41
The Imply Market.
Or more elegantly put, the Black Auction.
The first of many hidden sides held by the Selenium Academy.
To put it bluntly, those who diligently pursue their studies in the Selenium Saga are not exaggerating when they say they’ve turned over a whole pot of blessings.
Midterms, finals, countless competitions and exams in between.
Moreover, in the case of the Knight Department, grades are almost entirely determined by duels.
Naturally, the weak cannot survive in a place like this Selenium Academy, and as a result, many students have left, disheartened.
However.
Even the students who left were prodigies in their hometowns, geniuses.
Many entered with grand dreams.
Naturally, those who were accustomed to being at the top of their hometowns as easily as eating rice never imagined they would face the crazy triple combo of failure, expulsion, and dropping out here.
The ones who gave up, the ones who were expelled and gave up on life, the ones who dropped out but couldn’t return to their hometowns gathered in this bottom, this ‘underworld.’
Their commonality is that, even though they failed and fell like this, they almost hate the ‘Selenium’ in the bright world for enjoying youth with a smile, close to disgust.
“That’s the ‘darkness’ of Selenium that’s been formed and organized.”
“…Well, I know that much too.”
“Are you really okay?”
“The Black Auction? Um, I’ve only heard about it, never been there, but since Adrian is with me, it should be fine, right?”
Is it okay to be so sure?
Well, it’s not a place to worry about as much as it’s dangerous.
To be precise, among the ‘underworld’ managed by the ‘darkness,’ the ‘Black Auction’ is not particularly dangerous.
Only items that don’t cross ethical lines, and even normal goods are sold there without paying taxes.
But there are disadvantages as well.
Scams happen frequently from the start, and it’s a place where the one who deceives gets scolded more than the one deceived.
First of all, although the Salenium student council threatened to give demerits for using the Black Auction, as usual, the students were all secretly utilizing it.
That’s how “the Black Auction in front” was considered acceptable.
Sometimes even professors would sneak a glance there.
By the way, Professor Walnut, known for element manipulation, is a VIP at the Black Auction.
From Noble mtl dot com
Well, they don’t sell romance novels at regular Salenium bookstores, only textbooks.
However.
Once you go further “inside,” that’s when it becomes truly dangerous.
Without proof of being a member of the “Darkness,” no one can enter.
Even if forced in, they won’t have a good time.
From there on, it’s truly the realm of the “Darkness.”
“Well then, let’s start with this.”
Raina said, fluttering the paper.
A report.
She had checked the location, facilities, and issues of the ideal venue for the competition.
Walking towards the large student council building in the central district, Raina asked, “By the way, is Adrian not participating in this year’s sports festival? He didn’t participate in the 1st year, right?”
“Well, this time he’s participating in the ‘1-Kilometer Flag Snatching Race.'”
“Adrian.”
Raina walked ahead and then turned to look back at him.
“Are you really okay? Do you have a fever? It’s not going to work, me substituting for you…”
Wait, was it necessary to say that much?
“…I’m fine. I’ll make it through. Besides, the team might be different this time.”
Ah, I see, the guy muttered, still worried.
Anyway.
“Don’t worry. I’ve survived well so far, and I’ll watch over you this time too. Show them how good you are.”
“Yes, if you say so, I’ll believe in you. And I must watch your match too, right? I’ll definitely get my revenge this time.”
Hmm.
I don’t know what kind of revenge that is, but stay strong.
* * *
Anyway, I submitted the report and left.
Suddenly, the student council guy who was receiving the documents looked surprised, and as soon as he saw me, he tightly gripped a weapon hidden in his bosom instead of speaking.
What was he trying to do with that?
But.
“One must bear the responsibility if they made the choice.”
“Huh?”
“If you chose it, you should take the responsibility.”
“Good point. By the way, I received exclusive volunteer points from the student council. With this, now…”
“Now?”
“After graduating, I can proudly say, ‘I have worked on projects with the student council.'”
Seems like someone shares the same thoughts as Mr. Anyone.
“By the way, it’s the Black Auction. I know the location, but I’ve never been there myself. They don’t send agents to dangerous places.”
Hmm.
According to Reyna, she values her informants dearly.
So, while it may be easy to obtain information about the ‘inside’ of the academy from her, when it comes to dangerous information like the ‘Dark,’ it’s much better to go through other channels.
The path we are walking on leads to the western forest.
Passing by knight students who are keen on hunting monsters, we venture deeper into the forest.
Three steps, another round here, and about 30 minutes of walking.
And here, where the edge and center of the forest overlap vaguely…
“There it is.”
“What?”
“Look over there.”
An old cabin.
And in front of it, a student pretending to be drawing on a canvas.
“Reyna, is today the full moon?”
“What? Oh, yes. Since yesterday was the 14th, today is the day the full moon rises.”
Then probably, the password will be what I think ‘it’ is.
The password for the Black Auction changes by date, based on the ‘moon.’
I have memorized them all anyway.
One of the many conditions to become a veteran in the Selenium Saga was to memorize all the entrance passwords for the auction by date.
Approaching the guy like that…
“What, can’t you see I’m drawing? Don’t disturb me.”
As he speaks while swiftly moving the brush, I tap him on the back of his head.
“The moon on the fifteenth night is like a shadow.”
The brush stops abruptly.
“…Under the moon’s shadow, we are.”
The mumbling guy turns his head.
“Oh, Adrian?”
“Yes.”
The painter guy nods, then gets up, looks around, and guides us to the old cabin.
For some reason, his shoulders were trembling heavily as he led us.
He keeps glancing at me, what’s up, is it because of me?
Hm…
He opens the wardrobe, takes out two masks with a smile, and hands them to us after covering his eyes.
“These are masks enchanted to change your voice when worn. Please come this way.”
As we head back behind the cabin, the painter guy suddenly tears up the pristine grass.
“Camouflage magic carpet?”
“Yes, miss. That’s correct.”
As he tears up the grass, a metal door appears, and upon opening it, a staircase leading underground is revealed with the creaking sound of the rusty latch.
“VIPs have no time limit. The same goes for companions. We hope you enjoy your time at our Black Auction.”
Saying so, the guy who escorted us down closed the door once again.
Walking down the stairs leading underground, Reyna in a mask spoke.
“Was Adrian a VIP here?”
“Mm.”
Adrian, a VIP?
This is the first time I’ve heard of it.
“…I’ll repeat, the Black Auction is a place used not only by regular students but also occasionally by professors. It only sells items not found in the Salenium shop, items related to the fallen lineage and nothing truly ‘illegal.’ It’s just a light indulgence, we don’t sell genuinely ‘illegal’ items.”
“Hmm, if Adrian is like that, then I guess so. By the way, is this mask a magical tool?”
“It’s a similar item. It’s not enjoyable to expose one’s identity, that’s all.”
Saying that, we descended the stairs.
Emerging from a hole resembling a sewer at the end was…
“Take a sip and time flies! Don’t have time? Drink this, and you can pass two days doing nothing! One bottle for 3,000 Elin! It’s fine! No side effects!”
“Curious if your lover is cheating? Looking for lost family members? Come to our fortune-telling center!”
“Hey, this isn’t a rip-off! You won’t regret it!”
“Hey you there! How much do you know about the Dragon Mountain Trading Company? Selling magical tools cheap!”
It was a perfect flea market.
An underground market spread across streets made of bricks.
Green sewage flowed in the channels along the road, with tents set up along the edges and people bustling amidst yellow lights.
“Wow… this is…”
Reyna stopped speaking.
And looked somewhere.
There.
“H-How much is this?”
“My lady wouldn’t be this cute. Ah, I’ll give you this set for 7,000 Elin.”
There were also green-robed individuals collecting all sorts of books as they roamed around.
Even though they wore masks, their clothes were the same, making it obvious.
Mm.
Reyna pretended not to see, and I did the same.
“So this is the black market, the Black Auction.”
“This is the beginning where they sell items highly demanded by ordinary students. Selling for 3,000 Elin is alcohol.”
“A-Alcohol? Of course, I thought they would sell such things at the Black Auction, but so openly…”
“It’s extremely potent alcohol. Further inside, the items they sell are divided. We need to head towards the equipment section. Let’s go.”
With each step, we walked through the market.
I imagined the Black Auction to be a terribly frightening place…
“I didn’t say it was such a place.”
Just selling unauthorized items is the issue.
“And if you turn down that alley and see a path leading further down?”
“Oh, yes. I see it.”
“In the deep there lies the ‘auction house.’ That’s the ‘real deal.’ While the Black Auction is merely a place for casual indulgence, over there, only those who embrace the ‘darkness’ and make a living out of it reside.”
Different from the ‘Black Auction’ where regular students and professors can casually participate.
The place where the ‘real’ ones who committed crimes that can’t be washed away by killing or kidnapping hide.
Reyna, as if she couldn’t bear to look, immediately turned her head.
“Why… do they resort to places like this? They could live fairly.”
“Maybe because they lack money, places to spend it, or simply don’t want to make an effort. It seems they have their reasons.”
As they conversed while walking.
Suddenly, a woman bumped into my shoulder.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I wasn’t paying attention either.”
And in that moment.
“You’re a kind person.”
With those words, the woman left, leaving a light smile behind.
Further into the alley, deeper inside.
“Adrian, who was that?”
“I don’t know either. Should we hurry along?”
Despite saying that, my eyes were following the direction she disappeared in.
I said I didn’t know, but I do.
How could I not know.
Her name is Pavella, the puppeteer.
And who she is.
Yes.