How to Survive as an Extra

Chapter 137

The auctioneer spoke.

“The name of this beautiful bonsai is Evergreen Mercy. It is a tree discovered a little over twenty years ago in a dungeon beyond a rift that occurred near Lyon, France. The name given by a Bureau-certified academic society is Elfwood. It is said to have grown in the homeland of the elves, a people now believed to be extinct. Of course, that remains nothing more than conjecture for the time being.”

The item that had drawn my attention was a bonsai pot in which a mysterious tree had been planted.

The tree rising from the pot was roughly the size of a violin, and even without using my Demonic Eye, I could feel an exquisite mana dwelling within it.

“In the history of superpowers, Elfwood has been discovered only five times. Of those, the only one that has been preserved without withering or rotting is this Evergreen Mercy. Opinions remain divided regarding the permanence of this bonsai, but no one can deny that a mysterious power lies hidden within this tree. Now then, the opening bid is five million won.”

Evergreen Mercy.

The reason I recognized it was because I had always intended to acquire it someday.

That bonsai had an effect that increased the magical power of awakened beings who remained nearby.

Put simply, if one merely kept it displayed in the living room, one’s Magic stat would rise simply by breathing.

Of course, everyone else thought it merely purified the surrounding air.

If they knew its true effect, they would never have placed it in a charity auction.

“How is it? If you want it, I will buy it for you.”

Cha Yeri had noticed my interest and offered a sweet temptation.

It would be nice if she bought it for me, but because it was Cha Yeri, suspicion seeped in all the more.

“What is your scheme?”

“A scheme? I want to buy it for you because I want to.”

“Then why?”

While we spoke, the bid had already surpassed one hundred million won.

Among the true leaders of society, there were not many interior ornaments of that caliber.

They went wild for anything connected to other races.

Instead of answering, Cha Yeri placed a bid through the terminal she had received upon entering.

“Now, one hundred thirty million won! Is there anyone who will bid one hundred thirty-five million won next? Ah! Two hundred million! We have a bidder at two hundred million won! We will change the bidding increment to ten million won! Will anyone bid two hundred ten million—”

Only after she entered two hundred million on the terminal did she continue.

“Of course, there is a condition. Stay at my side for the duration of this exhibition.”

“I have to keep participating in the VIP schedule either way.”

“No, at my side. I mean that we move together, next to each other.”

In the meantime, someone bid two hundred fifty million won.

Cha Yeri immediately entered three hundred million.

“If we stay together and someone misunderstands, what will you do then?”

“It does not matter.”

“What?”

“It does not matter even if they misunderstand.”

What in the world was she thinking?

Was she going to act recklessly simply because I had not accepted her feelings?

Sensing my silent stare, Cha Yeri suddenly let a stream of wind-aspected mana flow, cutting off the surrounding voices.

“You do not have to make that face. I know I am acting impatient. …But what else can I do? I have lived like this my whole life. I do not want to deceive myself just to win your favor. If I have to meet you with lies the way I meet other people, I would rather give up first. So I…”

…

“I am going to push forward in my own way until you can look back at me. I am not saying that I will cling to you. I am a businesswoman. The moment I decide the cost-benefit does not add up, I will run away at any time. So…”

As she entered the final bid, Cha Yeri met my eyes.

“You would be wise to bow your head flat before you regret it.”

The instant her words ended, the auction gavel came down.

“I will call the price three times before closing! Four hundred million! Four hundred million! Four hundred million! Sold!”

***

When lunchtime arrived, the auction paused for a brief recess.

It might seem strange that a VIP schedule would include a meal break, but at events like this, there had to be time for social banter.

Since it was a charity auction, they would want to talk at length about the things they had chosen to show off.

I headed to the restaurant Cha Yeri had reserved in advance.

Kim Songi, her attendant who moved like an extension of her body, followed at a distance of roughly a hundred meters.

“She seemed to be working alone without any relief. When did she eat?”

“I thought a place that was overly formal might burden you, so I reserved somewhere moderately light.”

The “moderately light” place was a seafood restaurant.

The kind of place where servers assigned to each table carried dishes with refined, dignified movements.

Even the menu alone made it clear that it was a high-end restaurant, though compared to Hero Prep’s Grand Pistachio, it was still a tier below.

“But there are four seats.”

“Yes. Someone else is coming.”

Before I could ask who, I spotted Jeong Soyun’s face at the entrance.

A student from General Ability Academy—the one who had said a few days ago that she was interested in Gwon Chihun.

“Hello. Am I late?”

The moment Jeong Soyun appeared, another familiar face came into view behind her.

This time—

“Why did you call me?”

Gwon Chihun asked bluntly as he looked at me.

But why was he saying I had called him?

When I looked to Cha Yeri with a sinking suspicion, she gave a sly smile with her eyes.

It seemed she had used me as an excuse to summon Gwon Chihun.

I decided to play along and match the atmosphere.

“Sit. I called you because there is something to discuss.”

“There is something to discuss?”

As Gwon Chihun took his seat, he looked between Cha Yeri and Jeong Soyun, then narrowed his brow slightly.

According to Cha Yeri, she had introduced the two of them the very day Jeong Soyun visited the Mystery Club.

As expected, Gwon Chihun had reacted dismissively, and with Cha Yeri’s backing, he had been forced to give Jeong Soyun his number before leaving.

I had assumed that was the end of it.

Yet Cha Yeri, apparently refusing to give up, had brought them both all the way here.

“My, if you were going to call Cadet Gwon Chihun, you should have told me in advance.”

Cha Yeri used my name as a shield with effortless ease.

“It cannot be helped. Since things have turned out this way, let us dine together. …Excuse me? I would like to adjust the order.”

Jeong Soyun, as if oblivious to Gwon Chihun’s attitude, flushed the moment he appeared and could not properly meet his eyes.

Was that what they called love goggles?

Gwon Chihun gulped down the water set before him and spoke.

“So, what do you want? Sorry, but I am moving around as Dispel support, following my uncle.”

The question had been directed at me, but Cha Yeri answered instead.

“Cadet Gwon Chihun, I will ask directly. Would you consider joining the Mystery Club?”

“No.”

A flat refusal, as if the question did not merit a second thought.

Even if it was a club on the level of an abandoned department, was it really wise to throw that out so casually?

“Is that so? Hmm, what a shame. The Student Council President often comes to our Mystery Club to help us, you see. To the point that he is practically a member.”

“…Th-the President often helps?”

“Yes. Given the nature of the club, there are many areas where the Investigation Division’s expertise is necessary.”

…

Gwon Chihun’s eyes began to shift as he thought.

But what did they intend to do by bringing him into the Mystery Club?

Was the point not to facilitate natural meetings with Jeong Soyun, who was from another academy?

While I was still wondering, Cha Yeri turned her gaze to Jeong Soyun.

“Come to think of it, Soyun, did you not say your major was superpowered history?”

“Ah, yes!”

“Then you must go on many field expeditions.”

Expeditions…

The moment I heard that word, I grasped her intent at once.

Just as we had held a joint expedition at Mount Wol-dal, another joint club expedition had been planned during the vacation.

She likely intended to get them both involved and force something to happen.

Whether he knew of her sly scheme or not, Gwon Chihun silently organized his thoughts, then abruptly cut into their conversation.

“That… the Mystery Club. If you truly need me, I can join.”

It worked.

Both Gwon Chihun and Cha Yeri were impressive in their own ways.

I feigned ignorance and replied.

“Fine. Then bring the club application next Friday. And just in case, do not bring your friends.”

“Obviously. If I join, do you think they will follow?”

“No, not joining. I meant do not secretly bring your friends to our clubroom to mess around.”

“…O-of course.”

Look at that.

Then Jeong Soyun, mustering her courage, spoke to the flustered Gwon Chihun.

“Are you also very interested in mysteries, Chihun?”

She still could not look him in the eyes.

“Well, yes. I am in the Investigation Division, after all.”

“Ah! Then do you often see phenomena that are not easily encountered through superpowers?”

“I cannot say there are none… If luck is on your side, then yes.”

“I am truly envious. General Ability Academy is specialized academically, so we hardly get any practical training.”

“There is nothing to envy…”

Just as Cha Yeri wanted, the two of them had found a topic in common.

Without inserting herself into the conversation, Cha Yeri wore a satisfied expression.

In my view, however, it was not a particularly effective topic.

Gwon Chihun was maintaining a plainly indifferent attitude.

Was there truly any chance these two would become entangled?

Cha Yeri, who had no romantic experience to speak of, could not possibly play the matchmaker properly.

If not for Evergreen Mercy, which she had just won at auction, I would have been trailing the VIPs with a carbonated coffee from a vending machine in hand.

“Your dishes have arrived.”

Right as boredom began to set in, the food appeared.

An octopus head presented with lavish flair, despite being only an appetizer.

I gripped my fork and knife with a combatant’s determination.

If I wanted to escape this tedious table, I had no choice but to eat quickly and leave.

***

After the meal, Cha Yeri and I separated, deliberately leaving the two of them together.

Though, in truth, they would likely part ways soon anyway.

As we returned to the auction hall, Cha Yeri asked with a satisfied face,

“Do they not look rather good together?”

“Do they? Jeong Soyun seems overwhelmingly too good for him.”

“In what way?”

“In every way.”

“…I feel like I know what you mean, so I cannot refute it.”

“Then why are you so desperate to push them together?”

“Hm? Are you asking because you truly do not know?”

“Yes.”

Cha Yeri stopped walking.

Then she tilted her head slightly, as if she found me suspicious.

“Soyun is misunderstanding something. She does not even know that you deduced the thief of the Spring Scholastic War.”

“So?”

“I mean that she might like you, not Gwon Chihun.”

Ah. Was that why she had been moving so aggressively?

For a moment, I almost laughed.

So naive.

“I am sorry, but even if Soyun learns the truth, the chance of her liking me is zero percent.”

“Why?”

“Did you not see her earlier? She could not even meet his eyes, blushing like that. She is already completely smitten. Even if you clear up the misunderstanding now, nothing will change.”

“And if, by some chance, Soyun shows interest in you, what will you do?”

For some reason, Cha Yeri looked stubbornly persistent.

Watching her like that, a mischievous impulse rose.

“If that happens… I will have to think about it.”

“I was rejected on the spot, and you will think about it?”

“Yes. Because…”

In that instant, my smartphone vibrated.

The situation was amusing enough that I considered letting it go to missed calls, but the vibration did not stop.

In other words, it was a call from the Special Affairs Division.

“Ah, wait!”

As I brought the in-ear device projected above the phone to my ear, Park Chaeshin’s urgent voice stabbed into my hearing.

—Ji Seokhyeon! You are in District 8 right now, yes? They just found traces of the Phantom Thief at the site!

“What did you say?”

—He might still be nearby! I will send you the location data first!