“This concludes the entirety of the auction. For any future inquiries, please contact the Commercial Guild…”
The MC, a receptionist elderly woman who had been enthusiastically hosting for three days straight, was about to go on a six-day break. I felt a pang of sadness knowing I wouldn’t see her for a while, but I wanted to applaud her.
“Alright, time for the paperwork in the basement.”
“Yes, ah, Clarice-san, excuse me.”
“No, no.”
I hoisted Anju, who was sleeping soundly as if cradled in someone’s arms. She always floated ethereally, but it must be heavy like this, so defenseless. She’s surprisingly strong, despite her appearance that truly resembles a saintess, even though she was originally an Assassin Saintess.
(I should have let Helen-san, the slave, carry her for this.)
Just as I thought that, Helen-san offered to take over, but Clarice-san refused. Right, she’s Anju’s caretaker. I could carry her on my back, but then there’s the drool…
“Now, among the items auctioned today, what left the biggest impression on me was indeed the real estate, the final dungeon…”
Ignoring the MC hag who was still talking, I descended from the Colosseum’s seating area. They were probably trying to keep the crowds down to avoid congestion when everyone left at once by making them wait. As I descended to the basement, a great merchant was already collecting the Alraune. It was wriggling, alright.
“Purchase, gratitude.”
Nina-san bowed her head. I followed suit, bowing as well.
“Ah, the Leader-class rarely appears, so I’ll make a profit by breeding it.”
It seemed that even though it would take time, the platinum coin investment would be recouped. Good.
(So, Alraune Leaders were rare? It appeared so suddenly, I thought they were common.)
“If you happen to tame any good rare monsters, please contact me. Through the Commercial Guild is fine too.”
“Understood. I’ll contact you then.”
I received their contact information.
How does it feel to not be able to buy the Gorgeous Succubus? Huh? Huh?
It’s not really an atmosphere where I could ask that, though. Well, I wouldn’t ask!
(As expected, great merchants have that kind of presence, don’t they?)
That he flipped out when he couldn’t win the bid must have been a big deal.
Thinking that, I followed Nina-san. Ah, that’s the minister from the Mu Mu Empire!
“Takepi-dono, congratulations on your successful bid.”
“No, no, it was just luck.”
Ah, right. First, it’s about this minister’s successful bid.
Today’s final and biggest highlight of the real estate auction was the dungeon itself, which was put up for sale. And it was this gentleman, Takepi-san, who won the bid.
“However, you won’t be making a dungeon from another country part of your empire’s territory, will you?”
“We have our reasons, which I cannot disclose, of course.”
“I see. I won’t pry further.”
He’s probably thinking about Nina-san. Following that, he might have mentally added, “Though I can guess,”.
I have no idea at all!
“We are grateful for your purchase of the Mu Mu Empire’s villa.”
“Ah, is it a good location?”
“Of course! It’s a building that even our Queen could present as tribute!”
Hmm, I asked if it was a good location, but he responded with “building,” which gives me a slight premonition.
“Can you swim in the sea?”
“Not quite, but it’s a good fishing spot.”
“I see. I understand the general idea.”
Ah, that must be why the energetic MC hag mentioned it was fine to build a pool there.
“However, there is something that will be happening here for a little over two months. Is it acceptable if the house remains vacant during that time?”
“…Understood. We will continue to manage it. Three months is fine, free of charge.”
“That’s a great help. Then, I’ll process the paperwork right away.”
I thought it was just a matter of signing, but as I watched, there were some minor points that caught their attention. Nina-san confirmed even the most inconspicuous clauses that one would barely notice without extreme caution, and Takepi-san agreed and drew lines through them to delete them.
The Mu Mu Empire is truly not to be underestimated. While thinking that, Clarice-san was wandering around.
“What’s wrong?”
“Anju-chan suddenly disappeared.”
“Eh? Where could she be? I’ll look for her too.”
Let’s see, is it here?
The free distribution of leftover bento boxes, a Colosseum specialty. She’s not here.
(Ah, the slave who was designated as ‘everyone except the assassin’ from the Assassin Party, who was bid on today, received it and went inside. That means…)
Following her stealthily, though not entirely stealthily, I found her: the wicked heroine Korome. And Anju-chan was there too! What on earth are they talking about?!
“With platinum coins, I will buy this child.”
“Nyahaha, I’m trying to see what kind of skills the ‘Crab Hand-Picker’ develops when raised—”
“But she hasn’t eaten much, she looks pitiful, you know.”
“I’m feeding her, see? Here it comes.”
Anju-chan, referring to ‘this child,’ Shikada-chan, who received the bento box from the slave man. It’s probably good training that she doesn’t eat it immediately after receiving it, but it’s cruel to a thin girl. How pitiful.
“Anju-chan.”
“Deles-kun!”
“You can’t just do as you please, okay?”
“But, but…”
“Come on, let’s go back.”
I don’t know how she’d try to sweet-talk him out of it.
At worst, it could lead to an exchange, like trading Shikada-chan for Anju-chan.
“Hmm, but lately I’ve gotten bored, so maybe I’ll sell her.”
“Really?!” “Really?!”
Ah, I unintentionally took the bait!
“I’ll think about it in that direction, nyaahaha.”
Hmm, “I’ll think about it” can also be a way of refusing.
“Now, Anju-chan.”
“U-uh, well, then…”
Anju-chan waves to Shikada-chan.
On the other hand, Shikada-chan looks like she might cry for some reason.
(Ah, she’s completely empathizing with her now.)
As I was about to head back, Nina-san unexpectedly approached me.
“What’s wrong?”
“The paperwork is finished. I’ve come to pick up the other items.”
“Eh? What was it again? Ah! Anju-chan’s!”
This time, it was a very simple procedure, just one signature. It was handled rather carelessly for a transaction worth one platinum coin…
I took the “Mysterious Seed,” which could produce anything. Anju-chan, who received numerous “Delicious Seeds” as a bonus, grabbed them with a firm grip.
“I want to give this to you… ah.”
Shikada-chan, who Anju-chan probably wanted to give it to, was already gone.
Korome and the surplus slave from the auction were also gone. They must have left quickly without me noticing.
“Was it this way!”
“Ah, Clarice-san! Helen-san too! Anju-chan, apologize to everyone.”
“…Sorry (bow).”
She probably saw Korome and Shikada-chan walking down the hallway. I understand Anju-chan’s feelings, especially since I also instinctively helped Pero-chan, the cat beastkin.
“Don’t just go off on your own without telling anyone!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She replies properly to Clarice-san’s scolding, but…
I’m still worried. That’s why school, which has more than two and a half months left, needs to be attended properly.
(I did briefly consider a plan to have her attend with Pero-chan, but… hmm.)
“Let’s have dinner. We have no business here anymore, right?”
“Yes… Ah! What about dinner for the Southern Island Slaves?”
“I don’t know.”
(Their meals are an extra charge now, I believe. And that inn itself, the contract was only for a few more days, I seem to recall.)
Nina-san seems uninterested and left it at that.
Could it be that the swordsman showing off his chest was still looking at me? That item was bid on by Anju-chan, so technically, it might be Anju-chan’s responsibility to take care of him…
“I’ll take as many of the leftover free bento boxes as I can and take them to the inn in the East D area.”
“You’re diligent. If you had left them, they would have figured something out on their own.”
“A master must take proper care of their charge.”
Ah, I just said something rather harsh!
“Understood. You can do as you please, but make sure you’re back in time for our dinner.”
“It’s for the upcoming meeting, isn’t it? Understood. Anju-chan, wait a moment.”
“Okay.”
With that, I put forty bento boxes into my Item Box, and Anju-chan used Instantaneous Movement to bring me along.
