Chapter 38
Chapter 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Making Some Strange Candy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"3300 gold? Why are you giving this huge sum to me?"
I asked, and I got an answer.
Astromeria.
A bounty? Wanted poster? Put up by Lumi.
"We've assessed it as a Tailor incident, so 10 times that is 3000 gold. Plus the 300 gold promised by the mayor."
"My god."
"The guard unit has raised alert to level 1 and is taking action. The 3000 gold is that reward."
Ah.
I roughly understood.
'So the Tailor is like a Chinese spy or something?'
There are similarities, as expected.
They won't give another 300 million for catching more Tailors.
It's 300 million for a bundle of spies.
'Still insane. It's practically a mini-lotto.'
Big money makes people cold-blooded.
Lumi loyalty loyalty loyalty.
I inwardly chanted that before making my request.
"Can I collect it later? It's a huge sum, so I want to leave it with someone trustworthy."
"Of course! Let's do that."
Not for any other reason.
I just might blow it all once it's in my hands.
'If I take this, they'll figure out I'm Boy Joy, but I don't really care.'
I hadn't even told Bizarru-sunbae.
Real-life identity doesn't matter.
I just need to hide that Boy Joy = Gallery Master.
'Worst case, as long as no one says Gallery Master is messing around on a side account.'
I just need to avoid actions that build favor.
The important thing for Popular Post supply is anonymity.
[Noble Body, Baseborn Role] isn't my weakness.
'[Outsider] got roasted while sword-sparring with Sword Fairy.'
The only thing to hide is [Popular Post Addiction].
That's my real Achilles' heel.
I'd lose even if I only liked my own posts.
If it gets out, I can only operate anonymously.
Especially no reason to hide from Lumi.
I plan to keep getting support from her.
More than anything, it's 300 million! 300 million!
"No money worries for a while..."
"Haha! Glad you're happy."
The guard captain's words snapped me back to reality.
Money issues were mostly solved now.
Instead, another thought crossed my mind.
'With this money, I can buy armor and Transcend it.'
[Talisman Engraving] and [Forbidden Alchemy Mysticism].
My Transcendence skills.
Now I can push through the tower while testing them.
I escaped part-time hell!
Ah.
And Tailor reminded me.
"That shop owner... who was he?"
"You mean Walter?"
"Yeah. What happened to Walter's goods?"
"He confessed under interrogation, so the city confiscated them."
Maybe those items.
Could I buy some?
'Books I wouldn't understand, but skill materials should still be there.'
I wanted to snag some of Shopkeeper-sunbae's legacy.
Walter had [Mysticism] too, apparently.
'It'll help with skill-making and armor-making.'
I was about to suggest it,
but what was this?
The guard captain's face lit up, like he'd remembered something.
"I was just about to mention it. Walter said there are still 2 Tailors left."
Counting them like animals?
"Should I find those guys too?"
"If you get leads. But you know their numbers so well—you must be close with the Tailors, as a [Mystic]."
The guard captain eyed me carefully.
"We can't assess how dangerous or valuable the shop's items are."
"Just sweep them up and sell at the tower shop?"
"There might be clues. So the mayor wants to ask you to investigate the site."
Site investigation?
Wait.
Hold on.
"I go and sort the items?"
"Yes. As a [Mystic], the mayor wants to pay in those reagents..."
"Perfect! Leave it to me!"
No way.
I was gonna buy them, and now they're free?
1st Stratum is livable after all.
Of course, I have no ability to sort reagents.
'I'm a pure instinct type. Zero knowledge.'
Like a pianist composing by raw talent.
Can't even read sheet music.
A primal [Mystic], basically.
'But that's what Tower Gallery is for.'
I was looking for talisman sunbaes anyway.
Alchemy experts must exist too.
Gallery-ing really helps life!
First, search.
Priority is 15th floor over new sunbaes.
Why?
'They charge entry. Gotta know how much.'
I opened Tower Climbing Gallery and searched.
I'm not the type to post questions first.
"Welcome! Hres Weapon Shop!"
"I'll browse alone. Thanks."
At the gear shop.
I dodged the clerk like a pro and gallery-ed.
Why both?
Need entry cost to budget armor.
Can't miss 15th floor over gear.
'Buy armor here, Transcend with Shopkeeper-sunbae's legacy—cheap SR at least?'
Damn.
SR and below don't even feel Rare anymore.
Usually unobtainable low-floor gear.
Oh.
Perfect—today's question post.
"100 gold?!"
I screamed at the insane fee.
Entry fee 10 million won?
10 million?
'Ah, but it's just 2 months' rent anyway.'
Not unpayable with bounty.
Suddenly felt like a New Yorker.
I'm in New York~.
Lots of comments after the info I wanted,
but they didn't stick in my head.
Makes sense.
"20-man raid on 15th floor?"
Fucked.
Really fucked?
I broke into cold sweat.
'Can't open High End without S+ to 15th, and now S+ 20-man raid?'
No, before that.
What about [Outsider] in 20-man?
'Does [Deficiency] make my spec 1/20th?'
Even 4-man party is trouble.
One party member?
[Outsider] buff gone.
S+ impossible.
20-man raid mobs.
Obviously pig-HP tanks.
Easy to S+ without buff?
'Big trouble.'
I counted on trembling fingers.
4-man x5 = challenge raid?
Best case, 4 tickets.
'Worst, I buy 20 solo?'
100x20=2000 gold.
'Entry alone maybe 2000 gold?!'
Recoup possible,
but money tied up like deposit.
I eyed the armor I liked.
[King Drake Leather Top(R) - 800 gold]
Todrien prices real?
No.
NY rent 10x Korea.
Here rent feels 5 mil/month.
1st Stratum prices: hmm.
About 8 mil clothes?
'Top+bottom 16 mil. Luxury plausible. Sure.'
Reptile leather.
Lux croc jacket that price.
I nodded, then turned away.
"Fuckin ridiculous."
Luxury has limits.
16 mil on shirt pants?
'Plus need shoes, fuck.'
Blinks and 20 mil gone.
Ha.
LOL at webnovels where awakener weapons under 100 mil.
Experiencing different.
Even feels 2 grand.
Actual 2000 gold = 200 mil.
"Entry 200 mil. Gear 200+ mil?"
[Outsider] lifetime troll.
I resolved.
'No way. I'll make it myself.'
4 tickets=400 gold fine,
but can't burn 200 mil on clothes.
Cheap to make, just invest?
Yeah, invest.
In myself.
"Or make and sell for 200 mil."
No need armor specifically.
Lots of crafting skills left.
'Believe, [Mysticism].'
Oh right.
Do this first.
Business done.
Now my free time.
I left the shop, crossed the street.
But not to Shopkeeper-sunbae's.
Toward the tower.
To make rare items,
farm materials first.
Before climbing, park first.
11th floor run 2.
Monsters still normal drakes.
"Hi. Saw you yesterday, see you again."
"Kyaaaa!"
Don't open mouth.
You stink, hate it.
So straight [Swift Arrow].
-Thwuck!
Drake take this.
-Shing!
I pulled the knife from tower shop.
Better for delicate work.
'Its hide meh, perfect practice.'
Looks worse than orc to me.
But can't skin orcs.
They wear clothes, have civilization.
Drake? Big reptile.
Much easier harvest.
Hey, drake.
Gonna skin ya.
Shhkkkshhkk...!
First real [Butchery] since skill.
"Also for hunt salvage, huh."
Makes sense.
No wonder executioner had +2 [Butchery].
'Now mine + his = +3.'
Clone almost +3 too.
Just hesitant on runes.
'+3 has fail rate.'
Later.
Busy, fail and cry like kid.
Faster this time.
Blood-soaked, I grinned happily.
"Right. This."
Mobs drop on kill, obviously.
Manual annoying but bearable.
Wash blood with inventory water.
'Run 3, push 12th—wash later... huh?'
Straightened after last run.
SR-upgraded renamed mysticism!
Passive tingled my senses.
Hawk's Eye on drake.
Skinless meat drake.
Mana from belly.
No, sensing.
'I can harvest remnant mana now.'
[Mysticism] harvests monster mats.
Advanced SR.
[Forbidden Alchemy Mysticism] power!
'Dunno alchemy, but try.'
Swung Orc No.1.
Shkkk-!
...Plop.
White bead from sliced belly.
Pearl-like, glowing.
Earthly brightness!
'Bead? Like monk sarira.'
Grabbed it.
Message popped.
"Mana Trace?"
What for.
Checked [Mysticism] in skill menu.
Craftable items.
Unecrossed one?
One.
What?
Familiar name.
Right, remembered.
"[Elixir]! The one Yaun mentioned!"
I burst into a beaming grin.
Makes sense.
"[Elixir] is level-up candy?"
Why level 28 from 1st Stratum.
They hogged this good stuff?
Share the good.
Almost 30, but stock some.