Chapter 15
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Change (1)
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To put it simply, regular items didn't have any kind of time limit.
I didn't know why, but after wearing the equipment Shin Jia gave me for a full six hours without any changes, I was certain.
Heres the breakdown.
Race-restricted items (Ancient Artifacts) were single-use trump cards with outstanding effects, one-shot devices for acquiring traits.
Stat-restricted items (regular items) were less effective than Ancient Artifacts, but they were long-term devices that could be used indefinitely.
This would certainly help me overcome my initial weakness much faster.
Sure, regular items were inferior to Ancient Artifacts.
But that was a different story for A-rank or S-rank items.
They were more than comparable to Ancient Artifacts.
Being able to use such items indefinitely was a massive advantage.
Everything was great, but one thing still bothered me.
Whats the difference between a stat restriction and a race restriction anyway?
Like I said before, I just couldn't figure out the reason.
I could make a rough guess.
Perhaps the system didn't even register ignoring stat restrictions as a bug, or something along those lines.
But a hypothesis is just a hypothesis.
It can't be the truth.
This is strangely unsettling.
I was happy, but also uneasy.
Of course I was happy; as I said, being able to wear regular equipment without penalty was a huge advantage.
But after that dream resolved most of my questions, a new one had just popped up, leaving me quite unsettled.
I wondered if I was going to get blindsided later with a, "Ta-da! Turns out there was this brilliant secret hidden all along~" moment.
Aaargh!
I let out a cry, scratching my head furiously.
Ah, whatever.
If I get blindsided, Ill just deal with it then.
Theres no point in thinking about it now when theres no answer.
For now, I should just be happy about my newfound power.
I cleared my head and sat down in front of the computer.
Lets see.
Now that I knew there were no restrictions on wearing regular equipment, I figured I'd look for some decent gear on an online shopping site.
Using the still-unfamiliar holographic keyboard, I searched for the site's name.
The name of the world's best and largest online equipment shop.
[Made in china]
To think the day would come when Id willingly seek out a Chinese-made product.
A dry laugh escaped me before I knew it.
[Made in china], as the name suggests, was an online shopping mall operated by China.
Some might ask, Wait, why is the worlds best equipment shop in China?
The answer to that question can be summed up in one sentence.
Because Chinas ancestors were the Dwarf race.
To think the mark of the worlds finest luxury brand is [Made in china].
I checked the review section of the shopping mall.
As expected, you can always trust Made in China!
Even for products in the same price range, MIC is on a different level.
There aren't any chumps left who don't use Made in china, are there?
Everyone was raving about Chinese products.
I couldn't believe it, even seeing it with my own eyes.
It is pretty funny.
I knew the reason why China's ancestors became dwarves.
I heard it from my Hyeong.
He said that since Korea, China, and Japan had a bad relationship, he wanted them to be mutually antagonistic races in the novel as well.
Korea was decided as elves, stemming from their reputation as a nation of archers.
So, China was made into the dwarves, the natural enemy of elves.
He also added that it would be funny if Made in china became the worlds top luxury brand.
It was definitely funny, but
Maybe its because Id been burned by so many fake Chinese products in the past.
I felt a strange sense of resistance.
Sigh.
Still, what can you do?
I have to buy it.
They say Chinese-made products are the best.
And they really are the best.
I wonder what kind of items can supplement my stamina.
With a sense of anticipation, I began to browse [Made in china].
* * *
I had been too naive about life.
Damn, this stuff is expensive.
I had forgotten that Made in china was a luxury brand.
The equipment was just too damn expensive.
There are a lot of tempting items, but
I had no money.
How much money could a protagonist from an orphanage possibly have?
It was all a pipe dream.
...Isnt 200 million for the cheapest item a bit much?
And the stats weren't even that great.
Well, no, the comments were explosively positive, so the stats must be pretty good.
Maybe its because I only remember high-impact items like [Ancient Artifacts] or gear from the mid-to-late game.
It just looked shabby to me.
...This is a headache.
Any item that would cause a noticeable change to my body cost over a billion.
Where was I supposed to get that kind of money?
A sigh escaped me naturally.
I could ask Jia for no.
No matter what, that would be too shameless.
The items she got me this time were already worth enough to buy a house. How could I ask for more?
I found out while browsing the site.
The items Jia had gotten me were all [Made in china] brand products, and the four of them together cost a whopping 700 million.
She said she paid for it with her allowance, so I thought it would be 10 or 20 million at most.
...I think she used her fathers funds without his knowledge.
The Shin family pursued a frugal lifestyle.
Jia's allowance was only raised to 6 million a month after she turned 20.
While that's a considerable amount to be called frugal, it's true that it's an incredibly small amount for the allowance of a third-generation chaebol heir.
And she spent 700 million to get me equipment.
Could I really say, Get me this, too?
My conscience wouldn't let me say such a thing.
So, asking Jia for help was out.
In the end, I have no choice but to earn the money myself
Three methods came to mind immediately.
Hunting monsters.
Playing the stock market.
Or selling the information that only I knew.
First, the stock market is out.
I couldn't do it even if I wanted to; I don't know enough.
Frankly, if there were a new guild that was about to suddenly take off, it might be a different story, but there was no such description in the novel.
The only thing that came to mind was investing in Yuhwa's Bihon Guild.
However, since the guild was already somewhat established, the return on investment wouldn't be that high.
The same went for Shin Jia's Shinhwa Group. It was already at the top, so while it was a safe asset, it was impossible to strike it rich.
Should I hunt monsters?
Naturally, monsters in this world were worth money.
They didn't drop things like magic stones, but their byproducts were traded at quite high prices.
...Thats a good way to get myself killed.
The problem was that I had no way of hunting monsters right now.
With my strength, I probably couldn't even scratch their hides.
I could try to pick off the ones with low defense, but the risk was too great.
Then the only option left is to sell information.
But who would buy information from an F-rank cadet?
Even I wouldn't.
Sigh.
*Vvvvng-*
It was then that the phone on my desk vibrated.
It was a message from Yuhwa.
[Thank you. Everything worked out well thanks to you.]
Ah.
There was someone.
Someone who would buy an F-rank cadet's information at its proper value.
I quickly sent a reply.
[Theres something I want to talk about. Are you free tomorrow or some time soon?]
[So suddenly?]
* * *
After all my Thursday classes were over.
I headed to a nearby room cafe.
She said it was room 17, at the end of the 2nd floor.
I opened the door and went inside.
Let me make one thing clear. Im not that easy of a woman, you know.
Yuhwa, with a somewhat displeased expression, said something completely out of the blue.
What are you talking about all of a sudden?
Im a guild leader, so I have a lot of work. Lately, Ive been incredibly busy with external activities. And managing the guild members always gives me a headache.
I had no idea what she was trying to say.
Hmm. That sounds tough.
When I replied nonchalantly, Yuhwa said with a sigh.
Im not the kind of woman you can just summon on a whim for the next day.
Aha.
It seemed her pride was hurt because I had suddenly asked to meet today.
Did she have a prior engagement that she canceled to be here?
If you had plans for today, you should have said so. It wouldn't have been a problem to meet later.
A week's delay wouldn't cause any major issues.
If she was busy, she should have just said so.
You suddenly asked to meet tomorrow, so I thought it must be something urgent!
Yuhwa snapped, as if provoked.
Then she took a deep breath, as if trying to calm her anger.
Ugh... never mind. I didn't have any other plans today.
Judging by her reaction, that was 100% a lie.
It seemed she did have another appointment, just as I thought.
Anyway, what did you want to see me about today?
Yuhwa, having reverted to her guild leader persona, crossed her legs leisurely.
I need some money.
...Excuse me?
I need money.
I said it bluntly.
When dealing with Yuhwa, I had to avoid beating around the bush or telling lies.
It wouldn't work, and it would only break her trust.
...Are you telling me you called me here just to borrow money? When Im already busy as hell?
A vein twitched on Yuhwas forehead.
She looked like she was about to explode with irritation.
No. Im not asking to borrow.
Then what is it?
I smiled relaxedly.
I was thinking of selling some information that would be helpful to the Bihon Guild.
...Information?
Yuhwas pupils dilated slightly.
She looked surprised.
Of course, after the doppelgnger incident, she must have realized that the intelligence I possessed was anything but ordinary.
Tell me.
Are you buying?
Ill listen first. If its high-quality information that I find satisfactory, Ill pay you a corresponding fee.
I see. So thats how you want to play it?
So if its information you dont particularly need, you wont pay a fee?
At my words, Yuhwa smiled indifferently.
Ill pay, of course. The amount might just be a little different.
Youre not planning on just hearing the information and then blowing me off, are you?
Yuhwas eyes sharpened.
Me? The great Yuhwa? Thats an insult I find hard to bear.
Ah. If you felt that way, I apologize.
How cool of you. Ill make a special exception and forgive you.
Sparks flew between Yuhwas eyes and mine.
Whats wrong? Not confident? Need cash fast, but worried I might already know what youre about to say?
Yuhwa said, as if to provoke me.
Cute.
Not a chance. I was just worried about you.
Worried? About me?
Yuhwa scoffed.
Yes. You said it yourself, didn't you? That you'd pay an information fee based on how satisfied you were.
Yes, I did.
Thats why Im worried.
Yuhwas brow furrowed.
What is that supposed to mean?
Her expression said, *what kind of nonsense are you spouting?*
Because once you hear my information, the Bihon Guilds treasury is going to be empty. I cant help but worry.
I smiled with utter confidence.
...Thats what you call a needless worry. You know that?
Yuhwa took my words as a joke and let out a light laugh.
Just tell me. I promise Ill give you a price you wont be disappointed with.
If you say so.
Yuhwa was trustworthy.
She wouldn't try to lowball me.
No, there was no one who could hear this information and still try to lowball me.
Then Ill get straight to the point.
I said, my voice devoid of emotion.
The secretary you have with you right now?
You mean Shinwoo?
Like the doppelgnger, hes a villain belonging to the Seekers of Truth.
A moment of silence fell.
...What?
Your secretary. Hes a traitor.
The worst kind of traitor, one who not only backstabs the protagonists party in the mid-game but practically shreds them with a chainsaw.
I decided to make a swift exit for that traitor at this point in time.
How about it? Are you satisfied?
And make some money in the process.