IPMPBB 26

Chapter 26

Wow.

I inwardly let out a gasp of admiration.

The auction house was more glamorous than any casino I had ever seen.

“This way, please.”

Murdin led us to a secluded table.

Carlos and I sat down as casually as we could, pretending to be calm.

“Please make yourselves comfortable.”

Murdin spoke with a trembling voice and withdrew.

Carlos remained composed, as did I—because I already knew what was going to happen, and Carlos seemed accustomed to missions like this.

As we calmly sipped the fruit juice provided—

“About the person who bought your ceremonial sword…”

Carlos looked at me with a complicated expression.

“Do you have any guesses who it might be?”

“Someone who hated you enough to buy it, maybe?”

I put down my juice and thought.

Carlos was right. Anyone who bought that sword likely knew it was mine—they probably weren’t buying it as a luxury item, but to spite me.

I calmly sifted through Elia’s memories.

Too many enemies.

I confessed that to Carlos, embarrassed. He sighed like he expected it.

“So there’s no point trying to narrow it down.”

I just nodded, ashamed.

But surprisingly, Carlos didn’t criticize me this time.

“Let’s try to find clues through the auction.”

I was taken aback.

“You’re… not going to say anything?”

Carlos paused, surprised by his own silence.

An awkward silence followed.

Fortunately, the auctioneer appeared at the perfect moment.

“Now, the auction begins!”

First item: an emerald supposedly blessed by the Saintess.

“It’s fake, right?”

“Obviously.”

Carlos whispered. He had seen a real blessed gem before—this one didn’t compare.

I remembered—in the original story, Carlos met the Saintess during his time as a trainee knight, and later they shared a legendary romance.

They even got soul-marked—a sacred bond of royal blood.

It amplified their powers and helped them defeat enemies.

But I didn’t ask if he liked her from the start—asking about a subordinate’s love life would be creepy.

The emerald sold for a high price anyway.

Then came the 15th item: Elia’s ceremonial sword.

I set my cup down slowly.

Gold hilt, ruby guard, straight blade. No doubt—it was mine.

“A ceremonial sword of the Royal Knights!”

The crowd murmured.

“Can that even be sold here?”

“Won’t that cause trouble?”

The auctioneer reassured them:

“Don’t worry! The owner won’t come looking for it. If they were responsible, it wouldn’t be here.”

Carlos stared at me—his eyes full of commentary.

In the original story, Elia never recovered her sword. When Carlos became commander, he was issued a new one, meaning Elia’s was never found.

“Makes sense.”

“The Royal Knights are strict. Losing it means you’re careless.”

The audience calmed and bidding began.

“30,000!”

“35,000!”

Carlos and I exchanged a glance. Time to act.

“50,000.”

Carlos raised our number card.

The room quieted. No one else was willing to go that high.

Elia’s sword was won by Carlos.

But the item wouldn’t be handed over until the auction ended.

Now it was time for my second goal:

To rescue the sub-male lead being sold as a slave.

Why?

Because in the original story, he’s sold to Count Melason’s son, who later abuses Elia using him.

The sub-male lead eventually becomes a devoted knight to the Saintess, after Elia dies.

So even though both were used by the villain, Elia dies, while the sub-lead gets redeemed.

My plan: get him on my side now, just in case I still get forced into early retirement.

But… the unfairness of it all hit me.

“Why did I die and he got saved?”

“Commander? What are you thinking?”

Carlos broke my thoughts.

“Nothing,” I forced a smile.

He was about to say something when—

“Now begins the highlight of today’s auction: the slave sale!”

Carlos frowned.

We already knew this would happen, but seeing it in person was sickening.

“Today’s slave was raised by wolves!”

The curtains opened dramatically.

The sub-male lead appeared—the one who once tormented Elia, but whose fate I now intended to rewrite.