DSFL | Chapter 80

~Chapter 80~

I wanted to ask more questions, but I only had one question left.

‘Better save it, just in case.’

Besides, like Arkan said, I still needed to get the necklace. If I wasted any more time, I might fall asleep before I could get it.

I pulled myself together and started walking again.

Repaying Peril is seriously the hardest thing ever…

As soon as I returned to the auction hall, I was greeted by a chaotic atmosphere.

“This may be your last chance to return to your former youth! A masterpiece by the great magician—an extremely rare opportunity!”

“700,000 gold!”

“800,000 gold!”

Earlier, the most expensive item had sold for 500,000 gold. I swallowed hard at how quickly the price had gone up.

Then a thought hit me—

‘Wait… the necklace technically belongs to the shop, right? So even if I keep raising the price, it doesn’t matter.’

The funds I received would just go back to the shop anyway.

At that moment, the price jumped again.

“1,000,000 gold!”

“We now have a bid for 1,000,000 gold! Anyone else?”

“1,500,000 gold!”

No sooner had the announcer finished speaking than paddles shot up everywhere.

“2,000,000 gold! I want to give it to my wife as a wedding gift, so please, let me have it!”

“2,100,000 gold.”

A timid voice came from the 60s seats.

“I-I really need that necklace too! Sorry, I’m going to bid.”

“2,200,000 gold!”

“2,400,000 gold!”

The price kept climbing little by little, and then the person in seat #4 raised their paddle.

“5,000,000 gold.”

Gasps filled the room.

‘If it were me, I’d buy land with that money…’

As I was about to raise my paddle, Number 21 leaned over and whispered,

“Why don’t you just let that person have it? Honestly, they suit the necklace the most.”

His words triggered a realization.

‘That must be Hestia.’

There weren’t many people in the Empire who could casually throw around that kind of money.

The merchant leader from the Hinas Guild was supposed to show up on the second day, so that only left the princess.

Ricardo could be an option, but he was sitting beside me doing absolutely nothing.

“Sure, you’re rich too, but do you really need the necklace? You already look… well…”\

“6,000,000 gold.”

I ignored him and raised my paddle. Hestia immediately turned around and stared at me.

“Uh-oh, I think she’s mad. What do we do…”

Number 21 fidgeted nervously. He even looked like he wanted to snatch my paddle away.

Hestia scoffed and raised the bid.

“7,000,000 gold.”

“7,500,000 gold.”

“8,000,000 gold.”

“8,500,000 gold.”

As we kept going back and forth, Hestia suddenly asked,

“…Are you sure you can afford that?”

To be honest, not really.

I remembered the amount written on the check Lily gave me—but whatever.

This whole thing was fake anyway, so it didn’t really matter how high the bidding went.

Then Hestia stood up.

“Can you prove it?”

“You’re just another bidder like me. What gives you the right to ask that?”

I tried to sound confident, but my heart was pounding.

Hestia responded with a mocking laugh.

“I just want to make things clear. For all we know, you could be a shop employee trying to increase the price.”

“People who say that are usually the ones doing it. Even when you kept raising your bid, I never accused you.”

Wow. Is she psychic?

At least she didn’t say anything else, which meant she had no good comeback.

‘…The real problem is she might come over to verify the money as soon as I win the bid!’

While I was stressing, a voice came from beside me.

“9,000,000 gold.”

Hestia’s gaze immediately shifted.

‘Ricardo?’

I stared at him in disbelief. He gave Hestia a light nod and asked,

“What? Do I need to prove it too?”

“Sure, why not. Auctioneer, can we verify each other’s funds?”

“Oh my, this is the first time something like this has happened. But if it’s a customer’s request, we can make it happen. Staff, please come verify for me.”

So he was after the necklace too? Then I really don’t stand a chance…

Peril… I’m sorry… I’ll repay you next time.

As the room became more chaotic, the staff finished verifying both Hestia and Ricardo’s funds.

Taking advantage of the noise, I leaned over to Ricardo and asked,

“Did you come to buy the necklace?”

“No.”

His answer came instantly.

He rubbed his forehead like he had a headache, then looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Why do you need that necklace?”

It would take too long to explain, and there wasn’t enough time. So I gave a short answer.

“I want to be prettier.”

“Ha. But you’re already…”

His voice was slightly frustrated. Before he could finish, I cut him off.

“More importantly, if you’re not here for the necklace, just leave.”

That was the real point. Soon, everyone in the auction would fall asleep.

“…Is there a reason?”

“Yes.”

I took a small breath.

Just then, there was a loud bang, and the whole building shook.

“…!”

Ricardo looked toward the noise. Guests murmured in confusion and began standing up.

“Looks like there’s a fire nearby! But the auction hall is safe, so don’t worry!”

Even so, the guests looked uneasy and didn’t return to their seats.

“We’re not going to get trapped in here, are we?”

“Oh dear, of course not! This place is managed by the Moon’s Shop…”

“I’ve got nothing else to buy, so can I just leave?”

With the necklace’s price too high, many guests had no reason to stay.

“A fire? How could something like that happen? I want to leave too…”

In the chaos, I tried again to persuade Ricardo.

“This situation won’t get any better. You should leave too.”

Ricardo let out a faint laugh.

At that moment, I felt something heavy in my left pocket.

Glancing down, I saw a mouse-like creature—Penny—smiling at me.

She whispered,

“I did a good job, right?”

I gently patted her head.

;If the auction doesn’t end by midnight, could you cause a small accident nearby?’

That was the favor I had asked her before.

‘What kind of accident?’

‘Anything’s fine, as long as no one gets hurt.’

There was no way to force the guests who wanted the necklace to leave, but if it was after midnight, the auction would mostly be over.

By then, the necklace would’ve either been sold—or the price would’ve risen too high.

‘The guests who’ve finished their business won’t have a reason to stay.’

If something happened during that time, most people would choose to leave.

Just like now.

The auctioneer, flustered, tried to stop the guests.

“We still have free bidding time left! Please don’t go yet!”

Thud, thud…

But as the noise outside continued, people started to quickly exit the hall.

“Idiots…”

Hestia clicked her tongue and turned her head.

“Everyone, we’re safe! The auction hall exists in a pocket dimension—it won’t collapse.”

Still, the number of people remaining was small.

I turned to Ricardo, who still hadn’t moved.

“Please leave. If you really need the necklace, I’ll retrieve it and lend it to you later.”

I didn’t want to drag Ricardo into Ailins’s memories. He already had his own burdens.

But he just stared at me silently.

When I was about to speak again, he opened his mouth.

“I misspoke earlier.”

“About what?”

“The necklace. I did come here to buy it.”

“…!”

Ricardo folded his arms stubbornly, clearly no longer willing to listen to me.

I was so stunned, I could barely speak.

“Why do you need it?”

“I want to be more handsome.”

“What, haven’t you looked in a mirror?”

Normally, I wouldn’t say something so mean—but I was too stressed to hold back.

“I look very closely.”

“Then why…”

“There’s someone I want to look good for.”

“…”

“It’s important to me, for my own reasons.”