Bargain with the Mirage Merchant

"You know about the Yeoneung Seoyakseo? That's good for me—it saves me the trouble of explaining."

The Mirage Merchant quickly masked his startled expression and spoke as if nothing had happened.

"Sure. But I hear one of the Mirage Merchant's rules is that if you see the one-of-a-kind item on the continent, you must buy it?"

"Haha, you know quite a bit. So, do you have a one-of-a-kind item from the continent?"

"Of course."

Thud—I pulled a massive dragon tooth from my inventory and tossed it in front of him.

"With the other five of the Six Great Dragons still alive, this has to be the only one on the continent."

"……."

The Mirage Merchant scowled at the dragon tooth—a material item from the Spirit Devourer—unable to find a retort.

Obviously, not just this, but the dragon scales and dragon heart were also items only I possessed at this point.

"I-it's real……."

Nam-gung Yun stared at the tooth I'd pulled out, mumbling in a daze.

"……I've been so shocked by everything that I forgot for a moment you're a dragon hunter. You seem to know the Mirage Merchant's rules, but to give you a heads-up: in one meeting, you can only trade one item. Even if you have other dragon materials, you can't trade them with me."

"I know. That's why I gave you the one I need the least. I'm just looking to trade anyway."

"……."

He looked displeased but sighed at my words and nodded.

I couldn't help but smirk at the sight of him—who'd been putting on that lofty, superior air—sighing repeatedly.

"Fine. A one-of-a-kind rarity on the continent. So, what is it you want? The Mirage Merchant's pouch has everything."

Unlike moments ago, he spoke to me like some scripted NPC dialogue. It almost felt too programmed, out of place.

"No need to check your pouch. I only want one thing."

"……And what's that?"

"Mirage's Mist Powder."

The Mirage Merchant's face was a sight to behold as I grinned and named it.

"Well, now…… I can't gauge your depths at all. Have you been to the Fairy King's lair or something? Otherwise……."

"Just tell me if you have it."

"Tch—"

The Mirage Merchant opened his spatial pouch again and handed me a small glass vial filled with powder.

"The mist lasts three days."

I snatched the vial like a hawk at his explanation.

"Damn, this loss is no small thing."

"A dragon tooth is rare too. With the Spirit Devourer dead, no more of those teeth can be obtained. Meanwhile, the Fairy King is still alive, isn't he?"

"Heh heh…… Look, meeting the Fairy King is nothing like finding a dragon's lair. You have an eye for this, so you know."

I just shrugged at his complaint-filled words, as if to say it was none of my concern.

"Dragon hunting isn't easy either."

"Hmph, this loss is no small thing."

"Who was the one who set this ridiculous test? Don't act like this powder is some big deal."

He wagged his finger at me a few times as he spoke.

"I'll be watching your moves closely. Let's see how long you can keep holding your head high like that."

"As long as it takes."

The Mirage Merchant let out a sigh that didn't seem entirely pleased with my response, but a strange smile crept onto his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face.

"May luck be with you in the trial."

Was it my imagination? His well-wishes sounded more like he was eager to see me fail.

He grabbed the edges of the subspace he'd pulled out like tearing a scroll from a wall and yanked them apart, widening a dimensional gate to his height.

"Whew……."

Only after confirming him vanish into the gate did I exhale the breath I'd been holding.

I'd been tense after all—my neck felt stiff.

"Nam-gung Yun. Everything you saw here is a secret. Even from your sister."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"O-of course, bro. Naturally."

Nam-gung Yun nodded vigorously at my words.

His eyes now held not doubt, but fierce faith in me.

It made sense. He'd not only seen me conquer the White Swamp but witnessed me as a dragon hunter trading toe-to-toe with the Mirage Merchant.

It reminded me of Tonpe from the Ran-hu Tribe, gazing at an idol.

Having my dragon hunter status revealed wasn't planned, but overall, the gains outweigh the losses.

His sister being the incredible Hidden Eater was huge, but to Nam-gung Yun, she was more than amazing—she was an insurmountable wall.

Every Dimension World player craves climbing higher. To seize chances reality denies.

But even in this virtual opportunity called VR, time would see nations, corporations, and groups entwine it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with power and money.

Well, that's how every world works…… Maybe that's why Choi Hyuk-su released a new Dimension World—to escape that.

But right now, developer intentions weren't the point.

The player's desires were.

If Nam-gung Yun has them too, he'll bite the bait I dangle.

I didn't even need to ask. Choosing Explorer proved he'd already factored in his sister the Hidden Eater.

And…… he's definitely not properly first-jobbed yet.

If he'd gotten the White Swamp quest through her, she wouldn't have let him first-job as a plain Explorer without reason.

Probably a hidden class.

Even if it was sisterly consideration, it'd bruise Nam-gung Yun's pride.

"Nam-gung Yun."

"Yeah?"

"Did Silver give you the White Swamp quest because it's tied to your job change?"

I asked directly, no hesitation.

If he was already inclined to follow me beyond mere favor, no need to hide.

"……Yes."

He hesitated but answered as I'd predicted.

"I started Dimension World 1 late because of my sister, so I'm a latecomer."

"That's why you picked Explorer, same vein as Hidden Eater?"

"Yeah, similar. But unlike Dimension World 1 where info was out, finding hidden classes now is insanely tough."

"True."

"So I'd basically given up on hidden classes. Then she told me about the White Swamp quest."

"Straight up: With the World Tree Valder's leaves, are you aiming for the hidden class Spellwarper?"

Nam-gung Yun's eyes trembled at my question.

Bingo…….

No verbal answer needed.

He already had Explorer, but got a mid-play job quest for a specialized profession—an extension of job change.

Even picking mage first-job splits into elements; warrior into sword, axe, spear, hammer, etc.

Explorers branch into mapmaking, navigation, etc., post-first-job.

Spellwarper was one such Explorer specialization.

I knew it from one of the world's two strategists: Jergal Dale of the Brilliant Army, whom I planned to save, alongside Bazarr of the Dark Army.

Only one person linked to World Tree Valder's leaves. His job was the hidden class Spellwarper Nam-gung Yun sought—a space magic specialist that looks mage-like but is uniquely Explorer. Because Spellwarpers use only spatial teleportation magic.

Perfect for exploration, but Jergal applied it to military tactics.

That power earned him the title of top strategist.

"Hidden Eater, huh. Finding Spellwarper clues this early? Impressive."

But Nam-gung Yun seemed more shocked I knew of the hidden class.

"Spellwarper suits Hidden Eater perfectly. Minimum Heroic grade…… no, with second-job, even Legendary. Why give it to you?"

Like the sole Spellwarper in my memories, Jergal, she might not use it militarily, but that power made it Legendary-tier.

"She…… doesn't need it."

"Doesn't need it?"

"Besides the quest she gave me, she found two more. All tied to hidden classes."

"Ha……."

I let out an involuntary dry laugh.

Nam-gung Yun's expression mirrored mine.

How does she play like that? No way…… she has memory experiences like me.

Unlikely. Her absurd quest-solving was legendary in Dimension World 1 communities.

She approaches the game differently from us. Whatever her mindset, she's undeniably a genius.

Tch—

"Too bad to kill her."

"……Pardon?"

Nam-gung Yun jumped at my muttered soliloquy.

"Nothing."

I looked at him.

"Nam-gung Yun. Our talk got interrupted by the merchant, but my offer stands. Fulfill my request, and I'll get you an Explorer job surpassing Hidden Eater. But you'll have to drop her quests."

"……."

He stared silently at the Valder leaf in his hand.

"Well, that's for later. I've got special perk time left, so I'll hunt here—at least six days stuck in this place. Wanna join?"

"Huh?! But Yukhap……."

"That's why I got this."

I showed him the vial of mist powder from the Mirage Merchant.

"This tool temporarily turns a specific area into a hidden zone. Using the mist powder will make this place an instance dungeon cut off from the outside for three days. Meaning even Yukhap can't enter. Got it?"

"Whoa……."

Nam-gung Yun stared in awe.

"I'll keep resetting the dungeon to hunt. Join if you want. But brace yourself—my hunts are intense."

Nod—

A golden opportunity for explosive growth. Only a fool would pass it.

Nam-gung Yun nodded without hesitation.

In three days, raise swordsmanship to level 20 for True Chilya 1st Sword, then get the remaining leaves and fruit from the hidden World Tree Valder area.

Time to execute the plan in my head.

"But…… perk lasts six days. What about after three, when the effect ends?"

"Yukhap? In three days, they won't even be a worry."

"……Huh?"

I gave Nam-gung Yun a meaningful smile.

"Tired of our boring chit-chat?"

Crack!!!!

I smashed the glass vial with all my strength.

Shoooo……!

Gray particles rode the air, spreading instantly.

"The game starts now."