**Chapter 85**
—
Arthur’s eyes widened.
“A top-grade elixir made from a dragon heart… is going up for auction?”
Willet nodded.
“For now. It’s just a rumor, nothing confirmed.”
“Wow… so something like that really exists? And it’s made from a dragon heart, no less.”
Arthur trailed off, stroking his chin.
*‘If I take a top-grade elixir, what would happen?’*
The last time, after consuming the high-grade elixir Leon had handed him, he’d instantly advanced to 4th Circle.
Thinking of that astonishing efficacy, if he were to consume a top-grade elixir, reaching 5th Circle seemed entirely possible.
*‘Maybe even 6th Circle. Hm… that’s tempting.’*
Bloodline was important, but increasing the rings on one’s chest was just as critical.
Especially because achieving the 5th Circle carried great significance — once one wove together five rings, they could manifest *Sword Aura*.
*‘If I can wield Sword Aura… I doubt I’d lose to most opponents.’*
A supreme technique that only noble swordsmen could manifest.
If he could manifest that technique in his current state, even if he were to face the Black Cross’s Tacen again, he didn’t think he would lose.
*‘Once I can wield Sword Aura, there’s nothing I can’t cut down. Well… realistically, it probably won’t show up, but still, not a bad idea.’*
Since he’d finished his business here anyway, attending the auction as an experience didn’t seem like a bad idea.
Having thought this far, Arthur asked Willet:
“May I attend as well, Elder Willet?”
“…Attending is your choice. But have you finished your business?”
“Yes. In fact, here it comes now.”
As he spoke, the goblin who had disappeared with the sword reappeared.
“Ki-ruk, ki-ruk. Customer, here’s your completed blade.”
“Oh, thanks, Mr. Goblin.”
Arthur turned his gaze and gripped the sword’s hilt.
The moment he did, a strange sound accompanied the reveal of the blood-red blade, making Willet frown.
“…What an unpleasant sword. Why buy something like this?”
“Because it’s bloodstained.”
“…?”
“It’s soaked with blood, yet the edge remains sharp. That means it’s perfect for cutting things down.”
Willet blinked.
Kassel, standing beside him, nodded.
“Rival, I understand your words now. A sword is ultimately a tool for killing. There’s no right or wrong in the tool itself.”
Willet clicked his tongue as he regained composure.
“…Seems your mercenary is quite peculiar as well.”
“Heh… he’s an interesting fellow. So, Elder Willet — since we share the same objective, how about we go together?”
Willet tilted his head.
“Why?”
“You never know. If by chance a top-grade elixir really does show up, we may have to join forces.”
Willet’s gaze narrowed.
“You truly believe that elixir will appear?”
“Well… it may, or it may not. But isn’t that why you came too, Elder?”
Willet closed his mouth.
Meanwhile, Bonnie shrugged.
“What matters is that it *could* appear. Isn’t that the reason we’re all here?”
After a brief silence, Willet’s lips curled faintly.
“You’ve grown a lot.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Willet turned away.
Arthur, who had quietly been observing their exchange, followed along and spoke.
“You seem to have deep ties with that broker Bonnie?”
“She was a mercenary I managed in the past.”
“…Oh? Miss Bonnie was once a mercenary under your management?”
“That was long ago. Now she’s simply a rival in the same business.”
Willet offered no further explanation.
Thus, with Bonnie and Kassel joining, the four of them headed toward the top floor of the tower.
Those who had arrived earlier and were already waiting cast sidelong glances at Arthur’s group.
Feeling their gaze, Arthur stroked his chin and muttered:
“They’re all quite skilled.”
“With rumors like that, it’s only natural that capable people would gather.”
With those words, Willet took a seat.
Arthur sat beside him, followed in order by Bonnie and Kassel.
As Arthur surveyed the mana and power of the other attendees, the corner of his lips lifted.
*‘Interesting. There’s even a swordsman who’s reached 4th Circle, and a magician of twenty years.’*
For mere back-alley mercenaries, their level was far too high.
*‘Judging by the attendees… this can’t be just baseless rumors.’*
Besides, the fact that Willet had come in person lent the matter a certain degree of credibility.
*‘So does that mean a top-grade elixir really will appear?’*
Arthur stroked his chin, recalling the slush funds he had stashed away in his account.
*‘Hm… I’ve got about a thousand gold. Would that be enough?’*
It wasn’t a small amount by any means, but for purchasing a top-grade elixir, it suddenly felt insufficient.
As Arthur smacked his lips in thought, the auction began.
The host was a goblin in a tuxedo.
“Ki-ruk, ki-ruk…! The auction shall begin.”
The goblin pushed up his spectacles and gestured.
At once, a massive flask appeared.
Arthur squinted as he muttered:
“…Oh. An octopus?”
And not just any octopus, but one twice the size of a normal one, slumbering inside the flask.
The tuxedoed goblin pointed at it and explained.
“This is a descendant of the Kraken that ruled the seas centuries ago. Ki-ruk. A very rare monster indeed.”
“……”
“Fried or boiled, its meat is exquisite. Ki-ruk, ki-ruk. The starting bid is 100 gold.”
At his words, bidding paddles shot up everywhere.
“120… 150… Sold at 200 gold! Ki-ruk, ki-ruk.”
The octopus flask vanished, and what appeared next was a corpse.
Arthur’s eyes gleamed as he muttered.
“This time it’s a werewolf corpse?”
Though not as rare as the Kraken, it was still an unusual monster.
*‘As expected of the black market, this really is different from regular auctions.’*
Corpses were being auctioned, and people were actually buying them.
Watching this spectacle with interest, Arthur’s lips curved.
*‘With an auction like this… maybe a top-grade elixir really *will* appear?’*
With faint anticipation, Arthur watched the auction with keen focus.
But contrary to his expectations, no top-grade elixir appeared until the very end.
“Ki-ruk…! With this staff, the auction concludes.”
The tuxedoed goblin bowed deeply and stepped back.
Murmurs erupted from the audience.
“…That’s it?”
“So the top-grade elixir really was just a rumor?”
“As expected, rumors in this world can’t be trusted.”
Amid the commotion, Arthur smacked his lips.
“Tch. Even if I couldn’t buy it, I would’ve liked to at least see it once.”
Just as he was about to rise, Willet, who had remained silent, spoke.
“Sit back down, Donn.”
“…Why, Elder Willet?”
Willet jerked his chin.
Following his gesture, Arthur saw that an old man with two heads had appeared on the stage.
*‘The Third seat of the Seven Sovereigns… Balans?’*
Arthur’s eyes narrowed as he sank back into his seat.
Meanwhile, Balans, standing atop the platform, curled his lips and began speaking.
“From this point on, those I name shall remain seated. There is a request I wish to entrust to you.”
—
—
The first names Balans mentioned were Willet and Bonnie.
“The mercenaries you brought shall stay as well.”
He then added several more names. Watching this, Arthur thought:
*‘…So he’s handpicking only a few from the attendees.’*
And indeed, all those chosen were among the more capable people present.
Balans stroked his chin as he concluded:
“Mm… this should be enough. The rest may leave.”
A few who hadn’t been named shot to their feet, shouting.
“Leave? You mean the selection’s done?”
“Indeed.”
“What’s the basis for selection?! Compared to them, I—”
The man’s words cut short.
More precisely, his mouth was gone.
*Thunk.*
His head had been sliced off, rolling across the floor.
Arthur let out a low exclamation, while those around him flinched in shock.
Balans licked the blood from his lips and muttered.
“Anyone else with complaints?”
“……”
“If not, then leave. The auction is over, but the black market remains open — enjoy yourselves.”
Those not chosen obediently rose and filed out of the auction hall.
*Clack!*
The door shut, and Balans turned his gaze back.
“Hmm… fifty. That should suffice.”
Nodding, Balans snapped his fingers.
At once, four goblins entered, struggling to carry in a massive chair.
“Bring some wine and cheese as well.”
“Yes, master.”
The goblins bowed deeply and scurried away.
Turning his gaze to the fifty mercenaries and brokers, Balans spoke.
“You all know each other, don’t you?”
“……”
“I’d wager you do. I made quite the list. Rising newcomers, remnants of the past, those with current fame… The turnout exceeded my expectations, so there’s no way you don’t know one another.”
Balans chuckled and snapped his fingers again.
“So here’s the deal: I’ll let only *two teams* live.”
“…?”
“Until only two teams remain, you’ll kill each other. You understand, don’t you?”
Both of Balans’s mouths curled into a smile.
“Only two teams will survive to take on my request. The rest of you will have to die.”
A heavy silence descended.
It broke only when Balans raised a goblet of wine to his lips.
“…What?”
“You want us to kill each other until only two teams remain?”
“Are you telling us to have a deathmatch?”
With murmurs rising, the mercenaries and brokers subtly began putting distance between themselves.
Willet sighed, muttering.
“This has gone awry…”
“Gone awry, Elder Willet?”
“We should have left the moment that man appeared. Our greed has brought disaster.”
As Willet’s gaze shifted toward Balans, Arthur exclaimed.
“Oh… it’s started, hasn’t it?”
Right across from them, mercenaries raised loud shouts as they drew their blades and guns.
“Hey, bastard! Why are you coming up behind me?!”
“What nonsense! You’re the one pointing your gun!”
With shouts, the two mercenaries aimed blade and barrel at each other’s throats — and that was the signal.
In an instant, the auction house became pandemonium.
“Come closer and you die!”
“Don’t try anything funny! I’ll shoot you right now!”
Arthur glanced sideways.
Bonnie and Kassel had also distanced themselves, watching warily.
Smiling faintly, Arthur asked Willet:
“What should we do, Elder Willet?”
Pulled from his thoughts, Willet answered:
“Only deal with those who come at us. Don’t go out of your way.”
Arthur tilted his head.
“Why not just wipe them all out?”
“…What?”
“That way it ends quickly. If I just knock out everyone here, we won’t have to bother killing them at all, right?”
Willet blinked.
“…You mean you can incapacitate them *all*?”
“Yes.”
“…What are you, suddenly a Sword Master now?”
Arthur grinned brightly, turning his head.
“I’m not a Sword Master, but I’ve gotten stronger. Hm…”
His eyes flashed.
“At this level, I think I can finish it in about five minutes. Please wait a moment, Elder.”
—
