Editing Mushi Uta:Volume 9 Chapter 2 (section)

== 2.06 The Others ==
“—Will you bid or fold?”

Sotheby asked inside the high-class clothing shop. Seeing how inappropriately he was dressed, other customers scowled.

“Bid.”

Akasegawa Nanana declared while choosing an elegant dress.

“—Will you bid or fold?”

Inside a soccer stadium that could house 40,000 people there were the echoes of loud cheers. Uniformed players were running atop the artificial grass kept in perfect condition at this cutting-edge facility.

The super-large display hanging from the center of the stands showed the word “GOAL!” dancing on it.

“Bid.”

Nanana announced, watching the soccer national tournament from her VIP quarters. The seedy-looking auctioneer behind her bowed respectfully.

“—Will you bid or fold?”

The opera singer illuminated by a spotlight sang in a high-pitched voice. Mixed with the darkness of the spectator seats, Sotheby came to inquire.

“Bid.”

Nanana declared, sitting in the special seat at the highest spot. All lights in the theater turned on and an applause rose from the audience.

“Thank you for your continued bidding…”

Sotheby bowed his head low.

How many days have passed already since he started this auction?

The bidding price was gradually rising. It was already several times the amount that it started with.

Nanana never retreated, and the other bidder also never withdrew.

The battle revolving around the primal Mushitsuki Alpha turned into the form of clashing large amounts of money and kept expanding. Like a balloon, ready to burst at any moment. Or like an ephemeral bubble—

Yes, a bubble.

“The next payment will be three days from now…”

Even as he lowered his head, Sotheby was gazing at Akasegawa Nanana from inside the cloth.

The girl was arrogantly and calmly looking down at the field.

What Sotheby felt toward Nanana who was like a king—was neither gratitude nor happiness for her bidding on his item.

Contempt.

Hatred.

Even while inwardly grinding his teeth, he kept the pleasant facade toward the bidder.

Everything was the fault of the Paradigm Shift that happened in the past.

That time everything went crazy.

At the time, everyone screamed. Not only those who flocked around the honey. Those who offered the honey, those who pretended to have the honey—everyone screamed from the bottom of their hearts.

The aftereffects that could be called a curse continued even now.

All of the people related to Alpha were being cursed.

Sotheby was also one such person.

The contempt and anger inside him kept growing. It was finally time to unleash them.

And he wasn’t simply going to unleash them.

Sotheby was going to sell—even this curse itself.

“Sotheby.”

After looking at the field, Nanana now turned to him. These condescending eyes of hers got his blood boiling. But he bit off his shame and lowered his head. —For now.

“Do you require anything…?”

“Who on earth are you?”

''I am you—

He wanted to say so with a sneer.

Nanana truly was just like Sotheby in the past.

Sotheby too had a bubble. At the time anything and everything was his. There was nothing that he couldn’t obtain.

But the present Sotheby was a far cry from what he used to be.

Just because he couldn’t survive the Paradigm Shift—

“I am but a mere auctioneer…”

“Liar. You’re telling me that a mere auctioneer would hold the Round Table card and sell away Alpha like that? I have excellent eyes. The card’s genuine, and you know way too much about the Round Table’s situation—”

“…”

“Enclosure, Bubble, Paradigm Shift—you are related to these past disturbances as well, right? And that result is your current shabby appearance.”

Sotheby made no reply.

“—What a wretched being.”

Nanana laughed with one eye narrowed.

“…Bfft.”

He hid the anger and resentment about to burst from inside with a creepy laugh.

Even the girl in front of him was going to become just like Sotheby.

No, not just Nanana.

Everyone should keep getting carried away.

The Paradigm Shift was not yet over. Its curse continued even now, and one day it would affect everyone in the world.

The curse would rain upon everyone in the world. That was an inevitable destiny.

That was why Sotheby began the auction.

In order to steal the bidders’ throne—

To replace himself with the rulers residing over the winner of the auction—

To have only himself overcome the Paradigm Shift, this time—

“I eagerly await the next payment…”

Burying the contempt and rage he’d accumulated for many months and years, Sotheby bowed.