Seven Days Later
One week had passed since the promise was made.
“So far, leveling up has gone quite well…”
Fafnir sat with the items he’d dropped and shared with the Sihyun sisters, lost in thought.
“These are items I’ve never seen before.”
Before him lay a pile of strange objects. Some looked like glossy black gems, others like pretty little stones.
Universe Shard (Unique) and Universe Mana Crystal (Unique).
“Both are Unique-grade.”
And finally, the Universe Core (Immortal).
This was an Immortal-grade item.
◈ Description: Core of the Universe, capable of awakening hidden power. If properly utilized, it can grant tremendous growth.
The problem was I had no idea what to do with it!
“Hey, hammer work isn’t going in here, is it? Oh, wait, that’s not quite the right way to say it.”
Sihyun, a blacksmith of exceptional skill, spoke up.
“I can’t use it as a tattoo medium either.”
Even Siyeon, the top tattooist player in the game, couldn’t handle it as a catalyst.
“I don’t think Flush got something like this.”
Even Fafnir, who had read the original novel of this game world, didn’t know what it was.
“Let’s divide it first. We should head to the original destination soon.”
Fafnir divided the items equally among the sisters and handed each one a shard.
Item distribution in party hunting was strict! That was the philosophy of gamer Kim Ganghan.
The group set off along the path toward the area where Crossfire Guild was on guard.
But what was waiting for Fafnir wasn’t a guarding player.
“Welcome. I am Chromewell, deputy guild leader of Crossfire.”
A middle-aged man in gleaming full-plate mail, with a magnificent sword at his waist, half-bald head, and a lean, striking face!
“Hehe… I’m not very familiar with games, so… I just used my real appearance.”
Chromewell wiped sweat from his gleaming forehead and began speaking in a nervous stammer.
“Puh… puhuh…”
As the handkerchief grew wet, Sihyun covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.
“Um, sis, this is rude.”
“It’s fine. Hehe, it’s a game, right?”
Fafnir crossed his arms and looked at Chromewell.
“Is this the killer knight Chromewell?”
The killer knight Chromewell. Also known as the Bald of Destruction. Despite his unbalanced appearance, he wielded deadly control and was one of the real powers in Crossfire. In the original novel, he had dragged Flush into danger multiple times.
“So, what brings you here…?”
Chromewell wiped away some sweat and asked.
Fafnir explained everything that had happened. From investigating the crystal golem to finally capturing and gaining experience from the monsters!
“Oh… You’ve defeated the crystal golems?”
Chromewell kept wiping his forehead and exclaimed in admiration.
“Impressive. We’ve introduced many parties to that place, but few have succeeded in hunting.”
“Hmph, even though we’re looking this way, we’re still ranker players.”
Sihyun puffed out her small chest proudly.
“But it’s not as amazing as the stories say. The experience is quite good, but the items are complete trash.”
“Oh… Is that so?”
“Well, we did drop a few decent rare items, but mostly just these scraps.”
When Sihyun showed the Universe Shards, a spark lit up in Chromewell’s eyes.
“That… is the Universe Shard.”
“Mister, do you know what this is?”
Sihyun pulled out a handful of the shards from her pocket.
“So many…! You’re truly skilled warriors.”
“I’m actually in the top 30 blacksmith rank… I have no idea where to use them.”
“Hehe, of course not. That’s for a special quest.”
“Special quest?”
“It’s hard to explain in detail, but it’s a quest being carried out at the guild level. And it’s an entire Immortal-grade item.”
“That’s amazing!”
At the mention of Immortal-grade, the sisters’ expressions changed dramatically.
“Have you seen the weapons made of ‘???’ material in the dungeon? These are weapons infused with the power of the Universe Shards.”
“Ah! It can deal additional damage to specific entities?”
“Yes, though who exactly that entity is hasn’t been revealed in the quest… It’s probably one of the demons that will appear soon in the main stream.”
At that moment, Fafnir, who had been watching with arms crossed, spoke up.
“You’re explaining it so easily. What’s the catch?”
“Hehe, do I really need to hide anything? I just want to make a trade.”
“Trade?”
“The Universe Shards you have… Our guild would like to purchase all of them.”
Sihyun’s eyes sparkled.
“Really? How much will you pay?”
“Well… 5 gold per piece. How’s that?”
“5 gold?!”
Sihyun opened her mouth wide in amazement.
50,000 won each. With around 200 pieces, they could make 100 million won by selling them all.
“Amazing!”
“You’d pay that much?”
“Of course. We have more than enough money.”
“The bald guy’s supposed to be stingy, and this is all a lie!”
“Cough… cough!”
The sweat coming from Chromewell grew even more noticeable.
Fafnir watched and thought.
“There must be some trick.”
In the novel, Crossfire was the villain faction opposing the protagonist! Such a generous group didn’t exist in the story. Even if it wasn’t a villain faction, large guilds with intertwined interests usually had some ulterior motive when acting like benefactors.
“Wait.”
Fafnir interrupted the trade.
“Before we trade, let’s talk about two things.”
“Please go ahead.”
“We don’t know the value of this item. So… let’s research it and sell.”
“Good, let’s do that.”
“And one more thing. When exactly will you open the path?”
***
“One week later, then it will definitely be cleared.”
“Yes, of course.”
After the party left, the negotiation stage was over.
“Hehe… Those damn brats keep switching sides. Kaak, ptooey.”
Chromewell spat out phlegm and tossed the handkerchief aside.
“If it were a real social gathering, they’d be invisible to me…!”
Even the presidents of decent mid-sized companies would bow before him.
These kids who only game all day and think they can issue orders?
“They’re hiding behind their friends and playing around. Hah…”
The moment Fafnir changed his thoughts, the two quickly changed their attitude. Especially the annoying little brat. The way he burst out laughing the moment he saw Fafnir’s head!
If it weren’t for Fafnir, he would have split them in two with a single sword swing.
“They’ll find out soon enough. That there’s nowhere to go but the bottom, either here or outside…”
Although he had started according to the instructions, the moment Chromewell saw the game, he realized how big a change it would bring. Because of that, he threw himself into the game without complaint. He handled all major and minor guild matters and obtained the deputy master position.
“A new change after computers, smartphones, and VR metaverses.”
Businesses that would radically change the world. If it meant seizing opportunities, he could bow to these kids as much as he wanted.
“Hoo…”
Chromewell pulled out a cigarette. The guild escort members followed and stood around uneasily.
“I’m not going to hit you, so come here. Have I ever hit you just because I was angry?”
The escort members smiled awkwardly. Chromewell lit the cigarette and said,
“First, contact the young master and report that things didn’t go well, and get permission from the combat division.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, and contact that… guy with the disability.”
“What? The guy with the disability?”
“The one who’s in Creator right now.”
“Ah, I understand.”
“If it’s one thing, you should get it right away. Seriously, these kids…”
The very moment Crossfire guild members were chatting, Fafnir was meeting another person.
“Have you found what you were looking for, Fafnir-nim?”
A mysterious man waiting in front of Creator.
“Who is that guy?”
The moment the Sihyun sisters gripped their weapons, Fafnir stopped them.
“From Hermes?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t expect you to come directly.”
“Hehe, it’s VIP customer service.”
If you can trade, we handle anything. Even if the item is a skill, not an object.
“Delivery boy, Lightning Hand.”
“Fafnir.”
“The item to interpret?”
Fafnir handed over the shards.
“Confirmed. Total cost is 400 gold. First, receive the 200 gold deposit, and the remaining 200 gold upon completion.”
Sihyun and Siyeon, listening, were stunned.
“It’s that expensive?”
“You’re being ripped off.”
“Hehe, interpreting items is normally in that price range.”
The downside of monopoly! Even if the tongue was stuck out at the high price, it was still better than elsewhere, so they had no choice but to buy it with tears and chili. However…
“Hermes’ wings are no different from other guilds.”
They didn’t have a guild leader like others. Instead, countless merchants formed an alliance for profit.
Fafnir smiled inwardly and said,
“Understood. I’ll take the request.”
“Excellent choice…”
“Instead, I will designate the merchant who will handle the job.”
“What?”
Lightning Hand paused.
“But that…”
“What is the name of the merchant from that side?”
“……Daphara-nim.”
Daphara. Fafnir’s sharp eyes narrowed at the name.
“I’ve never heard the name before.”
“You don’t know Daphara-nim?”
“The ones I’ve entrusted so far were others, so I’d like to leave it with him.”
Lightning Hand’s lips twitched. Fafnir was a VIP, and both the blacksmith and tattooist beside him looked like above-average experts.
“I thought this was a free incentive opportunity… I’d be in trouble if I miss it here.”
Lightning Hand took a deep breath after recalling the contract with Daphara.
“How about this?”
“What is this?”
“First, leave it with us. If the deadline is delayed, I’ll give you a rare-grade equipment item as a gift.”
“If I handle it quickly?”
Lightning Hand answered Sihyun’s question immediately.
“There’s nothing special. It’s just that a good deal is made.”
“Not bad.”
Fafnir said.
“Our side will be within three days, so solve it within three days as well.”
“Understood.”
“One more thing.”
“Yes?”
“If the job itself is impossible, then full refund.”
Refund the deposit money received in full! Leaving a record, it was the worst case for the merchant.
“…There’s no need to worry about that.”
But Lightning Hand remained calm.
“I’ve never heard of such a case before.”
Daphara. The merchant user who signed the contract with him was someone who could really do anything.
“Will it be okay?”
After Lightning Hand left, Sihyun asked.
“Daphara, I searched the web and it seems he’s a rumored ability user.”
He has succeeded in many Unique-grade quests involving not just NPCs but also players, and he’s a famous figure in Hermes’ wings alliance right now.
“I know that name too.”
Of course Fafnir knew the name. The reason? Simple.
“That guy was all over the novel.”
He was the treasury and loot processor for the original protagonist Flush. That role was none other than Daphara.