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The Staggering Price of Bridging Worlds – Part 05

However, even after that, the bids consistently surpassed 10 million gilans, and in the end, he couldn’t get a single one.

“I can’t believe it.”

As the auction concluded, Hikaru, shoulders slumped in disappointment, received consolation from Lavia and Paula.

“There’s nothing you could’ve done. No one expected them to be so expensive.”

“That’s right! Let’s look for smaller stones that aren’t being auctioned.”

He hadn’t anticipated the elemental magic stones becoming so scarce. The worst-case scenario he had considered—skipping this month—was becoming a reality.

“Another excellent find today.”

“More money to earn.”

“Absolutely.”

Hikaru could only watch as the merchants left with wide grins. They were certainly irritating, but even without them, Hikaru wouldn’t have been able to bid.

Damn it. I can sneak into their warehouse and ransack it.

He toyed with the idea of an underhanded retaliation, but of course, such a criminal act was out of the question. If it were a matter of life and death, he might consider it. Having Serika wait another month shouldn’t be that big of a deal. That’s why it was even more infuriating.

“You there.”

And then, the auctioneer, having finished his work, approached them. He wiped away sweat with a handkerchief.

“What is it?”

With hardly any other participants left, and the auctioneer coming specifically to them, Hikaru put up his guard.

“Well, you seemed to be only interested in elemental magic stones.”

“…And?”

“There are other auctions that deal with smaller ones. Want to give it a try?”

Hikaru exchanged glances with Paula and Lavia.

“I’d like to.”

The elemental magic stones auctioned this time were mostly large, and if they were about half the size, Hikaru’s budget would have been sufficient.

“They’re being held in a different place. Shall we go together?” the auctioneer said with a smile, then led the way.

“Why are you being so kind?” Hikaru asked.

“Most of the participants in these auctions are older people. I want more young people to come. I hope this experience will not discourage you from coming again.”

“Is that so? For young people?”

“The world has many facets. Auctions are a good opportunity to learn about them. When your perspective widens, you think differently, and things that seem obvious become less so. At the end of the day, more participants also means more share for the auctioneer.”

The man winked. His egg-shaped face, despite being that of a middle-aged man, exuded a certain charm.

Hikaru believed the man to be a good person. When one door shuts, another one opens. If this person turned out to be a villain, Hikaru would never forgive him.

Leaving the mansion, they got on a carriage and arrived at an empty lot in the downtown area. An auctioneer was shouting under the blue sky, riling up the participants, mainly chiefs of small and medium-sized firms. They shouted out numbers while making distinctive finger gestures.

The venue featured numerous stalls resembling a flea market, selling a vast array of magical catalysts. Amidst the offerings were some questionable items, sparking heated exchanges between vendors and customers.

“Bossman! Thank you for coming all the way here.”

When the downtown auctioneer noticed the auctioneer guiding Hikaru’s group, the chiefs stirred.

“The boss at the capital’s auction is here.”

“First time seeing him.”

“Is there something valuable today?”

“Who are the kids behind him?”

Wearing luxurious clothes, they attracted undue attention, but at this point, they had no choice but to embrace it.

“What about the auction for elemental magic stones?” inquired the egg-shaped auctioneer.

“Ah, it’s already concluded. Only smaller ones were up for auction this time, with the largest being this big,” replied the downtown auctioneer, demonstrating the size with a fist.

That was the largest one, huh? Hikaru thought. I guess there’s really not a lot of stones in the market right now.

He might actually need to skip using the spell for crossing worlds this month.

The egg-shaped auctioneer turned his attention to Hikaru. “Hmm, it seems the situation is worse than I thought. I apologize for not being able to help.”

“No worries. The knowledge alone is good enough. Thank you. We’ll come here next time.”

“Please do.” The auctioneer extended his right hand for a handshake, and Hikaru obliged. He took Lavia’s and Paula’s hands and kissed them. “Well then, if you’ll excuse me,” he said, leaving gracefully.

Despite looking like an egg—his sweat made him look like a boiled egg—he exuded an unexpected flair.

“What should we do, Hikaru?” Lavia asked.

The auction had resumed, but without elemental magic stones, there was no reason to stay.

“Let’s take a look at the stalls before heading back.”

“That sounds good.”

The trio walked together through the stalls, which were easier to navigate than the crowded auction. Their attire garnered attention, with stall owners actively calling to them, but they ignored any stalls not selling elemental magic stones.

“Lord Hikaru, what’s that over there?” Paula tugged at Hikaru’s sleeve.

There was a large mat with a mound of rocks and a sign that read, “elemental magic stones, any one for 1 gilan.”

“Hmm, are these elemental magic stones?”

Hikaru activated Mana Detection, revealing faint magical energy from what seemed like ordinary stones. They would barely emit a feeble light at night, paling in comparison to the ones that cost ten million gilans at the auction.

“Huh? That’s right, son. These are genuine elemental magic stones,” the elderly stall owner said sourly.

“There’s hardly any mana in them.”

“Well, of course. These are shavings from excavation or leftovers from magic items. You could say they’re like junk stones.”

“…”

Why would you call your own goods ‘junk’? Either way, it doesn’t matter if we have a lot. If there’s only little mana in them, they’re useless.

A lone customer brought a wooden crate filled with elemental magic stones. “I-I’ll take these!” he exclaimed in a high-pitched voice.

“Hmph. You took your time picking ones of a good size. Let’s see… one, two, three.”

Though dressed in commoner’s clothes, the person exuded a subtle refinement in posture and aura. His short-cropped, vibrant blond hair conveyed a lively impression, but there was a touch of vulnerability in his deep green eyes.

Have I met this boy before? Hikaru wondered. I sense him somewhere in Roland’s memories, but I can’t quite remember.

A considerable amount of time had passed since Hikaru came to this world. Roland’s memories were fading by the day, feeling more like things he’d read in books or seen in movies rather than personal experiences, and they were getting increasingly forgettable.

But the fact that he’s familiar means he’s a noble. His getup, though…

Curious, Hikaru asked, “Are you a magic researcher from a noble family?”

The boy jumped. “U-Um, yes,” he stammered. “Y-You look like one too, sir.”

“No need to be so polite. I’m just a commoner trying to climb the social ladder.”

“I-Is that so?.”

“May I know your name?”

“I’m I… Isaac F. Taylor.”

This surprised Hikaru. Roland had indeed met Isaac, not in social circles, but in a magical research presentation.

“Oh, you’re that Lord Isaac. I read your paper on Mana Conversion Formula in Elemental Stones.”

“What?! Y-You did?!” Isaac’s face instantly lit up.

“A total of 322 pieces, sir. That’ll be 322 gilans.”

“Ah, right.” Isaac paid the amount. “Thanks for reaching out, but I’m in a hurry.”

“I understand,” Hikaru replied.

Isaac tried lifting the crate and stumbled.

“Lord Isaac.” Hikaru caught his arms. They were unexpectedly thin and soft.

Maybe he’s just like Roland, gaining fame as a young researcher. He’s got the height, but I guess he’s considerably younger?

Hikaru found himself offering to help carry the crate.

“B-But…”

“With all due respect, you don’t seem to be in great shape. It would be an honor to assist in your research.”

Isaac seemed hesitant. “Th-Thank you. I appreciate the help,” he said with a bow, his long eyelashes fluttering.

Hikaru turned to the girls. “I’m off to carry some stuff. Could you two head back to the inn? It must be difficult to walk around in those outfits.”

“Okay.”

“Understood.”

Hikaru left with Isaac. The troubled look on the boy’s face lasted only a moment. When Hikaru inquired about sorcery, Isaac gladly responded with enthusiasm.

“…”

“…”

Lavia and Paula blinked, watching the two.

“Hey, Paula.”

“Yes, Lavia?”

“Do correct me if I’m wrong, but Isaac is a male name, right?”

“I’m of the same understanding.”

“That person…”

They exchanged glances.

“Is a woman.”

“Is a woman.”

She was concealing her true gender, likely for some underlying circumstances.

“What should we do?” Paula asked. “We need to let Lord Hikaru know.”

“Hikaru can verify her real name with the Soul Board, so there shouldn’t be an issue.”

“Right…”

“Plus, it might be better for him to believe she’s a boy.”

Paula wondered what Lavia meant.

“She could really transform with some proper hair styling and a dress. And if she’s knowledgeable in sorcery, there’s a chance she might fall within Hikaru’s preferences.”

“N-No way…”

“I can’t help but feel that an opponent more formidable than Jillarte has appeared.”

“I-It can’t be!”

Upon hearing Hikaru mention things like “Isaac did this” or “He did that” when he returned in the evening, it became clear that he believed Isaac was a boy.