Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Lowriarin's Wandering Kid Merchant
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The dying adventurer Twinkle was utterly flustered by the sudden appearance of a shop run by the Genesis kid smack in the middle of the Lowriarin Desert.
“What, what is this? Am I hallucinating right now?”
Twinkle rubbed his eyes to check if this was a dream or reality.
Whoooosh!
A stinging sandstorm blew fiercely again, and Twinkle's health dropped a bit more.
Current HP: 8. This wasn't the time to debate if it was a hallucination or not. Twinkle stumbled desperately toward the small general store in the dungeon.
“Dun! Hey! Wake up quick! Give me one healing potion!! How much?!”
When he shook the NPC labeled 'Dun' awake, Dun sat up with a scowl.
The kid scratched his belly inside his loose tank top as he got up.
“What do you want?”
“Healing potion!!!! Hurry!!!!”
“Jeez, look at you getting all pissy. Hold on.”
Yawning lazily with slow blinks, Dun rummaged through the display case and handed over a healing potion on exhibit.
“100 units.”
“What? Why's it so expensive?! Ugh, whatever! Fine! Take it all!”
Twinkle received the sparkling recovery potion from Dun. The red liquid inside the glass bottle looked like melted jewels—stunningly beautiful. Its appearance certainly justified the price. Not that you'd use a recovery potion just for its looks.
Handing over a gold coin to Dun, Twinkle chugged the recovery potion.
“Ha! I'm alive! Wow, but this thing's super effective?”
Grinning ear to ear at his fully restored HP, Twinkle beamed.
“Hmm? It even boosts strength. No wonder it's pricey.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Intrigued by the sparkling recovery potion, Twinkle checked out Dun's other wares.
The other potions had the same mystical sheen as the recovery one. Similar colors marbled together, twinkling like they'd been dusted with starlight.
Twinkle picked up a mana boost potion. It looked like the Mediterranean Sea captured in a bottle, sparkling brilliantly.
“The other potions sparkle too. How'd you do that?”
“It's the Sparkle Series. My mom made 'em, and I added a little something extra. The one you drank is the Sparkle Healing Potion.”
“Spar... kle... Series... Great name. Super intuitive.”
[Dun's favorability has increased.]
Praising the name made his favorability go up. It was so funny that Twinkle burst out laughing.
“What? Everyone always rags on the names, so I was kinda bummed.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, uh. Taste is subjective. Great name.”
Twinkle checked the info on the mana boost potion in his hand.
[Rare] Sparkle Mana Potion
Description: A mana potion crafted by Dun, daughter of Rihaowel. Increases charm and strength stats upon use.
Too pricey for bulk buying, but sipping one before a dungeon boss fight seemed perfect.
“Oho, what's this?”
Twinkle picked up another intriguing item and checked its info. It looked like a rock, but it sparkled just like the other potion items.
[Rare] Stone
Description: A stone brought from another world, called Daboseok.
“It's a crafting material. Use it right, and you can make stuff like the Sparkle Series.”
“The Sparkle Series is made from this stone?”
“Nah, that's Jewelwater. No clue how to use this one yet. Tiaryn's still researching it.”
“Who's Tiaryn, and where's Daboseok?”
“Trade secret.”
She looked like just another kid with nothing special, but she sold all kinds of wonders.
If he had the cash, he'd buy everything, but he'd blown his funds on gear before the boss fight, leaving him with only 30 units.
Does she always sell here in Lowriarin? Twinkle marked the spot on his map to come back later.
“But hey, Genesis kid. Why're you selling stuff alone in a dangerous place like this?”
Fascinated by Dun's oasis-like appearance in the desert, Twinkle plopped down near the stall.
“It's the quietest spot around.”
“This place... isn't it too quiet? Do you even sell anything?”
“Nope. That's why I charged you extra.”
“...... Ah, aha!”
Twinkle's brain short-circuited for a moment, mumbled along soullessly, then exploded half a beat later.
“No wonder it was so damn expensive!!”
Still, he didn't regret it enough to argue. Stock was super limited, and the effects were top-notch—even worth more if needed.
“Sigh, fine. Make bank, kid. So, what're you saving up for at your age?”
Unlike NPCs in other games, Ninapinta's had backstories even for little things.
Twinkle got curious about the wandering kid merchant's tale.
“Gotta buy off that money-grubbing jerk.”
“Money-grubbing jerk?”
“There's this annoying but necessary guy.”
Twinkle listened to Dun while browsing his new items and updated skills from his seat.
She looked so young, but talking about 'buying someone off' was hilarious.
“Alright, Dun. Sell a ton, make loads of cash, and nail that buyout.”
“Yeah.”
“I'd love to buy more, but I'm broke.”
Time to log out and tackle homework, so Twinkle stood up.
He'd marked the kid Dun's spot on the map, so later he could grab cash from the adventurer bank and shop.
“I'll come back loaded next time! You've got tons of cool stuff—gotta bring money and browse properly.”
“Whatever.”
Leaving the epic items behind after just eyeing the Sparkle Series, Twinkle logged out.
* * *
The next day, Twinkle logged back in, pockets full of cash, and headed to the marked spot on his map.
“Dun?”
He strode in confidently, but Dun was gone. It felt like spotting a desert mirage.
He wasn't too bummed, though. Her stuff was insanely pricey anyway, and nothing essential for dungeon clears.
Just kinda weird. A newbie-era village kid from Genesis peddling out here.
He'd leveled up enough now that Genesis was off his route, but if he had time, he'd swing by to see what the kid was up to.
Still, a little disappointing after bringing money.
Few customers around the stall suggested not many knew this kid moonlighted selling rarities.
If word got out, she wouldn't be napping peacefully.
'Should I advertise for her?'
Predicting an explosive reaction if known, Twinkle signed up on the Ninapinta forums and posted.
「[Free Board] Lowriarin's Wandering Kid Merchant
Level 50s here, kinda a Ninapinta old-timer lol
First time on Nipin forums, but found something wild so I signed up to share.
That starting town Genesis? Y'know the cute red-eyed village kid there? Saw her selling stuff in Lowriarin.
Nearly died soloing Lowriarin's Weresprite Dungeon, but she sold me gear and I barely survived.
Broke and had RL stuff so didn't check everything, but tons of fun items.
From memory:
[Rare] Sparkle Healing Potion
[Rare] Stone
lololol
Might sound lame, but it's 'Daboseok'? Stuff from unknown lands, full of rarities. Kid's a bit prickly, but grows on you lololol
Praised her Sparkle Series naming and her favorability shot up.
Anyway, if you spot the stall, say hi for me! She's vanished now, no clue where.
」
After posting, Twinkle browsed the free board. Tons of 'Dun' mentions.
That's when he recalled the kid's name was Dun.
「[Free Board] Dun's Slime is Named Dogshit lololol」
「[Free Board] Where're all the guys promising Dun locations? Full of shit?」
「[Free Board] Dun Illuminati is real.」
「[Free Board] Info on Dun's Teleport Magic Circle」
“Huh?”
Dun was this popular?
While puzzled, Twinkle's notifications blew up. A dozen DMs had piled up.
“What the hell...?”
Twinkle checked his post.
-ㄷ
-Moron asshole lololol it's Dun.
-lololololol so pitiful ㅠlolololol
-Was it Lowriarin? Drop a map pin
-Lucky to meet Dun...? Or unlucky only seeing Sparkle Series outta all that...
-ㅇㄷ? Spill info
-Kya our baby's active in Lowriarin?
-Favorability tips plzplz
-Daboseok from where? Undiscovered continent?
-How'd you only see Sparkle Series from epics and uniques lolololol that's some next-level lololol
“Epics...? It was all epic items?”
The display had shabby, cluttered accessories—he figured rare or normal at best.
Twinkle's eyes spun. He scoured free and strategy boards for 'Dun'.
Late to the party, Twinkle finally realized Dun was a total treasure like wild ginseng.
Should've chatted more to boost favorability!!!
Should've rushed back with cash when favorability rose!!!
Slapping his forehead, Twinkle logged back into Ninapinta.
“She liked the naming sense praise, right?”
Recalling the favorability gain point, Twinkle ditched dungeon farming and bolted to Genesis.
* * *
It had been a while since heading to Selk Academy for a delivery errand. They'd ordered bulk stamina potions.
“Sparle Series is the best!”
“Dun, your naming sense is insane! Even 'Dogshit' is peak!!!”
“Gonna name my future kid after one of yours!”
Players kept at a distance from Dun—mostly Smart Sword guild folks—shouting praise through megaphones.
Bombarded by sudden compliments, Dun scratched her head.
What the...? Weird rumors spreading again.
“Dun!!! It's me, me! I'm the OG Sparkle Series fan!! Dun, remember me?”
He finally spotted Dun. Twinkle spread his arms in a huge grin and charged.
But players swarmed first, blocking his path to her.
“Don't worry, Dun! We'll handle this other fanatic!”
“Our Dun hates players in her 5m zone, got it?”
“Let our kid live her daily life! Stalkers like you keep her from trading!!”
“Hey, you guys are hypocrites too, right?! You're just farting around with the tips I posted!”
“Aah, that was you? Your fault for posting it!! No take-backs!”
Blocked by players, unable to reach Dun, Twinkle stretched out longingly.
They'd chatted so easily just arm's reach away once...
Promised to come back loaded, Dun...
“Dun, remember me? I carried you on a quest!!”
“I did your dishes too, remember? Dun? I'll do dishes! Cook for you!”
“I don't need anything—just wanna know about you!!! Buy you food, let's chat!!”
Twinkle spotted other players pleading just like him. But high-levels held them all back.
No chance.