Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Episode 16.
Gunter, looking at the map he bought at a stall, quickened his pace.
Before heading to the Shop of the Gods, there was one place he had to pass through.
‘…It’s far.’
Terrain was one of the biggest discrepancies between the game and reality.
The Border City, which could be surveyed in about an hour at most beyond the monitor, had now become so vast that one couldn't see it all even if they walked all day.
Didn't it take several hours just to find 'Haven' last dawn?
‘It would be a relief if it were just big.’
The roads were as complex as a spiderweb, and the streets were filled with real humans, not a limited number of NPCs.
“Wow, Mom! Look at that guy’s face!”
“Hey! Be polite to others… Oh my… Hmm, hoho.”
Gunter sighed and pulled his robe, which had been blown open by the wind, back over himself.
‘I should have bought a mask.’
Perhaps it was because of the Stigma that increased his Charm, but he felt like he was attracting more attention than usual.
[Your reputation in the Border City has slightly increased]
[The Red Street Pillar laughs, telling you to enjoy the attention]
After wandering the streets for a few more minutes like that.
Gunter arrived at his destination.
[Brody's Quick Fix]
…Brody.
‘Is he also part of the ‘di’ lineage?’
Gunter entered with a silly thought, opening the shabby door.
The interior was tidier than he expected.
“How may I help you?”
When I showed the employee Eddie's letter of introduction, I was led to the Guild Master's room without delay.
And….
‘Is that Brody?’
A man, who looked exactly like Eddie, even with his slightly receding hairline, greeted him.
Gunter froze for a moment.
‘What is this?’
Even if they were cousins, could they look that much alike? As he stared, the man suddenly exclaimed in surprise and called his name.
“Gunter?”
“…Eddie.”
“Ha, really. To see you again in just one day. What brings you here?”
“I have something to ask of you. What about you?”
“Uh, well… I. That is to say…”
The answer came from elsewhere.
“He suddenly showed up and asked me to find a good restaurant for a confession,” she said.
“Brody! You damn bastard—”
In a large armchair in the corner.
Her vibrant crimson short hair swayed gently.
A beauty with an incredibly cute impression, making it hard to believe she was related to Eddie, stared intently at him.
‘…She looks about Suhyun’s age.’
While her appearance bore no resemblance, her playfully raised expression and mischievous aura were quite similar.
Gunter smiled faintly and made a joke.
“Yor is going to face a crisis two days in a row.”
Eddie, who had received the list of restaurants from Brody, hurried out the door, waving.
“Anyway, see you again. Give my regards to Ryan too.”
“……”
…The confession would probably fail.
Regardless of Eddie's charm, the situations of Yor and Kalian were such.
As he watched that pathetic retreating figure, with a click, a teacup was placed before him.
“A customer who is so handsome it’s hard to believe he knows my cousin? So, what is your request?”
Straight to the point.
Better yet.
Gunter handed over the memo he had prepared and said,
“Please find out if these people are in the city, and if so, where.”
Brody, who was reading the memo intently, murmured softly.
“Hmm, there are two people?”
Gunter nodded.
One was the protagonist.
The other was someone related to the Hidden Cultivation Method.
He needed the latter's information quickly… but the former was what concerned him more.
‘Why has the protagonist disappeared?’
The <Forgotten God> he experienced and this world were clearly the same.
This had been a verified fact over the past years.
One, the most crucial puzzle piece was missing.
‘What if they haven't disappeared?’
Perhaps they had merely deviated from the main scenario due to an unexpected variable.
There was a sufficient possibility that they still existed somewhere.
‘Of course, I’m prepared to push the scenario forward even alone….’
It wouldn't hurt to look for them.
If they were together, the journey ahead would be extremely smooth.
“Hmm, since the information for both is so detailed, it probably won’t take too long. Should I provide the information in writing? Or by visiting in person….”
“In person.”
“Yes, then you can go out and pay. Since it’s an introduction from Eddie, I’ll give you a 15% discount.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Gunter hesitated and then continued,
“Um….”
“Is there anything else you need to ask?”
“Do you have a mask?”
Brody smiled and took out a wolf mask from a drawer.
“This is on the house.”
“…You’re more generous than I thought.”
“There’s no harm in gaining favor with a promising contractor, is there?”
Ding-!
A bell signaling the next customer rang, and the door swung open wide.
It seemed Brody was quite well-known in this line of work.
There was a long line in the hallway.
“See you again.”
Gunter left [Brody's Quick Fix].
* * *
Whoosh-
Finally, he arrived in front of the Shop of the Gods.
The entrance looked exactly as it did in the game.
A colossal metal archway, wide enough for ten people to stand side-by-side with space to spare.
[The Three Gods observe the pinnacle of Magic Engineering with keen interest]
Thump-
As he approached, the empty space rippled and filled with a bluish light.
It was the portal to the Shop of the Gods.
The moment he was about to step through-
“Aaaaah!”
A man suddenly shot out from the portal.
But he didn't seem hurt and immediately ran back towards the entrance, pounding on the archway.
“Give it back, give it back! This transaction is a fraud!”
His face was contorted red, like someone who had suffered a grave injustice.
He held some junk in his hand.
“Damn it, what kind of item was that! You’re trading it for this trash? This is the price for the lives of my comrades who perished in the Labyrinth! Give it back!”
An elderly adventurer, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward to stop him.
“Young man, you shouldn't cause a disturbance in front of the shop. If you’re not careful-”
But it was already too late.
Swish-
From within the metal archway, something silently revealed itself.
A height of 3 meters.
The hem of its robe fluttered like a curtain.
“……”
For a moment, everyone fell silent.
The man who had been raging was no exception.
[Customer]
The Minion spoke in a low, soft voice.
[You are causing a disturbance even outside]
“Th-that’s….”
[You agreed to the exchange earlier… Unfortunately, a completed transaction cannot be undone. Please leave now]
Surprisingly, it spoke politely.
Its tone was as gentle as if it were soothing a child.
Perhaps because of that, the man, before he could be stopped, mustered his courage again.
It was a foolish act.
“Who, who are you to mock me like this! After taking that expensive item, how can you give me this kind of trash…! You fraudsters!”
In the shadow of the robe, the Minion's mouth was seen to stretch into a wide grin.
[You. You have insulted the transaction]
“Wh-what…?”
[According to the rules, I shall collect the just price]
Swipe-
A flash of light extending from the Minion's fingertips allowed no room for even a scream.
A tongue severed in a single stroke.
“Ugh, ugh, uaaah!”
It tilted its head calmly towards the fallen man, panting.
Its voice continued serenely.
[Customer, the transaction was fair. Leave]
…The man, in shock, could not get up properly.
It reached out a hand and helped him up.
[The Addict Saintess whispers, 'At your feet!']
It didn't forget to hand him the severed tongue.
If he hurried to a skilled healer, he might be able to reattach it.
“Ughhh….”
The man left, sobbing.
The people stood frozen.
The Minion stood tall.
I nodded.
‘…They really are bastards.’
The gods that exist in <Forgotten God> feel a bit different from the gods depicted in other media.
Unless they are extremely rare benevolent gods, they do not particularly look down upon or protect humans.
They act solely for their own benefit and objectives.
In the process, they do not consider human survival or emotions.
How much more so for that Minion.
‘I can’t possibly like them.’
Just then, its gaze turned towards me.
[Oh my, you are a first-time visitor]
“Uh.”
[Do you happen to have a recommender?]
I shook my head.
[Do you happen to have a contracted Divine Rank…]
“No.”
[Ah, I see]
It wasn't a mistake that the Minion's attitude became cold.
It continued in a business-like tone.
[Customer, from the moment you enter the shop, you must abide by the 'Sacred Transaction Rules.' Do you understand this?]
“Recite it for me.”
[……]
The Minion seemed offended.
But it couldn't neglect its duty.
[First, all transactions are conducted through bartering…]
To summarize its words:
[First, Bartering]
When a human presents an item, the Divine Rank proposes an exchange item.
[Second, Choice]
If multiple Divine Ranks are interested in the same item, they will each offer different exchange items.
The final choice rests with the human.
[Third, Collection]
If you offer worthless items three times, or refuse a Divine Rank's offer three times, you must pay a price for offending the Divine Rank.
[Fourth, Exit]
You can only leave the shop after completing one or more transactions, or by paying a price.
[However, some rules may be relaxed depending on your transaction rank.]
“Is that so?”
[Of course, this does not apply to you, the customer]
…The lingering resentment.
It scanned me thoroughly and then spoke again.
[Now… will you conduct a transaction?]
The Three Gods simultaneously sent messages.
[The Ninety-Nine Overlord Knight King warns that he senses a chilling aura within the shop]
[The Addict Saintess advises not to attract unnecessary attention]
[The Red Street Pillar wears an intrigued expression]
I let out a chuckle.
‘Don’t worry.’
I knew well that the transactions that would unfold were dangerous and unfair.
The Shop of the Gods was a system that garnered complaints even when it was a game.
But….
‘That’s only for newbies.’
For someone who knows what outputs what input, the Shop of the Gods is simply a cost-effective restaurant.
‘The veteran is entering.’
I took a step forward-
Whoooosh-
A strong dizziness washed over me.
.
.
.
[First-time visitor, Rank 0 badge granted]
[Please attach the badge to your right chest]
* * *
An intense light.
Before my eyes could adjust, I moved my feet.
It didn't matter if my vision was blurry.
[Serpent's Nest Lv.1 is activated]
My senses, more precise than my eyesight, had already been granted.
The subtle heat and vibration seeping into my skin.
‘…This is good.’
[The Red Street Pillar shrugs]
The interior of the shop was vast.
An endless expanse of black marble floor,
Customers bustling about, and Minions stationed at each counter.
The overall atmosphere was reminiscent of a giant casino.
‘…It’s not just the exterior that’s similar.’
The way it operates is also similar.
Just as VIPs who spend a lot of money in a casino receive special treatment.
Here, those who complete high-quality transactions earn a higher rank.
‘A strict class system, perhaps.’
As Rank 0, he could only trade with low-level Divine Ranks in the lowest tier.
Conversely, those of the highest rank, Rank 6, had the authority to freely enter the upper levels and trade with all Divine Ranks.
Chik—
Gunter attached the Rank 0 badge to his chest and glanced up at the opulent upper levels.
Most of the named NPCs he knew would be up there.
‘I’ll climb up gradually.’
…It wouldn't take long.
He headed towards the stalls, bustling with customers wearing anxious expressions.
“Please, this is the third time!”
“Snap out of it! Offer the most precious item you have!”
“Ugh… What’s the point if I think it’s precious! The gods reject it!”
Their expressions were as if they were gambling their entire fortune.
It was because of the third rule, the 'limit.'
[If you present an item deemed worthless by a Divine Rank three times in a row, or refuse a Divine Rank's offer three times, a 'price' will be collected]
A rule unilaterally favorable to the Divine Ranks.
Despite that, the shop was crowded.
‘Gambling addicts.’
Here, sometimes, incredibly good exchange items are given for the presented item.
What if you brought junk and left with an amazing divine artifact?
Or what if you witnessed such a thing right next to you?
It was enough to make one's eyes water.
Therefore, those seeking a big score would visit the shop, praying they could match the fickle preferences of the Divine Ranks.
‘A foolish act.’
I can guarantee that it is impossible for an ordinary human to read the minds of gods.
…Unless they are a veteran who has frequented this place countless times and learned the patterns.
‘Well then….’
Gunter walked towards an empty counter.
…Or rather, a counter that was about to become empty.
The customer standing at the counter looked at the scene unfolding before them, unable to believe it.
['Prince of the Sewer' has presented 'Squishy Slime Flesh' as an exchange item]
“H-haha… Wh-what flesh?”
An absurdly trashy exchange item.
But since it was the last transaction, the customer couldn't refuse.
He just picked up the foul-smelling green lump of flesh, his shoulders slumped.
—Haha….
At the highest level of the shop.
Beyond the gently shimmering veil-like boundary, a low laugh seemed to be heard.
‘Damn bastards.’
My resentment grew.
Gunter frowned and placed his backpack on the counter.
The past three years.
These were items he had prepared in between crossing the continent.
“I will trade.”
His confident gesture drew the attention of the surrounding onlookers.
…Everyone's expression turned peculiar when the opening of the backpack was revealed.
‘What is all this trash?