Because of the commotion that I did during the auction, Mifumi-sama and Felin had to drag me out of the auction room.
Right now, we're outside the auction room and I'm receiving a scolding from both Mifumi-sama and Felin because of my behavior.
"What do you have to say for yourself, Vier-chan?"
"You become weird again, Vier."
"I'm sorry Mifumi-sama, Felin. I lost control of my emotions earlier."
I don't actually know what happened to me but I'm sure that I got more and more antagonized every time I would look at that weird half-mask lady. It's not just the look of her mask but also her voice. Every time I would hear her voice it motivates me to win our desired Item.
Wait!... Is that perhaps her natural ability?... What if she's actually a Demi-Human who can influence others? Misaki-sensei told us once that the Serpentkin can influence others with the Magic of their voice.
But according to Misaki-sensei, Serpentkin has blue shades of hair so she's probably not a Serpentkin since her hair color is... Huh?... Ekkk!!!... This is creepy. Why can't I remember how she looks, all I can remember is her weird half-mask... Ugh!!... All this thinking is making my head hurt.
"Are you okay, Vier-chan?"
"Let's go home if you're not okay, Vier."
"Thanks, Mifumi-sama, Felin. The Auction is still on break so I will just rest for a bit."
"Mhm, okay!"
"If you're still not feeling well after the break, then we're going home, Vier-chan."
"I understand, Mifumi-sama."
Thankfully, the other guests still decide to bet for the Rank-4 Deep-Lake-Hunter. In the end, that Monster-Core was sold for a price of 45L Gold coins. Then after finishing the auction for the Rank-4 Deep-Lake-Hunter Monster-Core, the Auction House announced a two-hour break.
It's not like I don't have the money to pay for that item since I got my savings from my work as Kumiko-sensei. But even if we got that Rank-4 Monster-Core, Mifumi-sama won't be able to use it now since she's still mastering under Rank-3 Monster-Core.
While the three of us were resting on the bench in the hallway outside the auction room, one of the staff came to us and greeted our group.
"Excuse me, Ms.Mifumi. I'm Albert, one of the staff of the Auction House. Mr. Henri would like to invite the BlackOpsCo. to have some tea while the auction is on break."
"Ummm... But one of us is not feeling well."
Mifumi-sama probably doesn't want to accept this invitation because she's worried about me. But it would be rude of us to reject the invitation from the Master of the Auction House.
My head still hurts but I guess I just have to endure a little bit this time.
"It's alright, Mifumi-sama. I think that drinking tea would help me relax."
Mifumi-sama looked at me with a worried expression, but she probably guessed what I was thinking so she decided to accept the invitation.
"Please kindly lead our way, Mr. Albert."
"Thank you. Right this way, please."
Mr. Albert then led our group to Mr. Henri's office. When we got there, we found Mr. Henri and that weird half-mask lady sitting at the tea table already waiting for our group.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation, BlackOpsCo.. Please have a seat."
We accepted Mr. Henri's offer and the three of us took seats at the tea table opposite the two of them.
"Hello, everyone. I hope you don't mind me joining this gathering."
"Vier, it's the masked lady. But her mask is different."
Is this really how she looks? Gold blonde hair in ponytail and she doesn't look much older than us, probably around 20 or 25 years old... Wait!... Her voice sounds different too...
"Ummm... Please don't stare that much at me Ms. Vier, you're making me feel embarrassed."
That weird half-mask... No, she's not wearing a half-mask anymore. She's now wearing a full-mask so her new nickname would be full-mask lady. Anyway, she noticed me observing her and said those remarks with a mischievous smile that complemented her new mask.
"Ehh?... I'm sorry for staring, Ms...."
Ummm... What was her name again...
"Eresh! It's Ms. Eresh, Ms. Vier."
I still had doubts about her being the speaker during the auction earlier so I asked Mifumi-sama and Felin.
"Of course, she is, Vier-chan. Do you want to see the photo on the Art-Phone?"
"That's right, Vier. This weird full-mask lady has the same scent as the weird half-mask lady."
Huh?... Did Felin use that new nickname that I just thought for Ms. Eresh? Wait, that's not important now. What matters is that Ms. Eresh got curious about what Felin had said.
"Weird?... Scent?... Do I smell weird, Ms. Felin?"
"Hmmm?... Not really, Miss."
"Sheesh... Then why did you call me weird, Ms. Felin?"
"Because Vier calls you like that."
Upon hearing that, Ms. Eresh turns her inquiry to me.
"Ohh!... And why did you think that I'm weird, Ms. Vier? Is it because of my mask?"
"Ugh!... I'm sorry for calling you weird, Ms. Eresh!"
I tried to apologize for calling her like that but apparently, that was not what she wanted to hear.
"It's alright, I won't be mad about that. I know it's unusual for someone to wear a mask at this kind of event. But still, I want to know what makes you think I'm weird, Ms. Vier?"
Everyone, Mifumi-sama, Felin, Mr. Henri, and Ms. Eresh looks at me with anticipation of what my reasons are. Since she's not mad about me calling her weird, I guess it's okay to tell her everything.
"Well, it's not just your mask. Every time I hear your voice, it motivates me to compete for the item we want. And every time I would look at you, all my attention would be focused on your mask. I don't know why but it makes me feel more antagonized and irritated every time that would happen."
"Is that all Ms. Vier?"
"Also, I just realized earlier that I can't remember your looks. So it's kinda creepy."
What I said surprised both Mifumi-sama and Felin.
"Ehh? You can't remember Ms. Eresh's looks, Vier-chan?"
"But she is just in front of us, Vier."
"I don't know Mifumi-sama, Felin. All I can remember earlier is the look of her half-mask."
"Pfft!... Hahaha!!!..."
Upon hearing my reasons as to why I thought that she was weird, Ms. Eresh burst into laughter which is kind of scared the three of us since we didn't have any idea of why is she laughing like that.
"Pfft!... Hahaha!.... See that Mr. Henri?... I won our bet so give me your money!... 10L Gold coin, please!"
"Jeez! Okay! Here you go, It's my loss this time."
"Yay!!!"
"""What's happening, Mr.Henri / Mister?"""
The conversation between Mr. Henri and Ms. Eresh really confused our group so we got irritated, raised our voices, and asked what was happening.
"I have to apologize to you BlackOpsCo.. I didn't think that I would cause trouble to your group. Please accept my apology."
Mr. Henri then stood from his seat and bowed his head in front of us.
"You don't have to do that, Mr. Henri. Just explain to us what is happening. Is that why you called us here? And what is this trouble you're saying? Is this perhaps related to what happened to Vier-chan?"
Mr. Henri went back to his seat and started explaining to us what actually happened.
"That's right, Ms. Mifumi. Ms. Eresh, if you could explain to them what happened."
Nope... Mr. Henri ran away from explaining everything. Sheesh!
"To put it simply, Ms. Mifumi. Ms. Vier manages to unconsciously see past my Magic."
"Magic?..."
...SLAM!...
Upon realizing what Ms. Eresh meant, Mifumi-sama got furious and slammed her hands on the tea table.
Of course, she would. After all, using Magic to influence people can be considered illegal depending on the circumstances.
"Are you saying you're using Magic to influence all the guests of The Auction House, Ms. Eresh?"
"Ohh!... You're easy to catch up with, Ms. Mifumi."
"That's illegal, Ms. Eresh, Mr. Henri! Using Magic to influence the guests to buy the auction items..."
"Wait! It's not like that Ms. Mifumi. Please listen first."
Before Mifumi-sama can finish her accusation, Mr. Henri interferes and tries to explain everything.
...SLAM!...
"Explain your reason, Mister! If we don't like it, we won't accept it!"
Now, even Felin is being swayed by Mifumi-sama's actions. She did the same and slammed her hands into the tea table as she said those words... Wait... Those words...
"Felin, are you trying to imitate Heleen-san?"
"Mhm!"
Mr. Henri continues giving his reasons as to why they are using Magic to influence the guests.
"It's true that Ms. Eresh as the speaker is using Magic to influence all the guests. But its effect won't influence them to buy the auction items. Ms. Eresh Magic only focuses on calming the guests and gathering their attention to the speaker. The goal is to make the flow of betting to be much easier to handle."
"But I certainly feel motivated to bet every time Ms. Eresh would challenge a raise!"
I questioned Mr. Henri's reason because I indeed feel motivated to buy the item we're aiming at the auction.
"Well, that influence is still within the limit so I think it's still fine. After all, the overseer from the Merchants Association and the Lord's Government are here at the Auction House today. We received their approval so everything is in the legal process, Ms. Mifumi."
"Do we accept their reason, Mifumi-sama?"
"I see, that's acceptable, Felin. But how about Vier-chan's case? This Magic influence of yours can cause trouble for others like Vier-chan."
"Well, Ms. Vier's case is a rare one."
"What do you mean by that, Mr. Henri."
'"Let me answer that, Ms. Mifumi."
Ms. Eresh takes the job of explaining again. Sheesh!... Don't take Mr. Henri's job and let him explain everything.
"Listen BlackOpsCo.. Ms. Vier's case is a rare one because the other people who are capable of seeing past my Magic are at the level of Silver-Rank adventurers or higher."
""Ehh?!!""
That came as a surprise to the three of us.
"You're amazing, Vier! How did you do that?"
"Ummm... I don't know, Felin."
"Please explain that, Ms. Eresh!"
"Well, I can't tell you how my Magic works since it's my trade secret, Ms. Mifumi. But to answer how Ms. Vier sees past my Magic... I think it's because she's probably good at using Mana-Flow."
"Mana-Flow?"
"That's right, Ms. Vier! If you have good control of your Mana, you will notice if someone is trying to influence your Mana from the outside... Oops!... I already said too much."
"You said I was able to see past your Magic but why I wasn't able to see your looks all that time?"
"So I need to explain to you everything that happened step by step?"
"''"Of course, Ms. Eresh/Miss!!!"""
The three of us shouted because of the irritation from Ms. Eresh's remark that sounded like she was mocking us.
"Sheesh!... Don't get mad okay... First, Ms. Vier, unconsciously notices that someone, or rather me, is using Magic to influence her. And since she's still unfamiliar with that kind of Magic, Ms. Vier unconsciously decides that it's some kind of a hostile act towards her. That's probably the reason why she would always feel antagonized and irritated every time I would use my Magic to gather everyone's attention."
"Okay, I understand. But what about your look? Why are Felin and Mifumi-sama able to recognize your looks but not me?"
"That's probably because of the Magic from the half-mask that I'm wearing earlier."
"A Magic-Item?"
"That's right, Ms. Mifumi! It has the effect of hiding my identity from anyone that is sending hostility toward me. Since Ms. Vier would always get antagonized every time I used Magic to get everyone's attention, then the half-mask at the same time hides my identity from her."
Every that Ms. Eresh said made sense. Now I understand that irritating feeling that I felt during the auction earlier. However, there's still something that is bothering me.
"Is that why I lost control over my emotions and got angry at you, Ms. Eresh?"
"Well, that could be true or perhaps that is just your personality, Ms. Vier."
"What?... No!... I'm sure it's because of your Magic."
"Anyway, this will be a good experience for you, Ms. Vier. Now you know what it feels like to be influenced by this kind of Magic. There might be bad people out there that will use this kind of Magic on your group, so be prepared if ever that happens."
"""Thank you, Ms. Eresh/Miss."""