Chapter 14
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Merchant of Madness
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Score ranking?’
Kang Seol, a seasoned veteran, had never seen this system before.
It must be something newly added.
Beep.
The crowd, which had been as noisy as a bustling marketplace, suddenly fell silent all at once, everyone staring at something floating in their vision.
It was a ranking of adventurers' scores, displayed alongside two lines of message.
[Your information is private.]
[Your score is 327,600 points.]
1. Private (327,600)
2. What'sThisAllAbout (150,030)
3. Private (137,120)
4. FireAnt (110,570)
5. YahooIsekai (104,200)
Exposed in the rankings.
Even more telling was that everything was in Korean, suggesting all the players around him were Korean.
‘Or maybe only Koreans were transferred, or it's the Korean server...’
Recalling what Cordon had said, it was probably the latter.
He had spoken of the world's merger, which implied something on a scale far beyond nations.
"Three hundred twenty thousand points?"
"I barely hit fifty thousand!"
"That's the guy! He's the one behind this! How else do you explain that score?"
"I lost more than three party members... We fought like hell and still didn't break a hundred thousand. How...?"
These were people who had survived an utter hell.
How terrifying must it have been to be dropped alone into the Eternal World, Pandea?
They had confirmed they were all players and wept bitterly together.
Yet at the same time, they eyed each other warily, green with envy.
No one here guaranteed their survival.
But there was one absolute truth.
The smart and the strong had a higher chance of making it.
Everyone gathered here must have learned that lesson the hard way.
"Who is it? Hiding because they've got something to hide, right?"
"Does anyone know why this happened?"
"The ones on that leaderboard must know!"
Clothes soaked in blood, faces scarred by severe burns, arms severed clean off.
These were survivors of hell itself.
As sharpened blades wavered, unsure whom to trust or strike, another message appeared.
[Rest period begins.]
[Base camp rest begins.]
[Rest 1. Free City Kongori]
Free City Kongori, located in the south of the Eternal World, Pandea. A city abundant in resources with high citizen happiness.
Recently, the Rock Fang Trolls from Pointed Rock Mountain posed a major threat, but with all five leaders dead, the crisis has been resolved for now.
Adventurers must rest and train here sufficiently before preparing for the next adventure.
Objective: Rest and regroup.
Failure: Fatigue.
Remaining time: Approximately 30 days
[You have obtained an Adventurer ID.]
[You have remaining adventure points. Visit the Adventurers' Association to convert them into a rank.]
"Rest? S-suddenly?"
"A whole month? What the...?"
"Guess we're not meant to die just yet."
Around Kongori's main gate and walls, people stood around in a daze.
The Adventurer ID served as entry permit, so getting into the city shouldn't be an issue for any of them.
The only problem was their sheer numbers.
‘How many did they cram into the same city?’
Kang Seol watched the situation for a moment, then seemed to realize something and headed straight for the gate.
"W-where's that guy going?"
"Is Private here somewhere?"
The gate guards showed no particular wariness toward the approaching Kang Seol.
He presented his new Adventurer ID, and without suspicion, the guard thumbed over his shoulder, letting him through.
The other players, seeing this, rushed toward the gate in a mob.
"Let's get inside and rest first!"
"Yeah, we can talk tomorrow!"
"D-don't push!"
"Out of the way!"
The roads were well-maintained for carriages, bustling with the daily life of this world's inhabitants.
‘The ones just transferred are probably the last wave.’
In Kang Seol's second adventure, the incident had occurred due to differences in transfer times.
He expected the same for this base camp rest; those who finished their adventures first would have snapped up every available room.
But given the city's size, some might still be left.
For now, before the horde at the gate claimed them.
Kang Seol quietly opened the door to an inn labeled "Barley's Haven."
Creeeak—
"Who might you be?"
"I'd like a room..."
"ID first, please."
Thud.
Kang Seol handed over his Adventurer ID.
"Any rooms left?"
"We've got one pricey one remaining..."
As expected.
A little later, and he'd be sleeping on the streets.
"I'll take that one."
"Just for the night?"
"A month."
"A m-month? Well... the guests earlier said the same... Ten gold coins, please."
"Expensive room, huh."
To Kang Seol, who knew this world's currency values, it felt a bit steep, but options were slim now.
"That's why it's still available, right? Add two more gold, and I'll throw in meals and baths."
"Deal."
"Ha! Straight shooter, eh? Perfect! Top floor, right side!"
Jingle...
Kang Seol took the key and climbed the creaky stairs.
The bushy-bearded innkeeper hurriedly pocketed the gold and asked,
"Bath?"
"Morning, please."
"Got it."
Click.
Stepping inside, Kang Seol took in the room at a glance.
Clean, hygienic bedding—nothing more, nothing less.
Beggars couldn't be choosers, especially with his background. As long as he didn't catch something in his sleep, it was fine.
Kang Seol pushed everything to tomorrow.
Today had been utterly exhausting.
Over 24 hours awake, starting with a filthy nightmare, and now his jaw ached from the game he'd played for 17 years finally becoming reality.
Swish.
Karuna's shadow emerged as Kang Seol shed his outer clothes and lay down.
"Keep watch while I sleep."
"...Understood."
The moment his head hit the feather pillow, sleep crashed over Kang Seol.
[A comfortable bed. Chance of full rest increased.]
[A clean bed. Chance of peak condition tomorrow increased.]
Suddenly, unease crept in.
‘I won't end up there again, will I?’
No, probably not.
If they meant to kill him, Cordon wouldn't have intervened in the first place.
Unable to fight the overwhelming drowsiness any longer, Kang Seol drifted into sleep.
Dreams are strange things.
They can paint the illusions you crave, filling you with joy, or thrust horrifying, grotesque scenes upon you, turning it into a nightmare.
Right now, Kang Seol opened his eyes in pitch-black darkness.
He was aware it was a dream, yet unable to wake—a lucid dream.
His chronic affliction, suffered for 17 years.
Could it really vanish overnight?
‘At least I didn't wake in the Heavenly Realm. Small mercy.’
Then, a message appeared before his eyes.
[Someone shows interest in the Madness you have collected.]
[Madness Merchant 'Janet' appears.]
"Madness... merchant?"
Unfamiliar phrasing, unfamiliar system.
Kang Seol was full of surprises today.
Creeeeeeeeeeak—!
Followed by an ear-piercing shriek, the surroundings slowly brightened.
Not brightened, exactly—it was too grim a blood-red glow.
The crimson light filled the space as someone with horns sprouting from their head and a demon mask opened the door and entered.
They sniffed the air immediately upon entering.
"Sniff sniff... Ahh, what a fine aroma. Did I find it first? Faster than that Terad bastard."
"...Who are you?"
"No shock at my appearance? Human... was it?"
"Hu... man?"
Anyone using that term couldn't be human.
Kang Seol tensed, focusing on the conversation.
Seeing this, Janet snorted and bowed at the waist.
"Oh dear, scaring a customer? No way to run a proper business. Pleased to meet you. I'm Janet, one of the merchants handling mid-tier trades in this world merger."
"Mid-tier trades? World... merger?"
Even Kang Seol, the only human who knew of the world merger, struggled to grasp Janet's words.
"See? Dealing with you sold-off lots is always a hassle..."
"Sold off? Me? Humans?"
"Hear me out. Your owners sold off the inhabitants of both worlds amid the merger."
"What? Sold to whom?"
"Inhabitants of yet another world. They were probably laughing their asses off watching you until moments ago. In short, you're slaves sold to a circus troupe—or gladiators."
"...And?"
"They pay with Madness for the show. The driving force opposite faith that keeps the worlds turning."
"And you?"
"I sell you goods in exchange for the Madness you've gathered. Of course, a cut goes to your former owners as commission."
Now Cordon's words all made sense.
- Snowman, there's only one way to save you and your kind. Reach the final adventure, Ascension. Standing out as much as possible will help. Gods need Madness too, but so do you.
The gods were selling humans and Pandea's inhabitants to collect Madness.
And his eye-catching actions entertained another world's denizens, earning that Madness.
The emotion stirring in Kang Seol wasn't betrayal or humiliation.
Those had already dragged him into the abyss once before.
He still remembered the black line scarred across his throat.
‘Now the system makes sense.’
Instead, he felt relief.
Understanding the setup clarified priorities—unnecessary actions versus vital ones.
‘Escaping this hell really all comes down to Ascension... But I've gathered Madness?’
Kang Seol asked Janet,
"You came all this way, so I must have some Madness, then."
"Mm... Straight to the point: yes. And quite a lot."
"A lot? How much?"
Did Madness accumulate that easily?
Kang Seol pondered briefly, then nodded, recalling his far-from-smooth adventures.
Janet mumbled, flexing fingers open and closed.
Bad at math, apparently.
"Three thousand. Exactly 3,000 points."
"Is that a lot?"
"Average for me in this line of work, impressive for you lot."
"Hard to gauge..."
"Put it this way: you're currently the top Madness collector."
"......"
Janet grinned.
"Second place was hot on your tail but died in the last adventure. Such a shame. Anyway, care to trade?"
"What can I buy?"
Flash!
An overwhelming flood of information poured before Kang Seol's eyes—enough to make his head throb.
Among it, he picked two that caught his fancy.
[All-Purpose Spice Jar]
Grade: Unique
Level Requirement: None
Weight: 0.1kg
Special: Holds a large amount of spices in a small jar. Basic spices only.
[Fresh Ingredient Pouch]
Grade: Unique
Level Requirement: None
Weight: 0.1kg
Special: Prevents ingredients from rotting or spoiling. Temperature adjustable per compartment; holds a good amount. Only cooking ingredients; some special types excluded.
"...Picking the odd ones, eh?"
Kang Seol browsed the Madness-purchasable items.
Immediately useful ones were overkill, and future-proof ones demanded hefty Madness.
"Nothing catches my eye."
"Grrrh... That's a slap to my pride as Janet! Fine! How about this?"
Janet pulled something glowing strangely from their bosom.
"Mm..."
Kang Seol nearly gasped at the sight.
It was something he recognized.