Summoned and Unwanted

[Did you see what the auctioneer did? I think the family of the book is backstage.]

-Yes, this is the first time the auctioneer acted this way.-

[Could it be that the current owners of the book aren’t in a good financial state, and they are resorting...]

-I will still buy the book for Ester.- Vincent interrupted.

[...]

“The starting price is ten silver coins. Flash your light if you want to bet.” However, after the auctioneer started the bid, no one tried to lift their hands and light the gemstone.

*Flash*

“I see an esteemed guest on the VIP balcony with the scary mask is interested in the item. Who wants to bid more than eleven silver coins?”

.....

*Flash*

“I am sorry, esteemed guest with the scary mask on the VIP balcony, but you can not outbid your bid...”

*Sigh* Vincent didn’t continue trying to raise the price. He looked disappointed, as if he wanted to win the bid with a much higher amount.

The auctioneer looked around, but no one flashed any lights. He concluded no one else wanted to place a bid.

“Going once, going twice, sold to the esteemed VIP with a scary mask who wanted to outbid himself.” The auctioneer said, causing everyone to misunderstand his words as a newbie bidder.

Everyone in the auction house moved their gazes at Vincent’s VIP balcony. They saw a man with his arms crossed and wearing a mask with an intimidating demon face.

Many gossiped about who the VIP who tried to outbid himself was. They wondered who was behind the mask.

“Congratulations. I hope the item will be worth every coin is something I like to say when buying something, my young VIP friend. ” The VIP balcony neighbor said.

Vincent moved his gaze and noticed how the middle-aged man was curiously looking at him. As if he was trying to figure out who was behind the mask.

The middle-aged man didn’t look like an ordinary person, but Vincent didn’t open his status window. Vincent wanted to let the middle-aged man keep his identity a secret unless he acted more suspiciously.

“Mortal coins mean nothing to this honorable one. ” Vincent said to change the subject. “Even if a book written with passion and hope can not help bring enlightenment to this honorable one, it will still have more value than a few coins.”

Later, the auctioneer continued with equipment, furniture, gemstones, and magic core categories. There were some interesting items he and Kazumi liked, but the winning bids made their faces turn sour.

The auction made them feel poor. Despite their unhappy frowns, the next category was about to wipe their sadness clean.

The auctioneer snapped his fingers, and a maid appeared. She pushed a wooden moving table cart without dish covers. On the table were multiple fresh-looking fruits. It was the crops category next.

Vincent became puzzled as his items didn’t appear. But his doubt was quickly put to an end when the auctioneer revealed how they were fresh summer crops.

Furthermore, the auctioneer mentioned how the attendants checked each summer crop individually. He continued by saying how the lot will have over ninety percent of the crops in fresh and undamaged conditions.

Everyone stared at the tables, and they became interested.

“We do not see that many imported off-season crops around here. Not to mention fresh at that!”

“It sucks they aren’t sold individually. I wonder who can afford them all in one go. ”

“My son loves them. I might bet if it is a reasonable price.”

“I think I might try too. My lord might promote me with this gift.”

One after the other, the people became eager to bid. Everyone liked the lot of off-season crops, and many wanted to buy them.

The auctioneer started the bidding at a reasonably lower market price, and the amount of lights flashing could cause a person to go blind, yet the auctioneer had a keen eye. He could tell who the last to bid was.

Vincent and Kazumi were nervous at first. They even considered trying to bid and increase the price. However, as the seconds passed and the light flicked constantly, the need was over. The price skyrocketed by itself.

A few seconds later...

“Going once, going twice, sold for one gold coin and fifty silver coins.” The auctioneer announced with his eyes red and his throat dry.

‘Yes! Yes! Yes!’ Both Vincent and Kazumi rapidly thought excitedly.

The auctioneer hastily applied a teardrop solution to his eyes as if this was nothing new and the maid beside him offered him a drink.

“Sorry for the short pause.” The auctioneer extended his hand and continued, “The esteemed VIP is fortunate for having savory summer crops in winter. But sadly, it was the only auction from the crops category today.”

Vincent moved his head and took a good look at the person who won. The winner was a large man from the opposite VIP balcony room. His skin was dark, and his face was hidden by a mask with multicolored feathers attached to it.

The man gave Vincent and Kazumi of being from the desert continent.

[It is fortunate you have the mask on, or the bird mask person on the other side would be looking at us.]

-Huh? Why?-

[I bet you have a wide grin on your face right now, hehe.]

-...-

Sofy approached from behind and hugged Vincent. “Congratulations for the profit.” She cheerfully said.

“Huh?” Vincent moved his gaze and noticed the middle-aged man secretly glancing at them.

*Cough* “Ahh, yes, my dearest slave. Today is an auspicious day for this honorable one.” Vincent leaned his head and whispered, “Could you let me go? That man is looking at us.”

“That’s why I hugged you, but are you going to get violent with me? I can be submissive only to you, hehe. ” Sofy revealed in a low yet tempting voice.

“Lords and Ladies. The last item we have is from the last category.” The auctioneer snapped his fingers, and a maid appeared. After she moved to the middle of the stage and removed the only dish cover on the table, a small pearl appeared.

Vincent looked at the description on the hologram and was surprised to see a slime core for sale.

“After the incident with the ants everyone hates, the scarce amount of slimes became even rarer in our great kingdom. In this auction, the winning bid will win this core of an ordinary slime with a couple of cracks.”

Many people whispered to each other, and many who didn’t win any bid started to leave one after the other. It was evident that the slime core wasn’t an item preferred by many.

Vincent looked at the middle-aged man and asked, “My VIP balcony friend. Can this honorable one comprehend what uses are for a damaged slime core?”

“As far as I know, good ones can be used for alchemy and scroll magic. But some say they can be used for wide-scale Glpyh formations too.” The middle-aged responded.

[Should we get it if it is cheap?]

-Not a bad idea.-

A few minutes later...

“Going once, going twice, sold to the esteemed VIP with a scary mask for five silver coins.”

“... Why did only one other person bid once and later stop?” Vincent asked with a shocked expression. He felt it was a mistake.

“I am not too sure, VIP balcony friend. I am not in the monster core business, but I heard how many pay less for damaged slime core. The amount for one, however, I do not know.” The middle-aged man answered.

Vincent felt terrible and believed he had overpaid for a damaged slime core.

“I hope to see you again, my VIP balcony friend.” Vincent pinched Sofy and whispered, “Don’t you think I let you have enough of your fun after making that man misunderstand?”

“But I never lied. Not to you, at least my dominating master...” Sofy paused and tried to push Vincent the chair. But she couldn’t overpower him.

“What are you trying to do?” Vincent whispered.

Vincent was starting to worry about Sofy’s strange advances, so he lifted Sofy by her hips and took her inside the room.

“I can offer afternoon maid services if you need to. That golddigger will not have you.” Sofy said when her feet touched the floor.

Vincent could now understand what made Sofy act like this. *Sigh* “Talk to my counsel of women. They will decide your fate.”

Sofy smiled confidently and said, “Yes” On her face was the expression of a victor.

On the neighbor VIP balcony room, a servant staying behind the red curtain asked the middle-aged man, “Master do you want me to look into the scary masked man?”

With a quick nod from the middle-aged man, the servant left to find Vincent’s identity.

“These old eyes aren’t for show, young VIP balcony friend. I have a good hunch you sold the imported summer crops. Now I hope we can meet again soon.” The middle-aged man said to himself. He snapped his fingers, and another servant appeared. “Let’s go get our stuff.”

At the ground level were Vincent and Soft, following a different maid to the backstage auction processing room.

Vincent asked to have the money from two winning bids deducted, and the attendant in charge accepted with no complaint.

Soon, in front of Vincent were placed a book, a damaged slime core, and a bag of coins with the amount of one gold thirty-four silver coins in it.