Meanwhile, word of Dekyulrein had reached Hadekain, the capital of the Yukrain estate, in real time.
“What? Right now? At the auction house?”
Yeriel furrowed her brow.
Last year he burned through ten million elne of the estate’s finances, and now this again?
No way. After fighting like that back then, would he really pull that shit again?
“Yes. It seems the auction is already in progress.”
“Ah…….”
At the butler’s definitive words, Yeriel felt dizzy.
For Yeriel, who handled the actual duties of a lord from the lord’s castle in Hadekain and strove to reduce the numbers on the expenditure ledger by even a single digit, this behavior was utterly, fundamentally incomprehensible.
“……Got it. Go.”
“Yes.”
*Bam—!*
“Fuck!”
The moment the butler left, Yeriel slammed her fist on the desk. She roughly opened the whiskey bottle and poured it into a glass.
As the liquor filled the glass, so too did her rage boil over.
“Don’t tell me, the reason he asked me for the mine acquisition money back then…… is that crazy bastard really?”
*Gulp.* She swallowed the glassful of sloshing whiskey whole. It felt like her insides were burning, but that was better than her head exploding.
“Aargh—! Aargh—!”
Yeriel cried out in frustration.
“Fucking hell, I swear to god.”
Magical talent, practical instincts and demeanor as an administrator, understanding of the territory’s customs and industries, and all moral character aside from etiquette. In every one of those aspects, Yeriel prided herself on being superior to Dekyulrein. However…….
The head of Yukrain was already Dekyulrein.
Probably, forever.
“Why on earth…….”
It was because her parents had been too hasty in their conviction of Dekyulrein’s talent, deciding the succession far too early.
Of course, the young Dekyulrein had been a prodigy. At the mere age of ten, he had understood magic at the level of the Grand Magic Tower’s academia.
But that was exactly where it ended.
Perhaps it was a story not unlike her own height.
At age ten she had already surpassed 160cm, certain she would grow into a tall, refined person like Dekyulrein, yet her growth had ended at ten. Her entire body had not developed past the age of ten.
In other words, not genius—merely precocity.
Dekyulrein had only been precocious.
That was why, surely, her parents had said such words to her one day.
That they regretted it.
That they regretted that decision.
“That you, not Dekyulrein, should have become the head.”
……The last part was her imagination, but regardless.
“Fuck, regret is always too late, no matter how soon it comes…….”
It was regret that came far too late.
Irreversible, and impossible to undo.
Since they had become stars in the sky, the master of Yukrain would forever remain Dekyulrein.
Though that fact was infuriating, Yeriel already knew it.
Dekyulrein took after their father, while she took after their mother. Since their mother was the second wife obtained after their father lost his first wife, it was only natural that Dekyulrein, the son of the first wife, would become the head.
It was a thoroughly shitty, yet thoroughly proper affair.
She knew it, but it was maddening.
She was confident she could do better.
Far, truly far better than that son of a bitch who only indulged in luxury in the capital.
“Ah…… I miss you……”
Having emptied a bottle in no time, the intoxication had already risen to the top of her head.
Yeriel planted her face on the desk and muttered blankly.
“Why did you die so soon.”
It had already been seven years since the two of them passed away.
During those seven years, there had been many times she wanted to be held in their embrace. She had felt that way almost every day, and there had been times she cried almost every day as well.
But now she was twenty-six, acting on behalf of the lord, having pushed childish tears away to the distant past, merely fulfilling her duties as a blood relative of Yukrain, but…….
“……That bastard is really fucking annoying.”
*Thud—! Thud—! Thud—!*
Drooling instead of crying, Yeriel beat on the desk. After striking it several times, she let out a deep sigh as if resigned.
“Still, he probably won’t spend that much…….”
He was someone who disliked excessive material desire, claiming it violated propriety.
What his propriety even was, what his etiquette even was—fuck, at this point she just wanted to smash it all, but whatever.
“You fucking freak…….”
There had been a time when she craved that damned bastard’s love. There had been a time when she was proud of his very existence.
But he had always been cold to her, overbearing, and forced etiquette on her that did not suit her in the slightest.
Of course, she had tried back then. She could not be like him, who seemed to have learned manners from birth, but she had wanted to be loved.
So she had worn uncomfortable dresses, held an etiquette book in her tiny hands, and pitter-pattered after him wherever he went.
He had ignored her, pushed her away, and even shouted at her, yet she had thought it was only natural.
Because I am the child of the second wife.
Because I cannot even maintain dignity, and I am stupid, and I lack decorum, and I am a worthless halfpenny who is nothing like a noble…….
But lo and behold.
As time passed.
The one least like a noble was him.
“……Bastard.”
Having given up on being loved, Yeriel grew stronger.
Not only in places where he was absent, but to the point where she could spew curses to his face.
She herself could not tell whether she had grown stronger or broken, but now she was capable of leading Yukrain’s great territory alone.
She was satisfied with that, and over seven years, Yukrain had grown into her territory.
Now all of the estate’s vassals recognized her as the lord.
“Haaaaaah…….”
It was a comfort that Yeriel cherished proudly and preciously in a corner of her heart.
* * *
The “Auction Stage” of Luten Schatzinjel was incredibly splendid. The seats were upholstered in red velvet favored by nobles, bordered with golden craftwork, and the auction podium yonder was dazzling, as if wrought entirely of gold.
Truly a feast of crimson and gold.
In that place where subtle fragrance and the laughter of nobles rippled, I looked at the auction catalog resting on the armrest of the VVIP exclusive seat.
“Quite the list.”
Porcelain, necklaces, scissors, rings, relics, excavation artifacts from ruins, and the “Snowflower Stone.”
Besides the Snowflower Stone, there were many artifacts that a mage could put to good use.
For reference, I had checked the market price of the Snowflower Stone by going around in person.
Between ten million and thirty million.
It was a sufficient price.
—“To you noble personages who have attended the auction of Luten Schatzinjel, I would first like to offer a word…….”
It was then that the auctioneer’s voice rang out broadly, and the lights dimmed. The chatter inside the hall gradually subsided.
—“Even ice that seemed it would never melt eventually thaws, and in these days where bluish-green seeds sprout into new shoots.”
The auctioneer began with an opening address. Upon the podium, an item had already appeared.
—“……Indeed. Now the new spring begins, and here is the first item heralding the auction of that spring!”
It was an ordinary-looking piece of porcelain.
—“Behold the elegant curvature of its form. This is the ‘Vase of the East,’ said to have been crafted by an artisan of the distant Eastern Tea Ceremony Sea. A certificate of authentication from the pottery association’s artisans, acknowledging it as a premium good, is enclosed. The starting bid is 500,000 elne. The bid increment is 50,000 elne.”
At first, I did not think much of it.
But when I happened to look at that porcelain.
I furrowed my brow.
“That is…….”
Light was flowing from the porcelain.
There was nothing strange about it. It was the instinct of 「Tycoon」.
—“37, 550,000 elne! Ah, immediately 693. 600,000 elne!”
The first auction proceeded fiercely enough, but I focused my gaze solely on that light. The more closely I watched, the deeper the radiance grew.
—“37 again with 650,000! Ah, now guest 993!”
650,000 from 37, 700,000 from 993, 750,000 from 1038……
The bidding that had continued in that manner halted at 1.3 million elne.
—“Now, 1413 with 1.3 million elne, no further bids? Then I will call it three times. 1.3 million elne. 1.3 million? 1.3 mill—”
The item’s price was 1.3 million elne.
My account balance was 200 million elne.
No more thought was necessary.
It was pocket change.
I lightly touched the small crystal orb on the armrest of my seat.
—“Ah! Appearing now, guest 777, 1.4 million elne!”
The auctioneer accepted my bid.
—“1413, countering with 1.5 million elne!”
1413, who had called 1.3 million, countered. I pressed the crystal without delay.
—“777, 1.6 million!”
—“1413, 1.7 million!”
1.8 million, 1.9 million, 2 million…… Even as the price rose, the porcelain’s glow remained.
—“777 with 2.5 million elne. No further bids?!”
It was certain. That porcelain held value exceeding its auction price.
I could not only see it with my eyes, but feel it instinctively.
This was precisely the trait called 「Tycoon」.
In other words—a destiny to become a magnate.
—“If there are no further bids, 2.5 million elne. I will call it three times.”
1413, who had been barking wildly until now, had also gone silent.
Right. Who would dare to challenge someone with 200 million in ammunition?
Financial power I had never once felt in my life. So this was the authority of money. If so, I was an extremely authoritative person…….
—“2.5 million. 2.5 million? 2.5 million! Sold to 777!”
I won the porcelain.
*Clap clap clap clap—*
To the applause of the distinguished guests, I lightly raised my hand in response. It was an utterly natural nobleman’s gesture.
—“Now, the next item……”
However, the next item was also something I could not help but buy.
Was only this auction like this? Or were all auctions like this? If neither, was my trait bugged……? It was not.
My trait, at least, was certain.
This trait would earn me money “no matter what.”
—“It is ‘Ruperin’s Ring,’ crafted by the artisan ‘Ruperin,’ said to aid the wearer’s blood flow and mana circulation. The starting bid is 800,000. The increment is 50,000!”
I watched the auction’s progress and pondered for a moment.
……There was nothing to ponder.
—“603 with 1.5 million elne! From now on, the increment is 100,000! Ah! At this time, 777!”
The decision was closer to certainty.
There was no reason to hesitate.
After all, the 200 million was my account’s money. A personal account where having it was nice, and lacking it was fine.
So, I would invest while leaving only enough to purchase the Snowflower Stone.
—“Once again 777! Ruperin’s Ring, 3 million elne!”
Since I trusted my trait’s sense, this was an investment with guaranteed returns. I even had the 「Hand of Midas」, did I not?
This was the opportunity to become a 「Tycoon」 in the true sense.
—“Ruperin’s Ring, sold to 777 for 3 million elne!”
I won “Ruperin’s Ring” as the second item.
Of course, the auction continued after that.
—“2.1 million elne. No further bids? Rucho’s Shears, sold to 777 for 2.1 million elne!”
However, the auctioneer’s lines were—
—“4.3 million elne. No further bids? Ancient Runic Necklace, sold to 777 for 4.3 million elne!”
Identical, with only the price and item changed.
—“5.5 million elne. No further bids? Darkfloor Carpet, sold to 777 for 5.5 million elne……”
777.
In other words, they belonged to Dekyulrein.
* * *
……In truth, Yulri had never once in her life thought about auctions. Frugality and thrift were ingrained in her very being, so much so that she would fall into anguish and turmoil over buying even a single fur coat.
The reason she still cherished the coat she had received as a graduation gift ten years ago was exactly that.
But…….
—“777, 4.3 million elne. No further bids?”
As expected, Dekyulrein seemed to have absolutely no interest in frugality or thrift.
—“Ancient Runic Necklace, sold to 777 for 4.3 million elne!”
From the moment the auction began, he had won seven out of ten items. That ferocious momentum weighed down the entire Auction Stage.
“My…….”
Yulri shook her head. While someone might find it impressive or enviable, to Yulri his extravagance was merely pathetic.
In this way, Dekyulrein and she were different in every respect.
Their respective ideals were far too alien to one another.
That was why they could never understand each other…….
Of course, Yulri had tried at first.
As a knight, if she could not defy her house’s will, she would try to love her betrothed.
But Dekyulrein had mistaken her goodwill for something that could be “bought,” and treated her in the most contemptible manner.
The terribly ill-fated day of their engagement.
Things between her and him had gone wrong from the very first button.
“You must have come to acquire a personal armament.”
Just then, the nobleman beside her spoke with a faint smile. At the question she had been waiting for, Yulie’s shoulders gave a little twitch.
“······Yes.”
Snowfire Stone.
In other words, winter’s fire.
As its name suggested, it was a contradictory and rare metal that contained both cold and heat at once. Its very existence was considered magical, making it exceedingly difficult to handle, and unless one was a truly exceptional blacksmith, even smelting and refining it were impossible—or so they said.
“It has become time for me to acquire a personal armament as well.”
In truth, she, too, had a desire for a sword. No, she held to the belief that if a knight did not spend money on a sword, that was the true waste.
And in fact, to a certain extent, it was true.
A sword was something whose value rose as time passed—that is, the more accustomed it became to a person’s mana. That process was known as “communion.”
In that sense, since she would be making an all-out bid only for the Snowfire Stone, this was by no means extravagance.
Moreover, the fact that she had no cherished armament was widely known, so people would surely understand it as, “At last, Knight Yulie is trying to prepare an armament of her own—”
Just like the nobleman seated beside her now.
“Indeed. Knight Freyden, your skill is famous even in the Empire. Your interview with last issue’s Knight Journal—I truly could do nothing but marvel as I read it.”
“······I merely spoke of my convictions and beliefs.”
Yulie nodded gracefully. Even if it was empty flattery, his claim that he had read the interview made her feel proud, but she could not let it show on the outside.
“As expected. Your husband must also—”
“He is not my husband.”
But at that very moment, Yulie’s eyes narrowed sharply, and the nobleman let out an awkward, “Ha ha ha,” before quietly backing away.
─5.5 million elne. Any higher? Darkfloor Carpet, No. 777, sold for 5.5 million elne······
Meanwhile, Deculein’s reckless spending showed no sign of stopping.
Its force was so overwhelming that the attention focused on Deculein was gradually spreading to her as well. After all, officially, they were engaged.
Yulie felt her face growing hotter little by little, but she endured it.
Her only goal was the Snowfire Stone.
She had already checked the total of the allowance saved in her account since the day she was born, together with her salary. It was far more than she had expected, so she would be able to obtain the Snowfire Stone without issue.
──Convinced of that,
and doing her utmost to ignore the number 777 that kept ringing out again and again,
Yulie calmed herself with a deep breath.