"And this Holy Element Ring! Starting bid—five thousand gold coins! Minimum raise of five hundred coins each time! Now! The auction begins!"

"Five thousand five hundred!"

"Six thousand!"

"Six thousand five hundred!"

After Luya’s words fell, the auction hall erupted in noise! If I’m not mistaken, this was the last gamble for bidders who’d gained nothing earlier.

Facing this final highlight item, they pushed prices despite slim odds—like students applying to dream universities as first choices. Even if cutoff scores were usually higher, who knows? A lucky acceptance could be a huge win…

As prices surged explosively, the face of that person before me grew grim… She’d seemed interested initially, but others’ eagerness clearly exceeded her expectations.

After nearly ten minutes of uproar, the ring’s price skyrocketed to thirteen thousand gold coins… surpassing the Dark Gold Direbear King and the Stardevouring Staff.

"Um…" Watching her pout at the Holy Element Ring, the Contract compelled me to step forward. "Master, Yiyi doesn’t like this ring. It’s fine if we can’t buy it."

Hmm, I almost resisted the Contract, but thought better of it. Comforting a girl wasn’t bad, and contradicting after kindness felt awkward…

"Thank you, Little Yiyi~" She suddenly spun around and hugged me tight…

Huh?

Before I could react, her scent amplified the Contract’s effect. My head went dizzy, and I found myself gently rubbing my cheek against her…

Hey…

I clenched my teeth hard and pinched my waist, finally wrenching control back through pain.

But as I tried to pull away, she massaged my wings and whispered, "Ah… such an obedient Little Yiyi~ These silky wings~ Truly my perfect Contract Beast~"

Ugh… this feeling… my mind fogged over.

"Fourteen thousand… any bids?"

"Fifteen thousand!"

Luckily, Luya’s call snapped her attention. She lunged for the amplifier, shouting her entire savings…

I darted to a distant seat, nibbling Dragon-marked Fruits. Phew. I couldn’t escape her before the Throne Struggle, but bankrupting her first sounded fun.

Another tasty fruit… though free from the auction house? Headache…

"Room six bids fifteen thousand! Any higher? Fifteen thousand, first call!"

Silence.

Haunted by past shadows, the hall stayed quiet.

"Fifteen thousand, second call!"

"Eh… Little Yiyi~ won’t I actually win this…"

But easy wins are rare.

Just as her face lit with disbelief at Luya’s "second call," a new bid echoed.

"Thirty thousand!"

The black-cloaked figure spoke—not just raising, but doubling her bid. Her dreams of the ring shattered.

Thirty thousand… no ordinary noble could afford that. Though the pendant granted five seconds of invincibility…

No, after the first item’s frenzy, all prices were inflated. Thirty thousand for the finale wasn’t shocking.

Gasps rippled through the hall. Shocked faces turned pale—even hers and Liliane’s from the next room.

"Thirty-one thousand!"

"Thirty-five thousand!"

A calm, hoarse voice oozed confidence from the cloaked figure. Disguise magic hid their face; even my Clairvoyance Magic saw nothing beneath the hood.

"Thirty-five thousand, first call!"

Silence… Thirty-five thousand exceeded most limits. Spending that much on one item wasn’t a snap decision.

"Thirty-five thousand, second call!"

…

Luya kept her charming smile, scanned the hall, then struck the gavel with faint regret.

"Thirty-five thousand, third call! Congratulations to this honored guest for securing the final item at thirty-five thousand gold coins~!"