Chronicles of Forgotten Extra-Chapter 112: Movement Technique Mystery?

After the skill book was sold, something valuable was going to be sold.

Valuable for Alden, that is.

It was the reason he was here in this absurd auction.

Alden didn't even know what to say about it. It was good but at the same time ridiculous.

There were many useful items sold previously, but some of them were too ridiculous.

Whatever.

Alden shrugged off the useless thoughts. Because the next item was something he had been waiting for.

A movement technique.

And not just any, but one at least at the Mythic Rank.

Alden's heart pounded.

This is it.

I have to buy it at any cost.

The auctioneer still was smiling as professionally as before.

She had announced nearly a hundred items till now, and still not even a single trace of exhaustion was on her face.

She was probably a high-rank adventurer.

That much was clear.

But why would there be a need for assigning a high-ranking adventurer just as an announcer?

They could have just assigned multiple people for the job.

Something seems fishy.

The large screen behind the auctioneer flashed again.

This time it was displaying a golden-coloured book wrapped in silky cloth.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she spoke, her voice smooth yet commanding, "our next item is something truly extraordinary."

'Yeah, that's what you have been saying for nearly all the items.'

Alden thought sarcastically.

She had said the same thing when announcing the indestructible toothpick.

From that moment on he didn't trust her when she said, 'It was extraordinary.'.

Well, the toothpick was extraordinary in one sense, I suppose.

The crowd was still silent.

Not by choice but by magic.

"This is not just any martial arts technique," she continued. "This is an Ancient Rank movement technique."

What–?

I thought it was supposed to be only Mythic rank.

The screen behind the auctioneer still showed the value of the technique to be at the Mythic rank.

Is this some kind of mistake?

Most of the people sitting in the auction hall were also having the same question.

Their faces filled with curiosity.

"You heard me correct, ladies and gentlemen." The auctioneer continued. "This is indeed an Ancient Rank Technique."

"But,"

Here comes the mystery, 'But'.

"This technique is written in some unknown language, indecipherable to anyone till now."

"This technique was found in one of the ancient ruins situated at the boundary with the Elven Kingdom."

"Many people had tried to decipher the technique, but none succeeded. Hence, the value had been decreased to Mythic Rank."

"Although it is indecipherable, it is still an ancient rank technique, and it could hold invaluable information on the forgotten era."

Trying to sell defective products, are we?

Alden wasn't a fool who would think that he was someone special and might unlock a technique which could not be unlocked by anyone.

He was just like any normal guy.

So he gave up on thinking about buying this item.

He was going to wait and see if any other movement technique was up for sale in the auction.

The auctioneer's smile didn't falter even while she was trying to sell defective products to the innocent public.

Well, most of them are not innocent anyways.

The auctioneer, oblivious to his thoughts, continued.

"The only thing we know is the name of the technique."

"Eternal Flowing Steps"

Alden's body froze.

His eyes widened and his heart started thumping wildly.

That name–?

It was something he knew.

For the first time since he entered the auction, Alden was truly shocked.

The ridiculous items were absurd, but they were not enough to shock him as much as now.

The technique's name was similar to the sword art his mother left for him – Eternal Flow Sword Art.

She must have found the sword art in a ruin and must've left it for me.

Yeah, definitely.

But just to make sure, he took out the letter left by her.

He quickly scanned the part about sword art.

One line was written there.

[I have left you a sword art I created as well as an artifact that will help you in critical times.]

She had written clearly that she was the creator of the sword art.

It must be a coincidence.

Just the name might be similar.

Right?

But what if it wasn't?

What did that mean?

Why was that movement art inside an ancient ruin?

I have to buy it.

I need answers.

The announcer continued.

"The starting bid is two million Eras."

A moment of silence.

Then—

"Three million" – someone from the VIP room put the first bid.

"Four million"

..

..

..

"Six point five million"

Alden remained silent, watching the bids continue.

He wasn't about to throw his bid in too soon.

"Seven million"

"Seven point five million."

Two people from two different VIP rooms were contending to get the item.

The bid climbed quickly.

"Eight million."

Silence.

No person bid on it anymore.

Although it was related to ancient ruins, it was still not worth more than that.

Just then.

Alden put in his bid.

"Eight point five million."

The moment Alden placed his bid, there was no other bid for a moment.

Then—

"Nine million"

The previous bidder, a VIP, didn't hesitate.

Alden clenched his fists.

He had expected competition, but he couldn't afford to lose this.

This wasn't just some high-level technique anymore.

This was a clue.

A connection to his mother.

And possibly—to something even bigger.

And who knows if I could somehow decipher it … Then I would get ancient rank movement art for cheap.

Any technique of this rank was sold for hundreds of millions.

So paying ten to twenty for such a technique was not much.

"Nine point five million."

He raised his bid immediately.

"Ten million," the other bidder countered.

Alden narrowed his eyes.

Who the hell was this guy?

Did he have some kind of protagonist syndrome?

Or was he really just interested in the technique?

The auctioneer, ever professional, didn't rush the process.

"Ten million, going once."

Alden took a deep breath.

He wasn't someone with infinite funds.

He had a budget—one that was not that much.

But he also knew one thing.

This technique had to be his.

"Ten point five million."

The bid went up again.

Silence.

The VIP bidder hesitated.

"Eleven million,"

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

Alden gritted his teeth.

This was it.

This was the final stretch.

If he hesitated now—he'd lose.

"Eleven point five million."

A pause.

Then—

"Going once."

No response.

"Going twice."

Alden held his breath.

Then, after a long pause, the auctioneer smiled.

"Sold! To Guest 10 for 11.5 million Eras"

Alden exhaled.

He had won.

The moment was just short-lived.

Because the real questions started flooding his mind immediately.

Why was this technique in an ancient ruin?

Why did it share a name with his mother's sword art?

He relaxed back in his chair; his mind was racing.

One thing was clear.

This wasn't just a movement technique anymore.

It was a piece of a bigger mystery.

And he had full intentions to uncover it.

__

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in," he said.

The same attendant who had guided him to his private room entered, holding a tray.

Resting atop the tray was the golden-colored book—the Eternal Flowing Steps.

"Here is your item, sir."