You Have Been Invited to the Auction House of the Gods - Chapter 70

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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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70

 

 

 

Thud—!

 

Galmu struck down precisely toward the wolf’s nape.

 

…It almost did.

 

The blade tip slightly veered off course, grazing the side of the frozen wolf’s nape.

 

“Tsk…”

 

The frozen wolf’s eyes stared straight at me.

 

Even knowing it was no match for me, it didn’t yield.

 

Killing the wolf would solve this easily.

 

No, that’s just how it seemed.

 

What meaning would there be in a Miracle of Healing obtained by taking a life?

 

‘What’s so special about Essence of Moonlight…’

 

I sheathed Galmu and dispelled the Frost Fire.

 

The Frozen Lake gradually cracked and created ripples.

 

I slowly walked toward the Island.

 

The wolf breathed roughly, crawling out to block my path.

 

Its body had only recently thawed, so extreme fatigue must have accumulated in its muscles, yet it still managed to move.

 

“Fine. I won’t eat it because it’s dirty, you bastard.”

 

I grumbled irritably and plopped down on the Dock.

 

‘Did they say the Exit opens when the sun rises?’

 

It seemed I’d have to stay here until sunrise.

 

I turned on my Smartphone and accessed Golden Township.

 

Looking over my Smartphone, the wolf was lying on the Floor.

 

Even then, its eyes were still watching me.

 

‘Persistent. So persistent.’

 

I shook my head and turned my gaze to the Smartphone screen.

 

Not killing the wolf wasn’t just because of sentiment.

 

Even obtaining a Miracle of Healing wouldn’t cure magic stone disease,

and items of that level could be obtained plenty from Golden Township.

 

Moreover, I judged that killing the wolf would unnecessarily earn Tsukuyomi’s resentment.

 

Killing an innocent animal just to make one Divine Artifact felt quite distasteful too.

 

From the wolf’s perspective, I was the Intruder.

 

I sighed and browsed Golden Township.

 

‘I should drink something.’

 

Normally I would have bought Bacchus, a Recovery Medicine that tastes like wine, but right now I craved alcohol.

 

A subtle fragrance flowed from the Blooming Flower Field, and the moonlit Lake was like the Full Moon Dock.

 

It would be rude not to drink alcohol in such a dreamlike scenery where immortals might enjoy their leisure.

 

And I’d always been curious.

What would alcohol brewed by gods taste like?

 

I immediately selected alcohol that appeared as a related product to Bacchus.

 

It was Armagnac, a brandy made from grapes.

 

When I paid the immediate purchase price without bidding, Armagnac in a fairly large glass bottle appeared.

 

Along with it, a thick Paper bag also appeared,

 

[Thank you for always using our products.]

 

Inside the bag was a brief Message along with a thick piece of ham vacuum-packed.

 

It seemed they gave me snacks as a service for being a regular customer.

 

A chuckle escaped me.

 

A deity who even provides service.

 

I tore open the ham packaging and cut off a piece.

 

I poured Armagnac into a glass.

 

There was a faint grape aroma, but that was all.

 

But the moment I swallowed a sip,

 

“…!”

 

The flavor exploded and spread through my mouth and nose.

 

The sweet taste of grapes and the concentrated aroma from deep aging refreshed my mind.

 

The ham also boasted perfect pairing.

 

Just as I was about to refill my glass and bring it to my lips, the wolf beside me sniffed and raised its head.

 

“…Do you want some too?”

 

I cut off a large piece of ham and threw it to him.

 

The wolf caught it with his fangs, then lowered his head and began chewing it with crunching sounds.

 

At that sight, laughter escaped me without realizing it.

 

The creature had already finished eating and approached with a flat bowl in his mouth.

 

His eyes clearly showed exactly what he wanted.

 

“…What kind of wolf are you, you shameless thing.”

 

I uncorked the Armagnac bottle and poured it directly into his bowl.

 

Under the moonlight, with alcohol and the wolf, my worries melted away smoothly in this scene.

 

As the wolf licked his bowl and drank the alcohol, his silver eyes became faintly unfocused.

 

“…You’re not going to get drunk, are you?”

 

I muttered while refilling my glass.

 

Perhaps because it was alcohol brewed directly by the gods, it wasn’t just about taste.

 

With each sip I swallowed, the tension in my body relaxed, and even the depths of my mind seemed to clear.

 

The wolf exhaled softly beside me.

 

Even that presence felt peaceful, as if it had become a side dish for the moment.

 

***

 

“Is it about time?”

 

The moonlight was gradually growing dim.

 

I stood up from my seat.

 

Looking to the side, the wolf seemed drunk and had his eyes closed.

 

My gaze turned toward the Essence of Moonlight.

I could easily take it now.

 

It might sound ungrateful, but I wasn’t that desperate.

 

As long as I had Golden Incense, it wasn’t really something that would catch my eye.

 

If it could cure magic stone disease, that would be a different story, but…

 

I quietly moved onto the carved boat so as not to wake the wolf.

 

And the moment I boarded the carved boat,

 

“Again…?”

 

I felt myself being sucked somewhere once more.

 

After the sensation of being turned upside down, I opened my eyes to find myself in a Japanese Tatami Room.

 

It was a place very similar to Hinata’s Mental World.

 

The subtle fragrance of tea was spreading over the tatami.

 

Across the table sat a woman with long white hair and dazzlingly pale skin, possessing an androgynous beauty.

 

Her eyes were cold yet clear like moonlight.

 

“Hello?”

 

From her softly flowing voice, I could instinctively tell who she was.

 

“…Tsukuyomi.”

 

She smiled and tilted her head.

 

“That’s right. I just wanted to see you once, so I called you here.”

 

“Just…you say?”

 

“Well, I also wanted to give you a reward for helping Hinata.”

 

As she moved her fingertips, the evening primrose placed on the table began to glow silver.

 

Moonlight seeped into each petal, carving patterns into them.

 

“Four uses. The embedded ability is… it’s bothersome, so register it with Golden Fragrance and find out.”

 

I flinched at the words “Golden Fragrance” that came from her mouth.

 

Was she just testing me?

Yet she was certain that was the case.

How do you know that I’m a member of Hwanggeumhyang?

Is it something only a god could know?

Countless thoughts raced through my mind.

“How long are you going to stand there? Sit down.”

She smiled and offered her seat.

I slowly sat down while keeping my gaze fixed on her.

“How did you know I could use the Golden Fragrance?”

“You’re the hottest seller in Hwanggeumhyang. There’s no way I wouldn’t know someone like that, right? Isn’t that so, Mr. Nameless?”

It was certain.

She knew that I was human and that I was a member of Golden Scent.

“What are you planning to do?”

“What? You?”

Tsukuyomi burst into laughter as if finding it absurd.

“Heh heh heh. I have no reason to harm such an interesting human merchant.”

Tsukuyomi poured tea and handed it to me.

“I’m quite a fan of your products myself.”

Her gaze slowly swept across my face.

“Still, I never thought you’d actually be human. I naturally assumed you were at least a god doing business anonymously, or at minimum an apostle.”

“…Were you disappointed that I’m human?”

“No, it’s actually more interesting. It’s not every day that a human enters the realm of the gods.”

Tsukuyomi poured tea and looked at me for a moment, then suddenly brought up a different topic.

“Aren’t you curious? What would have happened if you had killed Shiratsuki?”

‘Was that wolf’s name Shiratsuki?’

Killing the wolf would have been entirely possible.

 

“I would have obtained the Blessed Evening Primrose.”

 

“That’s right. Killing Shiratsuki could also be considered a trial.”

 

Tsukuyomi smiled menacingly as she lifted her tea.

 

“But at the same time, you would have earned my hatred. You would have been trapped in eons of punishment, neither dead nor alive. Can you imagine what kind of agony that would be?”

 

A chill ran down my spine.

 

“Even if I went back to that moment, I wouldn’t think of killing the wolf.”

 

This was sincere.

Rather than because I knew the outcome, I simply didn’t want to commit meaningless killing.

 

“That’s right. I quite liked the answer you chose. Hehehe, who would have thought you’d become drinking buddies with Shiratsuki.”

 

At that moment, light spread beyond the window.

 

The moon hanging in the darkness gradually grew faint, and dawn light was seeping in instead.

 

“Is it time to wake up?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Tsukuyomi slowly rose to her feet.

 

I also stood up from my seat, following her lead.

 

“How did you figure out I was Nobody?”

 

“I could smell it.”

 

“Smell?”

 

“The yellow scent that clung to you from Golden Fragrance. The traces of gold on your body gave off a strong fragrance.”

 

I got an answer, but it was completely incomprehensible content.

 

Then she quickly approached until she was right in front of me.

 

She was close enough that I could feel her breath.

 

“So you should try to hide it a little when you go around.”

“So keep it hidden, little by little.”

 

As she said this, she pointed at the evening primrose clutched in my hand.

 

“Not all gods welcome human sellers like me or Forge That Tempers Fire.”

 

“Be careful.”

 

“Well then, see you later, Nobody.”

 

She said this while pushing my shoulder.

 

As the strength drained from my body, I slowly flew toward midair as if pushed in outer space.

 

“Oh, and I’m using the moisturizing packs you put up well. I heard there’s a new product this time—when will you put that up?”

 

“What do you mean…”

 

At the sudden talk about packs, I looked at her with a bewildered expression.

 

Then one particular epithet immediately came to mind.

 

The epithet of a certain goddess who had been steadily using my products since Golden Fragrance’s early days, just like Forge That Tempers Fire.

 

Moon Shooting Silver Arrows.

 

“You couldn’t be…”

 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear her answer.

 

***

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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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