Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: The Conscientious Merchant
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The identity of the one who sent the note was obvious.
Only one person knew Kang Jae-hyeok's community chat name.
**Title: To My Dear Friend**
**Sender: Conscientious Merchant**
The message was needlessly long.
It started with inquiries about his well-being, then unleashed a torrent of blunt opinions.
‘The key part is short, though.’
The content boiled down to something simple.
- I have items I'd like to sell to you.
‘Artifacts like the White Serpent Bracelet, probably.’
The Conscientious Merchant had seemed quite interested in players who resisted status ailments.
The reason was likely to offload his ‘cursed items.’
Cursed items that lowered the wearer's stats or induced status effects.
As revealed in the White Serpent Bracelet auction, these kinds of items were hard to sell at their true value.
No matter how excellent the performance, finding buyers was the real challenge.
To a merchant, they were nothing but headaches.
‘Are people resistant to status ailments rarer than I thought?’
The Conscientious Merchant wrote in the note that he'd recently come across items that might suit him by chance.
It was almost certainly a lie.
They were probably items he'd had all along.
‘Shameless bastard.’
It had only been a few days since they connected, but starting sales pitches already suggested he'd been tormented by malicious inventory for quite some time.
Jae-hyeok snorted and sent a reply.
- Not interested.
A desperate person digs their own well.
Jae-hyeok, who had lived more desperately than most, knew this well.
Did he have items that only he could buy?
If so, he should boost their appeal somehow to pique his interest.
With that short reply clearly conveying his intent, Jae-hyeok began searching keywords on the board and chat rooms.
Appearance change, customization, looks, and so on.
After about twenty minutes of searching...
"Welcome. It's 5,000 points as listed, half upfront."
[Would you like to purchase 'Orc Leather' for 2,500 points?]
‘Using worthless items to trade points, huh.’
Jae-hyeok had sought out a fairly famous 'Tailor' in the community and entrusted his boots for repairs.
"Oh ho, Wind Spirit Boots. Excellent not just in performance but design too. You want them repaired to be as inconspicuous as possible, right?"
Customers wanting to alter item appearances were countless.
Some for style or personality, others to hide dangerous histories.
Sensing something unusual from Jae-hyeok's voice, which rumbled like a beast's growl, the Tailor curbed any idle curiosity.
He regretfully stroked the boots' shafts, which reached mid-calf, then snipped them off cleanly.
What if the item got destroyed like that?
As Jae-hyeok eyed him suspiciously in alarm, the Tailor explained casually.
"It's not destruction; it's modification. Using skills... I only change the exterior without touching the core elements that make the item work, so don't worry. Just sit and wait. If my skills were lacking, could I have stayed in business here for three years?"
"Three years...? You must have a lot of regulars."
"Thanks to all the kind customers. I'll do my best to make you one too."
The Tailor spoke in a bright voice.
He seemed the type proud of and passionate about his craft.
Jae-hyeok watched silently as he patched the now ankle-length boots with various leathers.
He'd worried briefly since the man had operated in the same spot for three years, but it seemed he wouldn't leak customer info.
‘Craftsmen are great like that.’
Their focus was solely on the work.
They often barely glanced at the person bringing it.
Jae-hyeok recalled old memories.
The blacksmith craftsman who made and maintained House Kang's armaments.
Even his father called him 'elder' and treated him with utmost respect.
That was the first time Jae-hyeok had seen his father humble himself to anyone.
Maybe that man knew about Iyarugut too?
‘I should ask Butler Hwang to get his contact.’
One concern was the man's advanced age.
Even ten years ago, his face was full of wrinkles, his back bent nearly ninety degrees—what must it be like now?
‘...He's not the type to go easily.’
Calming himself with a few anecdotes, three hours passed.
"Done."
The Tailor, looking pleased, handed over the finished product.
Red-dyed leather was diagonally patched over the instep for flair, and thin silver steel wrapped the toe for practicality.
That was it.
But the change felt tremendous.
With the shorter shafts, the overall vibe had turned casual.
Now it would match any outfit, not just uniforms.
The steel wrapping what had seemed too pointy to Jae-hyeok added a sleek touch.
"One thing I focused on to preserve performance was weight. The center of gravity is the same, so no weird feel."
"Mm."
Trying them on, Jae-hyeok felt great satisfaction.
No one in the world would link these to the Wind Spirit Boots now, he was sure.
Easier coordination was a bonus too.
Since he'd wear them constantly.
"I'd like to come back."
"Happy to gain a new regular. Add me as a friend and message when needed. My nickname's 'Cucrafts'."
"Cucrafts?"
"Custom craftsman."
His very handle oozed pride.
Feeling he'd scored a good supplier, Jae-hyeok paid exactly 2,500 points and left the chat.
"What... wasn't he tipping?"
His presence was so imposing, I thought he was a big shot. Guess not.
Makes sense—with points tight, he's using basic masks.
"Hah, I should raise my prices. Set 'em too low, and only cheapskates like him show up."
How long till he saves his target points like this?
Sighing deeply, he returned to his waiting room—which matched Jae-hyeok's in layout.
***
Peekaboo. Peekaboo. Peekaboo.
‘What the?’
Waking to the alarm, Jae-hyeok jolted in surprise.
No headache upon rising.
No stiffness despite no stretching.
Most amazingly...
‘My eyes aren't blurry?’
Vision crystal clear without mana circulation.
He could count the exact leaves on the tall tree outside, even the fuzz on each.
"Can this really happen overnight...?"
Heading puzzled to the bathroom, he realized mid-hair wash.
‘Don't tell me it's from sleeping properly?’
To squeeze in one more second of training, he'd limited sleep to max four hours.
Even after awakening and leveling, physical fatigue accumulated steadily.
Especially in his growth spurt.
A time when the body grew beyond mere recovery during sleep.
Yet over eight years without proper rest—the stress on his body was unimaginable.
‘So that's why Butler Hwang nagged me to sleep.’
Butler Hwang had often lectured on sleep's importance.
But Jae-hyeok dismissed it, saying giving full effort was House Kang's creed.
Now he felt sorry for himself.
‘No headache because mental fatigue lifted too?’
Indeed, reflecting on his past life, mental exhaustion far outweighed physical.
‘I thought it was just low blood pressure...’
Even suspected hereditary.
‘Sorry for doubting our ancestors' genes.’
Bowing solemnly, Jae-hyeok strode dorm-ward with confident steps.
B-Class students he passed on campus flinched.
‘Did he eat something weird this morning?’
‘He's heading to breakfast now.’
‘Must've scarfed something odd instead.’
Jae-hyeok's smiles came in two flavors.
The blatant taunting grin, or the outright mischievous smirk.
At least to B-Class, this natural smile on his face was a first.
"Jackpot, total heartthrob..."
Cheon Hye-ji blurted in awe unbeknownst. Other girls nodded agreement, eyes glued to him.
It was fleeting.
"Eat big at breakfast and hit the bathroom first. Gonna drill you hard today—empty your guts ahead."
The girls' gazes cooled instantly.
"Gotta mention bathrooms on the way to breakfast?"
"Guys like him are impossible to see as men. Just a tall brat."
"Why chase guys? Here to date?"
"You shut it, Jin-seong..."
Thanks to Kang Jae-hyeok, B-Class was always rowdy.
Entering the cafeteria noisily, they fell silent, halting.
An unbelievable scene unfolded.
Several top A-Class first-years, deemed the strongest, lay bloodied on the floor.
"Serves you right for overstepping."
A green-haired boy pressed his foot on one groaning student's chest.
Loren.
Austria's National Treasure Candidate had caused real trouble.
The mood turned vicious fast.
Second-years stepped up aggressively.
Upperclassmen's stares at Loren weren't kind.
Causing a scene in public as a first-year was secondary.
Nationality.
The second-years bristled at Loren's status.
A European assaulting students in Lion's Castle, Korea's heart.
In front of countless Koreans, no less.
"Brat. Acting fearless as an exchange student. Korea that much of a pushover?"
"No one to fear here."
As Loren retorted coldly and veins bulged on the second-years' foreheads.
"Cowards who run while others fight, talking big?"
Oja Ha.
The pretty boy always tailing Shilla-kyeong appeared alone, sneering.
Hand on his sword hilt.
"A supposed National Treasure Candidate with just a mouth. Loren, you know? From the first time I saw you, I really, really didn't like you."
Tension peaked.
The cafeteria hushed like a storm's eve.
Clink. Clink. Clink.
...Or not quite silent.
Jae-hyeok's scooping sounds rang nonstop.
In peak form today, he was piling six trays high with food.