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Chapter 39
“Ahhh! Let’s go to Rodrigo’s shop too!”
“Rodrigo’s shop will be packed today because of the auction. We won’t even be able to look around properly.”
Adrian, who had been checking the dates, spoke up.
“That’s exactly why we should go! Auctions are super fun! It’s one of the spectacles you can only enjoy in the capital.”
“Stefan, that’s just fun for you. Today is Jaelyn’s day. If we waste all our time at the auction, how is Jaelyn supposed to explore Trafalgar Street?”
“Ah, just 10 minutes. Ten minutes is enough! We just pop in, take a quick look, and come right back out. Please? Huh? Huh?”
“Hmmm…”
When Sasha frowned, Stefan immediately pulled out his special skill.
With the most desperate expression he could muster, Stefan clung to Sasha like a beggar.
“Just this once, I swear… Pleaseeee. I’ll listen to whatever you say from now on.”
“Anything?”
“Yes, yes, yes! Anything!!”
“Hmmm…”
Pretending to hesitate, Sasha then turned the question toward Jaelyn, watching Stefan hopping anxiously.
“Jaelyn, what do you think? Today is for you, after all. Your opinion matters most. If you’re fine with it, then I’m fine too.”
“Uh… well…”
Jaelyn’s eyes darted around nervously.
The moment the decision shifted to her, Stefan abandoned Sasha and bolted straight to Jaelyn. That was a lightning-fast shift of allegiance.
He grabbed Jaelyn’s hand with both of his, lowering himself to gaze up at her with shimmering puppy-dog eyes.
“Jaelyn, Rodrigo’s shop is famous, you know? They handpick the finest mana stones from the Empire and neighboring nations! They sell everything needed for crafting magic tools and designing magic itself! For anyone even remotely interested in magic, it’s a dream store you have to visit!”
For someone studying magical design like Jaelyn, there was no reason to refuse.
“O-okay. Then let’s go to Rodrigo’s shop like Stefan wants.”
At her answer, Sasha added sternly:
“But only ten minutes. After ten minutes, we’re leaving no matter what.”
“Of course, of course, of course! Naturally, I swear!”
Overjoyed, Stefan dashed into Rodrigo’s shop before anyone could stop him. Jaelyn and the rest quickly followed.
Little did they know at that moment… they’d end up stuck inside Rodrigo’s shop for the entire afternoon.
Rodrigo’s shop was in complete chaos. Shoppers browsed the displays, auction-goers filled the floor, and the booming voice of the auctioneer carried over the crowd.
Jaelyn, drawn like a moth to flame, wandered toward the display case filled with mana stones.
Even though she could channel her own magic, as a student of magical design she couldn’t resist the allure of mana stones.
Beneath the glass display glittered stones of every size and color, their purity and luster dazzling. The sight reminded her of the desperate moment during the monster subjugation exam.
If only I had a small mana stone just in case…
That time, Adrian and Nathan had lent her mana so she could squeeze out every last drop. But without them? She shuddered to think of it.
Each stone had a tiny price tag beside it.
Maybe I could afford a small one…
Swallowing nervously, she peeked at the numbers. Thousands… tens of thousands… climbing higher and higher.
She instantly gave up. With her current finances, there was no chance. Mana stones were outrageously expensive.
“Why? Do you want one?”
Adrian had noticed her longing gaze.
“N-no. Let’s just go.”
Letting out a soft sigh, Jaelyn finally pried herself away. There was no point staring at something she couldn’t possibly buy.
Meanwhile, Stefan and Sasha had already joined the auction crowd. The air was thick with excitement as bidders fought over prized goods.
The auctioneer’s rapid-fire chant filled the hall.
“Six thousand gold! We have six thousand! Six thousand five hundred? Seven thousand! Seven thousand gold! No more bids? I’ll count down—three, two, one! Sold! The ‘Breath of Noxii’ goes to bidder 104 for seven thousand gold!”
Applause erupted. A gloved attendant carefully transferred the item from the podium to a tray and carried it away.
Spotting Jaelyn, Stefan waved frantically.
“Jaelyn, hurry up! This auction is amazing!”
She made her way over, but the crowd blocked her view of the stage.
Straining on tiptoes, she was struggling when Adrian called out.
“Hey, peanut.”
“H-huh?”
He crooked a finger, beckoning her over.
What’s he planning?
Nervous under his sharp gaze, Jaelyn edged closer.
“What, you think I’ll eat you?”
“N-no… that’s not it.”
“Then climb up here.”
He pointed to a raised platform by the wall.
“Careful of the step.”
Doing as he said, Jaelyn stepped up and suddenly had a clear view of the auction floor.
She turned her head, glancing at Adrian’s profile.
From this vantage, she could see him clearly: soft brown curls, sharp eyes angled upward, a straight, sculpted nose, and lips quirked ever so slightly.
Adrian always seemed cold, unfriendly, and angry—but maybe, just maybe, he had a kinder side…
“What? What are you staring at?”
His voice snapped her out of it, his brow twitching upward in irritation. Terrifying, as always.
“N-nothing. Just… thanks.”
She turned her gaze back to the stage, muttering under her breath.
The next auction item was brought out. The auctioneer, refreshed after a sip of water, introduced it with vigor:
“Up next, we have a mana stone! It’s small, but the purity is extraordinarily high. The amount of mana it contains is—!”
He paused, letting the suspense build, before declaring:
“Seven thousand five hundred! That’s right, 7,500k! We’ll start the bidding at five thousand gold!”
“Whoa! That’s insane!”
Stefan, who had been bouncing with excitement since the stone appeared, completely lost it upon hearing its mana capacity.
The price of a mana stone depended on its size and stored mana. Large stones with little mana were cheap, while small stones packed with enormous mana skyrocketed in value.
“That size with that much mana?! I have to buy it!”
Startled, Jaelyn glanced at him—and froze. His eyes were gleaming with madness, something she’d never seen before.
“S-Stefan? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Totally fine.”
But his mind was already elsewhere. Adrian leaned over to get a look at his face, then shook his head.
“He’s completely lost it.”
In the blink of an eye, the bids soared past 20,000 gold. The crowd was buzzing, hands shooting up constantly.
Stefan tried raising his bid several times but was quickly outpaced. The atmosphere grew more frenzied as the numbers climbed.
When the price hit 45,000 gold, Stefan clawed at his silver hair in despair.
“Nooo! I don’t have that much money!”
Desperate, he spun around and latched onto Adrian’s sleeve.
“Adrian, please! Lend me some money!”
“You think that’ll happen?”
Adrian raised a single brow. Realizing it was hopeless, Stefan shoved him aside and turned to Jaelyn.
He clasped his hands together, pulling the most pitiful face he could.
“Jaelyn, can’t you lend me some money…?”
“H-how much?”
He hadn’t expected her to ask that, and blinked in surprise.
“Uh… maybe ten thousand gold would do it?”
“Ten… ten thousand gold…”
The absurd number left Jaelyn speechless, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. Adrian let out a heavy sigh.
“Are you insane? You think ten thousand gold is like the neighbor’s dog’s name? Stop spouting nonsense and give it up. Peanut, are you really entertaining this garbage?”
Stefan’s shoulders slumped under the scolding, and he mumbled dejectedly.
“Maybe it is a bit much…”
“A bit much? Asking a friend for ten thousand gold means your brain didn’t just wander—it left the house completely.”
Sasha chimed in, and Stefan’s lips jutted out in a sulk.
“It’s not that bad…”
When the bidding hit 45,000 gold, Adrian’s brows knit faintly. Even for a high-quality stone, the price was exorbitant.
Does it really deserve that kind of value?
As Adrian rubbed his chin, recalling recent mana stone market prices, the auction reached its fever pitch.
