God-Tier Enhancement: My Upgrades Never Fail-Chapter 81: Episode 16 _ Sow Beans, Get Beans. Feed Gold, Get Gold(2)

Chapter 81: Episode 16 _ Sow Beans, Get Beans. Feed Gold, Get Gold(2)

3.

"Before the bidding commences, we will screen a special video prepared for this lot."

In the tense atmosphere of the auction house, the footage Han Simin had prepared began to play.

It was a bonus video accessible only by closely examining the very last page of the skill book. He hadn’t been able to check it initially due to the chaos of the situation, but he had discovered it later while scouring the item for any additional value he could squeeze out of it.

"There was something like that in there?"

"Yes. It’s my trump card."

Watching from the VIP room, Han Simin squared his shoulders, his expression brimming with confidence. He could already see Kang Yeseul, sitting right next to him, fidgeting with agitation.

’What kind of video is it?’

They had to be curious. And they were certainly expectant.

Perhaps it was a demonstration of the skill that had been veiled in mystery, known only by its name. Would they finally see the imagEpie they had only drawn in their imaginations rendered in concrete detail? Or perhaps it would offer guidance on how to utilize the skill once purchased.

Meeting the heightened expectations of the bidders, the video began.

* * *

RUMBLE!

The scene opened on a vast, desolate wasteland.

Two massive formations stood opposed, comprising tens of thousands of soldiers.

On one side were humans wielding swords, shields, spears, staffs, and scepters. Facing them stood countless demons.

The demons possessed horns, physiques exceeding two meters in height, and muscles so dense they looked as if they wouldn’t bleed a single drop even if pierced by a blade.

The Human-Demon War!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Tension overflowed from the screen.

Even though the armies were merely facing off, the pressure was palpable. The sound of throats gulping seemed audible even in the auction hall.

Then, five figures stepped forward from the human formation.

Since this wasn’t a movie, there were no subtitles explaining who they were. However, any player who had played 『Fantastic World』 even a little and looked up its lore could easily guess their identities.

"...The Five Legends of the Continent."

Someone muttered.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

No one questioned why they appeared in the video. After all, the skill book currently up for auction was an item left behind by one of those very five.

’That’s right.’

’It’s a video demonstrating the skill.’

The quick-witted realized it immediately. They knew what was about to unfold.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The action proceeded without warning.

It started with the demons’ advance.

Dignified steps. Unstoppable strides.

Yet, they were not fast.

Confidence.

It was the conviction that they would absolutely never lose to the likes of humans.

The human formation radiated a spirit that was by no means inferior.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The formations on both sides, looking like swarms of ants from the camera’s perspective, drew closer.

A single bout that staked the fate of the continent.

It was called a bout, but it was a war risking lives. A war where blood flowed, flesh tore, and lives were extinguished. A war where victory was the only answer and the losers had no voice.

WHOOSH—

When the distance had closed to a critical point, an indifferent attack flew out.

The unannounced strike flew silently, causing a massive ripple in the air.

KA-BOOM!

A massive explosion.

That was the signal flare announcing the beginning. As if they had been waiting for it, the war began with roars that rang in the ears.

The bidders were mesmerized by the video, which was more dynamic, thrilling, and realistic than any blockbuster movie. At the same time, they focused intently, determined not to miss the details they absolutely needed to see.

Fortunately, the camera fixed its focus on the Great Archmage among the Five Legends.

The Great Archmage watched the chaos of war quietly, then raised his staff.

He closed his eyes and meditated silently.

Then, he drew a line downward in the air.

Swish!

There were no words.

There was no incantation, nor was there any sensation of mana gathering.

But the impact was by no means light.

KABOOOOM!

Five explosions.

The power of the blasts chained together, forming a massive crater.

It was as if someone had poured boiling water onto a swarm of ants.

Hundreds of demons, who had been tearing humans apart with their bare hands and drinking their blood just moments before, evaporated in an instant.

With just a single spell.

The people watching the video rose from their seats, shocked, without realizing it. It was an absurd level of power.

The first thought that came to mind was that gaining one level a day would be no trouble at all with that kind of strength.

Of course, they weren’t fools.

That was, after all, the magic of the Great Archmage, a legend of the continent. The level and mana stats required to produce that power were likely so high that just imagining the requirements would make one nauseous.

The reason people were surprised was something else entirely.

"He didn’t even chant the skill name."

"To think five spells chained together...!"

It was because the content they had imagined was captured intact in the video.

In fact, that was all there was to it.

That was what they could do if they bought the skill book being auctioned before their eyes.

To become like the Great Archmage in the video, it might take at least several years, or perhaps more than a decade. The amount of money required to reach that point might be in the tens of millions.

So, they couldn’t expect that level of power immediately.

But even knowing that, the people’s expressions were filled with frenzy.

It was truly OP.

It was an Overpowered skill book!

In a game where bugs or hacks were impossible, this was a ridiculous item that could make one be called a bug player.

How attractive was that?

It didn’t matter how old they were or how poor their controls were.

They just had to plaster the problem with money.

The more money they applied, the stronger they would get, allowing them to crush even players with great mechanical skills through overwhelming power.

Since almost all the wealthy individuals gathered here had similar thoughts, the heat in the room intensified.

Leaving aside social status, if one could achieve a personal dream, what did overflowing money matter?

"We will continue the auction."

It was only a twenty-minute video.

However, the atmosphere of the auction house now, compared to twenty minutes ago, was so heated that even the world-renowned auctioneer felt nervous.

The auction resumed.

* * *

"Isn’t that a total scam? That thing?"

"Didn’t you already expect it from the name?"

"Still! Guessing and seeing it in person are completely different. Wow. How does he really do that? If magic goes out just by thinking, how do you block that?"

"You just have to get hit, I guess. Or dodge by instinct."

"Eeeeh? How do you do that? That’s something only Seolah could do."

The VIP room where Han Simin sat was also in an uproar.

Kang Yeseul, who had already counted her chickens before they hatched, was pondering how she could utilize the skill to create the greatest efficiency with her Special class.

Simin could only click his tongue.

He understood.

At the same time, he was jealous.

’I took a damn 550% penalty and got two crappy SS-rank skills. No, if we’re talking about uselessness, God’s Blessing is the same, so that makes three.’

Yet someone else was taking away a broken cheat skill without any penalty just by throwing money at it.

Just as a perverse desire to learn the skill himself and delete it was about to trigger...

"Phew."

’Let’s endure it. Hold it in.’

Regardless of who got the skill book, it was by no means a losing deal for Han Simin.

First of all, since there were so many participants, the price was likely to be set higher than he thought. And even if the person who learned it became a total cheat character, as Kang Yeseul said, it would have nothing to do with him.

In the one-in-a-million chance—though it wouldn’t happen—that the crazy person who bought the skill book suddenly attacked the Rich Territory, there were ways to deal with it.

’I just have to not die when hit.’

Five spells flying in at an unexpected moment.

There were actually two ways to deal with it.

Dodge by instinct.

Or get hit.

If it were magic that tore apart demons whose levels couldn’t even be predicted like the Great Archmage in the video, it might be different. But Han Simin wasn’t afraid of magic used by players who had barely passed level 50.

Of course, after today, he would have to start acquiring items for magic resistance, but still.

Anyway, while they were chatting, the auction continued.

"We have $1.3 million. From now on, we will raise the bid increments to $100,000. $1.4 million, do we have $1.4 million?"

"Yes, we have $1.4 million. Going for $1.5 million."

"...We have $2 million. Raising by $200,000."

The price climbed, not knowing how high the sky was.

"Hehehe."

Han Simin’s lips curled upward in proportion to the rising numbers.

4.

For Kang Yeseul’s father, the Chairman of the Hanshin Group, this auction was a matter of pride.

"We must win unconditionally. Unconditionally!"

"Yes, Chairman."

A promise to his daughter!

And the pride of not kneeling among the numerous wealthy elites gathered here!

"The bid is at $3 million."

"Go for it."

"Yes, Chairman."

At first, he had disregarded it a little.

It brought back old nostalgia, but he thought, ’how much could a mere game item cost?’

However, he came to his senses upon hearing that there were many people planning to participate even with a starting bid of $1 million.

Games these days are not the PC online games he used to play decades ago.

There were tens of millions of players, and this was a skill book harboring the potential to make one the best among those people.

Since the Ten-Strike Sword was $500,000, this might require ten times that amount.

So, he had pulled all the cash he could gather for now.

He still didn’t think he would use it all.

But life is unpredictable.

And as someone who had also enjoyed games, he knew better than anyone the sense of loss Kang Yeseul would feel if she came all this way and couldn’t buy the item she wanted.

It was true that it was overspending, and it was true that due to the nature of a skill book, it was scattering money into the air, but he would definitely buy it for her.

"The atmosphere has become very overheated. I think it would be better to watch for a bit."

The professionally hired agent was seasoned.

He had the sense to take a step back in an atmosphere that seemed like it wouldn’t end right away.

Rolling around in the mud and raising the price wasn’t good for anyone.

"We have $4 million. $4.2 million. $4.4 million."

The price rose steadily, and when it reached $5 million, the pace finally slowed.

"Chairman, it seems we can acquire the lot at around the $5.5 to $6 million line. What would you like to do?"

The financial limit of the people gathered here wasn’t just this much, but for most, this was the maximum they could justify investing in a game.

As much as they had a lot of money, they were sharp about the lines they set for themselves.

The desire to have it wasn’t strong enough to spend their assets recklessly or invest more than $5 million.

So the agent was asking what the Chairman of Hanshin Group would do and what his limit was.

"Hmm."

The Chairman pondered.

It was easy to say $5 million, but at this point, it was enough to acknowledge the game as another reality beyond just a pastime.

It meant that not just one or two, but about five people showed intent to purchase the skill book at $5 million.

A building for a single game item.

"Secure it."

"Yes, Chairman."

As a person who managed money, as a person who created profit, it was a choice he shouldn’t have made. But standing as Kang Yeseul’s father, the Chairman made the decision.

’Let’s just think of it as buying a building for my daughter...’

He couldn’t help his stomach churning.

Even if he was the chairman of a large conglomerate, the company itself wasn’t his.

He just had a lot of personal assets because he managed the money given to him well.

It was an amount where even he could feel the money draining away!

Moreover, wasn’t it cash?

"$6.1 million. Sold."

"...Good work."

"You worked hard too, Chairman."

The auction, which felt like a victory in name only, ended.

"Dad! I love you!"

Perhaps he could take comfort in his daughter running over and hugging him.

To the Chairman, the immature Kang Yeseul was a daughter worth more than $6.1 million.

"Wow. He’s a cool person."

Han Simin acknowledged the man’s sincere love.

"..."

"..."

’Thanks to you, I became rich.’

’Thank you, Chairman.’

’6.1 million dollars. I will use it well.’

Han Simin, a man of character, bowed at the waist.

* * *

The money was deposited quickly.

It was an amount on a different dimension from when he bought his house.

Of course, simply comparing, it was only a six-fold difference, but the difference in the amount felt in reality was different enough to make one gasp.

When he earned $1.1 million, it felt like, "Wow, that’s a lot," but $6.1 million felt a bit scary.

There wasn’t much sense of reality either.

"I haven’t even collected this much game money before..."

However, Han Simin adapted quickly.

"Well. I earned it."

’Let’s spend it proudly!’

In fact, considering 『Fantastic World』 itself, wasn’t it a skill where the amount of $6.1 million wasn’t a waste at all?

With just this one thing, one could play the game comfortably.

Even at a low level, parties might welcome you with open arms, and large guilds might invite you and spoon-feed you everything.

Is that all?

You could just go to a kingdom or empire and act haughty, telling them to recruit you, and NPCs might grovel. There was no need to mention the benefits that could be gained based on that.

As long as the game didn’t fail, if one put in the effort, they could extract more than the principal.

"First..."

’Hand over the item. And let’s do what I’ve always wanted to do!’

Han Simin, whose lips wouldn’t come down all day, lay down in the capsule.

* * *