The Mirage Merchant?!

Nam-gung Yun stared at the old man who had appeared out of nowhere, unable to hide his shock. Any player of Dimension World would know him on sight. He was a true deus ex machina, a being who could twist the game's rules and flow in entirely unexpected directions. No one knew where he came from or why he existed, but whenever he showed up on the continent, the items he carried each had their own compelling stories.

"I heard the old freak of the White Swamp shrieking and came to see what was up... and look at this spectacle. What a shame to enjoy such a fine show all by yourself."

The old man stroked his chin as if brushing back a nonexistent beard.

"I heard you were heading south, but I never imagined we'd meet here."

"Hyung-nim, you even know about the Mirage Merchant?"

Nam-gung Yun asked in surprise at my words. I'd only heard as much from Unto, the tool shop owner, before leaving the Kalun Tribe, but I gestured for him to keep quiet. He looked at me with even greater curiosity, and the Mirage Merchant watched me with an amused smile.

No matter the deal, the key was to reveal as little of your hand as possible. It wasn't about how much you knew—it was about planting doubt in the other side and making them covet what you had. That was how you buttoned the first stitch.

"I never dreamed someone would use a teleport scroll right from the starting point to challenge the White Swamp, but if it's you... an old freak like that is nothing, right? You're quite popular up north, Dragon Hunter."

"...Watch your mouth."

I shot him a sharp glare in warning. Even if it was something that would come out eventually, there was a world of difference between revealing your secrets yourself and having someone else spill them.

"D-Dragon Hunter?! N-No way..."

Nam-gung Yun gaped at me, more stunned than when the Mirage Merchant had appeared.

"Shut your mouth before your jaw drops off."

"Ah, haha..."

He ducked his head sheepishly, probably remembering how he'd insisted the Spirit Devourer kill was an admin exploit.

"A man your age should have some gravitas. You don't seem to."

"Don't worry. That kid doesn't seem the type to blab your secrets. He just got an earful from you, didn't he? I only wanted to boost your reputation a bit."

"Unnecessary meddling."

The Mirage Merchant chuckled oddly at my rebuke.

"Let's see... some interesting drops here."

He glanced over the three items Kuntaka had dropped and turned to me.

"White Swamp Armband, Intermediate Blue Stone, and the World Tree Belt?! You're a lucky one!"

He looked back at me.

"How about trading that Blue Stone to me? Not for free, of course. I'd swap it for something you want."

The Blue Stone was like a talisman that forcibly unleashed sealed special effects on items like Tesaro's sword. Blue Stones for weapons, Black Stones for armor, Red Stones for accessories—depending on the color. Since boss monsters dropped stones matching their grade, the Rare-grade Kuntaka had yielded a Rare Blue Stone.

Tesaro's sword is Heroic-grade, so I couldn't use it anyway.

In that sense, the Intermediate Blue Stone was the least useful of Kuntaka's drops for me, so handing it over wasn't hard. And compared to the other two items, it was by far the least valuable.

"..."

Still, I stared at him silently for another reason.

Why does he want that?

The Mirage Merchant, of all people, who carried every rare item in Dimension World—wanting a mere Intermediate Blue Stone? To me, it sounded less like an opportunity and more like something off. Was there really anything from a Rare-grade monster like Kuntaka that would catch his eye?

If not...

The item isn't the goal.

I met his gaze.

"If I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠give you what you want, what will you give me?"

"Straight to the point. Good. Take a look if there's anything you need."

Woooong...

As the Mirage Merchant moved his hand, his robe fluttered lightly, and the air rippled to reveal a sub-space.

I nodded at the alert, and instead of a standard window, a dazzling list shimmered into view.

The catalog was packed so densely it hurt the eyes.

"...Huh? What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

The list was visible only to those permitted, so Nam-gung Yun just stared blankly. Each item was jaw-dropping; if he'd seen them, he'd have screamed like a maniac.

"Pick anything you like. But you know Mirage trades are equal exchange—one for one, regardless of grade."

"Nothing catches ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my eye."

"...Hm?"

The Mirage Merchant's confident expression stiffened at my response.

"Whether it's a joke or guts, you're the first in my life to see the Mirage Pouch and feel nothing. Even kingdom kings would empty their vaults for these."

"An item's value shines for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠those who need it. You're offering Legendaries for an Intermediate Blue Stone—why can't the reverse happen?"

"Whoa... Legendary items?"

Overwhelmed by shocks, Nam-gung Yun just sighed and shook his head in disbelief.

"Well... pity, but our deal seems off then."

Snap—

The Mirage Merchant snapped his fingers, and the sub-space vanished.

"Since you don't need anything."

Tension hung thick in the air.

Meeting the Mirage Merchant is a dream for any Dimension World player... and trading with him? This guy's unreal.

Nam-gung Yun held his breath, sensing the battle for deal dominance.

"What I need isn't an item."

"...Then what?"

The Mirage Merchant paused and turned back.

"Just simple info. You said equal exchange, but merchants value worth over quantity, right? An Intermediate Blue Stone should net one piece of info."

"Heh heh... what an entertaining fellow."

He shook with light laughter.

Hm? Can I raise affinity with the Mirage Merchant too?

I raised an eyebrow at the unexpected alert and read it.

I don't know the special condition, but if I succeed... raising his affinity could mean new benefits. Solid faith level might unlock something huge.

His help—carrying nothing but top-tier treasures—would eclipse any kingdom's support.

Worth trying.

I smirked faintly.

"Fine. What info do you want bad enough to pass on my wares?"

"Info on this."

As I pulled something from my inventory, a glint flashed in the Mirage Merchant's hidden eyes beneath his robe.

"Ho ho... you have this? Makes sense."

He nodded knowingly.

"It was already broken when I got it from Unto. He said you gave it to him... Do you know how to fix it?"

He burst into hearty laughter, looking like I'd caught him off guard.

"This is too much of a loss for me. Never imagined you'd ask about this."

"I figured it was something for you."

"Kek... sly one."

But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he laughed, not seeming displeased. He took the Blue Stone I offered.

"Deal."

I nodded without hesitation.

"Now spill."

"Hmm..."

He examined the compass on my palm, then gripped it tight.

Woooong...!!

A faint light flowed from his hand.

"Take a look."

When the light faded, he turned it to show me. Sadly, it still looked broken on the outside.

The description changed.

Key parts were still question marks, but the name was now clear.

"Mangja Boundary..."

I frowned slightly at the Mirage Merchant.

"What does that mean?"

"Just what it sounds like."

He smiled cryptically at me.

"Every world has two sides. The realm of the living, like where you are now, and below it, the realm of the dead where the deceased dwell."

He crossed his hands up and down to illustrate.

"But between them lies a boundary space that belongs to neither—and both."

"Nonsense. The platinum dragon Vuela, called the Ancient Dragon, said this world has only two realms."

"Impressive. You even know of Vuela. The Platinum Dragon's name is only in imperial libraries or mage towers—beyond common folk."

The Mirage Merchant eyed me with ongoing interest.

"Sorry, but that's all I can tell you. This might even violate rules... but you're intriguing, so I patched the compass with my power. Finding the full fix is on you."

Thud—

He patted my shoulder lightly.

"But I didn't tell you how to fully repair it, so this isn't fair trade. Instead, how about a new deal?"

"...A deal?"

I watched him. His hidden eyes gleamed through the robe.

As he extended his hand, a black alert window appeared—blank at first.

"The desired reward..."

Expecting my fluster, perhaps?

"Anything at all?"

I asked calmly, meeting his odd smile.

"Think you can handle it?"