Chapter 15

"This day feels extremely bitter."

I didn't even know what the name of the noble next to me was, but he kept speaking to me while his body trembled so violently that I could feel the aftershocks.

"The price you'll be paying for that item is already equal to my entire net worth."

I didn't mind. [Man of Great Wealth] gave me the hunch that it was worth the net value of two celebrities combined. Its potential alone could be classified as beastly. I had already won eleven out of the twenty-four items to be auctioned today by the time we reached the halfway point of the program, so I felt ecstatic about it.

─The next item on our list is 'Tranquility.'

I had no intention of getting involved from this point on. All the items that followed the Ancient Rune Tongue Necklace fell short of my standards. Additionally, I had to ensure my budget wouldn't go below 90 million Elnes, three times the Snowflake Obsidian's estimated worth of 30 million. For as long as I had that amount, I was certain that I could successfully secure my objective.

─Lokorn's Horn….

The following bidding wars that ensued were tranquil compared to the ones I participated in. Even the regular nobles, who were treading carefully, sneakily participated in the auction to enjoy the peace and serenity they finally obtained. At least until the item I came here for was brought to the platform.

The Imperial Sword that had served its user greatly throughout history. Known as the Magic of Nature and the Fire of Winter, the Snowflake Obsidian had finally appeared. Its initial price was 5 million Elnes, with increments starting at 200,000 Elnes. The first number to bid for it was #1089.

─#1089, 5 million Elnes.

I looked at the inhabitant of seat #1089, who appeared gallantly. I thought the back of her head looked familiar. She had her shiny hair pulled up into a ball and bore white armor as if to display her identity.

…Julie. Her eyes were determined never to back down.

*****

Julie joined the bidding with enthusiasm. She did so despite not knowing anything about auctioneering, but she held on regardless. Winning the item she desired proved difficult since everyone had their eyes on it. The price skyrocketed quickly to 10 million, 13 million, 17 million, 19 million…

─#1089, 30 million Elnes! Would anyone like to go higher?!

"Phew."

Thankfully, the majority gave up when its price reached its predicted value of 30 million. Feeling a surge of optimism and satisfaction, Julie thought she'd be spending less than she initially planned.

─#777, 31 million Elnes!

However, an unexpected competitor appeared to contend against her.

"…!"

Julie's eyes widened as she looked for #777. Sitting in the VVIP section, which wasn't far from her, he exuded an aura of haughty elegance.

Deculein.

Feeling her gaze on him, he looked back calmly. The man was as cold as usual, indifferent to everything and everyone, yet she still felt as if she knew what was going through his mind.

-#1098, 32 million Elnes.

She quietly bid with a clenched fist, having no intentions of backing down. The same was true for her opponent.

─#777 again with 33 million!

At that point, the bidding war revolved only around them, with everyone else fleeing from the carnage. Whenever Deculein raised its price, Julie retaliated immediately. The people in the auction house were filled to the brim with excitement as their fight stretched out. Cheers and exclamations echoed throughout the hall like background music, for they knew that such a duel between Deculein and Julie was nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime event!

-#777, 37 million Elnes!

Deculein didn't look bothered by that amount. On the contrary, however, Julie's hands were starting to shake. Her balance was slowly running out. She hated losing, though.

-#1089, 38 million!

She desperately added yet another million to the price. Without a moment's delay, Deculein deflected her offensive with ease.

-#777, 39 million!

Julie visibly winced. The hall fell silent for a moment. Everyone watched her next move with bated breath. The item's price had risen so much that it was now worth the same as a mansion, making the desire to surrender dawn upon her.

However, she persevered.

─#1089, 40 million.

Another round of silence sank in. Deculein remained still for a moment as he thought with his eyes closed.

'Julie wants the Snowflake Obsidian for herself. Will she hold it against me if I win?'

More than holding a grudge, there was a chance she'd become a

'…There's no way.'

Deculein─ no, Kim Woo Jin believed in her personality. Still, he wasn't desperate for the metal like she was.

"Hoooo…hoo."

Meanwhile, as Julie waited in anguish, her anxiety disheveled her thoughts. Her shoulders heaved ceaselessly, and she remained breathless. As always, she openly showcased her emotions through her body language. Only thirty seconds had passed, but she felt she had been waiting forever.

─#1089 is now the new owner of…

Feeling relieved, she put her hands on top of her knees, quietly and peacefully enjoying her victory.

But their battle wasn't over yet.

─#777, 42 million Elnes!

"Aaahhh!"

Julie screamed and glared at him, but the people in the hall were already so worked up that they didn't notice at all.

"Ugghh…"

With clenched teeth, her hands still trembling, and her lips and eyelids twitching, she closed her eyes and hung her head down. She didn't want to admit defeat but was left with no other option. She could feel that unpleasant feeling of helplessness all the way to her bones.

She had no money left to fight with.

─I'll repeat its current price three times for any last-minute bidders! 42 million, 42 million, 42 million Elnes! The owner of the Imperial Sword, the Snowflake Obsidian, is now #777!

He had ascertained his hard-fought victory, yet he remained calm about it. There wasn't even a hint of surprise in his expression.

Clap, clap, clap—

The auction house's honored guests applauded him, and he answered with a dignified look.

─Let us move on to the next item with this excitement in tow!

Of course, the auction continued, but nothing caught Julie and Deculein's attention anymore. The items showcased in the auction's latter half were of no value to Deculein, but he waited for the event to end with utmost dignity regardless. Julie's body was still quivering, and her face remained red, which he found worrisome.

*****

When the auction finally reached its conclusion, Julie immediately hurried out of her seat and was about to leave, however, someone blocked her way. Deculein, with his crystal blue eyes, was looking down at her.

"…Congratulations."

She didn't want to speak to him or even hear what he had to say, but he prevented her from leaving.

"Did you want the Snowflake Obsidian, too?"

"…Ha."

Her heart squeaked for a moment. Within a split second, her emotions were thrown into disarray. Julie had an idea of what he was going to say. The worst memory she had, the day of their engagement, played back in her head.

"I can give it to you if you want. I'll do whatever you wish."

That was what he told her back then. One day, the item she was willing to give everything up for would-be displayed before her. What she felt wasn't happiness or bliss. She only felt insulted. However, the 'real humiliation' was yet to follow.

Since Julie left Deculein, rumors spread out like mist. Rumors that a distant flower had finally been picked by Deculein spread at least to some extent. That Julie was promised the Knights of Hadekain. That she was the one who wanted their engagement.

Such words were a disgrace to her faith. Did he approach her now, thinking she would go back to him because of the Snowflake Obsidian?

That was foolish of him. No matter how much she tried, he was someone she could never possibly love. This time as well…

"I'm sorry."

"What the hell do you want─ Huh?"

Deculein turned around. What was he apologizing for? He left immediately, leaving her staring blankly at his back.

"Uh…uhm…"

Though she felt puzzled, relief coursed through her as he left. It wasn't a repeat of last year.

"…Ha."

She sighed deeply. It was over. The Snowflake Obsidian was finally auctioned out after three years of waiting. She was looking forward to it. But she didn't expect it to be taken away.

…Not by that person, no less.

"Why did Professor Deculein buy the Snowflake Obsidian?"

A voice soon reached her ears.

"I've been wondering about that as well."

Nobles never seemed to know when to stop talking, almost as if their job was to spread rumors. No, it wasn't just them. Everyone was chattering in the waiting room about what just transpired today, just like a year ago. She knew they were going to utter words she didn't want to hear.

"It's a gift for his fiancé, isn't it?"

Julie clenched her teeth.

"Hohoho! Perhaps, but he could have just surrendered and let her win if that were the case."

"You know his personality. I think he wanted to give the sword to her himself, which is why he went that far."

She knew she shouldn't judge them based on what she just heard, but they sounded so sure of themselves. The Snowflake Obsidian couldn't be used alongside magic. Its inner mana was too strong that it could only function as a sword. It was also forged of a complicated metal that no one could wield without first gaining its permission. Even then, they'd have to swing it thousands of times to create a connection with it.

Why in the world would Deculein, a wizard, buy it?

"…"

Julie stopped yet another deep, soaring sigh from escaping.

"I'm jealous of his fiancé. She'll be receiving a gift worth 40 million Elnes. Even a necklace worth 40,000 Elnes would be enough to make me feel honored."

"Exactly. I can't believe the Freyden family is still uselessly pushing and pulling. She should grab onto him and never let go while she still has the chance…"

Their gossips, speculations, and assumptions were about to drive Julie insane. Passing through the crowd of people, she immediately ran out of Schatzinsel and was soon met by a path filled with a sea breeze.

Julie curled up from the chill, calming her wavering heart as she breathed slowly.

'It's okay. I shouldn't let them affect me. They're nothing special anyway.'

There was no need for her to be swayed by words that weren't even true.

'I'm already used to this. I shouldn't let myself be shaken any further…'

Not long after, a car approached her, and one of its back doors opened.

"Julie!"

A familiar voice echoed with the winds. She turned her head to face its source.

"…Sister?"

Smiling at her was the eldest daughter of the Freyden household, Josephine.

"I knew it would turn out like this. Hurry up and get in."

Her older sister's beauty was different from Julie's. To her, their charms were on entirely different dimensions. Josephine's bobbed hair was far silkier and smoother than any she had ever seen, and her distinct and elegant features made her look shabby in comparison.

"What are you still standing around there for?"

"…."

She felt uncomfortable being around her sister due to their many differences, but she still wordlessly climbed into the car. Josephine, who had as much influence in high society as Deculein, if not more, was the only person she could rely on for support in this situation.

*****

Julie was certainly a good person. As far as I was concerned, she was a long way from [The Villain's Fate]. No death to her now. I confirmed that at the auction house through a certain intuition from my [Naked Eye].

It was pathetic to worry about her retaliating against me for taking the Snowflake Obsidian away.

"I've suffered so much…"

I truly did. Did the kind-hearted Julie just try to kill me? I saw a new side of her from that game we played. Just how much had she lost her mind there?

"We're here."

As I pondered over my thoughts, we finally arrived at the mansion.

"…Good work."

"Thank you. Please have a good rest!"

I checked my watch, finding out that it was already past midnight. Climbing out of the car and walking through the garden, I immediately noticed a commotion taking place.

"…?"

The attendants, who gathered anxiously at the mansion's entrance, ran towards me as soon as they saw me.

"My lord. My lord! Miss Yeriel—"

"I'll handle this."

I went upstairs without further inquiring about the situation. The servants followed and opened the door for me.

"…"

I was greeted by a living room filled with moonlight. Standing in the middle of it was a dark silhouette, who turned to glance at us as soon as the door opened. Even though her face was covered, I knew it was Yeriel. I was going to ask why she was there, but she spoke before I could. Her tone was dry, almost cracking.

"…The money I entrusted to you was supposed to pay for the Zeron mine acquisition. Did you really have to spend it all like that?"

Tears were falling from her eyes. I felt a prick of conscience, but I didn't show it. Was that why I thought I had more money in my account than I deposited? I found having 200 million nothing short of the ordinary, considering I was supposed to be wealthy anyway. It was an honest mistake.

"Don't worry. I purchased something that will benefit us."

I wasn't lying. I only bought items that would rise in value from the auction house. Using [Midas's Hand], I planned to unlock their potential before selling them. We'd be earning two or even three times the low price I paid for them—

"You—!"

I didn't think she would listen to anything I said right now, though. A tearing sound rang in my ears. After shouting, Yeriel began breathing heavily like a rabid beast.

"You…keep treating me like I'm some sort of garbage."

Her voice trembled as much as her body did.

"Who do you think cleans up all the shit you leave behind your path?!"

I was flustered. In my short life, I had never experienced this much anger directed toward me.

"The times have changed! People worked day and night, even sacrificing their sleep, for the money you just wasted, you crazy bastard! Benefit? Bullshit! Are you suffering from a gambling addiction?!"

Dark red energy enveloped her entire body, signaling the manifestation of [The Villain's Fate]. But at the same time, she also emitted a golden light. The [Man of Great Wealth] was beginning to manifest.

"You, you! You…"

The contradiction was easy to explain. If I didn't settle the situation, Yeriel would become the reason behind my death. However, if I managed to resolve this, I'd reach a huge financial breakthrough. I knew what the answer to this predicament was since I knew what she desired.

"You don't have to worry."

"Stop spitting out nonsense! What I feel has gone beyond worry, you idiot! Stop shitting on us every time you get the chance, you damn shithead!"

She threw a tantrum, her tears and spittle splattering all over.

"I can't believe this is how I'll be spending the rest of my life! I couldn't even finish college because of you! Fuck, I've never even had a proper relationship!"

"You don't have to live this way."

"What do you mean I don't?! After our parents died, what have you done for the household, huh?! All you do is fool around and ruin our finances! Oh my God! I can't believe you lost 150 million in one day, you fucking idiot—"

"I'll give you my seat as the head of the household."

"You piece of shit! All you do is make things hard for us! Stop shitting on everyone…?"

Yeriel's abusive language slowed, then halted entirely. She looked like she doubted what she just heard. Confused, her eyebrows rose as she tilted her head sideways.

"What…just now, what did you just say?"

I, Deculein, was the head of the House of Yukline. However, I knew what awaited me at the end of that path.

"Just now…just now, what…?"

If Deculein returned and became the lord, the best ending we could hope for would still be dangerous. Even in the first game, Deculein was a professor and not a lord. Hence, passing over my seat as the head shouldn't be a death variable. And even if it was, I still had no plans on playing SimCity.

"…Listen carefully. I'll only repeat this once."

The original head was Yeriel. In the game, Deculein was known as 'Professor Deculein.' In the second half of it, Yeriel had always been known as the 'Count of Yukline.' Therefore…

There was no need to complicate this problem.

"My position as the head of the household…"

It was something I had no need for. On the contrary, it was no different from a death Even if I didn't give it to her now, she'd snatch it from me in the future, considering it was hers to begin with.

"I'm giving it to you."

'From me to you, my little sister…I voluntarily put it in your hands.'

"…Huh?"

Surprised, Yeriel didn't know how to react.