Chapter 141

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Episode 32 - Party [1]

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Shortly after purchasing the armor, several other items appeared, some of which caught my attention.

I bid on some alchemical materials that could be useful to me during the summer vacation.

I also bought a few things that would be important once the end-of-semester exams began.

In any case, not long afterward, the Ascension Stones appeared.

There were a total of eighteen of them, and the final price was three hundred billion gold coins.

The reason for that price was simple.

Ascension Stones had different purity grades, starting with Low Grade, Intermediate Grade, Advanced Grade, and Superior Grade.

And the ones I bought were Superior Grade, which was the main reason they were so expensive.

Shortly afterward, the butler received someone and then handed me a ring.

"Here are all the items you have purchased, Miss Mia."

"Aren’t these things supposed to be delivered at the end of the auction?"

"Oh, about that, this time is an exception. This decade’s auction is very different from the others, and we want the third part of the auction to feel unique."

"I understand. Then thank you."

I took the storage ring and infused it with mana.

And sure enough, everything I had bought was inside.

"Oh, and you may pay for your purchases after the party."

"Understood."

I had no idea how much of my fortune would be drained, but in any case, I discreetly stored everything in my Inventory.

At the appropriate moment, I would have to change my clothes and put on the new armor I had just obtained.

’The potion’s effect will wear off in less than an hour.’

More than enough time before all the chaos in this place began.

The auction continued for about twenty more minutes. Relics appeared that even I had never heard of, and they were truly powerful.

But most of them could only make full use of their effects with the Mage Specialty.

So I never even considered buying a relic.

’Besides, there are villain organizations I can take relics from anyway, right?’

That thought caused a smile to form at the corner of my lips.

Finally, the second part of the auction came to an end.

"Ladies and gentlemen, with this final item, we conclude the second part of the auction."

The auctioneer glanced at the watch on his wrist and then said,

"And it seems that the gathering party, where all the special guests can get to know one another, is about to begin. Furthermore..."

He paused while looking toward all the private rooms, excitement rising throughout the venue.

"The Wizard King will be attending the party, so I hope you enjoy the banquet that will be served and the grand ball that will take place at the end of the celebration."

With those final words, the auctioneer disappeared from the stage.

I leaned back in my seat, enjoying its soft comfort. I had nearly fallen asleep in the middle of the auction.

However, the Shitty witch pulled me out of my daydream.

"Hello, dear. You’re not going to miss the party because of how comfortable these seats are, are you?"

I rose from my seat and stretched my body while shaking my head. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Hehe, I won’t. Of course not. This is my chance to see one of the leaders of the Five Greats."

"Indeed, dear. I’m also very excited, considering that he is..."

"...a survivor of the war against the Abyss Lords."

"Exactly, dear."

The Wizard King.

A Class 10 Dark Mage who survived after the Five Swords defeated the Five Abyss Lords in the last Dark War.

He was a villain who had spent his youth and childhood in the Second Dark Era, during the Second Calamity.

So, just considering how long the Sorcerer King has lived, it becomes clear that he is an extremely dangerous person.

Even though his power is not the strongest among the five leaders of the Five Greats.

He is a villain in the truest sense of the word rat.

He always managed to survive against Ten-Star Awakened.

He survived through tricks, schemes, and manipulation.

’If this guy had more powerful Sorcery, he would be unstoppable.’

In the game, when it came to fighting the leaders of the Five Greats, the ideal strategy was to kill the Sorcerer King first with the help of Lumina or Director Bernice herself.

"We’re leaving, dear. The party starts in a couple of minutes. Oh, right, if you’d like to use the bathroom first..."

"Ha, ha, that’s not necessary. We can go straight to the party."

The Shitty witch seemed disappointed after hearing my words.

’What the hell was she planning to do?’

In any case, the butler stepped out of his small bar, opened the door, and said:

"I will guide you to the hall where the party will be held, dear special guests."

"Wow, old man, you’re very kind, aren’t you?"

"I’m deeply honored, my lady."

"Ha, ha, you’re welcome. Wouldn’t you like to serve under my command?"

The old man’s expression turned to stone, and he shook his head.

"I’m sorry, my lady. I have a slave contract with the Lord of the Dome and cannot disobey orders."

"Well, what a shame. Then please lead the way."

’What the hell is this crazy woman thinking?’

I sighed inwardly. This Shitty witch really does actively seek out both men and women.

To carry out her depraved desires.

’Her Sorcery is related to Depravity... so I suppose that, in a certain sense, no one should judge her, but if they knew she does it mostly because she loves it and is even worse than others imagine.’

The butler guided us through the corridors and grand halls.

He explained certain areas whose purpose had previously been unknown to me.

Just as it appeared from the outside, the Dome was truly enormous.

Every hall was colossal. I had thought the Auction Hall was already huge, with enough capacity for one million regular guests, one hundred thousand VIPs, and fifteen hundred special guests.

But there were actually halls that were much larger.

’Everything is so extravagant, but somehow I want to have a place this big.’

It was certainly a passing thought, but after thinking about it carefully...

I realized that I had no place to call home in this world.

I have nowhere to go.

I have nowhere to live.

And I have no place where someone is waiting to welcome me.

Whether friends or family.

’Ugh, maybe it’s because, aside from my friends, I really have no one else.’

No family and no acquaintances.

And somehow, the desire to have a home as extravagant and grand as the Dome caused a seed to take root in my heart without me even realizing it.

***

Clana was led by her butler; on her finger was a storage ring containing everything she had bought during the second part of the Auction.

’Good, I already have my Plan B prepared. The problem is whether it will work.’

A Dimensional Movement Scroll along with Mana Storage Stones.

Besides a Teleportation Array, there were also dimensional movement scrolls.

The problem with the scroll was that the traveler could end up stranded in an unknown location.

There was no way to set coordinates like there was with a Teleportation Array.

’I just hope the scroll isn’t fake.’

She did not have the ability to distinguish a fake scroll from a genuine one.

Clana knew that some villains were trying to kill her, so there was a possibility that they had replaced her scroll with a fake one.

At the same time, Clana frowned.

’Those Ascension Stones were High Grade. Obtaining them is no easy task, and eighteen of them appeared here, but...’

There had been another buyer, causing her to lose the opportunity to acquire all eighteen Ascension Stones.

’I’ll have to look for some Ascension Stones throughout the entire vacation.’

It did not take long for the butler to lead Clana to the banquet hall.

A massive door stood open, allowing several butlers and special guests to enter.

Clana passed through the enormous doors. Before her stretched a vast and spacious hall, with decorated walls and a ceiling adorned with multiple arches that formed intricate patterns.

Crystal chandeliers emitted an intense light.

Long, decorated tables were covered with steaming dishes that filled the room with a delicious aroma.

A large dance floor extended in front of a podium where a throne stood, and before the throne was a long table accompanied by several other seats.

In addition, a pianist occupied one corner, and near him was a group of musicians.

Clana looked around, noticing that a large portion of the special guests were villains, as well as other famous and highly sought-after figures from different continents.

’I need to be careful.’

Clana looked toward a table at the far end of the great hall and decided to go there.

She did not want to be close to villains who could potentially be the ones trying to kill her.

Clana took a seat and looked toward the podium where the table and throne were located.

’I suppose that’s where the Sorcerer King will sit.’

Clana looked around and suddenly felt two people sit near her.

They were two women, one quite short and the other quite tall.

The tall woman, in particular, was extraordinarily beautiful. Clana was impressed for a moment, but then ignored it.

The other woman wore a mask, so Clana could not guess how beautiful she was.

"Wow, dear, look at these dishes. Don’t they look appetizing?"

"Ha, ha, they certainly do."

"..."

Clana frowned when she looked at the shorter woman.

’She seems irritated... no.’

’Could it be because of the tall woman sitting beside her?’