Chapter 76 : Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Exchange Event (6)

Three Tunes were brought out on luxurious trolleys.

Among them, the one in the middle was all too familiar.

A Tune with an extremely high acquisition difficulty, but one that, if obtained, could undoubtedly become the core of any build.

It was definitely [Gravity Manipulation].

A glossy black gem that seemed to absorb all light, surrounded by a ring like Saturn’s.

It was the very Tune I had vowed to obtain, even if it meant repeatedly clearing the labyrinth in the future, now sitting on the trolley.

“Let’s start with the first one. The object Tune [Orbis’s Staff]! At a glance, it looks like a common branch snapped from a tree, but it enhances a mage’s magic by two ranks, doesn’t it?”

[Orbis’s Staff] was also considered one of the ultimate object Tunes for a mage’s build.

Labella, sitting beside me, immediately began tapping the crystal orb to bid as soon as she saw the staff.

“Eighty thousand! Eighty-five thousand! Ninety thousand! A new record for today!”

The price of the Tune skyrocketed as mages and wealthy bidders, eyes ablaze, competed fiercely.

Amid the rapidly rising numbers, Labella eventually withdrew her hand from the crystal orb.

I quietly said to her,

“If you need it, I can lend you about a hundred thousand pel.”

Labella’s eyes widened as she looked at me.

Having spent months with her, I knew this was the maximum extent of her emotional expression.

“…No, it’s fine. I’ve managed without a staff so far.”

I could have lent her a large sum if she wanted, but I didn’t think [Orbis’s Staff] was the optimal

Tune for her.

For Labella, a staff that aids in mana manipulation would be more suitable than one that boosts magic power.

For instance, transplanting [Sage’s Fragment] onto a decent staff would be a better choice.

But Labella already possessed [Sage’s Fragment].

Or rather, it would be more accurate to say the Mana Research Department possessed it.

It was stored in the department as a legacy of the previous head, Luphtel.

I had once asked if it wouldn’t be better for a suitable person to use such a legacy rather than

displaying it, but Labella had firmly replied,

- If I prove myself worthy, I’ll use it.

I thought Labella was more than qualified, but it seemed she held herself to an even higher standard.

As the bidding amount grew, it could have been a burden, but the wealthy and the mages backed by them didn’t stop.

“Two hundred twenty-five thousand pel! Incredible! Any more bids? Three, two, one!”

Even so, there was an end.

Two hundred twenty-five thousand pel was likely enough to run a small town like Gullok for decades.

“Congratulations! The Flame Tower Master has acquired the divine item!”

The Flame Tower Master, Anselm of the Constellation, became the new owner of [Orbis’s Staff].

A noble from the Empire whispered something to Anselm during the bidding, spurring him on.

It seemed some sort of deal had been made.

Anselm, looking somewhat displeased, merely nodded.

The subtle reaction slightly dampened the auction’s fervor.

But for me, that wasn’t a bad thing.

The skilled auctioneer promptly moved on to the second Tune.

“Shall we continue with the next auction? You won’t be disappointed. It’s a Tune that rivals [Orbis’s Staff] in every way. Can you see its mystical aura? It’s the very Tune famously used by the hero Adjak! [Gravity Manipulation]! Let’s start the bidding…”

But the auctioneer couldn’t finish.

I had raised my hand, holding the golden ticket.

“No need to start. The owner has been decided! Haha!”

Hahaha!

The auctioneer’s laughter echoed lonely in the now-chilled auction hall.

He tried his best to keep the energy up, but it didn’t seem easy.

* * *

“Labella-nim, is it impolite to leave before the auction ends?”

“No mage would ask that question, so you’re plenty polite, Polarin-nim.”

[Orbis’s Staff], [Gravity Manipulation]’s auction ended, and some mages left their seats.

Given that most of the tycoons, nobles, and the Third Prince remained, it was clearly impolite, but mages seemed to be an exception.

Who cares? I’m a mage too.

“Then I’ll step out first.”

“Yes, receive your item safely.”

Labella seemed intent on staying until the auction ended.

But I wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Staying until the end would likely mean being swarmed by people.

Many were already glancing my way.

After briefly bidding farewell to Labella, I stood up.

Immediately, the auction staff approached me.

“Congratulations, Polarin-nim. Would you like to receive the Tune you won now?”

“Yes, please.”

A courteous staff member asked me to wait a moment and went to the back of the auction hall.

At that moment, a man approached me.

He thumped his chest in greeting before speaking.

“Greetings, Lord Polarin. I am Kretzbalt, commander of the Third Battalion of the Rosamund Knights. His Highness requests to meet with you.”

The Rosamund Knights.

As the name suggests, they’re the Empire’s most elite military force.

The commander of their Third Battalion was speaking to me.

No, making a demand.

“Must it be today?”

“I recommend it.”

I sighed and nodded.

The prince showed no intention of leaving the auction hall, so I returned to Labella’s side.

Labella, who had been observing the situation, seemed to understand what was happening.

With a deep frown, she said,“The Third Prince is out of his mind.”

“The atmosphere didn’t allow me to refuse.”

Kretzbalt hadn’t exerted overt pressure.

But I could sense it instinctively.

He was far stronger than me, so strong that I couldn’t even gauge his power.

Even in an auction hall where guards weren’t allowed, the prince had no issue exerting his authority.

He could command the commander of the Empire’s top knight battalion like a bodyguard.

The auction for the third Tune was heating up, but I couldn’t focus.

Why did the prince want to see me?

What if the supposedly unhinged Third Prince did something reckless?

My mind was a mess with all sorts of worries.

I glanced at the back of the Third Prince’s head.

He hadn’t turned around once, so I couldn’t even read his expression.

“It seems the Third Prince wants the Tune you won,” Labella whispered, showing little interest in the third Tune.

“That’s the only reason I can think of for him wanting to meet me.”

“Are you going to hand it over?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Then don’t.”

It was a remarkably simple conclusion.

I had rightfully earned the Tune as the winner of the third Exchange Event.

I didn’t want to give it up just because the Third Prince was interested.

But was that possible? He was a prince of the Empire.

Yet Labella’s casual tone gave me a bit of courage.

She wasn’t one to make promises lightly.

“Will you back me up, Labella-nim?”

Labella nodded. Scanning the auction hall, she continued,“When you tried to leave, everyone here saw the knight trying to stop you.”

“They did? I was too flustered to notice.”

“Not a single Tower Master has left their seat either.”

I looked around the auction hall.

From Anselm, the Flame Tower Master, to every other Tower Master, they were all still seated.

Glenfild, the Frost Tower Master, even gave me a faint smile when our eyes met.

“This is Ostrum. Who would dare oppress a mage here?”

Labella turned to meet my gaze.

Her eyes held unwavering resolve.

“Polarin-nim, you are a vital mage in Ostrum. An irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind mage.”

* * *

As the auction ended, the Third Prince walked toward me.

All eyes were on him as he approached slowly.

It wasn’t just because he was the Third Prince.

His appearance was so striking that it seemed to dim even the starry ceiling of the auction hall.

Like Labella, he had jet-black hair, and his deep, dark eyes contrasted sharply with his flawless white skin.

A sharp yet elegant nose and jawline, balanced lips—his features proclaimed that he was born from the Empire’s finest lineage.

“Greetings.”

But the moment he spoke, it was clear he wasn’t just a beautiful prince.

He didn’t act rudely or break etiquette.

His tone was barely distinguishable from Labella’s usual calm speech.

Yet, there was a distinct sense of otherness.

‘He’s not treating me like a fellow human.’

I quickly realized the source of the unease he evoked.

“Yes, greetings. I’m Polarin from the Magic Research Department.”

The response came not from the prince but from Kretzbalt, standing a step behind him.

“His Highness requests a private meeting with you, Polarin-nim. Follow me.”

As the prince, expressionless, turned to leave, I quickly replied,

“If you’re not busy, could we speak here? I have another engagement right after.”

I had already received the Tune.

There was no reason to move elsewhere.

At that, Kretzbalt, not the expressionless prince, frowned.

“How dare you question His Highness’s words?”

But I didn’t need to respond.

Many mages had already gathered around me.

Labella silently stared at the prince, and several Tower Masters stood nearby.

Anselm, the eldest among the Tower Masters, asked irritably,

“Who’s daring to speak to whom?”

Anselm directed his question at Kretzbalt, not hiding his intensity.

He pointed his newly acquired

[Orbis’s Staff] at him.

“How dare a mere swordsman give orders to a mage? In Ostrum, no less?”

As if testing the staff, Anselm drew a magic circle with its tip. Heat began to rise.

Kretzbalt didn’t visibly falter or back down.

But there were simply too many mages and Tower Masters around.

As mana gathered at the staff’s tip, the prince brushed his hair back and spoke.

“It’s been a while, Anselm. Or rather, Master.”

“It has.”

“Could you lower your magic? It seems Kretzbalt misinterpreted my intentions.”

“Hmph. This one has an appointment with me after the Exchange Event.”

Anselm erased the magic circle he’d been drawing, and the searing heat dissipated.

He could have pressed Kretzbalt further for his rudeness, but since the prince had lowered his head first, Anselm seemed to take a step back as well.

“Then let’s do it here.”

The Third Prince asked in a flat tone,

“Sell me the Tune you won. How about five hundred thousand pel?”

It wasn’t a question or a suggestion.

Everyone present likely recognized that his tone was nothing short of a command.

Even the proudest mages couldn’t easily pressure a prince of the Empire.

Yet Anselm and the other mages stood firmly by my side.

Feeling grateful for their support, I replied to the prince,

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that, Your Highness.”

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