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That night, I looked out of the window with Eyes of the God Wolf. Well, I wasn’t really looking, as there was something weighing on my mind. It was about what had happened during lunch.

 

Ultimately, we had gone to ‘Meat, Meat, Meat, Meat’ for the third time and ordered the same thing. It was a little awkward, but the conversation immediately moved to Adlus’s fighting style.

 

“Regardless of this difference in reach, I suppose we’ll just have to fight with the weapons we have?”

“It would not exactly be realistic for you to go out and acquire new weapons now…”

“That’s true. Even if I have a weapon with the same reach, it would take time to adjust to it. Something we don’t have.”

“Indeed. You can always search for a weapon after the tournament if you really need one.”

“In that case, I recommend the auctions. They often have rare and powerful weapons coming in.”

“Ah, that reminds me! There is something we would like to sell as well.”

“Oh? Do you two have something valuable?”

“Yeah, we dug up something really interesting.”

“Dug up?”

 

Yes, I was thinking about the auctions. The massive event that was the Imperial Sword Tournament had made me forget, but we had come here in order to sell the Automata. …Wait, maybe not. It was probably because Daniela wanted to visit?

 

Well, whatever. After we ate, we went to the auction house to have our item registered.

The building was to the southeast. The fact that it was located so close to the inns seemed, slimy in a way, but I guess it was how they did things here.

I had been expecting something rather ‘underground,’ but it was not like that at all. There was an open atmosphere if anything. Perhaps it was because of some old perceptions I had about hidden routes and slave auctions. I had been feeling anxious about what kind of shadow auction we were heading into, but even the manager seemed to be a nice man.

 

“It will be held after the tournament. You will have to be here in person, is that all right with you?”

“And where will we be?”

“On stage. We like to show the faces of the sellers. It is the style here.”

 

Like farmers, then…

 

“So, what item is it that you wish to auction off?”

“This thing.”

 

I said as I shoved a hand into the hollow bag and then dragged out the Automata.

 

“Ahh!!”

“It’s an Automata.”

“Ah, oh, yes… I thought you had brought out a corpse.”

“That’s not really my kind of thing…”

 

But it was hardly a surprise that he was surprised. And I couldn’t say that I hadn’t enjoyed his reaction just a little.

 

“An Automata! These things are very rare indeed…!”

“And we have a few spare ‘cores’ as well.”

“Wonderful! This will be the star of the show without a doubt. Would you mind if we advertise?”

“Of course not. I hope as many people as possible see it.”
“Very good, Mister Asagi. Thank you for coming to us. I look forward to the event.”

“Likewise.”

 

We shook hands and finished the registration process. By the time we left the building, the sun had already started to come down, and so we split up. Daniela and I bought some food to eat on the way back. And that was it. The valuable Automata was still in the hollow bag. The manager was worried about it being stolen, and so it was decided that we should keep it until the actual date.

 

Well, it meant that we would be parting with the Automata… I felt oddly sad about it.

As it was made by the perverted ancient elves, the appearance was quite special. It almost seemed like a waste, but we had already made the agreement. And there was no going back.

 

“Maybe we’ll pick up another one someday…”

“And that one will go straight to the auction house as well.”

“Damn it…have pity on a poor guy…”

“I do not think you need something like that. Am I wrong?”

“Oh, are you jealous of an Automata?”

“What? Fine, I will give you a lesson as to why you do not need such a thing.”

“Sounds brilliant. You better teach me well.” 

 

It was late into the night, but too early to sleep. And I was very curious as to what exactly Daniela meant to teach me.

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