Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Jackpot Hit
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Should I buy a lottery ticket or not?
I pondered for a moment, then turned to Yoo-ri.
This kind of thing was best asked to someone with experience.
"What do you think?"
"Hmm, buying one wouldn't hurt."
It was a surprisingly positive response.
"It's all luck anyway. If it flops, you'll learn your lesson and never trust the Doom Shop or this damn hat again."
"Ahem! Ahem!"
.......That sounded full of personal grudges.
Yoo-ri must really hold a grudge against the Doom Shop.
I had no idea what happened in her previous life.
"Then just one ticket, please."
"Goot! An excellent choice!"
The Mad Hatter snapped his fingers, and a lottery ticket dropped in front of me.
It looked like you scratched it to reveal the amount.
"Heh heh, I hope you get a massive minus. A really huge one."
"Isn't that a bit too blatant toward a customer?"
"Haha! I have to make up for losses somehow to put food on the table!"
It was all luck anyway.
Fifty-fifty chance of plus or minus.
The real key was how much.
'Still, there's such a thing as narrative consistency in a novel. It won't be some insane amount, right?'
I boldly scratched the ticket.
A number soon appeared clearly.
"Th-this is impossible!!"
The Mad Hatter gasped, clutching his hat with both hands.
His gaping mouth wouldn't close.
It was more than enough to warrant that reaction.
A whopping 2360 Doom Coins.
The Yellow Cat Shoes I'd just bought cost 2022 coins.
Even after that, I'd have change left over.
"Th-this can't be! It's impossible! There's a limit to luck! How can it be this much?!"
The Mad Hatter's shocked expression made me realize just how incredible it was.
I looked up at the sky and offered my thanks.
'Thank you. Whoever sent this luck my way.'
Honestly, it was a bottom-dollar purchase.
I never imagined it'd hit the jackpot like this.
If I hadn't bought it, I'd have kicked myself all night.
"Whoa, that's amazing."
"Yeah. I've never seen anything like this."
The shocked one wasn't just the Mad Hatter.
Hye-na was stunned, of course.
And even the reincarnator Yoo-ri was impressed by the amount.
"Ugh! This is truly unbelievable. What are you, customer? How can someone have luck like this?"
"What am I...??"
Just your average extra.
Who can see the novel's comments.
"Lottery tickets never go over 1000 coins, no matter how high. Over 2000? Unbelievable."
From what he said, it really was an insane probability.
Truly miraculous.
This novel wasn't kind to extras.
'Did the author slip up?'
Either way, it was my fortune.
On the flip side, the Mad Hatter was shedding bloody tears.
"Ahh, selling the Yellow Cat Shoes for just 2000 was already a loss, and now I'm handing that right back..."
"Just settle up already."
As I pressed him, the Mad Hatter's eyes gleamed.
"Customer, how about one more?"
"Am I crazy?"
Pouring gambling winnings back into gambling?
That's the express lane to ruin.
"Haa, this can't happen. It just can't..."
The Mad Hatter grumbled but added the coins anyway.
Having more money made me feel secure.
"Phew, ladies, anything else catch your eye?"
"Oh, then me too, for a sec."
Hye-na spoke to the Mad Hatter and bought something.
It was a poison vial.
"Hehe, now I'm just like you."
Hye-na's first weapon choice had been the Poisoned Dagger.
It lost its effect after one use.
But with poison, she could regain the skill.
Poison itself was cheap and pretty reasonable.
"Better than other weapons?"
"I saw you using it before, and it looked good. Hmm, I thought about a plain sword too... but blood is just too..."
I got what she meant.
Watching someone's throat get slit up close would put anyone off.
"I could buy that for you."
"Nah, no thanks! I don't want to borrow for something like this."
And with that, our first shopping trip ended.
Yoo-ri spent everything on an Essence of Life.
Hye-na didn't have many coins to begin with.
"Haha... so, you've bought everything you want?"
"Hold on."
Before the Mad Hatter could leave, Yoo-ri stopped him.
"How much for an A-grade Essence of Life right now?"
"Haha! So fixated on the Essence of Life. Must really like that person, huh?"
"......."
"Oops, my bad! Please sheath your killing intent."
The man deftly stroked his chin.
"Straight to the point: 10,000 Doom Coins."
"10,000?!"
I blurted out in shock before I knew it.
An amount you couldn't earn even after taking down a mid-boss and zone boss.
Ridiculously expensive.
"Can't be helped early on. An A-grade Essence of Life can save even the dying."
True. Even the cat shoes on my feet were B-grade.
So A-grade must be cheat-level items.
"Especially in this otherworld where vitality itself is scarce. Makes it pricier. No World Tree yet, and even the Saintess hasn't awakened."
".......On credit? Or an IOU?"
"Sorry, can't do that with folks who might drop dead anytime."
A bit rude, but true.
This world was collapsing in real time.
No one could guarantee survival.
"Wait a few months, and you'll have enough coins as prices drop."
Yoo-ri glanced at me briefly.
Then shook her head.
"Too late by then."
"Hmm, tricky. I don't want to lose good customers."
The Mad Hatter stroked his chin.
Then grinned like he'd had a bright idea.
"How about this?"
"Got a good idea?"
"You're heading to the museum next, right?"
Hye-na tilted her head at that.
"How'd you know?"
"Heh heh, the Doom Shop owner knows all as the info broker."
Makes sense for a merchant with special abilities.
Not that it mattered since he was an NPC anyway.
"Truth is, there's a letter I've long sought in that museum."
"In a plain old museum?"
"Haha! Don't pry too much. Trade secret."
The Mad Hatter chuckled slyly.
No point asking; he wouldn't tell.
"I'd love to fetch it myself, but intervening in this world now binds me with restrictions."
"Restrictions?"
"My power gets suppressed. Can't even appear without being summoned like this."
The Mad Hatter sighed deeply.
"Otherwise, I could sell D-grade Essence of Life to zombie-chased folks for triple the price."
"That's scummy."
"Haha! I'm a merchant!"
The Mad Hatter adjusted his hat and continued.
"Anyway, I can't get that item. Bring it to me, and I'll trade for an A-grade Essence of Life. Deal?"
No sooner had he finished than a message appeared before us.
Find the Mad Hatter's Letter
📍 Type: Special
📍 Difficulty: D
📍 Objective: Bring the old letter in the museum to the Mad Hatter.
🎁 Reward: A-grade Essence of Life
⚠️ Penalty: Opening the letter arbitrarily fails the quest.
'Quests can come like this too.'
I never thought you could get quests from NPCs.
Felt just like a game.
Maybe the author was influenced by game fantasy.
'Well, popular series suddenly swerving into new territory happens all the time.'
Authors shoving NTR into pure love stories deserve a brick to the head.
But this development? Always welcome.
'Plus, the conditions aren't bad.'
We were heading to the museum for relics anyway.
Two birds with one stone.
No real penalties either.
Worst case, mild regret if we failed.
The only hitch? The reward seemed too good.
"Just fetch one letter for a 10,000-coin item? Sounds like a trap."
Hye-na looked suspicious at Yoo-ri's words too.
"He wouldn't scam us, right?"
"Oh, no! Even Mad Hatters get penalized for breaking quest terms!"
The Mad Hatter waved his hands frantically in defense.
But their expressions didn't soften.
Especially Yoo-ri, who kept glancing at me with deep conflict.
"If you're that worried, you two sit it out, and I'll do it alone..."
"Let's give it a shot."
I cut Yoo-ri off.
"We can always bail if it goes south. Right?"
"Of course! Promise you can quit anytime."
"Hear that?"
Yoo-ri nodded reluctantly after a moment's thought.
"Fine. But no risky stuff."
With everyone agreed, messages appeared before us.
'Honestly, more curious about the letter's contents than the reward.'
The A-grade Essence of Life was tempting.
But not something I desperately needed.
Yet an NPC merchant desperately wanting it screamed story relevance.
"Thanks for your business. Been a while since a deal got my heart racing. Good luck to you all!"
With that, the Mad Hatter vanished.
Opened the shop on a whim and scored an unexpected quest.
"Shall we head out too?"
"Yeah, better hurry."
We checked our gear and got in the car.
Our bags were stuffed with essentials and food.
"Ready to roll?"
"Yes, drive safe."
"Always do."
Hye-na's car glided smoothly forward.
Our destination: the museum, of course.