Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Used Bookstore's NPC
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Most people who come to the Used Bookstore are here to sell Skill Books.
You could say almost no one comes to buy them, except for the Old Man—and even he only drops by occasionally, so practically no one at all.
It's a mysterious place that always runs at a loss—the longer it stays open, the more money it bleeds.
And yet, when buying them, I never lowball the price too much, so plenty of people still come in to sell their Skill Books.
"Hmm, this price seems fair enough. What do you think?"
"Huh? Isn't that still too cheap?"
"It's just a Common-grade Skill Book. And it's in pretty rough shape besides."
I flipped through the pages as I spoke.
The contents were full of worthless drivel. It must have been written ages ago—there were even theories in there that didn't match the current era.
Well, that did offer some insight into the era it came from, which made it kind of interesting in its own way.
We're the only place that buys Common-grade Skill Books, so we hold a bit of leverage there.
My real competition isn't other used bookstores or shops. They don't deal in secondhand Skill Books to begin with.
No, my rivals are the collectors overflowing with cash. They don't collect Skill Books to read them—they do it as a hobby.
But they go after rare, high-grade ones, not Commons.
The only overlap is with high-grade books.
So for low-grade ones like this, I could price them dirt cheap and it wouldn't matter—but I don't.
The Tower's restrictions are part of it, but it's also about trust.
If I don't offer a fair price, people lose faith and won't come back next time.
"The corners are all worn down pretty bad. That makes it hard to price high."
I don't mention anything about the contents. They'd probably never understand anyway.
It's easier to convince them by pointing out the physical condition.
"Please come again."
Another successful deal today. I got it for a decent price.
Comparing old Skill Books like this to modern ones is endlessly entertaining.
Physically, the differences aren't that stark.
Thanks to the Tower's influence, items age slower. Everything inside the Tower does.
Reading through Skill Books teaches you all sorts of things.
Not just about the skills themselves, but about the worlds the authors lived in.
Their surroundings are embedded in every page.
You get a faint sense of beings from dimensions beyond Earth.
Everyone in the Tower is from Earth. Mostly Koreans, at that.
The game was developed in Korea, and it wasn't even famous.
Why did some obscure game become reality?
And why was it first released in Korea, of all places?
Just a coincidence?
I've spent ages in the Tower, but I still know next to nothing about it.
Part of it is how tightly information is locked down, but mostly it's because I never cared much.
I couldn't leave the Tower or climb it anyway. Investigating it wasn't a priority.
It wasn't back then, and it's even less so now.
"So this is the famous shop?"
A sudden voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
A slovenly-looking man swaggered in.
I closed the book I was reading and greeted the customer.
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
The man flicked his hand dismissively instead of answering.
My years of instinct were screaming: this guy's trouble.
But I couldn't chase off a customer on a hunch alone.
"Why do you think I came to a used bookstore? To sell a book, obviously."
With that, he slammed it down on the counter.
The contempt hit me like a wave.
Some Players are like that. They look down on and discriminate against NPCs.
Most NPCs without status windows are weaker than Players.
People who belittle the weak exist everywhere.
At least the Tower's protection keeps them from outright harming NPCs. Small mercies.
Players and NPCs.
The Tower uses game-like terms to help Players adjust. It blurred the lines between game and reality to ease them in.
Side effect: some think NPCs are actual game characters.
It pissed me off, but business is business.
I examined the book he'd tossed.
"Hmm."
No need for a closer look.
The thing was trashed. Corners all crumpled, scorch marks like it'd been used as a pot stand.
Looking at the ragged mess hurt my heart.
"This one's beyond saving. Take it back. It's lost all value."
"What?! You didn't even check it properly, you bitch?"
My instincts were spot-on again, as always.
"The bitch is you."
He let out a disbelieving scoff.
"Ha, listen to this."
Why do assholes like this never die out? Like some law of conservation for jerks.
You'd think living so long would mellow them out, but nope.
Time alive doesn't always equal maturity, apparently.
If you're gonna age, do it right—not dribble it away like an idiot.
"I knew it the moment they said they buy used Skill Books, trash like this. This chick's nuts. Look at how she talks to a customer like sky-high royalty."
That crossed the line.
I grabbed his throat and hoisted him up.
"Gack! What the—?!"
His legs kicked wildly in the air.
I wasn't forgiving someone who called everything I've collected trash.
These books mean more than mere objects to me.
My grip tightened on his neck instinctively.
"NPCs can't harm Players!! Break the Tower's rules, and you won't get off scot-free!!!"
"Oh, so that's what you were banking on."
Players can't hurt NPCs, and vice versa.
One of the Tower's core rules.
You can't break it—your actions get forcibly restrained.
Try to anyway, and the Tower hits you with heavy penalties.
Worst case, you're exiled.
No one knows what happens to exiles. That's what makes it terrifying.
Humans fear the unknown most of all.
"But here's the thing—this is my space. Even the Tower can't touch it."
Just as I can't mess with the Tower, it can't mess with me.
I've been here since its birth. As it grew, so did I. As it became a monster, I kept pace.
Our bond isn't some simple master-servant thing.
"Wipe out trash like you, and no one would notice. The Tower values its tie to me over your worthless survival anyway. You're not even a Ranker."
I felt him trembling violently.
His pants darkened with wet stains, yellow liquid pooling on the floor.
"Whatever. Just get out."
I flung him outside like trash.
A quick flick of my fingers erased the filthy mess he'd left.
"What does the Tower even do? Doesn't drag off scum like that."
I grumbled as I shut the shop door.
Business for the day was done. I wasn't in the mood anymore.
Dealing with customers in this state would just lead to more trouble.
It wasn't that I wanted a break or anything.
"You do sell books, right?"
Ber approached as I locked up. How long had she been watching?
"Huh?"
"You just opened not long ago. And even that was you buying one. You don't sell books?"
"I can't just sell my book-babies to anyone."
"Don't you make money?"
"La la laaa, can't hear youuuu."
I plugged my ears and flailed until Ber smacked me.
Rubbing my sore crown, I said,
"It's been a while."
"You always ran whenever I showed up."
I was broke. Couldn't pay back what I owed.
That's why money's scary. It wrecks relationships so easily.
"Money's terrifying."
I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head.
Odd. She should've jumped in with a retort by now. No sound.
I cracked one eye open. A massive shadow loomed over me.
"Abububu."
Ber stretched my cheeks long and thin as she spoke.
"Karma. And how's your skin this good? No lotion or anything."
Even pinched, I grinned proudly.
"Heh."
"So annoying."
My agony dragged on longer because of it.
Finally released after an eternity.
Rubbing my aching cheeks, I said,
"Most customers who come here aren't buying books—they're selling them."
"I know that."
"Some do come to buy, but they want them for decor, like interior props."
I hated that.
It rubbed me wrong, seeing books used for anything but their true purpose.
"Why are you so obsessed with books?"
"Obsessed?"
"Totally obsessed."
Ber's words left me speechless.
Too many thoughts swirled—I couldn't pin one down.
The one that finally slipped out was...
"Wanna grab some coffee?"
"Huh? Out of nowhere?"
"Let's sit and talk slowly. I've got a lot to say."
I fiddled with my beret.
I tried to smile, but it wouldn't come. All that lingered was a bitter coffee-scented smirk.
"So, how do you think Skill Books are made?"