The Game of the Greatest Black Mage
Chapter 145

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 145

Branch Manager Belmore could come.

This was an auction house, and it wasn't a place he couldn't enter.

But at this specific timing?

For a moment, Seonghyun's mind became complicated.

And then there was the wink and the thumbs-up directed at him.

Seonghyun debated whether he should be pleased about this or not.

‘But isn’t this dangerous?’

He had suddenly appeared and disrupted things.

Wouldn't that noble be displeased?

Wasn't this the same Viscountess who had glared at even Beretta, a fellow auction participant, with an unfavorable gaze?

Though that was because the Viscountess had identified Beretta's intention to cause a disturbance.

However, Seonghyun couldn't know that far, so he couldn't help but worry.

Still, this was an NPC who had helped him.

It wouldn't do any good for Belmore to get on the bad side of the noble Viscountess.

Did Seonghyun's concerns reach them?

“Br-Branch Manager Belmore-nim?!”

The Viscountess exclaimed, bolting up from her seat in shock.

Huh?

Did she know Branch Manager Belmore?

No, more than that, she had just used an honorific.

Seonghyun's mind raced.

She wasn't getting angry at the sudden intrusion?

She was being deferential?

That reaction, instead, threw Seonghyun into further confusion.

If that was the case…

‘It should be fine then.’

Was it a needless worry?

As Seonghyun thought that, Branch Manager Belmore subtly approached him, conscious of the surrounding eyes, and used a skill.

[Over Palace Pentagrid Branch Manager, 『Belmore Arcadius』, uses the skill, 『Curtain of Sound』.]

[Sound will not spread to the surroundings.]

As a barrier, enveloping only Seonghyun and Branch Manager Belmore, formed, a message appeared before Seonghyun's eyes.

“I came because I thought it might be helpful to the Successor-nim, but… p-perhaps I interfered……?”

Branch Manager Belmore was watching Seonghyun’s reaction more intently than that of the Viscountess or any other noble.

Seonghyun found this a little incredulous.

‘I take precedence over the nobles?’

Moreover, upon hearing the words "Branch Manager," all the other nobles flinched and focused their attention on Belmore.

He had heard Over Palace was formidable, but to think they would cower like that before what was, in some ways, a mere Branch Manager?

Looking at Branch Manager Belmore, who was still watching him deferentially, Seonghyun wore a puzzled expression.

What on earth was Over Palace that everyone reacted this way?

‘Hmm.’

Because everyone treated him with such utmost respect and politeness, honestly, he couldn't help but look down on them a little.

Even if he tried not to, being human, a certain degree of that perception was bound to set in.

Still, they had provided him with a Legendary Skill Book and an Almighty-rank item.

So, he had acknowledged they were formidable.

But for a mere Branch Manager to be in a position where even nobles trembled before him.

He significantly revised Over Palace's standing upwards in his mind.

“No, it was very good… sir.”

As he somehow found himself speaking more formally,

“Ah, ahh, I-I apologize if I have caused you any discomfort, sir.”

Branch Manager Belmore, perceiving this as displeasure, trembled.

Seonghyun noticed this and wondered what to do.

No, that really wasn't it.

“Ahem, no, it’s really alright. I was just mindful of the nobles present.”

“Ah!? I-Is that so, sir?!! Hahaha, what a relief, sir. In that case, I shall go and retrieve the item. Please wait just a moment!”

As Branch Manager Belmore said that and went up to the stage, even the auctioneer, who looked like a veteran, was stammering.

Was it because he was dazed by the sudden jump to 100,000?

[Ah, ahh! S-Sold!!! We will package the i-item and deliver it after the auction, so p-please wait just a moment.]

At the auctioneer’s words, Branch Manager Belmore also nodded.

However, an inexplicable black aura emanated from behind his back as he spoke.

“Hmm, is that so? Very well. However, you must package it meticulously. With utmost care. It is an item for a very esteemed person, you see.”

[Eek, eeek!!! O-Of course, sir. Th-Then…… we will i-introduce the n-next item…….]

The auction hall had suddenly become tumultuous.

Observing the atmosphere, Branch Manager Belmore scanned the surroundings, then returned to Seonghyun and said quietly,

“It seems my presence is preventing things from proceeding smoothly, so I shall step out for a moment. If you need me, please do not hesitate to call! Well then.”

And just like that, Belmore, having swept through like a storm, exited the hall.

As he left, sighs of relief could be heard from various places.

Just how fearsome was he to elicit such reactions?

The auctioneer also quietly let out a sigh of relief.

[Well then, after a brief pause to reorganize, we shall resume.]

Although the auction was slightly delayed, no one voiced any complaints.

Everyone understood.

The only ones here who didn't quite understand were Seonghyun and…

‘Wh-Wh-Wh-What on earth is that user, th-that the Over Palace Branch Manager is acting so subserviently towards him?!’

Beretta, suddenly feeling a chill, shivered as she looked at Seonghyun.

She had picked the wrong opponent, an incredibly wrong one.

Although there were still four items left, a sense of foreboding washed over Beretta, and she hurriedly packed her things and made to leave.

The Viscountess was already past the point of caring about the likes of Beretta and was just swallowing nervously.

Beretta quickly exited the hall.

‘Damn it!’

She had only thought there was something to him because a mere user was talking with a noble.

To think he was also connected to Over Palace!

‘I should run away quickly, just in case.’

As she left the hall like that and was heading towards her carriage, at that very moment.

A chilling voice came from behind her.

“Hmm, is it you?”

Like a mouse before a snake, the hair all over Beretta’s body stood on end.

No, it was even worse than that.

Her body was frozen stiff, making it difficult to even move.

Beretta was aware this was a game, yet she felt more tense and terrified than ever before.

An intangible energy and pressure tightened around her from all sides.

Would it feel like this if the very air in this area became heavy?

Beretta felt she could barely breathe, and even had the illusion that the genre had suddenly shifted to horror.

In that moment, the pressure seemed to lessen slightly.

“Answer.”

A glacial voice reached her.

“Ye-Yes!?”

“I asked if you were the one who caused a disturbance at our Over Palace’s event.”

“Th-That is…… I-I don’t…… know…… about…….”

“Confirmation, then.”

At Branch Manager Belmore’s final words, her mind seemed to go blank.

In her mind, which had turned completely white, a single phrase filled her thoughts.

‘I’mdyingI’mdyingI’mdyingI’mdyingI’mdyingI’mdyingI’mdying.’

Now, she couldn’t even breathe.

Beretta thought she had picked the wrong opponent, an exceptionally, colossally wrong one.

Just as she vowed never to come near this area again:

“Over Palace is everywhere.”

“Ah.”

She even considered quitting the game.

However.

“It wasn’t a major mistake, so I shall let it go this time.”

At Branch Manager Belmore’s words, the weight of the air pressing down on Beretta, and even the words that had filled her mind, vanished.

As if it had all been a dream.

And a message window popped up.

[You have been freed from Over Palace Pentagrid Branch Manager, 『Belmore Arcadius』’s skill, 『Nightmare Corrosion』.]

When on earth had she been hit by it?

The question didn't even have a chance to form.

No, to think she was hit by a skill, but the notification didn't appear first, only appearing when she was freed from it.

She felt like she was about to lose her mind from that skill just now.

That thought arose, but then it slowly came back to her.

There had been a notification when she was first affected by the skill.

However.

‘I… forgot about it while I was under the hallucination?’

Did such a skill even exist?

As she shuddered from an indescribable fear, in that moment, a frigid voice was heard.

“There won’t be a next time.”

With the chilling voice, his presence vanished.

Beretta quietly turned around and, confirming that Branch Manager Belmore who had been behind her was gone, let out a sigh of relief.

“Haaaaah.”

She really thought she was going to die.

Not just in the game, but in real life too.

It had felt that real, and it had been that terrifying.

And yet, that same Branch Manager Belmore was treating a user with such deference?

“Wh-What on earth is h-his identity?”

Normally, she would have written about an incident like this on the community forums.

But such a thought didn’t even cross her mind.

Of course, it was unlikely, but…

What if she wrote a post and Branch Manager Belmore suddenly appeared behind her?

That fear was deeply ingrained in her heart, and in her mind.

Curiosity about that user’s identity was helplessly extinguished by her terror.

Vowing never to go near there again, Beretta departed for another city.

5.

The auction hall, after Branch Manager Belmore had swept through it, seemed to calm down and was once again flowing like a social gathering.

They had said the auctioneer would return once preparations were complete, so everyone was likely not paying it much mind.

However, something else had captured their attention.

‘Everyone’s subtly watching me.’

Seonghyun was feeling troubled as he sensed the sudden increase in gazes directed at him.

It was undoubtedly because of Branch Manager Belmore.

They seemed to want to ask about his relationship with Belmore, but as if they couldn't bring themselves to do so out of fear, no one approached.

Seonghyun, sensing this too, found himself in a rather awkward situation.

He felt that the previous situation, where no one paid him any attention, was better.

Regardless of all that.

-Heuk! L-Lord, th-this is r-really, really delicious!!!

“Is that so? Eat as much as you like.”

-Th-Thank youuu!!!

Fiora, paying no mind to such things, was wolfing down food.

And another problem here was:

-Heuk, it’s all gone…….

Seeing Fiora looking disappointed that the food had run out,

“I-I’ll bring some right away!!!”

A staff member, startled, rushed off to prepare more food.

Everyone had become polite to Fiora.

Fiora tilted her head, as if not understanding the reason for this at all.

-Heuk?

She was Seonghyun’s companion.

In other words, it seemed the equation ‘She is the companion of someone whom Branch Manager Belmore treats with such deference’ had been established in their minds.

So, they were doing their utmost to cater to Fiora.

Well, what’s good is good.

‘Let’s just leave it be.’

Wouldn't it be strange to go out of his way to deny it?

As Seonghyun waited quietly with that thought, the auctioneer returned to the stage.

He seemed to have calmed down considerably, appearing as composed as before.

Without trembling, without faltering, he began again, vigorously.

[Ah, ah, everyone, thank you for your patience!!! This is the seventh item of today's auction!!! Ah, its exact identity has not yet been determined, but don't be surprised!!! We have confirmed that it is an item belonging to none other than Serphina Nightbloom, who was called a witch!!! The bidding will start at 5,000 Gold and will likewise increase by 100 Gold increments!!!]

At the auctioneer's powerful voice, the noble NPCs also looked startled and amazed.

“Oh my? An item of the witch Serphina?”

“Serphina, the Witch of the Night?”

“Oho? This might be even more important than the Fragment of the Demonic Dragon's Heart.”

Even the Viscountess showed interest.

Seonghyun, not knowing much about it, was staring blankly when a message popped up before his eyes.

[You have acquired the keyword 『Witch of the Night, Serphina Nightbloom』.]

This is a keyword too?

‘It’s a keyword festival today.’

Seonghyun thought so and watched to see how this auction would unfold.

And as another staff member came onto the stage carrying what looked like a lump of stone to display the auction item, something became visible only to Seonghyun.

-Oh my?

The form of a ghost with a seductive smile, brushing back her luscious, deep indigo hair that seemed bound to the stone lump.

-My handsome nobleman, won't you buy me?

She was delivering a line that could definitely be problematic.

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

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