend and, officially, Russia’s other SS-rank Hunter, which meant he’d received a substantial discount.
To cover the staggering payment, Romanov had abandoned all his business ventures and liquidated everything of value. Thus, his remaining ammunition now totaled exactly 1 trillion won.
Admittedly, it was an astronomical sum. Even for an SS-rank Hunter, it would require years of exploring the Abyss and considerable fortune to accumulate such wealth.
He must be cautious. Defeat was not an option. Romanov pressed his bidding device with grave determination.
“510 billion won.”
A measured probe at first. Assess how much capital his opponent possessed, then secure victory with maximum efficiency!
‘Ultimately, that rune will be mine!’
There was no way some South Korean ranker possessed trillions of won! Unless the world’s 3rd-ranked monster, Dangun Cheonje, had personally arrived, the victor of this auction would undoubtedly be himself.
He remained ignorant. He’d arrived slightly late to the auction, and having deliberately avoided interaction with others, communicating only with his spirits, he was unaware of how much wealth the man competing against him had earned by selling pure Golden just over three weeks prior.
Merely an unnamed Hunter from South Korea, one who enjoyed favor due to certain connections with the Black Market. His critical oversight was failing to gather information beyond such surface details.
Furthermore, as a first-time participant in a Black Market auction, he had no comprehension of what Room 3 truly signified.
‘They’re all on the same level anyway.’
Simple reasoning, if one could call it that. Yet even among those called noble Hunters, hierarchies clearly existed.
‘That bastard’s ammunition must be running low.’
Room 3 had spent lavishly in previous auctions, sweeping up every item. With such expenditures, there should be no unexpected variables remaining!
The moment he bid 560 billion won, his opponent responded as if they’d been waiting, bidding again. And that sum was more than sufficient to leave Romanov’s mouth agape.
-W-w-what?! Bidder Number 3 has just wagered a staggering 1 trillion won!
“W-what in the world is this?”
Romanov Van Schlaiman found himself at a loss for words. Was his opponent the master of some great family or something?
Did such a great family even exist in South Korea? To his recollection, aside from the Dangun Family, there was none.
The battle ended with that single move. Realizing his opponent was not someone he could contend with by merely raising the bid by a few hundred million more, Romanov let out a hollow sigh and gazed toward Bidder Number 3’s room, his expression growing complicated.

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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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