You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 170
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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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170
“Is this Elena’s doing?”
I simultaneously released my ghostly energy.
The cold ghostly aura gradually invaded the plump candidate for sainthood’s mind.
The candidate for sainthood, his face pale as a sheet, trembled as he opened his mouth.
“The Saint—”
That was the moment.
The ground beneath the two candidates for sainthood glowed as patterns drawn with sacred power were carved.
I reflexively stepped back.
Immediately, both men’s bodies froze.
When I turned my head, as expected, the Saint was standing there.
‘She must be quite flustered.’
Enough for the heavy-bottomed Saint, who hadn’t even thought of leaving the plaza, to rush frantically into the slum.
Perhaps that’s why the atmosphere had completely changed.
This wasn’t the benevolent Saint who had been healing the poor just moments ago.
Then a hammer forged from sacred power fell from the sky.
It was violent sacred power, different in nature from what I had seen before.
It was worthy of being called divine punishment.
Bang—!
The hammer struck the two candidates for sainthood directly.
They couldn’t even scream once before fainting with their eyes rolled back.
The murmuring crowd instantly held their breath.
Taking advantage of that moment, the inspectors moved.
Without saying a word, they bound the two candidates for sainthood and led them away.
Only then did the Saint step forward.
Her hands were trembling.
Her eyes had become moist at some point.
“I… I failed to teach them properly.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes with a sobbing voice.
“It seems the two candidates crossed the line because their desire to help me got ahead of them.”
‘She’s putting on a show.’
I watched the Saint’s method acting with a dumbfounded expression.
She took control of the atmosphere by preemptively delivering excessive punishment before speaking.
Given the flow of events, there might have been room for suspicion,
but the problem was that the Saint was both the one who executed the punishment and the one asking for forgiveness.
She was the woman who had been showing miracles in the plaza below just moments ago.
And that performance worked quite well.
The arrow that had been aimed at the Saint Faction just moments ago had shifted to the two candidates for sainthood.
“Even if it was for the Saint’s sake, to do such a thing…”
“To tarnish the Saint’s reputation…”
“How heartbroken the Saint must be to punish her precious colleagues with her own hands.”
Even sympathetic public opinion toward the Saint emerged.
‘Now she’ll say she feels responsible and will provide support.’
“I also feel responsible for the actions of the candidates who were with me.”
‘She’ll never say she did anything wrong.’
“We will bear all the costs needed for treatment and restoration.”
The Saint looked at Park Si-on.
“I’ve heard that Candidate Park Si-on provided great help in this incident. We will also pay the corresponding costs for that.”
‘She’s saying she’ll share some money, so don’t cause unnecessary trouble.’
Could such thoughts have come from a 15-year-old’s head in this short time?
But the pure 15-year-old Park Si-on, fitting his age, opened his mouth.
The Saint probably threw out that empty promise thinking he would refuse.
“No. That’s—”
Before Park Si-on could finish speaking, I stepped forward.
‘If they’re offering, there’s no need to refuse.’
I smiled as I looked at the Saint.
“I also know that it’s not the Saint’s fault.”
The Saint flinched and turned her gaze toward me.
“But it’s also true that the two culprits were with the Saint.”
You didn’t do it directly, but they’re from your faction, aren’t they?
“We’ve already prevented the spread through preemptive measures on our end.”
I did everything, so don’t think you can freeload.
“You were focused on relief activities until just now, and you directly punished your cherished servants, so your heart must be greatly wounded.”
Stop talking nonsense and…
“Just provide the funding and go inside to rest. We’ll handle the finishing touches.”
Pay up and go inside to wash your feet and sleep.
“…”
I gazed at the Saint with a smile spread across my face.
For just a brief moment, cracks appeared in her poker face.
But soon she composed her expression and nodded.
“Thank you for your consideration. If you send me the bill, I’ll transfer it immediately.”
The Saint bowed her head slightly and turned around.
Probably to hide her annoyed expression.
‘First, I should start with billing for the S-grade artifact usage.’
Although Galmu is a weapon that far exceeds S-grade, what can I do?
S-grade is the highest weapon rating in the current era.
The Saint probably has no idea, does she?
That I gave her a discount on the cost.
‘I should take this opportunity to get the waterway and road maintenance done too.’
With the Saint’s money, of course.
The Saint probably thinks she’s secured her image to some extent,
but there’s still one more step left.
‘If you’re going to win, you have to win overwhelmingly.’
I naturally shifted my gaze to Shin In-seon’s vest.
The body camera that all Ashin Guild members carry around.
‘I should tell Jin-woo to do some marketing after a long time.’
***
The result of the second competition was clear.
It was Park Si-on’s victory by an overwhelming margin.
It was a natural result.
What was revealed on the body camera was practical help.
It wasn’t a miracle or anything like that.
They directly visited places that needed medical care, and Shin In-seon and Park Si-on continued the treatment.
They conversed with patients, fixed roofs, and repaired broken household items.
The video of me blowing away the waterway filled with garbage,
and the video of Shin In-seon entrusting me with roof repairs became highlights and made it to the trending list.
It was a sip of water, as Shin In-seon had said.
Those sips gathered together and eventually became a river.
The Saint’s miracle was impressive too, but Park Si-on’s miracle continued.
House repairs, drainage maintenance, work that changed the basic living environment.
Public opinion completely tilted toward Park Si-on.
He didn’t use plague-like tricks, nor did he harm his opponent.
No one criticized the Saint, but many were lost in thought after seeing Park Si-on’s actions.
Even the Saint probably didn’t expect this level of disparity.
Now only the third competition remained.
‘The fewest candidates have ever remained in the history of saint selection tournaments.’
Being stripped of Candidate for Sainthood qualifications was also an unprecedented case.
With both candidates from the Saint’s side completely eliminated, a one-on-one structure had been created.
So the Saint would move directly in this competition.
I was certain of it.
And the competition venue was also suitable for committing crimes.
The Vatican Catacombs labyrinth.
Passing through it to reach the chamber of the Holy Grail was the third competition.
***
This competition would be conducted privately.
This was because the competition venue was quite unusual.
Why there was a labyrinth beneath the Vatican was unknown.
According to rumors, it was a labyrinth where an S-rank monster was sealed…
In the Vatican Catacombs where all sorts of rumors circulated,
It wouldn’t be all that strange if there was another sealed S-rank boss monster or so.
Of course, if that were true, it would be a different story.
“Vice guild leader, if you have anything to give, please give it in advance.”
The divine immortal who had already handed over the angel of the lamp looked at me and spoke.
It seemed she was quite worried, probably because she had to navigate the maze alone.
But to think they’d even hand over the Angel of the Lamp…
If Park Si-on used it, it could produce powerful effects.
Moreover, if Park Si-on used it—
‘The Angel of the Lamp might reveal another form.’
It wasn’t an artifact that had been expensively won at Golden Fragrance for nothing.
I tied a purple silk wrapping cloth around Park Si-on’s waist.
One might wonder if it was just some worn-out wrapping cloth instead of giving him an artifact,
I can’t give you an artifact, but you might wonder if it’s just some worn-out wrapping cloth,
That was hardly an ordinary wrapping cloth.
“It will be helpful in dangerous moments.”
It was a safety measure.
Even so, it still wasn’t enough.
Is this how parents feel when they leave their child by the water’s edge?
Even though he had taught Park Si-on the seasonal techniques of the Meteor Spear, his worries did not disappear.
wouldn’t he need to reach at least the realm of the Divine Spear?
‘After the finals end, I’ll have to put him through even more intense personal training.’
At the same time, I drew a sword from my waist.
I handed Galmu, which had transformed into the form of a long spear, to Park Si-on.
“It will help you in dangerous moments.”
Park Si-on’s eyes widened.
“I’m lending it to you, so return it after the competition ends.”
Park Si-on nodded at my words.
With double safety measures in place, I felt somewhat relieved.
I watched Park Si-on enter the labyrinth for a moment, then turned around.
‘I need to get to work right away.’
Variables are always insufficient no matter how much you prepare for them.
***
***
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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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