Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Merchant Guild Rewards
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Yuseong finished his hunt and returned to the Merchant Guild. The broadcast was already over. The moment he spotted Yuseong, the receptionist hurriedly escorted him to the Guild Master's room.
"Welcome."
The Guild Master greeted Yuseong warmly.
The two sat facing each other across the table, just as they had done not long ago.
"I've heard the story."
The Guild Master said. A shadow darkened his face.
"Who would've thought that bastard Istin was an inside accomplice."
It seemed the guild had already been briefed on the full details. Yuseong was relieved by that fact.
'No tedious explanations demanded. That would've been a hassle.'
It appeared to be a system designed with players in mind.
"And not content with that, a devil worshiper? What the hell was wrong with that guy's head?"
He shook his head in disbelief, as if it was beyond comprehension.
"But it's a relief that you took him down, Mr. Yuseong. We couldn't let those horrific devils roam the world again."
With that, the Guild Master lowered his head.
"We offer our deepest gratitude in every way."
After saying this, he raised his head again and continued.
"Still, a deal is a deal. Did you bring back the treasures he stole?"
Yuseong pulled out the chest and slid it across to the Guild Master. The Guild Master opened it.
'So it only opens for that NPC.'
It was probably a system mechanic set up for the event. A quick glance inside revealed it brimming with glittering gold and jewels.
"These are definitely the items stolen from us."
The Guild Master closed the chest and set it down to his left. Then he lifted a box from his right and placed it on the table.
"Here's your reward."
He opened the box to reveal several bundles. Yuseong gathered them up. He checked his quest window to confirm all the promised rewards were accounted for.
'One thing's missing?'
The mysterious map that every viewer had insisted was incredibly valuable—it wasn't there.
Fortunately, there was no bug, nor had the Guild Master pocketed it.
"And please accept this as well."
The Guild Master added another bundle from beside him.
"I heard that among the items Istin stole was a book for summoning devils. That's why he joined our guild, right?"
It had to be referring to the Necronomicon replica. Was he demanding that back too, as a quest item?
Yuseong, who had already promised to sell it to one of the guild members for a fair price, felt a twinge of awkwardness.
But fortunately, that wasn't the case.
"You don't need to return it. No, we'd prefer you take it. The very thought of such a cursed item being in our guild gives me chills."
The Guild Master shuddered slightly.
"Our investigation showed it was bought by the Guild Master fifty years ago. He had no family or friends, so when he died, all his assets reverted to the guild—including this."
The Guild Master added that they didn't know whether that former master had bought it unknowingly or if he too had been a devil worshiper.
"Since it's from fifty years ago, naturally we have no idea where it came from. We have zero intention of trying to sell such an unlucky thing. The issue is that it came bundled with another item bought at the same time. This is that item."
The Guild Master nudged the bundle a bit closer to Yuseong.
"We'd be grateful if you'd take it. Just to be clear, this has absolutely nothing to do with that wicked book. We don't know its exact nature, but reliable info confirms it's extremely valuable. It's just unsettling that it arrived alongside that book."
The Guild Master eyed the bundle with a look of distaste.
"Please take it as a token of our appreciation. Sell it elsewhere, and you'll pocket a fortune."
"Understood."
Yuseong pocketed the bundle and inspected it.
'This must be the mysterious map.'
An ultra-rare item that exuded immense importance, one whose value soared sky-high even in Utopia.
Yuseong didn't know the specifics offhand, but thanks to his strategy guide, he identified it immediately.
It was a map indicating a certain location.
However, this single sheet held no meaning on its own. More map pieces were required.
Of course, your average hidden spot was no issue for Yuseong with his guide—he could visit whenever he wanted.
But this map led to something different. The completed map didn't just pinpoint the location; it also served as the key to enter it.
'Valuable, sure, but no use for it anytime soon.'
Yuseong stowed it in his inventory.
He left the guild. Turning back, he gazed at the building he'd frequented back and forth to pick up quests.
'No need to come back here anymore.'
For the time being, he planned to hunt in the haunts of the fallen devils while waiting for someone.
'A necromancer, huh...'
The guild might seem arbitrary, but the only members he'd met in person were Cooking Day and Western Garden. Apparently, he'd get to meet a new one this time.
* * *
In the Freestyle Guild Master's office, two people sat across from each other.
The Guild Master and Cooking Day.
They were chatting idly when someone pounded on the office door.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Or more accurately, it felt like slamming.
"Who the hell is that?"
Cooking Day scowled and stood up. Whoever it was had made it this far inside, so definitely a guild member—but did they have someone this rude?
Cooking Day yanked the door open.
"Who the hell knocks like—!"
"Uncle!"
Cooking Day was caught off guard as the intruder lunged and grabbed his lapels like she was seizing his collar. But he quickly recognized her and understood why she'd battered the door so fiercely.
"What is it, you? Even if you're in a rush, knocking like that...!"
"Is it true? You found the Necronomicon replica?"
She clearly had no intention of listening. Cooking Day considered saying something but let it go.
No point right now. Besides, he could somewhat understand why she was so worked up.
"Would I lie? It's the real deal."
"Woooow!"
She threw both arms up and let out a whoop. Then she started jumping around.
No taming that excitement. Judging as much, Cooking Day stepped aside. His eyes met the Guild Master's. He shrugged, and Cooking Day smirked.
* * *
"I'm really sorry!"
She bowed her head. Now that she'd come to her senses, her face flushed red. Cooking Day sprawled in a chair and clutched the back of his neck. It was the exact pose of a con artist who'd just gotten fleeced trying to pull a scam.
"Oy, why's the back of my neck killing me? Damn, guess someone strained my muscles."
The Guild Master stared at him in disbelief.
"What kind of injury is that in a game? And if you got hurt, it'd be somewhere else that aches."
"How the hell should I know! If it hurts, it hurts!"
"Probably just your age catching up, uncle."
"What'd you say, punk?"
Cooking Day bolted upright and jabbed a finger at him. The Guild Master chuckled.
"All better already, huh? Heals quick for your age. Must take good care of yourself?"
"I'm not that old!"
After yelling his protest at the Guild Master, Cooking Day flopped back into the chair. He glanced at the woman who'd burst in and grabbed him by the collar.
Evidently embarrassed by her own behavior, she had pulled her robe's hood over her face. She was Freestyle's necromancer.
"No need to feel that bad about it. I was just messing around."
"Yeah, you don't owe this uncle any apologies."
"What'd you say, punk?"
Cooking Day shot the Guild Master a death glare. The Guild Master quickly looked away.
"Enough of this. Let's talk something productive. You're here about the Necronomicon replica, right?"
She'd been peeking at them sheepishly, apology still lingering, but her eyes lit up instantly.
"Of course. It's the key clue I finally tracked down for my class upgrade."
"Just like I told you, one of our new guild members found it."
"That amazing guy you mentioned before, uncle? Yuseong, was it?"
"Yeah."
Seeing is believing. Cooking Day pulled up the latest video Yuseong had uploaded. It started from him receiving the quest at the Merchant Guild and went all the way to discovering a new dungeon.
A place crawling with devils. And above all, defeating the dungeon boss to claim the Necronomicon replica.
She watched with eager anticipation, involuntarily cheering aloud the moment the replica appeared onscreen.
"See? Real deal."
"It really is!"
"I scouted a good one. Not a bit of regret over tangling with those bratty kids. Already paying off big for us."
Cooking Day lavished praise on Yuseong while loudly boasting about his own recruitment skills.
But neither the Guild Master nor she disputed it. Anyone could see Yuseong was a net positive for the guild right now.
"But you're really going to sell it?"
"Yeah. A gunner like him has no reason to hold onto it. Sure, it's valuable, but unless you're a collector, no need to hang onto another class's upgrade item. Though honestly, he seemed way less interested than most."
Had Cooking Day not been watching Yuseong's stream purely out of curiosity, Yuseong might've sold it right then and there.
'No, that might be going too far?'
Even so, Cooking Day wouldn't have been shocked. From what he'd seen, Yuseong's interests were biased to an extreme degree.
'He dives headfirst into what catches his eye, but tunes out everything else completely.'
It didn't faze him. Freestyle was full of people like that to begin with. Heck, Cooking Day himself had that streak.
"But we have to pay a fair price. It's no ordinary item."
"Naturally."
She had zero intention of lowballing it.
Her personality was worlds away from scamming people for profit. And ripping off a fellow guild member? In a small outfit like Freestyle, no less?
Even a dedicated con artist would think twice in this situation.
"So what should we offer? Cash? Items? Any specific items he might want?"
"Cash should be fine. From what he said, he places real value on money."
"Oh? What kind? Won? Dollars? Some other currency?"
"Game money. Not real-world cash."
She blinked. For a moment, she wondered if she'd misheard.
But no matter how she turned it over in her mind, she hadn't.
"G-game money... for a Necronomicon replica...? Th-that's way too generous, isn't it?"