“Welcome, my dear customers! Today is a very special day. We have items ranging from rare to even epic grade!” he said.
The hall buzzed with restless excitement, the clinking of coins echoing from every corner.
“However, because of the law, items higher than rare grade can only be given away to adventurers with at least C rank, tower mages or certified store owners,” the dwarf added.
Several disappointed murmurs rippled through the crowd. Everyone already knew but hearing it still disappointed.
“We’re only D rank unfortunately,” Lina murmured.
“Now let’s start with the first item!”
The customers were bidding unnaturally high prices for the most useless items.
It felt less like a market and more like a battlefield fought with money.
“These are golden chains. They are almost indestructible. We’ll start at 20 silver!”
A weird feeling overcame Nox; a shimmering glow that wasn’t there, emanated from it.
“40!” Nox said, raising his hand.
“One gold coin,” it rang out from behind them.
The voice was calm and confident, someone who clearly wasn’t worried about cost. It was another dwarf who probably planned on using it for blacksmithing.
“150 silver,” Nox countered.
“Three gold coins!”
“Shit, I can’t afford that much,” he thought, gulping heavily.
With an embarrassed look, he waited as the auctioneer slowly counted down.
“Ten gold coins,” Lina said. Her voice cut through the room effortlessly, calm and unquestionable.
Even though they weren’t in the Holy empire, multiple people recognized who had just spoken. Even the auctioneer hesitated, his hammer frozen mid-air.
“Isn’t that the princess?”
Heads turned instantly, whispers spreading like wildfire.
Voices filled the room as the item was sold and brought to their table.
“W- What are you doing? That’s way too much for a rare item,” Nox whispered, concerned.
“I won’t let anyone outbid Noxi like that,” she replied.
“Could you please not call me that?”
“You’re indebted to me now, so it’s okay. And… I’ll need to use these chains too,” she said.
“I’ll need to combine the chains first,” Nox answered.
“That can wait one night.”
The auction continued, and the group was able to obtain some new items. Especially Beatrice was overly happy when she cheaply obtained special shoes and even the First book of Igneis, for her Stigma of flames.
“Let’s move on to our epic item,” the dwarf said.
The room fell unnaturally quiet, as if everyone instinctively sensed the shift in importance.
A small, black device was brought forward, protected by a strong, glassy barrier.
Name: Monster absorber
Grade: Epic
Type: Device
Description: Can absorb a dead monster’s energy and create monster serum. The monster serum can be used for crafting.
A faint, unsettling aura radiated from the device, making Nox’s skin prickle.
“Why would such an item be epic grade?” Beatrice asked. Her eyes narrowed as if she waited for some secret effect which would make it worthy.
“Yeah, I’ve never even heard of something called monster serum or monster absorber,” Lina replied.
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“There are only ten on the continent right now. The price starts at 50 gold coins!”
Several people exchanged greedy glances. A lot of customers started bidding without knowing what it was for, shooting the price to 200 gold.
“210 for table 14! Do I hear more?”
“300.”
A deep voice rang out from the back. A tall, hooded man stood up and slowly marched toward the podium.
The dwarf didn’t even have to count down to know that there wouldn’t be a higher bidding.
Each of his steps echoed unnaturally loud, drawing every eye toward him.
A gleaming white flag was imprinted on his left chest.
He took a dimension bag from his mantle, and hundreds of gold coins plummeted out.
“May I check your adventurer rank, sir?” the auctioneer asked, extending his hand.
The man pulled out a golden card, its bright glow reflecting in every one’s shocked faces.
“S rank? Y- You can take the item, sir,” the dwarf said, his voice trembling.
“That weird guy is an S rank? I thought there were only about 40 on the continent?”
People started to glare at him with sceptical looks.
“Why would he spend that much money on such an item?” Nox thought.
The hooded man left as fast as he had appeared.
However, he felt certain the answer wouldn’t be something he wanted to know.
“T- The auction is finished,” the dwarf shouted, descending from the podium.
“But Regea doesn’t have an item yet,” Beatrice said.
“That’s no problem. I’m just gonna combine my newly obtained stone ring,” Regea answered. He almost sounded relieved that he wasn’t indebted further.
When the group left, they found a secluded area by the ocean and sat onto a wooden bench.
“Alright, let’s do Beatrice first,” Nox said.
Name: Fire Shoes
Grade: Rare
Type: Equipment
Description: You can channel mana into your feet and release fire spells through your shoes instead of your hands.
“Alright, I’m gonna combine it with the fire salamander crystals,” he said.
He focused intently, sweat forming on his brow as mana flowed through his hands.
A red light began to envelop the shoes as they transformed slightly.
-Due to lacking experience, only 20 crystals can be combined
-Combining 20 identical items: -40% effectiveness for 19 crystals
-You have combined a new item
Name: Fire Salamander Shoes
Grade: Artificial
Type: Equipment
Description: You can channel mana into your feet and release fire spells through your shoes instead of your hands. When hit through the shoes, the target is poisoned for 12.4 minutes: -11% stats).
“Shit, only 20 crystals can be combined. I’ll need to grow stronger,” Nox thought.
“Wow, thank you so much,” Beatrice said, smiling happily.
“C- Can you do my item next? Only if it isn’t too much work,” Regea asked, giving him his stone ring.
“Sure.”
Nox took the earth sandworm crystals and fused them with the item. The floor seemed to vibrate slightly as something similar appeared on his hands.
-Due to lacking experience, only 20 crystals can be combined
-Combining 20 identical items: -40% effectiveness for 19 crystals
-You have combined a new item
Name: Supreme Stone Ring
Grade: Artificial
Type: Ring
Description: You can only wear two rings at once. +20% damage & 12.4% damage absorbed when standing on stone.
“T- Thank you. I’ll pay you back!” Regea said.
“It’s my turn now,” Lina interrupted, resting her arm on Nox’s head.
Name: Asklepios’ Staff
Grade: Rare
Type: Equipment
Description: +20% light magic effectiveness
“Combine it with that,” she said, giving him her twin ring.
Nox took the two items and tried to press them together.
However, a loud shrieking sound rang out, and the two objects began to vibrate uncontrollably.
The air around them warped violently, forcing everyone to step back.
-The two items are fundamentally different. You need a strong medium for combination.
“Shit, I can’t move,” Nox thought, trying to back away. His hands and legs were completely frozen in place.
Panic crept up his spine as the mana backlash intensified.
Paff-
Suddenly, arms wrapped around his body, and Nox fell back.
“This is gonna hurt,” he thought, closing his eyes.
“Huh… it’s soft?” Nox wondered, landing safely.
The crushing pressure vanished instantly, mana surging through him; it felt similar to Lina’s but still different; warmer and more intimate.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” a voice rang out.
When Nox opened his eyes, he only saw black fabric. His hands slowly wandered over it, before he looked up in shock.
“D- Don’t do that here!” Beatrice and Regea shouted.
He found himself headfirst on Lina’s chest. Her heartbeat was steady beneath him.
“I- I’m sorry,” he said, shooting up.
“Uhm, it’s okay,” she replied. She quickly turned around and cleared her throat.
“You didn’t do that on purpose, right?” Beatrice whispered.
“O- Of course not.”
“A- Anyway, I think we have to use something powerful as a medium,” he added.
“Then let’s use the level five boss crystal,” Regea suggested.
“No, that’s way too valuable! It’s illegal to buy them, so we won’t be able to just get another!” Lina said. Her embarrassment was completely gone.
“You’re the reason we were able to survive. We should help you too for once,” Nox interrupted, smiling warmly. His voice carried no hesitation.
“You just want to lie on my chest again, huh?” she countered, smirking deviously.
“A- Anyway,” Nox quickly grabbed the two items and pressed them against the boss crystal.
Nervously, the group watched as a yellow ball of light emerged before them.
The glowing sphere pulsed rhythmically, as if alive.
-Skills are transmitted through the medium
-You have combined two new items
Name: Donator Ring of Healing Meditation
Grade: Artificial
Type: Twin Ring
Description: You can only wear two rings at once. The user produces the same amount of mana as the wielder of the Ring of Healing Meditation while healing him. The closer the subjects physically or spiritually, the better the mana production (base: +40% compared to normal meditation).
Name: Asklepios’ Staff
Grade: Artificial
Type: Equipment
Description: +20% light magic effectiveness. The stronger the connection to the wielder of the other twin ring, the stronger the light magic’s effectiveness on the subject.
Silence followed as everyone inspected the item.
Lina looked at Nox with a grateful smile.
“Thank you, guys. I will repa-”
“Isn’t that the hooded guy from before?” Beatrice interrupted, pointing to their left.
However, when the three turned around, no one was standing there.
“Are you that excited about your new shoes and the stigma book that you’re starting to hallucinate?” Nox asked.
The words barely left his mouth when suddenly a loud explosion echoed.
