As the applause faded and the attendants carefully carried away the magical necklace, the auction host lifted her hand once more.
"And now," she said, her voice lowering slightly, "we move on to a special item."
The lights dimmed.
A heavy black cloth concealed the next display.
The moment it was placed on the stage—
Joon-Woo froze.
…?
His chest tightened without warning.
Why… does my heart feel like this?
Before he could understand what was happening, a sharp sensation rushed through his body—like icy water flooding his veins.
The cloth was lifted.
Revealing a small, ancient artifact.
At first glance, it looked unimpressive: a cracked crystal orb no larger than a human fist, suspended within a silver frame etched with runes so old they were nearly unreadable. The crystal itself was cloudy, dull—almost lifeless.
Confused murmurs rippled through the hall.
"That's it?"
"It doesn't look special at all."
Even the host hesitated before continuing.
"This artifact was recovered from ancient ruins beyond the northern border," she announced. "Its exact function remains unknown. However… it has shown reactions to magic in the past."
The starting bid was modest.
But Joon-Woo wasn't listening anymore.
The instant his eyes met the orb—
The crystal flickered.
A faint blue glow pulsed from deep within it.
Once.
Twice.
Joon-Woo's breath caught.
It's… reacting to me?
Prince Leon noticed immediately.
Snowflake's body had gone completely still in his arms.
"…What is it?" Leon murmured quietly.
At that exact moment—
The crystal shattered its silence.
Cracks spread across its surface, glowing with lines of light that flowed like water.
Gasps echoed throughout the auction hall.
"What—?!"
"The artifact—!"
The light flared brighter, responding directly to Joon-Woo's presence.
Inside his mind—
🔔 [System Alert] 🔔
> Unknown Artifact Detected
Resonance Level: Rising
Compatibility: Extremely High
Joon-Woo's eyes widened.
System…?!
The crystal trembled, releasing a soft hum that only he could hear.
🔔 [Warning]
> Artifact reacting to Water Element Core
Possible link to Ancient Elemental Authority
His heartbeat thundered.
Ancient… elemental authority?
What kind of artifact is this?
Prince Leon's gaze sharpened.
"…That artifact," he said calmly, though his grip tightened slightly, "increase the bid."
The auction hall erupted.
Leon's voice rang out again.
"I will take it."
The host barely managed to regain her composure.
"Y-Your Highness… the current bid is—"
"Any price," Leon said coolly.
Silence followed.
No one dared challenge him.
Moments later, the hammer struck.
"Sold—to His Highness, Prince Leon."
As the artifact was sealed and carried away, its light slowly dimmed.
But Joon-Woo could still feel it.
A quiet pull.
As if something had recognized him.
That wasn't just an object…
It was calling to me.
Prince Leon lowered his voice, gently brushing his thumb through Joon-Woo's fur.
Just as the murmurs in the auction hall began to settle—
Everything changed.
A deafening explosion ripped through the eastern wall of the auction house.
Stone shattered. Glass rained down.
Screams filled the air.
"Enemies—!!"
Dark-cloaked figures poured in from multiple entrances, their movements sharp and coordinated. Violent magic surged through the hall.
They weren't random attackers.
They had come for the artifact.
[Emergency System Notification]
> Critical Event Triggered
Objective 1: Secure the Ancient Artifact
Objective 2: Protect all civilians
Reward: System shop and 100 System Points
Failure Consequence: Unknown
Joon-Woo's heart slammed against his chest.
So this is why it reacted…
This was never just an auction.
Prince Leon moved instantly.
"Royal Knights—formation!" His command cut through the chaos like steel.
The knights surged forward, shields locking as magic flared. Leon gently placed Joon-Woo inside a secured VIP room.
"Do not leave this room," he ordered firmly. "You'll be safe here."
Joon-Woo looked up at him.
"Stay alive," Leon added quietly—then turned and strode into battle with his knights.
---
The moment the door closed—
Joon-Woo felt it.
I can't just wait.
His human form emerged.
Inside the room, as if prepared by fate itself, lay simple clothes and a dark mask.
No hesitation.
He dressed quickly, pulled the mask over his face, and slipped out through a shattered side corridor.
---
Smoke filled the halls.
Then he heard it.
A child crying.
Joon-Woo turned—and saw a young noble boy, no older than eight, frozen beside a collapsed pillar.
"Mom… Dad…!"
Before Joon-Woo could reach him—
A shadow dropped from above.
An assassin lunged forward, blade glowing with corrupted mana.
"No—!"
Joon-Woo moved.
Water burst beneath his feet.
[Water Step]
In an instant, he was there, pulling the boy back as the blade sliced through empty air.
Joon-Woo's eyes hardened.
"You chose the wrong target."
His hand snapped forward.
[Water Element: Piercing Current]
A compressed spear of water slammed into the assassin's chest, hurling him into the wall with bone-crushing force.
The enemy staggered and attacked again.
Joon-Woo raised both hands.
🌊 [Water Element: Binding Flow]
Water coiled around the assassin's limbs like living chains.
The enemy collapsed, unconscious.
The child stared at him in awe.
"You're… amazing…"
Joon-Woo crouched beside him.
"Let's find your parents."
Moments later, a frantic couple rushed in.
"My son—!"
They froze at the scene.
"You saved him," the mother whispered, tears streaming. "Thank you… thank you so much."
Joon-Woo nodded. "Take him somewhere safe."
They bowed deeply before fleeing.
Joon-Woo turned back toward the battlefield.
Prince Leon…
---
The main hall had become a warzone.
Steel clashed with steel. Magic tore through the air.
Prince Leon stood at the center, his blade blazing with holy light while ice magic froze enemies mid-charge.
But there were too many.
Then—
Joon-Woo saw it.
An enemy slipped through the chaos, dagger raised, aiming for Leon's back.
"Leon—!"
No time.
[Water Step]
Joon-Woo surged forward, forming a blade of water and blocking the strike at the last second.
The attack shattered.
Leon was saved.
Joon-Woo spun, water roaring around his arm.
🌊 [Water Element: Crushing Wave]
The wave smashed into the attacker, flinging him across the hall.
Leon stared at the masked man beside him.
"…You."
Recognition struck instantly.
"The man from the forest," Leon said sharply.
"The one who saved me."
Their eyes met.
No time for words.
Another wave of enemies charged.
Leon raised his sword.
Joon-Woo lifted his hand, water swirling violently around him.
They stood back-to-back.
Two forces moving as one.
Steel flashed.
Water roared.