Chapter~21
I was genuinely shocked.
Why is that here?
“Th-that…!”
That’s a rare item!
An item with special abilities attached!
“…Hm? What’s wrong?”
“…I want it!”
I have to get it somehow!
“That?”
The auctioneer kept saying it was a valuable item, but its appearance was nothing more than a worn, thin bracelet.
A bracelet woven from what looked like delicate threads—so thin you couldn’t even tell if it was real gold.
“Starting at 10 silver!”
“Hmm… 10 silver!”
“11 silver!”
Maybe because of how it looked, the reactions were lukewarm despite the auctioneer claiming it came from a dragon’s lair.
No, that thing is valuable! If you’re unlucky, you can’t even get it with real money!
Mephisto, noticing my reaction, lightly nudged Pierre.
“Your lover seems to want it. Perhaps you could buy it for them? Of course, someone who would purchase a dragon’s egg for their lover wouldn’t be interested in such trivial junk… but it does seem they really want it.”
“Ah, well… yes.”
Pierre glanced at me and said,
“My lover… seems to want it this badly, so I’ll purchase it.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Well.
If he’s sticking to his role, this makes sense.
And for me? Perfect.
“30 silver! Any higher bids?!”
“1 gold!”
I immediately called out 1 gold.
That’s mine!
Too high? Who cares? It’s not even my money!
“1 gold! Any higher bids? 3, 2, 1… Sold!”
“Yay! Thank you, Phil!”
“…It’s nothing. I’ll give you something more valuable later.”
After that, nothing much stood out.
Most items were wyvern materials, with occasional dragon-related materials.
Judging by the rising prices, they were indeed rare.
Monster byproducts were always expensive.
“Finally, today’s highlight!”
The auctioneer shouted confidently.
“A supreme magical beast that burns mountains, dominates monsters, and flies the skies—the dragon’s egg!”
As the cloth was removed, a smooth egg revealed itself, reflecting light like a jewel.
“They say dragon eggs shine like gemstones! And indeed! This brilliance! It rivals diamonds!”
“Ooooh! Finally!”
“It’s truly beautiful, just as the stories say!”
People buzzed excitedly.
It even looked like a polished sapphire, with a faint silhouette visible inside.
“We’ll start at 1,000 gold!”
One billion?!
The starting price was insane.
“1,100 gold!”
“1,200 gold!”
The bids kept climbing.
I glanced nervously at Pierre.
Did this guy… actually bring enough money?
Then Pierre calmly raised his paddle.
“10,000 gold.”
Silence fell.
Hic.
Someone let out a shocked hiccup.
That someone… was me.
“Anyone willing to go higher?”
This guy is insane…
Even the auctioneer froze for a moment before breaking into a huge smile.
“Yes! 10,000 gold! Any higher?!”
Of course not.
“Sold! Customer number 44! Please proceed with payment after the auction!”
“Understood.”
“Who is that man? Even for a dragon egg, that price is…”
“He must be high nobility! Look at those clothes!”
People whispered, trying to guess his identity.
Amidst them, Pierre turned to me with a relaxed smile.
“Well, Ed. Do you like it?”
“…That’s incredible.”
You could’ve just given me that money instead.
Is this how rich people think?
No matter how expensive, they just buy it?
“Next item—”
The rest of the auction was uneventful.
The only annoying thing was people constantly glancing at Pierre.
“This is driving me crazy…”
At least the black magicians wouldn’t mistake him for someone else after this spectacle.
“Let’s go, Ed.”
“…Yes. Um… Pelles, please wait here for a moment.”
“I’ll wait at the entrance.”
The auction ended successfully.
Pierre confidently headed to retrieve his items.
“Customers 43 and 44?”
“Yes.”
A masked staff member greeted us politely.
“Customer 43, the bracelet from the dragon’s lair. Customer 44, the dragon’s egg, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Will you retrieve them separately? I can guide you individually.”
“Ed, the bracelet won’t take long, right? I’ll go to the egg.”
“Yes. Once I get it, I’ll ask them to guide me to Phil.”
The staff assigned another employee to guide me.
We walked down a corridor lined with rooms until he stopped.
“This way.”
Inside were various miscellaneous items.
He carefully handed me the bracelet.
“Here it is.”
“Thank you!”
I actually got it!
I immediately put it on my wrist.
Just as I struggled to suppress my rising grin, he spoke meaningfully:
“But… are you sure it’s alright to leave him alone?”
“Ah, Phil?”
He’s stronger than me—what’s there to worry about?
Just as I was about to say that—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the building.
“Ugh…!”
Crackle—
A communication stone on his outfit activated.
—A dungeon has formed in the valuables storage! Everyone evacuate!
What? A dungeon? Here? At this time?
—Based on analysis, it’s estimated to be a highest-grade dragon dungeon! Do not approach!
“A dragon dungeon…”
Just like at the marquis’ estate—and in the game—they could create dungeons using special catalysts.
And the dungeon type revealed the catalyst.
A dragon dungeon means…
“The dragon’s egg…!”
Pierre must have gone to where the egg was.
“Let’s evacuate.”
“No. I need to go to the dungeon. And—”
I reached for his mask.
Whoosh—
My hand passed through like mist.
“…Who are you?”
“Well… a hidden character? An NPC? Think of me however you like.”
I stepped back cautiously.
That state—definitely magic.
And since I couldn’t detect it, he was far beyond intermediate level.
This was likely premeditated. If I fought him, I’d probably lose.
As I searched for an opening, he raised both hands.
“Oh my, I’m not your enemy.”
“How can I trust that?”
“You don’t have a choice. You can’t defeat me anyway.”
I clenched my teeth.
“For your information, this dungeon is a Water Dragon dungeon.”
“A water dragon…?”
A dungeon filled with water.
I narrowed my eyes.
Pierre… has trauma related to water.
“Did you plan this on purpose?”
“I have no idea what you mean. Shouldn’t saving the Duke come first? Go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
He’s the culprit.
I should capture him.
“The valuables storage is back the way we came, then turn right.”
But if I wasted time, Pierre might die.
Whatever else—he’s someone I’ve grown attached to over these past months.
I ran past him.
“Disappear before I kill you!”
“Yes, of course.”
His body dissolved into mist.
His lingering, amused voice grated on my ears.
I had to get there before the gate closed.
Dungeon gates sucked in surroundings and then shut after a certain time.
“Customer! You can’t—!”
“I know! It’s a dungeon!”
Ignoring the staff, I pushed against the fleeing crowd.
By the time I reached the storage area, no one was left.
“The egg… it’s destroyed.”
Fragments of the blue gem-like egg lay scattered near a deep blue gate.
“A water dragon dungeon…”
A highest-tier dungeon with a dragon boss.
With Pierre unable to fight at full strength—and me alone—we couldn’t clear it.
But…
“…Was this intentional? To let me escape? Why?”
With this bracelet—it was possible.
This bracelet allowed escape from any dungeon.
I didn’t know his true intentions.
But if I wanted Pierre Edenrosa to survive—
I had no choice.
I tightened the bracelet securely so it wouldn’t break—
—and leapt into the gate.
