Chapter 151 (1/2)

I followed Aidan to the auction house. I was able to hear his explanation as we walked. The auction house at the black market was different from the outside auction houses. The quality of the items was different. In any case, I got one important piece of information. More users were using this place than I thought.

“In any case, it is the flower of the black market. Last year, a second-grade Star Fruit was sold for a huge $50 million. I’m sorry I can’t eat a Star Fruit because I’m not an immortal human. Haha.”

Oh my god. $50 million...

Then how much was the zero-grade Star Fruit that I ate?

“You can’t eat a Star Fruit if you’re not an immortal human?”

“That’s right. You didn’t know? Those who existed in the world from the beginning, like us, will be ‘Cursed by the Stars’ if we eat it. This happened recently...”

He went on and on. He had been pretending to be very close to me since I said I drove out the resident of Garbage Village. I just listened to what I wanted to hear while letting the rest go in one ear and out the other.

“In short, the Star Fruit gives the Curse of the Stars or the God’s Curse. There are various theories... Ah, do you know?”

“What is it?”

“My cousin Kaidan built the Colosseum. He told me that the Star Fruit will be given to the winner of the Colosseum battle. Haha. That crazy guy. It would be a huge amount if he sold it.”

This was also new information. It was a prize given to the winner of the Colosseum battle. This was interesting. “Thank you for the good information.”

“Haha, it’s nothing. Ah, we’re here. This is the place.”

I followed his gaze and saw a medium-sized, dome-shaped building. It wasn’t as big as I had expected but it was around the size of a medium-sized supermarket. It seemed a lot of money had been invested so the gorgeous appearance was wonderful. It was huge.

Just then, someone came up to us. It was a person selling tickets at the entrance. “Welcome, Sir Aidan.”

“I came to see the auction.”

“I’ll take you to the VIP seat.”

He released the rope that prevented reckless entry and guided Aidan and I. I could feel the users’ stinging gaze behind me.

“Who is that? A noble?”

“Che, I have to wait an hour to get in.”

“I should’ve been a merchant.”

After a brief grumbling, they turned their heads away again. Perhaps this wasn’t an unusual event. After a while, we were able to arrive at the VIP seats on the second floor.

“Haha. Sit back and relax. I occasionally come here with nobles.”

At Aidan’s words, I sat down in a suitable chair. It was the seat where the stage was most visible. He handed me something.

“Use this. They are glasses with magnification magic. You can’t see the stage very well from here so it is better to use this.”

Magnification magic? I didn’t think I needed it. My vision was now enhanced with super sensitivity. The stage was quite far away but if I focused, I could see it like it was right in front of me.

“No, my eyes are usually very good so it looks clear.”

“Will it really be okay?”

“It’s fine.”

He offered it to me again a few more times but I kept refusing. He let out a sigh.

“It can’t be helped. Ah, you can’t take off that mask? It doesn’t matter if you take it off here.”

I momentarily flinched. Things would go out of control if I took off my mask here. Looking back, there were still Aidan’s guards. They were NPCs but they were all above level 200. Considering that they were NPCs with intelligence instead of monsters, their ability would definitely be higher.

“Cough. I have burns on my face.”

“Ah, I see. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Phew. I thought it went well. He still didn’t recognize me even though I only changed my voice a bit. At this point, I was wondering if my acting was just that good or if Aidan was just that stupid.

-We’ll finally start today’s auction. All guests, please be seated.

A captivating female voice rang in the hall. It was the woman who came with Aidan when I got a jackpot. I slowly shifted my gaze toward the stage.

“I’m going to the bathroom for a second.”

“Ah, yes.”

Once Aidan disappeared, I immediately opened my inventory. I pulled out a skewer I had bought from the freckled girl and took a bite. The meat melted in my mouth and its seasoning was excellent.

“Yum, I was starving.”

[Your satiety is rising.]

* * *

Reina, Damian, and Reinhardt immediately sat down once the auction began. They were currently sitting at the rearmost seats reserved for sellers. They gazed at the stage with the magnification glasses given to them. However, Reina was looking at something else. It wasn’t the stage but a man.

“Huhut. I like it very much. There is a refreshing feeling.”

She was currently gazing at an employee NPC on stage. For reference, she liked handsome men. The younger the target, the better.

”Hahaha! Reina! Your fiery heart is really refreshing!” Next to her, Reinhardt laughed. It seemed this muscular idiot mistakenly thought she was looking at the stage with a fiery heart.

‘Hah. He has a good body but his face is ugly.’

This was why she couldn’t like Reinhardt. Looking closely at the face, it was worth looking at, just... his bald head was the problem. Reina hated baldness. It was because her father was bald.

‘Uhh, I really hate it.’

She hated it whenever her father came to school. Her friends kept taunting her because her father was bald. Reina’s trauma of baldness still lingered, and it was also a very intense one.

“Sigh. Hair loss treatment should be developed soon...”

“Huh? Reina! What did you say to me?”

“Nothing. Just that you’re too cool.”

“Kuhaha! Thank you! Reina! I love you!”

“Hah. I’ll think about it.”

They were having a strange conversation when Damian spoke from where he was sitting behind them, “Reina, you really won’t regret it? It isn’t too late now.”

“No, it is better to sell it. This is what I’ve decided.”

“Okay, then I won’t ask anymore.”

In fact, she was a bit confused at the beginning. She held the blazing heart and agonized over it for a few minutes. However, there were too many drawbacks.

‘It would be nice to randomly get one of Minotaur’s powers but my attribute will be permanently fixed to the fire type. And...’

There was one major drawback. The one who ate the heart wouldn’t be able to eat a Star Fruit. The system message had clearly told her so, even if she didn’t know the reason.

‘In any case, it is better to sell it. I want a Star Fruit ability.’