An Extra’s Rise in an Eroge

The murmurs in the room died down as the auctioneer unveiled the next item, though a few heads still turned my way, likely whispering about my earlier extravagant bid. I ignored them, leaning back in my seat and focusing on the stage.

The secondary goal of this auction—getting a familiar for Alicia—was complete. Now, all that remained was my primary objective: acquiring the Void Stone.

The Void Stone was a dangerous artifact capable of creating gates between distant places. In the game, it was a tool frequently used by demons to stage catastrophic terrorist attacks. Placed in crowded areas, the stone would activate, releasing waves of demons that wreaked havoc and left devastation in their wake.

What made the Void Stone even more dangerous was its deceptive nature. It had no distinctive magical aura or unique features, appearing to be nothing more than a black, glassy crystal. It cannot be detected under any inspection.

Even in this auction it will be just auctioned as a mere ornamental gem, completely unaware of its deadly potential.

My gaze flicked toward Alex, seated silently in the third row. He hadn't bid on a single item so far. Was he here for the Void Stone as well?

Before I could dwell on it further, the auctioneer's booming voice pulled my attention back to the stage.

"Among the items we've showcased tonight, this one is truly exceptional! Were it not for the grand finale, this might very well have been saved for the end!"

The dramatic pitch of the announcement made me raise an eyebrow. "Why's he hyping it up so much?"

"Probably to drive the price up," Alicia replied, her tone disinterested. "The higher the final bid, the bigger their commission. It's standard auctioneer tactics."

"Typical," I muttered.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, the next item—a legendary treasure thought lost to time! Behold, the secret book containing the Lost Sword Art of the Maven Family!"

My thoughts came to an abrupt halt, my mind scrambling to process what I'd just heard.

"…Did I hear that right?" I asked, turning to Alicia.

"I… think you did," she replied, her expression as surprised as mine.

"This ancient sword art, believed to have vanished 450 years ago along with the Maven family, has been rediscovered by adventurers and is now up for auction!"

I leaned forward instinctively, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity flooding my thoughts. The Maven Sword Art wasn't just a relic; it was a legendary technique from one of the strongest swordsmanship families in the Empire's history. Its reappearance was bound to spark a frenzy.

"This… is going to cause quite a stir," I muttered under my breath.

"Are you planning to bid for it?" Alicia asked, glancing at me sideways.

"Nah," I said with a shrug. "The Ludwig family already has its own sword art. Besides, I'd rather enjoy the show."

"The starting price is 1,000 gold!" the auctioneer announced, his voice booming across the grand hall.

And with that, the fervent bidding began.

"2,000!"

"5,000!"

"20,000!"

"60,000!"

As expected, the price quickly skyrocketed. It wasn't long before the bid reached an astronomical 75,000 gold.

I activated [Observer's Gaze] on the highest bidder out of curiosity but found nothing notable. Perhaps he was just a proxy for someone more influential.

"Probably just a front for someone else," I muttered, leaning back in my chair.

The auction continued with item after item being paraded on stage.

"The next item is a 'Superhuman's Potion'! Starting bid: 500 gold!"

"If you brew tea in this 'Moon Teacup,' an heirloom of the Moonlight family, it will restore your youthful glow!"

"Don't miss out! This is the 'Flame Sword,' the cherished weapon of the former Sword Saint!"

One after another, items of considerable value came and went, but I held back, determined to save my gold for the Void Stone. The deviations in the timeline had already added layers of uncertainty. If Alex was here for the same thing, it would only complicate matters further.

As my thoughts swirled, the auctioneer's enthusiastic voice jolted me back to the present.

"And now, without further ado, let me reveal the highlight of today's auction—the grand finale!"

I raised my head, focusing on the podium as the final item was unveiled.

"Ladies and gentlemen… behold, Karna's Armor: 'Kavacha'!"

A ripple of shock and awe swept through the room, followed by hushed whispers and gasps.

"It's the legendary armor said to have been worn by Karna, the hero who singlehandedly stopped the invasion of Hellheim on Eldora that nearly destroyed the world 1,000 years ago! This is not just an artifact—it is a piece of history!"

The host's voice was tinged with unrestrained excitement, but I barely heard him over the pounding in my ears.

Alicia turned to me, her face a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "Arthur… what the hell is that doing here?"

I stared at the armor in silence, my mind racing. Kavacha, a relic of unimaginable power, had no business being in this auction. This wasn't just a deviation from the timeline—it was a full-blown anomaly.

The host's voice rang out triumphantly, and the hall erupted into murmurs of awe and disbelief.

"...!"

Alicia turned to me with wide eyes, her usually composed demeanor replaced by astonishment.

I couldn't blame her. I was shocked too. Kavacha. The divine armor said to have been a gift from the Sun God to Karna himself. It was renowned for its ability to protect the wearer from all physical attacks, making Karna an unstoppable force during the first wave of the demon invasion.

Legend had it that the armor vanished with Karna's demise, never to be seen again. To see it here, displayed so casually, was enough to leave anyone dumbfounded.

But then, I activated [Observer's Gaze]. The moment I read its details, my racing heart settled.

It's a replica.

Crafted by a master blacksmith and imbued with traces of divinity. Likely a dwarf's handiwork—only they possessed the level of craftsmanship required to create something so close to the original.

[Kavacha (Replica)]

[Rank: Legendary]

[Effects: Blocks 70% of physical damage.]

[Increases wearer's strength by 20%, speed by 10%, and stamina by 10%.]

[Special Trait: 20% chance to reflect physical attacks. Probability increases with successive attacks.]

For a replica, it was remarkably well-made. The stats alone made it one of the best items I'd seen in this auction, second only to the real thing.

"It's a pretty decent piece of work," I murmured, my eyes still on the armor.

"I-Is that real?" Alicia whispered, leaning closer to me.

"…No," I replied, shaking my head.

Her brow furrowed. "How can you be so sure?"

I shrugged casually. "I just am."

Alicia stared at me for a moment, then asked, "So… are you not going to bid for it?"

"Oh~, I'm definitely bidding for it," I said, smirking.

Alicia frowned. "Why? You literally just said it's a fake."

"It is," I replied with a casual shrug. "But it's a damn good fake. So good that it's second only to the real thing."

While we were talking, the host's voice cut through the hall with growing excitement.

"50,000 gold! We've received a bid of 50,000 gold! Who will offer more? Oh, 55,000! Now 75,000 gold! Incredible!"

The room buzzed with energy as eager bidders threw themselves into the frenzy. The mere mention of "Kavacha" had enchanted the crowd, and the price kept climbing. I joined in the bidding, but as it reached 100,000 gold, I leaned back in my chair.

"Done already?" Alicia asked, tilting her head.

"Not worth going higher," I replied, my eyes narrowing as I glanced toward the new highest bidder. "Let's see who's so eager for it…"

My gaze landed on the figure raising his paddle confidently. Alex. Of course.

"So that's what he's here for," I murmured.

"I will let you have it," I murmured, smirking. "If you get it, that's one less thing for me to worry about. We're working toward the same goal anyway, and you could use the help."

The auction continued to heat up.

"…150,000 gold! We're at 150,000 gold! Ladies and gentlemen, this is now officially the highest bid in our auction house's history!"

Gasps and murmurs filled the room. The host, basking in the energy, began the countdown.

"Three… two… one… Sold! The Karna's Armor is sold for 150,000 gold!"

Applause erupted as the host declared the sale. The 'Kavacha' was delicately wrapped in silk and handed to Alex, who received a storm of envious gazes from the crowd.

"Well, that concludes today's auction…" the host began with a bright smile, no doubt thrilled by the record-breaking sale.

But then, a staff member hurried over, whispering something urgently in his ear. The host's expression shifted, his brow furrowing briefly before he composed himself.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my deepest apologies! It seems we missed an item on today's list—an oversight on our part!"

The audience fell into a lull, many visibly disinterested after the climax of the 'Kavacha' sale.

"And now, allow me to present the 'Unknown Stone!'" the host announced with as much enthusiasm as he could muster. "This mysterious artifact remains unappraised—its power is unknown, and its potential limitless!"

A rough, unpolished stone was brought to the stage, its dull surface a stark contrast to the dazzling artifacts that preceded it. Predictably, the crowd's excitement had long fizzled out. Most barely gave it a second glance.

"…Let's start the bidding at 10 gold!" the host said after a tense pause, lowering the price in an effort to spark some interest.

The room remained mostly silent, save for the occasional murmur.

Read the latest on empire

"...Fifteen gold! We have a bid of fifteen gold!" the host announced weakly.

My lips curled into a sly grin.

'It's time.'

This unimpressive stone, dismissed as worthless by most, was no ordinary artifact. This was the ⟬Void Stone⟭—an item I absolutely can't let it fall in wrong hands.

As I discreetly raised my bidding panel, the host's eyes widened in surprise.

"…Well, no one else seems interested. Shall we count it down then? Three… two…"

I held my breath, praying silently for no interruptions. This auction had dragged on far longer than I'd expected, and I was eager to claim my prize.

"...One—100 gold! 100 gold!"

The voice that cut through the hall wasn't the host's but someone else's. My heart sank, and I let out a long sigh, my head dropping forward.

'Of course. The very thing I feared. The plot has deviated again.'

The host blinked in surprise, quickly recovering. "A bid of 100 gold! Do we have a higher offer? Ah—1,000 gold! We've got 1,000 gold!"

I sighed, writing 2,000 gold onto my panel and raising it without hesitation.

The bidding war began in earnest.

"3,000 gold! Do I hear 4,000?"

"5,000 gold! Now 6,000!"

Time dragged on as the competition grew fiercer. My patience wore thin. By the time the bidding reached 10,000 gold, my annoyance had turned into frustration.

"10,500 gold! And—10,511! No, 10,512 gold!"

The absurd increments nearly made me laugh. I raised my panel again, my expression calm but my eyes sharp, scrawling out an offer that would end this once and for all.

"15,000 gold!"

A stunned silence fell over the room.

The old man, my rival bidder, visibly flinched. His glare bore into me for a long moment before he finally spoke, his voice tinged with desperation.

"Young man," he said with a forced smile, "you should consider letting an old merchant like me have this one. I could put that stone to much better use than you."

Before I could respond, the auctioneer's sharp voice cut through the tension.

"Dear guest, influencing other bidders is strictly prohibited. Consider this your final warning."

He then adjusted his tone to address the room.

"…From now on, bids will be incremented at a minimum of 100 gold!"

A murmur rippled through the crowd, but the auctioneer continued without pause.

"Is there anyone willing to bid higher? If not, I'll begin the countdown! Three… two…"

Relief began to wash over me. Finally. I was certain I had won. No one would waste more money on something they didn't understand.

"30,000 gold! A bid of 30,000 gold!"

My heart stopped for a moment.

"…!"

I snapped my head toward the source of the bid. A man, dressed in an understated but finely tailored outfit, raised his panel with an air of quiet confidence.

'And where did this lunatic come from?'

Fighting back a groan, I closed my eyes for a moment to collect myself before lifting my panel again.

"40,000 gold! A bid of 40,000 gold!"

The auctioneer's voice brimmed with excitement as the crowd murmured around me. I didn't bother looking at the man this time. It didn't matter who he was—I was taking that item no matter the cost.

"Yes! 45,000 gold!"

I glanced over briefly. He was staring directly at me now, his gaze steady and unflinching. We locked eyes for a moment, but I refused to back down.

I raised my panel again.

"46,000 gold!"

"47,000 gold!"

"48,000 gold!"

The numbers climbed relentlessly, each bid narrowing the gap between victory and frustration. This had to end now.

Taking a deep breath, I lifted my panel one last time.

"70,000 gold!"

Gasps echoed throughout the room. It was an astronomical price for an item most saw as worthless.

I leaned back in my chair with a grin, my gaze fixed on the other bidder. He stared at me for a moment, his face unreadable, before quietly lowering his panel and crossing his arms.

The auctioneer's enthusiastic voice brought the tension to a crescendo.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"70,000 gold! A bid of 70,000 gold! Going once… going twice… sold!"

The gavel struck with a resounding thud.

"Successful bid! The 'Unknown Stone' is sold for 70,000 gold!"

I let out a long breath, finally relaxing in my chair. The item was mine, and the grueling battle was over.

THIS CHAPTER UPLOAD FIRST AT NOVELBIN.COM