Chapter 135

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 135

Chapter Title: Janet's Grand Entrance

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Janet had made her entrance in a rather peculiar fashion.

Kang Seol turned to her.

"What's with that giant toad, and all those gaudy decorations on it?"

"I bought them all just recently. What do you think? Not bad, right?"

"The massive toad too?"

"Of course. All refined merchants ride around on such dignified creatures."

"...I can't wrap my head around it."

"Human common sense can't keep up. Well, I get that about you."

Kang Seol had no aesthetic appreciation for the sight of her descending on the toad's tongue.

"Is that the trend in your world?"

"Something like that. It might look ridiculous, but do you have any idea how much it costs to maintain? That's exactly why I keep it around."

"Did you come into a sudden windfall or something? You used to dress so plainly..."

"A windfall? Close enough. Haha, did I look like some overnight millionaire?"

"A bit."

"Oh, you're so honest. Well... I can't deny my pockets are fuller after receiving that commendation."

"Commendation?"

Janet grinned smugly as she boasted.

"Apparently, I ranked in the top for trading volume among brokers. Not that it was hard... The other civilizations are so squeezed dry there's barely anything left... Hmm? Anyway, never mind."

"Other civilizations? Squeezed dry?"

"I said drop it. I get scolded from above if I leak info without permission."

"I thought you weren't the type to watch your step around others."

"Usually, yeah. But those old fogeys up top have lived hundreds or thousands of times longer than me, so I play along."

"Hmm..."

From the tidbit Janet let slip, Kang Seol could piece together a vague picture of the situation.

'Madness isn't just spawning from Earth or related worlds...'

It smelled like there was more dirt to uncover, but digging now wouldn't change anything, so he switched questions.

"So, top trading volume means... you handled that much Madness?"

"Obviously! Oh! And part of it's thanks to you."

"My... thanks?"

"Yep. I... name-dropped you a bit."

"You mentioned my name?"

"To the wary humans, I pointed out you're one of my trading partners."

"...Did it work?"

"Well, who wouldn't be tempted by a human with over 3 million points, who's traded more than 10,000 Madness? It opened doors to new clients and improved my setup nicely."

Kang Seol was dumbfounded, but the gains from their trades were substantial, so he let it slide.

After all, he and Janet were bound purely by business. As long as the deals were good, the rest was trivial.

"But why show up when I didn't even tear the invitation?"

"I never said it has to be the invitation. I can appear if you want to trade, but I can also drop in when I want to."

"You've got me there."

"I watched what happened in the labyrinth."

"...You saw everything?"

Janet's eyes widened in mock surprise before she burst into laughter.

"Of course! We brokers don't just trade all day. On off days, we observe folks like you from other worlds. It's both work and a hobby."

Observe to gauge desires. Get hooked from the watching.

Brokers truly were an odd bunch.

"Your labyrinth run... leaned more toward the hobby side for me."

"......"

"Fun fact: your story's bouncing around broker tongues everywhere."

"So, I'm gossip fodder."

"Not wrong. But it's not necessarily bad for you."

"Then what?"

"Now more brokers want to trade with you. Some are eccentrics who only sell to favorites, dealing in the weirdest stuff. Exciting, right?"

"Not really. Won't that threaten your position, Janet?"

Janet's eyes went wide.

"Me? Not at all."

"Why not?"

"The rivals who showed up last time spread rumors: Janet and Snowman share an unbreakable bond."

"We do?"

"News to me too, but I nodded along, and they all started admiring me. Kyahaha! Idiots... Anyway, it works for me. Now everyone's saying they have to go through me to sell to you. For a tiny fee."

"They're that eager to trade with me?"

"Curious about your tale, plus brokers have their own status. Trading with big shots boosts rep... It's all about snagging famous clients."

"That big a deal?"

"Yep. Snowman's odds for good deals just skyrocketed. You'll flip when you see what I brought today."

"Then show me."

"Right away!"

Shraaak-!

In an instant, a market rivaling a five-day bazaar unfolded.

Goods artfully displayed on stalls. Inspecting each one manually was amateur hour, of course.

Rather than wandering, Kang Seol browsed the interface's catalog.

Swipe- flick-

He ignored the useless stuff entirely.

Madness was a rare resource. Anything worth grabbing here had to be hard or impossible to get outside.

Scroll...

"Oh, and that ingredient pouch from last time? It didn't work right in the labyrinth."

"......"

"Got anything to say about that?"

"...That was the budget model, and we found ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it glitches in special conditions sometimes."

"So, what you're saying is."

"I'll replace it for free. Satisfied?"

"Plenty."

With a devilish smile, Kang Seol picked the priciest ingredient pouch on the list.

"Ah! That's the premium one..."

"...Premium one?"

"Yep, suits you perfectly. The basic one's a bit meh, huh?"

After that, Kang Seol even had her upgrade the All-Purpose Spice Jar to Rare grade.

Then he scanned the list again.

"This, this... and that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one too."

"Quite a few rare poisons. Ah, I can guess what for."

"Yeah, and also... Hmm?"

One item caught Kang Seol's eye.

'This here?'

"One Love-Hate Deer's Scent Pouch too..."

"Ho! Straight to the chase. Only got one."

"How much?"

"20,000 Madness."

"...Steep."

"Worth every bit. Want usage tips...?"

Janet eyed him slyly. Kang Seol replied.

"I know."

"Perfect."

After grabbing various goods, his inventory was nicely stocked.

Scrolling further for more, Kang Seol ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spotted something.

"Uh... this?"

"What is it?"

"Bio-Metal Ingot. This."

"Spot on! Picked a timely one."

Bio-Metal Ingots came from refining hides of Pandea's unique magic beasts, Armor Rats.

These rats bizarrely wore armor-like skin of freakish toughness.

Many tried exploiting it, but yields per rat were tiny, and they weren't common.

Despite odds, fixed quantities were smelted into these ingots. Effects:

Janet beamed proudly.

"This one's 20,000 too! Thoughts?"

"How much Madness do I have spare?"

"Lemme check... Snowman's current Madness... Subtract this and that... Ah, got it."

She scratched her head at the absurd number.

"117,000."

"Gimme that much."

"...Pardon?"

"Bio-Metal Ingots. That many."

"W-Wait. Do I even have that many ingots...?"

Kang Seol shot her a disappointed look. She protested.

"This is super rare! Only I handle 300kg worth...!"

"......"

"Fine, hold on! Just a sec!"

Foosh...

Enveloped in red mist, Janet seemed to contact someone.

"Yeah, it's me. Need it urgent..."

"No, right now! My juniors don't get it..."

"Sending space coords now..."

About 5 to 10 minutes later.

Whoooong... whong...

Space ripped open, revealing two more merchants.

"Senior! I was mid-trade because of you, calling me so sudden!"

"Demanding my one prized item out of nowhere!"

A young man's voice and a young woman's, distinct from Janet's. Fellow Madness brokers.

They sized up Kang Seol immediately.

"Ho... That's the guy?"

"Y-Yeah, we watch him often."

"Anyway, hand it over and scram!"

"Tch... Hogging all the sweet juice."

"Right! Total tyranny. Merchant tyranny!"

Janet calmed her visibly bulging neck veins.

"Later... I'll set up a meet later."

"Always admired you, Senior. We're out."

"Ahem, true comrades know the code. See ya, Snowman! Next time, longer chat! Promise!"

Five ingots added to the list.

"Can't discount these. Out of stock otherwise..."

"Fine."

"Hoping you call me first next time! Thanks for the business. Janet out!"

About twenty days since Kang Seol arrived in Audenin.

Folks buzzed over the partially disclosed info from the Penance Labyrinth incident.

Kang Seol was now in the Adventurer's Association, checking it out.

Kang Seol approved of the Alliance's post-labyrinth moves.

'Right now... entering means certain death.'

At least 10 million points to not struggle at the final gate.

Even that wasn't guaranteed.

Kang Seol turned back to the community feed. Then, a familiar nickname caught his eye.

'...Hm?'

A blinking envelope icon by the name. Other mail too, but he tapped it to check messages from her.

This was probably her first contact.

'This during the labyrinth radio silence.'

And this one, recent.