Unlike the item hall I was looking at earlier, the auction hall is a place where illegal items can also be put up, so I wore a mask to cover my face and sat on the terrace on the top floor.
It's a space exclusively for nobles. What's the point of wearing a mask when you can't shrink your body?
Ignoring Dmitry visible at one end and Dviona waving her hand at me openly, I looked at the stage.
Beautiful pottery, ancient books, pet magical beasts.
Things I don't need, and since it's the beginning of the auction, these trivial items quickly pass by, and soon humans and Ain race start to appear.
"This is a leopard race, good as a guard. He's middle-aged but still usable. The starting price is 3 gold!"
No matter how much the Sense of Affluence trait makes me feel at ease, given the foreseeable future, I haven't been able to sleep properly for the past few days except for the first day I came here.
As a result, even the auctioneer's booming voice sounds like a lullaby… And this VVIP seat sofa is too soft…
I'm nodding off, falling into a deep sleep without realizing it, when I vaguely hear a drawling sound with my half-open ears.
"Next up … Boy … appearance … 10 gold!"
"Dmitry, I want to buy that! Buy it for me!"
"Wow…"
What woke me from my doze was Luna's exclamation, who had been standing next to me without even making a breathing sound.
That timid one is making a sound? Why?
I unconsciously lifted my head, wiping my mouth with my sleeve. And then…
"Wow…"
I know female readers went crazy when the illustrations came out, but honestly, what reason would male readers have to be excited about Kane's appearance?
Even if they say he's handsome or a world-class beauty or whatever, it's a male character, so what's the big deal?
I was the same. Although I liked Kane, it was just a kind of affection, and I couldn't even remember the physical description when reading the novel, to the point where I only found out Kane had black hair when I saw the game illustrations.
But… Wow, when this comes out in reality, it's on a different level. As expected of a protagonist. That bastard, he's got it all…
Even though it's quite a distance, I can see his face as clearly as if I'd had LASIK surgery, and I had the urge to just not interfere and live my life.
A guy with no way with words seduced 6 heroines with just his face, so if I just fix his temperament a little, wouldn't he achieve world peace nicely on his own?
Still, I want to see Rachel, who I'm most curious about, with my own eyes. If Kane's appearance is like that, then the other heroines too…
I lifted the bidding panel with the thought of indulging my interests a bit.
"Yes, 35 gold over there, ah! And 40 gold. Again 45 gold! This is a very popular item!"
By the way, why did the original Adelian buy Kane? If it's just for a punching bag, wouldn't a sturdy Ain or beastkin be better?
I mechanically lifted the panel while pondering the question that popped into my head.
'Ah, could it be…'
Did that bastard drink a lot of alcohol and roughly see his face, thinking he was a woman, buy him, and then use him as a punching bag to vent his anger?
"Eek! I can't lose to that guy, Dmitry!"
"100 gold!"
I hear someone screaming somewhere… Anyway, I think I'm right.
"Ah, I want him. What are you doing, not lifting the panel!"
"Aren't you obsessing too much over a mere commoner with no special abilities, Dviona…"
"Ah, hurry up~"
You were more of an idiot than I thought, my special NPC… Feeling a burning sensation inside, I downed the complimentary champagne in one shot, pushed the fruit appetizer to Luna, and then lifted the panel.
"10,000 gold."
How much is this in Korean won? About 10 billion?
Leaving behind the other competitors and the siblings who looked like their mouths had been sewn shut, I stood up.
"Shall we go to the castle now, Luna?"
I shrugged and smiled at Luna, whose already large eyes had grown even bigger, staring at me round-eyed.
"Young Master, surely… Your taste…"
"No, Luna…"
No, it's not like that!
My goodness, I'm shocked. To think that Luna, the queen of timidity, would look at me with such eyes.
Unable to bear the suspicion in those pink eyes, I grabbed Luna's cheeks.
They stretch so much.
"Ow, oww…"
"Your gaze is disrespectful, Luna."
Thinking that every part I touch feels like jelly and might become addictive, I let go and called for the goblin manager assigned to me.
"Oh my, Young Master! Shall I bring more champagne?"
It seems I must have made a fuss asking for alcohol a few times before… The taste of the champagne that had fit so well in my mouth came to mind and I hesitated for a moment, but there are more important things right now.
"I'm greatly disappointed in what's supposed to be the continent's best auction house. We'll leave for today. Before that, I want to check what I bought."
For now, at least, an image of doing whatever I want is helpful to me, so I deliberately frowned as I spoke, and the manager's already bent back bent even further.
"Ah… Well, really good items are on certain days…"
"Enough, bring it."
I know, I know. I know too. Does it make sense for good items to come up every day?
As there are customers across the entire continent, even in the game, really good items would only come up about once a month.
Still, after nitpicking a bit for no reason, I waited for him to arrive.
I bought it just by looking at the face without even checking the name, so it might not be Kane when I actually see him.
What if it's not? Should I just release him and build up my good karma?
I was unconsciously shaking my leg nervously when I heard another exclamation from beside me.
"Wow…"
The moment I met those golden eyes, I realized.
'That's the protagonist. It can't be anyone but the protagonist.'
I wondered why he was sold so cheaply despite his appearance and at a weekday auction… They probably thought he would die or break before they could set a proper date.
How much must he have resisted? Looking at the handcuffs and gag still seeping with blood, I activated the User's Eyes.
[Kane Raynare – Survivor with Only Hatred Left]
Representative Traits: [Indomitable (S)] [Genius (S)] [Appearance (S)] [Physique (S)] – Unimprinted
Hidden Traits: [Misfortune (C)] [Toughness (A)] – Unimprinted
Crazy bastard, look at those traits…
Although they're marked as unimprinted because his birthday this year hasn't passed yet and he hasn't been confirmed by a priest, these are jaw-dropping traits.
And among them, the highest level is Indomitable…
'You're telling me I have to change that?'
The fact that it's the highest level means it's the most powerful influence on Kane's beliefs and sense of self.
He doesn't bend. He doesn't yield.
Like a tree that doesn't bend even when a reed does.
Looking into those golden eyes glaring at me like flickering flames, I smiled.
I'll break you, Kane.