Surviving the Assassin Academy as a Genius Professor - Chapter 149

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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 149
[Main Story] No. 3 Holy Sword Competition (2)

The auction deadline was four days away. According to my investigation, the Holy Sword Peace Guide† would appear in the final auction—the VVIP Auction.

The entry requirement for this VVIP Auction was a single condition: “A cumulative transaction total of 100 million Hika through auction purchases.”

They’d gathered the finest pieces from hundreds of artifacts and reserved them for the last auction, then demanded unnecessary spending from participants just to gain entry. It was the auction house’s scheme to inflate the overall transaction volume.

The estimated value was 30 billion Hika, but the auction house clearly wanted to rake in 50 billion Hika or more.

“For now, I’ll participate normally on the first day.”

At my words, the Assassination Group exchanged uncomfortable glances.

“Professor, this is shameful to admit, but our financial situation…”
“Yeah, we’re pretty broke, you know…”

Grey scratched her cheek ruefully.
That was true. They hadn’t taken on any proper contracts; they’d been dragged into battle after battle, leaving them with barely any money. Even Kendrick Drake, who was supposedly well-off from assassinating the professor, was in the same boat.

“Kendrick. Do you remember your bank password?”
“…”

A lost cause.
Knowing the situation, I pulled out the cards I’d prepared beforehand and handed them out one by one.

“Huh? What’s this?”

Elise asked.

“Auction house cards with 10 million Hika loaded on each. Use them to bid on whatever you need.”
“Whoa…!”
“Did you say 10 million Hika?”

Valmond had spoken, but amazement washed across all four of their faces. The cost of the now-infamous professor assassination was 15 million Hika. Since roughly 100 Hika equaled a won, I’d essentially just handed each of them the equivalent of a billion won.

Grey’s eyes went wide, a grin spreading across her face as she asked.

“Professor, you’re loaded…?”
“I am.”
“Really? Then, maybe, could it be…?”

She started writhing her body around mischievously.

“Would you get something that doesn’t need its litter box cleaned… or walks taken… something cat-like that I could have…?”
“Not interested.”
“What about me?”
“Huh?”
“You’re not interested in any of you.”
“That is true. Those fools are unnecessary, surely. But I, Valmond Nibelung, am different, am I not?”
“No, you’re not.”

All four of them had golden gleams in their eyes now. Even Elise, who was usually indifferent to money, couldn’t hide her interest.
It was a sum that warranted such a reaction.
It was a large expenditure, but manageable. In won, I’d earned the equivalent of 200 billion from my travel-settlement earnings. To me now, a billion won was pocket change.

Yet it was not enough money. Rather, it was insufficient. There were fewer than three years left until the Demon King’s War.
If I didn’t have even 200 billion at this juncture, I had no right to survive.

“It’s in my name anyway—the card and the money—so purchase freely. Just make sure you wear the mask at all times.”

Yes! came the spirited reply, and then Grey raised her hand.

“Um, Grey question.”
“Not allowed.”
“No, I’m not trying to talk about cats or anything. But why do we have to spend money at the VVIP Auction just to buy that Peace Guide†?”
“What kind of question is that?”

Grey glanced at Elise, then pressed on.

“Well, I mean—you’re the best at Illusion Magic in the whole world, right? And she’s really good at staying hidden. So if you two went in together and, like, did this and that and came back out with it… wouldn’t that work…?”
“…….”

Why go through proper auction procedures.
In short: she was suggesting theft.
A cunning and cowardly thought, worthy of a Black Path assassin.

“You’re right.”
“Huh…? Shouldn’t you say no…?”
“No. Your logic is sound. If we could obtain it through theft, that would indeed be the optimal course.”

And in my mind,
Perhaps.
Someone else,
might be harboring the same idea.

“…For now, I’ll observe. If trouble erupts, the entire auction will likely shut down—but regardless, there’s much to gain from the auction itself.”

I told them to contact me if problems arose, then turned to leave.
Even among the Empire’s wealthy, few madmen walk around carrying 2 billion Hika in cash. My competitive advantage here was substantial.

‘And I possess an enormous edge in auctions.’

Thanks to my bugged status window, I could see the rank, Constellation Mark, and curse status of every item.

After that, I headed to the main auction hall—Golden Field, Auction Block 7.

It was time to flaunt my wealth.

* * *

After sending off the strange mute girl, Rebecca moved elsewhere.

“That’s unusual for you, Princess.”
“What are you saying.”
“You’re not one for auctions or extravagance, are you?”

A question from Raim, her protective shadow operative.

“True. Only those who’ve had money long enough spend it like that.”
“Eh? Ah, n-no, that’s not what I meant….”
“Raim is right.”

Raim’s question was valid. Rebecca herself acknowledged it inwardly.
She did not understand the pleasure of spending. The difference between the joy of salted potatoes and well-grilled beef was not large to her.
Perhaps it was her lowborn origins.

“…….”

Yet some “fierce pull” had drawn her here, and she would have to pay the price of coming.
So while browsing through the catalog of items, she discovered something remarkable.

「Rune of Resurrection♥」

“Wow.”

Raim gasped in wonder.

“A rune that resurrects the dead? Something that expensive isn’t reserved for the VVIP auction?”

Rebecca too felt the shock of it.

“…It must have severe restrictions attached. Otherwise it would be worth tens of billions of Hika.”
“Ah, that makes sense.”

Yet resurrection, of all things.
The moment she saw it, her heart was seized with violent longing. She had always been preoccupied with thoughts of death, her mind endlessly tangled in such things, but lately her spirit had grown weary. Like a man who handles vipers and always carries the antidote.
A man who handles vipers always carries the antidote.
Similarly, for one who lived always at the closest edge to human death.

“…That one. I have to have it.”

It was a first.
The first time she had seen something and thought she *wanted* to possess it.

Beyond that, whenever she spotted something profitable, she would bid on it. Rebecca had confidence—it was thanks to eyes that had seen the flow of mana at the particle level since childhood.
Because of this, Rebecca could distinguish genuine from counterfeit, and could read the true worth of countless objects quite well.
This was the foundation that had allowed her, despite the hatred of the royal elders and lacking their support, to offer 100 million Hika to the professor.

“Let’s go.”
“Ah, yes!”

Auction Block Seven, where the highest-priced items changed hands.
Save for the elaborate stage traced in gold, everything lay in shadow.
Half the participants wore masks and stood holding numbered placards, waiting to bid.
When the auctioneer revealed and described each item, bidding erupted like flame.

– We all know that human endeavor begins at human hands, yet ultimately rests in the hands of heaven. This is why the more mature of us seek humility.

The auctioneer grasped the veil.

– Yet heaven remains ever silent, evading our communication. Alas, no matter how earnest a person may be, they can only wait. But what if—just perhaps—we could pose our desires to heaven itself?

Whisk! The veil fell open.
A feathered flute, embroidered in gold and jewels, emerged.

– A genuine Heavenly Horn Flute, bearing the Constellation Mark of the Morning Star!

Bidding commenced from magnates across nations—corporate owners who believed themselves capable of discerning value, proxies of high nobility, and the heads of adventuring parties.

– Paddle 85! We have 2 million Hika from Paddle 85!
– Paddle 117! Paddle 117 with 2.1 million Hika!

The price climbed higher.
Rebecca lifted her bidding paddle as well.

– Lot 551! Lot 551 at 2.2 million Hika!

The heavyset man across the way raised his paddle again. He clearly knew money when he saw it.

– Lot 117 at 2.6 million Hika!
– Lot 551 at 2.8 million Hika!

And so the bidding war ignited.
In Rebecca’s estimation, the fair price ranged from 3.5 to 4 million Hika.

– Yes! Lot 551 at 3 million Hika! Three million Hika! From here on, we’ll be raising in increments of 500,000. Do I hear any further bids?

At this price, even accounting for variance, there was no loss. She’d probably cleared 1.2 million Hika profit, she calculated.

– Lot 231! Lot 231 at 3.5 million Hika!

Someone had thrown in a wrench.
Rebecca’s brow furrowed as she turned to look in that direction.
It was a tall man wearing an Anonymity Mask.

– Lot 231 at 3.5 million Hika! Do I hear any further bids?

Rebecca hesitated. 3.5 million. It seemed like fair price. Then again, it felt steep. Her instinct wasn’t sharp enough to tell.

“Three point five million? Does this person have money falling out of their pockets?”
“No matter how I look at it, 3.5 million seems excessive….”

Whispers rippled through the crowd around her.
Rebecca decided to hold off for now, and the Heavenly Horn Flute went to lot 231.
But that’s when lot 231’s true nature began to reveal itself.

– Lot 231: Blooming Flower Vase sold!
– Lot 231: Ancient Silver Cross sold!
– Lot 231: Lightning Catcher sold! A staggering 15 million Hika!

Auction bidders fall into two categories.
Those who probe speculatively for anything profitable.
And those who mark their desired purchases in advance.
Lot 231 appeared to be the former type.
But ordinary bidders had no way of knowing their true intent.

“Looks like they’re just here to make money. But the way they’re buying… they’re going to take heavy losses.”
“What an idiot…. Even if that gun looks good, it’s outdated modern technology. Fifteen million Hika is way overpriced.”
“Probably not their own money. Their father’s some corporate executive or something?”
“Why’d they drop 4 million Hika on that ugly vase?”

Beneath the words of reproach lay a thinly veiled envy of their wealth.
But Rebecca’s thoughts ran differently.

‘…Who is this person?’

They weren’t probing blindly for profit.

‘They know exactly what they’re buying.’

Every item lot 231 purchased was, in Rebecca’s assessment, premium grade. Particularly that Blooming Flower Vase—though she’d abstained from bidding because she despised flowers—its purity was extraordinarily rare. It ought to fetch around 20 million Hika, yet lot 231 had claimed it for 4 million.
They were acquiring treasures at a fraction of their true worth.

That much was fine. But there was a problem. It was the auction item coming up in the next time slot.

Among the goods behind the veiled curtain at the auctioneer’s back, Rebecca’s senses detected something distinctly warm and soft—unmistakably the Rune of Resurrection♥.

‘…….’

Her heart quickened. At this rate, that madman numbered 231 would surely bid on the Rune of Resurrection♥.

– We will conclude the second round of bidding here. In sixty minutes, we will proceed to the third round, and we appreciate your continued interest.

“Raim. Wait here for a moment.”
“Pardon? Where are you going, Your Highness?”

The moment the auction paused, Rebecca hurried toward the man numbered 231.
He was already surrounded by several wealthy patrons seeking his attention, so he slipped away from his seat with quick steps.

“Hey! Won’t you grab a bite to eat with us?”
“Much obliged.”

Somewhere in the midst of it all, his physical form vanished. The others missed it, but Rebecca traced the particles of mana and found him at the far end of the third-floor corridor.

“You there.”
“…….”
“You seem to have money. You were buying quite a lot.”

As a cardinal candidate of the Holy Mother Church, external contact was something she ought to avoid.
But since she herself wore the Mask of Anonymity, she spoke without hesitation.

“I purchase only what holds value.”
“That’s what it seemed like.”
“What business is that of yours.”
“The money, the buying—all fine. But don’t bid on the Rune of Resurrection♥.”
“Is there someone you need to bring back to life.”

Rebecca’s brow furrowed.
His voice was distorted by the mask.
Yet his manner of speech felt strangely familiar.

“…I don’t know. Whether they’ll die or live. Why they had to die when they’re standing here perfectly alive, driving me insane…. But anyway, there’s no reason I should be telling you any of this.”
“…….”
“That Rune of Resurrection♥—if it hasn’t been released even from the VVIP section, it’s not the kind of item you can just use to revive anyone. But I need it. Desperately. So don’t bid on it.”

From the shadows where he watched, Raim was taken aback.
He had rarely, if ever, seen Rebecca in such a submissive posture.
The princess fundamentally did not know how to ask others for anything.
She was doing her best to plead, in her own way.

“What I choose to bid on is my decision alone.”
“…Pardon?”
“The sky is clear and the day is bright. I wish you well.”

The man refused outright and turned to leave.

“…….”

Beneath the mask, Rebecca’s mouth twisted.

“…Rebecca, you’ve lost your edge. Right.”

She merely muttered to herself and swallowed her anger.
Still, she told herself it would be fine. At a point where she’d lost nearly everything to bidder 231, Rebecca still had one hundred million Hika left.

.
.
.
.
.

– Bidder 231, one hundred and fifty million Hika!!

But there was a problem. The moment the veil was lifted, Rebecca’s brow furrowed. Contrary to her expectations, the Rune of Resurrection♥ was of the highest grade—an item easily worth two hundred million Hika. So she continued to bid, but the madman didn’t let this one slip through his fingers either.

– Bidder 231, one hundred and fifty million Hika!! One hundred and fifty million Hika!!

The auctioneer’s voice rang out.
The bidders gasped.

– And there we have it—the largest bid amount in auction history! Does anyone wish to bid further!?

Rebecca hurriedly checked her remaining balance: one hundred and four million, three hundred and twenty thousand Hika.

– One hundred and fifty million Hika!
– One hundred and fifty million Hika!
– Sold!!

“…….”

It had been snatched away.

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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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