Chapter 8: Shop (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 8: Shop (1)
It was a perfectly natural suspicion.
In fact, it was close to the truth. Kang Jun-hyeok was a regressor; this was far from his first time inside the Tower.
However, the Master of All Weapons couldn't quite leap to that conclusion.
[Anyone can obtain basic information about the Tower, even without a strategy guide. I know that if you were desperate enough, you could have scrounged up some knowledge... but you seem far too familiar with this place.]
The Master of All Weapons asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
[You. Did you perhaps visit the Fake Tower?]
"Are you talking about the place built by the losers?"
A replica of the Tower created by the Losers of the Great War, modeled after the original. People called it the Fake Tower. At Jun-hyeok’s answer, the Master of All Weapons muttered as if everything finally made sense.
[I see. So you tested the Tower’s structure there in advance. That would explain it. Even so, you still seem excessively accustomed to all this.]
The Master of All Weapons seemed to accept the explanation. At that reaction, Jun-hyeok’s eyes darkened.
The Master of All Weapons hadn't even considered the possibility that he had returned to the past.
Judging by his words and attitude, the Master of All Weapons likely knew a great deal. He seemed to know what lay at the end of the Tower and even what kind of being its Master was.
It wasn't particularly strange. Unique items were, by definition, extraordinary. They couldn't be classified as mere items of the Tower.
Yet, even the Master of All Weapons couldn't conceive of the possibility that time had been turned back. It was strange, considering the Returning Gem was ultimately a reward from the Tower itself.
‘...No.’
Perhaps.
Was it designed so that one’s thoughts could never reach that conclusion?
‘Just what exactly did you obtain, High Priest Milarepa?’
Jun-hyeok kept his thoughts to himself.
Regardless, the Master of All Weapons had reached his own conclusion. It wasn't a bad thing, as it saved Jun-hyeok the trouble of a tedious explanation.
Now, it was time to move on to the next task. Since he had finished checking his rewards, it was time to use them.
It was time for the Shop.
* * *
The basic reward of the Tower was Gold. It was a currency used on a universal scale.
So, how was that Gold used?
There were several ways, but the most common was the Shop. From equipment and skills to unlocking countless other abilities and conditions—almost anything could be purchased with Gold in the Shop. It was an essential feature for climbing the Tower.
Originally, Jun-hyeok had intended to use it immediately after clearing the 0th Floor, but he had been blocked by the restriction that a player must clear the 1st Floor first. Now that he had cleared it, Jun-hyeok spoke.
"Open Shop."
[The Shop is opening.]
Space tore open in front of Jun-hyeok. Beyond the rift, an endless expanse resembling the cosmic void of outer space was visible.
From within the rift, a figure emerged.
[...Hello.]
It was a small, humanoid form with tiny fairy wings.
A Fairy. It was a creature straight out of a fantasy novel or a fairy tale, but the Fairy appearing before him now was more than enough to shatter any childhood innocence.
She had dark circles reaching down to her cheeks and a face that looked half-dead. She held a cigar in one hand. She looked, for all intents and purposes, like a total wreck.
[First time seeing you... Nice to meet you. I’m Pixie... the Shopkeeper.]
"Nice to meet you, Pixie," Jun-hyeok said calmly.
Pixie gave him a strange look, surprised by his composed attitude.
[You’re calmer than I thought... Everyone else who sees me for the first time flips out...]
He had seen this face constantly in his past life, so there was nothing to be surprised about. But since he couldn't say that, Jun-hyeok simply raised his hand.
"I already have something similar."
A soot-colored glove was fitted on that hand. Pixie’s eyes widened as she stared at the glove for a moment.
[Huh? ...Is that you?]
[It has been a long time, little fairy,] the Master of All Weapons replied in a low voice.
Pixie muttered in bewilderment.
[Why are you here...?]
"Do you two know each other?"
[We crossed paths a few times a very long time ago... You left acting all high and mighty, so why did you suddenly come back...?]
The Master of All Weapons didn't answer. Pixie’s expression shifted as she realized something.
[...Aha. It wasn't by your own will, was it...?]
Having said that, Pixie turned her gaze toward Jun-hyeok.
[So you became that guy’s master. How did you get him? He must have demanded some pretty fastidious conditions...]
[Be quiet, fairy,] the Master of All Weapons said curtly. [Just fulfill the role you were assigned.]
[Well... fine. Right now, I’m the Shopkeeper who has to guide the Tower’s Players. Since I’m Pixie, I guess I should do my job...]
Pixie spoke in a resigned, defeated tone as she bit down on her cigar.
[Player who cleared the 1st Floor. Your name is...?]
"Kang Jun-hyeok."
[Kang Jun-hyeok. You are now able to use the Shop. Everything you desire is here.]
As if to prove her words, the space resembling the endless universe expanded. It was truly a near-infinite space. Within it, an unfathomable amount of goods were piled up.
[From equipment and skills to consumables, and even things that can’t be named. Literally everything. There is only one way to obtain them.]
"Gold, I assume."
[Correct. No more words are needed.]
Puffing away at her cigar, Pixie spoke.
[The reason you called for the Shop right after entering the Tower is probably because of equipment...?]
"Yes."
Jun-hyeok nodded.
Equipment was the most essential element for climbing the Tower. While items could be obtained during the climb, it was nearly impossible in the early stages. All basic equipment had to be purchased from the Shop.
"The equipment categories are helmet, top, bracers, leggings, boots, necklace, two ring slots, weapon, and shield. Ten slots in total, right?"
[...You know surprisingly well. That’s correct. Basically, you can wear equipment in ten slots.]
Pixie continued leisurely.
[The options are slightly different for each slot... Buying equipment according to the options you need will be one of your strategies...]
Pixie tapped away her cigar ash.
[Lowest-grade equipment is 100 Gold each. If you clear the 1st Floor, you can buy at least one... Out of the ten equipment slots, what are you going to buy...?]
This was the first crossroads of choice. A Player who had just cleared the 1st Floor, knowing nothing and possessing only a handful of Gold, would usually have to make an agonizing decision.
However, this didn't apply to Jun-hyeok. He spoke casually.
"Nine slots."
[...Huh?]
"Excluding the shield, I’m buying all nine slots."
Jun-hyeok spoke matter-of-factly.
[...Eh?]
Pixie tilted her head.
[Did I explain it wrong? The price for lowest-grade equipment is 100 Gold. I’m talking about a single piece, not a set.]
"You explained it perfectly. Nine slots. I’m buying them all."
[...]
Pixie’s face crumpled. There were plenty of Players who talked nonsense because they didn't understand how things worked. Thinking Jun-hyeok was one of those cases, Pixie sighed.
[This is such a pain... So you’re saying you have 900 Gold right now? Stop talking nonsense and...]
"I do," Jun-hyeok confirmed. "I have 900 Gold, so hand over the equipment."
* * *
Pixie wore a bizarre expression. She couldn't tell if Jun-hyeok had lost his mind or if he was being serious. Therefore, she used her authority as Shopkeeper to check Jun-hyeok’s Gold.
[Current Gold Held: 2,533]
[...Huh?]
Upon seeing the Gold, Pixie’s jaw dropped.
[2, 2,500 Gold? What? Didn't you just clear the 1st Floor?]
Life suddenly returned to her half-dead face. Jun-hyeok let out a short laugh. Even in his past life, there were only a few times Pixie had shown such strong emotion.
"There’s no problem then, right?"
[Uh, yeah. There’s no problem, but...]
Pixie, who had been flustered for a long time, finally managed to calm down.
[...Fine. I guess if you were able to get that guy, you must be special. But still, 2,500 Gold? Does that even make sense?]
Pixie was dumbfounded. It had been ten years since she became a Shopkeeper and started dealing with beings from across the universe. In all that time, she had never once seen a Player who had cleared the 1st Floor with over 2,000 Gold.
The highest she had seen until now was 700 Gold. Even then, she had been unable to hide her admiration, but this was on a completely different level.
‘Where did a guy like this suddenly pop out from?’
Pixie, who had been staring blankly at Jun-hyeok, quickly snapped out of it.
[...Alright, fine. I’ve confirmed the Gold, so there’s no problem. Here.]
Pixie lightly snapped her fingers.
[Pick the equipment you want...]
With those words, hundreds of equipment windows appeared before Jun-hyeok. They were all the items he could currently afford.
[Leather Armor on the Verge of Rotting]
Slot: Top
Grade: Lowest-Grade
Stats: Strength +1, Defense +1
‘As expected.’
Jun-hyeok wore a satisfied expression as he checked the equipment. The reason he was going out of his way to get basic equipment for every slot was because of the stats.
The equipment available in the Shop—excluding weapons and shields—had basic stats attached to each piece. If he wore eight pieces, he would gain an additional 8 stat points. In the early stages, it was hard to find a higher rate of growth than this.
Jun-hyeok began to precisely purchase the equipment he needed. Pixie watched him with a strange expression.
[...How cold-blooded.]
Usually, when people had that much Gold, they would get excited by the array of equipment and overspend, but Jun-hyeok showed no such behavior. He was pursuing perfect efficiency like a machine.
His actions were so practiced it was as if he had done this many times before. Even for Pixie, who had seen countless Players as a Shopkeeper, this was a first.
As a result of equipping the items, Jun-hyeok’s Strength and Speed both exceeded 20.
"Not bad," Jun-hyeok muttered, feeling pleased with the power coursing through his body. Finally, he chose a weapon.
[Sharpened Spear]
Slot: Weapon
Grade: Lowest-Grade
Stats: Attack Power +12
A spear had higher versatility than a sword. It would be a great help for the floors to come. In addition, Jun-hyeok purchased a bow and arrows.
‘They’re all lowest-grade, though.’
It didn't matter; he was just setting up the basics. This was more than satisfactory.
[A guy who just cleared the 1st Floor is wearing full equipment. Is this even right...] Pixie muttered in a disgruntled tone.
Currently, Jun-hyeok had better equipment than most 5th Floor Players. Even she, who had seen it all, couldn't help but be amazed.
[I assume you’re satisfied for now? Then I’m leaving...]
Pixie thought Jun-hyeok would stop here. It was only natural. With the equipment he was wearing now, he could clear the Tower for the time being without any issues. It was rational to save the rest of his Gold.
"No."
But Jun-hyeok shook his head.
"It’s still not enough."
[...Not enough?]
Normally, there would be no problem climbing the Tower. With his current state, he could probably stroll up to the 10th Floor.
But what he wanted was a Perfect Clear. By that standard, it was still not enough.
Therefore, Jun-hyeok spoke to Pixie.
"I want to purchase an Active Skill."