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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 54
“It’s just an engagement in name only.”
“Come, come, have a seat.”
Regardless of my reaction, Osberg casually gestured for me to sit.
“Yes. Would you like some coffee or sweets? You must have had a hard journey coming all the way from Cascadia.”
He kept offering me things with an endless smile.
Was this old man really that excited?
I scrutinized him for a moment before asking,
“You must have achieved something.”
His eyes widened at my words.
“Ha… Hahaha! As expected, my eyes were not mistaken!”
He burst into hearty laughter, slapping his knee.
“Yes, thanks to you. I was finally able to fully perceive and somewhat surpass the barrier that had long eluded me. It’s all thanks to you. I don’t even know how to express my gratitude.”
Even at a glance, I could clearly sense a change in his aura.
For a swordsman of his caliber, breaking through a barrier was no easy feat.
Of course, even if he had overcome that hurdle, it wouldn't mean his entire level had changed. Still, it was an impressive achievement.
The fact that a human, who barely lives a hundred years, had grown this strong was nothing short of astounding.
[In the end, you have reached a higher place. But humans do not have the luxury of time to fully attain that state.]
A notification from the Librarian appeared before me, perhaps responding to my bitter emotions.
I ignored it.
“But who is the young lady beside you?”
It is considered impolite to keep one's hood on indoors.
As I nodded in understanding, she casually flipped back her hood.
“Huh.”
“Oh my…”
A sigh escaped both of them simultaneously.
“This… won’t be easy…”
He muttered something under his breath.
“She is my healer and also a guest residing in the Cascadia estate—Luna Basilin Raphaelia.”
“A healer? Do you have any ailments?”
“It’s just… I have a bit of insomnia.”
I answered plainly, and he made a complicated expression.
“With such beauty, she could bring a kingdom to its knees… I must be careful.”
“What is there to be careful about, sir?”
“Ahem. It’s nothing. Well, since you’re here, I actually have something to discuss with you.”
“I’ll listen first.”
Mielephon had already provided me with this much hospitality.
Moreover, for my future objectives, I needed to accommodate Mielephon’s requests to some extent.
“I had intended to give you a sword.”
“A sword? Ah, the dowry list… But wasn’t that just a formality?”
“No, if we handled it carelessly, it would be noticed immediately. So, I made proper preparations. The dowry itself isn’t an issue, but…”
The sword was a problem?
“What kind of sword are we talking about?”
“Oh, just one of the swords owned by the family. However, the head of the house opposed its removal.”
That was to be expected.
The sword on the Mielephon dowry list was unlikely to be ordinary.
“I don’t particularly need a sword.”
I already had the Black Night Sword No. 1.
Though it was a fragile, worn-out weapon that creaked every time I drew an aura blade and often broke.
If Master Verus heard me, he’d probably yell, What do you expect me to do with a lack of materials?!
Seeing my lack of interest, he clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“You’re far too modest. I assure you, this is something you will never regret.”
“But, sir, if the head of Mielephon is against it, is it really alright for you to give it to me?”
“That’s not something you need to worry about.”
It was clear that this swordsman was a persistent thorn in the side of Mielephon’s head.
“Well, I was told I’d get the details once I arrived. You need Mielephon’s help.”
Then, with his smile gone and a serious expression, he spoke.
“Yes. I’ll be direct. I need to be present at Black Friday.”
Gaining access to Black Friday wasn’t easy, let alone making contact with anyone there.
However, if it was Mielephon—one of the Empire’s greatest noble houses and one of the continent’s thirteen major families—they would certainly have a way.
That said, considering Black Friday sometimes dealt in illegal goods, I wasn’t sure if Mielephon would be pleased about it.
“Alright. That’s not difficult.”
“You’re agreeing so easily? The imperial family doesn’t look kindly on Black Friday, since illegal goods are sometimes sold there.”
“What’s stopping me? Besides, even the imperial family occasionally attends to purchase items.”
Ah, so they disapprove on the surface but don’t actually interfere.
“As long as no lines are crossed, there’s no reason to dismantle it.”
That was enough for me.
“So, what are you trying to buy?”
“I’m not buying anything. I have something to sell.”
I didn’t take out The Queen’s Twilight just yet.
* * *
Fortunately, Black Friday was being held in Mielephon’s territory.
Auction houses for Black Friday were scattered across various territories, but whether by luck or because Mielephon was preparing for a major event, it was decided that this time it would be hosted within their lands.
However, since the auction wouldn’t start immediately, it was arranged that I would stay at the Mielephon estate in the meantime.
Of course, our goal wasn’t to participate in the auction to buy anything.
To put an item up for sale, I needed to prove its value first.
“This is the place.”
See?
She’s not just a regular maid.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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I let out a small chuckle as I looked at Misha, the head maid of the annex, who had guided us here.
She was called the head maid of the annex, but the place where Luna and I were staying was quite different from what most people would expect from an annex.
The staff here were all exceptionally skilled.
This reminded me of something Melissa had once told me.
That Mielephon secretly operated an elite execution squad.
Misha, the head maid leading us, brought us to what looked like an ordinary shop.
“For such a famous auction, it’s rather small.”
“Of course, this must be one of the branches. There's no way they'd hold it in a place like this.”
Hearing my explanation, Luna finally seemed to understand and nodded.
The reception area of Black Friday was simpler and more ordinary than expected.
“Welcome. What brings you here?”
A middle-aged man wearing a monocle asked.
Without hesitation, Misha pulled out an emblem symbolizing Mielephon—specifically, the emblem of the Sword Saint.
“Oh my, we have an esteemed guest.”
As he spoke, he lightly tapped the table, and as if activated by a mechanism, magic began to spread across the surrounding windows.
“An illusion spell?”
“You have keen eyes. From the outside, the interior will appear completely different. It’s quite a rare enchantment. Additionally, various protective spells have been placed here, so you need not worry about any information leaking out.”
He spoke calmly, maintaining his smile.
“So, what brings you here? Are you here to participate in the auction? Or to submit an item?”
Most would be here for the auction.
“I’m here to submit an item. I’ve heard that this place ensures absolute confidentiality.”
At my question, he nodded.
“We take great pride in our anonymity, the best on the continent. However, given recent events, we’ve been refraining from handling illegal goods, so please keep that in mind.”
He cleared the desk as if signaling me to proceed.
Misha, the chamberlain, bowed to me.
“I will step outside.”
“It’s too late for that. If you leave now, the protective spells surrounding this place will be lifted.”
At my explanation, Misha frowned slightly and glanced at the old man.
“Then, I will take what I see here to my grave.”
I hadn't known her for long, but I had a good grasp of her personality by now.
I casually tossed some food to Luna, who was curiously looking around, then pulled a small box from my spatial expansion pouch.
“Is it jewelry?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… There’s already an abundance of jewelry, so I can’t guarantee it’ll fetch a high price at auction. Please keep that in mind…”
“Don’t worry.”
I opened the box without hesitation.
“At the very least, I doubt this will be overshadowed by anything else.”
Click!
The old man stared at the item inside, tilting his head in confusion.
It was indeed a beautiful piece of jewelry, but he had never seen it before.
Given the sheer number of accessories in the world, that wasn't unusual.
However, for an item to be worthy of auction here, it needed to carry a certain legacy.
And yet, this experienced appraiser—who knew almost everything—had never seen this before. No wonder he was puzzled.
“This is… the first time I’ve seen this.”
“Are you sure?”
“What do you mean?”
At his question, I smirked, recalling a recent event.
“The original painting of this item sold for 2 billion sel.”
“2 billion sel? 2 billion…? Wait a moment.”
His eyes widened in shock as he abruptly stood up.
Staring at the item with trembling eyes, he hurriedly ran off and returned with a magnifying glass.
“P-please allow me to inspect this! I need to verify whether it’s genuine, whether it’s truly what I think it is…”
“Go ahead. Though, considering the immense blessing infused in it, I highly doubt it's a fake.”
“She’s right. A blessing from an archangel isn’t something just anyone can slap onto an item. If this were a fake and the real one only had a mediocre blessing, then this would be the more valuable piece.”
Luna agreed as she casually munched on a coffee biscuit.
Of course, no one had definitively confirmed whether Twilight of the Queen bore the blessing of an archangel.
That revelation had only come from Luna Basilin Raphaelia—a celestial being whose existence had only recently come to light.
Luna had an unexpectedly strong dislike for archangels, yet she acknowledged the power of their blessings.
“My word… this is unbelievable. The gemstone set in the center is undoubtedly a Bartnel.”
The old man’s hands trembled as he reached for the piece but hesitated, afraid he might damage it.
Misha, too, seemed quite surprised.
Of course, she didn’t outwardly show it.
“Y-Young Master… where on earth did you…”
“Do you need to know?”
“…No, of course not. We don’t pry into the origins of the items we handle. This is undoubtedly authentic. In that case, let’s proceed with the contract…”
He hastily pulled out a document.
At the same time, Misha’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“Manager, never forget that Mielephon is watching.”
“W-wouldn’t dream of it, Lady Misha. No one here would be foolish enough to cross Mielephon.”
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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