Just like last time, we were each handed a suspicious-looking mask and guided to our seats.
Aina and Renge sat on either side of me, and since the soundproof curtain between us had been lowered, the three of us could freely talk.
「Uhehe. Aina, that looks way too good on youssu!」
「R-really? Am I supposed to be happy about that…?」
「It’s true though… Even with the mask on, you can still tell you’re beautiful. That’s impressive」
「Th-thank you… my liege, you… um…」
You don’t have to force yourself to compliment me.
With a Japanese face, it’s only natural that the mask doesn’t suit me.
We passed the time with some small talk until the vice-captain appeared on stage, also wearing a mask.
Looking closely, I noticed the necklace hanging around her neck, it was the accessory I made and gave to Iris, the one with amplification effects.
『LADIEEEES AAAAAAAND GENTLEMEEEEEEEEN! Thank you all for waiting so looooooooong! From this moment, the AUCTION BEGIIIIIIIIINS!』
The opening words were exactly the same as last time.
She was still putting her body on the line.
But with the accessory’s help, maybe the strain was lighter now?
Then again, I’d just seen Teresa land a solid blow to her stomach earlier, leaving her writhing in pain. She’s already recovered?
Anyway, as with last time, after explaining the rules, the first items were introduced.
Slaves, jewels, weapons, one after another. Huge sums of money were being traded in a single night. The Church must be grinning, since they take a ten percent cut.
「Master, wasn’t that sheep-girl cute just nowssu?」
「Yeah. She acted cheerful… but still, 28 million Nohl was cheaper than I expected」
The girl with fluffy white hair and curled horns like a sheep smiled brightly and waved at the audience, striking poses in an outfit barely covering more than a swimsuit.
But in the end, her price only reached 28 million before being sold.
「Last time, most of the slaves had this aura of despair around them, but there are girls like her too…」
「I think, if they don’t sell tonight, they’re told they’ll end up in the underground slave market. That’s probably what’s going onssu」
「Then she must have wanted to be bought by a wealthier family. If she caught someone’s eye, she could hope to rise in status. That’s probably why she was aiming for a rich master」
Yeah, that made sense. She really did have that kind of look.
Every time the bid rose, I caught the corner of her smile twitch upward unnaturally.
「Also, rich households don’t treat slaves too badlyssu. Better meals… and fewer nights in bed, toossu」
「I can understand the food part, but… fewer nights in bed?」
「Rich men keep a whole flock of beauties aroundssu. Sure, at first the new girl might get used a lot, but they get bored quickly. That’s probably a more accurate way to put itssu」
Ah, I see.
Even if they have the money, nobles can’t just stroll into a brothel, but if they’re lustful, they can buy slaves instead… that’s how it works.
「Master, didn’t you feel like buying that girl?」
「Well… my goal this time is the half-elf. I’m not wasting money on anything else」
Badass pose!
Perfectly done…Though no one’s watching.
Jokes aside, I need to make sure I secure that half-elf girl first.
If possible, I’ll think about buying other things only after she’s mine. Until then, I’ll restrain myself… unless something truly exceptional comes up.
『Now, for the next item! A specialty from the neighboring Empire! This luxury sweet has yet to even reach the royal capital! Black! Slightly bitter! But sweet and delicious! One taste of this cauldron full of “Chocwo” will have you hooked! Bidding starts at 3 million Nohl! The unit is 100,000 Nohl!』
「Wha…！」
My chair scraped loudly as I almost jumped to my feet.
Standing during the auction was against the rules, but I wanted nothing more than to get a closer look inside that cauldron.
「My liege?」
「What’s wrong, master?」
「No… well…」
「You want that, don’t you?」
Yes, but after putting on that cool face earlier about not wasting money, it was hard to admit.
And three million Nohl for chocolate… I could easily afford it, but back in my old world, that price would’ve been unthinkable.
Still, I wanted it so badly.
Because that was unmistakably chocolate.
Ah, the nostalgic taste of my old world’s chocolate…
『Now then, bidder 23 at four million, bidder 82 at four and a half million!』
Chocolate always brought Valentine’s Day to mind, but what surfaced instead was a memory from the office.
I’d been working overtime that day too.
The older woman at work handed us each a tiny chocolate.
We weren’t healed by its sweetness, no, it was so bitter it jolted us awake, as if to say ‘stop slacking off’.
No, no, no! I refuse to let that be my final memory of chocolate! I have to overwrite it…!
「My liege. If you want it that badly, there’s no need to hold back」
「Yeah, you’re making the same face you did at the hot springsssu」
What kind of face is that supposed to be…?
But they were right. I wanted it about as badly as the hot springs.
『Anyone else? No? Then sold to bidder 82 for 4.5 million Nohl!』
「See? If you don’t jump in now, it’s overssu」
「We’ll smooth things over with Wendy later」
「…Sorry. I’ll take you up on that」
I raised my hand toward the vice-captain, spreading all five fingers.
『We have bidder 77 offering five million Nohl! Do we have any other bids!?』
After a brief silence, the vice-captain drew in a deep breath. And then…
『Bidder 77 wins at five million Nohl!』
I couldn’t hear it, but surely the hall was filled with applause.
Sinking back into my chair, I let out a long breath.
「Congratulations」
「Congratsssu! You look really happy right nowssu」
「Yeah, thanks」
An indescribable satisfaction welled up inside me…
Chocolate. I was finally going to eat chocolate.
「Are you planning to make something with it?」
「Yeah. Something absolutely delicious」
Ice cream, parfaits, cakes, crepes, cookies, chocolate worked with anything.
I was already lost in thought, wondering what I should make first.
「If that’s the case, even Wendy will be convinced. And… may I look forward to it as well?」
「Of course. I’ll share it with everyone」
「Yay! That’s awesomessu！」
Renge raised her hand in excitement, but since the next item was already being introduced, I hoped the auctioneer wouldn’t mistake it as a bid.
Not that it mattered, I wasn’t the least bit interested in some ancient relic dug up from a ruin.
『Now, let’s move on to the next item! …Yes, it’s the half-elf girl!』
「Finally here…」
「Yeah……」
「Hm? Something seems… off about her」
The half-elf that was brought out didn’t walk on her own.
A hooded, burly man supported her as she dragged her feet slowly across the stage.
「This… isn’t anything like before…」
The last time we saw her, she glared at us with eyes full of hatred.
Her platinum-blonde hair had gleamed, making her a beauty to behold.
But now there was no trace of vitality, no spark of defiance, only exhaustion.
『She has yet to establish her “One-for-Life” vow… but as you can see, she is gravely weakened』
「One-for-Life?」
「That’s what they call the only partner a half-elf will give themselves to in their entire life. It’s said to be a bond so strong that it cancels even their resistance skillsssu」
「She must not have given that bond to her former master… That’s why her eyes look so dead now. Likely, she was locked away and given only the bare minimum of food」
「That explains it…」
Looking closely, her entire body was thin, too thin.
Not just lacking in fat, but even the muscle needed to sustain herself was gone.
She was so gaunt it was painful to look at, probably suffering from malnutrition.
『…Bidding will start at two million Nohl, with increments of one hundred thousand. Now, let the auction begin!』
The vice-captain’s opening call carried an obvious edge of anger.
I immediately raised my hand, showing five fingers.
『Bidder 77 at 2.5 million! Bidder 2 immediately raises to 3 million!』
「So there’s someone else trying to buy her…」
「It’s ugly to say, but there are always those who think they can take advantage when someone’s spirit is that brokenssu」
「Still, nobles rarely want half-elves in their households…」
「Which means the bidder is probably not a noble…」
I raised my hand again without hesitation, pushing the price higher.
I had no intention of lowering my hand or backing down.
I would keep bidding until I secured her.
『Bidder 77 at 3.5 million! Bidder 2 counters with 3.8 million! Ohh, bidder 77 goes straight to 4.3 million!』
「Master…?」
「Yeah. I’ll bid her regardless of the cost」
「Understood. We won’t try to stop you」
Not that I’d stop even if they tried.
Don’t even think about it.
『Bidder 2 at 4.5 million! Ohh, bidder 77 answers instantly with five million!』
My eyes met the vice-captain’s. She gave me a small smile.
I understood. I nodded back, as if to say it was fine.
『Five million! Any other bids? Anyone else? Oh! Bidder 2 at 5.5 million! Back in the game! But bidder 77 surges ahead with six million!』
Whoever bidder 2 was, it was clear now they had no intention of yielding.
That was fine. I’d take them on as long as it took.
『Now bidder 35 joins with 6.5 million! But bidder 77 does not relent! Seven million Nohl! Any more? Is that all!? Then the winner is bidder 77!』
Unlike before, I couldn’t relax even though I had won.
The goal was achieved… but looking at how far she had been pushed, could I really fulfill the promise I made to Freed?
She must hate humans deeply.
First, her physical recovery was the top priority.
But after that… what then…
「Master, you just need to be yourselfssu」
「Ah. If you remain the liege we know, everything will be fine」
Sensing my unease, Renge and Aina gently hugged me from either side.
I was grateful, but after that I had no will to take part in the rest of the auction.
I spent the remainder of it lost in thought until the end.
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