The Fifth Floor is a massive haven where infamous thieves, assassins, and all kinds of criminals roam around like monsters.
It’s truly a lawless street.
Well, that’s not to say only lawbreakers exist here.
It’s simple. If there are bad guys living off crime, it’s only natural they need someone to prey upon.
For that reason, there are ordinary people here to serve as prey.
To be precise, they’re mannequins pretending to be ordinary people.
They lack facial features and self-awareness, merely moving in patterned routines at predetermined times through the streets.
Even when repeatedly extorted, murdered, or assaulted by monsters, they regenerate after a certain amount of time and continue their scheduled routines.
Just like the grass eaten by the First Floor’s Hound Rabbit or the minerals that become food for the corrupted earth spirits on the Second Floor.
Perhaps due to their madness, the monsters on the Fifth Floor seem to be quite satisfied with just this much, living off their harassment of such dolls… but still, maybe they’re not completely content.
The monsters’ favorite prey is, of course, the adventurers who venture into the Fifth Floor.
And if that adventurer happens to be a stunningly attractive guy? Or looks like a fragile little child? Even better if he has rare pink hair?
I can guarantee he would become everyone’s idol.
After getting wiped out a few times, the monsters eventually just licked their lips when they spotted any fresh adventurers, no longer rushing in.
Realizing the difference in levels, they’ve grown more docile, but as I passed through them and entered the auction house, problems arose.
As the staff guided me to my seat, I exited a cramped corridor revealing the auction scene.
The issue wasn’t the audience; it was the stage.
“Whoa, these crazy people.”
I came in with a ticket expecting to be a guest, only to be turned into merchandise instantly?
Just as soon as I felt a chill at the absurdity of their mindset…
A woman in a ridiculous auctioneer costume raised a whip and spoke.
“The next item is right here! A poor boy who never dreamt he’d be sold!”
At the same time, bodyguards appeared from various corners of the stage.
The monsters who came as guests sat in the audience, watching us with keen interest.
As they observed me licking their lips, I scanned them quickly to gauge the situation.
Most of them were at a pathetic level that even an adventurer new to the Fifth Floor could easily defeat, considering they were no different from the monsters I’d faced on my way here.
However, a few stood out as much stronger.
One was a gray-haired middle-aged woman wearing a coat draped over her shoulders, exuding an intimidating presence.
And then there was an old man dressed in the traditional wizard attire that was hardly seen even in mage towers.
These two appeared to have skills more aligned with the mid-tier levels instead of the outer regions.
In other words, if I just kept my guard up against those two, the rest were merely numbers and nothing to worry about.
Finishing up my rough calculations, I now focused on the auctioneer who was whipping the ground behind the bodyguards surrounding me, creating a horror atmosphere.
“Customer service here is really top-notch.”
“Hoho. You still think you’re a guest, don’t you? If you behave yourself, you may not have to suffer. But once you’ve sold, who knows?”
“If you send me back to the audience now, we can turn this into an entertaining event?”
“Aha! I see now that you’re a bit of an oddball! There’s nothing quite as delightful as forcing reality on someone desperately denying it, right everyone?”
Instead of answering me, the auctioneer shouted loudly, trying to evoke cheers from the audience.
Was this sinister joke really working? Laughter erupted from various corners.
They were laughing at my predicament, seemingly reveling in my upcoming misfortune. Some crazed onlooker was already slipping a hand under her skirt.
Oh my. They’re turning me into such an entertaining spectacle and a potential prize for someone.
I mustered the widest smile I could manage for the auctioneer.
“You’re quite a rude person.”
Then, with my wrist crossbow loaded with Argetlam-enhanced bolts, I swiped it dramatically from left to right.
The sounds of arrows being fired came in quick succession. Half of the bodyguards on the front lines jumped in surprise, swinging their weapons.
Because I had only increased the charge and not the power, even from just the Fifth Floor, arrows fired openly like this didn’t hit.
Ping! Ping! Ping!
The sounds of arrows clashing echoed around. The auctioneer, swatting away one arrow with the back of her whip, smirked with a sardonic smile.
“You think this will work… huh?”
In that moment, she went wide-eyed when she realized I had reached right in front of her after burying my feet in the ground.
With explosive aura, I swung my dagger.
Whoosh!
The aura received from Lydia danced like a flame around my pure white blade.
The swordsmanship I learned from Historia needs actual training to use effectively, but Lydia’s aura manipulation is different.
Having watched her closely many times, especially since she clung to me to teach me after pledging herself to me.
Thanks to that, I could utilize aura in combat even without the explosive force.
As a result…
Swish.
“Gyaah!”
In an instant, I severed her tendons, and the auctioneer fell, sprawled on the ground.
In a confused state as if she didn’t understand what just occurred, I forced the dagger dripping with her blood into her mouth.
It wasn’t stuffed all the way, just enough for her to know something was there. That should silence her screams.
“Ugh…!”
Still trembling with the dagger in her mouth, I continued smiling at her.
“Now, I’m going to show you something fun. Really looking forward to it, right?”
“Uh… Ugh…!”
I couldn’t understand what she was saying, but it was definitely an enthusiastic nod.
Satisfied with her response, I drew my greatsword this time, swinging it at the bodyguards rushing toward me from behind.
Whoosh!
The massive blade, enveloped in a similarly fiery aura, cleaved through the air in a huge arc.
Among those who bravely rushed forward thinking it was just a dagger’s reach, two of them were sliced in half, spilling their insides.
Before the remaining bodyguards could regain their stance from the shock, I charged in.
With a weapon in each hand, I continued swinging my arms.
The one who got too close was stabbed by the dagger, while another dodging it was cut by the greatsword, and the cowardly one throwing magic from afar was taken down by an arrow concentrated with the power of Argetlam.
It seemed they didn’t anticipate arrows flying faster than they had before.
In a flash, I had slaughtered all of the bodyguards and with a feeling of pride, I turned back toward the auctioneer.
Now, she was practically trembling like she’d have a fit. I crouched in front of her and whispered.
“What do you think? Isn’t this amusing? Everyone else was laughing, ignoring the cries for mercy, but now that it’s their turn, they’re saying the same things.”
“P-please… spare me…”
“See? Even the auctioneer is saying the same words.”
Her lips bit down, trying to hold back her words. I nodded at her appearance.
“Hmm. This is better. You opted for the right answer, so I’ll show you a little magic as a prize.”
I lifted the now blood-stained Unicorn Dagger.
“You often see this sort of thing in a circus, right? A body-slicing magic show.”
“Ahh! Nooo!”
The auctioneer, sensing her fate, began to struggle and tried to flee, but she miscalculated.
“Eh? I know I lack talent for body-slicing magic! Look at this! I’ve totally failed!”
Pointing to the once-bodyguard lying around on the stage, the auctioneer turned pale.
To soothe her, I gave a reliable expression and look, finely tuned with all kinds of styling abilities.
“Rest assured, I promise I’ll succeed next time. It’s about time, you know?”
“T-this crazy fool!”
“Oh! That’s what I said right when I walked in! We really seem to get along, don’t we? Perfect if I can make the magic work this time!”
“Do you know who runs this auction house?! No matter how good you are…”
“Stop with the cliché lines! Who cares who I’m up against? …In any case, they’re all going to burn.”
“……”
Oh no.
It seems I let my emotions slip with that last line.
With her eyes closed in resignation, the auctioneer let out a heavy sigh.
Well, that killed the mood.
With a deep breath, I swiftly severed her neck.
Swish.
The show failed.
Grabbing her hair, I rose from my seat, revealing the petrified audience.
Some quick-witted individuals were quietly slipping out, while those I initially observed were already gathering their groups, preparing for a fight or chanting spells to cast.
I threw the auctioneer’s head toward those folks, asking,
“Hmm. No one here is laughing. Don’t you all think your lives could use a bit more humor?”
“Guys! Kill him!”
“The noble flow of mana…”
This time, with a flawless smile, I placed a finger to my lips.
“Shh.”
Before I knew it, a crown of thorns had been placed atop my head.
“Please… lower your voices.”
It’s painful for my ears with the whole auction house echoing.
