Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Pay-to-Win Knight
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[No, why did you sweep up all the items without a word?]
His words even gave me a fresh feeling somehow.
‘Come to think of it, this is my first time arguing over drop items.’
I had prepared for it, but I never imagined I'd actually experience it in another civilization. Looking back, this was the normal situation.
That was why I'd summoned the shadow magpie Shasha, who stealthily swept things up out of sight.
‘Of course, it's more surprising that there haven't been issues until now.’
There were various reasons, of course. First, my contribution was overwhelmingly high in most cases, and second, the value of monster drop items wasn't that great.
‘For others, their performance gets cut by nearly half most of the time.’
Drop items, born from games, derived most of their performance from 'game elements.'
Attack power, defense, physical attack power, magic attack power.
Strength, agility, stamina, intelligence, wisdom.
EXP, charm, accuracy, evasion, critical hit.
‘Even I don't get all the game elements applied fully.’
No matter how high I raised accuracy, some attacks would miss, and no matter how high the critical hit chance, hits to limbs were just normal strikes.
Considering my identity as the game's [worldview] and [character], it was clear that ordinary people could hardly enjoy the full effects of items.
Didn't even the Ardanians treat items as useless before acquiring [classes]?
In such a situation, the value of items wasn't as high as one might think.
‘Of course, they're still in the realm of magic items... but the place I operated in was the 34th Earth, overflowing with magical goods.’
It wasn't a world desperate enough to fight transcendents over commonplace magic items.
[Hey, you idiot, why are you picking a fight out of nowhere!? He helped us!]
[Whoa, our little firebrand's got guts. Picking fights with transcendents.]
[No, but there's such a thing as contribution! At least check first before taking them!]
[Calm down, Fire. If he hadn't come, the damage would've been way worse.]
[No, if he was just here to help, fine, but we paid national budget-level fees!]
I could hear the pilots arguing inside Power Force.
I took the items out of my inventory.
"Whatever. I grabbed them out of habit, but it's not like you had no point."
They poured out.
Power Force was startled by the sight.
[What? Why are there so many? I thought they looked numerous but were all junk... but they're all high-grade items?]
[No way... how many legendaries? Only eight legendaries have dropped total so far, and this one boss dropped fifteen?]
[No, how are there more legendaries than heroics?]
I spoke toward the murmuring Power Force.
"Late introduction, but... I am Han Jaeyeon, apostle of the great and mighty Game Master."
Power Force fell silent for a moment at my words, then erupted into massive chaos.
[Not a priest, but an apostle!?]
[An apostle doing mercenary work? No, wait, he's a transcendent, right?]
[Don't tell me that revival was a related authority? Like game characters respawning...]
[No, that doesn't make sense. Even for a top-tier god's apostle, isn't that total cheating?]
[Whether it makes sense or not, he actually came back to life.]
[Besides, the greater universe has every kind of case. There's even that terrifying spearman who doesn't die if his will doesn't break.]
They started muttering among themselves again.
‘Wow, these guys are chattering up a storm.’
In the end, I had to cut them off.
"Anyway, the important thing is that I have authority over drop rates. Normally, far fewer items would've dropped."
[Ah, drop rates. Very fitting for the Game God.]
[Come to think of it, I've heard of abilities like that. The Fate Mage Tower succeeded a few times too.]
[Yeah. The item count is on a whole other level from when we fought...]
They started murmuring again. With five pilots, even one word each made it noisy.
But then.
Pshuk!
Suddenly, Power Force's chest opened, and something small jumped out toward me.
"...A squirrel?"
Yes, it was a squirrel. A bit larger than my palm, it stood straight before me and politely bowed its head.
"I'm Fire. No, I am Fire. Sorry for sounding accusatory earlier. I meant to discuss it calmly, but you took them all suddenly..."
"Ah, um. No. I was too hasty too."
It was understandable to be startled seeing me grab everything while they were debating distribution.
"I yield all ownership of the items. You handled almost all the damage yourself anyway. If it's not too much trouble... could I pick just one?"
A polite attitude, unlike before.
Instead of rushing to answer, I examined the items.
"Ah."
And I quickly grasped the situation.
* * *
After the mission, we attended the banquet prepared by Lute Planet's unified government. Eight hours until the next train. Too short for sleep, but plenty for eating and resting.
"Thank you, heroes!"
"Just doing our job."
"Thanks for helping!"
"Ugh... these guys are too cute..."
The elders were grinning, enjoying the Luteans' hospitality. The banquet with cute dogs, cats, foxes, and sheep, plus delicious food, was enjoyable even for me, who wasn't into animals.
As we enjoyed the meal, particularly small ones among the small animals approached me.
"Hello, Han Jaeyeon."
"Nice to see you again, Fire."
They were squirrels. Not just Fire—all five Power Force pilots were squirrels, yet their appearances varied.
‘This Fire guy... like a red squirrel?’
Not an ordinary one; red energy swirled around its body. I sensed intense flame spirit power from it.
Tototodo.
The five squirrels nimbly climbed the chair legs scaled to human size and hopped onto the table.
They bristled at Cheda, already seated.
"Whoa? Who are you, sneaking up without a sound?"
"Not a Lutean. They said it's a smart pet, like a smartphone."
"Ah... other civilizations have those."
"Such a subtle beauty(cat)..."
"Oh my, what a sight. Is that your type?"
They murmured briefly but soon composed themselves and lined up before me. The lead squirrel, striped like a chipmunk, bowed politely.
"I'm truly sorry for the rudeness the other day. I'm Thunder, leader of Power Force."
I waved it off.
"I was at fault too. I could've explained properly."
No matter how high my contribution, taking items without a word was definitely wrong.
‘I need to specify it in contracts from now on.’
Until now, it was just a habit to grab them, but as a transcendent, I couldn't keep doing that. I had to take them openly.
"Ah, about what I mentioned earlier..."
"Yes, I know. This one?"
I pulled an item from my inventory.
The item description popped up naturally.
[Elixir.]
Description: An all-purpose recovery potion said to have been personally brewed by the goddess. Legend has it that consistent consumption grants [immortality].
1. This is [Dawn] grade. Obtainable only by completing epic missions or slaying historic foes.
2. This is a [magic potion]. Effects activate upon consumption.
3. Removes all [permanent injuries], [curses], [traumas], [diseases], and similar abnormalities.
"Ah!"
"Finally..."
The squirrels were moved. Unlike me, others couldn't see the description, but they could get info easily.
No magic or authority needed—just check the game's homepage.
Thunder gave a wry smile.
"You figured it out."
"Yes. Among the drops, this was the one you desperately wanted."
Fifteen legendaries dropped, but few were generally useful, making it easy to guess.
Thunder handed me a sheet of paper and said,
"We received an oracle from the Golden Mountain Goat God. Despite fighting so long, our contribution was only 17%. Normally, we'd get one or two legendaries at most, so we couldn't claim the Elixir based on contribution."
"So I'll buy it. I'm a Gigant master level too! I've got money..."
The squirrel's earnest expression.
‘They really suck at negotiating.’
It was absurd; they'd get totally fleeced by a ruthless dealer.
But seeing the squirrel clasp its paws, I didn't feel like haggling. Maybe this was their way.
"I'll just give it to you."
"Yes?"
"Ah, no. Jaeyeon. Even so, that's..."
I smiled at their fluster.
"Call it a favor, but hire me often. Times are rough... If you insist on paying, gather up useless items for me until next time."
"Useless... items?"
"Yeah. Not everything's as useful as the Elixir."
"......"
The squirrels exchanged looks.
Then they all bowed deeply in unison.
"Thank you."
"Thank you!"
"Good human. Thanks."
"Thank you."
"...Thanks."
With that, the Lute Planet mission ended. We boarded the return train on time.
"Good work, everyone!"
"Man, the maknae did it all. Transcendents are transcendents."
"You got done twice by that eyeball freak, body okay?"
"Thanks to the elders leading well. Appreciate it."
Basking in the elders' praise, I sank into my seat.
And thought.
‘Items, huh.’
Game items didn't hold value equal to their performance. Reality wasn't a game, and people weren't players.
But not all items were like that.
Some exerted excellent effects on their own, without stats or game elements.
‘The Elixir is exactly that...’
And above all.
The Pioneer's Mask that revived me.
‘Revival.’
A terrifying effect. Even on the 34th Earth, where medical tech was advanced enough to make miracle potions like Elixir obsolete, it was impossible to replicate—truly unreal.
Of course, it came with hefty penalties... but still, the Pioneer's Mask was a spare life itself. Its value would only rise, never fall.
‘The drop monster was... Schimgon, right? That blob bastard. All dead.’
I'd rush out just hearing it appeared.
With those thoughts, we returned to the 34th Earth and reported the mission results at the Mercenary Management Office.
Back at Dragon Star, F·D members waiting at my door greeted me.
"Welcome back, Jaeyeon!"
"Waaah! Missed you!"
"No injuries, right?"
I ate while chatting with the rushing girls and sharing stories. Sorry, but my mind was elsewhere; I couldn't talk long.
"Cheda."
"Nyaong!"
Back in my room, I checked my account right away.
[Mercenary Management Office deposited 30 billion won.]
"Kuh! 300 million per hour!"
A cheer burst out. And this wasn't a one-time ad event—it was money I could earn every job!
Plus, the 60 hours round trip allowed auto-farming and desperate training!
"Yaong!"
Cheda meowed. I checked the alert.
[Spike App Notification!]
Nemesis ↓
Hit the lowest price in the last year (4,888,120 won)
Falling stocks wouldn't ruin my mood. Still dropping, but the graph was relatively gentle.
This was the real bottom-buying timing.
"No choice but to go full major shareholder!"