CHAPTER 35: SECOND TO LAST ITEM — ENTRANCE FORMS

The auction for the next item was in line as another assistant drove in a similar cart. Like the previous one, it was also covered.

"The next item will be a Three-Star Potential Demon Core! Refining this core will grant the mage an overwhelming ability that packs power!"

"The starting price will be 5,000 Gold!"

"5,000 Gold for a demon core?" I muttered, darting my attention to look at Muna.

She shot back a look at me and pulled my head downwards to whisper into my ear.

"Were you regretting not selling the demon cores?" she asked with a mocking tone, and pushed my head, turning sharply to the Auctioneer on stage.

Without looking at me, she added. "Don’t regret it. Our cores won’t sell for that price since they are of Normal Demons.

I mean, there aren’t even auctioning a Prospective Demon Core, so..."

From the Spirit Pouch, I felt Vera and her fellows retaliate to Muna’s words. I hit the bag and muttered so that no one noticed I wasn’t referring to Muna.

"You’re no demons anymore, don’t be moved by her words."

However, I shook my head, realizing how imbalanced things went on in the world. Everyone is not privileged to have everything they want.

Some had enough, but still wish to get what others are barely managing and able to acquire.

Even though I wasn’t free from this accusation, most of my upgrades so far have been on a platter, while these people who call themselves Noble actually buy magic items for their abilities and skills.

I also understood why most of the successful candidates of the Academy Test were nobles. They find ways to gain artificial abilities without even caring about the risks and backlash involved.

Although there were a few among us who were talented, there were those who only made use of the value of money.

"Ummm... how much would a Mana plant possibly cost?" I decided to ask the red-haired man sitting by my side.

The man looked at me with wide eyes. "Mana plants? I doubt if that kind of magic item can be bought with money in this world!"

My jaw dropped, knowing I had consumed just three of such Magic items he mentioned. I swallowed hard and decided to keep to myself, but the man’s voice cut me out of my daze.

"If you find one to buy, then you should get prepared to spend at least a million Gold. If it’s a Mana plant with sea affinity, then get ready to spend at least twice that amount."

Muna heard what the red-haired man said and pinched me hard on my left hand, since she sat by my left.

’No wonder Lady Minxx immediately accepted the item and promised not to let its value depreciate.’

To think I had referred to this kind of item as something that could be useless to me was baffling.

’Young Master, we will be richer at least,’ Linda tried to soothe.

’Who’s talking about wealth?’

"Once we sell the item, Young Master will host another banquet filled with more food," Bonnie spoke from the Spirit Pouch, surprising me at the same time.

A few minutes later, the Three-Star Potential Demon Core was sold at 10,300 Gold. It was bought by a boy, who looked more a less like a teenager sitting with the audience.

"The third item is a Level 7 pill, Core Healing Pill with very high purity, crafted by the renowned Master-Ranked Earth Alchemist!"

Alchemists are popularly known for their expertise skills with crafting special medicine, usually in the form of pills. It was but a skill that could be gained only after many years of cultivating its practice.

The Earth Duchedom had healing pills because it had enough natural herbs and plants from which they could be made.

And, for it to be made by a Master-Ranked mage must surely make it expensive.

At the same time, its level was not something to write home about. As Mages are categorized according to ranks, magic items within the Kingdom also had their levels.

In that case, a Level 7 magic item would be classified on the same rank table as a Level. II Expert-ranked Mage. A Level 1 magic item would be classified on the same rank table as a Lv. 0 Novice-ranked Mage, and subsequently.

So, one could easily refer to the Healing Pill as a Lv. 11 Expert magic item.

I nodded my head as though I had been taught something I never knew, and understood it completely.

"Core Healing Pill not only heals your internal and external injuries, but also allows an upgrade in the magical prowess of a mage. To think that it was crafted by that Blind Earth Alchemist, and is Level 7 ranked, I want this!" A bald man sitting immediately behind me gripped his hands into a fist.

Not only was he interested, but murmurs erupted from the general audience.

Esme uncovered the linen and revealed a bronze box, which contained the Healing Pill. It didn’t give me the chance to see what a healing pill looked like, but I only made up my mind that I wasn’t going to buy anything but the Entrance Form.

"This box contains 5 Core Healing Pills, and we will be jointly selling them. Singly, the pills could have been sold at 5,000 Gold, but since they are joint, the starting price will be 25,000 Gold!"

"25,100 Gold!" The bald man from behind immediately bid for the Core Healing Pill once the auction began.

"25,200 Gold!"

"25,300 Gold!"

"25,500 Gold!"

"..."

"..."

In a few minutes, the bald man, determined, managed to secure the box of Core Healing Pills for 28,500 Gold.

"Breakthrough is knocking at my door, majestically," the man put on a smiling face, muttering the words without concern. "And my ten-year immovable arm will finally be mended."

Only then did I notice that his left hand was wrapped in a purple linen, and was static by his side.

’He needed the pills,’ Linda said.

"Indeed."

After a long time, more items were sold.

The following would be the announcement for what was supposed to be the last item for the day.

The Academy Entrance Form.

However, Muna was already having doubts that I would be able to acquire the Entrance Form. Her reason was valid, though.

The red-haired man, who seemed to be fond of gists, had asked me to look up and examine the audience carefully.

"Hey, young boy," he called out. "You came here for the Purity Academy Entrance Form, am I right?"

I nodded my head in agreement.

"Look behind, up to that audience."

I did as he told and was able to disappointingly notice that the seats were full, and behind the end point, more customers were standing in rows.

The auction hall was indeed massive and very spacious, unlike what I had imagined. It was able to contain the multitudes who were in attendance, but had a limited number of seats.

Having seen my mug expression after seeing the crowd, the man continued.

"I just wanted to offer a little advice. Do not start the bidding. Seeing that you are sitting with the VIP proves that you will be capable of acquiring the Entrance forms."

’Of course, I should be able to acquire the forms. Doesn’t this man know my background?’ I thought.

If I were to admit what he was saying, it made sense. The last item that was sold out before the Entrance form was ordered to be brought in had ended at 104,000 Gold. It still doesn’t make it unaffordable to be acquired by me.

"Hmph," the man exhaled. "That old man is really an awesome businessman. During an auction like this, he cashes out massively."

"You mean the vendor?"

"Of course. You’ve seen the number of people in the hall, haven’t you?" he asked rhetorically. "And can you see that 80% of each of the attendees are young mages like you are."

I nodded again, trying to get his words clearly. Muna also drew closer.

"Whether they came on their own or were with their parents, they all came for the Entrance Form. This has always been the decorum whenever the auction season clashes with the time of sale for the Entrance form."

Muna furrowed her brows, more interested in what the red-haired man was saying.

"What are you trying to insinuate?" Muna asked.

’Young Master, have you understood what he meant? I can explain if you haven’t,’ Muna mentioned, but I ignored her and continued listening to the man.

The man lowered his head and whispered. "I learnt that we have roughly over 500 customers who have attended this auction. And, the Entrance forms have always been limited to 5."

I swallowed hard immediately he made mention of the limited number of Entrance Forms available. If I calculated right, and if his words were true, the number of customers interested in the Entrance Form was over 400.

I secretly began to wish that some among them would lose hope regarding what would be the starting price of the Entrance forms.

If everyone in the hall bid for the auction, the price for the form could even reach a million, or five hundred thousand or more Gold.

This was something that should originally cost 1 Gold coin.

’Acting Leader indeed never wished you to join the Academy,’ Linda said.

"We will win, outrightly!" Muna raised a thumb to spur my courage.

"Little Lady Muna said to win. I support her."

"Little Lady Muna said to win. I support her."

Vera and her companions called out from the Spirit Pouch.

The man finally made his last speech before the Auctioneer began her announcement.

"Remember, do not start the bidding. And, since you are sitting with the VIP, there’s hope," he said and patted my shoulder. "Don’t lose guard anyway. Even those in the audience section can afford this seat, but they weren’t as lucky as you are."

"Thank you."

The cart carrying the next item was finally moved in by another assistant.

"The next, and second to the last item is the Purity Academy Entrance Form," Esme stated, revealing the small stood, in which was an envelope containing the forms.

Murmurs filled the hall as people questioned how it wasn’t the last item. Everyone knew that the Entrance Form was supposed to be the last item.

From their murmurs, they understood one thing.

Whatever item had replaced the position of the Entrance form was of high value, and they anticipated it.

Esme ignored their noise and carried the stool down from the cart and unsealed the envelope in it.

"In this envelope is contained ten Purity Academy Entrance Forms," she began. "There is no accustomed starting price for the forms, but the audience will be given a member from the VIP table."

"Before that, I would like everyone interested to understand the formality for the bidding of these Forms. We have only ten forms available, and they will be sold to ten lucky customers."

"The bidding won’t be done separately; it will have a general bidding price. And the top ten bidders would be eligible to acquire the forms," she concluded and placed the envelope back on the stool.

Becoming a member of these top ten bidders meant I wasn’t supposed to lose to becoming even a number 11 bidder.

"Life is a jangilova," Muna said to me. "You either stay at the top or at the bottom. Staying stuck in the middle is never an option. But, I would try to stay at the top, if it were me."

"Good luck, Big Brother," Muna finalized, and folded her hands across her chest, facing the event.