Chapter 5.0 - SHOW

✧⭑★⭑✧

The butler guided me smoothly into the VIP section. Thanks to my acquired magic, I’d conjured a fresh set of clothes and a mask, so I passed through almost without question.

The hall was filled with guests, all wearing ornate masks that hid their faces. I quickly noticed—no one had chosen a dragon mask. Perfect. That meant mine would stand out even more.

I settled comfortably onto one of the sofas beside a table laden with wine and fruit.

“A newcomer?” a voice drawled from my side. The guest in the tiger mask was studying me closely.

“Didn’t know we’d have fresh faces tonight. Who are you?”

“I’m the Dragon,” I replied in a low, slightly distorted voice.

“Dragon?” the guest in the snake mask tilted his head. “Never heard of such a creature.”

“The Dragon is a rare and incredibly valuable beast from the Golden Lands,” I explained with absolute confidence.

“Oh…” several guests murmured in surprise.

“Looks like you’ve got a new rival, Scorpion,” laughed a woman in a panda mask.

I smiled inwardly. Thanks to Louise, I knew plenty about the Golden Lands. They’d only been explored about twenty percent, which meant I could make up whatever I wanted and no one would dare question it.

The Scorpion himself came over and sat beside me. The other guests took their seats as well. Looked like the show was about to start.

The curtains parted, and a man in a raven mask stepped onto the stage. His black suit and the spotlights aimed directly at him made him look even more ominous.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” he called out. “Welcome to tonight’s auction! We have unique goods from every corner of the world. Tonight, you’ll witness true treasures. So sit back, relax, and ready your purses!”

The hall buzzed with chatter. Some applauded, others laughed.

“Bring out Lot Number One!” the host announced brightly.

The room erupted in applause. Onto the stage walked a girl of about ten. A slender blonde in a snow‑white dress, standing like a porcelain doll.

“Starting price for this lovely young lady—one hundred thousand gold,” the host declared.

“Three hundred thousand!” someone shouted.

“Five hundred thousand!” another voice countered immediately.

“Oh, my, things are heating up!”

After several minutes of fierce bidding, the girl was sold for two million gold. In the VIP section, we lounged and laughed at the “paupers” in the main hall.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if a dark‑haired elf girl comes up tonight, please leave her to me,” Scorpion said, reclining on his sofa.

“And I’ll take a boy—sixteen or so, black‑haired, handsome,” Panda replied with excitement, her tone as casual as if she were ordering dinner.

“Oh‑ho‑ho… Then be ready, because I’ll fight you for any boy,” Tiger said with mock challenge.

I felt sick. They were discussing living people like livestock at a market. But right now, I was playing the VIP, so I decided to play along.

“Hate to disappoint you, but the next lots will be mine,” I said, pausing dramatically.

“Don’t get cocky, newcomer,” Scorpion muttered irritably.

“What, afraid your elf girl will end up mine?” I said with arrogant ease.

He stayed silent. Perfect. Another item checked off my bucket list.

Meanwhile, the second girl went for one million three hundred. The auction rolled on.

“Bring out Lot Number Three!”

A boy my age stepped onto the stage—a handsome blond in uniform.

“Starting price—seven hundred thousand gold,” the host announced.

“Three million!” someone shouted.

“This one’s mine!” Panda stood up.

“Four million!” Tiger countered.

“Eight million!” Panda cried, waving her wine glass.

I sat there in shock. It was as if these people’s salaries weren’t in millions, but in hundreds of millions. These weren’t just the rich—they were money‑mad lunatics.

“Four hundred million once, four hundred million twice, four hundred million three times… SOLD!” the host slammed his gavel.

Panda sank back into her seat with smug satisfaction, opened a bottle of wine, and poured two glasses.

“Well, newcomer, how’d you like my show?” she asked.

“You were magnificent,” I replied with deliberate theatricality.

“I hope you won’t embarrass yourself,” she said, handing me a glass.

“Don’t worry,” I told her. “I’ll surprise you.”

❖ ❖ ❖

They kept parading people onto the stage—elves, half‑bloods, lolis, even those with “golden blood.” Each lot went under the hammer like some exotic fruit.

And then came Lot Thirteen.

A slender girl of about sixteen stepped onto the stage in a short white dress. The half‑finished witch’s tattoo marked her as a daughter of the Orkesa clan. She looked like Louise—red, innocent eyes, elegant bobbed hair and… Wait. That is Louise.

“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s special lot!” the auctioneer declared grandly. “A half‑witch! Starting price—”

I didn’t hear the rest. I had only one question: What the hell is she doing here?!

The hall erupted in applause.

“Now that’s a prize,” Scorpion drawled. “A genuine half‑witch from the Orkesa clan. Rare… and such a pretty little face.”

“Ha‑ha!” Rat laughed. “Well, friends, I think I’m in love.”

“Then you’re out of luck,” Bull said. “Because I’m taking this girl.”

“Don’t make me laugh,” Scorpion waved him off. “I’d sell my entire elf collection for her. A half‑witch from the Golden Lands.”

“Hah‑hah‑hah,” Snake roared. “You’re just like the paupers—fighting over a girl like kids over candy. I bid five million.”

“Ten million!” Scorpion barked.

“Fifteen million!” Bull shouted over him.

“Twenty million!” Rat countered.

I sat there, fists clenched, listening to them haggle over a living person. Over my former comrade.

“Eight hundred million!” Scorpion roared.

“Nine hundred million!” Rat shot back.

“One billion!” Bull bellowed.

“Are you insane?” the auctioneer blurted. “This isn’t a kingdom.”

“One billion, one hundred million!” Rat thundered, and the hall exploded in applause.

“Two billion… and one million,” I said calmly, raising my hand.

Silence.

Every VIP turned toward me.

“You… you think you can play with the grown‑ups?”

“I warned you,” I replied coldly. “The next lots are mine—starting with her.”

A few surprised “Oohs” rippled through the room. Someone even whistled.

“SOLD!” the auctioneer shouted.

“Ha‑ha‑ha!” Tiger suddenly burst out laughing. “The newcomer’s putting on a show! Well, ladies and gentlemen, looks like we’ve got ourselves a new lunatic.”

“Indeed,” Panda agreed. “Come here, little Dragon, let’s drink to your swift demise.”

I raised my wine glass and smiled.

“To the health of those who win… and never lose.”

We clinked glasses—and right on cue, part of the ceiling collapsed. Spotlights flickered, screams filled the hall.

Men in black stormed the room. On stage stood Louise, now in a black combat outfit, staff in hand.

“Kill everyone in masks and free the slaves!” she commanded.

Their entrance was spectacular. Which meant my moment was coming. And I’d shine as the Black Rose… or maybe just steal a bit of their glory for myself.

“You ruined… my show. I’LL KILL YOU!” Raven roared.

The fight on stage began—Raven versus Louise. The guards couldn’t reach them, blocked by Louise’s allies.

Louise parried the first strike and countered with a blow to his jaw. He fell. She stepped forward to remove his mask, but the moment she touched him, his body scattered into a swarm of living ravens.

“What is this?” Louise muttered in shock.

She barely turned before a knee smashed into her face. She flew back and hit the ground. Raven advanced, sword aimed at her heart.

But his blade was split in two—along with his body.

“I am the One‑Eyed Dragon, ruler of all dragons!” I declared, striking a heroic pose before the fallen Louise.

“So you’re their leader,” Raven’s voice came from the shadows.

“You’re the master?” Louise gasped.

“Let’s make this an unforgettable show,” I shouted.

We both used Sprint. Our blades met in the center of the stage, sparks flying. Steel clashed again and again, each strike echoing through the hall.

Every movement grew sharper, faster. I gradually drove him toward the wings. Strike. Block. Counter. We spun in a perfect deadlock.

I suddenly raised my hand and unleashed telekinesis. He mirrored me. We flew apart, skidding across the floor.

I recalled my fallen katana, spun, and swung. The blade would have cut him in half, but he caught it on his sword. Sparks flared, slicing across my face.

We clashed again in a flurry of blows, and this time I scored a hit—my katana slicing his shoulder. Drops of hot, dark blood spattered the floor. He only grinned.

“Not bad… but not enough,” he said.

Without breaking pace, he vaulted upward, smashing through a stained‑glass window to the roof. I followed without hesitation.

The night wind struck my face. On the rooftop of the towering building, we met again under the full moon.

The fight raged on. He pressed, I parried, we circled. I used telekinesis to lift every shard of broken glass and hurled them at him. They flew at incredible speed, cutting deep.

He leapt aside, and I seized the moment—my katana slashed across his mask.

Half of it fell away, revealing cold eyes burning with fanatic fire.

“We’ll meet again,” he rasped, dodging my final strike.

He sprang back—and fell from the roof. I rushed to the edge and saw his body dissolve into a swirling flock of ravens that vanished into the night sky.

I stood at the edge in a perfect pose, the wind scattering the smoke from the fires below. I watched the darkness where the black birds had disappeared.

Another dream checked off the list. A perfect beginning and a perfect ending—though setting the building on fire was unnecessary. I’d have to mention that to Louise.

When I stepped out of the building, I saw children, women, and men in tattered clothes, along with others drawn by the sounds of battle and fire.

The guard didn’t take long. The Order of the Holy Sword arrived within five minutes. Water mages began dousing the flames while soldiers detained several people.

“Yamazaki, thank Aido you’re alive,” Rein ran up and hugged me.

“I’m fine. If not for the Dragons, we might all be dead.”

“Dragons?” he asked in surprise.

“Yeah, the One‑Eyed Dragon saved us all,” said the little girl—Lot Number One.

“I see. Go with the medics, I’ll be back soon.”

“All right.”

Everything had gone perfectly. Witnesses would remember me. Hopefully tomorrow’s headlines would read: One‑Eyed Dragon Exposes Black Market.

What could possibly go wrong? 

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《END of Chapter 5.0 - SHOW》