"Good morning, Royal Sister."
As Morgan entered the sitting room, Samael emerged from the kitchen and greeted her with a smile and a wave. He placed the warm breakfast in front of his employer, his service remarkably attentive.
Morgan had long since grown accustomed to that slightly irreverent yet strangely affectionate form of address. She gave him a small nod before lowering her head and beginning breakfast.
The moment she tasted the first course, a sweet soup, the freshness of the plants and the sweet-tart flavor of fruit blossomed across her tongue. It awakened her sluggish body and immediately stirred her appetite.
Morgan found herself eating with considerable enthusiasm.
"This is delicious. Is it a new dish you came up with?"
"Freya made it. She's always looking for ways to help, so I found something for her to do and gave her a few ideas along the way. Turns out she has an astonishing amount of talent for cooking."
Samael chuckled and looked behind him.
At that moment, Freya was carrying a pot of stew out of the kitchen while Habetrot, Baobhan Sith, and Barghest crowded around her.
The three little fairies were busy searching for openings to steal bites. Their cheeks were already puffed out from all the food they had stuffed into their mouths, and their lips gleamed with grease.
Even Mari, who never missed a chance to join the fun, had joined the raiding party, leaving the tiny chef frantically trying to dodge their grasping hands.
"Don't... forks... can you at least use forks...? Wash your hands... please, at least wash your hands first...
"Ah! Barghest, get off my arm! Don't jump into the pot!"
Helplessly, Freya kept lowering her standards.
Although there was a hint of exasperation on her face, her amber eyes shone more brightly than Morgan had ever seen before.
Morgan noticed something else as well.
It was not only Freya.
Somehow, a certain harmony had formed between the little ones. They were getting along remarkably well, and their interactions had gradually begun to carry the warmth of a family and a group of close companions.
After a thoroughly chaotic breakfast filled with commotion, everyone finally finished eating.
Having burned off their excess energy, the fairies settled into an easygoing morning routine. Some basked in the sun, some played with ants, some cleaned the dishes, and some drank.
Everything felt relaxed and peaceful.
That peace did not last long.
Less than half a day later, a Wind Fairy arrived with the news Samael and Morgan had been waiting for.
Representatives from all six major clans had already begun arriving at the Great Cathedral after receiving the announcement.
Everything was ready.
The auction was about to begin.
Less than a day?
Aurora works fast!
A trace of surprise flashed through Mari's eyes before she looked toward a certain someone with obvious amusement.
Sure enough, having someone breathing down your neck really does wonders for efficiency...
The three exchanged glances and nodded before heading toward the Great Cathedral together.
Habetrot, wearing an utterly miserable expression, was left behind to watch the other three little fairies.
...
The Great Cathedral was packed with people.
Several preliminary auction items had already warmed up the crowd, and with Aurora herself presiding over the event, the atmosphere quickly became lively.
After all, the beautiful and elegant Wind Clan Chieftain was one of the most popular fairies in the entire Nameless Forest.
As the excitement continued to build, the fairies chattered incessantly, eagerly anticipating the legendary Fairy Holy Sword that had been advertised as the auction's grand finale.
Near the end of the event, Aurora stepped forward in a low-cut white dress that managed to appear both holy and alluring.
She cleared her throat, raised the small gavel in her hand, and struck the bell on the table.
"Now, please welcome our final auction item! The legendary Holy Sword forged during the Great Calamity from the combined power of all six great fairy clans. Excalibur!"
At last, beneath the gaze of the entire audience, four maids fluttered their butterfly wings and emerged from behind the curtain.
They surrounded an ornate pedestal carved from crystal.
Between clusters of crystals refracting the colorful lights, a magnificent gold-and-blue longsword pulsed rhythmically between light and shadow.
The naturally curious fairies stretched their necks as far as they could, almost like giraffes, staring wide-eyed at the weapon while murmuring in amazement.
"So that's the Holy Sword?"
"The Great Mother and the ancestral A-Ray all went to the Inner Sea of the Planet. None of us have ever actually seen one. Who knows whether it's real?"
"Exactly!"
There were plenty of admirers in the audience.
But there were skeptics as well.
Anyone watching closely, however, would notice that most of those questioning the sword happened to possess the traits of Wind Fairies.
Naturally, this was no coincidence.
They were all shills planted in advance as part of the plan.
"Since everyone has doubts, I'll have a specialist test the sword and put those concerns to rest!"
Aurora showed no trace of anger at the skepticism.
Instead, she displayed an elegant, gentle smile and used her excellent acting skills to win even more favor from the crowd.
Only then did she order the maids to draw aside a nearby curtain and invite the professional tester onto the stage.
Samael, once again concealed beneath disguise Magecraft, strolled calmly forward.
He wrapped both hands around the sword's hilt and adopted a posture as though preparing to gather strength.
At the same time, he used the corner of his eye to scan the audience.
The Great Cathedral was packed to capacity.
Large numbers of fairies from all six major clans were present, with members of the Earth Clan making up the largest group.
Samael also spotted an old acquaintance among them.
Muryan, the Wing Clan Chieftain.
Judging by the Ether signatures, the two figures seated beside her appeared to be the Chieftains of the Rain Clan and Mirror Clan, both of whom also resided in Gloucester.
Meanwhile, Mari and Morgan had blended into the audience and were secretly searching for the Earth Clan Chief.
Seeing that everything was in place, Samael nodded inwardly and tightened his grip.
Clang!
A clear, melodious ring echoed through the cathedral.
The gold-and-blue Holy Sword was drawn from the crystal pedestal.
Countless points of starlight gathered around it, making every lamp in the hall seem dull by comparison.
Ancient fairy script emerged across the blade and floated around Samael, shining brilliantly.
As the Holy Sword vibrated in a steady rhythm, the Mana within the fairies responded like ocean waves drawn by the moon, creating Ether tides that rose and fell throughout the hall.
It's real!
The Fairy Holy Sword is real!
The fairies who felt its call erupted into excitement, their gazes burning with desire.
"The starting price is five hundred million QP. Each bid must increase by at least one hundred million QP. Bidding begins now!"
"One billion!"
"Don't even think about competing with me! Two billion!"
"Two point two billion!"
The tempted fairies quickly launched into a frantic bidding war.
The excitement rose higher and higher.
"Ten billion!"
Then a single overwhelming bid silenced the entire hall.
The fairies turned toward the source of the voice.
Their gazes settled on a beautiful white-haired female fairy lounging in her chair with one leg crossed over the other, smiling cheerfully as she looked around.
"Ten... ten point one billion..."
After a long pause, someone finally managed to raise the price.
"Fifteen billion!"
In an instant, the seemingly unserious buyer raised the bid again, driving it to a figure high enough to make every other fairy's blood pressure spike.
Most immediately gave up.
Mari lowered her bidding paddle and leaned comfortably into the back of her chair, elegantly munching on the sunflower seeds provided by the organizers.
She felt absolutely no pressure.
After all, no matter how much she bid, Aurora would be the one paying the bill.
Once everything went around in a circle, the sword would ultimately return to its original owner anyway.
The Holy Sword existed solely to lure out the Earth Clan Chief.
There was no chance they would genuinely sell it to him.
"Fifteen billion, going once! Fifteen billion, going twice! Fifteen billion, going thr..."
"Ten billion QP, plus two copper mines, one gold mine, and one mithril mine!"
At last, a short figure with blazing eyes shouted out a bid, his face twisting with obvious pain at the cost.
Oh?
He took the bait already.
I really do love straightforward, gullible types like this.
Mari shifted her gaze toward the shadows.
Morgan was already gone.
"Bidder Number 222 has offered ten billion QP, two copper mines, one gold mine, and one mithril mine! According to the submitted mineral deposit appraisals, the total value is estimated at eighteen billion QP! Are there any higher bids?
"Eighteen billion once! Eighteen billion twice! Eighteen billion..."
On the stage, Aurora's smile had gone stiff.
Cold sweat covered her forehead as she repeatedly shot desperate looks toward Mari.
Even the hand holding the gavel had begun to tremble.
If the Holy Sword really ended up being sold, Aurora knew she was finished.
"Twenty billion!"
At last, after enjoying the sight of the Wind Clan Chieftain turning pale with panic for long enough, Mari timed her intervention perfectly and raised the bid at the very last second.
To Aurora, that voice sounded like heavenly music.
She immediately relaxed.
At the same time, the bid completely crushed any desire the other buyer had to continue.
The outcome was settled.