Chapter 126 – GOY 126

#126

Dressed ​in ​suits, ​we ​headed ​to the ‘Achirus ​Grand ​Auction ​House’ ​where ​the auction was being ​held.

A ​long line of ​reporters had gathered ​in ​front ​of ​the ​auction ​house.

Unlike the special ​auctions ​in ​Korea, the Achirus ​Auction was like a ​grand festival.

While ​the auction ​scenes weren’t ​broadcast live, ​the ​entry ​of reporters and ​cameras was ​permitted freely.

Joo Seung-hyuk and ​I entered the auction ​house amidst a barrage ​of camera ​flashes.

As ​soon as we stepped inside, a ​staff member immediately approached ​us ​to ​guide ​us ​to our seats.

The ​interior of ​the ​grand auction house ​looked ​like an opera house. The ​staff member ​led ​us to a ​box ​seat ​on ​the ​second floor.

It ​was ​tradition that ​S-Class Awakened sat in box seats, while ​those of other ​ranks visit our sitesat in ​the [Read on Read BL Novels]central audience seating. ​There were ​no [unauthorized copy]exceptions, even ​for ​heads of conglomerates ​or guild leaders.

In ​the box ​seat ​opposite ours, ​I ​could see ​Do ​Hyuk-jin.

Upon spotting ​me, ​Do ​Hyuk-jin waved his ​hand ​vigorously. Fortunately, ​he ​seemed ​cheerful ​despite having heard the future in which he would be murdered. I waved back.

Then, Joo Seung-hyuk firmly grabbed my hand and pulled it down.

“Hyung.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m better.”

“…I know.”

Satisfied with my answer, Joo Seung-hyuk hugged me with a clear, innocent smile. However, something felt strange.

“Seung-hyuk-ah, what are you doing?”

“A Pheromone Shower.”

The content was not nearly as wholesome as his gentle voice.

“…I see. Is that so.”

“Yes.”

“Do you like it when you get your pheromones on me?”

“Yes. I love it.”

Joo Seung-hyuk beamed, his eyes crinkling into crescents.

“Then keep doing it.”

Well, since he likes it that much, there’s no need to stop him. Anyway, I’m a Beta, so it’s not like I can feel the pheromones.

Besides, we were in a box seat, so the space was separated.

“Yes.”

“…….”

Still, I thought he would at least pretend to decline once if I said it like that, but it seemed Joo Seung-hyuk didn’t possess such common sense.

After answering without a shred of hesitation, he continued to coat me in his pheromones. Or rather, he probably was. Since I was a Beta, I couldn’t actually tell what he was doing.

“Seung-hyuk-ah. But you know…”

“Yes.”

“If you want a Pheromone Shower, wouldn’t an Omega be better? I can’t feel— Ah!”

Joo Seung-hyuk suddenly snapped his teeth onto my neck.

“You’re starting with those mean words again.”

“It’s not that, it’s just that I’m a Beta…”

“It’s not that I want a Pheromone Shower; I [visit our site]just Read on Read BL Novelslove it when my pheromones are felt coming from Lee [stolen content]Yeon-soo. Don’t ever say that again.”

“Okay…”

I still felt that a partner who could communicate through pheromones would be better, but I couldn’t say any more.

Just then, David entered the opposite box seat. He was accompanied by several filming staff, as if he were in the middle of a broadcast shoot.

David looked over. I quickly averted my gaze before our eyes met.

It wasn’t because I was walking on eggshells around Joo Seung-hyuk, nor was it because I was avoiding someone who, in the original story, tried to kill Lee Yeon-soo; I simply really didn’t like him.

Not just his appearance or personality, but his mana was unpleasant too. When he had held my hand, the tingling sensation of his mana had given me goosebumps.

Was it because David was an Electric-type Esper?

[Espers and Guides, the Achirus Auction is about to begin. Please take your seats.]

A moment later, the announcement played.

The Achirus Auction was conducted in English by default, stolen contentand one could request simultaneous translation earphones to Read on Read BL Novelshear the language of their choice.

Joo Seung-hyuk was fluent in English, and since my listening skills were quite good, I didn’t specifically request earphones.

Both the audience seats and the box seats were completely full. The Achirus Auction House was likely the only place where so many S-Class Awakened could gather in one spot.

As it was the world’s top auction, renowned treasures would surely be put up for bid.

If I could just push aside my worries for Hyuk-jin hyung, I was honestly looking forward to it. I was getting to see the Achirus Auction, which I had only seen in TVs and articles, in person.

“Hyung, if there’s something you want, press the button. You can also just tell me.”

“Okay.”

Because the Achirus Grand Auction House was so vast and the number of participants so high, the auction didn’t proceed by simply raising paddles, but by pressing a circular button located at the bottom of the paddle.

When the button was pressed, that number would appear on the electronic scoreboard, indicating who had bid.

What treasures would appear this year? With anticipation, I looked at the central scoreboard.

Because the venue was so large, telescopes were provided at each seat to view the treasures. However, Read on Read BL Novelssince the treasures were visible on the large central stolen contentscreen, there was no need to use the telescopes.

A beautiful bracelet embedded with a red gemstone appeared on the large screen.

“The first treasure is the Bracelet of Roitalraum.”

As expected, Achirus is truly Achirus.

The Bracelet of Roitalraum was a treasure discovered five years ago at the Arctic Gate, and it had garnered much attention due to its beautiful and mysterious shape.

It had even been selected as the most beautiful treasure in the world. I had heard it would be coming up for auction soon, and it had been chosen as the first treasure to open the Achirus Auction.

However, it was uncertain whether the actual winning bid would be high compared to its fame.

It was certainly beautiful, but the treasure’s ability was… subtle.

They said that when engaging in a relationship, the physical strain is reduced by about 80%…

Calling it ‘subtle’ was a generous way of putting it; its performance was practically garbage.

No matter how pretty it was, who would spend a fortune on something like that?

The auctioneer seemed to know this, focusing the description on aesthetic beauty rather than performance. Moreover, it was a topic too embarrassing to discuss in a formal setting.

After the explanation, the auctioneer announced the starting price. It was an absurdly high price compared to its performance.

Who on earth would buy that? Just as I was worrying that it might go unsold from the start, I saw Joo Seung-hyuk’s thumb move.

No way…

Sure enough, number 21, Joo Seung-hyuk’s number, appeared on the scoreboard. He had placed a bid.

“Seung-hyuk-ah, are you buying it?”

When I asked in shock, he nodded and pressed the button again.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Why buy something like that?

The bidding became unexpectedly fierce, and the numbers on the scoreboard changed rapidly. I couldn’t tell if everyone was captivated by the beauty of Roitalraum or if they wanted the ability to reduce physical strain during intimacy. But Joo Seung-hyuk was definitely the latter.

“Because that’s why I came here to buy.”

…So that was actually his goal!

I wondered what kind of treasure he had come to buy since he said he had no interest in the Necklace of Nemesild, and this was it!

“Why? Because it’s pretty?”

Say it’s because it’s pretty! Hurry up and say you’re not buying it for that garbage ability! You brat!

“You’re buying it because it’s pretty, right? Right?”

Instead of answering, Joo Seung-hyuk let the corners of his mouth curl up into a smirk. I felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding from that smile.

Damn brat, what on earth is he planning…!

But I didn’t have the courage to stop Joo Seung-hyuk.

Just as I had during the special auction in Korea, I cheered for the other bidders. In Korea, there was no human who could beat Joo Seung-hyuk in a battle of money, but this was Achirus.

World-class Ability Users, guild leaders, and entrepreneurs were gathered here. This time, Joo Seung-hyuk would face stiff competition.

“Customer number 21, sold!”

But that expectation was ruthlessly crushed.

Seong Han was a global corporation, and the spending spree of the next successor, Joo Seung-hyuk, was not intimidated by the rest of the world.

Having successfully won the beautiful piece of trash through fierce competition, Joo Seung-hyuk whispered softly in my ear.

“Hyung, congratulate me.”

“…Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

He wore a pure, innocent smile.

Maybe he really just bought it because it was pretty, and I was overreacting?

However, as if mocking my thoughts, Joo Seung-hyuk proceeded to win a series of items that looked dangerous.

“W-why did you buy that one just now?”

Joo Seung-hyuk smiled silently.

Surely, an SM life isn’t starting from the second semester…

While I trembled in fear that the hardcore scenes from the original work would be recreated, the Achirus Auction was nearing its end.

And the final treasure was the ‘Necklace of Nemesild.’ Today’s winning bids had been lower than usual.

It was noticeable even to me, who had only experienced the Achirus Auction through broadcasts and articles.

Everyone was aiming for the Necklace of Nemesild and had been saving their funds for it.

The only person who had been splashing money recklessly until now was number 21, Joo Seung-hyuk.

Finally, the Necklace of Nemesild revealed itself. As the necklace embedded with a large turquoise gemstone was placed on the podium, exclamations erupted from all over.

Reporters moved busily to capture the image of Nemesild on their cameras.

But perhaps because I knew it was a fake, it looked like a common treasure with no special characteristics to my eyes.

The ‘Necklace of Nemesild’ was the highlight of today’s auction. Perhaps that’s why the explanation of the treasure was exceptionally long.

That didn’t mean they were just stalling for time. The auctioneer interestingly explained the treasure’s origin, its performance, and the exploits of its original owner, Jameson Foster.

The only problem was that there wasn’t a single person in the auction house who didn’t already know this.

People kept their hands on the buttons, waiting only for the auctioneer to finish speaking.

“The starting price for the legendary treasure, the ‘Necklace of Nemesild’, is…!”

The auctioneer announced the starting price in a solemn voice.

It was a far more expensive amount [stolen content]than any of the treasures that had come before, but visit our sitenot a single person was surprised. They simply pressed their buttons frantically.

31, 516, 1291, 1, 4819….

Countless numbers appeared and vanished instantly, and the price skyrocketed.

The ‘Necklace of Nemesild’ was the only treasure that could solve the matching rate problem. No matter how expensive the purchase price, its future value would only increase.

Simply winning the bid could put one on a mountain of gold.

From Ability Users who truly needed the necklace, to guild leaders wanting the treasure for smooth guild operation, and even investors whose only goal was money—the auction became increasingly fierce.

However, Joo Seung-hyuk had his hand completely off the button. He truly believed my words.

The absurd words that the treasure was a fake and that there was no evidence Do Hyuk-jin would be murdered.

“Seung-hyuk-ah…”

I wanted to tell him thank you for trusting me. At that moment, Joo Seung-hyuk looked directly into my eyes.

“Hyung, which of the things I bought today do you like the most?”

“…The sword.”

“Not that one.”

“The gun.”

“Not that either.”

His eyes curved softly as he gave a mischievous smile.

Besides the sword and the gun, what else is there? Surely he’s not asking me to pick one of those ‘expensive pieces of trash’ that deserve to be thrown into a cozy dumpster?