You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 10

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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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10

 

 

Red warning indicators flashed and embedded themselves all over the Raid Leader’s body in my vision.

 

“Kim Jin-woo, dodge!”

 

I was already running before my voice could reach him.

 

The Raid Leader’s dagger twisted in a reverse grip, its blade flying toward Kim Jin-woo’s throat.

 

I pushed Kim Jin-woo away with all my strength.

 

The blade that missed its target sliced through empty air.

 

The blade that had been cutting through the void was now aimed precisely at the back of my neck.

 

I immediately stepped back and drew in a breath.

The blade grazed the tip of my nose.

If I had been even an inch slower, my jaw might have been severed.

 

“…Was this your goal all along?”

 

I picked up a small stone fragment that had fallen to the ground.

 

It was the Artifact Reward that Kim Jin-woo had dropped when he was thrown.

 

Only then did the Raid Leader turn his gaze toward me.

There was no more pretense now.

His eyes were already filled with murderous intent.

 

“If you had just let it slide, you could have died comfortably.”

 

The Raid Leader charged forward as if vanishing.

My eyes couldn’t follow him.

But my Sixth Sense reacted first.

 

‘Left, below.’

 

I twisted my body and deflected the dagger as if letting it flow past.

The sound of metal rang out for an instant.

Short breaths became tangled.

Consecutive thrusts.

The dagger that gained momentum from his toes shot up again.

 

I reflexively swung my sword in a wide arc.

 

The harmony of Mind-Ki-Body learned through training.

The Parrying I had repeated hundreds of times while fighting ghouls.

All those movements melted into one.

 

Clang!

 

The Raid Leader’s dagger was knocked from his hand and flew into the air.

He didn’t retrieve the dagger but stepped back, creating distance between us.

 

At the same time, my sword made a cracking sound as it developed a fissure.

 

‘Tsk, can’t help it since it’s a rental sword.’

 

It was a weapon rented from the Association.

I had heard it was sturdy, but it was no match for the Raid Leader’s dagger.

 

I picked up the Raid Leader’s dagger that was embedded in the ground.

A cold sensation transmitted through my fingertips.

 

The Raid Leader stopped for a moment and looked at his own dagger gripped in my hand.

 

“…You were also hiding your rank.”

 

No. I really am an F-rank Hunter.

 

The corner of his mouth twisted upward.

 

“Good. Then I’ll face you according to your rank.”

 

No, please don’t do that.

I’m telling you again, I really am an F-rank Hunter.

Although I did get my hands on the cheat-like fortune called Golden Township…

 

If the Raid Leader wanted to face me according to my rank, he’d have to cut off one of his wrists.

 

There’s no way the Raid Leader could know what’s in my heart.

He drew his last remaining dagger.

With a brief presence, his body became blurry.

Then he completely sank into the ground.

 

It wasn’t like before when my eyes couldn’t follow his fast speed.

He had literally disappeared from sight.

 

But—I could see him.

Even though I couldn’t see him, I could feel him.

My Sixth Sense was telling me he was there.

Front, left, back, right.

His fast and agile movements were drawn in my mind like dots being marked.

What I could see was actually a hindrance.

 

I carefully closed my eyes.

 

At that moment, goosebumps rose on my back.

 

‘From the front.’

 

I twisted my body to the left.

The dagger brushed right past my side.

 

‘Upper right… it’s coming down soon.’

 

This time I moved first.

Just before the dagger came down, I raised my sword and struck it away.

 

Crack—!

 

The Raid Leader’s body was knocked back and disappeared into the darkness again.

 

The attacks stopped for a moment after that.

 

“Your senses are quite impressive.”

 

A voice suddenly echoed in the space without a single breath.

 

“Tell me your purpose.”

 

I still couldn’t sense the Raid Leader’s presence, but his voice came through clearly as if he were speaking right next to me.

 

“If you deceived us about your rank, you must have a purpose too. Hand over the relic and I’ll do my best to help you.”

 

Perhaps judging that defeating me would be difficult, the Raid Leader changed his approach from elimination to persuasion.

 

“I refuse.”

 

Let me be clear—I never deceived anyone about my rank.

I was indeed an F-rank Hunter.

So I never had any impure motives to begin with.

 

“And I never deceived anyone about my rank.”

 

A brief silence passed.

 

“…You’re trying to deceive me.”

 

The Raid Leader’s voice remained calm, but the killing intent buried within it pierced my ears.

 

“You’ll regret those words.”

 

The space fell quiet.

No wind, no sound, no movement.

 

At that moment—my Sixth Sense reacted wildly.

 

‘Right rear.’

 

I twisted my body to dodge.

The dagger grazed past my back.

 

‘This time from above.’

 

I raised my sword and struck it away. The dagger was knocked back with a metallic clang.

 

That’s when it happened.

The Raid Leader’s movements changed.

 

Instead of linear Ambush attacks, he unleashed a formless assault mixing presence, feints, and illusions.

 

It felt like dozens of footsteps were simultaneously charging at me from all directions.

 

Presences rushed at me from every direction.

A mix of fake and real presences swarmed me like a pack of beasts.

 

Even knowing the presences, they were difficult to block.

Blades grazed past my back, thigh, and side.

I avoided direct hits, but shallow wounds began accumulating one by one.

 

Pat, pat—

Each time the swift dagger tore flesh, red lines were drawn across my skin.

 

‘If this becomes a war of attrition, I’ll collapse first.’

 

My heart gradually quickened.

My fingertips trembled slightly from the gradually accumulated fatigue.

 

The Raid Leader seemed to know this, maintaining a certain distance while continuously targeting openings.

 

‘I just need to land one attack…’

 

I had the advantage in strength.

Before the Raid Leader disappeared into the darkness again, just once.

If I could just land that one effective hit, I could win.

 

“Huu…”

 

I exhaled deeply and steadied my breathing.

 

‘Let’s try this once.’

 

As I readjusted my stance, the Raid Leader’s presence poured toward me once again.

 

A presence was rapidly approaching my right shoulder.

 

‘Now.’

 

I deliberately twisted my body half a beat late.

 

Thunk!

 

With a foreign sensation, the dagger embedded into my shoulder.

 

I immediately grabbed the Raid Leader’s wrist.

 

“…!”

 

The Raid Leader tried to pull away, but my grip with strength behind it wouldn’t let him go.

 

“It’s over.”

 

I put strength into my arm and twisted.

 

Crack.

 

The sound of bones crushing pierced my ears.

 

The Raid Leader’s elbow bent grotesquely in an impossible direction.

 

The Raid Leader’s dagger fell to the floor.

With eyes wide open, he instinctively reached out with his other hand.

But it was too late.

 

I snatched up the dagger he had dropped and slashed his throat.

 

“Guk….”

 

Blood spurted out like a fountain.

 

The Raid Leader’s eyes turned bloodshot as he glared at me piercingly until the very end.

Soon the Raid Leader collapsed to the floor and breathed his last.

 

A light breath escaped me.

 

“…Whew.”

 

The fight was over.

My knees swayed slightly from the sudden exhaustion that rushed through my entire body.

 

I retrieved the dagger and wiped the blood off my body.

 

I shifted my gaze past the fallen Raid Leader toward Kim Jin-woo.

 

He looked at me for a moment, then suddenly dropped to his knees.

 

“P-please spare me… just my life….”

 

“…?”

 

I’ve seen cases where someone saves a drowning person only to be asked for their belongings, but this was the first time I’d seen the reverse.

 

Why is he acting like this when I helped him?

 

…Then suddenly, the Raid Leader’s last words flashed through my mind.

 

– So you were hiding your rank too.

 

It seemed like a ridiculous misunderstanding had occurred.

 

An F-rank Hunter with outstanding physical abilities had subdued a high-ranking Hunter hiding his identity.

Moreover, the conversation between the two of them had been quite ominous.

 

It was understandable that Kim Jin-woo would mistake me for a Hunter with impure intentions like the Raid Leader.

 

Kim Jin-woo still couldn’t lift his head and spoke in a trembling voice.

 

“The dungeon rewards… I’ll give you everything. The relics, the points… I’ll give you everything… so please just spare my life….”

 

Well now, he’s even starting to sob.

 

“If you need Lee Su-ah’s share too, just say the word. I’ll handle everything….”

 

“That’s enough.”

 

I looked at him silently and then burst into laughter.

 

“I never deceived anyone.”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

“I said I never deceived anyone.”

 

Kim Jin-woo looked at me with a bewildered expression.

 

“Then how…?”

 

“I had a Re-Awakening, but I just haven’t gotten my rank measured again.”

 

Becoming a member of Golden Fragrance should count as a Re-Awakening, shouldn’t it?

 

I brushed it off vaguely and stuck the fallen dagger back into my belt.

 

“Wait, does it work that way…?”

 

“Let’s get out of here.”

 

I walked past Kim Jin-woo and headed straight toward the Dungeon Exit.

 

“Huh…? H-hyung! Let’s go together!”

 

Kim Jin-woo, who belatedly realized he’d been left alone, hurriedly chased after me.

 

***

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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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