Chapter 54 - Frates Festival 7 (2/2)
Artpe had recognized it early on.The magical energy was formed into the shape of a magic circle.Everything and everyone gathered within the auction house was being used as ingredients.It was a magic circle that embroiled the entire city!
There was no turning back now.The whole city would be imbued with the curse.A very small spark could burn the city to the ground!
“Twenty two thousand!”
“Twenty six thousand!”
“My god.”
Mycenae was a Dungeon Merchant.As a basic requirement, her level was high, but her understanding of magic was also deep.Of course, even she didn’t pinpoint what was wrong within Frate.However, she was well aware of the fact that the people were acting in an abnormal manner.
“C...customer, this is…..”
She wondered if she should just run away from here.At this point, she didn’t care about her reputation as a merchant or the Anywhere company.She looked ready to cry, and by instinct, she grabbed Artpe’s hand.
From the beginning to end, Artpe continued to remain in his seat.He grinned as he looked at Mycenae’s expression, then he firmly held her hand.
“I told you I’ll protect you.Don’t worry about it.”
“······.”
Mycenae shut her mouth. The hand that was holding her hand was so dependable that she forgot that he was younger than her for a brief moment!She acted silly, because she had suffered a surprise attack by Artpe.However, at that moment, the situation was approaching its climax.
“Thirty six thousand······!”
“I said thirty six thousand first!”
“Then thirty eight…...”
“Fifty thousand!”
“Fifty thousand······!?Eeeeeeeeek······.”
“I don’t have that much money.I don’t have that much money…..Shit.The treasure is right in front of eyes, yet I’m going to lose it!”
“If I can’t solve this with money…...”
“You dare!?”
It was very natural as to how the spark would be lit.Someone just had to unsheathe his sword or chant a magic spell, and it would spur the magic circle into completion.
The curse would be spread towards the city, and if things went well, it could spread to the entire country.It could even spread across the border to burn everything.It was a clean and bold strategy that wasn’t seen even in the legends or myths.
It seems the Demon King really put effort into this plan.If he acted this way in the previous life, Artpe wouldn’t have died!
“This is my revenge, you damn bastard.”
Artpe smirked as he mumbled to himself.
It happened at that moment.It felt as if blood was about to be shed inside the auction house when the sound of a roar rang out.
[Mwahhhhhhhhhhhh!]
“Koo-ooooooh-ook!”
“What the hell······!?”
The nobles and their knights had been about to confront each other for the Netherworld Flame Sword of Madness.However, they all fell to the floor at the same time.
It wasn’t just their movement being suppressed.The yell that had come from an unknown source had completely dominated their mind and body.The energy that had been making them act crazy was dispersed.It was as if they had just woken up from sleep.Their eyes turned round as they looked at their surrounding.
“What am I doing······?”
“M...my god.Tomas, I want you to put your sword away!We are supposed to fight with money, yet you are trying to show off with your martial prowess.This isn’t an action that is befitting a noble!”
“However, his lordship….His lordship gave the order….Mmmm?What the hell?”
“Die!”
“Koohk!?”
While some people were confused, the ones that were still unable to break completely out of the curse were still in an agitated state.They were about to attack the confused people that had stopped in place!Once again, the roar filled the auction house.
[Mee-oh-ooh-ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!]
No, it wasn’t just the auction house.The yell rode along the energy of the curse that was gathered inside auction house, and it spread into the magic circle formed by the Demons.
Of course, most of the curse’s energy that was boiling up in the city was being ‘eaten.’The trigger and the fuel was being consumed before it could explode.This was why the curse lost its energy before the people residing in the city had any idea something was wrong.
“W...what the hell is this…..?”
As a Four Heavenly King of the Demon King’s army, Etna had to polish her senses over the countless number of years.This was why she was the first one to realize something was wrong.Her eyes turned round.
She knew that the auction house had been destroyed and rebuilt that day.However, she only sensed a strengthening spell that reinforced the structural integrity of the auction house.She hadn’t sense any other trace of Mana.Who could have done this?Someone had casted a intricate spell that had tricked even Etna!
“No, the only one culprit that could have pulled this off was Artpe…..”
Etna looked at Artpe with dumbfounded eyes when her gaze met his.Artpe had such a mischievous smile on his face that she wanted to pinch his cheek.However, Artpe opened his mouth before she could say anything.He just shaped his words without vocalizing it, but his message was delivered to her.
‘I’ll get it back for you.’
“Get back what…...”
She unconsciously spoke the question out loud, but in the next moment, she shut her mouth.Artpe had casted a spell over the auction house.To be precise, it was a ‘Spell Modification Spell’ that he casted using the Greed Beast and his Mana Strings.There was still another step that had yet to occur.
[Kyahhhhhhhhhhhk!]
[Koo-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!]
“T...this sound!?”
The first stage of the spell was to let the Greed Beast suck in the curse that was supposed to spread into the city using the magic circle.However, the curse hadn’t completely dissipated.The second stage of his plan was to send the remaining curse energy into the Demons on standby using the magic circle.
[Auction house!It is at the auction house!]
[Koo-hahhhhhhhhhhk! It is mine!I’ll have it!]
All of the city’s greed was focused on the auction house.Of course, the cursed Demons unhesitatingly headed towards the auction house.
The auction house had been at the center of the magic circle.In the process of reconstructing the auction house, he had used his Mana Strings to make a fundamental change to the magic circle!
“Demons!It’s the Demon race!Demons appeared from all over the city, and they are rushing the auction house!”
“Then the abnormal state of our mind from a moment ago…..!”
“Demons!It’s the Demons!We are being raided by the Demons!”
Everyone within the auction house came to their senses as they stood up.Artpe let out a leisurely smile as he watched this sight.
He had made fixes to the Record link, and he had transformed Sienna’s curse.In the process, he had become quite good at modifying spells.He had access to the heart of the magic circle, so of course, he was able to make changes to this curse!It wouldn’t have made sense if he was unable to do so!
“Customer, this is······.”
“It was supposed to be humans vs humans.I just changed it to Demons vs humans.”
Artpe spoke in a nonchalant manner as he laughed.Mycenae had no idea how he was able to use such a method.All she could do was stare at him with her mouth wide open.
“I had my eyes wide open, yet you got me ······ Amazing.”
Moreover, it was the same for Etna.She possessed abilities that was close to what a high rank magician possessed, but she didn’t deal with highly difficult spells.Her ability was focused on making powerful magic using fire.Of course, Artpe was well aware of this fact.This was why he was able to use such a bold strategy.
The items in the auction house was supposed to cause conflict amongst the humans, but the humans automatically lost interest in the items when they were faced with the prospect of facing Demons.Of course, those items were…..
[Mee-ahhhhhhhhhhng!]
“Yes.You should eat a lot and grow rapidly.”
As its owner, he could vaguely see its form.The Greed Beast was eating the energy of the curse that was filling the auction house.
The egg was able to be hatched, because countless requisite was gathered and overlapped in this place.It was busy eating the curse and evil mana that was right in front of it.It would probably be able to materialize fully when it was able to eat everything here.
“Well, I should…..”
Artpe let out a truly satisfied laughter as he turned around.He could feel the explosive energyof the Demons on the other side.They were all bundles of EXP that would be good for him.
“...put the finishing touch on this.”
From the start to the end of the second Quest, everything had progressed according to his calculations.
It was time for him to acquire his reward.