Chapter 63
Chapter 63 - GOTCHA
"Jeong-yong nim! Can you hear me, Jeong-yong nim?"
I barely escaped from my thoughts at Seolbaek's cry.
As I quickly came to my senses, Seolbaek was waving her hand in front of my eyes.
"You've been in another world since earlier. Is something wrong?"
"Well... no. Just...."
For a moment, I contemplated whether to tell her or not.
Countless conflicts went back and forth. After about twenty pros and cons arguments, the opposition ultimately won.
I didn't want to drag Seolbaek into this. That was the biggest reason.
"Anyway. What's that accessory you bought earlier?"
Having decided on the result of the internal meeting, I decided to change the subject.
I pointed to the small box she was holding in her hand and asked. This was the accessory Seolbaek had chosen after about two hours of searching.
Being out of it, I had just paid first. Come to think of it, I had hastily bought something without even checking what it was.
"This? It's a ring."
Seolbaek held out the box in front of me and spoke proudly.
I scratched the back of my head.
"No, I'm asking what kind of ring."
"Actually... I don't know either. Hehe."
Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, I raised my eyebrows.
"What?"
"They say there's a random ring inside this box among several rings. From expensive legendary items to cheap common items, all at the same price! Isn't it a unique sales method?"
"... Hey. That's...."
It's a gacha system.
Has a merchant already started using such a sales technique?
After the lucky-based sh*ty garbage game conquered the Earth, has it spread like a plague to this world too?
The person who spread this is definitely a hero from Earth. I was certain of that.
As I looked at Seolbaek, who had turned into a black cow, wondering what to say.
"I liked one of the rings in the rare item list. The black gem in the middle is so pretty, I hope that one comes out!"
Saying this, Seolbaek was there, her eyes sparkling.
Of course, my sympathy, watching this, rose as high as the probability of pulling trash in a gacha.
"Seolbaek. Have you heard of a desire sensor?"
"Desire... sensor?"
"Control your mind to make it seem like you don't want it most. This is my last advice as a sucker senior."
"???"
Avoiding the desire sensor. In professional terms, expectation control.
Of course, it's not actually effective. It's a good skill for managing your mentality when you don't get the item you want even after 10 or 100 pulls.
"Hehe. I wonder what will come out..."
And the moment I said that. Seolbaek finally began carefully opening the box.
Pop. The box opened. I was watching without any thoughts....
'What the hell...!'
Suddenly, I reached for my sword.
I took a breath at the momentary tingling sensation that rushed from the box. I quickly looked at the Demon King.
And the Demon King seemed to have felt the same thing. She was also looking at me with tense eyes.
"Hey, Lucy. The feeling just now...!"
"... From your reaction, it seems my suspicion wasn't a mistake."
Lucy fixed her gaze on the small ring in Seolbaek's hand, looking displeased.
And she added one more thing.
"The smell of a Demon King. Moreover, the smell of a Demon King as powerful as me."
"...!"
"I don't know exactly whose smell it is... but anyway, it's not an ordinary dangerous feeling."
Just as she said.
A tremor that made all my body hair stand on end. An overwhelming sense of powerlessness that makes one think this is what a true four heavenly king would feel.
That was felt.
"Oh, it looks so old, so it must be a dud... What a shame."
It seemed Seolbaek didn't feel anything, as she showed no reaction.
I quickly came to my senses and activated Mimir's Eye to check the item with that crazy presence.
Swoosh. The panel appeared as always.
[Item Information]
[Name: Forewarning of Isgard]
[Correction Value: ??? who ??? and left ???. ??? modification instead, ??? to the owner]
[Details: ???]
[Possible Enhancement Count: 0]
It's all question marks.
Is this beyond the level my current Mimir's Eye can confirm?
At that moment when I was clicking my tongue.
[The point of immortal return has been updated.]
[Time - Continental Year 1108, January 12, 11:12 AM]
[Location - Marktress. Upper area of the Promised Plains, Shop District 1 of the small town Kern]
The return point was updated once again. It was the second time today.
I stared intently at the pitch-black ring emitting an ominous pressure.
* * *
"Isgard? Do you mean the ring of the primordial dragon?"
When I mentioned the ring's name to Lucy, that was her reaction.
Lucy fell silent, lost in thought, muttering something. I secretly brought my face close to her and whispered in her ear.
"What's that? If it's a primordial dragon, which dragon?"
"Yes. Isgard is the name of the last dragon."
"The last dragon?"
"Even before I was created by the witch, dragons had already gone extinct. The dragon that survived the longest was Isgard. That's why he's called the last dragon."
The last dragon. What a cool title.
I nodded to myself as I continued asking Lucy.
"Do you have any idea about this ring?"
"Hmm...."
Lucy stared intently at the ring Seolbaek was wearing, letting out a sigh.
After staring like that for a while, she finally shrugged and shook her head.
It was a sign of surrender.
"I don't know. Judging from the fact that it's not in my memory, it's probably an item made less than 30 years ago. I don't remember seeing something like this before my resurrection."
"Why don't you even consider the possibility that your memory might be wrong?
"Tsk. Don't you dare underestimate my memory!"
You have so much pride in your memory, but why is your intelligence in such a state? I held back saying a word.
As I stare at Seolbaek's hand wearing the ring with a suspicious heart.
"Hero. Take the ring from that woman first."
Suddenly, Lucy blurted out to me.
An abrupt statement without any context or background. I immediately raised my eyebrows.
"What? Why?"
"Do you think that woman can handle such an incredibly powerful ring?"
"... W-well, that's true."
"Anything could happen. Since there's little information, shouldn't you manage it? Because you have spare lives."
"……."
I was startled.
It was because an unexpectedly rational comment came out of Lucy's mouth.
"... Why are you looking at me so admiringly, hero? It feels somehow unpleasant."
Lucy seemed to sense something from my expression and kicked my calf lightly.
If I told the truth, it would scratch her pride. Since I didn't want her to become dejected again, I was about to mumble a response.
"No. It's nothing..."
But then, something suddenly brushed past me and Seolbaek quickly.
It was a person. A person wrapped in a cloth. I momentarily saw red hair swaying inside a hood.
Seolbaek, who was shoulder-bumped, instantly tilted forward.
"Ugh...!"
Of course, I caught her before she could fall.
This is pure physical ability. The difference in agility. Seolbaek is an intelligence-type character, so her low agility means her reaction speed in sudden situations is somewhat slow.
"Oh... Th-thank you, Jeong-yong nim."
"It's nothing."
After helping Seolbaek up, I quietly watched the person in ragged clothing running away.
Not even apologizing, what nerve. I thought about chasing and hitting them, but what first came to my mind was the bag.
'Could it be a pickpocket...?'
I hurriedly checked my backpack and pouch.
But there were no signs of it being opened. Just to be sure, I checked the contents, and the money was still inside the bag.
Was it someone running in a real hurry? I scratched my head.
[The immortal return point has been updated.]
[Time - Continental Year 1108, January 12th, 11:30 AM]
[Location - Marktress. Upper area of the Promise Plains, Kern residential district]
Only after that panel appeared belatedly did I squint my eyes and chase after the vagrant.
"Wait! Stop right there!!"
I shouted and ran like a bullet. The vagrant glanced back in my direction, then entered a secluded alley.
Clicking my tongue, I immediately tried to follow behind them.
"J-Jeong-yong nim? Why are you suddenly doing this!"
But at that moment. Seolbaek grabbed my sleeve.
I almost screamed in urgency, but seeing Seolbaek's worried eyes looking up at me, that thought disappeared.
"... Whew."
What came out of my mouth instead was a sigh.
Entering the alley where the vagrant had disappeared late, the ragged vagrant had already completely vanished from sight.
I stared at the dark, damp alley and fell into deep thought.
'... The third time.'
This was no longer something to laugh off.
I swallowed a dry gulp and remained motionless in that spot for a while.