Chapter 68: Pixie's Treasure Box (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: Pixie's Treasure Box (1)
Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes gleamed.
Finally, he was about to see Pixie’s true form—something he had never witnessed, even in his past life.
Pixie spoke with a newfound note of pride. She was no longer the lethargic creature she had been; she didn't trail off or hesitate. Her posture was confident, and she radiated a brilliant, ethereal light.
[I am of the Fairy Race. I cannot speak of my past in detail, but I once boasted considerable power and fame.]
“I figured as much.”
She was likely similar to the Master of All Weapons—a Transcendent. A being equal to, or perhaps even greater than, a god. She must have been someone close to that level.
[As you know, a massive war was once fought for ownership of the universe. And in the end, we lost.]
The Great War of the Universe.
The conclusion of that war had marked the defeat of those who originally ruled the cosmos. From the ashes of that conflict, a new Master of the Universe had been born.
[There were those who remained unyielding... but I was broken. I gave up on everything. Just like that guy over there.]
Pixie gestured with her chin toward the Master of All Weapons. He responded only with silence.
[I entered into a contract with the Master of the Universe and was assigned the role of a shopkeeper. I intended to live out my days meaninglessly until I eventually faded away.]
She had been a dying ember—firewood that had already turned to ash. But now, that ember was beginning to stir.
[The instinct of one's race is a powerful thing, isn't it?] Pixie muttered, raising her hand. [You reignited my spark. So, it is only right that I give you a reward befitting that.]
Pixie moved her hand in a fluid motion. Complex magic circles were etched into the air, and the very fabric of space began to distort.
[I am a Fairy. I seek to know all things in the world and explore its secrets. And above all, I love to collect precious things.]
Pixie grinned.
[So, the reward I will give you is simple: the things I built up during the days when I was truly myself. The things I collected and stored. Open! Myriad Treasure Warehouse!]
With a sharp clap of her hands, the magic circles expanded, and space itself stretched wide. A vast, infinitely deep sub-dimension unfolded before her. Inside were countless treasures—brilliantly shining, priceless objects.
[This is my treasure warehouse. All the riches I spent my entire life gathering. Now! Take a look!]
* * *
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a soft groan of awe.
The treasure warehouse was incredibly vast. The physical size of the portal was only about the size of a wardrobe, fitting easily within his room, but the interior was a different story.
What in the world...
Despite the modest entrance, the interior expanded endlessly. He couldn't even see the end of it. Within that space sat an innumerable amount of treasures.
The first things he saw were gemstones. Sapphires, diamonds, rubies—gems he was familiar with, but their size and purity were on another level. There was even a diamond the size of his fist. Among them, he spotted a strange gemstone shimmering with a shifting spectrum of colors.
Seeing it, the Master of All Weapons muttered.
[The Polychromatic Hexahedron. You actually managed to get your hands on that? I heard the previous owner refused to sell it even when offered an entire planet.]
[I had a bit of a hard time acquiring it,] Pixie boasted.
Kang Jun-hyeok let out a dry laugh. Next, he saw numerous artifacts. He picked up one of the grimoires; it looked like the least valuable among the scattered relics.
* * *
[Alfredo Haipan's Red Grimoire]
[Type: Weapon]
• Rank: High-Rank
• Mana +50
[Equipment Ability: Grants the ability to use magic of the Alfredo School.]
[Equipment Ability: Can activate the Alfredo School’s secret art, [Red Shift]. Cooldown: 5 minutes.]
[Description: The red grimoire once wielded by Alfredo Haipan himself. It contains the spells of a school that vanished after his death.]
[Price: 3,000 Starlight]
* * *
“…….”
Kang Jun-hyeok was speechless.
The Alfredo School. He knew exactly what that school was. It was one of the premier institutions within the Magic Tower on a planet in a distant star system. He had encountered mages from the Alfredo School a few times in his past life; they were world-renowned masters of fire magic.
Alfredo Haipan was the Archmage who had founded that school. The mages of his lineage had searched frantically for the grimoire and staff he used, calling them lost holy artifacts.
Yet Pixie had that very grimoire.
[I got it by asking Haipan personally,] Pixie said proudly. [He refused until the very end, insisting it remain with his school, but who am I? I paid a price equivalent to its value and brought it back.]
“The mages of that school would weep if they saw this.”
[Not my problem, is it?] Pixie replied flippantly.
Kang Jun-hyeok shook his head. The value is too high.
It was absurd. Just by holding the grimoire, one could use the school's magic and even its secret art. The grimoire was on par with a Perfect Clear reward—the kind of item one would usually only find after reaching at least the 20th Floor.
And yet, even this grimoire seemed to be the least valuable item here.
It wasn't just artifacts, either. There were various crafting materials. Kang Jun-hyeok checked one of them—a gemstone radiating smoldering, primordial heat.
* * *
[Flame Gem Containing the Breath of the Beginning]
[Rank: Highest-Grade]
[Description: The breath of the beginning, which has existed since the birth of the universe, has taken the form of a gem through intense compression.]
[Price: 6,000 Starlight]
* * *
“Ha.”
Kang Jun-hyeok couldn't help but burst into a hollow laugh. This was a crafting material. He had no use for it now, but its value would skyrocket exponentially once he climbed higher in the Tower. After all, shopkeepers weren't the only ones in the Tower—Blacksmiths, Enchanters, and various other NPCs existed.
This Flame Gem was among the best materials he had ever seen, even compared to everything he had obtained in his past life.
[The Flame Gem. So you had it all along,] the Master of All Weapons murmured.
[I went all the way to the place where the universe first began and worked my tail off to harvest it. I really thought I was going to die, you know?]
What was truly shocking was that there were several other materials in the warehouse that seemed to be on the same level as the Flame Gem. That wasn't all. Pixie snapped her fingers.
[That’s not all. I am of the Fairy Race, after all. I can even pass some of my own abilities on to you.]
A list of options appeared before Kang Jun-hyeok. As he read through them, he muttered in disbelief.
“Is this even allowed?”
* * *
[Active Skill: Pixie's Wings]
• Rank: Mid-Rank
• Proficiency: F
• Cooldown: 60 minutes
• Effect: Manifest Pixie's Wings for 1 minute, allowing for free flight.
• Price: 1,000 Starlight
[Active Skill: Pixie's Treasure Intuition]
• Rank: Low-Rank
• Proficiency: F
• Cooldown: 60 minutes
• Effect: If there is a precious treasure within range, you will sense its exact location.
• Price: 500 Starlight
* * *
“It’s not random?”
Every skill obtainable in the standard Shop was usually granted through random boxes. You could get a dud, or you could hit the jackpot. That was why most people didn't bother buying the lowest-rank boxes.
But here, the skills were displayed directly. Pixie spoke as if it were obvious.
[This isn't a shop provided by the System. It’s a shop I, as an individual, am opening for you. There is no need to be bound by such petty restrictions.]
“…….”
Kang Jun-hyeok realized it then. This was something that could never be obtained in a normal shop. It was a benefit that could only be earned by clearing Pixie’s quest and winning her sincerity.
It was no exaggeration—if he had possessed this in his past life, the outcome of his journey might have been entirely different. It was almost lamentable. At the same time, he was thrilled. This vast treasure warehouse was now his to access.
Kang Jun-hyeok calmed his racing heart and asked the most important question.
“How do I get these?”
No matter how brilliantly the treasures shone, they were just a mirage if he couldn't get his hands on them. Equipment, materials, skills—everything in Pixie’s warehouse had a price listed beneath it.
Starlight.
It wasn't Gold. Pixie smiled brightly.
[I don't need Gold. I only collect it because I was given that role as a shopkeeper, and then I incinerate it. I have no intention of demanding it for my personal warehouse. You prefer it that way too, don't you?]
“Well, that’s true.”
He already had plenty of things to spend Gold on; if Pixie’s warehouse required it too, his finances would collapse.
[And above all, the current me is empty. I’m in the same state as that guy.] Pixie pointed at the Master of All Weapons. [I have the warehouse... but since my very existence is hollow, I can't manifest the items. I need something to fuel the exchange.]
“And that’s Starlight?”
[Exactly. The way to get it is simple. Climb the Tower. Conquer the floors, analyze them, and show me new scenes I never expected.]
Kang Jun-hyeok understood her meaning immediately.
“You mean I should get a Perfect Clear.”
[You catch on quick. That’s the correct answer. The more you satisfy my curiosity, the more you make me marvel, the more Starlight you will earn. My existence will be filled, and in turn, you will be able to claim my treasures.]
“No problem.”
Achieving a Perfect Clear on every floor was his goal from the start. To be able to get additional rewards just by pursuing his original objective—what could be better? Kang Jun-hyeok laughed with genuine joy.
Climbing the Tower is about to get a lot more interesting.
[Then, that’s it for the explanation. Anything else you’re curious about?]
“No. Nothing. Thank you.”
[I should be the one thanking you. I was forced into this shopkeeper role and I was sick of it. I was even considering just throwing it all away... but thanks to you, I’ve gained a little bit of a will to live.]
Pixie waved her hand, leaving one last remark.
[I’ll be looking forward to the future, Kang Jun-hyeok. Please, continue to satisfy me. Perhaps if it’s you... you might even help me find my true self one day.]
Pixie departed. Kang Jun-hyeok muttered to himself.
“I will.”
No, he would make it happen. That was why he had returned.
Time passed. The world was still in chaos. People were running wild, many still in denial of their new reality. But even in such a situation, there were those who silently climbed the Tower.
Three days later, Kang Jun-hyeok entered the Tower again.
[12th Floor Quest beginning.]
Kang Jun-hyeok arrived on the 12th Floor. The environment was different from anywhere he had been before. Strange mechanical devices were attached to every surface. It looked like a massive, high-tech facility.
And in the center stood a single, enormous machine. A giant robot. It was the size of a titan, looking like something straight out of a sci-fi epic.
Whirrrrr.
The robot’s eyes glowed a menacing red. An infrared beam locked onto Kang Jun-hyeok with lethal precision.
[12th Floor Quest: Control the facility.]
“Shall we?”
Kang Jun-hyeok drew his sword.