Deal with the Godslayer
“Thank you for the excellent deal. Godslayer.”
Her promise to come running right away hadn't been empty words.
Word was, she'd been in the middle of some important quest somewhere...
“Missions can always be restarted, but good gear won't wait for you.”
“...Isn't it usually the other way around?”
“Hmm! Both the dagger and the bow are exquisite beyond words. Not just the performance, but the aesthetics too.”
She was already so entranced by the gear that rational thought was beyond her. That's why she'd tossed out a whopping 40,000 gold without batting an eye.
In Korean won, that was pushing close to 50 million.
'Man, I still can't get used to this every time. You take down two bosses and suddenly you've got 50 million won.'
For Carpe, who'd been scraping by on minimum-wage part-time gigs just two months ago, the current reality felt utterly detached—like it couldn't possibly be happening to him.
-Not all bosses drop like that, obviously. Those were hidden quest hidden boss drops, so it's possible. Plus, she overpaid.
Cheonma figured the two weapons together were worth 25,000 to 30,000 gold at most, but Tado Tusin had offered 40,000.
'Really? That scythe we got off the priest sold for 30,000, so I figured this was normal.'
-That one should've gone for around 10,000 normally. My guess? Some Middle Eastern tycoons got into a chicken game bidding war. Kids these days have no idea the value of money—they just blow it! Tch!
'Boomer demon. Pretty sure that's not something you should be saying, teacher. You're the one who threw money at me to buy a 100-million-won capsule.'
-That's different. I'm dead. What does a dead guy need money for? Better it goes to someone who'll put it to good use.
'Spoken like a true cult leader! Your grace humbles me. For the revival of the Cheonma Divine Cult, I shall exert myself to the utmost.'
Anyway, no reason to turn down extra cash.
The cool transaction, sealed at 40,000 gold, left both sides immensely satisfied.
“Thanks again. Honestly, you could've listed them at auction and gotten even more...”
Cheonma dismissed the 'Fanatic's Scythe' sale as a fluke from a bidding war, but flukes could happen again.
The odds weren't zero. She knew that too, so on top of the 40,000 gold, she added one more thing.
“If you ever need my help in-game, just call anytime. I'll come running barefoot if I have to!”
“Appreciate it. Thanks.”
“I'm no man... but anyway, a word once spoken is heavier than a thousand pieces of gold. Call me anytime!”
With that, she headed off to level up.
The weapons had a level 50 restriction, so she couldn't equip them yet at her current level.
“...Every time I see her, I can't help but think she's a bit much.”
-Not really over the top. The second she hits level 50 and equips those, her second job change quest difficulty drops big time. She's gotta be super grateful.
“Good to know. Alright, then. Back to the palace...”
Whoosh.
Carpe spun around and headed back to the auction house.
When your ammo pouch gets fat, your perspective changes.
Carpe meticulously checked the auction house for anything he might've missed.
-...What, you running a Four Calamities raid or something? Your inventory's gonna burst.
“You can never prepare too much, right?”
-True, but...
After ample shopping time, Carpe completed his utterly perfect preparations.
* * *
The next day.
Carpe returned to Ramark Castle and sought out Gillian.
“You're here. All prepared?”
“Yes. More than enough.”
“Good attitude. As the saying goes, the side that prepares more wins the war. Hurr hurr hurr!”
Gillian let out his signature hearty laugh, then led Carpe to their destination.
“Let's go, then. It isn't far—we'll be there soon.”
A short while later.
Carpe and Gillian arrived at the deepest point beneath the castle.
Deeper even than the underground prison holding the inmates. A secret spot known only to a tiny handful of palace insiders.
“Here we are.”
A massive iron door loomed before them.
Thick chains wrapped tightly around the handle, and magical circles were etched all over the door for extra security.
“To be honest, I never dreamed I'd open this in my lifetime. Feels like facing a legend.”
Gillian's eyes sparkled like a child's.
“Then I'll open it.”
Clank clank.
The heavy chains unraveled at Gillian's touch. The faintly glowing magic circles powered down simultaneously.
Groooan.
The long-sealed door creaked open stiffly after ages of neglect.
“...Whew.”
Beyond lay stairs descending further underground. Eight centuries of stale air wafted out, prickling their skin.
“My skin's tingling. This place is no joke.”
“Heh heh heh. Getting sentimental in my old age. My blood's pumping after so long.”
“Wanna come in with me? I don't mind.”
“Tempting as hell... but no can do. This is your trial.”
Carpe had harbored a sliver of hope that Gillian's old bus might fire up again, but no dice.
“I'll seal the door once you're in. Good luck. Oh, and I'll keep looking for a soul fitting that relic you mentioned.”
“Thanks.”
Carpe was touched once more by Gillian's unwavering care right up to the end.
Whoever called him a shitty dad instead of a death god was dead wrong.
Gillian ranked in the top three kindest NPCs Carpe had ever met.
“We'll share a cold one when you get back. Found a brew that pairs perfectly with ice.”
“I'll be back before it melts.”
Carpe strode in majestically, like Guan Yu charging out of the straw sandals pavilion against General Hua Xiong.
Boom!
As Carpe entered, Gillian resealed the door, plunging everything into pitch darkness.
“Let's see.”
Carpe opened his inventory, pulled out a Light Lantern scroll, and tore it immediately.
Pop.
A fist-sized orb of light popped out and began orbiting above his head.
“Ahh, worth every coin. This is why we splurge.”
Carpe nodded in satisfaction.
Besides the Light Lantern scroll, his inventory brimmed with consumables for every contingency.
With visibility secured, Carpe descended the stairs without hesitation.
The underground labyrinth was deeper than expected; it took another ten minutes to reach the bottom.
“Whoa, it's a real maze, not just a metaphor.”
The basement floor matched the classic maze image: massive stone walls snaking from floor to ceiling in endless twists.
“One wrong turn and you're lost for good.”
-No choice but to get used to it. I know paths in other maze dungeons, but...
“Yeah. Even you haven't seen this one, right, bro?”
Some ranger jobs had Mapmaking skills that shone in mazes like this, but sadly, Carpe lacked one.
“Well, that's why I prepped for a marathon.”
-True. And it's just catch the centaur, right? Good luck, and it might end quick.
“Whew. Onward, then.”
The dim light and the maze's sticky air ramped up the tension.
Carpe proceeded cautiously—and soon enough.
Boom!
The first monster appeared.
Minotaur.
A massive bull monster, at least three meters tall, blocked his path, wielding a gigantic hammer.
“Different look from the one in Wind Cave...”
-That was a demon mimicking a bull monster. Real minotaurs look like that.
Unlike demon Croal, this true minotaur had redder fur, with dark crimson energy swirling around its huge frame.
...No matter how you squinted, that aura looked sinister.
-Hmm. Never seen that weird energy before. Probably unique to this dungeon's mobs.
“Guess we'll find out starting now!”
Thud!
Carpe shot forward at high speed toward the minotaur.
“Mooooh!”
The minotaur bellowed in rage and swung its hammer down at Carpe—but.
“Not today!”
Boom!
Carpe skidded to a sudden halt, and the hammer smashed the maze floor instead. Shards flew up before his eyes.
“Hah!”
Carpe exploited the opening perfectly.
He slipped inside the minotaur's guard and unleashed a flurry of punches.
Crack crack!
“Mooooh—!”
The minotaur's pained bellow echoed through the labyrinth.
These monsters were leagues tougher than Ruana's—unlikely to one-shot here.
But no one-shots didn't mean a struggle.
“Wind Cutter!”
Skill Enhancement: Wind Cutter activates twice.
Target afflicted with Bleed status.
Two Wind Cutters from point-blank range shredded the minotaur's chest.
Carpe followed up relentlessly.
His fists targeted the wounds precisely.
Weak point struck!
Crack crack crack!
Carpe's fists flew like lightning.
“Mooooh...”
Thud.
The red minotaur collapsed, dissolving into gray ash.
Exactly 30 seconds since engagement.
“Phew. Was bracing for a Unique dungeon, but it's way more manageable than I thought.”
-...Damn. Still can't get used to watching you.
Just as Carpe couldn't acclimate to dropping tens of millions on gear, Cheonma couldn't get over Carpe's combat sense.
-Not kidding, out of all the users I saw over ten-plus years in RaSe, you're the best fighter...
“Oh? Drop item.”
Ignoring Cheonma's rambling, Carpe checked where the minotaur vanished.
A mirror-shard-like fragment lay there.
“Energy fragment?”
-First time I've heard of it too, so probably dungeon-exclusive material. Pick it up anyway. Might tie into a quest.
“Could be.”
Carpe pocketed the fragment and checked his quest log.
Solo Kill: Monsters Above Player Level (1/500)
Mukhyang's evolution condition count had ticked up by one.
“Nice. I can wrap up stage one of her evolution quest here before leaving.”
-Smooth sailing. Just find that centaur quick, and we're golden.
Carpe pressed on through the maze.
And after some time...
This time, it wasn't a monster.
“Whoa?!”
A rectangular box faintly glowing red.
A treasure chest—and judging by the aura, a Unique one!
“Ahh, yes!”
Nothing stirred a gamer's dreams like a dungeon treasure chest.
Carpe approached, thinking his luck was off to a hot start—
-Stop.
“Huh? Why?”
-Hit that chest with a spell. Real ones won't break.
“No way...”
Muttering 'Nah, couldn't be,' 'No way,' Carpe nonetheless fired a Fireball at it.
Boom!
“Kieee?!”
The chest popped open with a shriek.
“...Goddamn it.”
No treasure, sadly.
Mimic.
RPG's classic trap monster, crushing gamers' hopes.
“How'd you know?”
-It's basic. No mimics in Ruana, but outside? Most chests are mimics. Real treasure chests are the rarity.
“What a shitty game.”
Carpe sighed. No wonder his luck felt too good too soon.
“Kee kee keek—!”
The singed mimic screeched and lunged at him.
...That sound felt like mocking laughter, doubling his rage.
“For daring to deceive a gamer's dreams—you deserve death!”
-...Deserve death my ass. Anyone hearing that would think you've ever spared a monster.
“Die!”
Carpe smashed the mimic to bits.
As a trap mob at heart, it was far weaker than the minotaur and soon crumbled to dust.
“Strike while the iron's hot. Dust to dust, ash to ash.”
Minor justice served, Carpe moved on.
And moments later.
“...No. For real?”
Carpe muttered in disbelief.
Another treasure chest sat before him.
Unique-grade again, same as before.
“Daring a two-for-two scam?”
At least change the color!
No need to check—Carpe blasted it with magic again.
Boom!
“...Huh?”
-...Eh?
This time, it was different.
The chest stood unscathed, without a scorch mark.
The verdict was clear.
“I-it's real! The real one's here!”
-Whoa, jackpot for real.