The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies - Chapter 128



127 – Zikawood (04)

128.

-Sold!

-Sold…!

-…Sold.

For a moment, Richeza was confused, wondering if Kallen was just a clown driven by other desires.

But that illusion soon disappeared.

In conclusion, Kallen was different from other men, just as Richeza had thought.

Just…

“One gold coin.”

Just a warm-handed person with a shattered sense of economy.

“Sold…”

When he first bought those useless shoes for a gold coin, she almost screamed.

Richeza was that dumbfounded and embarrassed.

But Kallen didn’t stop there and bought all the auction items.

The most incomprehensible point was that he insisted on waiting until the end.

Most were sold for one gold coin.

She couldn’t tell how many gold coins were in that pouch, but if that was the case, shouldn’t he have bid one gold coin from the start?

Kallen remained silent while others raised the price.

When the highest amount was called, he finally bid one gold coin.

As if playing with their expectations.

Now, there were not a few people glaring at Kalen.

Nevertheless, Kalen did not stop.

“The collection of the head of the Lyle Merchant Guild, Flaver Lyle… sold…”

In the end, he won all the items that came up for auction.

The gold coins he spent amounted to 30 pieces.

Even so, Kalen’s purse did not seem to empty.

Thus, all the items put up for the 247th regular general auction were

all won by a single boy.

*

“…”

“Are you out of your mind…?”

Would it be fitting to say it was piled up like a mountain?

Kalen held his throbbing head and looked at the mountain of items piled up before his eyes.

Beside him, the auctioneer, wearing a half-mask, was smiling brightly.

It seemed he was in a good mood after earning 30 gold coins.

On the contrary, Kalen had to endure the contemptuous gaze of Richeza as he looked at the mountain of items.

“Is it… possible to say I won’t buy them now?”

“…What?”

Kalen lightly picked up the shoes placed at the front, then immediately put them down.

The warmth had not yet faded, causing serious discomfort.

He had lost his composure for a moment at the word ‘bet’.

It was more thrilling than he had thought to crush the opponent with the amount at an auction.

At that moment.

He wasn’t very confident in bets that didn’t risk his life.

He was momentarily blinded by a bet that guaranteed such a sure victory.

But now that he looked back, it couldn’t really be called a victory.

They didn’t want these items that desperately, and Kalen himself had wasted 30 gold coins for that brief thrill.

Especially the money spent on these shoes was killing him with regret.

It wasn’t even like he was making a big profit secretly from Selina as he used to.

Kalen looked at the auctioneer and asked.

In the gaze of Kallen, which seemed almost desperate, the auctioneer couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

As the person in charge of this auction, it was difficult for him to give up 30 gold coins.

However, it wasn’t impossible for the boy to nullify this deal.

Moreover, the guaranteed wealth of 30 gold coins shown by the boy was enough to bring in greater profits.

“It is… possible.”

“Really?”

The auctioneer dragged his words as if he was truly regretful.

The one who reacted more strongly was Richeza.

Even if Kallen had been distracted for a moment, Richeza, who had watched this absurd deal from the beginning, wanted to undo this more than anyone else.

Realizing once again that Kallen was no different from other men, she now had to clean up the mess caused by the reckless boy.

Though she couldn’t understand why she had to clean up Kallen’s mess.

“However, there is a condition.”

The auctioneer spoke quietly, and Kallen and Richeza focused on his words.

The price for nullifying the 30 gold coins.

“Participate in the high-end auction.”

“The high-end auction?”

“Yes. On the condition that you buy one item there.”

And that price was not as heavy as the two had thought.

No, it was rather too light.

The high-end auction only required an invitation from the host.

It’s not like they do anything illegal just because it’s a high-end auction.

The items are expensive, but if it’s just one item, it’s cheaper than 30 gold coins.

Kallen asked coldly.

“Tell me the reason. Otherwise, I will refuse.”

Whatever it was, anything suspicious should be guarded against.

Richeza couldn’t adapt to the sudden change in Kallen’s demeanor.

Where did the reckless boy who had been staring blankly at the auctioned item go?

He had returned to the Kallen she knew.

“There is no special reason. However, unlike the general auction, items in the high-end auction are often passed over.”

The auctioneer was the same.

Suddenly, Kalen’s changed attitude was bewildering, but the cold gaze visible through the half-mask was not ordinary.

The host began to slowly explain the reason.

“Everyone here is quite particular, so they don’t react to items of ordinary value. Ironically, the price doesn’t matter to them.”

To the extent that they are invited to a high-end auction.

These are people willing to pay for valuable items.

They have the ability and the eye to recognize value.

But conversely, they have no interest in items that don’t meet their standards.

The items at high-end auctions are all valuable.

No matter how many items you sell at a regular auction, it’s not as good as selling a few high-end auction items.

“So please sell just one item at the high-end auction. It doesn’t matter what it is.”

However, Kalen felt that the host’s reason was insufficient.

To dismiss 30 gold coins was too light a price.

Kalen asked with that doubt in mind.

The host added more explanation.

“As you know, this auction is legal. Naturally, there are other branches besides this one, and the performance of each branch is directly linked to the performance of the branch manager. High-end auction items are categorized by how many are sold rather than their price, and if the performance is poor, the branch manager is replaced.”

“Then the person in charge here is…”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Only then could Kalen somewhat understand the situation.

If performance is judged by how many items are sold, not the amount.

Then 30 gold coins is a sufficient price to pay.

He is a manager, not a merchant doing business through auctions.

He wants at least one high-end auction item to be sold rather than 30 gold coins.

“Understood. Anything will do?”

“Yes…! Thank you!”

The host bowed his upper body to express gratitude.

It was confusing who should be receiving thanks, but isn’t it good to be good?

Riche was simply amazed that a boy with shattered economic sense could help someone in an instant.

Thus, Kalen and Riche headed to the high-end auction house under the host’s guidance.

*

“It’s just a bit bigger.”

“After all, everything is legal.”

Kallen’s thoughts on the illegal auctions in the back alleys.

Such places discriminate between precious guests and those who are not.

However, here, everything is legal anyway.

So, even though it was a place where high-end auctions were held, it was not much different from a regular auction house.

It seemed like they had to wear half-masks too.

Kallen and Richeza found a suitable spot and sat down. After a considerable amount of time, the host stepped forward to the podium again.

Is it the same person handling both auctions?

Since he said he was the head of this branch, it might be natural.

“Then, we will begin the 231st regular high-end auction.”

The first item was a jewel.

A pretty jewel sparkling with a deep green hue.

It seemed to be of considerable value.

“Are you going to buy it?”

“No. I feel a little sorry, but… I will buy the cheapest one possible.”

“You have a bad nature.”

“…”

As Kallen looked at the jewel with disinterest, Richeza whispered beside him.

Although there was a slightly dissatisfied tone mixed in, it was still an interested tone.

“Surely, they all look expensive.”

“Because it’s a high-end auction.”

Kallen discreetly looked around.

Unlike regular auctions, the high-end auction started even though not all seats were filled.

Those who sat at a distance exuded arrogance from their posture.

They didn’t even glance at the people around them, just as the host had said.

All the auction items looked expensive.

The mouths of the people did not move.

Several items passed by, and only one was sold.

After that happened a few times, the fourteenth item came out.

“This item is a fan with small topaz embedded in it.”

A pale yellow topaz was embedded quite prominently in the handle.

It was a fan with a similar overall hue.

It looked far less valuable compared to the previous items.

Well, compared to those with symbolic meanings or precious gems, the fan was too ordinary.

If it weren’t for the topaz, no one would have given it a second glance.

In fact, only one person raised their hand.

“Five gold coins.”

Considering that some of the previously auctioned items had sold for an average of fifteen gold coins, it was a rather low amount.

Seeing that the person had never raised their hand before, it seemed they had been targeting that fan from the beginning.

Though it was unclear how they knew, the low bid seemed to assure them that no one else was interested.

Kallen glanced at the person briefly, then slowly raised his hand.

“Ten gold coins.”

The man in the half-mask flinched, perhaps not expecting anyone to bid five more gold coins for just a fan.

“Are you buying it?”

Riche asked curiously from the side.

“Yes.”

“The fan…?”

“Just because…”

Eyes the same color as the topaz embedded in the fan.

Kallen looked into Riche’s pale yellow eyes and continued.

“It seems like the cheapest.”

“Hmm… well, I suppose so.”

Riche nodded in understanding.

The man raised his bid in an uncomfortable voice.

“…Fifteen gold coins!”

Kallen almost smiled unconsciously but quickly suppressed it, remembering Riche was beside him.

“Twenty gold coins.”

“…Ugh!”

The man, unable to contain his anger, bid twenty gold coins.

In the end, the man raised the amount once more.

“21 coins!”

The increments of five had dwindled to one.

It seemed that the man was nearing the limit of what he could spend.

Kallen took his eyes off the man and looked at the fan.

He didn’t know why.

He just thought that the softly flowing pale yellow fan would suit Richeza well.

One coin, one coin.

In the end, the man called out 25 coins, and looked at Kallen with desperate eyes.

And seeing that, Kallen said,

“30 coins.”

“…”

In the end, Kallen’s gold coins disappeared just the same, 30 coins.

*

“Thank you!”

On the way out of the auction house.

The person in charge never took off his mask, but bowed much deeper than before the high-end auction began.

Kallen and Richeza, holding the fan, left the auction house for the last time.

The day had grown quite dark.

Had they been in the auction house that long?

Because it was more interesting than expected, they didn’t feel the time pass.

“In the end, we spent the same 30 coins.”

“…”

“Sir?”

“Lady Richeza. This, I give to you.”

“…What?”

The ladies of the street had thinned out.

Only a few ladies were looking at the gently flowing river.

Walking along that path, Kallen handed the fan to Richeza.

“Why are you giving this to me…”

“It seemed to suit you well. I intended to give it to you, my lady.”

“What…?”

“Honey milk. It’s a token of gratitude.”

“Oh…”

Could it be that he wasn’t just flattering when he said it was delicious?

No, no matter how much, it wasn’t worth thirty gold coins.

Richeza accepted the fan in a daze and looked at Kallen.

Kallen’s expression remained unchanged, making it hard to tell if he was sincere or not.

But one thing was certain, there was sincerity in it.

At least, the fact that he bought this fan for Richeza herself felt genuine.

Richeza had received many gifts before.

But they were all just attempts to gain her attention somehow.

She had never received a gift handed over face-to-face like this.

So she didn’t know.

What to do in such a situation.

Should she kindly send a letter of refusal?

Or should she refuse with a suitably cheap return gift?

Richeza hesitated with the fan adorned with topaz that resembled her own eyes, and eventually chose to accept it.

“Th-thank you…”

A token of gratitude for honey milk.

Was it really okay to receive such a token for mere honey milk?

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Indeed, this boy was dangerous.

There were too many things she couldn’t understand about him.

So…

Richeza tightly gripped the fan and looked at Kallen.

“Young master. Are you free tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. Please meet me tomorrow as well.”

“Tomorrow…”

“This isn’t enough. My honey milk can’t be repaid with just a fan. Let’s meet here again tomorrow.”

We need to keep meeting until it’s certain.

“Understood?”

“…”

This is all for Daphnis, so it must be certain.