The Game of a Legendary Genius Dark Mage - Chapter 144

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

Episode 144
144
3.
The Auction House that Yoo Sung-hyun had entered was a dream destination that other players desperately wished to access.
But it wasn’t a place one could simply walk into.
Which was precisely why it could be called a dream destination.
Not just anyone could enter, naturally.
Items that were rarely seen in ordinary player auction houses frequently appeared here.
It was an Auction House that everyone wanted to experience at least once.
And Bereta was one of those players.
‘Damn show-off!!!’
Having somehow managed to enter this place, she couldn’t help but witness a scene that irritated her greatly.
Yoo Sung-hyun, casually conversing with the lord of Pentagrid and filming a food broadcast simultaneously.
She couldn’t view him favorably.
How much effort had Bereta expended to gain entry here?
As a merchant operating within the game, Bereta had painstakingly accumulated gold to barely afford participation in this auction.
Gathering ten thousand gold was no simple task, whether in reality or in-game.
Moreover, she had scraped together what she could in-game, and when that proved insufficient, she had even resorted to spending real money to accumulate enough gold for this auction.
All to obtain auction items and reap substantial profits.
Yet what was that shameless bastard doing?
He had entered without a care, and even when the lord deigned to speak with him, he had initially shown wariness.
Clear evidence that he didn’t even know the lord’s face.
From Bereta’s perspective, that fact infuriated her.
‘I’ve made every effort to establish connections and gain entry!!!’
She had attempted to forge relationships with various noble NPCs by any means necessary.
Yet she still hadn’t obtained the title that Yoo Sung-hyun had acquired so effortlessly.
Of course, aside from Yoo Sung-hyun, no other player present had obtained it either.
But that only made Bereta’s frustration burn hotter.
One person entered without even knowing the lord’s face.
Another exhausted every effort, receiving invitations from noble NPCs or deliberately researching all the aristocrats who came here, striving desperately to establish connections.
The disparity was simply too great.
‘Whoever you are….’
She would find a way to humiliate him.
At the very least, he likely had fewer funds than she did.
‘Everything you’re after, I’ll claim for myself.’
As Bereta glared at Yoo Sung-hyun with venomous intent, her resolve hardened.
Soon enough, as the appointed time arrived, a figure ascended the stage.
With the sharp click of polished shoes, an impeccably dressed auctioneer took the platform.
All eyes immediately turned toward him.
Though arranged like a social gathering, this place was unmistakably an Auction House.
And so, with the auctioneer’s arrival, silence swept through the auction hall that had been bustling moments before.
The hall grew quiet.
The auctioneer swept his gaze across the assembled crowd once,
then produced an item resembling a microphone and opened his mouth.
[Ah, testing, testing. Can you hear me? I am Edward, the auctioneer. I extend my gratitude to all distinguished guests participating in today’s auction, and I shall now provide a brief overview of the proceedings.]
At his refined voice and dignified bearing, the entire assembly turned their attention toward the auctioneer.
What sort of auction would this be?
Anticipation and desire gleamed in every eye.
The auctioneer seemed to relish their hunger, meeting each gaze deliberately before
speaking with measured precision.
[Today’s auction items have been curated with the same grandeur as your reception. We present ten pieces in total. You may find the quantity modest, yet I assure you—each is exceptional, so harbor no concerns on that account.]
At his words, the assembly focused intently on the stage, their enthusiasm kindled.
As their collective attention converged,
[Very well then. Let us commence the auction.]
The curtain rose on the auction.
In that instant, Bereta’s eyes shifted, and her machinations to secure advantage began in earnest.
Not least among them—her schemes to obstruct Yoo Sung-hyun.
4.
The auction commenced with the auctioneer’s declaration.
Having never witnessed such a spectacle, I found myself thoroughly captivated.
It was a scene rarely glimpsed even in cinema.
To be precise, it was not a common scene in the films I typically watched.
Being present at an actual auction was genuinely remarkable.
[The third item is the legendary Codex of Elements, once wielded by an ancient Dark Mage! A first edition, no less! Bidding commences at five thousand gold, ascending by one hundred gold increments! Five thousand gold—bidder thirty-three. Do I hear five thousand one hundred? Ah, bidder forty-one.]
At the auctioneer’s call, bidders raised their numbered paddles to enter the fray.
I observed the spectacle intently, absorbing the mechanics of the auction.
The current item was contested between bidders thirty-three and forty-one.
And so it continued.
[Ah! Bidder thirty-three withdraws! Six thousand! Any further bids? Going once. Six thousand? Six thousand? Six thousand! Bidder forty-one—sold!!!]
The auctioneer’s brisk, spirited conduct drew me in despite myself.
I had only needed to obtain the Dragon Heart Fragment.
Yet I found myself wanting to purchase more.
‘There’s a certain thrill to spending money.’
As I indulged in such thoughts, I found myself genuinely enjoying the auction.
Across the hall, Bereta—bidder forty-one—watched me intently, ready to counter any move I made.
Unaware of her scrutiny, I gazed innocently toward the auctioneer.
The fourth and fifth items concluded.
An hour had already elapsed,
yet my fascination showed no signs of waning as I observed, while Fiora—
—let out a small sound.
I was eating my fill of food.
Whether it suited my taste or not, I kept replacing plates and eating voraciously.
Yoo Sung-hyun was also enjoying himself.
We were both satisfied—wasn’t that good enough?
Just as I was waiting in silence.
[The sixth item is, ah, something that would make any Dark Mage drool! It’s the heart of that wicked demon dragon—also called the lifeblood of the demon dragon! One of its fragments! The auction starts at 5,000 and will increase by 100 gold increments!]
Finally, the item Yoo Sung-hyun had been waiting for appeared.
Yoo Sung-hyun’s eyes gleamed as he quietly gripped his bidding number.
Seeing that, Bereta also gripped her bidding number.
‘It’s not an item I need to buy myself… but it’s definitely something I can profit from.’
An item that had sold for a whopping 30,000 in a user auction.
Anything below that would be worth purchasing.
And if Yoo Sung-hyun bought it at a higher price, wouldn’t that feel good too?
With that mindset, Bereta gripped her bidding number.
And besides Bereta, there was one more person raising their bidding number.
A Baroness with a vibrant, healthy appearance.
She too was prepared.
The Baroness had come here for only one reason—that demon dragon heart fragment.
As she raised her bidding number with keen interest.
[Number 11! Number 41! Number 44! You’ve all bid 5,000! Then let’s move forward. 5,100 gold!]
The Baroness’s number was 11, Bereta’s was 41, and Yoo Sung-hyun’s was 44.
The auction continued.
Since all three couldn’t hold their numbers up at once, they bid on the next price.
Yoo Sung-hyun raised his first.
[Number 44! 5,200 gold! Do we have any higher? Ah, Number 41!]
As if unwilling to lose to Yoo Sung-hyun, Bereta raised hers.
Seeing that, Yoo Sung-hyun looked at Bereta with surprise.
That Baroness had the aura of a Dark Mage, and he’d heard she was one.
He understood her reason for wanting it.
But looking at this user Bereta, Yoo Sung-hyun tilted his head in confusion.
From her equipped gear and appearance, she was unmistakably a merchant.
So why was she trying to buy this?
‘Is she planning to resell it?’
Thinking that was possible, Yoo Sung-hyun didn’t pay it much mind.
Then came the auctioneer’s call again.
[5,200 gold! Number 11!]
This time it was the Baroness.
[5,300 gold! Number 44!]
[5,400 gold…]
…(omitted)
[10,000 Gold! Bidder 11!]
The atmosphere grew heated.
In mere moments, the price had climbed to 10,000 Gold.
Up to this point, all bids fell within reasonable expectations.
The auctioneer, quite pleased with the escalating bidding war, called out enthusiastically.
[If we continue at this pace, it will take considerable time. From now on, please raise your bidding paddle and call out your desired price. We would greatly appreciate it!]
In other words, from this moment forward, anyone wishing to participate had to hold up their paddle and call out their desired price.
From the Auction House’s perspective, there was nothing more welcome than this.
Once the auctioneer settled the matter, the bidding resumed.
Bereta, the Countess, and I exchanged glances before gripping our paddles once more.
[Very well, we begin with Bidder 11 at 10,000 Gold!]
At the auctioneer’s prompt, I immediately raised my paddle and called out.
“Fifteen thousand.”
My calm voice echoed through the hall.
The auctioneer’s eyes widened as he shouted.
[Bidder 44! 15,000 Gold!!! A jump of 5,000 Gold in a single bid!!! Does anyone wish to counter….]
Before the auctioneer could finish speaking.
Bereta raised her paddle urgently and cried out.
“Twenty thousand!!!”
Bereta’s voice rang out with fierce determination, as if refusing to lose.
[Ohhhhh!!!! 20,000 Gold!!! Bidder 41!!! Does anyone offer more!?]
The auctioneer shrieked with astonishment.
Simultaneously, he looked toward the other two bidders.
His gaze questioned whether they would continue.
I was quite surprised by Bereta’s fervor as well.
Did she truly desire this item so desperately?
However, the Countess watched both of us with evident displeasure.
She could tolerate me well enough, given my knightly rank, but this commoner and foreigner Bereta provoked her irritation. With a disdainful look, she raised her paddle and called out.
“Twenty-five thousand.”
At the Countess’s dignified bid.
The Auction House stirred with murmurs.
Until now, the highest price for any item had been 20,000 Gold.
She had just surpassed that threshold.
As the crowd buzzed with excitement, Bereta, oblivious to the tension, cried out.
“Twenty-seven thousand!”
At Bereta’s shout, the Countess’s gaze turned unmistakably hostile.
[Ah! Right after Bidder 11’s offer, Bidder 41 bids 27,000!!! Today’s highest price!!! Does anyone bid higher!?]
At the auctioneer’s words, I hastily raised my paddle and began to call out.
Or rather, I tried to.
“Thirty thousand….”
Yet, as if dismissing that outcry, the number plate for eleven rose.
The Countess cried out, her voice sharp with anger.
“Forty thousand.”
A price that more than doubled the previous highest bid.
At that, I bit my lip, realizing this was exactly what I’d feared.
The gold I currently possessed fell just short of forty thousand.
The funds simply weren’t enough.
As I bit my lip in resignation, conceding defeat.
Bereta was laughing, clearly pleased with herself.
‘I’ve caused enough disruption. Now I’ll take my profits and slip away.’
As Bereta thought this and prepared to withdraw.
Suddenly, the Countess’s terrifying gaze fixed upon Bereta.
It seemed the Countess found Bereta more offensive than the one appearing to be a Dark Mage.
‘Wh-what? Me? Why are you… Could it be…?’
At that gaze, Bereta averted her eyes nervously.
But it was already too late.
The Countess stared at Bereta for a long moment before turning her gaze away.
The price had risen, and she would be the one winning the bid.
Though Bereta was certainly irksome, securing the item was what mattered most.
[Ahhh! Forty thousand—more than double the previous record bid!!! Is there anyone offering more?]
While Bereta sat there, thoroughly intimidated.
The auctioneer continued the proceedings.
He glanced at both me and Bereta.
But we both lowered our number plates.
The auctioneer nodded at us both and continued with the process.
[After three calls, I will declare the final bid. Forty thousand? Forty thousand!? Forty thou…]
Just as the auctioneer’s call was ending!
Suddenly, someone at the very back of the Auction House raised their number plate.
Not Bereta, not me, and not the Countess—but another figure entirely.
As he raised his plate, he declared.
“One hundred thousand.”
[Wh-what in the…?!?!?]
“Wh-what did you just say???”
The auctioneer and the Countess, who had been moments away from securing the bid, spun around.
There stood a middle-aged man whose face was familiar to me.
A middle-aged man bearing the Overpalace insignia and wearing robes of the highest rank.
An NPC I had met mere hours ago.
“The Belmore Branch Manager?”
The Belmore Branch Manager of Overpalace was giving a thumbs up with a wink.
Why is the Branch Manager appearing here now???

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