Manuke FPS Chapter 168

Published at 22nd of November 2021 11:07:48 AM

The final day of the King’s Festival approached its end. More than two-thirds of the items had been auctioned, and all the items after the light meal went for a high price. Their starting prices were no longer measured in gold, but large platinum coins that were equal to ten gold coins apiece. 

“60 platinum coins going once! Anyone else! 70 platinum coins from custom number 11! Does anyone else have a higher bid?!” 

Pakon!

“Sold! Thank you! The item has sold for 70 platinum coins from customer 11!”

That marked the end of the bidding war for number 99. Next would be the last item, and thus, the bidding war for the Great Labyrinth Core would soon begin. 

“Next is the final item that will conclude this year’s festival. Catalog number 100, a Great Mana Stone brought back from the Wolf Fang Labyrinth!  

{E/N (Kay): Labyrinth core is Mana stone, but not vice versa. In case there’s any confusion. }

In response to the auction number being called, the black box was brought forth to the stage. The signal from the GPS moved accordingly.  

“It’s my first experience to be in charge of a Great Mana Stone, including seeing it in person —” 

The moderator opened the lid and tilted the box so the audience could see the core inside. As expected, they wouldn’t hold it by hand or move it to another pedestal. From the moment the color of the stone shone out, wonder and praise echoed out along with the clapping of hands. The wave of praise grew louder, and then I noticed that the whole venue was in applause. All of them were focused on one point. 

“Shaft-sama, those are all for you. Even His Majesty is clapping his hands.” 

Maltsan, who was also clapping his hands, told me. 

The subjugation of the labyrinth was good news that brought joy to everyone in this world. Not to mention the harvest festival, it also reduced the worry of monster overflows from those labyrinths. In turn, that brought prosperity to the area. Naturally, the hero who cleared it would receive praise and utmost respect. 

Originally, I was supposed to receive that praise and gratitude during the harvest festival, but I instead went south to aid Ashley. Thus, all of it was channeled now to me. I stood from my seat, rested one hand over my stomach, and bowed my head slightly. It was the best I could do in response without embarrassing myself. I don’t ever recall this kind of situation back in my old world. Maybe when I had won an FPS tournament before. However, the scale was vastly different. 

“Alright then, this is the final item. The starting price is 50 platinum coins. We will also add 50 gold coins. Well then — do we already have a bidder? One bid for 50 platinum coins and 50 gold!”

The moderator announced the start of the bidding once the praises died a bit. It took off steadily as more and more paddles were raised one after another. 

“Malta, how much do you think it will sell for?”

“Let’s see, I remember back when a great mana stone was sold for 130 platinum coins. I don’t know how much it’d sell for this time, but it’d certainly go past 100.”

100 platinum coins… When this auction was over, the issue with purchasing non-attribute mana stones to gain CP would certainly go away. I then noticed that the King, who was in his own seating, raise his own paddle and participated in the bidding. Apparently, Minnea and Princess Cyril, who were also present in the guest room, cheered on the king. Each time his bid exceeded someone else’s, they cheered more to urge him on. 

The big amount had already exceeded 80 platinum coins, but there was no sign that the momentum would stop. Even so, the number of people who placed bids was eventually reduced to the King, a Yamigasa chairman, and two other aristocrats. 

“They are Count Balmundo and Marquis Ecrus. Both are the owners of mercantile companies.” 

“So, nobles are allowed to own their own private companies?”

“Well, there are many who do not have official positions. But if you have a large magic stone, you can also manage large-scale buildings, or create large-scale magic tools. If you wish for the prosperity of your territory, as a lord, why would you not want to own one?”

“I see.” 

I didn’t know that a great magic stone, pulled from a labyrinth, could change so much, but if Maltsan says so, then it might be the case. The bid soon exceeded 100 platinum coins. This left only the King and the chairman of Yamigasa to fight it out. The chairman was of a beast race with a rat face and a slender, tall body. Almost the exact opposite of Maltsan. 

“120 platinum coins! How about that, Your Majesty!” 

Upon the climax of the bidding war, both of the contestants started to show their intention to win the bid. The king raised his paddle in response to the moderator’s question, but the chairman raised his paddle immediately after. This exchange repeated several times until the time it took the king to raise his paddle gradually became longer and longer. 

“150 platinum coins! Going once! Going twice!” 

Pakon!

“Sold! The Great Mana Stone from the Wolf Fang Labyrinth is sold to the Yamigasa Company for 150 platinum coins!” 

Applause sounded through the venue at the conclusion of the bidding. The winning bid was amazing, to say the least. Cheers and praise for the winner continued as white smoke quietly pooled underfoot of the first-floor attendees. None of them seemed to notice.  

“Is that part of the event?” 

“No, I don’t think there was something like this last year…”

“Sleeping mist!” 

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That shout belonged to Ophelia who sat at the far end of the venue. 

Not part of the event? Then, could this be Nekoyanagi’s move?

Some of the nobles who heard the warning immediately raised a barrier around their seats. The smoke touched them… And stopped as it was unable to suffuse through the barrier. However, not everyone was capable of conjuring similar barriers. Most of the Hirash staff members started to keel over and then fell to the floor, no longer moving.  As the name implied, was it a mist that induced sleep? 

No, it was better than that. The stage was higher than the ground floor so the mist could not reach it. However, that meant movement was limited to the stage. Some of the tables managed to persist thanks to the fact that the mist was unable to get through their barriers. Perhaps it was due to the nobles’ presence that the situation was not total chaos yet. 

Watch the surroundings! Count Themis! Can the mist be blown away?!” 

“We can’t afford to do that since the mist will spread outside instead!” 

“Prioritize His Majesty’s safety! Felix! Go upstairs and begin the evacuation!” 

The magic nobles who attended the festival immediately took charge of the situation. The safety of the royal family members, as well as the students, had the highest priority. 

“Malta, the balcony will be less dangerous, so wait in here until things settle down.” 

“And Shaft-sama?” 

“People are starting to gather near the Labyrinth Core, until the item reaches the hand of the winning bidder, it still belongs to me. I won’t let anyone steal my belongings so easily.”

The map reflected my field of view, so you could see the light spots that seemed to be the staff gathering on the stage. I couldn’t hear their voices due to the confusion. Still, I could hear them on whether to discuss leaving the item on stage. First of all, I should join that circle and move to protect the —

The staff on stage began to move. They closed the box so apparently, they decided to move the stone to another location. 

“Shaft-sama, there are rumors that Nekoyanagi is invincible…”

“There’s a reason why its just a rumor. Nobody is truly invincible.”

“True, but its also true they always get what they want.”

“You tell me —”

The cart with the stone began to move — and the footsteps of the staff pushing the cart were — This king of steps — It was Koti. 

“Shaft-sama, what are you doing!?” 

Maltsan raised his voice after seeing me move. It was only natural as it was the second floor and I jumped over the railing. 

“Maltsan, I’m going.”

Chapter end