Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Lucid Bargains
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Kang Seol read through the posts carefully.
Posted: Just now
Title: Anonymous Lands in Novira
Check your score screen right now. Looks like Han Yeo-myung's crossed over to Novira; screw Heka! Han Yeo-myung's coming!
Come on over, Han Yeo-myung~
Han Yeo-myung? Have some manners! Call him Teacher Han Yeo-myung!
Han Yeo-myung's here? We're saved!
Novira's getting fun lol
Posted: Just now
Title: As of Today, I Withdraw My Support for Han Yeo-myung
From today, I shed my supporter status.
Han Yeo-myung and I are one.
Any attacks on him are attacks on me.
Han Yeo-myung's still in Kongori. Take the post down.
What the hell? Then who's the anonymous?
Dunno. Probably some pro leaking in from outside Kongori.
Heard the top ranks are full of psychopaths... Isn't this more dangerous? Han gave off justice vibes.
Just rumors flying everywhere.
Fortunately, people mistaking the anonymous Kang Seol for Han Yeo-myung had stirred up confusion, keeping his identity hidden.
Going public wouldn't be a huge issue, but it could invite petty squabbles.
Novira's current situation made that clear.
People hoped the anonymous newcomer would stand against Heka, the massive relic hunter faction.
'None of my business.'
Kang Seol checked a few more bits of info before leaving the Adventurer's Guild.
He carefully chose his lodging for the next month.
"Pardon? A room with cooking facilities?"
"None available?"
"We have one... The annex is free, but it's pricier."
"That's fine."
Without Galota's Tongue's bidding gold weighing him down, Kang Seol was quite well-off financially.
Clink!
"Take the inner annex."
"Thank you."
Heading inside, a decent-sized annex appeared. Compared to a standard room, it cost over ten times more per night.
But to him, it meant little.
The next day, Kang Seol used Novira's information guild.
Naturally, he sought Chao's info first, but nothing came up.
"We do have the other info you mentioned."
"Please."
Kang Seol paid and reviewed the intel.
• Galota's Tongue, up for auction, definitely leaked from one of the factions on this relic expedition.
'From the relic hunters, as expected.'
He quickly read on.
• Rumors say Kibo, a pillar of the relic hunter factions and a Shadow Summoner, touched it. Unconfirmed but credible. Otherwise, no reason for Kibo to ignore Heka's provocations.
'Ho...'
• Caught signs of Kibo desperately hunting something via internal intel network.
Kang Seol rested his chin and burned the paper.
Worth every coin.
'Circumstantially, Kibo touched the treasure and got poisoned.'
Galota's Tongue was a treasure alright—practically a cursed weapon.
'What he's hunting must be the Shadow Poison antidote...'
Various thoughts flashed through Kang Seol's mind, merging into plans.
'Good. Moving that way should be safe.'
With his path set, Kang Seol headed to the auction house.
"Another treasure's up!"
"Damn, absurd price—not even surprised."
"Who is it?"
"What?"
"Same faction as Galota's Tongue?"
"Who knows."
Kang Seol observed the chattering merchants, then greeted Rita as she approached.
"Nice to see you, Rita."
"Early today."
"Curious about the news."
"Ah... Nothing much to report. Come in anyway."
Auction manager Rita welcomed Kang Seol to a private space, serving tea as she eyed him.
"Have some."
"I'll pass."
"Your throat must be dry."
"Not one to take random drinks. Occupational hazard."
"I see... Happens with some clients."
Rita steered the talk smoothly.
"No bids on Shade's Grace yet, Snowman."
"Figures."
"Maybe lower the price a bit...?"
"No. Not dropping it. Trade, maybe."
"...Trade?"
Rita's face lit up like a merchant scenting profit.
"Trade... Got something in mind?"
"Something of equal value, sure."
Only two treasures were up in the major auction house: Kang Seol's Shade's Grace and the presumed Kibo-owned Galota's Tongue.
Rita got it instantly, lowering her eyes, parting her lips, then clasping her hands—tensing at the gravity.
"Then... how about Galota's Tongue, at a similar bid?"
"Galota's Tongue... Not a bad idea."
Rita's eyes flickered.
"...Shall I push it?"
"You know the owner?"
Referring to Galota's Tongue's owner, of course.
"I'm handling that one too."
"That person...?"
"Sorry. Can't say the name."
Her stance built trust. She'd deflect the same way if asked about Kang Seol.
"Then how do I reach out?"
"I'll convey interest; it's their call."
"Other options?"
"This seems best for now."
Kang Seol smiled and stood.
"Agreed."
"Hope to reach out."
Rita watched him leave, then slipped out a back door to a secret room.
A scarred-faced man waited.
Kang Seol returned to the annex for rest.
Busy as he'd been, loose ends remained.
Swish...
He pulled out a black flower from his pocket.
From his deal with the Madness Merchant Janet.
Hadn't found a worthy summon for it yet, and it wasn't processed.
'Most materials gathered, but...'
Processing the Shadow Flower needed specific ingredients.
He had most, but one eluded him.
'Need Paranoid Gelatin...'
Too rare—even Novira's auction, big for the south, had none. And pricey if it did.
Rare ingredients were hard to get not just from scarcity, but distant sources.
Kang Seol was heading south; Paranoid Gelatin came from northern beasts' bones or shells.
No easy acquisition.
'Antidote materials are from the north too, damn.'
Shadow Poison antidote was another issue.
If things went as planned, Galota's Tongue might land in his hands.
He'd need a counter then.
'Antidote could be a bargaining chip.'
But it needed materials too: powder from northern Poison Herb leaves. Hard in the south.
"Nothing comes easy."
After much thought, he pulled out an invitation with a demon pattern—Janet's Madness Shop invite.
- Crashing in anytime might annoy, so tear this when you want to shop with madness.
"No choice..."
He'd avoided it, but nothing else worked.
Since the Shadow Flower came from there, rarer stuff like this should too.
Riiip...
Overwhelming drowsiness hit instantly.
Night deepened; Kang Seol pondered plans in the armchair, drifting to sleep.
Shhh...
Sleep didn't guarantee dreams, but dreams required sleep.
Yes.
Kang Seol was dreaming for the first time in ages.
A lucid dream, even.
'Right on cue.'
Lucid dreams weren't pleasant for him anymore—just a tiresome routine, like a chronic illness.
He'd thought he'd shaken off Heavenly Realm trauma, but it still haunted him.
[Someone shows interest in your collected Madness.]
[Multiple Madness Merchants appear.]
'Janet...? No, multiple?'
The surroundings were foggy woods—hard to discern even with eyes open.
A chilling aura; silhouettes flickered through the smoke.
Not one—several.
One called out to Kang Seol.
"Snowman, a pleasure."
"You lot the Madness Merchants?"
"Yes. One of us visited before."
"...Janet."
"Heh heh heh. Still remember that friend. Good memory."
"Here together?"
"Can't say."
Kang Seol scanned warily.
Nearly ten encircled him.
Silhouettes only—no identities guessed.
"Why?"
"For fair trade."
"Fair?"
"Snowman, you're just a merger victim. Yet madness worth coveting keeps flowing to you."
"Meaning?"
"Anyone would trade with you. Like you recall Janet from your first deal, we want to be remembered."
"...Fair enough."
Their logic held.
Merchants set aside personal feelings, but buyers favored familiarity for safety.
"What do I do?"
"Nothing. We'll show goods like before."
"And?"
"Buy what you like with fair madness."
"But I..."
"Know. Your deal with Janet. But that wasn't fair— she faced penalties."
Indeed, others saw it as a loophole; Janet couldn't complain.
"How much madness do I have?"
"Around 13,000. Astonishing."
13,000.
Black Flower cost 3,000—plenty now.
"Show me the goods."
"Gladly..."
"Shall I go first?"
A cocky merchant thrust a hand from the fog.
Clatter...
Dozens of items spilled out.
"Eyes peeled. Start with this: it..."
"Hold."
"Hm?"
"Not sifting through dozens."
"Then?"
"Show only what I need. Hate wasting energy."
The merchants nodded.
Buyable items were set; scanning ten merchants' wares was inefficient.
"Then these... and this."
The merchant showed elephant earrings and shiny armor.
"These earrings let you burst strength once a day for immense power."
"Side effects?"
"Well..."
"Side effects?"
"Awful muscle pain."
Awkward silence followed his admission.
"The armor?"
"Ah, confident here. This armor..."
Sweet talk full of honeyed promises.
But Kang Seol replied,
"Got armor recently."
"Oh? Then another..."
"No need. Next?"
Judging his sharp eye, merchants hesitated, then presented their best in turn.
"This gargoyle..."
"Heavenly treasure, basically."
"Miss it, massive loss."
"10,000 madness for this chance, human."
"All your madness, it's yours."
Kang Seol tuned it out.
Powerful summons, treasures, spell scrolls—all known to him, extraordinary but overpriced and unneeded.
No fins needed for the winged; priorities first.
'All out to drain my madness.'
The last merchant waved; two modest items appeared—humbler than prior.
Unlike others, he said nothing, letting items speak.
A flat, glowing blue blob and green powder.
Examining them, Kang Seol said,
"Janet. It's you."