Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: 0th Rank Merchant, Goldring (2)
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The items sold by the 0th Rank Merchant were all priceless treasures beyond any measure of value. Each one boasted an astronomical price tag to boot.
'No Elixir...'
It was a shame. He'd gotten a little excited at the thought that he might snag an Elixir—or maybe even Elixirs. But Goldring only sold equipment, no consumables.
'Four wings!'
His eyes sparkled. He had to buy those. The problem was that the merchant was trying to unload a whopping four of them...
Low-rank merchants begged and pleaded for you to buy their wares, but a 0th Rank Merchant did whatever he pleased. Sure, he could pay full price for one definitively, but all four?
That might be tough.
'But for the quest, I'll need to gather all four eventually anyway.'
Deep in thought, he cut off all contact with the world around him as he stared at Goldring and the list, then shook his head.
"Let's think about the other stuff first."
A top-tier Myth-grade item, the four wings, two other common items, and snagging that primordial dagger for free on top—wouldn't that be too much like robbery?
Yeah, even if they agreed to one freebie, demanding the most expensive one would prick his conscience a bit.
He started scanning for items he could actually afford with his coins. Who would've thought he could recover from grinding a Myth-grade item into Pride like this?
'Honestly, I didn't expect to be able to buy a Myth-grade item.'
Black and White Coins seemed to hold far more value than he'd imagined. Then again, he'd only gotten five after blowing up an entire Tutorial—and that was a insane hidden stage imprisoning a Creation God-tier being.
Come to think of it, it was a stingy reward. You had to fight and win against a sealed divine throne right from the Tutorial to claim it.
He slowly began examining the Myth-grade items. Each one was so invaluable that choice paralysis seemed inevitable.
As he agonized over it for a good while, Goldring finally finished his deliberations and poked him, saving him right before his head might explode.
"You. Do you really possess the Tower of Gold through your Authority? The holy site Golden Goblins spend their lives seeking, the greatest domain in all the Abyss?"
At those words, he tilted his head. The greatest domain in the Abyss?
"Uh... I cleared the hidden stage and got the Authority, so yeah, it's mine."
He knew it was impressive, but that impressive? Well, the Tower of Gold contained things that could make its user omnipotent or omniscient, so maybe it made sense.
Still, the greatest domain in the Abyss? A holy site they'd seek their whole lives?
"When I went to the hidden stage, all 9,999 Golden Goblins were alive in there. Didn't they find it?"
Of course, that was in the future timeline, so maybe in the past-present, they were still searching.
Goldring smirked at his response, flopped back into his chair, crossed his legs, and struck an arrogant pose while lifting his chin.
Ah... shit!
Pride was acting up again. He reluctantly sat across from him, adopting an even more arrogant and brazen posture.
Goldring stared at him like he was a madman, shook his head, and spoke the truth.
"Golden Goblins have two souls and two bodies each. Their true selves, dwelling eternally in the holy site, and their avatars, born into the present world to cycle through death and life. The ones you met were the true selves. When they die, their avatars in the present world vanish too... because of you?"
He averted his eyes guiltily. It had been unavoidable.
On the brink of death, surrounded by monsters—who wouldn't flail around? In the chaos, he'd coincidentally wiped them all out with a bomb.
"Whatever, my kin aren't my problem. They rejected me as a half-breed scrap. Anyway, a new god and emperor has been born. I'll serve him, place the newly spawned ones under me, and rule them as I please! Puahaha!"
Sheesh, how much scorn had the half-breed endured? His bipolar mood swings were almost pitiful.
"So you possess that domain. Even our great god and emperor was born there?"
"That's right."
"No wonder. I thought it strange that no avatar manifested in the present world when the god couldn't possibly have perished. It must be because the succession wasn't complete."
Goldring nodded as if he'd pieced it all together, thumped his chest, and shouted.
"Good! I, 0th Rank Merchant Goldring, will specially join your domain as a volunteer!"
"Pass."
Goldring's eyes widened, he shook his head vigorously, picked his ear, and stared as if demanding he say it again.
"Pass. What's in it for me? Taking on a dangerous 0th Rank Merchant? You might have ulterior motives for becoming a domain citizen. Like, say, sneaking items from my Tower of Gold."
Goldring wore an utterly incredulous expression and yelled hysterically.
"You think a domain citizen could ignore the lord's commands? Ah... well, I could ignore them to some extent! But the Tower of Gold is your Authority, so I couldn't steal from it anyway, you ignorant mortal worm!"
He couldn't buy it. Way too suspicious. But right on cue, Pride jerked his mouth open again.
"Very well. You puny half-breed Golden Goblin Goldring, by the grace of this one's vast and magnanimous heart, I shall take you as my subordinate!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than he punched himself.
"Argh, damn this Pride stat. It's really getting on my nerves. I need to get a class quick and unlock Myth-grade stats for real."
What if the Pride stat had its own ego?
"Madman. Anyway, I promise: I'll become a domain citizen and protect your domain alongside His Majesty. System restrictions prevent me from giving items for free, but bring coins, and I'll sell you anything at full price anytime!"
That was tempting. Way too tempting.
"Hold up. So the free one from our bet earlier?"
"You'll lose a hand if you're caught bluffing, you know?"
"That..."
Goldring rolled his eyes, checked the system, nodded, and sighed in relief.
"Since it's a bet, the system allows it once. No more than that. I'm a 0th Rank Merchant, but still just an employee under the system boss. Though the employee benefits are insane."
He grinned and nodded. No need for side deals now.
"Shall we head to the domain then? We'll shop there."
"Ooooo!! So I finally get to set foot in the holy site?"
"No true self for you since you're a half-breed?"
"Right. My goblin blood runs thicker than Golden Goblin blood. But I clawed my way to 0th Rank through sheer grit. After that, even my Golden Goblin kin couldn't openly scorn me. They'd buy items from me sometimes. Greedy race, after all. Not that I'm any different."
His inventory expanded even larger than before, and he transferred to the domain. Goldring trembled as if in ecstasy and stepped inside.
"Ah...!"
Leaving the thunderstruck Goldring behind, he summoned Golden and fully closed the inventory entrance. Just in case someone saw.
This was the domain he had to keep most secret, after all. Goldring wandered dazedly for a while before approaching and reopening his shop list.
"Choose. Buy anything your coins allow. Plus one freebie of your choice."
"Alright. I'll take all four Faded Radiance Wings then."
Goldring's eyebrow twitched. He smirked, extended his hand, and he paid with coins from the Tower of Gold.
"Hunting Lucifer's descendants, are you?"
"You knew?"
"No one knows items better than I do! I, Goldring, am one who transcended the half-breed limits! So, how many have you gathered?"
"Haven't been awakened long. Had two, now six with these."
"A quarter collected. You might just be Lucifer's successor."
"Too bad. Sucks that the Tower of Gold doesn't have Lucifer items either."
Goldring shook his head like he was the greedy one.
"I don't know everything about the Tower of Gold, but from what I've heard, it holds most items existing in the world, items yet to appear, and items that never will. That's all I know. Lucifer's wings are probably a wildcard item not there."
He nodded and tossed the four wings into his inventory. Sadly, he couldn't use them right now.
Couldn't blow precious coins on Unique-grade holy power or demonic energy items.
'Soon as this adventure ends, back to Earth to buy.'
Probably not all at once. Demonic energy items were especially rare. Holy power ones... he could probably get them from the black market or by asking Miracle Guild.
'One demonic energy item, three holy power items needed.'
Too bad it was mismatched this time. No big deal. Wings got better effects as they stacked anyway.
Set effects didn't require perfect pairs. Just asymmetrical and a shame.
Next, he agonized over a Myth-grade item. What to pick?
All of them were straight out of myths: Odin's left eye sacrificed to Mimir for knowledge, Surtr's demonic sword prophesying Asgard's doom, Dongbang Sak's immortal robes of eternal life, and more.
As he pondered endlessly, Goldring spoke first.
"If you can't decide, claim your bet winnings first? By the way, Origin-grade items aren't yours just because you want them. Their egos choose you. Oh, some have trials too."
For example...
Goldring pointed to one at the bottom of the list.
The Scales Containing Half of Some Origin.
"This one proposes a trial impossible without the other half. Care to try?"
Goldring grinned wickedly, goading him on.
Of course...
"Ha! That trial? If I clear it, the best item is mine!"
Pride wouldn't ignore the taunt. Damn it.