[Nadia: I’m looking for people to travel from the Tower to the Stalactite City together. Along the way, I’ll also provide various tips about the auction. It’s packed with content you won’t regret hearing. No need to worry about monsters or sleepless nights—we’ll arrive at the city in just six hours. For more details, check the information board.]
[Evron: That sounds great. I’ll check it out.]
[Nadia: Thank you. You won’t regret it.]
[Yuna: What kind of advice about the auction are you offering?]
[Nadia: I can’t share specifics, but I’m confident that just selling what I’ll recommend can cover about half of your travel expenses.]
[Luca: How much are you planning to profit from just showing the way?]
[Nadia: Are you jealous?]
[Luca: Ha, as if.]
[Nadia: Cheer up, Luca. I’m sure you’ll earn plenty of points someday.]
[Luca: Come to the first-floor central hall. Let’s settle this once and for all.]
[Nadia: I already won during the last duel tournament. Why fight again? Anyway, I’ll take my leave.]
[Luca: Hey, I said come here.]
[Luca: I mean it, come out!]
***
I stepped down into a now-familiar location.
The overwhelming magical energy wrapping around me made it hard to breathe.
The area was packed with people—so many that there wasn’t even room to stand comfortably.
The docks were busier than usual, swarming with people likely here for the auction.
“That concludes my guidance for now. Thank you all for your hard work,” Nadia said, her scarred face shifting into a bright smile. She looked genuinely pleased, and for good reason. More than forty participants had followed her from the Tower to this place, all of them here for the auction happening in two days.
“If you’re looking for lodging, you’ll need to move quickly. There aren’t many spots left. During the last auction, people even had to pay points to sleep on the streets,” she added.
Just as she had promised, the journey had been filled with valuable insights, like the practical advice she’d just shared.
It was clear that this wasn’t her first time attending such an event.
“Well then, I’ll head off now. I have some items to sell,” she said before leaving with her group, disappearing into the crowd almost instantly.
“I should get going too. Enjoy the auction, everyone,” I said, bowing slightly to the remaining participants.
They returned my farewell with casual nods before scattering in all directions.
I let myself be carried by the flow of the crowd.
***
The further in I went, the more my chest felt heavy.
There was a faint presence of mirror bugs coming from somewhere.
They were dolls I had delivered over the past seven months.
The bugs emitted a faint glow, seemingly oblivious to my presence.
I could sense the shadow binding them tightly—it had to be Myra’s work.
I neither had the strength to undo it nor the courage to try.
A bitter smile crept across my face.
In terms of points, this was profitable.
Yet seeing them here in the city left me with mixed feelings.
I continued along with the crowd, navigating the many branching paths.
People separated and merged repeatedly, the creaking bridges swaying to their rhythm.
Eventually, I reached a fork and turned down an unfamiliar path.
The scenery began to change, revealing a route I had never taken before.
As I ventured further, the number of people dwindled.
I glanced around—those who remained were mostly well-dressed individuals.
Before long, a massive door came into view.
The space inside shimmered with distortion.
Every time someone approached, the door’s magic would adjust, opening a path.
Several guards were stationed in front of the door, inspecting the people in line.
This was the only entrance to the upper levels.
As I waited in line, I observed the door’s magic.
It displayed paths to various levels of the city, showcasing its intricate design.
When my turn came, the guards approached me with sharp precision, encasing me in a tight magical barrier.
Their isolation spell was expertly crafted.
“State your destination,” one of them demanded.
I pulled out the pass that Miryeong had gifted me.
Magical energy flowed across its elegant writing.
“I was told this pass grants access to the 7th floor,” I said cautiously.
The guard examined it briefly before retracting their magic.
It seemed Miryeong’s assurance about waiving the entry fee was true.
“Proceed. The door to the 7th floor will be opened for you,” the guard said.
The door’s magic aligned, revealing a path.
I bowed slightly to the guards and stepped through.
***
The moment I crossed the threshold, I was greeted by a radiant light.
Glancing around, I noticed how different this place felt from the lower levels.
Countless magical lanterns lit up the streets and buildings, their glow deep and pure—almost as potent as the magic outside the city.
‘The entrance fee is 3,000 points per day,’ I thought.
‘It’s expensive, but worth it.’
This was the 7th floor, the venue for the upper-level auctions.
I glanced downward.
Layers of bridges crisscrossed, bustling with people.
Each level was sealed by thick magical barriers—impossible to break and forbidden to bypass.
I retrieved the letter that had come with the pass, scanning Miryeong’s message.
It included a simple magical contact number: 12.
I was instructed to reach out upon arrival.
I summoned a mirror bug with a spark of magic.
Its wings spread as it took to the air.
This was a standard communication model, far less sophisticated than what I was used to.
Its interface displayed only three options: Trade, Information, Communication.
Selecting Communication, I input the number 12 and composed a short message: [I’ve arrived in the city.]
This direct messaging feature had been Miryeong’s idea.
She had deemed group boards inefficient.
The communication was indeed efficient, just as they claimed.
I had even added the mirror bug feature to the Tower’s network for convenience.
A reply came quickly.
It instructed me to wait in front of the Arcana General Trading Company building.
I put the mirror bug away and began walking.
Due to Myra’s incomplete connection, the mirror bug could only be used within this city for now.
However, it would eventually expand throughout the university.
I could already imagine the sight.
The bridges connecting the buildings were wide enough to accommodate a leisurely walk, even with a crowd.
Still, I cautiously stayed near the edge.
The reason was the people passing by.
As expected of the upper levels, everyone radiated intense magical energy.
Standing too close made it difficult to breathe.
Quietly, I continued toward the Arcana General Trading Company.
In front of the building, I spotted a familiar figure—a woman with a characteristic smile that seemed to run in her family.
“Long time no see,” Hwaryoung said.
I offered a slight bow.
“It’s been a while.”
I glanced around briefly.
Aside from her, there was no one else in sight.
Sensing my gaze, she chuckled softly.
“My grandfather is busy and couldn’t make it. His position is quite different from ours, so he doesn’t have the luxury to visit places like this.”
Honestly, I felt relieved.
My chest settled a little.
Then I remembered I had something to say to her.
I took out the mirror bug and waved it slightly.
“I failed to notice the warning you gave me last time. Still, I appreciate your consideration.”
“Hehe, thank you for saying that. I only mentioned it to earn your goodwill, Evron. No matter what I said, the outcome wouldn’t have changed much.”
“I suppose so,” I replied with a bitter smile. She was right.
Hwaryoung slowly approached and gently guided me.
“Shall we go inside? We’ve prepared accommodations for you.”
Following her lead, I entered the trading company.
The first thing I noticed was a vast hall adorned with beautiful sculptures and paintings, creating a clean and sophisticated atmosphere.
It was vastly different from the lowest levels.
Each guest wandering the building had a dedicated attendant, just like Hwaryoung walking beside me.
“It’s quite different from below, isn’t it? The accommodations are just as refined. This way, please.”
She led me deeper into the building.
At the end of the path stood an elegant door.
She held up a gemstone imbued with magic.
The door sensed its energy, and magic began weaving together.
Soon, it opened wide, revealing what lay beyond.
A spacious room awaited me.
I stepped inside, greeted by a grand bed and antique furniture that harmonized perfectly with the room’s overall design.
The entire space was bathed in a subtle, comforting magical energy, making me feel relaxed just by standing there.
“You must be tired from your journey, so I’ll leave you to rest. This is the gemstone for entering the room. Keep it with you, and you’ll be able to access this place again,” Hwaryoung said, handing me the gem.
I accepted it carefully, feeling the complex magical array embedded within.
“And here’s a catalog of items up for auction on the first day. Take a look to see if anything catches your eye,” she added, passing me a thick booklet.
I saw her off and closed the door.
Silence filled the room.
I turned my gaze to the booklet in my hand, curiosity bubbling within me.
Walking over to the bed, I half-reclined and flipped open the first page.
I was instantly captivated by the contents.
The catalog was filled with an incredible variety of items, most of which I didn’t recognize.
However, the detailed descriptions made it easy to understand what each item was.
Accompanying the text were magical holograms that vividly depicted each object, even illustrating potential uses.
I began selecting items that caught my interest.
‘How much would these cost?’ I wondered.
With so many rare items, it was hard to estimate.
Given that this was an upper-level auction, the prices would undoubtedly be steep.
As I browsed, one item stood out: the brain of a phantom tree.
It was similar to the thousand-year-old specimen Myra had once handed to me.
I checked the seller—it was indeed Myra.
Miryeong had mentioned that I bought my specimen for fifty thousand points less than its actual value.
That meant it was at least worth seventy thousand points.
It would likely sell for a similar price at this auction.
A bit of greed stirred within me.
As Myra had said, this item suited my magic perfectly.
Plus, with my previous trial and error, I felt confident I could create an even better doll this time.
‘Hmm, they did say I could borrow points.’ Seventy thousand points.
I calculated my future earnings.
Assuming no issues, I could repay it within five years—an unexpectedly manageable amount.
‘Maybe I should buy it.’
I felt myself leaning toward the idea.
Then the auction began.
“One hundred fifty!”
“One hundred fifty thousand points! Any other bids?”
I gave up immediately.