Chapter 38: Paradise (5)

Chapter 38: Paradise (5)The Yongsan auction house was the largest-scale auction in South Korea. The items put up every month were of such high quality that even foreigners would participate in the sale. Song Ha-Eun took a deep, nervous breath as she arrived at the entrance to the auction house. With the help of her cane, she stepped inside. Tap, tap, tap. After some difficulty finding the counter, she was finally greeted by a staff member. “Are you here to participate in the auction?” “Yes.” “Then please fill out this form first,” the employee said, handing her some paperwork. Song Ha-Eun made an awkward expression. Noticing her cane and the way she stood there uncertainly, the employee blinked in realization. “Oh... my apologies. Are you here alone?” “Yes, I am.” “I see. Would it be alright if I filled it out on your behalf?” “Yes, please.” The impressive service was to be expected of Korea's largest auction house. After providing basic information, Song Ha-Eun received a waiting ticket. A VIP could have entered immediately, but she could only wait patiently since she had barely met the entry requirements. Around two hours later, an announcement was made. “Admission will now begin! Please finish any business before entering, as no one will be allowed to exit during the auction due to security reasons.” The waiting crowd began rushing in at once, causing Song Ha-Eun to bump into several others. “Ah... W-Wait!” She managed to avoid being knocked over because of her superhuman physique, but she couldn’t avoid being pushed around. “These fuckers...” A wave of frustration washed over her. However, she couldn’t cause a scene here, so she waited for the crowd to thin out before entering the hall. “Excuse me, could you tell me where seat P-17 is?” Song Ha-Eun asked. “Oh? Yes... just head straight to the right.” Every time she stopped someone to ask for directions, she could hear people around her whispering. “I guess even the blind are participating in auctions these days.” “You couldn’t even dream of that a few years back.” “Does she not have a guardian, though?” “Tsk, tsk, who would want to live with a cripple these days?” Voices of ridicule and pity flew around her. Song Ha-Eun clenched her fists tightly, digging her nails into her palms. It hurt, not her hands but her feelings. It’s okay. If she could just get her hands on the Demonic Dragon Eye, all this pain could be relieved. “Alright, everyone. The December Yongsan auction will now begin!” the auctioneer declared on-stage. “Today’s first item is the highly regarded four-star Astral Relic, Gray Censer! It's known for its excellent performance in real combat!” The auctioneer started with an over-the-top description. The opening items were always moderate but desirable relics up for bid, like appetizers before the main course meal. “The minimum bid starts at ten million won! The immediate purchase price is set at a billion won! Please remember that immediate buyouts can only be made via cash!” Buyout prices were cash-only to prevent insincere bidders from claiming items they couldn’t pay for on the spot. After all, that would mean that person desperately needs it. One didn’t need to look hard to find people who'd lie when backed into a corner. “A hundred million!” “A hundred thirty million!” As bidding began, the atmosphere in the room started to heat up. The four-star Gray Censer was truly an outstanding relic in its tier, just as the auctioneer had introduced it. “Three hundred forty million!” “Four hundred million!” The price climbed quickly. “Six hundred forty million!” The auctioneer echoed, “Six hundred forty million! Do we have a higher bid?” “...” “Alright, then. Gray Censer goes to bidder number 157!” The sold price was over double Song Ha-Eun’s entire savings. “... Ah.” Her savings weren't enough to buy even a four-star Astral Relic. Her earlier excitement quickly faded. “N-No.” Her clenched fists trembled slightly. The Gray Censer had always been a popular item. Compared to that, the Demonic Dragon Eye was a much more specialized relic, so there was still some hope. “The next item is...!” fɾēewebnσveℓ.com And so the auction continued. After all the four and five-star Astral Relics were sold, the auctioneer exclaimed, “Thank you all for your patience! Haha! It’s finally time to introduce the main items of the day!” Gulp. It was time for the real auction to start. If one were to liken it to a novel, they had just wrapped up the prologue. “It’s been a while since we’ve had this item! An extremely rare Astral Relic, only obtainable from dragon-type monsters, it can lift any curse!” Finally. “Six-star Astral Relic... the Demonic Dragon Eye!” Clap, clap. Song Ha-Eun could hear people applaud out of formality.Judging by the lack of enthusiasm, it seemed there wouldn’t be too much competition. Great! “This relic isn’t a carryable item but an absorbable type that merges directly with you upon use! Meaning...” Her lips dried up so much they felt scorched. “You permanently gain the power to lift any curse without the hassle of carrying it around! Just think, everyone. Wouldn’t a relic like this be reassuring to possess when dealing with the unknown dangers of gates?” Her cheap prosthetic leg trembled. “The starting bid is a hundred million won! The buyout price is ten billion won!” As soon as the bidding started, Song Ha-Eun raised her hand and called out loudly, “O-One hundred million!” Laughs of mockery surrounded her. “Pfft!” “Did she really just call out the starting bid?” “Hahaha! She must be new to auctions!” “Or maybe she’s just some beggar hoping to become rich overnight?” She flushed red with embarrassment. Biting her lip, she lowered her head. “Ah, haha. Yes, we have a hundred million! Any higher bids?” The auctioneer also wore a knowing smile as he chuckled softly. She earnestly prayed with her hands clasped together. Please, no one else bid. Her shoulders trembled. “Two billion.” “2.55 billion!” “We have a higher bid! Haha!” There were no twists nor any unexpected turn of events. Not a single hope of a miracle was left behind. Song Ha-Eun let out a short sigh. “Ah...” Her unfocused, dull, gray eyes started to tear up. “3.2 billion!” “3.26 billion!” The price kept climbing. To place a bid now would require ten times her entire savings. “Ha... Haha.” Her hope washed away entirely, and she let out a bitter scoff. “That’s right... There’s no way I could have actually bought it.” Six-star Astral Relics sold for at least five billion won. What could she have possibly hoped to buy with less than a tenth of that? She bit her lips hard enough till they bled. Just why? What had she done to deserve such a fate? “Just once...” Hadn’t her life been miserable enough? Abandoned by her parents whose faces she never even got to see, she had struggled through life like a dog. Why did she have to suffer more? “Just once... a miracle wouldn't hurt, would it?” She wasn’t asking for much. She wasn't asking for all the luxuries. “I just... want to be with Oh-Jin...” She knew she was being greedy and selfish. Kwon Oh-Jin had his own life, his own dreams and ambitions. And for five years or maybe longer, she had bound his life, trapping him in the dark, with the curse named Song Ha-Eun. A tear trailed down her cheeks. “Ugh...” “4.1 billion!” “4.23 billion!” “4.3 billion!” Even as she was crying, the Demonic Dragon Eye was growing further and further out of reach, even though it was already beyond her grasp. Just then, a sly voice echoed in her ear, laced with greed and desire. “Hoohoo. Are you here for the Demonic Dragon Eye?” Song Ha-Eun turned toward the voice with a glare. “... Who are you?” “Ah, I’m Choi Jong-Cheol from the Starlight Lake Guild. You’ve heard of us, right?” The Starlight Lake Guild was known for having Awakeners of Aquarius and specialized in healing. “... So what?” “I’ve been watching you since the waiting room. You bid on the Demonic Dragon Eye, right?” he said in an unpleasant tone. Song Ha-Eun remained silent as an uneasy feeling spread down her spine. “I could lend you five or even six billion.” Song Ha-Eun’s gray eyes widened. “...!” The extinguished flame of hope flickered to life once more. “But in exchange...” She felt Choi Jong-Cheol draw closer and place his hand on her thigh. “This motherf—” Her face twisted in anger. She clenched her fist but suddenly hesitated. Six billion won. The unattainable sum of money echoed in her head. “Hoohoohoo!” Choi Jong-Cheol’s sly laugh rang next to her. “In exchange... why don’t you be my friend for about five years? I’m not asking for much. We’ll just have dinner when we have time, maybe a drink or two, and then... Well, I don’t need to explain the rest, do I?” “...” Song Ha-Eun’s shoulders shook, and a nauseating feeling crept over her as if something filthy had been poured on her thigh. She felt like throwing up at the unbearable displeasure. But... It was six billion won. With that money, she had a chance to get the Demonic Dragon Eye and escape from the suffocating darkness that enveloped her. She had a chance to go along with Kwon Oh-Jin and live with him. But, but, but... Her lips burned even more, and her tears pooled at the tip of her chin. “How about it?” he asked. “...” Song Ha-Eun closed her eyes tightly, forcing down the urge to gag. She struggled to pry her mouth open. “Alri—” Bang! Just then, the doors to the auction hall flung open with a violent crash. “W-What the hell?” “W-Who are you?!” There was a sudden commotion. Thump, thump, thump! Song Ha-Eun heard the hurried footsteps of guards rushing to the entrance. “You’re not allowed in during the middle of the auction—” “... Huh?” “A-A special agent?” “Why is a special agent here...?” “Wait, isn’t that the person from Seoul Station a few days ago?” The guards' voices were laced with confusion. Step. “Huh?” Her gray eyes wavered. What the...? Step, step. It was a familiar footstep—a sound she'd never expected to hear at this moment. Step, step. They were footsteps that couldn’t be here. “W-Why...?” Why are you here...? The auctioneer, forcing an awkward smile, turned to the unexpected intruder who had disrupted the auction. “Ahem! My apologies for the disturbance, everyone! So, um, what brings a special agent of the association here...?” The intruder threw two large trunks onto the floor. Thud! As they fell, stacks of cash spilled out, fluttering to the ground like snowflakes. “Ten billion won. All in cash.” Kwon Oh-Jin's low, deep voice echoed through the auction hall.