Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Stock Investments and Skill Shopping
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A massive fee matching the sponsorship I received earlier hits my bank account.
"Wait, then the balance is...?"
I immediately check my account.
Free Savings Deposit (G-Bank 1173-5511)
1,541,543,908 won.
It's the 1.2 billion won from the sponsorship after fees, plus 250 million won in advance pay from the movie shoot, added to the existing balance.
"And the stocks..."
There were no notifications in the stock app. Meaning the bulk buy order I'd set up automatically hadn't triggered.
I quickly check Nemesis stock.
Nemesis – 3,409,500 won (+57,000 won)↑
The stock, which had plummeted, was rising again at some point.
"As expected, it doesn't drop below 1.5 million even if it falls... Well, even with alternatives emerging, it's still the market leader."
I pondered for a moment but soon made up my mind. No way it'll drop again from here.
"Going in."
[You have purchased 300 shares of Nemesis Soft.]
Over a billion won vanishes in an instant. A slight sense of emptiness hits as I look at the account with its changed units, but this is more than enough to achieve my goal.
"And... time for some shopping."
Just as I was about to enter the cash shop and splurge on diamond packages with the remaining funds.
"Meow!"
Cheddar cries out. I press his nose, and he looks up at me and speaks.
"Hello, Mr. Han Jaeyeon. This is Cha Sang-ju, mid-level supervisor from the Financial Supervisory Service. Are you available to talk?"
"Uh, yes..."
It was my first time getting a call like this, so my response came out awkward. A voice that sounds like a young woman's asks politely.
"I'll ask a few quick questions. Is the person on this call the owner of this number, Mr. Han Jaeyeon?"
"Yes."
"You just purchased 300 shares of Nemesis Soft. Was this your own choice and not under any coercion or suggestion from someone else?"
"Yes."
"Thank you for the prompt and clear answers. This has been mid-level supervisor Cha Sang-ju. Have a great day."
The call ends. After the surprisingly simple conversation, I just stare at Cheddar's face for a moment.
A quick internet search reveals what the call was about. Apparently, lots of people get these.
"So they verify when large sums move at once. That supervisor must be a priest of the Truth God."
Voice phishing has become a huge problem lately. Especially since people on the 34th Earth, where the Truth God resides, are extremely vulnerable to lies, scammers from other star systems or dimensions connect via comms and rack up victims.
The Three Gods' domain is only the 34th Earth, and unless it's a direct military invasion, even the Game Masters don't intervene—criminals exploit that gap!
Considering that link is usually immigrants, they're pouring fuel on the already deep-seated hatred of aliens.
"Log in."
I enter Ardenia. Thanks to the auto-repair function, the Lord's Castle has returned to its original state down to every piece of furniture, leaving the bedroom spotless.
"Good."
I stand up and open my mouth.
"I wish to open the skill shop."
[306 shares → 272 shares]
My shares decrease, and a rift appears in the air. Then, at some point—
Pop!
A man descends in front of me. Above his head, these words float:
[Skill Book Shop]
Some NPCs in Revenge use advanced pseudo-AI to seem "almost human." The hero-grade NPC Soul Master Arcane from the tutorial even made me wonder if a real person was chatting.
'But not all NPCs can be like that. No need, either.'
The cost wouldn't add up. Especially with Legion driving up AI tech fees.
So, NPCs without needed intelligence just spout fixed lines like vending machines, fulfilling their roles. This man, whose name is his role, is probably one of them.
"Eh? Where is this? Who are you?"
"Ah, so it's like this after all."
I smile wryly at the all-too-human reaction.
Well, I expected it.
'Monsters were the same.'
Even basic-grade goblins without proper lines spouted all sorts of nonsense. They even lusted after human women and kidnapped them to ravage their bodies.
Impossible in a game's monster scripts.
"I'm here to buy stuff."
"Stuff? What stuff...?"
His fumbling makes me uneasy.
'No way it's a dud, right?'
Shopkeepers in games aren't realistic. Purely convenience NPCs.
The skill books they have aren't made or acquired by anyone—they're literally "just there," infinitely sellable.
But if becoming real changes that?
'What if there are no goods to sell?'
What if he says crap like that?
Thankfully.
"Ah, yes. Welcome, customer."
With a somewhat dazed tone.
Ding!
The shop window appears.
[Sales List] [Melee Priority Sort]
Power Slash (Common) (Shop) 6,500 gold.
Power Strike (Advanced) (Shop) 77,000 gold.
Power Dash (Common) (Shop) 6,500 gold.
Speed High (Advanced) (Shop) 77,000 gold.
Endure (Common) (Shop) 6,500 gold.
Iron Body (Advanced) (Shop) 77,000 gold.
Heavy Breathing (Common) (Shop) 6,500 gold.
Mana Regen (Advanced) (Shop) 77,000 gold.
...
'It works.'
I start buying immediately.
From actives like Power Slash, Power Strike, Endure, Iron Body, to passives like Longsword Mastery, Longbow Mastery, Staff Mastery.
Thousands of them.
Rumble!
Skill books pour into the bedroom. Too many to fit in inventory.
"You're buying a ton."
"I need a lot. A bit late, but... what's your name? Do you remember anything about yourself?"
After finishing most of my business, he frowns from his daze.
"Name... I don't know. Nothing except that I'm the skill shop owner."
'No backstory?'
He has enough intelligence and role capacity, but no past.
Maybe regular monsters without backgrounds are the same.
"...Cancel shop owner."
"Pardon? Cancel me? What do you...?"
Pop!
[272 shares → 283 shares]
The man vanishes, and shares recover somewhat.
But not to the original amount.
"What? No way... Log out!"
Back on Earth, I check my stocks. Thankfully, real-world shares are intact.
"That was close. Well, the game shares dropping wouldn't erase Earth rights... Log in."
I calm my pounding heart and watch.
Then shortly after.
[283 shares → 284 shares]
"It recovers... Like mana or something."
Unbelievable, but at least shares didn't vanish, so I relax and proceed.
"Open general store!"
Still plenty of gold and shares.
Time to use them.
* * *
The castle gates open, and the army charges.
Sixty thousand strong!
And a third of that massive number are elite soldiers armed with class cards and items.
"The numbers have swelled hugely."
"All immigrants with decent physiques complete training camp and come straight down. It's the fastest way for them and their families to gain citizenship."
I turn to Flower at her report.
"Won't there be complaints?"
She pauses at my words, then shakes her head.
"How could you think that...? No, my lord. On the contrary, kids and elders who don't meet standards are flocking to join under Wild Boar Castle's training standards. Swordsman Training Commander is sleepless making screening tests."
"...Everyone wants to join the army?"
"Of course. You're underestimating the power of classes, my lord."
Equip a class card, and a frail girl can topple a giant brute with strength. Those who couldn't awaken mana use it; the clumsy dodge incoming arrows with sharp eyes.
Overwhelming efficacy that shocks even the user. What do onlookers think?
"The army is the surest path to a class. Fierce competition is natural."
I look at Flower. The 14-year-old girl crushed by her origins and gender despite sharp mind and resolve.
Her tiny form from first sight is vivid, yet she's grown tall, adapting perfectly without buckling under the towering position and weight of authority.
To me, who's endured twenty years knowing how trashy humans are here without Justice or Truth Gods, it's a miracle.
'Looking at it this way... I have good people skills.'
Dropped into this barbaric medieval land, betrayed and backstabbed over ten times, yet survivors remain: Flower, Steelstone, Swordsman, and more...
'Maybe my greatest achievement isn't the territory, but the people in it.'
As I think that, Flower continues.
"You led those who lost homes and families. Our power rose solely by your hand—overstatement though it is, people know it."
Near-worshipful words.
Yet her expression remains utterly calm.
"Even if it means risking death in war?"
"We were flies with unknown lifespans anyway. Of course, you've given them peace and safety, so hearts may change someday. But not now. You hold overwhelming fame and awe."
Normal nations: elites exploit masses.
Me? Individual [Han Jaeyeon] distributes to the nation—its entirety, every member.
'Abnormal.'
In peacetime, every noble on the continent would be my enemy. Empires, kingdoms, federations—frothing maniacs galore.
Weren't the ones bitching about my low taxes the old nobles?
Even if my power harmed no one—especially because—it'd make everyone hostile. Continent-scale subjugation army labeling me demon and hunting me.
'But now it's different.'
With monsters wrecking the continent, I'm the savior.
"Got it."
I nod and watch the marching soldiers. Their drill is excellent despite the long march, but with most raw recruits, combat power has limits.
'Heavy casualties likely.'
Unavoidable. No matter how strong I've become, I can't war alone.
Fail to assassinate the Ice Queen solo in a dungeon?
Even login-logout HP/stamina recovery loops couldn't dodge death.
'And above all... soldiers must grow. In levels, experience.'
They're elites dungeon-hardened for real combat, but parties differ from wars. They must face frontally, take losses, win, gain experience.
"Kasim."
Thud!
At my light call, a white drake appears from thin air and lands. Nearby soldiers murmur.
"White Dragon Kasim! First time this close!"
"Scales white as snow! Dazzling..."
"Look at those teeth... Terrifying."
March slows momentarily. Before they halt, I mount Kasim.
"Off to scout, my lord?"
"Yeah."
I reply and open chat. My 300 shares allow [Group Chat].
Han Jaeyeon: Heading ahead to say hi. Advance while maintaining formation.
Two knights, a mage, and thirty centurions flood responses.
I skim and urge Kasim on.
Boom!
Violent takeoff! Now his signature—no soldiers tumbling in shock like before.
"Rawr!"
Kasim roars lightly and shoots skyward like an arrow.
Then.
Pop!
"!"
Something appears before me out of nowhere. I swat it away. Thought it was a thrown spear—no.
"What's this... a staff?"
Familiar design, like a traffic sign.
"Wait... Isn't this what Bram had? Why's it here...?"
Ignoring my surprise, I examine the staff from Kasim's saddle as we cross the sky.
A window pops up.
[Black Sun's Staff.]
Staff proving the god's miracle.
Given to contractors of the Black Sun deity, it feeds on followers' faith and awe instead of mana, boasting extreme power correction.
[Supreme Intimidation]
Downgrades owner's rank by 1 step, sealing [all] [all] skills of targets at or below the downed rank.
[Lower Exclusion]
Can exempt 1 from AoE effects.
"..."
Reading silently, I recall Seongjae's old words.
"Honestly, it's weird to me too. Performance like nothing I've heard of? Cop sis said even police couldn't figure the method..."
"This... is the method? An item?"
But the description is too alien. No attack power, no stat bonuses—just origin and special effects.
I realize.
"This... isn't Revenge style?"
The moment I do.
"Log out."
Back on Earth, I pat Cheddar's belly. Result comes quick.
[Black Sun's Staff.]
[Special weapon, usable on normal clear as Black Sun Incarnation. S-grade power correction but only STR 14, INT 13 req—seems cheat-like at glance, but rank down risk is huge, unpopular in boss-focused Arc Demonic. Vets use for fun.
PS. If forcing use, good as field-clearing bully weapon.]
"This is..."
I stare blankly at the screen.
"An item... from another game?"