Chapter 15

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: The Shadow Flower Deal

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A flower emitting a lustrous black light.

The Mad Merchant Janet pulled it out—a Shadow Flower.

"You might not know its value, but this isn't something I'd normally sell to a first-time customer,"

"...A flower?"

"That's right! A Shadow Flower that boasts vibrant energy for decades without fading."

'I can get a Shadow Flower... already?'

Kang Seol knew about items like the Shadow Flower.

Objects with abilities akin to one-time-use volatiles, in a way.

Scrolls imbued with powerful magic.

Potions that granted superhuman strength to escape dire moments.

These could play a decisive role in critical junctures, determining the success of an adventure.

'And there's no downside to having it, anyway.'

If he had it, he could just decide when to use it.

Janet watched Kang Seol's reaction, gauging him carefully.

Though she'd spoken dismissively, there were other Mad Merchants besides her, and with substitutes available, the deal wasn't set in stone.

"How's the item..."

"The price?"

"Exactly 3000 Madness? Do you recognize its value?"

"......"

"D-Does it feel expensive?"

Kang Seol was deep in thought.

The item's worth was immense, but the two he'd picked first were plenty convenient too, and without knowing the market rate for Madness as currency, it was hard to judge.

'Is it pricey or a steal?'

As Kang Seol furrowed his brow, Janet fidgeted like her feet were itching and made the first offer.

"How about this: buy the Shadow Flower from me, and I'll throw in those two you picked earlier. Sound good?"

"The spice jar and pouch too?"

"Yes! You know that's over 600 Madness combined, right?"

Before Kang Seol could nod, Janet added more.

"In exchange, promise to trade exclusively with me until the next deal."

"Next time?"

"It's a loss for me, so I need steady trades to make up for it. Don't you think?"

Kang Seol nodded, seeing through her words.

"You're saying no other Mad Merchants until the next trade with you."

"Exactly. Exclusive with me until then."

Loss or gain?

With the two extras, he could snag the Shadow Flower, but now her proposal posed a dilemma.

"You don't have to buy. Just look over my wares."

"...Fine."

"Deal! Items delivered safely."

Since this was a dream, they'd somehow transfer over.

Assuming Janet, as a Mad Merchant, was one of those transcendent beings he imagined.

"Looking forward to our next meeting—I'll take my leave! Survive till then."

Sure enough, upon waking, the items sat neatly on the inn table.

Birdsong accompanied a refreshing breeze slipping through the slightly open window.

No matter where in the world you slept, your body clock adjusted to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠place.

Kang Seol's current state was no different.

Closing his eyes in Pandea and opening them felt natural.

'Madness... turns out to be a more fun system than I thought.'

Kang Seol planned to go all-out for the best rewards regardless, so naturally, he'd draw eyes from other worlds.

No one else pulled off as many tricks and wonders in adventures.

'Can't avoid it? Then use it.'

As Cordon said, since it helped him too, he'd make use of it.

He organized his rest period tasks.

First: Allocate stat points from gains.

Second: Check next adventure.

Third: Scout other players' movements.

Fourth: Clear the pocket watch side quest from Pointed Rock Mountain.

And one recent revelation:

'My memories... have gaps.'

Kang Seol initially thought he remembered most Eternal World adventures.

But that was wrong.

Some he couldn't recall how they started; others, key choices or outcomes at crossroads escaped him.

'Not forgetful by nature—what's going on?'

It felt like waking from cryogenic sleep after ages.

Forgetting things hazily was shocking for him.

'Even if adventures change, without base memories, it's useless. Damn...'

He'd trusted his recall, so anxiety crept in.

'Gotta be cautious for now.'

Knowledge gaps could turn easy adventures hard.

Poorly remembered ones? Postpone or skip.

After bathing and gearing up, Kang Seol stepped out.

Harsh sunlight stripped shadows from buildings, but odd movements caught his eye.

'Square this close?'

A cloud of people packed the city square.

Some who'd slept here yesterday showed dark circles. All looked like players.

Someone shouted from a platform.

Plain-faced, yet somehow ruthless.

"We're in humanity's worst crisis ever!"

"What're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the governments doing!"

"Governments? Does anyone even know where 'here' is? How'd they find us without that!"

"M-Maybe not everyone's been pulled here?"

"Scary... so scary."

"Another month, back to hell?"

As Kang Seol eyed the man, he addressed the crowd strangely.

"Right now, we need unity and cooperation most, don't we?"

"Unity... cooperation?"

"Band together?"

"Yes. Why scatter and court death? Think of those dying in these 'adventures'!"

"Hm..."

"How? We need a center, right?"

"Yeah! Who to trust? Just grouping up means nothing!"

Uninterested in irrelevant speeches—time was precious—Kang Seol slipped away.

Right after, the man continued.

"That's why we have him."

A man climbed the platform.

His packed muscles made him look primal.

"Who's that?"

"Who is he?"

"You all know: top rankers this adventure kept identities hidden."

Murmurs rose.

"Right! Yeah!"

"No way..."

The man introduced the newcomer.

"Correct. He's the rank 1 adventurer who hid his info."

"H-Him...?"

"Trust him and group?"

"Your choice. I'm proposing. In danger, trust gods or friends? No—only power. Who denies he's the toughest survivor around?"

"Well..."

"What do we do?"

The man smiled brightly.

"Form one community."

Similar scenes unfolded across Kongori.

Dubbed 'guilds.'

In a game-like world, better they call it what they want than 'co-op' or 'vigilantes.'

Kang Seol saw many forming groups, minus the first guy, and chuckled inwardly.

Organizations meant to protect people—but how many would uphold that ideal?

He'd never cared much for real-world folks. Indifference, distrust.

Raised in an orphanage, 17 years of the same bizarre dream—normality was impossible.

He trusted only himself, especially after gods abandoned him.

'They'll figure it out.'

Now at the job training hall.

Shadow summoning, dark magic line.

Entering the wooden 'Seers of Darkness' building, he met a robed man.

"What brings you?"

Choices appeared.

"Strengthen abilities and learn new ones."

"Good. Follow me."

Kang Seol followed.

Rest spots required such check-ins.

"Here. Go in."

"Got it."

A pitch-black room, darkness everywhere.

The man left him there.

Like solitary in a brutal prison—nothing visible.

Then, something surfaced.

Whoooosh...

A tree-like illusion.

Roots engraved "Shadow Summon" and "Shadow Hand," branches sprawling out.

'Skill tree visualized like this.'

He knew the system, adapted quick.

Reached out, upgraded or unlocked as desired.

Prime ability [Shadow Summon] upgraded first.

2 points on main [Shadow Summon], 2 left.

'Next tier needs 4 points.'

Scanning others, he found targets, touched text.

Testing another, a message popped.

'Can't power-level as fast as I'd like.'

Regretful but thankful to the keeper, he finished allocating.

'Decent enough, I guess?'

Next stop: tavern.

"So, weirdos trying to drag you off?"

"Unemployed back home, but here? Popularity boom. Weird, huh?"

"World's gone mad..."

Tavern buzzed with guild talk even midday.

"Steel Heart or whatever... name's so tacky."

"Better than Black Tiger. Some uncle made it."

"Impressive, really..."

Simple reason he avoided guilds: no help from them, no direct aid he could give.

Cordon's words echoed.

- Note: Speaking of Heavenly affairs gives gods cause to intervene. You'll die. Act wisely. Good luck, Snowman. Hope we meet again.

Helping others with his experience risked exposing its source.

'Solo for now.'

His call.

'Speaking of... who knows this pocket watch?'

Clink...

Pondering the broken watch's side quest, he felt eyes on him.

Swish.

He checked the source.

A white-haired elder paused drinking, staring hard at Kang Seol's face.

Creak...

Suddenly stood, approached.

'Who? What?'

Ready to summon if needed, he watched.

The elder neared, ruddy-faced.

"That..."

"Yes?"

"That watch..."

Watch.

Not him—the pocket watch.

"That pocket watch... looks like one I know. Mind if I check?"

He'd dreaded scouring the city.

Fortune smiled: quest NPC right there.

"...You know it?"

"Of course. Seems like..."

Kang Seol fell silent at the elder's words.

"One I made."

A lead on the lost watch's owner.