My Husband Was Clearly a Paladin
Chapter 36
The atmosphere at the Fortress had been strange lately.
Normally, for a while after the dungeon subjugations begin, the Fortress is buzzing with excitement.
It’s a mix of the thrill felt by those entering the Fortress as a pair for the first time and the ambition of those determined to achieve even greater results than the previous year.
However, after a few weeks pass, reports of deaths and injuries from failed subjugations begin to surface.
From that point on, a heavy silence settles over the Fortress. It is the moment everyone truly realizes exactly what they are facing.
The purifiers, along with their knights, would temporarily cease their purifications to conserve their strength and find stability in their quarters.
Only by doing so could they properly perform purifications when the dungeons began to appear in even greater numbers.
While the areas where the pairs stayed grew quiet, the places frequented by the general public became increasingly boisterous.
This was because the Auction House, where items recovered from the dungeons were sold, was opening its doors.
While one could keep rewards obtained from a dungeon for personal use, most chose to sell them through the Fortress Auction House.
It was the fastest and most convenient way to convert goods into gold. Though one had to pay a certain commission, there was no need for tedious haggling, and the concentration of buyers ensured a quick sale.
However, the true value of the Auction House was revealed when Artifacts were put up for sale.
When the Hand of Appraisal at the Fortress recorded the name and ability of an Artifact on paper, the staff would post it in a place where everyone could see.
Furthermore, the Archive would immediately print the details along with the estimated price and auction date to be distributed everywhere.
Upon receiving these notices, those in need of a specific Artifact would flock to the Auction House.
While the Auction House was usually open to all, only authorized individuals could enter on the days Artifacts were being auctioned.
Most were royalty, nobles, or the wealthy, but the purifiers and knights staying at the Fortress as pairs were also permitted entry.
This allowed them to see firsthand how much the Artifacts they had obtained would fetch at auction.
Though the Auction House was always a noisy place, this year it was more clamorous than ever.
「From Limitless Healing to the ‘Ring of Invisibility’! To think two incredible Artifacts have appeared already, and it’s only spring.」
「I heard Limitless Healing is a bound Artifact, but the ‘Ring of Invisibility’ isn’t, right?」
「Indeed. That’s why royalty and nobles from every kingdom are flooding in, hoping to attend this year’s first auction. A ring that makes the wearer invisible! It would be stranger not to crave it.」
The nobles entering the Auction House chatted in excited voices as they headed inside.
And Irene stood a short distance away, listening to their conversation.
「Sigh…….」
A long sigh escaped her lips as they passed by.
The Ring of Invisibility.
The talk of that Artifact sent a ripple through Irene’s heart.
‘If I had known it would come to this, I should have refused Michael-nim’s proposal back then.’
What had possessed her to decline her share of the rewards?
Irene looked down at today’s auction list in her hand.
\[Ring of Invisibility
Estimated Auction Price: 1,500,000 Gold\]
Since auction estimates were generally conservative, the final winning bid would likely exceed 3,000,000 gold.
‘Even so, the price has dropped significantly compared to what I remember.’
In her past life, the Ring of Invisibility had been traded for the third-highest amount in history. However, the amount written for the Ring of Invisibility now wouldn’t reach that past figure even if it sold for ten times the estimate.
There was a reason for that.
\[Special Note: Limited number of uses (5 times)\]
Unlike before, the Ring of Invisibility had a set number of uses.
‘The Hand of Appraisal was handling it for quite a long time.’
She had thought it took a while when he appraised her Limitless Healing.
But when they went to have the Ring of Invisibility appraised, the Hand of Appraisal spent over an hour fumbling with it as if something were truly bizarre.
Then, he added that special note.
‘In the past, there definitely wasn’t a limit on the number of uses.’
Wasn’t that why the price had skyrocketed so insanely?
But this time, there was a limit, and because of that, the estimated winning price was set far lower than what Irene remembered.
Of course, it still remained an expensive Artifact nonetheless.
‘Everyone was so happy they didn’t know what to do with themselves.’
It was already an honor to gain experience in a high-level dungeon under Michael-nim’s command, but to actually obtain an Artifact as well.
Moreover, unlike the Princess’s Faction, the number of people who participated in this Raid was small, meaning they were set to receive a very large sum of money each.
Naturally, the rumors spread quickly.
To be precise, the participants themselves grabbed everyone they met and talked about it.
「I’m so glad I joined the group Sir Michael is in. It’s an honor to be taught by him, but I didn’t realize he would be so considerate of our circumstances too.」
Expectedly, from that point on, the number of people expressing a desire to join Irene’s Faction increased.
Of course, since it wasn’t certain if Michael-nim would go with them again, she had answered vaguely.
However, what was certain was that there were many people who wanted to leave the Princess’s Faction.
Upon confirming this, Reina-nim and Cynthia were so happy they were beside themselves.
「At this rate, won’t we become the largest group in the Fortress?」
Saying such things, the two of them read and organized the flood of letters.
‘Things are getting bigger and bigger……. At this rate, even if I collect 100,000 gold, it looks like it will be hard to leave the Fortress immediately.’
At first, Irene had planned to leave Michael-nim’s side as quickly as possible, anticipating the same cold treatment as her past life. But Michael-nim treated her with kindness.
That wasn’t all.
She had gained people she could call friends, chatting endlessly with them all day, and had become closer to the maids, receiving much help from them.
Furthermore, the number of people who recognized and sought her out throughout the Fortress was growing.
Though she had drifted somewhat from her goal of saving money and leaving quickly, Irene didn’t mind the current situation. No, rather, it was a joy she was experiencing for the first time.
As a child, she had been sold to the Count’s estate, where she grew up isolated and mistreated. Even after coming to the Fortress, her circumstances hadn’t particularly changed.
This was the first time she was surrounded by people and receiving goodwill.
Irene only now realized just how addictive the kindness of others could be.
‘If I leave, I’ll probably go back to living quietly alone again.’
If that was the case…… wouldn’t it be alright to enjoy the present a little more?
「Irene.」
Just then, someone stood before Irene and called her name.
It was a familiar voice—Michael-nim.
「You’ve arrived.」
Irene hurriedly tidied the papers she was holding, then took a step back and greeted him.
As Michael-nim appeared, the eyes of the people inside the Auction House were drawn to him.
「Look, it’s Sir Michael.」
「Then is the woman in front of him that pair who obtained Limitless Healing?」
The people’s gazes scanned Irene and then stopped at her finger.
Under the pouring stares, Irene hid her hand inside her sleeve.
The sound of clicking tongues could be heard here and there, as if they were disappointed they couldn’t get a better look at the rare Artifact.
If only it had ended there.
「Her looks are decent, just as I heard. I didn’t know Sir Michael cared about faces and bodies too.」
「With a look like that, even a Holy Knight would feel like holding her, wouldn’t they?」
Ah.
Irene felt a headache coming on.
She had frequently heard such insults in her past life as well.
She had lived without even being able to eat properly at the Count’s estate, yet flesh had unnecessarily gathered on her chest and hips. From the moment her body began to show its curves, the servants at the Count’s estate had sent her lecherous looks.
In the end, hadn’t an old merchant who frequented the Count’s estate suggested to Count Rodiam that he send Irene to him?
It was the same when she came to the Fortress.
Once it became known that Michael-nim hardly ever met with Irene, several knights within the Fortress would dodge their own purifiers’ eyes to throw filthy advances at her.
When Irene firmly refused, they would say with irritation,
「Why? Does the Sword of God come to visit you secretly at night? Well, even a guy like that priest must have lifted your skirt at least once.」
They would snicker while saying such base things.
Yet, they couldn’t take their eyes off Irene’s body.
It was a relief that the regulations regarding criminal acts were strict at the Fortress.
If they hadn’t been, someone surely would have entered her room at night at some point.
‘Still, they’re more polite compared to back then.’
Having grown accustomed to insults, she could easily let this much slide.
「Sir, let us head inside……. Sir Michael!」
The moment Irene, ignoring the people’s whispering, was about to suggest they enter the Auction House, Michael-nim walked straight toward those men.
