I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 71

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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71

 

Chapter 16. How Much Do You Want? I’ll Just Buy It with Money Now (2)

 

Evelyn’s shoulders in the front row trembled slightly.

 

Knowing Raven’s true identity, Evelyn seemed to be trying to keep to her proper place. She was trying not to forget that Raven was my official fiancé and a close friend, even though we hadn’t met for a long time.

 

That was fortunate. If she had forgotten, Evelyn would have already squeezed between Raven and me, growling.

 

“Your surroundings are still the same.”

 

“Yeah, well…”

 

Evelyn had been quite fierce toward Raven in the past too, and our excellent Crown Prince had surprisingly understood that rude attitude generously. Even though he wasn’t particularly merciful by nature.

 

“You would have seen the twins at the Academy until a few years ago, and E… you haven’t seen her in a long time either, right?”

 

Not being able to say names was a very frustrating rule.

 

“Of course. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you too.”

 

“Hasn’t she gotten completely prettier? Oh, of course she was pretty before too.”

 

“…What kind of answer are you expecting from me?”

 

“An objective impression? Not an evaluation. My kid has grown up so pretty. Elegant and enchanting…”

 

“…”

 

“I’m only saying this to you, but her other appearance is dignified and cool. It’s no joke. I fall for her every time I see her.”

 

Raven looked at me blatantly as if I were pathetic.

 

“Are you trying to change the subject because you’re embarrassed, or are you trying to cheer up your sulking maid?”

 

“…Who said I was embarrassed.”

 

“Your face was red.”

 

“I was flustered because you were saying strange things you wouldn’t normally say.”

 

“What’s strange about it?”

 

“You don’t usually say things like that.”

 

“How could I say it when I couldn’t see your face.”

 

That was true too.

 

“You didn’t do it before either.”

 

“I don’t bother saying obvious things out loud. Unless it’s after meeting again after a long time.”

 

“…I am pretty cute…”

 

In the end, I decided to bring out my usual shamelessness to cover up the unnecessary embarrassment. I was fairly indifferent to and accustomed to compliments about my appearance, and I objectively thought my looks, which resembled Mother’s, were quite pretty.

 

“My kid is pretty too.”

 

“I wonder.”

 

“Are you disparaging my kid right now?”

 

“Why are you suddenly picking a fight?”

 

“I can’t stand insults to myself, but I can’t stand insults to my kid even more.”

 

Not knowing how soft my kid’s fur is, how cute those black eyes are, how warm and dignified that fluffy tail is…!

 

Feeling like my kid was being slandered, I forgot the situation and went into overdrive.

 

“Anyone can see she’s pretty! Just looking at the lower half of her face, she’s pretty! Do you think that beauty could be hidden by just a mask?!”

 

“…They look the same to me.”

 

“How does that make sense?! Objectively!”

 

“In terms of structural concept, it’s not bad… but I don’t live paying much attention to the shape of other people’s facial features.”

 

“…”

 

“What I find pretty is based on extremely subjective standards.”

 

Facial features… If I asked him to talk about appearance, it was such a dry word choice that he’d probably say eyes are two, nostrils are two, mouth is one.

 

I was a bit flustered. Then what are those subjective standards?

 

Raven lightly changed the subject before I could ask.

 

“What did you come here for?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Did you find something you want?”

 

Raven pointed ahead. Having almost finished preparations, someone who appeared to be the host came to the center and was clearing their throat. The well-dressed host was also flawlessly covering their face with a mask.

 

“Even so, wouldn’t you recognize everyone if you heard their voices?”

 

“Even wearing masks, everyone who knows each other knows. Among the people gathered here, probably less than 10 percent don’t know each other’s real identities.”

 

“…Then all this is meaningless.”

 

“Because there’s 10 percent like us. Anyway, what do you want?”

 

Raven seemed to have heard nothing. Well, Bailey wasn’t the type to tell him all the details of my situation, and my parents didn’t know my purpose at all.

 

Actually, I had just tried to get an invitation because of Ron mentioning the Private Auction, so I didn’t know exactly what they were after here either.

 

Ron and Renate were reckless in their actions, but they were actually quite cautious.

 

‘People with a lot to protect naturally become cautious.’

 

Ron was in a position to lead the group, and Renate was in a position to help him. They didn’t forget what was most important.

 

Protecting and raising the children they had already taken in came first, and rescue came second. Because there were limits to overturning the market.

 

Usually they attacked transport carriages, but they couldn’t do it so often as to be openly on guard. Unless they all wanted to get caught and die together.

 

Ron and Renate were strong, but their forces had limits, and if everyone came together to catch them like catching mice, our side with people to protect would be at a clear disadvantage.

 

It meant there was no way they would cause trouble again after attacking the transport carriage in winter by involving the twins and Ella.

 

At first I simply thought they might be trying to rescue captured beastmen again, but now that I was actually here, I thought that might not be the case.

 

There would be nothing good about causing trouble in a place like this.

 

‘The twins said they hadn’t heard anything about it either.’

 

So I had nothing to say in response.

 

“I’m going to see it first and then think about it.”

 

“Since it’s something you’re involved in, I can roughly guess.”

 

Raven shrugged his shoulders. The awkwardness from our reunion after 11 years had already disappeared. I looked back at him.

 

“It must be for the sake of all those countless things you cherish.”

 

“…There aren’t that many.”

 

Now, including the children who had left the orphanage and become independent, it definitely exceeded ten fingers by far.

 

With those kids, all I did now was exchange letters, but it would be a lie to say I didn’t cherish them.

 

Cute and clever children.

 

With their fluffy fur and heart-melting charm. The children who knew well how pretty they were and realized that I was weak to them had no reservations. They melted me down quite mercilessly…

 

In other words, I was often completely taken advantage of. Lili found this very pathetic.

 

“You find everything pretty as long as it catches your eye.”

 

“Love is an open door…”

 

That’s what the Ice Queen’s sister said.

 

“You’re always picking up this and that.”

 

“Hey, that’s your hobby.”

 

Says the one whose hobby is collecting talent.

 

Besides, when I was 5, she picked me up.

 

“I only picked up you.”

 

“What are you saying. You went around bothering this person and that person saying you were nurturing talent.”

 

“That’s not called picking up. That’s called nurturing talent.”

 

“You’re good with words.”

 

“When you pick up this and that, clothe them, put them to sleep, raise them while pouring out affection, that’s called picking up.”

 

“…”

 

Then when did she ever… She’s talking strangely. I wanted to argue about when she ever clothed, sheltered, and raised me, but then the first auction started and I missed the timing.

 

The first item was introduced with the stuffy opening line of “Ladies and gentlemen.”

 

Since I wasn’t here to buy anything, rather than looking at the items, I observed the atmosphere of the auction house. The air was slightly stuffy, but overall it had an elegant atmosphere like being in an art museum.

 

“Starting at 150 gold.”

 

A night at a cheap inn usually costs 3 silver. 1 silver is roughly ten thousand won, and copper coins are rarely used but about one thousand won. 1 gold is about one hundred thousand won… that’s how I thought of it. Prices vary by item, but that was easier for me to understand.

 

“Starting at 15 million won…”

 

For just a palm-sized teapot.

 

But I had also lived as a noble in this world for 18 years. Father and Mother were only frugal in their lifestyle habits, but had no sense of money at all.

 

It meant they spent money on useless things without giving it any thought. I had gotten used to it too. Haha!

 

“300 gold.”

 

“450 gold.”

 

“600 gold.”

 

…No. I hadn’t gotten used to it. Gasp, how much is that.

 

I began to suspect whether brewing tea in that palm-sized teapot would grant immortality. I whispered to Raven.

 

“Does that thing have magic cast on it?”

 

“No. It’s ordinary.”

 

“What happens if you brew and drink tea in that? Does it become incredibly delicious? Or does it have tremendous historical value?”

 

“Usually people just display it.”

 

“…Wouldn’t it be better to just pile up gold?”

 

Raven started laughing quietly. Why are you laughing. I’m being serious.

 

“It’s neither pretty nor cute…”

 

If it were cute, I’d acknowledge it.

 

“I understand your standards well. I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

“What’s there to keep in mind. Don’t buy useless things. If you bulk purchase something like jade floor mats somewhere and dump them on me, I’ll be angry.”

 

“What are jade floor mats?”

 

“There are things like that.”

 

After that, I completely failed to understand the items and prices that came up in the auction.

 

Huh, why is that? Gasp, how much is all that money, whoa, isn’t that just a rag?

 

Whooooa… What is that thing used for that they’re buying it at that price?

 

Hieeeee…

 

Raven found my shock amusing every time.

 

But the people sitting around occasionally looked back at me and gave me looks.

 

This wasn’t a movie theater and other people were talking more loudly, so I wondered why they were only targeting me, but looking again, they were glares telling me to leave if I didn’t even have that much money instead of muddying the waters.

 

They quickly averted their eyes when they made eye contact with Raven. Do they think I’m easy prey.

 

“If there’s anything you want, I’ll buy it for you. As a reunion commemoration.”

 

“I told you not to spend money uselessly.”

 

To my eyes, all of that looked like jade flooring. Moreover, anything sold secretly meant it was either stolen goods or items with questionable origins.

 

If it’s a luxury item but you can’t even show it off, what’s the point? The secret satisfaction of owning something no one knows about? Possessiveness?

 

Or was it this? Art investment? Or money laundering?

 

More than 10 items went up and came down. Just when I was starting to suspect that the private auction Ron mentioned wasn’t this one, the atmosphere in the auction house suddenly changed.

 

“Thank you for waiting so long! I’m sure many of you heard the news and have been waiting just for this moment!”

 

The excited anticipation manifested as silence. Even the people who had been glaring at me held their breath.

 

“As you know, among slaves, well-trained beastmen slaves are the best. The big ones make loyal bodyguards, and the small ones, haha, you know what I mean?”

 

Ugh, disgusting…

 

“But these past few years, beastmen slaves in particular have been hard to find. The small ones are easy to catch and tame, but the big ones aren’t. You all know this. Decades ago, it was fashionable to show off by having a reliable beastman slave at your side, but lately they’ve become so scarce we couldn’t catch any. Small ones are nice, but big ones are definitely more useful.”

 

Who are these people agreeing with that?

 

I remembered that Renate had been captured by humans before escaping. Was that around this time?

 

A blindfolded man was dragged onto the stage. His height seemed similar to Renate and Raven.

 

“But we were able to acquire decent merchandise last winter! Unfortunately, there was an accident during transport and we lost part of the group, but we kept the most valuable one. Even though he’s still fierce, you know that these types are the most satisfying to tame, right?”

 

I shouldn’t have brought Evelyn. I wanted to cover her ears.

 

“Then we’ll start at 2000 gold!”

 

“Should I buy him?”

 

Raven asked. Shut up. I’ll do it. I raised my hand high.

 

“5000 gold!”

 

How much would it take.

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