“W-well then, how does fifty-three thousand Nahl sound?”
“Can’t you do a little better than that?”
“It cannot be helped. Fifty-two thousand, five hundred. That is my absolute limit.”
“Understood. I think that will do.”
Sherry handed me the necklace after successfully haggling the price down to 52,500 Nahl. It felt as though she had squeezed the merchant for every last drop he had. Sherry definitely had the makings of a professional broker.
“Then I’ll take these two necklaces.”
“Thank you very much. I have conducted excellent business today. In the spirit of my grand generosity, I shall make it eighty-four thousand Nahl for the pair.”
Of course, I applied my 30% Discount. I showed no mercy. I was truly a villain. I paid the money and even received the small boxes for free. From the Bode Adventurer Guild, we warped to the Zabil Labyrinth. We moved forward in search of prey under Roxanne's guidance.
“By the way, why did you say you wanted a fifty-thousand Nahl necklace? I thought the order was for the same price as the one we sold to the Master's Wife—and that was fifty-five thousand.”
After absorbing some MP and taking a breather, I questioned Sherry.
“Only a novice sells a fifty-thousand Nahl product just because a customer mentions that budget. A true merchant, upon hearing fifty thousand, will try to upsell them on something worth fifty-five thousand. Conversely, when you actually want an item worth fifty-five thousand, you tell them your budget is fifty thousand.”
“I-I see.”
She was a pro. I had a professional consumer right here in my party.
“That merchant was also quite shrewd; he started by showing us the fifty-thousand Nahl item, which was of slightly lower quality, just to make the comparison. It’s questionable whether that necklace was even worth fifty thousand to begin with. Besides, if offered a choice between an item for fifty thousand and one for fifty-six thousand, anyone would prefer the more expensive one.”
To think such complex psychological bargaining was happening right in front of me. As expected, Sherry was incredibly reliable.
“When we sell it in Pelmask, will you also sell it for higher than their budget?”
“That will be difficult this time, as I have already heard their limit. The other party must know we are bringing something that, at the very least, won't result in a loss at that price. It would have been better if I could have prepared several options. Furthermore, one of the orders was for an item at the same price as the one sold to the Master's Wife. If I brought something more expensive than hers, she would not be pleased.”
It sounded like a political minefield. I decided it was best to leave that entire side of the business to Sherry.
“I see. As expected of you, Sherry.”
“Rather than me, I find it amazing that the price dropped so significantly without you even saying a word. I struggled just to lower it by that final five hundred Nahl, but you got it for thirty percent cheaper.”
“W-was it that much?”
If I used the 30% Discount every time, Sherry might eventually spot the pattern. Should I mix in a 10% Discount once in a while? No, there was probably no need to go that far.
“It is only natural, given Master's virtue,” Roxanne added.
“It is natural, yes,” Milia agreed.
“It wasn't exactly 'virtue,' but... well, let’s go with that.”
I decided to ride that wave of praise. I wasn't sure if Milia actually understood the situation, though. We moved to Pelmask as if fleeing the conversation.
“This might take a little while,” Sherry noted.
“Understood. Take your time.”
The Kohaku necklace wouldn't be handed directly to the Master's Wife; she would likely introduce Sherry so she could sell it to the client herself. That would undoubtedly take some time.
“I am going.”
“I will do my best.”
“Going, desu.”
I saw the three of them off at the Pelmask Adventurer Guild and returned to Quratar via the Zabil Labyrinth. I headed to the Quratar 3rd Floor to fight the boss, restoring my MP and replenishing my stock of Pepper. With Durandal, I could defeat the Spice Spider alone without any issues. The weaker monsters along the way were also trivial.
After repeating the boss battle several times, I went to the Merchant Guild. In the waiting room, I summoned Luke the broker.
“Welcome. What business do you have for me today?”
“Sorry to bother you. It isn't an order, but there was something I wanted to ask.”
“Of course. Please, come this way.”
Luke arrived immediately and guided me to a meeting room. We sat down to talk.
“Do you know if auctions are held on holidays?”
“Yes, I am aware.”
“I’m thinking of participating in one.”
“It is about that time, isn't it? As expected of you.”
Holiday auctions cost a fee just to attend. On top of that, if one intended to win a bid, a massive amount of capital was required. It wasn't wrong to say "as expected."
“Since it’s my first time, I wanted to ask about the procedures.”
“I see. How much do you already know about auctions?”
“Only what I've heard in passing.”
I had seen charity auctions on TV and internet auctions back in my old world, but I had never actually participated in one. There was no guarantee that auctions in this world followed the same logic.
“Regarding the basic proceedings: first, the seller presents a Minimum Bid Price. Since the seller must sell at that amount if a bid is placed, it usually reflects their desired price. However, if no one bids, their deposit is forfeited as a penalty. Because of that, the Minimum Bid Price is generally kept at a reasonable level.”
“That’s well-thought-out.”
“It is considered good manners toward other buyers for the first bidder to start at that Minimum Bid Price. After that, interested buyers raise the price. The minimum increments are: one hundred Nahl for amounts under ten thousand; one thousand Nahl for amounts between ten thousand and one hundred thousand; and ten thousand Nahl for amounts over one hundred thousand. Raising the price beyond ten times these minimum units isn't strictly against the rules, but it is considered quite poor form.”
I was glad I asked. Dropping a million Nahl all at once would be seen as a breach of etiquette. I had to be careful. Other than that, the system didn't seem too different from what I knew.
“Understood.”
“Those are the main things to watch out for. You will understand the rest once you see the actual flow.”
“Sorry for taking up your time when I wasn't placing an order.”
“That reminds me—the other day, I heard talk of a family having some financial difficulties,” Luke said, shifting to small talk.
“Oh?”
“Apparently, it is the Baradam House. They are quite well-known among the Wolf-kin.”
“Ah, I see.”
So it really was the Baradam House. I already knew, of course. Since Luke knew I had Roxanne in my party, I played along. It would be unnatural for a Wolf-kin like Roxanne to know absolutely nothing about them. I didn't feel the need to explain any further. There was a chance the Duke might leak the details eventually, but I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.
“Regarding that Baradam House, rumors are spreading that they will be putting a Holy Spear up for auction.”
“Rumors?”
“It is a common tactic to generate interest and gather bidders. They will likely put it up for sale very soon.”
“Is that how it works?”
If no one knew about it, the item might be sold quietly for a pittance. Spreading information ensured more bidders and a higher Successful Bid Price. So they started rumors before the listing. I recalled Sherry mentioning that a Holy Spear increased magic power. That would be useful for me as well. Luke wasn't just making small talk; he was fishing for business. He truly was a shark—it was no wonder Sherry viewed him as an enemy.
“Most likely, the parties that have been hoarding Skill Crystal: Kobold and Skill Crystal: Scissor-type Insectivorous Plant will bid for the Holy Spear.”
“For MP Absorption? A Holy Spear would certainly suit that, but wouldn't they have a weapon already?”
“If they fail the fusion many times, they might try a different base. Even if they have a weapon, they would surely consider switching for something as good as a Holy Spear.”
“I see.”
“Whether they actually make a move is unknown, but the Baradam House likely targeted that niche, figuring they could sell it for a premium right now.”
It was a sound theory. Since they were desperate for cash, they might not be thinking about the long-term consequences.
“Currently, a Skill Crystal: Scissor-type Insectivorous Plant never falls below six thousand Nahl at auction. What would you do if such a crystal became available right now?”
The tone of the conversation shifted.
“You have one?”
“Being in this trade, I have certain connections. However, the price would be higher. If you can offer six thousand, six hundred Nahl, I can let you have it.”
So this was his goal all along. Brokers really are untrustworthy. However, that specific crystal was valuable. Combined with a Kobold crystal, it granted the MP Absorption skill. It would be a game-changer for me. If I didn't have to rely on Durandal as often, my efficiency would skyrocket.
“Hmm. I see.”
“In this case, it won't go through the auction, so there is no commission. It is quite a bargain.”
If I asked Luke to win it at auction, I’d be charged five hundred Nahl. Here, there was no fee. But wait—if the auction price never fell below six thousand, then with the commission, it would be over sixty-five hundred. The prices were nearly identical.
No, wait. Don't be fooled. The reason it hit six thousand was because of current high demand. The usual market price was likely lower. If I waited, I could get it cheaper. There was no absolute need to pay sixty-six hundred right now. I almost got tricked. He was incredibly shrewd. I didn't need to take the bait; this deal wasn't actually profitable. I didn't know when the next one would appear, but I had Durandal for now. It wasn't an emergency.
“In any case, I plan to use that crystal with a Skill Crystal: Kobold. So, if you can also get a Kobold crystal—if you have both—I might buy them.”
“Simultaneously?”
“The price for the first can be sixty-six hundred, as you said. For the Skill Crystal: Kobold, I’m willing to pay up to five thousand, four hundred.”
“I see. So you are saving the auction commission for the Kobold crystal.”
I offered fifty-four hundred for the Kobold crystal, though I wasn't sure if it actually cost that much. Judging by Luke's reaction, it was a fair guess. However, he probably had a way to get it cheaper, meaning the difference was his profit.
“What do you think?”
“I cannot give a guarantee since I don't have the Kobold crystal on hand, but I shall see what I can do.”
If he could get it cheap, it was a deal. If he had to pay full price at auction, he’d likely pass. That was fine with me.
“Understood. I’ll leave it to you.”
After leaving the request with Luke, I returned to the Pelmask Adventurer Guild. The three girls arrived immediately, each carrying a mirror. Sherry was beaming. The necklaces must have sold.
“Welcome back. It looks like things went well.”
I didn't pry further, and we returned home via the Zabil Labyrinth. Once the mirrors were in the storage room, Sherry gave her report.
“In Pelmask, we visited the Wife of the Former Representative of the Executive Committee with the Master's Wife. Her mansion was quite elegant.”
“It was amazing, desu!”
“So big, desu.”
“Since she lived in such a place, I tried asking for forty gold coins. Unfortunately, that was too high, but because of the Master's Wife's introduction, we settled on thirty-eight.”
To think she got thirty-eight gold coins when we only expected thirty-five. Sherry was a force of nature. She even managed to make the Master's Wife feel like she owed us a favor.
“Splendid.”
“As for the friend of the Master's Wife, we sold it for twenty-five gold coins as promised. She was delighted with the quality, and since I told the Master's Wife it was slightly smaller than hers, both sides were perfectly satisfied.”
Even among friends, she was happy just because her necklace was slightly better than the other's? Social dynamics were terrifyingly complex.
“Amazing. As expected of you, Sherry.”
“Thank you very much.”
I received sixty-three gold coins and twenty silver coins from Sherry. The silver was for the Taluem Small Boxes. It seemed she had sold those ruthlessly as well. We had made a massive profit. I didn't even need to worry about the White Magic Crystal anymore.
“Just when I thought that, this happens,” I muttered the next day at noon, looking into my rucksack after the morning hunt. Good things are often followed by bad—well, not 'bad,' but I shouldn't get too cocky.
“Um, Master? What is it?”
“Want to see?”
Roxanne looked curious, so I pulled out the magic crystal that had turned pure white. A White Magic Crystal. It was finally finished.
“It is amazing! As expected of Master.”
“It is my first time seeing one.”
“As expected, desu.”
It was better to have it than not. With this, I was secure regardless of what appeared at the auction.
“We should probably sell this at the guild this evening.”
“Um, yes?” Roxanne tilted her head. My logic didn't translate to them. I was the only one who understood the implications. I wished Sherry would stop looking at me with such suspicion.
In the evening, I went to the Quratar Explorer Guild. It was the largest, making it easier to blend in. I aimed for the evening rush when the crowd was at its peak. I loaded the tray with the White Magic Crystal, a Yellow Magic Crystal, and a mountain of other loot. I even threw in a huge stock of Nourishing Pills and Tonic Pills.
This was a countermeasure for the 30% bonus. Guild sales were affected by my skill. In this world, there were Platinum Coins worth a hundred gold coins. I’d never seen one, but a White Magic Crystal was worth a million Nahl—exactly one Platinum Coin. If I sold the crystal alone, I’d get one Platinum Coin. But with the 30% bonus, I’d get one Platinum Coin and thirty gold coins.
The guild staff would definitely find that suspicious. Where did that extra thirty gold come from? To hide the discrepancy, I sold the Yellow Magic Crystal (worth ten gold) and a massive pile of items simultaneously. With the bonus, the Yellow crystal alone would jump to thirteen gold. By mixing everything together, I hoped the extra thirty gold would look like it belonged to the rest of the loot.
I waited at the counter. The receptionist returned with the money on a tray. She didn't seem suspicious. I took a breath. There it was: a Platinum Coin. It looked like a silver coin at first glance, but the size and weight were different. So this was a Platinum Coin. I suddenly felt like a very wealthy man. Well, I had become one. I quickly stashed the Platinum Coin and the gold into my Item Box, shoved the silver and copper into my rucksack, and hurried out of the guild.
I rushed to the Adventurer Guild, my heart racing. I wasn't used to carrying this much wealth, and my behavior was probably bordering on suspicious.
“Is anyone following us?”
“No, everything is fine.”
I checked outside the guild. I was a coward, but I didn't care. It didn't look like I was being tailed.
“Let’s do some shopping and head home.”
Magic or skills that could steal from an Item Box were unknown. Once the money was in there, I was safe. We finished our errands and went home.
“Master, there is a message from Mr. Luke. He won the bid for the Skill Crystal: Caterpillar.”
Roxanne read the note. A caterpillar crystal meant I could make a spare Substitution Misanga. The next morning, I sold one mirror, had breakfast, and went to the Merchant Guild. I’d asked the girls to handle the laundry and cleaning. I felt a bit guilty for not making breakfast lately, even if I was the one providing the water for the chores.
“Here is the Skill Crystal: Caterpillar,” Luke said, guiding me to the meeting room. I appraised it; it was the real thing. “Since the holiday is near, the number of listings is increasing.”
“Is that so?”
“Many people need to settle their debts by the end of the season.”
So it was like settling accounts before the new year.
“I see.”
“Actually, thanks to that, I also obtained a Skill Crystal: Kobold. Our deal for the pair is still valid, I assume?”
He had a wide smile. He’d probably gotten it for much less than fifty-four hundred Nahl and was about to pocket the difference.
“Yeah, of course. The price we agreed on stands.”
“Thank you very much. Here they are.”
Luke produced the Kobold and Scissor-type Insectivorous Plant crystals. I probably could have pushed for a lower price on the Kobold crystal, but I’d already given my word. Besides, it wouldn't be much cheaper at auction anyway.
“I’ll pay the commission for the caterpillar crystal as well.”
“Since the Scissor-type crystal is sixty-six hundred Nahl... well, since I was a bit pushy earlier, let’s make it eight thousand, seven hundred, and fifty Nahl for everything.”
“Deal.”
Excellent. Since this wasn't an auction, the 30% discount worked perfectly. Luke had probably gotten them for a pittance, but I’d made him cough up a decent chunk of his surplus. I paid the money and carefully put the crystals into my Item Box, pretending to be extra cautious. I kept the order for the caterpillar crystal open; you could never have too many spares if the harem kept growing.
“The auctions have been quite lively lately,” Luke continued.
“Oh?” I was in a good mood after the discount, so I listened.
“The Baradam House is making their move. The Holy Spear goes up for auction today.”
“So it’s finally appearing.”
“The rumors were spread specifically to reach the parties buying Kobold crystals. It seems they intend to bid.”
They wanted to put MP Absorption on the spear, then.
“Can I see the spear before it's sold?”
“Well... it is possible, but...” Luke hesitated. “This is just between us, but the Baradams first tried to sell it to a broker. They felt the price was too low and switched to a direct listing. Because of that, the brokers have agreed that no one will bid against the party buying the Kobold crystals.”
Luke revealed the collusion. Only one person would bid, ensuring they got it for the minimum. Brokers were truly ruthless. It was a warning: don't cross them.
“So it will go for the minimum bid.”
“Likely. Or if the minimum is too high, it might not sell at all.”
“I have no intention of bidding. I just wanted to see it.”
Luke seemed relieved. I couldn't afford to turn the entire Merchant Guild against me.
“If you enter the venue, you can see it. There is a participation fee, but it’s waived if you bid. Since you aren't bidding on the spear, I can guide you if you want to see the atmosphere.”
“Let’s go.”
I wanted to appraise that spear. Plus, it was good to see the layout before the big holiday auction.
“It should go up in twenty or thirty minutes.”
I went home briefly to tell Roxanne I’d be late, then warped back. The second floor of the Merchant Guild held a massive meeting room that looked like a small theater. I sat next to Luke. The crowd was sparse—maybe thirty people in a room that could hold hundreds.
“We shall begin the auction. First up: Skill Crystal: Pig. Verified by the guild.”
A man on stage placed the crystal on a table. Luke whispered that I should place a bid on something cheap so I wouldn't have to pay the entry fee.
“Minimum bid is one thousand Nahl.”
“One thousand one hundred!” someone shouted. The increments were one hundred Nahl.
“One thousand six hundred!” I called out.
“One thousand seven hundred,” Luke added immediately.
Hey, don't top me! But an attendant ran over and handed us both a slip of papyrus.
“What’s this?”
“Proof of bidding. You won't have to pay the entry fee now.”
The pig crystal eventually sold for thirty-one hundred Nahl. Several more crystals were sold in the same fashion.
“Now for the serious business,” Luke whispered.
“Next: The Holy Spear. As it is equipment, the guild has not verified its stats. Please bid with caution.”
The seller appeared. I appraised him—no family name. A servant, then. He placed the spear on the table.
Holy Spear (Spear) Skills: Empty, Empty, Empty, Empty, Empty.
I nearly choked. Five empty slots. It was a magnificent sight. No one could use Appraisal here, so there was no way they were faking it.
“Minimum bid is one hundred and fifty thousand Nahl.”
The room went silent. The air grew heavy. No one moved. The brokers were sticking to their agreement.
“Is that expensive?” I asked.
“One hundred and fifty thousand!” a lone voice finally called out when the seller started to look panicked. They had waited until the last second to keep the pressure on. No one else bid. The seller looked crushed.
“Which is worth more—a Holy Spear or a staff with MP Absorption?” I whispered. If fusion succeeded one in ten times, the cost of a staff with the skill would be around 150,000 Nahl anyway.
“Normally, the spear. But in this case, the staff.”
“Then I have a favor to ask. Go to the winner. Offer to trade that spear for a staff with MP Absorption.”
“You have one?”
“I can make one.”
I had the crystals and a slotted staff. If the winner wanted the skill more than the base weapon, he’d take the trade.
“Understood. I shall ask. He is a broker, so he’ll need to check with his client. It might take a while.”
“Let me know when you have an answer.”
I left the guild and returned home. We headed to the Halber 17th Floor. The exploration was smooth. Most monsters there were weak to Earth Magic. Since my White Magic Crystal was done, I had reverted my bonus skills to experience point boosts.
During the session, Roxanne finally hit Warrior Level 30. I checked her jobs: she had unlocked Knight and... Assassin?
Assassin Level 1. Effects: Intelligence Increase (Small), Spirit Increase (Small). Skills: Status Ailment Probability Up, Status Ailment Resistance Up.
Roxanne, you terrifying child. Were you secretly an assassin? No, wait—I’d killed thieves too. The job likely unlocked because she hit Warrior 30 and had used poison before.
“Let’s head home and rest.”
I needed to test the "Appoint" skill. I emptied my Item Box, which made Sherry look at me with suspicion again.
“It’s an experiment. Sherry, you try too.”
I gave her a slotted misanga and the caterpillar crystal. While she worked, I turned to Roxanne.
“Roxanne, you are a Knight now. Say 'Appoint' to me.”
Roxanne looked confused but complied. “Appoint... oh!” Her expression shifted. She felt the skill.
“It’s the skill to appoint a Village Chief, isn't it?” Sherry said, having already succeeded in the fusion.
“Exactly. Now, watch me. By the decree of the Sovereign who governs heaven and earth, let this mandate be known: Appoint.”
I appointed Sherry. Her job became Village Chief Level 1. Then Roxanne did the same to me. My first job became Village Chief.
“A Knight isn't supposed to appoint people without permission,” Sherry noted.
“If we keep it secret, no one knows. I’m changing you back to Master Smith anyway.”
Next was the Assassin experiment. Sherry said it was related to poison. I moved us to the Halber 10th Floor, where NEET Ants lived. We gathered Poison Needles.
“We need to defeat them with poison. Milia, can you tell when they’re poisoned?”
“They turn pale blue, desu.”
I couldn't see it in the dim light, but Milia could. I shaved an ant's HP down with magic, then threw needles.
“Poisoned, desu!” Milia cried. The ant died instantly. My job list updated: Assassin Level 1. Delivering the final blow with poison was the key.
“Next is Sherry’s turn.”
We found another group. I weakened them, and Sherry threw the needles from behind Roxanne.
“It’s coming!” Roxanne suddenly darted backward with incredible speed, retreating behind us in an instant. Even with her back turned, she moved as if she had eyes in her head. I scrambled to keep up as we reset our positions.