Chapter 29: The Grand Finale, Third-Tier Magic
"Alright, hurry up. The auction is about to start. Even though we can't afford anything there, since we've decided to venture out from the town, it's good to see more of the world."
"Roger that, Captain!"
The young adventurers, after purchasing several potions with money pooled together and paying with gritted teeth, quickly made their way excitedly to the second floor of the prop shop.
That's where the auction they mentioned was supposed to be.
At the entrance to the upstairs corridor, a number of adventurers similar to themselves had already gathered, with several staff members conducting checks. Entry was allowed only after identity verification, very official.
No wonder the store still had so many customers this late.
It seems most adventurers come not primarily to shop but for the auction.
Naturally, Reji would not miss such an opportunity.
They didn't queue up.
Of course, Reji and the apostles simply walked straight through the crowd and up the stairs, unnoticed by either the staff or the queued adventurers, as if they didn't exist.
This is the effect of the Third-Tier Magic "Forget as You See."
The second floor of the prop shop was visually almost twice as large as the first floor, with carpets, walls, various paintings, and hanging lamps decoration, all significantly more luxurious.
Half of the area was designed as a huge convention hall.
The bustling crowd was now staring intently at the center of the exhibition hall, where a well-dressed male host was passionately presenting one auction item after another to the audience.
"Mane-tail dragon's teeth and bones! A popular material for forging 'expert-level' weapons, limited quantity, a total of five pieces, with a starting bid of 80 silver for each tooth!"
"Special healing potion, the top choice for every adventure master! Can revive you in your most desperate moments, rapidly recovering thirty percent of your health, and is personally concocted by Master Sineva's disciple, the senior alchemist Konrad! Starting bid at 10 silver per bottle!"
Intermediate Magic Tome "Astral Combat Technique" Fragment! Rumored to originate from the ruins of the Star Clan a century ago, it allows the cultivation of powerful astral destinies, with a starting bid of 15 gold!
"Green-tailed Demon Lizard Spine."
The order of the auction items goes from low to high, and as the auction progresses, the atmosphere becomes increasingly heated. Often, as soon as many auction items are brought out, they elicit gasps of amazement.
For example, the "Astral Combat Technique" fragment that was finally auctioned off for 25 gold.
Many adventurers, especially mages who follow the "Wit and Humor" destiny, were red-eyed with desire, as if it were some kind of unparalleled secret tome.
In the end, it was won by a brawny man with broad shoulders and a bear-like back, decked out in fine equipment.
From the envious and fearful looks and whispered discussions of the people around, it was known that this brawny man was apparently a very famous mercenary leader in the Adventurers' Association.
As for Reji,
If he remembers correctly, this so-called "Astral Combat Technique" in the game was an early magic tome that he couldn't be bothered to look at after reaching level 20, directly forgetting it to avoid occupying his skill slot.
Moreover, this "Astral Combat Technique" is only a fragment.
From the potions before to the Astral Combat Technique now, a bad feeling in Reji's heart is getting stronger.
What truly silenced Reji was the final auction item introduced by the host as the grand finale of the auction.
A slim and beautiful etiquette lady.
An exquisite and luxurious carrying case.
The climax of the auction's atmosphere.
And the host, whose face turned red with excitement as well.
All these led up to a magic scroll.
It allows the user to temporarily cast the spell contained within the scroll.
As for this spell...
The auction hall was filled with waves of gasps and dense discussions as the scroll was unveiled, instantly filling the entire auction with excitement.
"This is a Third-Tier Magic!"
"By the gods of Wit and Humor, they weren't bluffing, they actually brought out a Third-Tier Magic scroll!"
"Third-Tier Magic... This must be something that only a grand mage of at least vice-chancellor level at the Royal Magic Academy could cast, right?"
"It's a pity, though, that the spell in this scroll is a support-type 'Levitation Spell,' and it can only be used three times."
"Even if it's a support-type, it's still Third-Tier Magic! And it can be used three times! Do you know how difficult it is to hire a grand mage? Not just us, even those noble lords have to be very respectful towards grand mages!"
"Exactly! Moreover, 'Levitation Spell' isn't useless at all, right? It's one of those auxiliary magic types with wide applicability! It can levitate up to ten meters and lasts for a quarter of an hour, very effective in both exploration and combat!"
"Ah! Wonder who will end up with this Third-Tier scroll, tsk tsk, the starting bid is 50 gold, I probably couldn't save up that much money in a lifetime, sigh."
"Pfft, what's the big deal! No, it's nothing special! With all the hype earlier, I thought it was something, if they were really capable, they would bring out a Fourth-Tier 'Floatation Spell'!"
An adventurer, possibly having come over from another prop shop just to play the cynic, made a mocking comment.
What he got in return was a unanimous look of disdain and derision from the others around him.
"Are you brain-damaged? The last time a Fourth-Tier 'Floatation Spell' appeared, it was performed by the Grand Commander of the Gryphon Knights Army of the Greyhawk Kingdom as an imperial congratulatory gift, right? That was a once-in-a-century genius in human history!"
"You're asking our Royal Magic Academy's Dean, Lord Dachi, who couldn't cast it either, do you know how many years of a magister's effort it takes to research and actually cast a Fourth-Tier magic?
If they had to choose, they would definitely study Fourth-Tier attack spells, who would research auxiliary ones."
"Seriously laughable, here's a suggestion for you, next time don't mention 'Floatation Spell,' directly ask why they don't bring out a Fifth-Tier 'Sky Control Spell' that would be so impressive, so shocking, after all, it's a legendary spell."
"Tsk tsk, but if it were really a Fifth-Tier 'Sky Control Spell,' then not to mention our Ilinor Kingdom, even looking across the strongest empires, you couldn't find a single person capable of mastering it, right?"
Amid the surrounding jeers and taunts, this poser, likely a mole from another store, quickly slunk away in defeat.
If possible.
Reji too wished he could give this fool a piece of his mind.
Because beside him, his two apostles.
The Wisdom Demon Leo's serpentine eyes were also fixed on the stage, watching the Third-Tier magic scroll being fiercely auctioned by the major powers, as if deep in thought.
Sorcery Demon Dian's slender fingers tapped rhythmically on his thigh, as if observing the futile efforts of ants.
And Reji.
He was indescribably emotional.
'This human world a thousand years later seemed to differ a bit more than I had imagined'