The auction house we arrived at after a long walk was held in a rather ordinary place, contrary to my expectations. It appeared to be a somewhat run-down tavern at first glance.
It looked precarious, as if it could collapse at any moment, and not even the slightest bit of light leaked out, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Even from a distance, it didn’t seem like a place where people lived, especially after the sun had completely set.
Well, it was a place for illegal dealings, so it would be strange if it stood out too much.
Carefully, we entered, and I noticed a single entrance on the opposite side.
One of the attendants stepped forward and pointed to its handle. It was Logan, the most trusted member of the Priodos organization, according to Stella.
“You can use the key you have.”
I took out the key I received from Stella and inserted it. As I did, the old wooden door creaked open.
It revealed a long staircase leading down to the basement. I could hear people’s murmurs in the distance.
I took a deep breath and began descending the stairs. It was much deeper than I had anticipated.
With each step on the poorly constructed wooden stairs, I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous, fearing they might break.
At the bottom of the stairs, there was another entrance hidden behind a black curtain.
Finally, when I pulled back the curtain, I was so astonished by the sight that I couldn’t close my mouth.
It was a relief that we were wearing masks, allowing us to conceal our expressions from the others.
‘Who would’ve thought a place like this existed?’
Despite its shabby exterior, the underground space was enormous, resembling a grand palace banquet hall.
From outside, no one would ever imagine such a magnificent space was hidden underground.
Many people, more than I had expected, were seated at tables arranged in groups.
Stella had mentioned that foreign top figures and smuggling organizations had also come in force to secure this item, but I hadn’t expected it to be to this extent.
The location of the auction house was said to change every time, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of curiosity about how many fascinating places like this existed in Asha.
Around the edges of the room, individuals wearing golden masks stood guard with weapons in hand.
They seemed to be the organizers of this auction—the members of the Capel Guild. As I looked around, there was only one empty table.
We must have been the last to arrive. As we walked towards the hall, I observed the people seated at the tables.
They all wore black cloaks and hats following the secret auction dress code, concealing their identities as much as possible.
However, some groups had different mask colors, with some wearing red masks and others wearing blue masks.
They glanced at us as we passed by.
As I sat down with my attendants, I could hear the yellow-masked men at the next table talking.
“I know security is important, but why do they keep it a secret until the day of the auction? Do we seem like the kind of people who have a lot of time on our hands?”
“Well, don’t forget that they got caught in Delua before due to the leaked information and had everything confiscated by the security forces. I guess they’re trying to be careful this time.”
“Still, they should at least give us a rough idea of what we’re dealing with. How extraordinary must this item be to make them go crazy, asking everyone to bring all their money?”
One of the men continued to grumble, prompting another man at the table to interject.
“Could it be a Spirit Notebook?”
He sounded much younger than the others.
“What?”
“You know, those magical notebooks that grant wishes?”
Hearing that familiar term from the nearby table, I became even more attentive to their conversation. Soon, the grumbling man responded with a scoff.
“Do you really think there are such things as wish-granting spirits?”
“That’s what everyone says. The spirits living inside it grant the wishes of their owners.”
“Oh, you dumbass, that’s not a spirit notebook.”
“So, what is it then?”
I had the same question in mind as the man next to me. If it wasn’t a Spirit Notebook, then what could it be?
My heart pounded strangely, and an ominous feeling swept over me.
I swallowed hard and perked up my ears. The grumbling man sighed and replied.
“It’s just a tool for exchanging messages. You can have a conversation with anyone, anywhere. Originally, they came in pairs, so you share one with someone.”
“Is that true?”
“If you write on the notebook, whatever you write will appear on the connected notebook. It’s not some wish-granting spirit. I don’t know who spreads such nonsense.”
The moment I heard those words, I froze in my seat, momentarily losing my focus.
So who was Alexis, the spirit that I’d had so many conversations with?
‘Could it be Theo…’
The unexpected revelation about the true nature of the spirit left me feeling like my heart had fallen off a cliff.
As I absorbed this secret about the Spirit Notebook, a bell rang, signaling the start of the auction.
The item to be auctioned today had been shrouded in mystery, fueling the expectations of everyone present.
When the host in the golden mask appeared, the previously bustling space fell silent in an instant. Then, a deep and resonant voice echoed through the auction hall.
“We express our gratitude to all the esteemed guests who have joined us today. We sincerely apologize for not providing information about the item in advance, as it was necessary to maintain confidentiality.”
The host bowed politely in front of the audience.
Perhaps due to his imposing stature, he reminded me of Linus; he exuded a subtle sense of authority even when apologizing.
He continued, raising his head and speaking with a sharp tone as if delivering a warning to someone.
“Those who leaked the information to Delua authorities have already been dealt with accordingly by the management of Capel Guild, and it is my sincere hope that none of you here today will engage in such unsavory behavior.”
As the man finished speaking, a hushed murmur emanated from the individuals wearing green masks seated at the table right in front.
“Who on earth dared to challenge the Capel guild? Did they not know how the Capel guild deals with traitors?”
“I heard they handed the information to the Delua royal family for a few coins. They probably became prey for some wild beast or shark.”
As the commotion escalated, the host cleared his throat and continued speaking.
“We have prepared an extraordinary item today that you will not regret coming here for, so please feel free to have high expectations.”
As he finished speaking, a mobile iron cage with wheels was brought onto the stage.
It was covered with a dark curtain, making it impossible to see what was inside.
Judging by its size, it didn’t seem like a face mask, which was the only magical tool I could buy with my savings.
If it wasn’t that, coming here would just be a waste of time, but I was curious. What could it be that they were so confidently presenting?
Everyone held their breath and stared at it. Then, from somewhere, an indistinct sound reached our ears.
“Heuk….”
It was… the sound of crying. A child’s cry.
The atmosphere inside the hall began to stir. The host gestured, and the attendants removed the curtain.
And what unfolded before my eyes made me unconsciously bite my lips.
Inside the mobile cage wasn’t an auction item, but a child who appeared to be around eight years old. The child’s head was covered with a hood, and his body was bound with ropes.
I couldn’t fathom why this child was being treated as an auction item. Was I not in a magical item auction but in a human trafficking scene?
My heart rate skyrocketed. The host spoke with an indifferent tone.
“Today’s item is nectar.”
As soon as the word “Nectar” was uttered, voices from all around erupted in a loud and tumultuous uproar.
“What? Nectar?”
“No, if that’s true.”
“Does that mean he’s Xenos royalty, then?”
Though their faces were concealed by masks, the voices of the people in the auction hall were filled with suspicion, as if they couldn’t believe it.
“What’s nectar?”
I muttered to myself in shock, and Logan, who was next to me, spoke in a low voice.
“Nectar is a magic potion known as the drink of immortality. It’s made from the essence of condensed pure life energy.”
“What does that pure life energy have to do with that child?”
He leaned in a little closer and whispered in my ear.
“It is the energy drawn from the heart of a Xenos royalty that possesses water magic. Perhaps the child is a descendant of the Xenos lineage who survived the massacre. Although the magic is weak, it still has the potential to be a source of nectar.”
According to Logan’s explanation, nectar was a legendary magic potion that could cure any incurable disease and even resurrect the dead.
It was a far cry from using human sacrifices and dark magic to slightly extend one’s lifespan; it was truly a divine remedy.
Clues about this nectar were found in an ancient tomb near the Molcon Mountains several years ago.
It contained information suggesting that nectar was related to the purest essence of water magic in the world.
And water magic was closely linked to the Xenos royal family.
The remaining portions of the text were heavily damaged, making it impossible to decipher exactly what it meant.
However, based on other ancient records, scholars began to interpret the “purest energy” mentioned in the book as the magic power gathered in the heart of a child.
Since all Xenos nobles were believed to have perished, the child might be the only living being who could serve as material for Nectar.
