59. A New Customer
Pop— As the tiny lightbulb set lit up with a brilliant orange glow, the Tower Master leaned in close to the screen, utterly entranced.
"Ooh…! No mana fluctuations at all, yet it emits such stable, sustained light…."
I shrugged. Picking the lightbulb experiment kit as their first item had been the right call. Next time, something like an elementary school science box would do the trick. It might look trivial, but the Tower Master clearly recognized its true value.
"Heavens… To think lightning's power could be transformed like this! I was puzzled why you'd use the most unruly force of all… This is driving me mad… I want to dive into research right now!"
To a ninth-circle grand mage who'd devoted their life to unraveling mana’s truths, lightning must seem like an uncontrollable tyrant. But peer inside, and a whole new world beyond their knowledge would unfold.
I inwardly cheered while flashing a relaxed smile. "It's nothing much to look at, but with just a single pricey mana stone, this could light up an entire village at night—who knows?"
The Tower Master stroked their long beard, nodding vigorously. "Incredible. Truly incredible. If we decode the principle of containing and controlling lightning's power, it could absolutely become reality!"
"Glad you like it."
Honestly, I'd been a bit worried. What if they dismissed a kid's lightbulb kit as junk? But no, the Tower Master was the Tower Master through and through.
"My turn now!"
Finally… What would they offer? The Tower Master waved a hand through the air, and a list of trade items popped up in my system window one after another.
Tower Master has registered an item.
I tilted my head as I scanned the list. "One teleport scroll, one attack magic scroll, and one defense magic scroll. The most sought-after set from the mage tower on the Ereinia continent—empires, kingdoms, everyone wants them."
Hmm, not sure if that's good or not…? But their next explanation left me floored.
"By the way, every spell inside is sixth-circle level."
"Sixth-circle…?"
Like I’d know how strong that is….
"Hmm… You don't know much about magic power, do you? You can't use the scrolls yourself… How about this? Lend me room admin for a moment. I'll alter the environment and demonstrate the sixth-circle magic in these scrolls."
I'd learned from the notice board that in these video chat rooms, you couldn't harm other users, but showing off skills was allowed. It made sense since trades could involve not just items, but techniques or knowledge too. Sure, you might ask what sets it apart from direct trades, but there was a clear difference—one I'd see with the alchemist grandpa and the elf elder.
"Sure, here you go!"
I handed over admin rights, and the Tower Master switched the environment to a vast Ereinian plain. They stepped forward and began gathering mana.
"Watch closely. This is the sixth-circle spell 'Prominence Buster.'"
The magic activated.
Fwoooosh—!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom—!
With crimson flames, the wide plain erupted into a smoldering wasteland.
Kaboom—! Kaaa-boom—! Boom—! Fwoom—!
What the hell!? This is sixth-circle…?
The overwhelming range and power could wipe out every monster in a gate's field in seconds. It felt like unleashing dozens of modern missiles across a battlefield.
"Impressive, right? Like it?"
"Uh, insanely so…?"
"Teleport is sixth-circle itself, so no need to explain… And defense magic's importance can't be overstated. Nothing below sixth-circle can breach this barrier."
A barrier that could block the insane destructive spell I'd just witnessed. Thinking of them as insurance policies to save my ass in a pinch made them perfect.
"Amazing. You're up next, Royal Alchemist."
I pulled out various plastic items I'd grabbed from the nearby Daiso and set them down casually.
"Ooh, so this is plastic!?"
"Yep. Even among plastics, you'll see they're all a bit different. You'll figure it out once you study them, right?"
"Of course, of course! Absolutely perfect items!"
The alchemist's gleaming bald head flushed red with excitement.
He registered his items without delay.
Royal Alchemist has registered an item.
'Let's see… Honestly, I'm excited for this too….'
As I read down the item details, I gasped, mouth agape.
Potions for HP and MP recovery were standard. A body enhancement elixir that explosively boosted strength and speed past limits for 10 minutes upon consumption. And a bonding ointment—slather it on a severed limb in battle, press the stumps together, and it instantly reconnected nerves and bones.
Way more intuitive and practical than the Tower Master's one-use scrolls.
"These potions are incredible!"
"Hahaha! They are! Pretty confident in them. Priests are best at healing, sure, but otherwise, these alchemical elixirs get the job done!"
Another satisfying trade. Stockpiling these insurances was like having extra lives.
Next up: the elegant, nature-loving high elf elder. Truth be told, I was most curious about his reaction. Specifically, how our pride-and-joy Korean cuisine would land with him.
Due to video chat limits, though—per the notice board—energy releases or skill demos were fine, but eating or ingesting anything here wasn't possible.
I registered the items and explained to the elder. "Elder, I wrote super detailed instructions on how to eat it. You have to follow them exactly, okay?"
"Hmm… Mind if I step out, try one, and come back? Hate to take it if it doesn't suit my taste."
"Nah, go for it—better for me."
The elder paused as he was about to log out and asked, "Any recommendations?"
"Bibimbap. And for the bibimbap, add the ssamjang and wrap it in the ssam veggies like a wrap."
"Got it. Be right back."
While he was gone, I moved on to the saintess trade. I pulled out the portable outdoor water purifier kit and large-capacity chemical disinfectant I'd prepared for her.
"Saintess, this is a water purification set—should handle hundreds of thousands of liters. Instructions attached, so please follow them exactly. Especially the disinfectant—overuse can be dangerous."
I emphasized it, and Lianes smiled warmly. "Of course, Repairman. I won't abuse it and will follow the instructions to the letter."
Now her turn to hand over her item.
"Not long ago, you sent me a private message with your true name for the blessing."
Right—I'd used the mail function solely to tell her my real name for the blessing.
"Your true name felt like it carried your vast destiny. The Lord God gladly bestowed his blessing upon you."
Ooh, it worked? I'd been worried, since Jermad said even she—a dragon—couldn't receive blessings.
But I could. Lianes pulled something from her bosom: a faintly glowing stone. For a mere rock, it brimmed with such holy, sacred energy it felt downright wrong.
"The Blessing of Will stone. Use it in your world, and the blessing will take hold."
"What’s the effect?"
She smiled. "It will block things that cloud the mind."
Oh, like a mental barrier? As gate difficulties ramped up, mental status resistance became crucial. Low-rank hunters failed high-rank gates due to fear, confusion, hallucinations—the mental debuffs from high-level beasts always tripped them up.
But me? One blessing solves it all? OP as hell…
Not sure how it'd work across dimensions, but it'd do something.
Just as our trade wrapped, the elder returned.
Ah, dying to know his reaction…
But I couldn't help snickering at the sight. Bibimbap traces—gochujang and sesame oil combo—were all over his mouth. How do you resist that? Especially for a veggie-only elf, it must've been a revelation.
I smirked and asked, "How was it?"
He hesitated. "No joke…."
"Right!? Tasty, huh? Korean food's the best!"
"Honestly, I'm impressed. Made with just veggies?"
I'd double-checked ingredients—no meat-based sauces like some gochujang or ssamjang. Pure vegan.
"Duh, of course. Think I'd lie? Even the system vouches for it."
"R-Right. I… I couldn't believe it was vegan…."
Great reaction.
"So, it passes?"
"Passes? I want the recipe. Can you share it later?"
I grinned. "Sure thing. Let's test more flavors you like first."
"Perfect! Then I should teach you spirit arts."
His first spirit art lesson: synchronization with nature.
"It raises affinity with natural elements. Since you handle mana, you'll grasp it quickly."
He handed over what looked like a manual scribbled with spirit arts.
With that, our big four-way barter wrapped up successfully.
Everyone gathered around me, faces beaming with satisfaction, diving deeper into item discussions—
Ding—! A new participant has entered.
Huh? Who’s that? Jermad?
The Royal Alchemist spoke up cheerfully. "Oh! He's here!"
And in walked a newcomer: massive hooked nose, thick braided red beard, sturdy muscles, short and stocky. The new race they'd mentioned before—a dwarf.
He boomed as he entered our chat room. "Kuhahaha!! Nice to meet ya! So you're the famous Repairman!!"