You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 55

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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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55

 

 

 

“As expected of a king! I thought you were an extraordinary person from the very beginning!”

 

Faded white hair and a white beard reaching down to his waist,

A small goblin about 140cm tall wearing fine silk clothes.

That was the true form of Yamyeong, the leader of Sadangpae.

 

There was a dark blue bruise on his left eyelid…

 

“You don’t need to worry about that fool.”

 

Dolsoe snorted angrily.

 

Only after arriving in front of the Sadangpae building did Dolsoe realize I was missing.

 

The one who volunteered to step forward at that moment was this guy, Yamyeong.

 

Upon finding me, Yamyeong, who felt like playing a prank after a long time, shape-shifted into Dolsoe.

 

And with his abilities, he tried to test me, only to bring crisis upon himself.

 

To explain that bruise, we need to go back 5 minutes.

 

To that moment when he shouted, “Mister Kim! You can’t kill him! That guy is Yamyeong!”

 

Simultaneously with Dolsoe’s cry, Galmu’s blade stopped right in front of Yamyeong’s nose.

 

I slowly raised my head.

 

I reached out and withdrew the blue karmic fire that had been surrounding Yamyeong and me.

 

But perhaps because the abandoned factory was so old,

 

A bare pillar without even a roof couldn’t withstand the heat of the karmic fire and struck Yamyeong’s face hard.

 

If it had been an ordinary person, it would have been an unavoidable serious injury.

But Yamyeong was a goblin.

And quite a sturdy goblin at that.

 

“Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and guide us to headquarters!”

 

Dolsoe glared at Yamyeong through his hair and barked.

 

“Just like a commoner to be so impatient as always. I was going to do that even without you telling me.”

 

The two people, no, the two goblins walked ahead bickering with each other.

 

I was staring intently at Yamyeong’s appearance,

and no matter how I looked at it, he reminded me of the green dwarf from Star Wars.

 

‘I wonder if he turns into a silk wrapping cloth when he transforms?’

 

I followed behind the two while having such idle thoughts.

 

After walking for quite a while, an old tile-roofed house came into view.

 

“Your Majesty. This is Sadangpae headquarters.”

 

Yamyeong slowly opened the main gate.

 

Upon entering the gate, a completely different scene from what we saw outside unfolded.

 

Contrary to its exterior appearance, inside the gate were rows of modern wooden buildings,

and small goblins were busily running around between them carrying paper documents.

 

The goblins wore face masks and black robes,

and now the term ‘information organization’ finally felt somewhat real.

 

***

 

Following Yamyeong’s guidance, I entered his office.

 

As I took my seat, Yamyeong quickly brought out a teacup and stood quietly before me.

 

Then he respectfully clasped his hands together and bowed his head.

 

“Allow me to introduce myself once more. I am called Yamyeong, and I serve as the leader of Sadangpae.”

 

I quietly took a sip of the tea he offered.

 

It was high-quality brown rice green tea with a savory aroma.

 

Most importantly, it had a slightly sweet taste similar to what Team Leader Lee Woo-ram of Cheongram Trading Company had served, but this was a bit more luxurious.

 

Seeing such green tea made me chuckle softly.

 

‘Just like the head of an information organization.’

 

Though I didn’t yet know the details about Sadangpae, I was quite pleased with them.

 

My sixth sense was reacting, but even just the abilities Yamyeong had shown were more than enough to pass.

 

The technique he used when trying to play a prank on me.

 

A truth extraction technique without using any drugs – could there be anything more suitable for the head of an information organization?

 

Though I had taken it lightly, in that brief moment I too had spoken the truth.

 

‘To be precise, the expression “bewitched” would be more accurate…’

 

Even that was part of Yamyeong’s abilities.

 

I couldn’t tell his combat abilities, but if he was the head of an information organization capable of extracting important information without a trace… it would be right to invest in him.

 

“Is the tea to your liking?”

 

“Yeah, it’s good.”

 

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

 

Yamyeong filled the teacup.

 

“Originally, goblins don’t gather like this unless they’re family. They’re a tribe that lives according to their own whims, you see.”

 

“For that being the case, Dolsoe and you don’t seem like that?”

 

“Dolsoe? Ah!”

 

Yamyeong let out an exclamation as if he had instantly realized who this Dolsoe person was.

 

“Dolsoe, what a fitting name.”

 

Yamyeong giggled while looking at Dolsoe.

 

I just shrugged my shoulders.

 

Thinking back to our first meeting, we had called each other whatever names we felt comfortable with.

 

Dolsoe calling me Mister Kim even though I’m not a Kim, and me calling him Dolsoe because he looked like one – we were even.

 

“Anyway, do you know how these independent tribes came to gather together?”

 

He cautiously broached the subject.

 

When strong-willed individuals unite, there’s usually one reason.

 

When a leader emerges.

 

“Because someone to follow appeared.”

 

“Correct. It was because there was a Previous King. But that wasn’t everything.”

 

“Is there another reason?”

 

“Yes. Goblins generally cannot interfere with human society.”

 

“But Dolsoe and Ashin’s goblins seemed free?”

 

“That’s because of the King’s existence.”

 

“So you have restrictions on your actions?”

 

“The Sadangpae’s goblins could enter and leave the world through the Divine Artifact.”

 

As soon as the Divine Artifact was mentioned, Yamyeong’s expression darkened rapidly.

 

Through my conversation with Yamyeong, I could guess what the ‘problem’ Dolsoe had mentioned was.

 

“There’s a problem with the Divine Artifact.”

 

“Shamefully, yes.”

 

Yamyeong bowed his head.

 

“There was an intruder at the shrine that houses the Divine Artifact.”

 

“Was the Divine Artifact stolen?”

 

“No. The Divine Artifact is still properly enshrined in the shrine. No, ‘properly’ is the wrong expression. It’s been contaminated.”

 

“Contaminated…?”

 

“To contain the rampaging Divine Artifact, we currently have barriers set up around the shrine.”

 

If there was a problem with the Divine Artifact that lifted the goblins’ behavioral restrictions, it would indeed be a fatal blow to the Sadangpae who needed to travel nationwide to gather information.

 

But I had one question about Yamyeong’s words.

 

‘How did an intruder get in?’

 

This was Dokkaebi Territory.

Strange and eerie enough that even I could easily lose my way.

 

To infiltrate such a place, enter the shrine, contaminate the Divine Artifact, and slip away unnoticed?

 

‘Could I have done it?’

 

I shook my head.

 

Breaking in from the start and burning down the shrine itself might be possible, but quietly entering, contaminating only the Divine Artifact, and escaping was hard to imagine.

 

‘Well, maybe this worked out well?’

 

From the attitude Yamyeong had shown so far, it seemed he could lend his assistance.

 

Given Yamyeong’s attitude so far, it seemed like he would be willing to lend his strength.

But that wasn’t following me—it was closer to following me because I was the King.

 

If I couldn’t make him completely my person, it was better to keep him indebted to me.

 

But before that, I had to make sure of something.

 

“Yamyeong.”

 

“Yes, my King.”

 

“Will you follow me?”

 

“…”

 

Contrary to my expectations, Yamyeong’s answer didn’t come immediately.

 

He was actually hesitating to respond.

 

“Why? Don’t you like me?”

 

We hadn’t even known each other for half a day, so that reaction was strange.

 

‘Did I do something wrong?’

 

I retraced my steps, but there was nothing.

 

In the first place, what retainer would hesitate over a king’s proposal after just half a day…

 

Of course, I did get the throne for free from Bi Hyeong-rang.

And a few minutes ago, I almost split Yamyeong in half with Galmu.

But Yamyeong had provided the reason for hiding his identity, and above all, I only intended to scold him, not kill him.

 

‘Then why?’

 

“… If we cannot use the Divine Artifacts, Sadangpae will lose its role as an intelligence organization.”

 

Yamyeong hesitated for a long time before opening his mouth.

 

“I’m worried that we might rather become a burden to you, my King, in such a state.”

 

He raised his head and gave a bitter smile.

 

“I am sufficiently satisfied just having met the new King.”

 

For all that contemplation, it wasn’t much of a reason.

 

‘So it’s because of the contaminated Divine Artifacts?’

 

Like a thief with a guilty conscience, I had been retracing my entire day wondering what I’d done wrong.

 

“What? You’re worrying over something so trivial.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“You’re saying you’d give your liver and gallbladder and pledge loyalty if you just had Divine Artifacts?”

 

“Pardon? Well… that’s true…?”

 

“Really? Then that’s settled.”

 

I stood up from my seat.

 

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to guide me to the shrine?”

 

***

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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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