Commonly known as.
The German Calamity 24 years ago was, in fact, one of the worst of the Seven Great Calamities, immune to Divine Throne skills, weapons, and everything else.
Of course, no matter how much the world raved about the Seven Great Calamities, calling them legends, the one who actually dealt with them, Igeon, barely remembered it.
“I still remember. Was I ten? They said on live broadcast all over that Igeon hadn’t emerged from the enemy’s lair for a full fortnight, that everyone thought he was dead.”
“Ah.”
At those words, Igeon’s memory clearly resurfaced.
‘So that was when I caught that bastard.’
He’d just barely finished off the Calamity and came out, only to be met with a funeral dirge being sung in chorus, so he’d gone and battered the reporters. The sight of him hurling monster corpses, asking if they were holding a death ritual for him, had spread live and caused an uproar, but that was none of his concern.
What was certain was that it had been a troublesome beast.
So much so that even he had almost given up on catching it.
Of course, as the auctioneer explained, it was true that he’d taken that thing down with this item...
“Good heavens, to think that thing I only ever saw in textbooks is appearing. Whoa, insane, insa—... Seongjae-nim?”
“We’re holding out no matter what! I’m betting my entire fortune!”
“…….”
Cheon Seongjae had completely lost his mind.
Which was why he said what he did.
‘I don’t get why they’re cheering over that thing.’
Yet even the Holy Leader of the Gemini Order was grinding his teeth, as if he’d never expected that item to appear.
“I can’t just hand that over to the Leo Order, no matter what.”
At that, Igeon let out a scoff.
“Why? Didn’t you say that you’d wag your tail and hand over every holy relic to the Leo Order?”
Holy Leader Choi felt a surge of indignation but held it in.
“Among all the items, there are some that must be obtained no matter what.”
“Is that so?”
“They’re the ones called the Eight Great Artifacts...”
“Even the Eight Great Artifacts, no less.”
At that sly, needling tone, Holy Leader Choi’s brow twitched.
“...You might not know well since you weren’t even born then, but during that German Calamity, all the Saints were on the verge of being trapped and killed. But Igeon, who everyone thought would die trapped in Germany, unexpectedly eradicated it and came back. With just that one item.”
Unable to listen any longer, the owner of the item finally spoke up.
“That’s not a weapon.”
Even by the look of it, wasn’t it far from a weapon?
“Well, it looks like a stick, but it is indeed a weapon. Expert appraisers around the world have assessed it to likely be a blunt-force weapon.”
Blunt-force, my foot—it was just a bone.
“Anyway, the speculation is that he caught that dreadful beast with it.”
He hadn’t caught it; he’d tamed it with that thing.
Since it was a canine-type monster.
“Those stains are said to be the blood of that legendary beast.”
They couldn’t bring themselves to say it was monster dung.
Whatever the case, it was fine by him.
‘Was that what the appraiser meant?’
There were two items of his that the SS-rank appraiser had mentioned.
One was the item he was after, and the other was a blunt weapon—appraised by another—that would appear as the highlight of the auction.
Of course, he didn’t recall anything A-rank or higher ever coming out among blunt weapons, so he hadn’t been particularly keen on it.
And hadn’t the appraiser clearly stated:
‘Since the blunt weapon originally belonged to Igeon-nim, the consignor said the proceeds would be donated under Igeon-nim’s name.’
It was undoubtedly that donation fund of his, now managed by the government.
‘Did they say it was under my account, or what?’
So he’d thought it would benefit him no matter who won the bid...
[Now, let’s ride this momentum and begin! The starting price is a whopping 100,000 dollars!]
“500,000!”
“1 million!”
“5 million!”
“10 milliooon!”
The price skyrocketed in an instant, to the point the starting price became meaningless.
What’s more, something astonishing happened.
[An item created with your magical power is being revered]
[Fame influences creation apart from Divine Throne skills]
[The prestige of Ophiuchus rises]
[Divine Throne experience rises]
[Since you are not a Saint, experience is gained at 1% per increment]
At that voice, Igeon’s eyes sparkled.
He’d come to win back his item and strip the Leo Order’s hide, and now this windfall.
But the price war was just beginning. Amidst the crowd’s shouts, the numbers climbed endlessly.
“13 million!”
“15 million!”
“20 million!”
“30 million!”
There was no pause whatsoever in the soaring price. It was a truly bloody competition.
On top of that, the number of people inside the auction house exceeded ten thousand.
Waaaaaaah!
A tremendous roar resounded.
[Divine Throne experience rises]
[Divine Throne experience rises]
[Divine Throne experience rises]
That wasn’t all.
“Wh—wait, how many Holy Leaders are there!”
The bodyguard, who’d been scanning the surroundings, flinched next to Igeon.
“The Virgo Order’s Korean and European Holy Leaders, Taurus... Capricorn, Cancer... Whoa, even those lazy Pisces Holy Leaders are here! What is this, an all-star game or something...!”
At those words, Cheon Seongjae’s mouth fell open and he quietly put down his bidding paddle.
Already feeling overwhelmed.
Every Holy Leader was at least S-rank. Even more, all of them were star-class.
And they never gathered in one place under normal circumstances.
They were exceedingly rare personages who only showed their faces for Saint-level matters, official events, or Red Zone incidents.
‘And certainly not for a mere auction.’
Sending subordinates was the norm. Even when rare S-rank holy relics came up for auction.
So much so that when a rare S-rank holy relic had appeared once, they’d treated it like a stone on the roadside.
Yet those very same ones had come in person?
This was absolutely no place for a mere A-rank to butt in.
“30 million!”
“35 million!”
“40 million!”
Moreover, these weren’t minor orders but world-famous, directly-managed powerhouses.
As they shouted themselves hoarse, piling on the price, Holy Leader Choi clicked his tongue.
“Those pathetic bastards.”
The bodyguard and Cheon Seongjae understood their superior’s reaction.
After all, those were the very ones who normally scorned Igeon.
One moment they sneer and belittle, and the next they’re practically setting their eyes ablaze lunging for his item.
“Right. No matter how much it’s one of Igeon’s Eight Great Artifacts, that’s just...”
“100 million!”
“?!”
At Holy Leader Choi’s shout, the bodyguard and Cheon Seongjae gaped.
The Gemini Order had finally jumped into the fray.
[100 million! In the blink of an eye, we’ve reached 100 million dollars!]
At the price that had skyrocketed in an instant, the other Holy Leaders ground their teeth. And a volley of sharp stares was a bonus.
The competition instantly turned into a battle among Holy Leaders.
“110 million!”
“120 million!”
“150 million!”
It wouldn’t have been strange if there were pauses between price jumps, but voices burst out from all directions with no concern for that.
And each time, the digits on the front display updated.
[320 million!]
At the sum that had ballooned in a flash, the bodyguard grimaced.
Even more astonishing was that this whole process had happened in under two minutes.
‘This isn’t some ticket-booking site.’
[Yes, truly amazing! Thus the long-standing record of the Great Auction House of Drachma is shattered!]
Boom boom boom!
The auction house shook heavily. It was nothing short of a festival ground.
Of course, while the price shot up like mad, the owner of the item only scratched the back of his head.
Still, it felt good.
The appraisal was favorable, he was gaining experience, and free money was piling up—it was a sweet deal for him—but 300 million dollars.
‘Guys... that’s just a dog bone.’
He didn’t know why they mistook it for a weapon, but it really was junk with no special ability whatsoever.
The beast in Germany back then had been, figuratively speaking, in an invincible state.
It was as big as a whole house, a creature blind like a shaggy dog, yet incredibly strong.
And to top it off, he’d been trapped inside.
He’d nearly been devoured, but luckily he’d figured out its weakness.
It was vulnerable to a particular type of water, so all he had to do was toss it in there, but there was no way it would go in willingly.
So while trapped, he’d crafted that bone to tame it. After all, the base material had been the monster bones that had piled up and up.
In the end, he’d used the trap he’d made and thrown the bone to make the beast leap in and die on its own...
‘So how did that get disguised as a blunt weapon that killed a monster?’
He was worrying about that in all seriousness when the bodyguard and Cheon Seongjae revealed the answer.
“Whoa, you see those aloof Holy Leaders losing their minds?”
“Can’t be helped. By today’s standards, they think he caught a creature between Red Zone and Black Zone with that thing.”
“But he really did catch it with that, right?”
“Igeon-nim said so himself.”
Ah.
So it’s my fault.
‘Sorry.’
Not knowing who would win the bid, Igeon apologized early.
And apparently, that wasn’t the only reason.
“You guys might not know since you were young, but it’s an officially verified part.”
“!”
It was Holy Leader Choi who spoke up.
He seemed to be checking on his phone just how much funds he could mobilize.
“The Saintess mentioned it during her morning broadcast.”
Saintess?
Sophie Mardi, who was probably bedridden after getting beaten by him right about now?
Igeon tilted his head.
Come to think of it, was it right after the German incident?
He’d been hospitalized, and the Saintess, who’d acted all high and mighty as if she was his attending physician, had come and demanded a detailed explanation.
Asking how on earth he’d caught something that neither weapons nor skills worked on.
Well, since she was trying to snatch even his livelihood, he’d thrown that bone and chased her off, saying, ‘You get lost before I get rid of you with this too, yeah?’
And so it seemed the bone had been transformed into a weapon by Sophie.
At that moment, as if high on the blazing fervor, the microphone voice rang out.
[That’s right! It’s the very weapon Igeon obtained from enemy territory! According to the Saintess’s testimony, that weapon is said to contain a hidden skill!]
‘There is none, I’m telling you.’
[What’s more, the monster at the time was above the level of today’s Red Zones! The skill contained within is surely SS-rank or higher!]
“330 million!”
“340 million!”
“360 million!”
[Who will be the lucky protagonist to claim the hidden SS-rank skill!]
I’m telling you, it’s really just a bone.
By this point, he thought he understood why the Holy Leaders were setting their eyes ablaze.
“Make sure you win it!”
Still, Igeon felt somewhat proud.
Even if it was a bone, his little creation was being treated so preciously.
[390 million! We have 390 million. Are there any more bidders!]
“400 million!”
[Yes! 400 million has appear—...]
Right at that moment.
“1 billion!”
A booming voice rang out, loud enough to drown out the auction hall’s roar.
And then, a sudden silence.
Even the Holy Leaders who’d been lunging fiercely became mute as if struck dumb.
Even the auctioneer was so startled he nearly dropped his microphone.
It was the Leo Order.
And then, he spoke.
“1 billion. Did you not hear me?”
“……!”
Startled by the menacing intimidation, the auctioneer hurriedly straightened his mic.
[Ah... yes! Sud—suddenly a price beyond anyone’s imagination has come up, and it seems everyone is taken aback!]
And well they might be.
1 billion dollars.
‘Unreasonable.’
Even the Holy Leader of the Gemini Order, who had rarely shown greed, laughed as if furious. To think they’d come out that strong.
[1 billion has been bid. Are there any more bidders?]
The auctioneer asked again, but silence lay over the hall.
[No more bidders?]
How many could easily call out such an amount in the first place?
And even if they could arrange the funds, the opponent was the opponent.
In the end, the Holy Leaders who had been charging forward threw down their bidding paddles.
Sighs of unbearable regret sounded from everywhere.
Most of the items mentioned among Igeon’s Eight Great Artifacts were whereabouts unknown.
They’d thought they might finally get to lay hands on that legendary item, only for this.
By now, Cheon Seongjae and the bodyguard were clutching their heads in frustration.
“Dammit, Igeon-nim to the Leo Order... to the Leo Order...”
“Whoa, if we’d won that, our Gemini Order would’ve risen to an insurmountable wall!”
‘I said it’s big bone.’
Thus, Igeon looked at the Leo Order. Even the composure of a victor was palpable.
An air of superiority that dared the likes of them to covet what was his.
And even as the auctioneer was counting down, they at last declared the winning bid.
[Congratulations! Igeon’s legendary weapon has been won for an absolutely unimaginable price of 1 billion! The great legend’s new owner is the Leo Order!]
A tremendous cheer erupted.
Slogans extolling the Leo Order even burst forth from all sides.
In rhythm with the cheers, the Leo Order confidently raised a fist.
The expenditure had been massive, but it didn’t matter.
“With this, our Leo Order shall seize yet another victory and glory!”
“Ooooh!”
Well, in reality, they’d paid a billion dollars to collect a giant piece of trash.
‘Incidentally, a gain for me too.’
[Fame has been generated]
[Divine Throne experience has risen sharply]
[Level has risen (lv.4)]
[Points have been generated]
Igeon grinned.
Meanwhile, the Leo Order received the item.
“Congratulations.”
And as if their business was done, the Leo Order was about to leave the auction house with their subordinates.
BANG!
“!”
A deafening explosion resounded from outside the auction house. People buzzed in alarm.
“What’s that?”
“Could it be a blast accident?”
Igeon turned his head as well. People murmured, but only for a moment.
The bodyguard snickered dismissively.
“Ah, don’t worry. There’s a skill simulation arena nearby, so it’s probably just that...”
“No. You’d best ready your weapon.”
Igeon rose from his seat.
He was looking at his target, the Leo Order, and smiling.
And in that instant.
BANG!
This time, the auction house shook violently.
Simultaneously, people screamed, and even the Leo Order’s brow furrowed.
Then, just as Igeon expected, auction house staff shouted loudly.
“Emergency!”
“A Calamity has occurred inside the auction house! It seems a Calamity was mixed in with the auction items! The monster has made off with several of the items that were to come up later!”
The Holy Leaders’ gazes changed.
“What grade!”
“Well, the Calamity inside is fortunately around Yellow grade, but...”
The expression of the staff member speaking was unusual.
“Why? Is there more?”
“It appears an unidentified monster has infiltrated Drachma! The observatory says it’s a species they’ve never seen before, and that no attacks work on it at all...!”
The faces of the Holy Leaders contorted.
“So, honored guests, please quickly...!”
Before the words even finished, the Leo Order burst into laughter.
He smashed open the storage case of Igeon’s holy relic that he’d won.
CRUNCH!
“!”
And there revealed was the white stick.
“Sir Leo...!”
The Leo Order raised Igeon’s relic and shouted a rallying cry.
“Now is the time to test a new legend!”
“Ooooh!”
The people went wild, but one person, Igeon, simply shook his head with a tsk-tsk.
Well, I keep telling you, it’s just a bone.
(To be continued in the next episode)