You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 69

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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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69

 

 

 

The place I arrived at following Hinata was a small mountain ridge behind the temple.

 

‘There’s a gift in a place like this?’

 

From the outside, it looked like an ordinary back mountain.

 

However, the entrance was a bit unusual.

 

Both sides were blocked by cliffs, and between them stretched a gorge-like path.

 

Moreover, the direction of the path was unique.

 

Instead of leading up toward the summit, the path continued downward.

 

The stone-built staircase was covered with moisture, and the air grew colder as we descended.

 

‘Is there a lake here?’

 

Structurally, it seemed like the entire mountain had the terrain of a massive basin.

 

With a lake in the center and mountains surrounding it.

 

While descending the staircase, Hinata continued her explanation.

 

“This is the path to the Sacred Realm.”

 

“Sacred Realm?”

 

“Yes, the gift I prepared is an Evening Primrose.”

 

Hinata took out an Evening Primrose from her bosom and showed it to me.

 

“Isn’t that the get-well gift I gave you?”

 

“That’s right. I don’t need it anymore, so I’m returning it to you, Merchant.”

 

“Isn’t that a bit too easy?”

 

I threw out a light joke.

 

“Of course it’s not just that. I’m going to bestow Tsukuyomi’s blessing directly upon you.”

 

Hinata smiled slightly and threw back an even bigger joke.

 

“That’s… a joke, right?”

 

If her words were true, that Evening Primrose would become a Divine Artifact-grade artifact.

 

Of course, since it was purchased from Golden Fragrance, it already possessed power rivaling a Divine Artifact.

 

But approaching a Divine Artifact and being a Divine Artifact were on different levels.

 

Divine Artifacts could cause miracles, after all.

 

“Of course not. Please think of it as repayment from me and my deity.”

 

Her disappearance for a week must have been to prepare for this blessing.

 

“What kind of power does a Divine Artifact have?”

 

“The original meaning of healing and well-being will become much stronger.”

 

The power of healing becomes stronger…

 

I hesitated for a moment before speaking.

 

“Then… can it cure magic stone disease too?”

 

Hinata’s expression hardened for a moment.

Then she soon shook her head.

 

“Unfortunately, that’s impossible. Even if Tsukuyomi’s Divine Artifact causes healing miracles, that’s limited to cases like incurable or terminal diseases. It cannot transcend the domain set by the gods.”

 

“I see…”

 

I had hoped for a moment, but nothing would change.

 

In the end, there was only one method.

 

‘Elixir.’

 

The legendary potion that only Golden Fragrance’s highest-grade members could obtain.

 

The only means to cure Mother’s illness.

 

At that moment, my goal became clear again.

 

It seemed like we had walked quite far, but there was still a long way to go.

 

‘I’ve already come this far.’

 

Now I just need to walk as far as I’ve already come.

 

I became S-rank, rose to the ranks of demigods, and formed countless connections.

 

But my ultimate goal hadn’t changed yet, and I was still walking toward that destination.

 

‘Just hang in there a little longer.’

 

In the meantime, we had reached the end of the staircase.

 

‘It really was a lake after all.’

 

What spread out before my eyes was a massive lake.

 

Though the night was deep, the lake’s waves shimmering under the moonlight created a dreamlike atmosphere.

 

I raised my head to look at Hinata.

 

Hinata handed me the evening primrose.

 

“Do I have to receive the blessing too?”

 

“It would be more effective if you received it directly rather than me, Merchant.”

 

As she said this, Hinata pointed toward the center of the lake.

 

“The Essence of Moonlight is over there. If you place the flower there, it will be complete.”

 

I took the evening primrose from Hinata’s hand.

 

Silver dew rolled down from the tip of the cold petals.

 

The center of the lake, where moonlight poured down.

That was the destination.

 

The moment I stepped into the lake, a familiar sensation washed over me.

 

The sensation of the ground giving way beneath me and being sucked in.

 

“Another mental world…”

 

The world flickered on and off like a light, and my surroundings became distorted.

 

My consciousness scattered and faded, then returned as if being pulled back.

 

***

 

When my vision returned, I was standing in the middle of the lake.

 

No, to be precise, I was riding in a small boat floating on the lake.

 

In the center of the lake I had been looking at, a small island had appeared.

 

Above it, colonies of evening primroses bloomed endlessly, and a silver moon hung in the sky above them.

 

‘Was the moon always that big?’

 

The moon was so enormous it seemed almost close enough to touch the ground.

 

“I didn’t know I’d have to row an oar too.”

 

I grumbled as I picked up the oar.

 

The boat quietly cut through the waves.

 

The cool air and tranquil water surface put my mind at ease.

 

I slowly made my way toward the center along that path.

 

The closer I got to the island, the stronger the flower fragrance became.

 

In the center, a silvery-white crystal-like formation was slowly floating up.

 

‘That must be… the Essence of Moonlight.’

 

I reached out my hand to grasp the essence.

 

At that moment—

 

Grrrrrowl—.

 

A low, deep growl from behind struck my ears.

 

I slowly turned my head.

 

A white wolf stood on the lake, bathed in moonlight.

 

Silver light flowed from every strand of its fur, and its eyes gleamed coldly.

 

Its massive body pressed down on the water surface, and ripples spread out with each breath.

 

‘…Another wolf?’

 

A brief word escaped from my mouth.

 

“I seem to have a lot of connections with wolves lately.”

 

Instead of answering, the wolf slowly bared its fangs.

 

The air above the lake froze cold.

 

The wolf opened its mouth and growled low.

 

“If there’s a guardian, they could at least give me a heads up…”

 

I grumbled as I drew out Galmu.

 

The aura of that wolf, which appeared to be a guardian, was extraordinary.

 

Similar to Carmen’s Fenrir, or perhaps even stronger.

 

Well, there was no way they would leave the Sacred Realm completely empty without any guardians.

 

I raised Galmu diagonally and ignited Karmic Fire beneath my feet.

“Wolf… this is bad news for you…”

 

I leaped straight into the lake.

 

“I rested too well and my condition is too good, so don’t resent me.”

 

I raised Galmu diagonally and ignited Karmic Fire beneath my feet.

 

***

 

Whoosh—!

 

Flames flowed across the lake surface, temporarily evaporating the water.

 

In an instant, the wolf’s massive body dove into the water.

 

“A diving wolf is a first for me.”

 

I expanded my Ki Sense with an incredulous expression.

 

And from beneath the lake, a massive presence rushed toward me at high speed.

 

I unleashed Karmic Fire and quickly moved backward.

 

A huge splash erupted as the wolf’s claws sharply tore through the water surface.

 

I twisted my body and deflected it with Galmu.

 

A sharp impact traveled up my arm.

 

“Fast.”

 

Before I could even attempt an attack, the wolf dove back into the water.

 

And it was smart too.

 

Realizing that a frontal assault was disadvantageous, it continued with hit-and-run surprise attacks.

 

Only ripples remained on the water surface where the wolf had entered.

 

A moment of silence passed.

 

I continued expanding my Ki Sense, keeping watch over the lake below.

 

Right side. Left side.

 

‘Is it possible to move at such speed underwater?’

 

The wolf’s presence was detected intermittently underwater, as if it were teleporting.

 

Then—

 

‘Behind.’

 

Bang!

 

The water surface exploded as the wolf’s fangs flew toward my side.

 

I detonated Karmic Fire beneath my feet and bounced upward with the recoil.

 

Water spray that shot up from the lake scattered like mist.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Swish—!

 

The wolf’s form sharply emerged from among the water droplets floating in the air.

 

‘…From the water droplets?’

 

I exploded Karmic Fire from my toes, twisted my body, and barely managed to raise Galmu.

 

Bang!

 

Galmu and the fangs clashed, sending sparks flying.

 

Shhhhhhhh.

 

The water that had risen into the air fell like heavy rain, creating ripples on the lake surface.

 

The wolf disappeared again, diving into the water.

 

I had thought it was moving through the water as fast as teleportation, but I was mistaken.

 

“An ability to teleport using water as a medium.”

 

Choosing the lake as the battlefield to avoid damaging the evening primrose colony had been a mistake.

 

There couldn’t have been a more advantageous battlefield for that wolf.

 

Not only the lake, but even the water droplets in the air were becoming mediums for the wolf’s surprise attacks.

 

‘Tch, I was trying to subdue it moderately.’

 

Since it was a guardian of the Sacred Realm, I had no intention of seriously injuring it.

 

But with that kind of ability, trying to subdue it carelessly could actually cause problems.

 

‘Can’t be helped.’

 

I descended diagonally toward Galmu and recalled my Karmic Fire.

 

I closed my eyes, extended my senses, and quietly waited for the right moment.

 

The moment it came back up to the surface—that would be my chance.

 

Then I felt a presence rapidly approaching from beneath my feet.

 

The moment it burst out of the water, I slightly shifted my body to dodge the attack.

 

And then I placed my palm directly on its neck.

 

‘Frost Fire.’

 

The water droplets scattering around my body instantly froze.

 

When the frost that began on my skin touched the wolf,

 

Crack—!

 

The entire lake, including the wolf, froze solid.

 

I raised Galmu high and brought it down toward the wolf’s nape.

 

***

 

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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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