That day, the awakener-exclusive auction was in an uproar once more.
Naturally so. The recent appearance of an Expansion Dungeon, along with its global system message announcing its conquest, was still fresh in memory.
And now, brand-new, never-before-seen items from that dungeon had drawn the awakener community’s attention.
“Th-this is…!”
At the headquarters of the clan Flash.
One of Japan’s Ten Great Clans, Flash’s master—Hoshizaki Juri—could not conceal the shock on her face at the sight of the listed item.
“The Silver Wolf Coat…? I don’t really understand, Master. Is it that amazing?”
“It’s far beyond ‘amazing.’”
Answering her secretary, Akikawa, Juri continued reading the Awakener Association’s official description.
Silver Wolf Coat. Raises physical defense. Raises agility. Self-repair effect under the new moon. When equipped with the “New Moon Pendant,” allows temporary transformation into a New Moon Werewolf. Overall rating: Lower-High grade.
“I’ve no idea what this New Moon Pendant is, but even just the coat on its own—any frontliner would kill to have it.”
And if someone were to obtain that pendant as well, they could wield the strength of a dungeon boss.
Werewolves were famed for their speed. If the New Moon Werewolf was indeed their boss variant, then one could expect truly monstrous swiftness.
Even without the pendant, armor with a self-repair function was already worth its weight in gold.
“But Master, you’re an Aura Master. With aura, self-enhancement is second nature, isn’t it?”
Indeed. Upon becoming an Aura Master, Juri had gained mastery over “Aura,” a special force.
With it, she could reinforce herself, her weapons, and her armor, and even convert aura into attacks, defenses, or self-healing. In short: an all-purpose job.
Her combat strength had skyrocketed with the job change. Juri even believed she could soon surpass the Paladin in the rankings.
Which was precisely why she craved every means of strengthening herself further.
The problem was that Flash’s members could not keep up with her hunger. They were satisfied with their current power.
Even Akikawa could not grasp Juri’s mindset. And perhaps that was natural. The pace of change lately had been nothing short of dizzying.
“Aura is strong, yes. But lean too heavily on it, and you burn out quickly. This Silver Wolf Coat… could be one answer to that problem.”
Of course, Juri was not the only one who wanted it.
It was ranked Lower-High. Equipment of that caliber never appeared at auction.
To release such an item meant only one thing. Juri smirked. The seller was obvious. It had to be that famous girl.
“Akikawa. I’ll be pouring my personal fortune into this auction.”
“Y-yes! Right away! What limit shall I—”
“Leave ten billion in reserve. Use the rest.”
“Understood!”
As Akikawa hurried off, Juri rose from her seat, gazing out from the clan master’s office at the view of Tokyo.
Tokyo—the dream destination where every clan sought to build their headquarters, drawing awakener from across Japan.
The true center of the nation.
With Flash’s headquarters towering here, Juri and her clan were undeniably among the victors.
But… “Ten Great Clans” was prefaced with Japan’s.
On the world stage, who knew where Flash truly stood?
It didn’t matter. Juri believed this stability to be eternal.
Until recently.
The death of the Echigo Trading Company’s master—and the resulting succession turmoil that tore the clan apart—was the first domino.
Now other clans were vying to claim the vacant seat among the Ten Greats.
Perhaps others were oblivious. But to Juri, even that scramble felt already behind the times.
“…A new generation of awakener has already begun to appear. The signs of change were always there.”
On her desk lay a newspaper: “New Job Discovered—Pilot!” screamed the headline.
Other Great Clans were in a frenzy, trying to recruit these so-called “new generation” awakener.
But if past trends held, more of them would appear in due course.
That wasn’t where the real urgency lay.
“Master, I’ve returned. About the auction… the price is skyrocketing, as expected—”
“Tell me, Akikawa.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Don’t you think we’re reaching the limit?”
“Forgive me, Master, but… the limit of what?”
“Of Kogami Inari.”
The name was not public knowledge.
But awakener of sufficient influence had been briefed.
A being likened to a god.
Whispers that Inari had been involved in—and resolved—incidents whose details remained classified.
Many dismissed it as laughable rumor.
But not Juri.
“Such things could well be possible,” she thought.
And once people noticed that Inari had conquered the world’s first Expansion Dungeon… many of those skeptics would change their tune.
When that happened, matters the Awakener Association had kept contained would begin to move again.
And this time—fiercer than before.
“An ace with no past. That alone isn’t unusual. Most old records were wiped out ages ago. The issue is… that she’s riding the wild waves of this changing age, as if it were all a game.”
Juri believed Inari was far stronger than most realized. And far less concerned with prestige than anyone else.
She was said to be under Fox Phone’s protection now, but…
“Sooner or later, everyone will recognize her value. I’d rather move before that happens.”
What exactly Juri intended, Akikawa could not imagine.
But she trusted—it would be the right thing.