People are looking weirdly at me as I move forward.

"Oh? Young man, you want to try it too? Didn't you see the earlier display?"

[I did. I'm simply not convinced yet.]

The man seems to understand my meaning.

It is possible that it was a set-up.

"As you wish, go on and try."

Then a voice interrupts.

It is the ancestor-looking guy.

"Why? Are you doubting my character young one? Or is it that you are belittling the sword I lost?"

[I simply want to try. Who knows maybe I will succeed?]

"You think I am colluding with the shopkeeper to fool everyone?"

[Not especially, but maybe.]

"How preposterous. Let me tell you I am an elder of one of the top sects in the entire city. The iron guardians! I would never steep so low!"

He seems to be getting angry on his own.

[You affirming that no one would ever doubt you only make it worse. You would be a perfect candidate for such a setup.]

"*Snort* As if that made any sense. Trying to discredit me are you?!"

People are looking at me as a fool.

Some show pity.

The others are enjoying the show.

Clearly enjoying the fact that I am offending people right now.

Still, it doesn't matter.

I just need to show them.

[Then, can I start?]

"Go ahead."

I grip my sword tightly.

I focus all the divine energy I can.

Drive it all in the blade.

Ever so carefully not to break it.

This is hard.

So extremely hard.

Good thing this isn't a fight.

I have all the time in the world.

"Are you gonna do it or not? Stop clowning around!"

Better just ignore that.

Keep focusing.

Alright, this should be enough.

Moment of truth!

*SLASH*

It gets cleaved in half.

The dwarven sword.

Hahahaha.

In their fucking faces!

How are they going to react now I wonder?

I look around.

Disbelieving faces.

Everyone can't comprehend what happened.

The result is so different than the expected one.

[So, does that mean I get a reward? That's what you said, right?]

Surprisingly I get ignored.

Completely.

Everyone looks at the iron something sect guy.

Doubtful gazes.

Reproachful ones too.

He is panicking.

Not understanding what is going on.

Assuring everyone that he has no clue why this is all happening.

Telling them that he isn't conniving with the seller.

Except, that's what a cheater would say.

He seems at a loss on how to defend himself.

In the meantime, the seller is looking at the 2 halves of the prized sword.

Questioning life.

Realizing how much he screwed up by allowing the audience to test it.

I guess now he is probably wondering if he bought a fake by mistake.

His incomprehension seems genuine.

I guess divine energy is really good for that.

To defy common sense.

Not my problem either way.

This shall be a life lesson to this shop.

They probably have insurance or something too anyway.

That's when the sect guy has an idea.

He asks the others to test the sword too.

Says that even the broken one should prove sturdy enough.

Sounds like excuses to me.

Except it really isn't.

Some try to slash at the broken weapon.

They can't chip it at all.

That's when they all turn toward me.

"Friend would you be willing to sell this sword to me?!"

"No, I'll buy it for more!"

"No, this sword will be ours for sure!"

Holy shit.

[Guys! Guys! You are all misunderstanding this sword is nothing special!]

"As if we'd believe you!"

"We weren't born yesterday!"

"No normal weapon can be so powerful!"

[No, seriously! I even tried to sell this very sword to this shop for a few silvers and they didn't want it!]

All eyes go on the auctioneer.

He finally goes out of his stupor.

"T-that friend, I do not believe we have had any chance to …"

[I legit just tried selling it at the counter right there!]

I point at a now livid employee.

The previously condescending one.

Yes, that is very petty of me.

I don't care haha.

I feel like someone will have some explaining to do very soon.

"How about naming your price friend and our shop will buy it?"

I'm about to answer that there are already countless protests.

No one wants to let go of a potential legendary weapon.

That's the thing, however.

This sword is as basic as it gets.

Not like I can put divine energy in it.

Not sure I would want in the first place.

But I do think it would destroy it too.

Now what.

I look helplessly as they keep inflating the prices.

From a few gold coins, it has already climbed to a few thousand.

Finally, a bearded man bids the highest.

I guess I can only come clean.

Of course, I can't say the truth either.

Maybe I can claim it is a one-time use sword?

Then I can just shatter it on the ground.

Otherwise, it would probably be considered scamming.

I wonder how the system here deals with such a crime.

"WAIT!"

What?

Comes a man lavishly dressed.

His outfit screams look at me I am rich.

The very dream target of gold diggers.

I'd describe him but my eyes only go to the gold-embroidered robe.

It has a golden lion on it. One that is holding a scale.

I feel like I have seen that somewhere before but I'm not sure where.

Truly a strange feeling.

Probably at some point in my past I encountered that.

"You guys started all of this without even inviting me. How bold of you guys!"

I can hear whispers from the crowd.

Something something golden lion merchant group.

Something something very rich.

Something something very powerful.

This guy is apparently a big shot.

Wasn't there another group with a lion in its name?

Guess popular things are popular for a reason.

It is kinda cool.

"Well, now that I am here I guess I will bid too. I am offering 100 gold coins and an official position as a core member of the golden lion group."

What is up with this guy?

Is he actually bidding less than the others?

What the hell?