Surviving as the Third-rate Extra: I Can Plunder Talents-Chapter 72: Non-linear Story

"The Rod of Pleasure?"

It was an item molded in almost perfect curvature, resembling an eggplant covered in a glittering pinkish hue.

"What’s that?" Beatrice whispered, innocence carried her voice.

Yuridika strangely recognized the item and said, "It’s something often used by women when they are not in a relationship to pleasure themselves... Thus the item name..."

With a confused expression even behind the cat mask, Beatrice glanced at me sitting in the middle of them as I responded so that she could understand better, "It’s something you substitute from a male’s genitalia. Do you get it? But sometimes it’s used in brothels, you could say."

"Wh-what?" That’s when Beatrice seemed to realize the kind of items belonged to the Red - Exclusive category of the Sunken Deep Auction House.

"You know, nobles aren’t exactly saints and pure. Even noble women have desires, and if they can’t help it without a man around, they tend to explore one thing after another." Yuridika interjected, giving off such an objective perception.

She then continued as Beatrice pondered in silence, "Sometimes, even husbands who couldn’t completely satisfy their woman in bed tend to resort to these kind of products."

That’s when Beatrice asked, trying not to be embarrassed, "But why would such an item be in an auction house? I think it’s something you can buy within or near brothels. That’s also a place not necessarily forbidden by the Churches due to individual autonomy as long as they don’t cause a ruckus..."

Hearing Beatrice’s words, Yuridika was momentarily at a loss for words. The free will of an individual was something she adhered to and fought for, which caused her to reject marrying off the next Pope of the Church of Harvest and Prosperity, now known as the Church of Abundance.

But in this era, the Orthodox Churches weren’t forceful—as long as you were not a threat to humanity.

Whether or not her actions tens of thousands of years ago were in any way impacted the present world, this was the kind of reality she had wanted in the past—minus the rampant existence of the demonkind.

"It’s because of enchantments," I said, causing Beatrice to look at me from her right side.

Simultaneously, the auctioneer, donning a formal attire and a black top hat, snapped his fingers, prompting a projection of the information to be revealed among the audience.

It’s kind of similar to Yuridika’s magic yet entirely different in a way that this used a practical mechanism through magical technology.

[Rod of Pleasure]

Description: [A convenient tool for long-lasting pleasure.]

Item Grade: D

Magical Engravings: [Troll’s Blood Enchantment], [Succubus Blood Enchantment].

Starting Price: 50,000G

*

"You can say these enchantments are the reason why the Church would not hesitate to tear down this place."

Beatrice realized what I meant. After all, Troll’s Blood—even if it was turned into an engraving—was still something that came from a demonkind; not to mention the Succubus Blood.

In other words, if this item was used by having mana inserted through it, with the Trolls known for their regenerative ability, the user would then have a quick stamina recovery. On the other hand, with the Succubus Blood, the user would fall into lustful ecstasy, causing indescribable pleasure.

"We have the Troll’s Blood and Succubus Blood enchantments! Oh, there we go, 75,000 gold for the gentleman in Number 71. Would it be a gift for his loving wife?"

"150,000 gold for this woman in Number 50! Is she single or simply loves to explore new things?"

"Oh! This young woman in Number 69! 250,000 gold for the love of pleasure?! That settles it! The Rod of Pleasure’s been sold to Number 69!"

...

"Isn’t this dangerous, Young Master?" Beatrice whispered in concern.

"It is. But who are we to tell these nobles what to do with their lavish lives?"

Using such an item enchanted with demonkind’s blood was detrimental. The Rod of Pleasure had two tattoo-like symbols engraved on its body, which symbolized the enchantments. If inserted with one’s unique mana, the user would likely be influenced by the effect through the blood or component of enchantment—something impure.

"You’re right. But what are we looking for exactly?" She asked.

"Let’s just wait for a moment."

After some time, the auction continued without brakes, presenting items on the borderline of morality, most of which were filled with engravings using dangerous beasts’ blood.

Then, after over an hour, the Top 3 final items of the night were brought forward to the platform, causing murmurs among the audience.

Some were taken aback, the others seemed to have exalted with expectations.

"The third from the Top 3 products of the night! Let me present to you, ladies and gentlemen, a remnant of a fallen territory—Clarissa of Cetera!"

"...?"

"...!"

"..."

"Why did I feel like I’ve heard that name before?" Beatrice murmured.

Slave-trading was not exactly illegal, as long as it was verified by the Church. The reason why this kind of thing also happened through auctions in general was one thing—Uniqueness.

"Cetera Territory? That’s the territory from the South that fell five years ago?"

"Wait! Cetera? Isn’t she related to the missing... Or the now presumed dead professor of the Hero Academy due to Ranaya tragedy?"

"Oh! HAHAHA! Right—! Who cares about a fallen noble family?"

"Now, Ladies and Gentlemen... Let’s see what makes this product special!" The auctioneer’s voice echoed as the information about Clarissa—Professor Ragnar’s long-lost young daughter—was presented.

[Clarissa of Cetera]

Description: [A lost yet beautiful sheep in the wilderness.]

Age: 17

Talent/s: [Memory Maker], [The Mediator Gap], [Soul Contract].

Starting Price: 500,000G

...

"What kind of talents are these...? They sound academic..." Beatrice murmured.

"It’s because they are..." Yuridika chimed in.

"..."

The auctioneer then proceeded to explain why this product was special and worth the starting price of half a million gold.

When the audience attentively listened to the appraised talents, they couldn’t help but whisper in doubt.

"What? Is it real?"

"You mean to tell me that she can form a contract with someone? And if it’s possible, she can then enslave the target’s soul? Is this even true?"

"The Mediator’s Gap is useless... But Memory Maker? She can edit someone’s memories... or even put their memories into an item? Does it mean..."

I listened to the grumblings of the nearby nobles as they scrutinized the talents of this individual. Upon hearing someone dissing the Mediator’s Gap, I refrained from laughing.

After all, that’s the sole reason—apart from having her reunite with Professor Ragnar in exchange for training the former Class Mu—that I wanted her to be mine.

"I will risk it!" One noble raised his number. "1 million gold!"

"One million and a hundred thousand gold!"

"One and a half million gold!"

"Two million gold!"

"W-we have now two million gold for this product! If you play your cards right, you can use this product to the maximum extent!"

Beatrice tapped my shoulder, prompting me to look at her for a moment.

"Young Master, are you sure we can afford this? You don’t have sufficient funds. Did you know that this would be flooded with rich nobles...?"

Three million gold was everything I had at this moment, which included the backup funds of Eshu County—well, that’s originally the case.

"Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. And yes, you could say that some of the participants are from Ducal Houses."

"Five million gold for this woman! Oh! I know who you are, lovely one."

Even if everyone donned a mask, most of these people within the same circle already knew each other’s identities.

"Anybody else to top the last bid? Haha!"

"No? No? Then that settles—!"

That’s when I raised the fan-shaped identifier, Number 33.

"Ten million."

"Wh-what?! A gentleman from the back! Ten million gold!"

The attention of everybody was suddenly directed at me. Even if I didn’t see it, Beatrice’s eyes widened, and Yuridika only chuckled in amusement.

On the other hand, the familiar woman from one of the major houses in the Holy Empire, seated near the front of the platform, glanced my way with a frown on her face.

"Eleven million." She said.

"Fifteen million," I responded.

The difference in price increment was incredulous.

"Sixteen million." She gauged my financial capability.

I cackled as I raised my banner.

"Twenty million."

"T-twenty million?! Gentleman! We have twenty million from this gentleman!"

"Y-You! Who are you?! I don’t recognize you! Do you really have that amount of money?!" The woman found it suspicious, and her words also impacted the surroundings as the same sentiment was being brought to me by the other nobles.

Hearing this elegant woman complain, the auctioneer also chimed in, "G-Gentleman, if it’s possible, would you mind verifying your financial capability?"

Originally, I simply thought of snatching Clarissa when everything was over. However, knowing the identity of the owner who would own her, I rejected my own silly idea and decided to do this in a conventional yet questionable way.

This was a moment that didn’t happen in the original story. But with the official forum regarding the [Hero’s Apocalypse] with Q and A’s and whatnot, Clarissa’s fate was verified by the author.

If there’s one thing I put in my mind—it’s that the information in the official forum was also reflected in this reality. That’s why the Apostle of the Unseen’s Title—Obscurach—also worked even if it’s not in any way mentioned in the original text.

In other words, everything was not linear from the beginning.

"I don’t mind. Please do so. I don’t like such a fine woman doubting me."

Beatrice discreetly pinched my shoulder due to my playful words.

When an auction female staff member approached me, I handed something resembling that of a black card.

Upon seeing the contents, albeit with doubt, the female staff member had her eyes widen.

And with privacy being this place’s utmost priority, she only approached the auctioneer, whose eyes also eventually widened.

"We can now continue with the bidding without a problem! 21 million gold for this gentleman! Anybody? Anybody?"

"Wh-what?!" The woman looked my way in confusion as the auction continued smoothly.

You’ll be fine.

I’ll just be taking what should be yours.