Obedient Only to Me! Sir Knight - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The auction was held at night. Lowie and Ban set out wrapped in robes that concealed their faces, masks held in their hands. Given Seraphila’s nature as a gathering place for nobles from many nations, it was customary to participate while hiding one’s identity.

A large moon hung in the sky, as though it had never rained at all. Perhaps to make up for the lost business of the previous day, the main thoroughfare was packed with night stalls. The two walked slowly between them. Bathed in bright lights, the street was even livelier than it was during the day.

“Shall I carry you?”
“Hm? No.”

Lowie shook his head lightly and kept walking. He did not particularly enjoy riding in carriages—being confined in a narrow space put him in a foul mood, and more than anything, he suffered badly from motion sickness. If the distance was not too far, he usually preferred to walk. Of course, if his use of magic had been unhindered, he would have relied on it without question.

Even so, strolling through the night streets was not unpleasant. Though there were many people, Ban naturally cleared a path for him, and watching the countless lights was entertaining in its own way. Seeing Lowie walking along while softly humming to himself, Ban asked casually,

“Why did you suddenly decide to buy mana stones?”
“Then why do you want the holy sword?”

Ban snapped his mouth shut. Lowie had asked out of genuine curiosity, and at Ban’s reaction, he tilted his head slightly. Why won’t he answer? Silence settled between them. Ban was distinctly uncomfortable; Lowie thought nothing of it. And so, the destination of their quiet night walk appeared before them.

The auction house was held in an old building at the far end of the street. In front of the main gate stood a long line of carriages with their family crests concealed. Lowie and Ban, faces hidden behind masks, passed through them and approached the entrance. A servant checking the guest list greeted Lowie politely.

“Welcome. May I see your invitation?”

Ban handed over the invitation on Lowie’s behalf—the one Seilan had given them. After confirming it, the servant bowed deeply. Soon, the doors opened, and a masked man approached to guide them inside.

“So this is the auction house.”

Ban looked around with curiosity. The luxurious corridor was lined with numerous rooms, each guarded by men holding swords. Seeing armed guards moving about, Ban grew alert and stepped a little closer to Lowie.

“Have you attended auctions before?”
“Mhm. Not this one, though.”

Lowie nodded readily. It had been Josef who first brought him to an auction house. After that, he had visited quite often even without Josef. That was likely why Seilan had spoken to him so familiarly.

“This way.”

The guide opened an antique door at the end of the corridor. Lowie entered first, Ban following behind. The room was not particularly large; sofas and a table were arranged to face a wide window overlooking the stage.

“If there is anything you wish to purchase while watching the auction, please ring this bell.”

Ban accepted the bell from the guide and placed it before Lowie. A simple alarm spell was engraved upon it. After glancing at it, Lowie leaned back against the sofa.

“Bring the catalog. I want to buy ahead of time.”

He meant that he wished to make a preemptive purchase at the highest price set by the host before the auction began. The guide promptly placed the catalog in front of him. After flipping through it carelessly, Lowie said,

“I’ll buy all the mana stones, processed or not.”
“Yes.”

The guide immediately began adding up the prices. The sums were staggering; the pen looked as though it might fly from his hand. Lowie watched the scene with an indifferent expression.

The total did not matter to him. Lowie used auction houses for one simple reason: because they sold what he wanted. He had little interest in the auction system itself, and rather than sitting through items he did not care about, he preferred to buy what he wanted beforehand.

“And… Ban, is this the one?”

As he flipped the pages idly, Lowie stopped at a certain entry.

Holy Sword Ignis.

The black-bladed sword looked unremarkable to Lowie’s eyes. The red gem set into the hilt was the only thing that caught his attention—and even that was nothing special. What was so good about this that Ban wanted it so badly? Of course, the sword Ban currently carried was admittedly cheap… Lowie still felt a vague sense of guilt about having bought him a blade cheaper than kitchen tongs.

“Ah, sir. I’m afraid the mana stones can be purchased freely, but this sword is the main item of tonight’s auction. Many are waiting for it, so you must participate directly in the auction to acquire it.”
“The main item?”
“Yes. The Holy Sword Ignis. It’s being heavily promoted as a divine weapon bestowed by the god.”
“Bestowed by the god…?”

Lowie’s expression turned subtle. It sounded even more far-fetched than Seilan’s enthusiastic mana-stone sales pitch. But the guide looked earnest.

“Yes. The divine weapon, the Holy Sword Ignis—the heavenly blazing fire that shall burn demons. It is a tale found in the sacred texts of the Elysion Order.”

Sounds like a scam. Lowie managed to keep the thought to himself. Ban, meanwhile, continued to study the catalog with utmost seriousness.

“Then it can’t be helped. Can I at least receive the mana stones first?”
“Yes. We will prepare them.”

The guide produced a check. Given the large sums involved in auction purchases, it was common to charge expenses directly to a family account. Lowie waved it away and reached into his robe instead.

“I’ll pay in cash.”

From a small pouch, money poured out endlessly, as if enchanted. Fearing prying eyes, Ban repeatedly glanced at the windows and doors. Even the guide—accustomed to transactions worth hundreds of millions—had never handled such an amount in cash; his hands trembled.

“The amount has been confirmed.”

With shaking hands, the guide swept the money into a sack.

“Shall I prepare a drink?”
“Ice cream.”
“Very well. Thank you for your purchase.”

After calling in security to escort the payment away, the guide bowed deeply. As he turned to leave, Lowie hastily called out,

“Wait!”
“Yes? Is there something else?”
“Make it strawberry. The ice cream.”

The guide nodded with a strained expression and left the room.

The mana stones and their certificates soon arrived in Lowie’s hands, yet the ice cream took far longer. It seemed they were struggling to procure strawberry ice cream. Leaving the mana stones aside, Lowie lunged for the ice cream—and immediately frowned.

“What is this? This isn’t strawberry ice cream.”

The dessert arrived in an elegant silver dish, but the contents were disappointing. Unable to find strawberry ice cream, they had simply drizzled strawberry syrup over plain vanilla.

“Ugh…”

Lowie, who had been expecting fresh strawberries like those from the dessert shop, was deeply disappointed.

“It should still taste fine.”

Ban gently coaxed him, scooping a spoonful and holding it to his lips.

“…It’s bad.”

After barely tasting it, Lowie turned his head sharply away. The adorable display made Ban chuckle. Lowie shoved the ice cream bowl far across the table.

Well, eating ice cream at night isn’t good for you anyway.

Only that morning, Lowie had been complaining of constant headaches. Perhaps it was better that he did not eat anything cold.

It doesn’t seem that different from yesterday’s. Maybe it’s just a little sweeter?

Ban swallowed the abandoned ice cream in one gulp. Having grown up with little, he could never stand wasting food. The cloying sweetness coated his mouth as he smacked his lips. Lowie, having completely lost interest in ice cream, was fiddling with the mana stones.

“What do you use mana stones for?”

As a swordsman, Ban knew almost nothing about magic. The only mage he had ever encountered had flung water and fire from his hands; with artifacts, even large-scale attack spells were possible. That mage had died quickly in the midst of battle with demons. Compared to him, Lowie looked far weaker.

Naturally so. He was a rare combat mage.

Lowie was closer to the mages of the mage tower—researchers and scholars. Though it was hard to imagine him poring over difficult tomes; Ban had simply seen too much of his childlike side. To Ban, Lowie appeared exactly like this: a child who lived on sweets and could not fall asleep alone at night.

It’s past his bedtime.

The auction stretched late into the night. On the stage now was something called an “Eternal Pebble”—a stone that, once placed somewhere, would remain there forever. Aren’t stones like that already? Ban shook his head at the skyrocketing prices. There were still many items awaiting their turn. The main item, the holy sword, would likely appear near midnight.

Should I at least put him to sleep on the sofa?

Having become a full-fledged nanny in just three days, Ban examined Lowie’s complexion. Surprisingly, Lowie looked lively.

Because he was chewing on mana stones.