The auction was held in secret and under thorough inspection, but fortunately, Lumen did not prevent communication between guests.

With each step Nigel took, low whispers that seemed to touch the floor could be heard everywhere.

‘Where on earth is he?’

It was when Nigel had circled the auction hall twice looking for Allen.

Whoosh!

A firm arm quickly snatched Nigel’s arm as he was walking normally.

“Who… Beselion?”

Nigel, who was about to get angry, relaxed his face upon encountering familiar masks.

“Nigel, are you trying to spread rumors all over the neighborhood that you came to the auction?”

“How did you get this far…?”

“Nigel!”

Concern could be felt through the masks from Allen, Noah, and Yenika.

“Did you secretly assault the guards and sneak in…?”

“Or maybe you broke through the wall…?”

No, rather than concern for Nigel, other worries were listed one after another.

Nigel, now relaxed, chuckled.

“As if I would do that? I happened to meet someone I know and came in with them.”

“Did you perhaps threaten a stranger with magic and forcibly make them an acquaintance…?”

Even Yenika, influenced by Allen and Noah, followed with an odd tone.

“I didn’t. It’s really someone I know.”

“Who is it then.”

Allen, not easily letting go of his suspicion, crossed his arms tightly as if daring Nigel to name the person.

“Sid Cromwell.”

“What?!”

At the unexpected name, Allen let out a shout. Although Allen belatedly covered his mouth, people’s gazes had already turned to Allen’s group.

Thanks to Allen, Noah’s displeased face was quietly buried without receiving Nigel’s spotlight even once.

“Allen, you always manage to draw people’s attention in such peculiar ways, don’t you?”

“…Did you see it by any chance?”

“See what?”

Nigel feigned ignorance.

“Well, never mind then.”

As Allen’s face brightened, Nigel spoke up.

“Are you talking about how you turned pale and jumped up from your seat? Or about how you ended up buying that ancient statue that looks like it was made with feet for a whopping 200 gold?”

Allen tightly shut his mouth and resentfully shook Nigel’s shoulders vigorously.

“Thanks to that, Sid and I had a good laugh~”

Nigel giggled.

“Anyway, I’m glad you joined us safely. By the way, I have something important to tell you. Actually, Yeni is…”

“I know.”

Nigel said, looking straight at Yenika without wavering.

“What…?”

When Nigel met Yenika’s trembling gaze, he smiled gently.

“It’s alright because everyone knows.”

“I thought you were making too big a deal out of just losing an item… Did you know from the beginning?”

Nigel nodded.

“Nigel…!”

Then Yenika spoke in a choked voice that barely came out.

“Well, I’m a person whose wish is world peace, after all.”

At that moment, everyone’s faces, which had been immersed in emotion, hardened. Even Yenika, who had been nodding at whatever Nigel said.

…It’s true though. Nigel pushed aside his bitter feelings and opened his mouth.

“Anyway, the reason I came to find you is because I have something to tell you.”

Nigel slowly revealed his plan. And as the story progressed, the faces of the three gradually hardened.

After checking their reactions, Allen spoke first.

“Your intention is good. You say you’ll just check if there are any hostages and quietly return to the auction hall. Considering how you tried to recklessly charge into that dangerous place alone during the Histon incident, this is a huge improvement that I can’t help but like. But are you trying to go alone again like in Ather…?”

“I’m not trying to go alone.”

At Nigel’s words, Allen, who had been wearing a pained expression, opened his eyes wide. Noah and Yenika’s faces were equally surprised.

“I came to propose that you come with me.”

Nigel scratched his cheek slightly and spoke again.

“Um… Actually, I never understood what you guys always said, but when I went to the auction hall without you, I finally understood your position. It was frustrating, worrying, and I felt helpless like I couldn’t be of any help.”

Nigel lowered his head, recalling that moment when he felt his powerlessness.

Nigel always thought that taking the initiative to solve problems was the best method. After all, since Nigel could use holy power, he could finish things without anyone getting hurt.

But when he was left alone in the auction hall earlier, he realized that this method was wrong, that it was selfish.

While he was running wild on his own, Allen and Noah must have been only able to worry about what had happened to him.

Thinking that Noah and Allen had always felt this unpleasant emotion, he didn’t feel very good.

So he had to say these words even more.

Nigel raised his head with courage.

“Actually… I should have apologized first, I’m sorry. Even this is much too late.”

Nigel gave a bitter smile.

Now, whether they accepted the apology or not was no longer his prerogative.

That’s when it happened.

“…!”

Without anyone taking the lead, the three of them hugged Nigel tightly.

Within that embrace were small sobs, rough breaths, and unintelligible murmurs.

Feeling a great sense of fulfillment, Nigel once again posed a question to his friends.

“You’ll come with me, right?”

As soon as he asked, heads of various colors bobbed up and down.

“Ars… You said you were just going to check, so why did you come back with three tails?”

Sid expressed his bewilderment.

“Yenika is among them too.”

Nigel said calmly.

“Oh, how rude of me! I apologize for not recognizing such an honorable person, Your Highness!”

Sid’s head, which he always held high and proudly, bowed so low it almost touched the ground.

“…Yenika.”

At that moment, Yenika, who had buried her face in Nigel’s shoulder, lifted it slightly and muttered.

“Nigel’s friends are like my friends, so there’s no need for formalities.”

“It, it’s an honor! But Your Highness is a precious person who will become the Empress in the future. I too will serve the Imperial family in the future. Please allow me to use honorifics as a sign of respect to the future Empress.”

“…If that’s the case, I understand.”

Nigel, while giggling at Sid who didn’t forget to flatter even in this dumbfounded situation, looked coldly at the three leeches attached to his body.

“By the way, it seems the auction is about to start, so why don’t you detach yourselves now? All the attention will be on you guys instead of the stage.”

“That’s mean, Nigel. I thought your hard heart had finally melted into mush, but you’re immediately becoming cold again?”

“Yes. Emotions and attitude should be considered separately.”

“…How about sending Cromwell to our seats instead?”

Noah said in a chilling voice.

“Oh, that’s a good…”

“Idea, so hurry back to your seats.”

However, Nigel’s attitude showed no signs of changing and remained firm, so the three returned to their seats with long faces.

“…What on earth happened in that short time?”

“I’ve committed many sins, so we had a confession and reconciliation session.”

“You, you’re surprisingly good at self-objectification, aren’t you?”

Perhaps due to the effect of reconciliation, Nigel found himself smiling even at Sid’s usual provocation, which would have immediately provoked him before. Noticing this change, Sid also let it pass without further comment.

“Ah, it looks like it’s about to start.”

At that moment, the auctioneer on stage bowed his head, splitting his lips in a grin. It was the moment of entering a new phase.

“One thousand gold! Sold to guest number 85 for one thousand gold!”

The atmosphere inside the auction hall was completely different from before.

The amounts had doubled compared to the charity auction, and the auction items were mostly things that could only be obtained through illegal means.

Among them was Leparo, and Nigel swallowed his shock alone.

It seemed that despite Zeronin’s thorough management of inventory, sales, and distribution to ensure Leparo wasn’t used for bad purposes like war, it somehow still ended up in illegal circulation.

‘I should contact Zeronin once the auction is over safely,’ Nigel thought.

“…It’s finally here.”

At that moment, a familiar item appeared on stage, breaking Nigel’s train of thought.

Simultaneously, gasps erupted from various parts of the audience.

“Now, here’s today’s special item! A high-purity, top-grade mana stone owned by the Evans Trading Company!”

It was none other than the mana stone Allen had lost.

The fist-sized mana stone, unable to hide its purity, emitted its own light on the dark stage.

“We’ll start lightly at 500 gold and increase by 100 each bid.”

Unlike before, the golden paddles moved notably faster, and the price of the mana stone had already exceeded three thousand gold.

“Three thousand, three thousand gold. From now on, we’ll raise the unit and increase by 500 each bid!”

And Allen Evans, the owner of the mana stone who was more desperate than anyone, was holding up his paddle with his hand raised to reclaim his stolen property.

“Yes, once again number 21! Five thousand gold! Bid at five thousand gold! Any more challengers? Three, two, one!”

Bang!

Despite the enormous sum of five thousand gold being spent, Allen couldn’t hide his smile.

And then.

“Now, here’s the last item of today. It’s big news that’s been causing a stir recently, right? The engagement ring lost by the princess of Crena, the Crown Prince’s fiancée who ran away from her attendants. We’ll start the bidding lightly at one thousand.”

A shocking item that could potentially overturn international affairs was placed on the hot plate.