Chapter 18

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 18

Chapter Title: Staff Sniper (1)

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"Oh..."

A proper apology post went up, more than I'd expected.

It mentioned a personal apology coming soon too... but honestly, I wasn't even that mad?

They probably reacted this strongly not because of the offense's severity, but because it was me on the receiving end.

Just as Hepha Reborn claimed, he really was part of Naru Guild, one of Korea's top ten guilds.

It felt excessive, but it was satisfying handling, so I'd remember the guild name.

Later, Hepha Reborn's apology went up too. I read it separately, but it was a total template.

No real anger on my end, so no need to forgive or anything.

They put in the effort with an apology post, so I left a "it's cool" comment and closed the gallery.

Yeah... I want to do that too.

Not just me—more people wishing me success meant good results were surely coming.

Perfect timing with one minute left, so I opened the equipment crafting screen and waited.

"Here we gooo!!!"

All-out B-grade gear six-in-a-row craft.

"Fuck..."

After that miserable six straight failures, I crashed for the night. Five hours later, morning hit.

"This time it's different!!!!!"

It wasn't different at all.

"Hoo..."

Two six-packs in a row—twelve straight failures—had my mentality cracking a bit.

What kept me going was something soothing my mood: the C-grade shortsword and one-hand shield I'd auctioned had both sold.

Converted to won: 500 million for one, 430 million for the other. About 930 million total ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠profit.

"Heh heh heh heugh..."

Overwhelming dopamine turns people into idiots, apparently.

I looked dumb even to myself, but the dopey grin wouldn't quit.

Smack!

"Snap out of it."

I wasn't some chump thrilled over C-grade sales anymore.

The B-grade rapier was still seeing top bids update steadily.

Plenty of time left on the auction, and it was already over 2 billion.

No more money worries.

Even by S-rank hunter standards, B-grade weapons were endgame.

I could mass-produce them with time, so financial freedom was just the start—world's richest seemed within reach.

Not far off from B to A, A to S and beyond.

"Hoo..."

Chanting "this is nothing" as I claimed the sale proceeds...

Newly unlocked: Regular Customer Registration, plus prompts for the two buyers.

Having regulars sounded good in theory, but no clue what it actually did.

Luckily, I could defer without accepting or declining.

Minimized the messages with the 🗕 icon and checked [Regular Customer Registration] right away.

Felt just like a game friend list.

"Hm..."

Tested with a nickname I knew: entered and hit search.

'No sales, but regulars...?'

To check, I tried a nickname definitely not a buyer from the C-grades.

'It works.'

Kim Hyeji couldn't afford C-grade without rice money, so confirmed.

Even without purchase history, entering a nickname registers them as regular.

Issue: no way to know exact benefits without adding one.

"Haaa... no choice."

Time to force through the ignored [Tutorial].

Never touched any beyond the first three, so gotta do all the new ones.

No way this shitty interface had per-tutorial skips.

"Hoo..."

Nothing else to do, so binge the tutorials.

Might miss something important.

"Ugh! Hoo..."

Blasted through all tutorials in about 20 minutes.

No individual skips, as expected. Listened intently, wondering if I'd missed anything.

Surprisingly, I had.

New features: six including the fresh [Regular Customer Registration].

[Equipment Appraisal] tutorial item once, [Name Engraving] once.

Total two tutorial items issued.

Checked the codex: matched the rusty iron sword from first [Equipment Repair] tutorial, completing the set.

"Great stuff you gave me..."

Hoped collecting them all summoned Exodia or something epic.

But rusty iron gear? What miracle could come from that?

Can't toss 'em, no inventory limit anyway. Just leave 'em.

Priority: Regular Customer Registration.

Tutorial helped for sure.

Register regulars: unlocks direct player-to-player trades, bypassing auction house.

I could send stuff without gallery auctions.

Plus, with consent, view their status windows post-registration.

Consent required, so no peeking freely. But buyers wanting my gear wouldn't refuse status shares and risk awkwardness.

As feared, registration sends consent prompt to them.

Except: prior traders auto-register without consent.

So the two C-grade buyers: instant register if I wanted...

Eh, not really.

'I only deal with big spenders.'

C-grade buyers unlikely whales.

Only vetted ones get registered.

Why? This dogshit system might lack delete function.

Tutorial skipped it entirely—not impossible.

If registering someone ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now...

"Only Yena fits."

S-rank Awakener aside, she's the most trusted person in my world.

But no nickname, and her month's training far from over.

Yena, Korea's third S-rank, should've had a famous nickname by now—but nada.

TwiIight Guild gagging members? Or Yena hasn't picked one?

Fine...

Hold off.

Not urgent, no need risking others.

Make gear till Yena contacts.

Two weeks flew by.

"Please..."

Equipment crafts attempted: about 400.

All-in on B-grade gear.

Reason one: needed first attribute imbue—ideally light, fire, or wind on mage weapons.

Around attempt 50: succeeded mage weapon, wand.

Attribute imbue? Dogshit fail.

Leads to reason two.

Now: four unused mage weapons left for imbue.

"Please..."

One's gotta work.

If not, sell everything and quit.