Chapter 19: Auction Night Revelations

Lara Schmord had returned to Suko after a long while, and not wanting to leave without enjoying herself, she weaved through the crowd outside.

Outside the building, numerous Robes cosplayers mingled. Normally, such high-quality cosplay would have caught one’s eye, but for Lara everything felt muted, all because of that lifelike Robes she had encountered the previous night.

Just as she was about to shake off the image of that enigmatic, devilishly handsome man, fate intervened—she spotted an acquaintance walking from across the street.

“Ah, my friend!”

Delighted, Lara hurried over. She had felt rather guilty for leaving her friend behind earlier. In the acquaintance’s hands, a bag burst with colorful doujinshi.

As Lara’s envious glance drifted over, the acquaintance noticed the doujinshi clutched in Lara’s arms.

“Managed to grab one, did you?”

“Yes, haha… It wasn’t easy.”

“Yuri’s doujinshi truly sets the bar high. We’re fortunate to be of noble descent—if we were commoners, it’d have been nearly impossible to get our hands on one.”

Without a word, Lara agreed. She’d heard that among commoners, indulging in fandom was as rare as catching a falling star. Born as a Viscount’s Youngae, Lara was truly grateful to enjoy her hobbies so freely.

“More exciting is today’s auction, isn’t it? I’ve already bought enough, so I just plan to enjoy watching.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“Oh dear, Lara, haven’t you heard? I assumed you’d know about it by now.”

Knowing Lara, who had been a steadfast fan for years, the acquaintance simply tilted his head in puzzlement.

“They’re releasing a limited edition bonus figure made by a figure artisan specialized in Robes. Rumor has it the news has already spread like wildfire among Robes fans.”

“What?!!”

“Really? I figured you’d be in the loop by now.”

“I’ve been busy lately, so I had to take a break from my hobbies…”

Suppressing a sigh of relief and a tear of gratitude, Lara nearly dropped to her knees in thanks before her acquaintance.

“I almost missed this entirely. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Fandom is all about mutual support, isn’t it? That’s the true spirit of an otaku.”

“Heh… You’re the best, my friend.”

Securing her bidder number at the last moment, Lara entered the auction hall just five minutes before it began. The room was nearly packed; seats were occupied from every corner. Sitting in one of the last two seats at the back, Lara and her acquaintance chatted about doujinshi.

“Lately, I’ve been chasing the Black Magician X Robes trend so much that I circled the BL booth three times since morning.”

“Impressive. I should have come earlier too.”

“Did you catch the duel segment between Robes and the Black Magician?”

“Of course. I’ve chased the original series to death a few times, hehe.”

“I mean, if Scarlett had managed to beat Robes this time—unfolding the whole tale in doujinshi form—it would be even more immersive. It’s wild how the Black Magician wasn’t really after Lilica, but rather Robes’s body. It’s as plausible as it is astonishing.”

“You might be right.”

Lara, who was normally indifferent to BL commentary as long as everyone was in sync, wasn’t particularly moved. It seemed that true fandom only clicked when likeminded people united.

At the sound of the auction bell, Lara fell silent and turned to face the stage. Numbers were being handed out in order from the front; she received a round plate marked with the number ‘46’ in big digits.

After a brief wait in her seat, the auctioneer finally ascended the stage. A short speech from the event organizer followed, then the auctioneer’s cheery greeting signaled the start of the bidding.

“Here’s the first item.”

‘It won’t be the first piece to appear; it’ll likely come midway through…’

“This is a limited edition bonus figure of Robes.”

‘No way!’

Instinctively biting her tongue, Lara flashed her number plate. From the start, the bidding was fierce, with every competitor raising their hands. Even her friendly acquaintance from moments ago had transformed into a rival to be outbid.

A professional cosplayer, showcasing a top-notch performance on stage, appeared. Recreating Lilica’s transformation flawlessly, his impressive cosplay drew low roars of approval from male fans. Standing center stage, he hoisted a golden cushion that supported the figure.

Then, suddenly, a plump man who appeared to be an auction official rushed onto the stage. A chorus of exasperated murmurs arose from the male fans, but the man ignored them, whispering something to the auctioneer.

“Ah, apologies. It seems this auction item had a pre-reserved buyer due to an error on the organizer’s part. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Now, let’s move on to the next item.”

The auctioneer continued smoothly, though some bidders grumbled. Sensing the unrest, he raised his voice to restore the fervor.

“For those who are disappointed by missing out—true bidding begins now! You’re all in for a treat! Get ready for…”

The auctioneer mischievously paused, scanning the excited faces from the front row to the back. Lara waited for him to continue, but he left the sentence hanging. Instead, he flashed a knowing smile and stretched his arm toward the curtain behind the stage.

“Please welcome with thunderous applause: a cane perfectly recreated from the hands of a 30-year veteran artisan, modeled after none other than Robes’s own cane!”

Lara sucked her hand in regret before her eyes widened at the announcement. A handcrafted Robes’s cane? It was utterly useless in everyday life and had no place to be kept at home, yet every fiber of her being screamed that she had to buy it.

Just as everyone was busy brandishing their number plates and calling out higher bids, the stage curtain opened and an auction official appeared between the folds. A chorus of deeper jeers erupted. Secretive whispers passed between the auctioneer and the official once more.

“…Yes?”

The auctioneer could barely conceal his disbelief—as if another mistake had occurred. The official hurriedly left the stage while the auctioneer looked visibly flustered.

“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. We’ve just been informed that there’s a reservation for all of these items. They’ve been pre-purchased, it seems.”

Instantly, the auction hall burst into pandemonium. The auctioneer attempted to calm the crowd by promising a 100% refund on the bidder’s fee, but the heated atmosphere barely subsided.

“This is ridiculous!”

“Do you have any idea I came to Suko at dawn for this? Where’s the organizer?!”

“Have the head honcho come out now!”

Small objects were hurled toward the stage. The chaos resembled a complete madhouse.

Then, from behind the tilted stage curtain, someone began to stride out. With a long poster peeking over his shoulder and confidently clutching a dakimakura, his presence was unmistakable. Lara recognized him immediately.

‘Th-that person is…?’

“Everyone, calm down.”

His voice was firm and resonant, belying his light tone. Just as silence seemed to settle, the clamor in the hall intensified once again.

“Could it be… Isn’t that the Legendary Otaku?!”

At that shout, Lara suddenly realized the true identity of the man. She’d felt a vague familiarity when she first saw him.

The Legendary Otaku.

Lara remembered catching a glimpse of him once before. Although it was from afar, his commanding presence had left an indelible mark on her.

Every year at the Only Con, he made an appearance and swept the stage with second-hand creations in the Robes X Lilica genre. Rumor had it he was an original hardcore fan of Magical Girl Lilica, with over a decade of devoted fandom—but he rarely appeared at public gatherings, shrouding his identity in mystery.

Judging by the titles he was given, he was revered almost like a legend among otaku. And now, Lara had inadvertently provoked him.

“Those who have angered me, listen up. How does it feel to have all your auction items snatched right before your eyes?”

With a dramatic flourish, he set down a rolling carrier at center stage and scanned the room.

“The owner of this carrier—and the one who stole my doujinshi—should confess without delay.”

“Um, isn’t that Lara’s carrier…?”

“Shh! Be quiet.”

He quickly covered his acquaintance’s mouth, though his words had already reached the stage.

“Step up to the stage.”

“…”

Lara raised her hand to shield her face and slowly made her way toward the exit. After a few cautious steps, a shout from behind caused her to abruptly halt.

“Are you planning to run away like a coward? Magical Girl!”

‘That line…’

It was one of Robes’s iconic lines. It tickled her memory—she recalled exactly what Lilica would have retorted. Her trembling lips finally betrayed her instinct.

“I’ve never run away, Robes.”

“Then why aren’t you facing me?”

“That is…”

Emotion began to seep into her voice. This episode was nothing short of a holy war among fans of Robes and Lilica—a pivotal turning point in their relationship that had long been debated in countless comic books. Without even thinking, her lips moved on their own.

“I don’t want you to really know who I am.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I don’t want my weaknesses exposed. Not just to you, but to anyone who might learn the truth. I’m just an ordinary high school girl—average grades, nothing extraordinary about my looks. You see only the transformed me, the image you idolize…”

“Even if you don’t say it, I know exactly who you are. You’re the magical girl who inspires dreams and hope. Even if you cry behind closed doors or go unrecognized by others, I know you’re fighting for world peace better than anyone else.”

His husky, emotionally charged voice resonated as he drew closer, and Lara’s heart pounded wildly. It truly felt as if Robes himself were standing right behind her. She understood then the true importance of those drama CDs.