It was way more than any merit points I had ever earned.
I turned to MidnightFire, who appeared unperturbed.
I pondered whether all of this had been planned.
Maybe they had only invited all of them just to put on a show.
Others might have also arrived at this conclusion, given how they sent a few glances in her direction.
Still, I wasn’t dissapointed. Attending the event had opened my perspective to a new world within the academy for the first time in a long while.
However, my goal remained the same: to grow stronger and accumulate as many merit points as possible.
"That was the last of the items for this special event. Thank you all for your participation," Manager Shade said, bowing to the audience.
He straightened his back.
"For those who had purchased the items. Your purchases will be delivered to your place of residence before daybreak tomorrow."
"I’ll now welcome the Leader of the Star Auction Auditorium to the stage."
MidnightFire stood up from her seat and approached the stage.
Once she was near the stairs, Manager Shade reached out to grasp her hand and gently led her up.
MidnightFire faced the audience and gave a slight bow.
"I thank you all for making it here today. You have no idea how much your participation means to me." Her tone was firm and filled with resolution.
"I still stand on my word to fulfil my promise. If you’re ever in need of help. I’ll be there to help to the best of my abilities."
"The event has ended. Please take care as you return."
Whereas a few of the guests disintegrated into countless flickers of zeros and ones, vanishing from existence, others stood up from their seats, approaching Bloodberry.
Among them, I saw Fairmoon01 and the Rosybloom0006.
I almost joined them so I could know Bloodberry’s identity if she chooses to reveal it.
However, before they could reach her, Bloodberry’s body disintegrated and vanished from existence.
Several of them clicked their tongues before disintegrating and vanishing from existence as well.
But the remaining of them approached MidnightFire as she stepped down the stage.
"I can’t believe that she had just left that ater stirring up such a ruckus. Tch! Why do I feel that she’s merely trying to act cool?" Miniman said, irritatedly.
Having prepared for the auction beforehand to get his hands on a few items, and ending up having to leave empty-handed, I understood his frustration.
"Who knows? Maybe she might be a student from one of the Magus Departments and didn’t feel like discussing with others, or revealing her identity. You know how they are?" I said, sighing.
"True," miniman nodded. "I will feel much better spending the rest of my night peacefully than listening to the words of a potential snobish prick who sees everyone as below her."
"I’ll be leaving. If you want to stay behind and make some connections, go ahead. In fact, I’ll advise you to."
Before the echo of his words ended, miniman vanished into existence.
Though his arrogance and rudeness matched those of other noble descendants, in some way, he could be considered a good friend.
At least, to TheGreatOne01.
I couldn’t help but ponder when I would have such a friend in real life.
With my current reputation, I was bound to make more enemies than friends, especially with the Zahara Clan’s descendants’ relentless effort to eliminate me.
I gazed at Delilah-in-training’s avatar once more before logging out.
Instantly, my body scattered in countless flickers of ones and zeros, before vanishing from existence.
[ Third Person P.O.V ]
Today had been a long day.
"I’ll be leaving the affairs to you to handle as usual. I’ve something that I need to take care of," MidnightFire said as she stepped into the elevator. She turned and gazed at the bald man, dressed in a tuxedo, who stood outside.
"Leave it to me, Miss MidnightFire. I’ll handle everything properly as always," Manager Shade replied, bowing respectful.
"Don’t forget, if anyone comes to book an appointment with me, tell them that I’ll be busy for the next few days. They can leave their contact email behind. I’ll inform them when I’m free."
"Understood, Miss MidnightFire. Please take care of yourself and ensure that you’ve had proper rest before returning," Manager Shade responded.
MidnightFire nodded. She stretched out her hand and pressed a button.
The elevator’s door shut, and it moved upwards.
MidnightFire released a tired sigh.
It’s been a long, tiresome week.
The elevator doors opened.
The elevator doors closed behind her.
She arrived at a door across the corridor and pushed it open.
Within was a room, with a chair facing two chairs with a table at the centre.
On one of the chairs was seated a familiar woman dressed in a red dress with thin straps.
MidnightFire quickly raced forward and leapt onto her, wrapping her arms around her.
"Thank you, teacher," she said.
Bloodberry reciprocated the gesture by wrapping her arms around her. With a smile, she replied, "Silly girl, didn’t I tell you that you don’t need to thank me?"
Although this was only their avatars, it didn’t alter the genuine emotions flowing between them in the moment.
After a while, they broke the hug and withdrew from each other.
Bloodberry leaned against the chair.
"Now that you have enough merit points and no one can doubt where they came from, your position as the Leader of the Star Auction Auditorium is secured. You can also keep those items; I don’t need nor have any use for them."
MidnightFire shook her head in disagreement.
How could she accept keeping the items after witnessing how many merit points were spent to purchase them?
"No, you can keep them. I don’t need them either. After my position is secured, I’m certain that I’ll come across even better items."
Seeing that she was intent on not taking back the items, Bloodberry nodded, "Okay. In that case, I’ll hold onto them for you," she said. "You can come collect them at any time you’ve found a use for them."
"I’ll be leaving, I’ve some matters that I need to handle."
Before she could log out, Midnight Fire quickly said, "Have you heard about the new information making waves across the Magical Swordsman Department?"
Bloodberry halted her actions.
"What’s happened?... Is it related to Ezekiel Zahara or Ivory?" She asked, her tone cold as ice, and tinged with curiosity, stripped of the gentleness it once held.
MidnightFire nodded, "It has something to do with the Worst One," she explained. "From what I was told, Jaran Windcrest had challenged the Worst One to an official duel and lost."
"But before that, they had gotten into conflict with each other, which resulted in Jaran using his signature, the Windcrest Clan’s Sacred Art, Azure Skybind Gale, against the Worst One."
"However, not only was he defeated, but he had also been knocked unconscious."
Bloodberry was silent.
"Are you sure this information is genuine?" She asked, breaking the silence.
With a wave of her hand, a transparent screen appeared in front of Bloodberry.
On the screen were moments before the duel between Ezekiel and Jaran.
Bloodberry’s eyes were glued to the screen.
She watched it in silence.
MidnightFire could guess what was going through her instructor’s mind. How could she not?
Ever since two weeks ago, when her instructor had witnessed the Worst One shockingly defeat Ivory, the top ranker of the Class Three Magical Swordsman rankings, she had begun looking deeply into information regarding the Worst One.
Despite being a direct heir of the Zahara Clan, he had lost all reputation and respect when he failed to awaken his talent.
He also had defective Spirit Veins, which resulted in his status plummeting until he stood only slightly higher than a servant.
His talent for swordsmanship was poor.
His skills were far inferior when compared to a commoner who had picked up the sword to train in it for a few months.
The only reason he had managed to pass the entrance exam was that his robust strength had overcompensated for his lack of skills.
His infamous title ’Worst One’ was a reflection of how everyone viewed him.
Yet, out of nowhere, he had defeated the top-ranked, talented Magical Swordsman who had awakened a Rank Two Trait and was one of the Zahara Clan’s most anticipated scholarship recipients and investments.
Yet despite her best efforts, she came up with nothing.
Now, he had defeated Jaran, another talented Magical Swordsman from a prestigious clan of Magical Swordsmen and also seized his position, ascending to the third-ranked of Class Three Magical Swordsman Ranking.
The Worst One’s reputation was growing higher day by day,
It contradicted everything they knew about him.
MidnightFire, who had once thought that her instructor was searching for something that didn’t exist, now realised that there was something amiss with the Worst One.
Soon, the video ended.
Bloodberry continued to stare at the transparent screen in silence.
I’ll continue using their VR names in the server, and real names outside.