Chapter 9: Shopping Spree
I stared at my smartphone screen, breathing hard enough to bore holes through it. 15 million! A measly flask for 15 million points? My heart pounded so loud it echoed in my ears.
Ding! Right as the auction confirmed, the message icon lit up. The sender was the very bastard who'd just bid 150 million points—the Tower Master.
Tower Master
Oho! Magnificent! Truly wondrous! A vessel of absolute transparency and heat resistance, with virtually no mana impurities! In all my years appraising countless artifacts and alchemical tools, I've never seen craftsmanship this exquisite!
His excitement practically leaped off the screen. Of course it did. How could Earth's modern industrial heat-resistant glass compare to the handmade junk from his world?
Tower Master
Now I see why that old Royal Alchemist was so obsessed with this flask. The geezer must've thrashed about in desperation, but he couldn't beat my points! Kahahaha!
That was the terror of a blind auction. No one knew the others' bids, so it turned into a chicken game where everyone threw in their max just to not lose out. And who reaped the biggest reward? Naturally, the seller—me.
Tower Master
O merchant from unknown realms, if you come across more top-grade tools like this, I beseech you to trade exclusively with my tower. I'll back you solidly.
"What a sucker..." But hey, win-win all around. I smirked and fired off a quick reply.
Philosophizing Repairman
Thank you for appreciating the item's value. I'll contact you if more good stuff comes in.
I closed the chat and checked my current point balance. Junk scrap sales plus the auction haul came to
15,135,000 Points
.
"Alright, time to do some actual shopping?"
My first real buying spree—not from the basic materials system shop, but the users' 'For Sale' tab stocked with finished weapons and armor. I dove into the weapons category.
No way I'm raiding gates without proper gear.
That D-rank famed sword Kim Taesoo had? Easily tens of millions of won on Earth. I'd seen firsthand how a 5cm-thick steel pipe crumpled like taffy under my mana. To unleash the Dragon Heart's overwhelming output fully, I needed not just tough metal, but something that could channel mana properly.
My pulse quickened a bit. Money's fun when you spend it!
The For Sale tab overflowed with listings. What the—why so many? Scrolling endlessly, curiosity pulled me to a flashy top S-rank sword post.
🛒 FOR SALE 🛒
Hero Branslit's Sword
Seller: Continent's Greatest Collector
20,000,000,000 Points
"20 billion points...? No way..." I'd strutted with my 15 million, but this was another league. What insane performance justified that? But no specs visible.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTICE ⚙
Detailed info and item specs are hidden by the seller.
To view, pay 100,000 Points or reach Gold rank in the Multidimensional Secondhand Market.
View? (Y/N)
"...Huh?" I squinted. Just a flashy title, one exterior pic, and a ridiculous price. No magic effects, durability, or even authenticity check. 100k points to peek? "Damn, the system's a master merchant."
Not some basic pay-and-buy shop. Info was currency here. Sellers hid specs to fleece suckers or force psychological warfare where buyers guessed hidden stats. Shopping was a high-stakes game of wits. This is fun.
I skipped the S-rank spear and aimed for realistic D-rank stuff matching my level.
Swords? Spears? Axes? Flipping posts, my eyes locked on one.
🛒 FOR SALE 🛒
Northern Frontline Black Iron Spear & Shadow Lynx Coat (Beginner Set Recommended)
Seller: Northern Retired Mercenary
◈ Price: 800,000 Points (Bundle Only, Haggle Welcome)
⚙ SYSTEM NOTICE ⚙
Detailed info and item specs are hidden by the seller.
To view, pay 5,000 Points or reach Bronze Merchant rank in the Multidimensional Secondhand Market.
Hunters loved swords for the flair, but spears were way better—especially for newbies like me. Extend your reach, stab safely from afar. Truth be told, I had a slight aversion to bloody close-quarters brawls or getting up close with gross monsters.
800k points—about 80 million won on Earth. Solid set, but blowing 5k just to peek? Nah. Plus, seller welcomed haggling. Instead of paying, I hit the 1:1 Chat button.
The essence of secondhand deals is probing. And he was online—perfect timing.
Philosophizing Repairman
Hello. Love to buy the Black Iron Spear and leather coat as a bundle. Could you open the spec window? Saw you welcome haggling.
A curt reply came soon after.
Northern Retired Mercenary
Hmph, nitpicking specs? Total greenhorn. Weapons are picked by feel, not numbers. And haggling? That's if you bring something that tickles my fancy.
Tough customer. But I loved it—way more engaging than one-click buys.
Philosophizing Repairman
If the feel's right, that's why I'm asking specs. What tickles your fancy?
Northern Retired Mercenary
Stuck in a snowbound northern cabin since retiring from the frontlines—mouth's bored to death. Sick of bland beer like plain water. Got anything stronger from your world? Booze, smokes, luxuries? Show me specs and a discount.
I coughed out a laugh. Booze and smokes? My eyes drifted to the junkyard office corner. Soju and cigs—solo old man's best pals.
I grinned and typed.
Philosophizing Repairman
Deal.
Northern Retired Mercenary
Oho! Put it in the trade window now!
I opened the system's Barter Trade feature, adding 750k points plus a PET bottle of soju and a pack of smokes.
The merc confirmed and chatted back.
Northern Retired Mercenary
Oho! Never-seen booze and smokes. Worth a 50k point shave!
50k? That's 5 million won. Suckers everywhere... Convenience store trash for pennies, netting me a steal.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTICE ⚙
Seller has revealed item info.
Ding! Specs popped up in hologram.
🗡 Black Iron Spear 🗡
D-rank
Forged from northern icy sea black iron for battle. No special powers, but exceptional durability withstands mana overload without breaking.
🛡 Shadow Lynx Leather Coat 🛡
D-rank
Long coat from tough Shadow Lynx hide. Deflects physical blade attacks, hides wearer's presence, boosts agility by 10%.
Whoa, insane. D-rank specs this good?
While I marveled, frantic merc messages flooded in.
Northern Retired Mercenary
Well? Like it?
Philosophizing Repairman
Yeah, solid. Let's trade.
Ding!
✅ TRADE COMPLETE ✅
Purchased items sent to inventory.
Northern Retired Mercenary
Grrraaahh!! Just sipped that clear bottle's firewater—burns down the throat like nothing else!! Beer can't compare!!
Philosophizing Repairman
Glad you like it.
Northern Retired Mercenary
These smokes hit the spot too! Spear basics: thrust and recover. Use well!
Blown away by cheap chemical soju, the merc dropped spear tips and vanished offline. I burst out laughing, pulling the gear from inventory.
Blue particles coalesced mid-air, dropping a hefty matte-black metal spear and ashen long coat onto the workbench.
"Oh... this is no joke."
I draped the Shadow Lynx Leather Coat over my ratty work clothes. No stiff leather or stench—just silky lightness, magically sizing to my build. It rippled like shadows with every move, stylish as hell. My body felt feathery.
Next, the Black Iron Spear. Gripping it filled my hand with perfect, hefty balance—worlds from hollow pipes. Channeling faint mana from the Dragon Heart, blue circuits glowed vividly along the black shaft, humming in resonance.
A true hunter's weapon, accepting my mana perfectly.
"Yeah, this is it."
I flourished the coat and thrust lightly—sharp whooshes sliced the junkyard air.
750k points gone. 75 million won equivalent, but zero regrets. The thrill of this trade system was addictive.
"Gear shopping: perfect."
I stowed the spear and eyed my phone. 14.38 million points left.
"Good. Now, time to snag some real-world cash."