Chapter 5: Raid

"Five hundred gold coins!"

"Seven hundred gold coins!"

"One platinum coin!"

Because the organizers decided to sell the four of us as a set, the price was skyrocketing.

I wondered if the buyers realized... that besides the three of us, there was another man who had been dragged to the corner of this stage.

"One platinum coin for three kids... Is everyone here a lolicon?"

Clarice spoke with a slightly exasperated look, though her voice trembled faintly. She was right. The way the men looked at Clarice and Misha was bloodshot and dripping with greed. If we were bought by people like this... I absolutely could not let that happen.

The reason she wasn't showing her fear was probably to keep Misha from getting scared.

As if to drown out Clarice's thoughts, the venue heated up even more.

"One platinum coin! And one hundred gold coins!"

"One platinum coin! How about three hundred gold coins!"

"Not yet! One platinum coin! Five hundred gold coins!"

With the crowd this frenzied, there was no way our voices would reach anyone else.

"Clarice, did you notice? Our weapons have been moved nearby. If something happens, we're going to take them back immediately."

Looking towards the stage right wing, I saw Dameze cowering from the heat of the excitement... Extending my gaze past him to the backstage area, I saw the thugs, spitting as they shouted in excitement over our ever-rising price. Our weapons were carelessly placed near them.

Clarice followed my gaze and confirmed it.

"Damn it! Two platinum coins!"

"Two platinum coins! And five hundred gold coins! Hand over the silver hair and the Elf to me!"

"Three platinum coins! You lot, just give up already!"

As the price rose endlessly, the veneer of elegance the auction participants had maintained began to peel away, their bidding voices laced with murderous intent.

"I-I'm scared."

Misha, frightened by the raw emotion of the participants, tried to hide behind us.

That was when the man in the black mask, who had questioned the MC earlier, joined the auction for the first time with a cold voice.

"Five platinum coins."

"""—What!?"""

The entire venue gasped for a moment at those words.

However, a woman who seemed obsessed with me—having driven the price up to three platinum coins—struggled against it immediately.

She was naturally wearing a Venetian mask too, but even from the stage, I could see her eyes darting around inside the mask, looking slightly cloudy.

"Five platinum coins and one hundred gold coins! I'll throw everything I have at this!"

The woman was terribly excited, but she wasn't the one who won us.

"Ten platinum coins."

The emotionless words echoed through the hall.

"Wh-!? What!? Ten platinum coins!?"

The MC cried out in surprise at the sheer amount.

"Ten platinum..."

As the woman tried to counter the masked man, a person who appeared to be her servant desperately tried to soothe her. He was also wearing a purple mask to hide his identity.

"M-Milady! It's over budget! You've already purchased three slaves today, haven't you? Any more and the Master will..."

"Shut up! I'll sell my title or whatever it takes, but I will absolutely get that child!"

She smashed the glass in her hand onto the ground and fell into hysterics. The thugs backstage rushed to her to try and calm her down, but the woman only escalated.

"What are you doing!? You can tell too, can't you!? Look, that child has been looking at me this whole time! We are in love with each other!"

Pushing away the thugs trying to calm her, she tried to approach me. With no other choice, the thugs restrained her and dragged her out of the venue. She let out a scream loud enough to burst eardrums while foaming at the mouth, but I couldn't make out what she was saying.

"T-Then, the golden-eyed, golden-haired boy, the beautiful girl, and the Elf—these three, and..."

Just as the MC, who had been overwhelmed by the woman, finally opened his mouth, the masked man interrupted.

"Just those three is fine! I don't need trash!"

Even Dameze, with his nerves of steel, couldn't recover from that.

Walking past Dameze, the three of us were led down to the masked man.

On the way, I looked toward the stage right wing where our weapons were. Thanks to that woman's commotion, there was only one thug left. Should we run now? No, let's wait a little longer. Fortunately, the three of us were bought by the same person. There should be a better chance after we leave this place.

Thinking this, we arrived in front of the masked man who had won us, so I asked him something that was bothering me.

"What do you intend to do with us?"

"That isn't language a slave should use toward their master. I'll educate you thoroughly, so look forward to it."

I was an idiot for hoping even slightly that he might be a decent guy.

It happened just as the masked man was having his servant prepare the platinum coins.

"That Elf child belongs to Gedo-sama of the Gedo Company! You've got some nerve stealing from me! Hido! Come out here right noooooow!!!!!"

The merchant we met in the neighboring town stormed into the auction venue with his entourage.

So Hido, who was selling slaves, and Gedo were from different groups?

Misha was kidnapped by Gedo of the Gedo Company, escaped, and then got caught by Hido of the Hido Company? Complicated. And seriously, that merchant Gedo has the nerve to call the kidnapped Misha "his property."

But thanks to Gedo and his men barging in, the venue fell into chaos.

"This is bad! Staying here is going to be trouble later! Run!"

The auction participants scrambled to escape first, and the thugs immediately engaged Gedo's entourage in combat.

When I turned around, the masked man who bought the three of us was gone. To leave behind the "merchandise" he tried to buy for ten platinum coins and run... his identity must have been something really bad if exposed.

"Clarice! Misha! Now's our chance! We're getting our weapons!"

Taking advantage of the confusion, I first cut the ropes with 《Wind Cutter》. Then we headed for the back of the stage right wing and quickly grabbed our weapons. Fortunately, the thug who was here seemed to have joined the fight, so we recovered our weapons easily. Gedo's group was only after Misha.

The Gedo Company's entourage chased after us, but the Hido Company's thugs blocked them.

Hm? If we let both sides fight and wear each other out, wouldn't we be able to escape more safely by striking when they're exhausted? If the losing side looks like they're about to fold, I can secretly support them with Wind Magic to ensure mutual destruction. Ideally, I wanted to leave this town immediately, but night had completely fallen. If we could hold out a little longer, Sasha might come.

While thinking this, I spotted the slaves who had been won at the auction; they hadn't run away in the confusion but were watching the battle unfold.

"Aren't you going to run while you have the chance?"

When I asked one of the slaves, he replied:

"Ah, we became slaves by choice. My new master doesn't seem to have any issues, so I prefer it this way. Besides, being sent to auction is quite an honor for a slave. The treatment is often better than being sold in the slave market. Well, some, like that guy earlier, are brought here because no one else will buy them or due to special circumstances. Were you guys kidnapped by force? If so, maybe you should run, but there are some serious experts in this venue, so giving up might be safer for you."

"Understood. Thank you for telling me. Can I ask one more thing? Brother, I think you're quite strong, but are there experts stronger than you here?"

"Sharp kid. The introduction earlier wasn't a lie, huh... Let's see. I think I have the strength of a mid-to-high D-Rank adventurer, but the Hido Company has a B-Rank party called 'Moonlit Darkness'. There's no way I can win against them."

A B-Rank party!? There are guys like that here!? Then maybe we should run now...

While I was thinking, the Hido Company thugs surrounded us to protect us from the Gedo Company entourage. Gedo shouted loudly.

"'Naraku'! You don't need to protect me, just catch that Elf!"

After Gedo's shout, six scary-looking men easily took down the thugs protecting our perimeter.

"Gedo's ace party, 'Naraku' is here! Hido-sama! Send 'Moonlit Darkness' over here!"

Hido must have heard Gedo's shout too, because he sent six equally scary-looking men toward us, deploying them to protect us.

"Long time no see, 'Naraku'. Did you come to be killed by us, 'Moonlit Darkness'?"

"Shut it. Today is the day we kill you!"

Apparently, they knew each other.

Watching the battle between the two parties, Hido Company's 'Moonlit Darkness' was gaining the upper hand.

The cause was a single mage standing in front of us, shielding us from 'Naraku'.

When I tried to use Appraisal on that mage, a sudden abnormality occurred in my body.

"Ugh!? W-What is this..."

Suddenly, my eyes reflected the mage like an afterimage. When you think of an afterimage, you imagine the trail following the person, but this was the reverse. The mage was chasing his own afterimage.

Moreover, my brain couldn't process the image, falling into a state of overuse. It felt like when I studied for entrance exams for ten hours straight.

"Mars!? What's wrong?"

Hearing Clarice's worried voice from behind me, I realized she noticed my distress.

"No, just a little dizzy..."

I continued the Appraisal while seeing double of the mage.

【Name】 Waltz Vistaria
【Title】－
【Status】 Human / Commoner
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 28
【Level】 35
【HP】 133/133
【MP】 168/208
【Strength】 40
【Agility】 38
【Magic】 105
【Dexterity】 44
【Endurance】 40
【Luck】 1
【Special Ability】 Fire Magic D (Lv 5/13)
【Special Ability】 Wind Magic D (Lv 5/13)
【Special Ability】 Sleep Magic G (Lv 1/5)
【Equipment】 Wind Staff

When I finished the Appraisal, my vision returned to normal. What was that? Just now? My vision was back, but the mental fatigue didn't fade. Is there something wrong with Heavenly Eye? Or...

"Clarice. Sorry for worrying you. I'm okay now."

I spoke to Clarice, who was touching my back worriedly. She sounded like she was about to cry as she said, "That's good." In this situation, naturally, she'd be anxious if something happened to me.

The mage... Waltz's stats were like a reinforced version of Zeke. Typical mage stats.

The noteworthy thing was Sleep Magic. With this Sleep Magic, 'Naraku' members were put to sleep, forcing someone to wake them up each time, inevitably giving 'Moonlit Darkness' the numerical advantage. He was probably the one who put Misha to sleep earlier.

"Clarice, was that man in the black robe there when Misha was kidnapped?"

I asked Clarice, whose hand was still anxiously on my back.

"Y-Yes. Was he the one who got Misha?"

Seeing Waltz's magic, Clarice answered.

"Probably. He's dangerous."

At this rate, Gedo Company's 'Naraku' will lose. Just as I gripped my Mithril Silver Sword thinking about assisting 'Naraku', I heard Gedo scream again.

"Sensei! Over here! Please do something about them!"

A single man called "Sensei" stood next to Gedo.

His appearance could be described in one word: Face Weapon. A large scar ran across his face. His arms bore numerous scars from past battles. He had a villainous face that made the scary thugs and entourages here look like saints.

Do not make eye contact. No, my instincts screamed Do not get involved at all costs.

"Oi! I'll confirm one more time! If I incapacitate or drive away 'Moonlit Darkness', I get one hundred gold coins, right!?"

"Y-Yes!"

When the Face Weapon called Sensei asked Gedo intimidatingly, Gedo answered while shrinking back.

What is it? Is "Sensei" a temporary hired adventurer... no, a bodyguard-type existence? If so, it makes sense. Bodyguards and swordsmen are often called Sensei.

Twisting his villainous face at Gedo's answer, he approached the skirmish between 'Naraku' and 'Moonlit Darkness', then suddenly grabbed a 'Naraku' member—his supposed ally—by the scruff of the neck.

"W-What are you doing!?"

The man grabbed by the neck couldn't comprehend what was happening, and Gedo flinched too. Holding the struggling man in one hand, the Face Weapon charged at 'Moonlit Darkness', who were deployed to protect us.

Fast! However, facing the Face Weapon attacking like a gale, 'Moonlit Darkness' didn't just stand there watching.

"Waltz! Put him to sleep!"

The man who seemed to be the leader of 'Moonlit Darkness' ordered Waltz.

"《Sleep》!"

The sleep magic was fired immediately, but the Face Weapon used the 'Naraku' member he was holding—his ally—as a shield to take the 《Sleep》. Naturally, the 'Naraku' member used as a shield fell into a deep sleep.

Tossing the sleeping 'Naraku' member toward Waltz, the Face Weapon drew the sword he carried on his back.

The blade was a pale blue-green. It was well-maintained, a magnificent sword recognizable as a masterpiece at a glance without Appraisal.

Waltz seemed about to cast 《Sleep》 again but had to dodge the sleeping 'Naraku' member thrown at him.

He tried to manifest 《Sleep》 again after dodging, but the Face Weapon was already right in front of him. Unless his activation speed was fast like Wind Magic and he could cast while moving, he was helpless.

"Wha—!?"

When the man struck his face with the flat of the blade, Waltz lost consciousness from the impact.

From there, it was a one-man show.

"Oi, you. You're the leader, Oligo, right? If you leave now, I won't do anything more. But if you stay, I won't show mercy. Decide in five seconds."

Having shown the difference in strength, the Face Weapon shouldered his sword and asked the leader of 'Moonlit Darkness', Oligo, with a composed expression. Oligo grabbed the unconscious Waltz and fled at full speed.

Hido and the thugs probably wanted to run too, but glared at by the Face Weapon, they stood frozen like frogs stared down by a snake.

I, who was supposed to help 'Moonlit Darkness' to keep the balance, was involuntarily mesmerized by his swordsmanship. He's strong... a monster.

However, the man's next words brought me back to reality.

"Alright, Gedo's quest is complete. Now just to take that back and we're done."

His sharp gaze locked onto Misha hiding behind Clarice and me.

I absolutely cannot win. That much I know. But even so, I might be able to buy some time.

Because despite his face, this Face Weapon hasn't killed a single person yet.

If he shows me that same mercy, I might be able to buy time until Sasha arrives.

Gripping the sweat-drenched hilt with both hands, I stood before the Face Weapon.

"What's this? You? A kid not even of age has joined guys like this? Take my advice and wash your hands of this."

It seems the Face Weapon thinks I'm a member of the Hido Company.

Come to think of it, all the male slaves have their hands tied, but I cut mine with 《Wind Cutter》 earlier. Considering my positioning, it's unavoidable he thinks that.

I didn't answer, focusing my consciousness. If I get attacked while distracted, it's all over. As I tried to use Appraisal on the defenselessly approaching Face Weapon, my vision blurred again.

Kuh!? What is this!? Still, continuing the Appraisal, stats appeared that I wished were some kind of mistake.

【Name】 Cyrus Weathers
【Title】－
【Status】 Human / Commoner
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 30
【Level】 44
【HP】 260/260
【MP】 105/105
【Strength】 135
【Agility】 132
【Magic】 32
【Dexterity】 52
【Endurance】 137
【Luck】 1
【Special Ability】 Swordsmanship B (Lv 12/17)
【Special Ability】 Water Magic E (Lv 4/11)
【Equipment】 Water Spirit Sword (Undine Sword)

To think I have to fight such a formidable enemy in this state... I thought, but once the Appraisal finished, my vision returned to normal.

The same phenomenon happened when I appraised Waltz, but it stopped when I stopped appraising. Is this really a part of Heavenly Eye's ability? If so, since the real body was moving as if chasing an afterimage, then...

"Oi! Final warning! I have no hobby of bullying brats! Move!"

While I was asking myself questions, Cyrus threatened me with a menacing voice.

Behind me are Clarice and Misha. If I move here, harm might come to Clarice too. I won't let that happen!

Gripping my sword with renewed strength, I narrowed my eyes. Cyrus, running out of patience, attacked me with a face like a demon, moving as if chasing his afterimage.