Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Purchase Window
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Chapter 11
"What...?"
The words slipped out involuntarily.
"A strategy guide?"
【Yes, this program is a strategy guide created to assist you, Player.】
The strategy guide responded. It was just a mutter born of panic, no reply needed, but it confirmed he hadn't misheard.
It did nothing to calm Yusung's confusion, though.
"How in the world..."
First the game window, now the strategy guide manifesting in reality. Yusung seriously wondered if he was losing his mind.
"Stop it. Even if I really am going crazy, there's no way to know."
He set aside the unanswerable worries for now. There was too much else he needed to figure out.
"Hey, strategy guide."
【Yes.】
Yusung addressed the invisible presence whose voice still echoed in his ears.
"What's your deal? Who are you?"
He asked with considerable tension. But the strategy guide's answer fell short of his expectations.
【This program is a strategy guide created to assist you, Player.】
"Skip the canned response. How did you end up appearing in reality?"
【No information available.】
"And how did items start popping out for real?"
【No information available.】
"......"
Whether it was stonewalling or genuinely ignorant about the game window and strategy guide's emergence or identities, one thing was clear: he wouldn't get answers from it.
He tried a few more questions just in case, but the responses were all the same: no information available.
"Fine."
Yusung gave up.
"Whatever you are, as long as you're helpful, that's what matters."
In this godforsaken world, that reason alone was enough to accept a mysterious entity.
Yusung turned his attention back to the game window.
The strategy guide dodged questions about his own nature and the game window, but it might explain how to use this thing.
"What's this game window? Why'd it suddenly appear?"
【That window is the Purchase Window, unlocked when attention level exceeds 1,000. Your attention level has surpassed 1,000, so the Purchase Window has been unlocked.】
"Purchase Window?"
He had assumed it sold special items unavailable in the in-game shop. But for it to materialize in reality...
'Identity aside, my luck's good.'
It had opened at just the right time, letting him save his life. Of course, if his luck were truly good, it would've unlocked before danger struck, letting him leisurely mow down the black beast with bullets.
'Attention level rose even with the game off?'
Yusung always cut power to the virtual reality device when not playing. Even standby power was too precious to waste. Yet attention had climbed anyway.
He accepted it quickly—or rather, resigned himself. After game windows and strategy guides invading reality, what was attention ticking up in the background?
He asked the strategy guide to be sure, but got the deflating 【No information available.】 in return.
'Let's learn more about the Purchase Window first.'
He examined the items besides the 15.5x121mm rounds and black bread.
'First, the in-game gun and ammo.'
The fact that he could pull them into reality piqued his interest, but he didn't think he needed them.
In-game guns were single-shot, short-ranged, and weak. Even materialized, he doubted they'd pierce beast hide.
They could serve as backup if his NK-4 broke, though.
'Better than nothing.'
In his situation, any edge was a godsend.
Next: potions.
He'd rarely used them in-game.
Relying on his gun's devastating per-shot power and pinpoint accuracy for one-turn kills, he'd never taken real damage. He'd only tried one out of curiosity.
But he knew their effect.
'They restore health.'
Maybe they could heal wounds. The "low-grade" label upfront didn't inspire confidence, though.
"Strategy guide. What's this potion do? Can it heal my current wounds?"
The gash from the black beast had mostly closed, bleeding stopped before entering his hideout—no blood trail left.
Thanks to the nano machines in his body. A bit more time, and it'd heal perfectly. But Yusung didn't want to use more.
'Not when I don't know when they'll stop working.'
Nano machines weren't eternal. They had a lifespan tied to activity.
Once depleted, he'd need new ones. He had none now—and no guarantee of more.
He had to conserve them.
【The Purchase Window's potions are low-grade and not very effective. However, they should provide some healing for your current wounds.】
"Got it."
Yusung touched the potion icon.
A small glow gathered and faded before him. In its place appeared a finger-length test tube of red liquid.
He exhaled. The absurdity of objects materializing from nothing hit him anew.
Gripping the tube, he felt cold glass—just like in-game.
"Drink it?"
【Yes.】
He uncapped and downed it. A faintly bitter taste on his tongue—identical to the game.
For someone used to venomous beast meat, it was nothing.
He wiped his mouth roughly with the back of his hand and checked the wound.
'Amazing!'
The gash visibly shrank. It outpaced even the nano machines' healing. Soon, it was gone.
It claimed modest effects, but this seemed plenty useful.
'No. It was shallow, and nano machines had already done some work.'
Regardless, a new healing option was encouraging.
He swung his arm. Pain from the fresh cut had stung moments ago; now, nothing.
Pain gone, mood lifted. Yusung eyed the other items with fresh enthusiasm.
'White bread...'
Saliva flooded his mouth. Among his foods, it was the tastiest.
But he summoned superhuman restraint and looked lower. The last item caught his eye.
'What's this map?'
He could guess most items from their names. Not the map. He knew what a map was, of course.
"Strategy guide. What area does this map cover?"
【It's a map of the local area. Precisely, a 10km radius centered on your hideout.】
"Hmm."
Disappointing. He'd scoured the area for supplies, memorizing the terrain. 10km was broad, but he didn't need a map.
'Still, maybe something I missed.'
He couldn't buy it now, though. Same for everything else. If free, he'd stock black and white bread for a feast.
But he desperately curbed his hunger.
Because of the numbers beside each item.
〔15.5x121mm Rounds ? 300G〕
〔Arc's Beginner Gun - 500G〕
〔Arc's Basic Rounds - 10G〕
〔Low-Grade Potion - 100G〕
〔Black Bread - 10G〕
〔White Bread - 30G〕
〔Map - 1000G〕
『62G』
'The strategy guide called it the Purchase Window.'
Not freebies, then. Those numbers were prices. The bottom one: his funds.
Buying the potion dropped it from 162 to 62.
'With the rounds at 300G, I must've started with 462G.'
About what he'd had in-game.
'G means gold in-game. It's linked, as expected.'
The window mimicked Arc's shop design perfectly, and with the strategy guide in reality, denying the connection was absurd.
To buy here, he needed in-game gold. Lots of it.
'If they're replicating game items, why not game prices?'
Everything cost exactly ten times more. Otherwise, he'd have breathing room.
He grumbled aloud briefly.
'Whatever. This is plenty.'
Unexpected fight drained his ammo; now he could restock. Plus new healing.
'Luck was on my side. If game money was under 300G then...'
No rounds, torn apart by fangs and claws.
'Good thing I followed the strategy guide's advice.'
Keep 400G+ emergency funds—ignoring that would've been fatal. He patted himself on the back.
'Gotta save more in-game from now on.'
The thought weighed heavy. In-game hunting was easy, but his gun's poor cost-performance meant meager income.
He couldn't even afford skills available at level 5.
Couldn't skip ammo for hunting either. Only one thing to cut.
Food.
"Haaa~!"
A deep sigh escaped. Why play VR games again?
Delicious food, beautiful views. Food weighed heaviest.
But survival demanded cuts there.
Still, not hopeless.
'Ten times pricier, but beats that damned beast meat.'
Black and white bread prominently listed. Yusung tapped black bread lightly.
Glow again; bread appeared. Trembling hands grasped it. He sniffed.
Fragrant, saliva-inducing—unlike foul beast meat.
No holding back. He bit in.
Crunch! Crunch!
It crumbled between teeth, releasing nutty flavor.
Identical to in-game. The emotion too. No—reality amplified it.
He chewed thoroughly, swallowed.
No usual post-meal stomach pain. Another bite. Same.
'Just like the game!'
But one difference: the heavy fullness in his belly after finishing.
He licked crumbs from his lips, looked up, sniffed, and voiced the emotion welling from deep within.
"Ah, delicious!"
No more need for hunted beast meat after all that hardship.