You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 168

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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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168

 

“Let’s handle Rafael’s side that way.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Yamyeong bowed and disappeared from sight.

 

I checked the time.

 

‘Is it about time for it to end?’

 

Cheers erupted from the arena.

 

It seemed a winner had emerged.

 

I quickened my pace and returned to the VIP seating area.

 

Park Si-on, having finished his match, came trudging over.

 

From his expression, it didn’t look like he had taken first place.

 

The results were displayed on the large screen.

 

1st Place – Elena / 34 minutes 21 seconds 34

 

2nd Place – Park Si-on / 34 minutes 20 seconds 04

 

The time difference was barely over one second.

 

A mixture of cheers and sighs burst from the spectator stands.

 

‘Something must have happened.’

 

Before I had left my seat, Park Si-on had been quite far ahead.

 

And the cause of that—

 

It must have been the Saint’s scheming.

 

I looked at the two names on the elimination list.

 

Eliminated – Valenti

 

Eliminated – Nicholas

 

Park Si-on’s shoulders were noticeably slumped.

 

‘He’s still just a kid.’

 

This position was merely the minimum requirement to receive the Holy Grail’s selection from the start.

 

It wasn’t a position where ranking mattered.

 

Of course, there were prizes attached based on ranking.

 

Well, if I had participated, I would have dealt with Nicholas first and taken first place by an overwhelming margin.

 

‘But that’s not a choice a saint would make.’

 

It might be different elsewhere, but not in a place where one is being watched.

 

I also knew that Park Si-on’s concerns weren’t just about simple rankings.

 

‘How does one offer comfort at times like this…’

 

While I was pondering appropriate words of consolation, Park Si-on suddenly apologized.

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

“For what?”

 

“Nicholas was eliminated, but Valenti was eliminated as well.”

 

Now Park Si-on had to fight alone against three Candidates for Sainthood.

 

Moreover, the two remaining Candidates for Sainthood were different from Nicholas’s case.

 

They were ones who had chosen to become the Saint’s pawns of their own accord.

 

But such things were nothing by my standards.

 

Whether the opponents numbered three, thirty, or three thousand.

 

Before overwhelming strength, they were all less than an ant’s toenail.

 

“…I didn’t expect Nicholas to come at me so desperately.”

 

‘How naive.’

 

“The current competition is different from before. The Saint will use any means necessary to ascend to the position of saint.”

 

It was a tournament where exceptional coincidences kept occurring.

 

In such circumstances, such pure thinking was insufficient.

 

“Why do you think you lost?”

 

“Because I’m weak…”

 

“That’s right. Because you’re weak.”

 

In the end, my consolation couldn’t escape Hyeonmu-wol’s methods.

 

She was my only master, after all.

 

“So there’s only one answer. Just become strong enough that your enemies can’t even look at you.”

 

Park Si-on looked at me.

 

“If it’s overwhelming strength, then whatever tricks the Saint uses will ultimately be nothing but futile efforts.”

 

‘I should teach him the ultimate technique of the Hundred Flowers Meteor Spear.’

 

The martial arts manual I gave him before didn’t contain everything about the Meteor Spear.

 

There were various reasons, but the biggest one was that I’m Park Si-on’s protector, not his master.

 

I couldn’t just teach as I pleased a kid who already had the Saintly Knight Captain as his master.

 

I had to maintain at least basic professional ethics.

 

No matter how reckless I might be, that only applied to enemies.

 

I’m someone who learned the harsh realities of social life from the very bottom.

 

The situation has just changed now.

 

I never expected that master of his would be taken hostage and be cosplaying as a pot-bellied drunkard.

 

“I’ll look after you whenever I have time before the next competition.”

 

“Direct teaching… really?”

 

At my words, light returned to Park Si-on’s eyes.

 

“Yeah. And you don’t need to worry about Nicholas anymore. His younger sister—”

 

Before I could finish speaking, a voice came from the opposite side.

 

“Good work.”

 

From the opposite side, the Saint, Yun Seo-won, and that holy scumbag were walking over.

 

The Saint was smiling brightly.

 

It was hard to believe this was the face of someone who had just been threatening Nicholas’s younger sister as a hostage.

 

And I was certain.

 

‘She’s more suited to be a villainess than a Saint.’

 

The Saint approached slowly and stopped in front of Park Si-on and me.

 

“As expected of the beloved disciple that the Saintly Knight Captain cherishes.”

 

A gentle smile and polite tone.

 

“If I weren’t a participant, I might have been cheering for Si-on’s performance too.”

 

At first glance it seemed like praise, but the underlying meaning was different.

 

‘An Italian Saint using Kyoto-style speech…’

 

— Even Park Si-on, whom the Saintly Knight Captain wrapped up and treasured as his beloved disciple, ultimately can’t measure up to me.

 

Well, that was roughly the meaning.

 

‘Really the worst.’

 

Her personality was nasty, unlike her appearance.

 

Park Si-on shook his head.

 

“Still, two team members were eliminated, and even though it was only a 1-second difference, I ultimately couldn’t surpass the Saint’s record.”

 

Looking at Park Si-on’s expression, those words weren’t sarcastic but sincere.

 

At that moment, the Saint’s expression twisted very briefly.

 

I was about to intervene but stopped.

 

Before I knew it, I found myself switching to spectator mode, munching on popcorn.

 

Was it that the counter to Kyoto-style speech was pure sincerity?

 

It was certainly a straightforward observation, but it didn’t sound that way to the Saint.

 

Thanks for the praise.

 

But I had Valenti, who’s non-combat personnel,

 

and even a spy you planted on our side,

 

yet it was only a 1-second difference.

 

What were you doing during all that?

 

The Saint coughed once and quickly left the spot.

 

“Well then, let’s do well in the next competition too. It’s relief work in the slums. Let’s have some friendly competition.”

 

She bowed her head lightly and quickly left the area.

 

Yun Seo-won also silently bowed his head and followed her.

 

“It seems like the faction people have already gathered on that side.”

 

Park Si-on spoke while looking at Yun Seo-won.

 

“That’s right.”

 

I nodded at Park Si-on’s words.

 

The second competition wasn’t a fight between individual candidates.

 

Relief activities in the slums.

 

Rather than a competition, it was closer to an event showcasing the abilities and mercy of Vatican core personnel.

 

The Saint selection tournament included flaunting the Vatican’s prestige as well.

 

Revealing the factions each candidate had built before the public,

 

that was the essence of the second competition.

 

“There’ll be interference this time too, won’t there?”

 

“There will be.”

 

I answered calmly.

 

“But it doesn’t matter.”

 

Park Si-on’s backing was Ashin after all.

 

The guild that possessed the world’s only two S-rank Hunters.

 

The guild that the Association President loved for some reason.

 

Korea’s greatest guild that received fervent support from the Former Mage Tower Master, the Magic Tower Master, and the Graduate Students.

 

These were the numerous titles that described Ashin.

 

“Will it be okay since this isn’t something that requires force?”

 

“It’ll be fine.”

 

“Are you worried?”

 

“No. I believe in you, Vice Guild Master.”

 

“Yeah, that’s enough.”

 

This time it was the guardian’s turn to step forward.

 

“Then shall we go straight to the training ground?”

 

“Yeah…”

 

No wonder even when the Saint picked a fight, his expression was full of anticipation…

 

Let me teach him the finishing move first and then think about it.

 

***

 

Porter, do you know when porter and supply activities shine the brightest?

 

That would be during wartime.

 

What could be considered wartime in modern times?

 

Only Dungeon Break situations.

 

Ashin was the guild that took the lead in dispatching and supporting the Supply Team during both the 13th-floor Dungeon Break and the Tokyo Dungeon Break.

 

There were few guilds that could match them in patient treatment or supply distribution.

 

Though for such a reputation, only one person was dispatched…

 

“I came here excited about Mediterranean assignment duty, but it’s straight to work.”

 

Shin In-seon sighed as she spoke.

 

“The headquarters is busy, so it can’t be helped.”

 

While I was briefly away, a Dungeon Break had occurred in Korea, so support was currently being provided there.

 

“I came here but there’s no sign of Juyong either.”

 

Before I could answer, Shin In-seon came up with the answer herself.

 

“I guess he didn’t just come here to play around either.”

 

“I’ll send both of you on vacation after the competition ends.”

 

“With vacation pay too.”

 

“I’ll support you with vacation pay and an ultra-luxury package.”

 

“Make sure you keep that promise.”

 

Saying that, Shin In-seon pushed the Multi-purpose Cart.

 

While moving, Park Si-on carefully spoke up.

 

“I’m sorry for creating unnecessary work.”

 

At those words, Shin In-seon chuckled.

 

“Is it because you’re a Saint? You’re completely different from my Son. My Son never listened to his Mother at all.”

 

Shin In-seon patted Park Si-on’s head.

 

“Don’t worry about things like that.”

 

She moved her hands back to the steering wheel and added.

 

“Opportunities to legally work the Vice Guild Master to the bone don’t come often.”

 

I didn’t bother to add anything.

 

Because I could see sadness in her eyes as she looked at Park Si-on.

 

The slum we soon arrived at was already in an uproar.

 

“The Saint has come!”

 

“It’s a miracle! A miracle…”

 

People sobbing, people cheering.

 

The Saint had positioned herself in Slum Square, radiating Sacred Power as she healed the sick.

 

I glanced at Shin In-seon with the medical kit slung over her shoulder.

 

And at the numerous supplies in the multi-purpose cart’s trunk.

 

“Can we create miracles with these too?”

 

Shin In-seon smiled at my words.

 

“Of course.”

 

She pressed the accelerator of the multi-purpose cart and added.

 

“Miracles don’t necessarily have to be grand. At truly needed moments, even a single sip of water can be a miracle to someone.”

 

The multi-purpose cart made a soft humming sound as it passed through the plaza crying out for miracles and entered the slum.

 

***

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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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