Chapter 176 – An Unexpected Journey
A completely unexpected person became a competitor.
However, I couldn’t give up the Philosopher’s Stone, so I immediately asked for a higher price.
“45 million!”
Then the auction house starts to stir up.
Even though the initial price started at 30 million gold, the price rose by 50% in just two top bids.
But I’m not the only one who made up my mind, Glinda also immediately raised the price.
“Fifty million.”
Big… It comes out like that, right?
Gripping my teeth, I immediately caught up with her amount.
“55 million!”
“57.5 million.”
“60 million!”
The atmosphere of the auction house is becoming increasingly overheated.
Perhaps because of skyrocketing prices, others did not dare to intervene in the bidding.
However, Glinda raised the price once again as if it was not a big deal.
“62.5 million.”
Dorothea, who was watching from the side, said as if she was dumbfounded.
“You don’t seem to want to give up on that?”
Gabriel also said while stroking his chin as if he was interested.
“At this point, shouldn’t we try to finish it?”
Yours! Don’t just look at it like that, rather dry it!
“Patrasch-sama, don’t lose.”
Gyaaaaagh!
It feels like stepping into an abyss from which there is no way out.
But even coming here and running away was something like that, so I cried out with tears in my eyes.
“Seven thousand!”
I’d rather have one more top bid! It would have been a good fight honestly! I’m sorry too, but it’s too expensive, so I’ll give it up!
Why don’t we make it a draw?!
“7,000! 70,000,000 gold is out! Is there anyone else to call! 3! 2! 1!”
Please! Please! Please!
“Auction!”
Earth! Earth! Earth!
“You won in the end.”
“Patrasch, I didn’t know you were this big.”
“You’re welcome. Mr. Patrasche.”
Match! Match! Match! Match!
“Thank you.”
I said that while forcing a smile to the congratulatory applause pouring in from all sides.
Of course, I shed bloody tears inside.
‘How many bowls of rice soup are there for 70 million gold?’
No matter how much money you had, it was a waste.
***
The underground auction, which lasted about 5 hours, was over.
I unintentionally competed with Glinda and bought the Philosopher’s Stone, which I could have bought at a cheaper price, at a premium price, but it’s a profit because I bought something that I couldn’t buy with money.
… Benefit right?
“By the way, what are you going to use the Philosopher’s Stone that won the bid?”
On my way down to pay the bill at the front desk on the first floor, I turned my head and answered Dorothea’s question.
“To drive it into my staff. I’m bored because I don’t have anything right now.”
Saying that, he showed me the Orihalcon staff he was holding in his right hand.
Come to think of it, this is also a special order from Nidavellir.
Unlike the alloy gauntlet made by melting down the Stormbringer, the Ego Sword, it was made of 100% pure Orihalcon ingot, so it was hard enough to not get scratched even if it was hit directly by magic.
If you put the Philosopher’s Stone in here, it becomes a treasure that can be purchased with a cash head-butt.
Of course, there’s no way there’s going to be a crazy guy who swaps a stick and a fort, so it’s just a theory.
Eventually, we arrived on the first floor and met the dwarf named Daedalus we saw earlier.
“I came to pick up the winning bid.”
“Ah! You are Gabriel-sama’s company! Please wait a moment!”
He bowed respectfully and entered the room at the back of the front desk with quick steps.
And soon came out again.
“This is the Ancient Wind Magician who won the first bid.”
“Oh oh…”
I was unknowingly amazed by the splendid appearance of the Ancient Wind Magician coated with jewel powder.
When I bought it earlier, I thought it was a waste of money, but looking at it up close, I still feel that it is worth the money.
At this point, isn’t it almost a state of art?
After carefully receiving the 1.5 million gold cards, I realized that another successful bid, the Philosopher’s Stone, was nowhere to be seen.
“How about the Philosopher’s Stone?”
Then, a dwarf named Daedalus rubbed his hands together and said,
“Since the value of the item is so large, it is being stored in the valuables warehouse further back.
Daedalus, who was watching while saying that, asked sneakily.
“So how would you like to pay?”
“Ah, it was.”
I took my wallet out of my pocket.
Inside is full of checks drawn by continental central banks.
I picked two from there.
“Please pay in lump sum.”
“Yes. Thank you. By the way… What about the price for the Philosopher’s Stone?”
“I’ll check the stuff first and send it out.”
First of all, I bought it for a huge amount of 70 million gold, but I need to check whether it is genuine or fake.
“All right.”
Deidallos, who received the check with a nod of his head, walked away, saying he would be right back.
As we chatted while waiting for his return, a familiar face approached from afar.
“Glinda!”
When Dorothea recognized her first and waved her hand, she approached with light steps.
“What are you doing?”
She looked like she was okay with losing her auction.
“How did you get here? It’s quite far from your house in Nidavellir.”
“I asked a dragon I know and rode it.”
“Do you know dragons?”
“Because I’m on close terms with the dragon that lives near my house.”
“Hey- that’s interesting.”
By the way,
“Patrasch-nim, what purpose are you purchasing the Philosopher’s Stone for?”
“You mean that?”
I was taken aback by the unexpectedly turned arrow, but answered honestly.
“I was thinking of just putting it on a staff and using it. As you know, a philosopher’s stone is a magic catalyst that you can’t even hold out your business card.”
Every wizard has his own magic catalyst.
For example, if I’m a normal staff member, Master Baek Woo-seon, and Dorothea’s ruby shoes are magic catalysts.
There are many different shapes and sizes depending on taste, but if there is one thing in common, it is that they are made of objects with good mana conductivity.
In that sense, the Philosopher’s Stone, which was made entirely of magic from beginning to end, was an excellent catalyst.
And when Glinda saw the Orichalcon staff I was holding, she honestly expressed admiration.
“It must have been a formidable price for a wand made entirely of Orihalcon.”
“It was quite expensive.”
In fact, it was made with confiscated goods instead of overdue taxes, but let’s bury that uncomfortable truth.
“Anyway, if it’s for that kind of use, I think I can safely transfer it. There are so many people who want to misuse the Philosopher’s Stone.”
“What if it’s an exploit?”
“A typical example is the homunculus. Creating an artificial life form is like challenging a god.”
Homunculus.
It refers to an artificial life form called ‘Little Dwarf in a Flask’.
Unlike Chimera, which is made simply by fusing existing life forms, Homunculus literally creates life from scratch, so it was a heretical act banned by all religions on the continent.
Of course, I’ve never seen a case where it actually succeeded, so it was a creature that remained only as a legend.
I asked out of curiosity as a scholar.
“Are homunculus real?”
Then Glinda nodded her head with a faint smile on her lips.
“In the past.”
Quite a significant word.
I tried to ask her more about her homunculus, but her words were interrupted by Deidallos, who suddenly opened her door with an urgent expression on her face.
“Sorry! Customer! It looks like your winning bid was stolen!”
“Yes?”
At the news that I hadn’t thought of at all, I instantly put on a dumbfounded expression.
“Uh, so the items in the warehouse were stolen?”
“Yes!”
“…”
What? What is this complicated feeling?
I should be angry, but at the same time I think that money is solid, so I can’t get angry.
Rather, it wasn’t me who was taken aback by the news of the theft, but the defeated Glinda.
“Something was stolen? Where is the crime scene?”
“Yes? It’s a place where outsiders are not allowed to enter…”
Then Glinda pulled something out of her arms.
“I’m a mage belonging to the Ruby Tower. I’m sure I can be of some help.”
The identity of the object was a golden insignia that I also had.
Certainly, there is nothing as straightforward as that to prove one’s identity in a foreign country.
And, perhaps knowing the meaning of her golden insignia, Deidallos gasped, swallowed her breath, and opened her way to her.
“Then this way.”
Glinda stepped behind him, looking at me.
“Let’s go together.”
“Yes? Me?”
“Since you won the bid, shouldn’t you find it yourself?”
“No, it’s not that desperate… Big!”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”
I looked at Dorothea, who suddenly put his arm around my shoulder.
She said with her mouth.
‘You look interesting. Let’s follow.’
I saw it and let out a small sigh.
Oh my gosh
“Okay, let’s go. Go.”
I raised both hands and declared surrender, then calmly followed behind Daedalus and Glinda.
