Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Pioneers and Commoners
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'As expected.'
In the midst of everyone frozen in shock, I quietly nodded my head.
I'd half-expected it, but this confirmed it beyond doubt.
The population of this world consisted of real 'people'.
'The System has no intention of turning everyone into Players. Nor does it plan to supplement the population from elsewhere.'
That left only one answer.
Divide the existing people into rulers and the ruled.
Those who adapt to the System and step up aggressively become the rulers.
Those who avoid danger and seek safe protection become the ruled.
'I figured it would happen naturally eventually, but I never imagined the System would deliberately enforce a class divide.'
A quick glance around revealed the group's reactions were polar opposites.
The Pioneer group, who had focused on quests from the start, looked flustered but not entirely displeased.
In contrast, the Commoner group, who had been passively protected, wore expressions like they'd been clubbed over the back of the head.
In the awkward silence that followed, I spoke up again.
"I see. So it distinguishes like that. Can you see other people's Status Windows?"
"To be precise, I can only see their levels and titles. But that's more than enough for me."
"Then, as a Pioneer, I'd like to ask..."
"Ask away!"
Algrem didn't deny the Pioneer label and bowed his head.
I repeated the question from the man who'd just been labeled a Commoner.
"You said you're a merchant—what exactly are you selling? Weapons? Armor?"
"An excellent question! Of course I sell weapons and armor, but that's not all!"
Algrem grinned and snapped his fingers.
A yellowish window popped up in front of me.
It resembled the bluish Status Window but was clearly different.
"What? A Status Window? Why's it showing up?"
"Hold on, this isn't a Status Window?"
I wasn't the only one; murmurs rose from around me.
Algrem clapped his hands and called out to the Pioneers.
"This is my current inventory. In time, I can bring in more, but this is the limit for now. Take a look!"
Up close, the translucent window was a catalog.
It covered everything from food and weapons to armor and even settlement upgrades.
I checked the weapons first.
'Nothing better than the quest final rewards.'
The priciest items at the bottom were all from the previous quest's top rewards.
My Apprentice's Staff was among them.
A smile tugged at my lips at the lack of superior weapons or armor.
'Good. Items earned through that much effort deserve their value.'
If something better had appeared right after the quest, it would've dampened my drive.
Someone else could've caught up just by grinding late.
But nothing in this shop outclassed the final rewards.
Meaning the lead me and the frontrunners held wouldn't change for a while.
At best, others might equip the same items and match our pace.
And even that would require equivalent effort—which was impossible to match.
'Magic Stones, though? Currency is Magic Stones?'
As I blinked in surprise, Algrem shouted.
"As you can see, I accept Magic Stones as payment! What are Magic Stones, you ask...!"
I already knew roughly from the game, so I tuned out his explanation.
Tiny gems near the hearts of monsters strong enough.
In the game, you looted them from corpses.
Those Magic Stones could be traded with wandering merchants for rare items.
'But hardly anyone collected them. It took too much time.'
Grinding one more monster beat looting time if you wanted levels; boosting village production came first for cash.
It was semi-abandoned content.
Here, though, it was prime currency.
'Makes sense—no taxes from people in this situation, so Magic Stones are the answer.'
As I nodded, Algrem yelled dramatically, as if revealing the clincher.
"Everyone, pay attention! Skip this, and you'll regret it! See the food section? Check it out!"
Food? Right, it was there.
Arguably the most vital, yet I'd skipped it.
"...That's it?"
Someone voiced what everyone was thinking.
Free was nice, but water and steamed potatoes for years?
Algrem shook his head exaggeratedly.
"Of course not! With enough Magic Stones, you can buy any food from the old world!"
The basics were just water and steamed potatoes.
Anything else required talking to him.
"Prices vary by dish, though. A hearty beef soup might run 10 Magic Stones."
"What? That's insane! Have some decency!"
"No way, that's too much even for this!"
Even I was taken aback.
15 bowls of beef soup equaled a quest final reward.
"Calm down. That's for a lavish beef soup. Sandwiches or burgers are cheaper."
Most ranged 1-3 Magic Stones, cheaper for simple ingredients and prep.
As the mood eased slightly at reasonable prices, the tattooed guy burst forward with a twisted scowl.
"Hey, merchant! Even you have limits—this is ridiculous!"
"Ridiculous how? What do you mean?"
"Food! The gap between preppers and non-preppers is huge!"
He jabbed fingers around wildly.
"Those who stocked up eat gourmet while we choke down potatoes! It's unfair!"
I stared at him in surprise.
This pig saying something right?
He had a point, and it was serious.
'Not just taste. Food quality matters for morale.'
Not just Yoo Ha-eun's group—other safe zones existed, with survivor settlements.
If a rival village hoarded durable, tasty, plentiful food?
'Some curse over potatoes, others feast and laugh.'
That mood would drag down efficiency in everything.
Algrem tilted his head with a smile at the protest.
"Hmm? No idea what you mean. Pre-stocked food? Doesn't exist."
"What? You mocking me!?"
"Not at all. No one has pre-stocked food. Not a soul."
"You bastard...!"
Thinking it mockery, the tattooed guy gnashed his teeth.
Other survivors looked equally sour.
But I caught the implication and my eyes widened.
'No pre-stocked food?'
I opened my Inventory, pulled out my bag.
Not much, but I'd brought some preserved rations.
Rummaging confirmed it; I let out a hollow laugh.
"So that's how it is."
The containers had turned to hard stone, food and all.
I smashed a stone on the ground to check—no edible food inside.
Just solid rock through and through.
Others caught on and screamed.
Most survivors had brought some rations.
'Good thing I didn't pack much.'
Just two days' worth—no big loss.
I'd prioritized nutrition over taste anyway.
With that, Algrem summoned a shop building smack in the village center.
Whatever he did, a whole structure appeared.
Before survivors could react, he ducked inside—and a new quest updated.
〈Income and Expenditure〉
📍 Classification: Main Quest
⏰ Details: The poorest rich are those with money but nowhere to spend it. At least that's not you. Earn and spend freely to enjoy your wealth. Spend 50 Magic Stones at the shop within a week.
🎁 Reward: [Magic Stone Auto-Recovery] Skill Added
"Ha. Can't skip this one either."
I burst out laughing at the reward.
In World Rebuild, [Magic Stone Auto-Recovery] was meh.
It just skipped the 'gathering' step on loot.
But now that game was reality, its value skyrocketed.
'By lore, extracting Magic Stones means cutting out hearts manually. Just flavor text before—now it's real.'
Game? A few clicks.
Reality? Grueling labor.
The creepiness of rummaging corpses, bloodied hands, time wasted.
With [Magic Stone Auto-Recovery], though? Stones auto-go to Inventory on kill.
'Not just less work. It creates massive hunting efficiency gaps based on who has it.'
Prioritize stones? Slower kills.
Prioritize levels? Less income.
This skill? Both rabbits in the bag.
A make-or-break for early snowballing.
"No opt-out, but solo... tough in this environment."
Moving alone here was suicide.
Needed frontline and rear-guard allies.
Luckily, one was set.
"Jong-min, want to team for the quest?"
"Was just about to ask you."
I shook hands with the approaching Min Jae-yoon, both smiling.
Honestly, we were an ideal duo.
Me on raw firepower, him on guard and heals.
Best 2-man party possible.
"But this quest's too tough for just us. New terrain—who knows what spawns."
"Exactly."
Min Jae-yoon nodded right away, like he'd planned it.
Even top duos have limits at two.
Better to scale up with good synergy.
"Question is, will others join us? Their personalities are... not exactly team players."
"That's the issue."
Survivors—no, Pioneers—weren't the bending type. See their backlash to the tattooed guy's threats.
They survived by ignoring others and pushing solo.
Probably ruthless calculators, squeezing every gain.
'But approaching first makes us look desperate.'
They wanted firepower and heals like us, but the beggar loses.
We might give more than we get.
As we pondered, a voice piped up.
"Um..."
"Yeah?"
Min Jae-yoon and I turned.
It was the second son from the first family we rescued yesterday.
The high schooler who'd called us from the window, sparking the rescue quest.
He addressed us timidly, hunched over.
"D-Do you need an errand boy?"