Chapter 16

Even among VIPs, the staff guiding them and the seats assigned to them were all different.

I moved to my designated seat with the maids, and during that time, the sponsor's bell continued to ring.

Indeed, the reactions of the seats were the best when I gave them cider, or when Teresa's reputation improved, or when I obtained something material.

‘Although just now, it wasn’t to create a favorable situation for me.’

The hall where the auction was held looked like an opulent theater.

I sat in the wide seat reserved for high-ranking nobles at the front.

A moment later, the auctioneer appeared on the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming to grace us with your presence today."

After the usual greetings and introductions, the auction officially began.

"First auction item."

Unlike the others, I didn’t flip through the catalog to check the items.

After all, the only thing I wanted to buy was a key to a dimension.

The auction items were quickly sold at not very high prices.

"Fifteenth auction item. A magical key sent by an anonymous sponsor. No mage has been able to determine what mechanism this key unlocks."

Only then did I focus my gaze on the auction item.

"A key containing unknown secrets, it piques the curiosity of collectors. The starting bid is 300,000 gilangs, and the bid increments are 50,000 gilangs."

Gilang is the currency unit used in "God's Play."

The auction proceeded smoothly without much enthusiasm and stopped at 650,000 gilangs.

After all, to others, it was just an antique.

"650,000 gilangs? Let me ask one last time. 650,000 gilangs—"

Swish.

650,000 gilangs. The bidding stopped at a much lower price than expected.

I raised my hand, and the auctioneer immediately acknowledged it.

"650,000 gilangs. 700,000 gilangs?"

The mysterious antique key, which seemed to interest no one, was smoothly auctioned to me for 650,000 gilangs.

‘Although it was deliberately made to look like a poor item, it’s quite surprising.’

The key to the dimension and the paradise were actually an "Easter egg."

Easter egg.

While it means an Easter egg, in games, it refers to elements hidden by developers for fun.

I wrote 650,000 gilangs on a blank check and handed it over.

It was the lowest price among today's auction items.

Since I had obtained the item I wanted, there was no reason to stay at the auction.

"Let's go now."

[The seats show curiosity about the key BJ bought.]

[Seat 'Materialism' sighs at frivolous spending.]

The maids also seemed puzzled by my purchase.

"I heard that most people came today to buy the 'Rosary of Love' that usually comes last, but you don't seem interested, miss?"

The Rosary of Love was an item that significantly increased charm, so naturally, I wasn't interested.

"Yeah. That's boring. This magical key is much more valuable than the Rosary of Love."

The maids awkwardly smiled and nodded at my words.

"Recently, you seem to really like magic. It's impressive to see you so dedicated to your studies..."

It seemed the maids misunderstood me as a crazy magician obsessed with magic.

Since I couldn't explain that this key was actually an item of immense value, I just kept quiet.

Thus, I arrived at the duke's residence without any issues and prepared for bed as usual.

"Rest well, miss."

The maids left the room and closed the door.

‘Now, let’s start the work.’

I took the key to the dimension and moved to a corner of the room.

"Everyone must be curious about why I bought this key and why I chose this secluded room, right?"

[The seats nod.]

"This key is an Easter egg. I'll show you its purpose now."

Of course, the seats, including Ozwald, must not realize the true purpose of this key.

‘I need to make them think it’s just a key to a treasure vault.’

I pushed the decorative cabinet aside and inserted the key into a tiny slot that was hard to notice unless you looked closely.

Click.

As the mechanism unlocked, magic power burst from the key, and a door opened inside.

"Light, illuminate the interior."

When I lit up the dark interior, numerous gold bars, jewels, and ornaments were revealed.

"This is a huge amount of hidden funds left by the previous Duke Squaire. This vault can only be opened with this key."

Ding!

[Seat 'Materialism' donated 1,000 coins.]

[Damn, I trusted you!!]

"By the way, there should be an inventory item somewhere here."

‘In a magical world, there should be a portable storage space like a subspace.’

"Here it is."

When I infused magic power into what looked like an ordinary brooch, a subspace was created.

I set the range for the subspace magic and put all the gold, jewels, and the key to the dimension into the brooch.

[The seats worry about what would happen to the contents if the brooch is lost.]

"It’s a bound item, so it can’t be transferred or stolen."

[The seats are satisfied with the game system.]

Phew. Now the tutorial is over.

From tomorrow, "God's Play" will officially begin.

“I am curious.”

I was a little curious about what the male leads would look like in real life.