"Liliana, we've scouted the kingdom inside and out for longer than agreed. Is this really worth our time?" Lance complained, lounging in his seat with a bored expression, lazily observing the focused woman before him.
"We've been over this, Lance," Nightshade replied, her gaze fixed out the window for longer than she realized. "I won't repeat myself again."
"It's been nearly a week since you last saw this guy. How can you be so sure he'll ever come back here?" Lance persisted.
Lance Everheart and Liliana Nightshade were close companions, almost like siblings in their interactions. They had fought in multiple wars together, despite their young ages. Both were the same age as Takumi, but their battle experience far exceeded their years, explaining their high rank in the kingdom's knight association and their position among the elite hunters. Despite their time together, Lance had never seen Nightshade react in such a manner to any issue at hand.
She was renowned for her calm character, known as a thoughtful strategist rather than one who leaps to conclusions. It was her signature style; even if overpowered by her opponent, she would ingeniously find a way to turn the tables without succumbing to the power imbalance. Yet, for the first time in Lance's life, he witnessed the composed facade before him crumble with each passing second. Who, he wondered, had she encountered within the Hive to evoke such an uncharacteristic reaction?
"Tell you what, let's take a break from the Hives for a moment," he said calmly after a heavy sigh, rising from his seat. "The auction is starting soon. Let's go refresh our minds a bit."
"Lance, you know I can't leave. Just a minute's distraction could be all he needs to evade me," Nightshade protested, her gaze unwavering from the window, which provided a strategic vantage point of the Guild.
"And what if he's not going to any hive today? What if he just wants to auction off his cool loot from all the raiding he's been doing?" Lance cleverly stated out, knowing well that she'd have nothing to protest with now.
His remark was intended to coax Nightshade into accompanying him, unaware that the man in question was indeed at the auction building! Takumi had almost missed his opportunity to sell his item; he had barely managed to hand it off to the men there. Fortunately, he succeeded just in time. As a reward, he no longer found himself among the commoners in the elevated section but instead enjoyed a luxurious view among the cloaked figures.
"Since when did you start wearing face masks?" Kurayami whispered, her invisible form hovering over Takumi, who could clearly see her.
"The girl back at that Hive didn't appreciate our encounter. It seems I'll need to conceal my identity for a while," Takumi whispered back, ensuring his words didn't reach anyone else's ears.
His words rang true; he didn't understand her intentions, but he knew he had become a target. Whether she viewed him as a threat or simply wanted to question him was irrelevant to Takumi. Being a foreigner in this realm, he wished to avoid unnecessary interactions. Besides, only she truly knew his face; all he had changed was his attire. Donning medieval clothing purchased from a cosplay shop and a featureless mask covering his face, he ensured that even if they crossed paths inadvertently, she wouldn't recognize him.
Right on cue, the bronze doors slammed shut, casting a slight darkness over the area, with all lights now focused on the opening curtains.
"Greetings, one and all, from the kingdom of Knights to all present! We welcome you to today's weekly auction!" The female announcer auctioned, her voice holding the same enthusiasm that it held during Takumi's first visit to the building.
"The grand auction house of our kingdom welcomes you with humility. We understand that our establishment may not rival those of our neighboring kingdoms, yet we are honored by your presence," she continued, expressing a feigned gratitude that seemed directed more towards the rare races than the humans in the building.
The crowd above erupted in disunited claps as the cloaked figures themselves remained dead silent, each retaining their attention towards the female before them.
"Why do we even bother with this place?" a whispered female voice suddenly caught Takumi's attention. "None of the items they offer have any use to us elves and orcs. We simply purchase them at exorbitant prices in hopes that they possess magical attributes."
"Patience, Elara. Rare objects don't come up for auction every day," an elderly voice responded, its tone also whispered but carrying a hint of wisdom and authority. "Patience."
The elder's words pleased Takumi. Though his object held no magical capabilities, he was confident that its material and remarkable nature would sway everyone's opinion. Perhaps it would even pave the way for more opportunities for him. All he had to do was wait for his object to appear. It was the very last one, wrapped in silky cloth.
As such, all he could do was relax and observe the absurd auction unfold before him, just as expected. In fact, the items on display that day were even worse than during his previous visit to the building. Some were so utterly useless that none of the bidders showed any interest. A poisoned ring and a longsword made of glass were among the rejected items, nearly causing the female announcer to falter in embarrassment. And just when all hope seemed lost, Takumi's item finally made its way to the podium.
"Last item up for auction," the female began, removing the silk cloth that had concealed the object. "A... wooden sword?"
Takumi nearly bolted in anger upon hearing the female's announcement. It was false! The object was indeed his submitted item, but it wasn't a wooden blade; it was a sheathed katana!
He knew the object was rare in the world he was in, given that it originated from ancient Japan, a region unique to his realm. However, not understanding the difference between a sheathed sword and a wooden one was astonishing. Was she playing around, or did she genuinely not know what a sheath was?
"Correction!" Takumi blurted out, unable to conceal his irritation any longer. "It's a blade. Simply pull it from its sheath."
His sudden spouting lured the attention of all present, It was against the rules within an auction to perform any action that disrupted the event. It was a known rule, even to Takumi himself. But in the current situation, anything that could ruin his chances of auctioning off the blade was more of a threat than the rules themselves.
"Oh, we have a bold one here, don't we?" the female commented, her irritation evident but slightly concealed by her futile efforts. "I assume you're the brave hunter who sent this item to be auctioned, am I correct?"
"Making such an assumption is risky, but you are correct; the item belonged to me," Takumi responded smugly, heightening the tension in the room and simultaneously piquing everyone's interest in him and his item.
The kingdom of knights was notorious for its harsh laws, and the auction house was no exception. Anyone brave enough to raise their voice within the building alone risked heavy fines, let alone acting smug afterward. Either Takumi hailed from a prestigious family, or his confidence in his item was enough to ensure his safety after this incident. As a result, the attention that was once lost had now returned, with every gaze fixed upon the sheathed blade with its unique design.
"Is that so... then why not present it yourself, proud gentleman?" the female responded, her intentions clear.
Having endured multiple embarrassing moments in the building, bottling up her frustrations, this was her way of letting them out. If Takumi failed to impress the crowd with his item, she'd have every reason to levy multiple unnecessary fines against him without anyone questioning her actions.
None of this seemed to faze Takumi in the slightest; in fact, he was relishing the moment even more. If he failed to impress the crowd, he could simply warp back to Earth, acquire a new disguise, and then return to focus on Hive raids. The raids were already immensely profitable for him back on Earth; he was already nearing one and a half million credits. If it was business he was after, then he'd have no issue starting one in his own world anyway.
His primary motive for engaging in all of this was to comprehend the currency system in this world, earn it, and potentially establish his own business with his newfound knowledge, thereby earning from both his world and Etheria. It was more of a desire than a necessity. If he couldn't succeed, he had no qualms about it. Consequently, he felt no pressure as he strode past the attentive gazes fixed upon him, each person trying to discern his identity, including Nightshade, who had momentarily shifted her focus from hunting for Takumi.
With ease, he brushed past the female, who hadn't truly expected Takumi to accept her offer, before reaching out and taking the sword from the suited man, who held it loosely.
"Ladies and gentlemen, orcs and elves alike, I present to you a blade unlike any you have ever witnessed," Takumi began, gently caressing the handle of his blade with his index finger. "A blade that can slice through anything, leaving nothing behind but a clean cut."
His words were heavily exaggerated yet captivating to the audience, who now had their eyes fixed on the blade in question. Questions raced through their minds like wildfire. What exactly could the blade possess that warranted such praise from the man? Was he simply bluffing?
"Forged from the finest steel and meticulously designed for swift, clean slices, I present to you a blade known by only one name," he continued, drawing it out and swiftly swinging it to his side. "The Katana!"
A sudden silence enveloped the room, one that Takumi hadn't expected but had kept as a possibility in the back of his mind. While it disappointed him that he couldn't capture the interest of the cloaked figures, it didn't bother him too much. The best he could do now was try to convince them that his item was worth it before starting his new life in Etheria on a fresh page.
"Pardon me, sir." A female voice called out from where he once sat before a green cloaked elf stood, " What proof do you have of this object being as destructive as you claim?"
Her question, though seemingly simple, carried unexpected weight among the audience. Instantly, the atmosphere shifted, transforming the crowd into a relentless force, ready to dismantle Takumi's assertions unless substantiated by evidence—of which he had none.
Takumi's confidence wavered. He had drawn his conclusions from popular media, relying on depictions from shows and anime. However, beneath the fictional veneer, he recognized the inherent logic in wielding a katana. Its design and composition rendered it a formidable weapon, capable of slicing through almost anything, provided the wielder possessed sufficient skill and speed. With this realization, a spark of confidence reignited within him.
"An excellent question," Takumi responded, steadying himself. "But rather than mere words, I believe a practical demonstration would elucidate the matter more effectively." He turned to the crowd, his tone composed. "And who better to assist than someone who understands the art of the sword? Perhaps you, madam, with your discerning inquiry, possess such knowledge. Would you be willing to aid me? My arm, I must confess, is not at its strongest today."
His actions, being more out of his own speculations, were a mere 50-50 bet against his own self. He wasn't sure whether or not the elf herself would be capable of producing said speed in order for the katana's design to fully come into play but he had no reason to try his luck anyways. As such, he felt no regret passing the blade to the female who instantly noticed a difference up close.
It was lighter, slimmer and more comfortable to wield than any ordinary steel blade that she had grown accustomed to using. A part of her was astonished that any blacksmith could manage to produce such a well refined blade while the other still held doubts towards its functionality.
"What better material to test this against other than the hardest material within the kingdom, don't you agree..mr.." The female announcer commented, attempting to finally identify the male before further increasing the scale at which his humiliation would extend to. Unlucky for her, Takumi was well aware of her intentions and he was in no rush to reveal his own identity, especially not with a target on his back.
"My identity is unnecessary, I'm here to sell the blade not myself." Takumi responded coldly, retaining his hidden gaze towards the elf wielding his item," The hardest material you can find would be fine for use."
Although offended by his previous comment, the female sucked it in, knowing full well that the full force of embarrassment would prove to be a better way of teaching him manners. As such, she simply gestured towards one of the males who silently and hastily rushed to the backstage and re-emerged with a lilac colored ore, placing it carefully onto a silver tray which he then carefully placed in front of the elf.
"This is an Aurora shard, a near indestructible metal that would be better suited to display the skills of your blade." The female announcer spouted, calming herself as she carefully viewed the elf before her," Do try your best to slice it open."
Her words left the room silent. Every gaze was now set on the shard and the blade, not a single one holding a fraction of belief towards the capability of the sword with the coming of the shard its self. It was an impossible task to place upon anyone! The shard was known for one aspect only, its invulnerability. It rarely even appears after slaying a high-grade Etherial beast and its very origin is basically unknown! If the blade that Takumi had boasted so much about truly managed to even dent the ore then not only would the elves be after it, but nearly the forces of every kingdom within Etheria!
The elf knew this as well, but being a mere wielder of the blade, she had no say in anything. All she could do was take in a deep breath before closing her eyes and lifting the Katana towards the sky.
The sound of a passing collision was all Takumi heard before he finally noticed that the elf's stance had even changed. From holding the blade in the sky to nearly colliding its tip with the flooring of the auction building, Takumi had seen nothing unfold in-between! Nor did the audience who stared at the elf in shock...let alone them, even the elf herself was in shock. The blade had been lighter than she'd expected and thus her speed had been a far shot from what she'd initially intended to release.
CRACK!
The sound, though slow to emerge, was enough to draw everyone's attention back. Right before their eyes, the famous indestructible ore split into a clean half, leaving both pieces falling to the floor with equally timed thuds...but that was only the tip of the iceberg. The tray it stood on equally halved its self, followed by the stood it stood on...followed by the flooring it was on and all the way to the two bronze doors of the auction house to the very roofing of the establishment.
Even Takumi was left wordless as he watched the structure before him split in a perfect half, only ending where the blade first faced...this was far beyond his expectations.