A Peaceful Routine
I rushed over to comfort her, but in the end, she broke down into sobs. So, I had no choice but to spend a meaningless amount of time trying to console her. Sure, it was my fault, but Vivian clung to me, venting her frustrations for over an hour.
“What did I do wrong… Why is it always me…?”
“I really tried my best… I made up my mind to do well… Did I ask to be treated like a child? I’d be happy with just a little kindness, so why do you keep making things hard for me…?”
I was sweating bullets trying to calm her down. At one point, Shin Sang-yong walked in on Vivian crying in my arms while I awkwardly patted her back. (For the record, Shin Sang-yong politely bowed and quietly closed the door again.)
“Kim Soo-hyun, do you hate me? You don’t, right?”
“Of course not. I think of you as a great friend, Vivian.”
She sniffled and asked, and I replied, though it wasn’t entirely true. Honestly, seeing you makes me want to tease you and make you cry. So brace yourself, because this won’t be the last time. Cry a lot for me, will you?
”…”
But I couldn’t say that out loud. So, after finally wiping away her tears, I sighed and left the
Anyway, I cleared my mind of those thoughts and briskly walked through the streets of Mule, heading towards the plaza. Today’s destination was the jeweler’s. I entered the street lined with shops. The only place I needed to visit this morning was the jeweler’s. The tasks I had to handle in Mule would cost a pretty penny, so I needed to gather some funds.
Time was on my side, but I wasn’t one to procrastinate. I preferred to get things done quickly so I could relax later. The only problem was that I’d end up looking for more work once I finished.
Pioneer cities always guarantee a certain number of residents. It’s rare for a pioneer city to be this quiet. This situation was proof that the Golden Lion Clan’s expedition to the Iron Mountains was gaining attention. Barbara was probably bustling with no room at the inns.
If they succeed, it’ll be a jackpot. Securing a safe passage between the southern cities and Atlanta would bring unimaginable profits. But having participated in the Iron Mountains expedition myself, I had no regrets about not joining. I can guarantee that the expedition will lose over a quarter of its forces within two days of entering the mountains. They’ll push on despite the losses and end up decimated in less than five days, with only a few stragglers returning in rags.
Clans that accurately assess the situation and foresee the future will start to rise. They’ve likely been quietly gathering strength. By the time I return from the Cave of Wailing, much will have changed. That’s why I deliberately left the cave, which I consider the easiest, for last.
As I pondered these thoughts, I occasionally spotted users looking for caravans. Passing them by, I soon found myself in the bustling shopping district. I slowly took in the shops tangled around me. A first-time visitor would undoubtedly get lost. Being a pioneer city, it was still in its formative stages. Even I was a bit unsure, but I soon recalled the location of the jeweler’s I was aiming for.
“Wonder if the old man is doing well.”
Before entering, I considered lighting a cigarette but decided against it. The old man I knew disliked the smell of smoke. I smacked my lips and looked up at the sign above the shop. The simple black lettering caught my eye.
<Old Man’s Jewelry>. No matter how many times I saw it, I thought it was a terrible name. I opened the door and stepped inside. Inside, I saw a user examining a jewel. His hair was white, and his face was lined with wrinkles. On Earth, he’d be the quintessential grandfatherly figure.
Curiosity piqued, I activated my third eye.
Name: Lee Man-seong (6th Year)
Class: Jewel Certified Public Appraiser (Rare)
Nation: Barbara
Clan: -
True Name · Nationality: Recluse · South Korea
Sex: Male (67)
Height · Weight: 173.7cm · 51.2kg
Disposition: Neutral · Moderate
[Strength 18] [Endurance 26] [Agility 34] [Stamina 28] [Magic 86] [Luck 78]
<Achievements (0)>
<Unique Abilities (1/1)>
<Special Abilities (1/1)>
<Potential Abilities (3/3)>
Traditional Magic (Rank: B Zero)
Rapid Casting (Rank: D Plus)
Item Appraisal (Rank: C Plus)
A rare class. His stats were somewhat ambiguous, but I understood his intentions from his true name. He was someone who, having lived a long life, had little desire left. Despite his skills, he was content to live a quiet life in a small town. With his abilities, he could have found a place anywhere.
His unique ability, Value Seeker, wasn’t combat-related, but it suited his current profession well. I remembered him as not a bad person. Despite the door opening, he continued examining the jewel until he finally noticed me standing there.
”…Are you here as a customer?”
“Yes.”
“If you’re here, say something. Why just stand there?”
“I didn’t want to interrupt your concentration.”
“Hmm.”
He set the jewel down and turned to face me. After a moment of studying me, he gestured for me to come closer.
“Hmm. It’s been a while… Anyway, come and sit.”
“Thank you.”
I had power, but I had no intention of abusing it. The world of Hall Plain still saw me as a zero-year user, and I needed to act accordingly. Maintaining a good relationship with the old man in front of me wouldn’t hurt.
“So, are you here to buy jewels or sell them?”
The old man disliked long-winded conversations. In that case…
“I’m here to sell jewels. I have eight rubies.”
“Alright. Let’s see them.”
User Lee Man-seong wasn’t well-liked among other users. His stubborn personality played a part, but he also never budged on his appraisals. Users hoping to get a higher price were invariably disappointed and had their haggling attempts rejected. Occasionally, hot-tempered users would confront him, but his stats as a magic user were nothing to scoff at.
But he and I got along well. He disliked wasting time on unnecessary chatter and always appraised jewels quickly and accurately. Users who shared my mindset often frequented his shop. Despite his stern demeanor, he would sometimes offer slightly better prices to regulars or those he liked.
I quickly reached into my pocket and placed the pouch of jewels in front of him. He promptly turned the pouch upside down, and with a clinking sound, eight rubies, gleaming with a red hue, spilled out before him. They were jewels I had found on the first floor of the Ruined Laboratory.
With practiced ease, he picked up a ruby and examined it, turning it over and tapping it lightly. But I could see the magical calculations happening in his eyes. It was likely the manifestation of his unique ability. As a Value Seeker, he repeated the process with each ruby.
The appraisal didn’t take long. After five minutes, he had assessed all eight and lined them up, pointing to each one as he spoke.
“From the left: 108 gold, 112 gold, 102 gold, 117 gold, 136 gold, 122 gold, 147 gold, 101 gold. Total: 945 gold. No haggling. These are accurate prices. If you don’t want to sell at this price, you can leave…”
“Sounds good.”
”…Hmm?”
The old man looked up at me with curious eyes, surprised by my immediate acceptance. This was why users misunderstood him. It might seem like he was casually appraising the jewels, but I had already estimated their value at around 100 gold each. Moreover, having checked his user information, I knew that when it came to jewels, his appraisal skills were second to none.
He studied my face for a moment before speaking in a husky voice.
”…You really don’t want to haggle?”
“I was introduced by someone who spoke highly of your expertise in appraisals. I trust in your craftsmanship.”
“Not many people speak so kindly of me. You’re an odd one, as is the person who told you about me.”
“Haha.”
Though his words were gruff, a faint smile played on his lips. Watching me laugh, he cleared his throat repeatedly.
“Ahem! I don’t know where you found these… But I rarely pay more than 100 gold for gems like these. Still, they’re all of good quality, with large stones. Some have a clear brilliance… The purity of the magic within them is impressive, even after all these years. These are the kind of concentrated gems that wizards would love.”
“I don’t know much about gems, but I believe the price is fair.”
When I agreed without any objections, the old man gave me a look as if he were seeing a peculiar creature. Perhaps it was because I often picked up gems during my dungeon explorations as if they were mere pebbles. For beginners, finding gems while battling monsters was considered quite lucky. Especially for those struggling early on, they would try to haggle for a higher price.
But this was unusual for me too. On my first visit here, I often left after exchanging gems for money. Sometimes, if my pockets felt heavier than expected, I just thought he was being generous. We rarely exchanged words, so for him to speak first to a newcomer like me was indeed rare.
In response to my polite answer, he rummaged through a drawer with a calm hand and tossed a pouch in front of me.
“Here’s a pouch with 1,000 gold. I’ll give you an extra 6 to 7 gold per gem.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary…”
As I waved my hands in surprise, the old man pushed the pouch towards me with a nonchalant expression. Did he eat something strange today?
“This is a one-time thing. It’s not easy to find gems of this quality, and customers have been scarce lately. Everyone’s off on expeditions or whatnot… Just take it. And…”
“Thank you.”
Feeling it would be rude to refuse further, I accepted the pouch with a pleased smile. I had expected around 800 gold at most, so the extra 200 gold was a delightful surprise. Considering the enormous cost of applying to establish a clan, this was indeed a stroke of luck. I had planned to use GP to bring in more money soon, but free money is always welcome.
Watching me pocket the pouch, the old man spoke again.
”…Come by often. Don’t go to the place across the street. I’m better than them.”
“Of course.”
“Hmph. If you’re done, you can leave now.”
He snorted at my easygoing reply and turned his attention back to the gems. Was he embarrassed? I chuckled at this rare glimpse of his softer side and left the jeweler’s shop, feeling the reassuring weight of the pouch.
Now, it was time to head to the temple. I needed to report my exploration and get it officially recognized. And… by now, I was sure Seraph would have summoned me at least once.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Ah, the reason I couldn’t post at noon today is because I fell asleep. I finished a chapter around 11:40, but I was so exhausted that I wanted to lie down for a bit. I never imagined I’d actually fall asleep. I usually toss and turn for an hour or two when I try to sleep. But I just closed my eyes for a moment, and when I woke up, it was 6 in the morning. In a panic, I jumped up and rushed to my computer… ㅜ.ㅠ
I apologize to those who were waiting at midnight. As a gesture of apology, I’ll be posting an extra chapter today, so please bear with me. :)
Have a wonderful day, everyone. I’m off for now! Fighting~!
PS. What role will the user Imansung play in the future? Hahaha.
『 Reader Comments 』
Kkoya: Congratulations on being first! I was amazed you managed to be first at 6 AM. Hahaha.
Cheongeop Hyeol Sin Cheon Mu Jon: Hmm, I wonder what will happen? I think Hayeon would make a great wife for Suhyeon… Ouch, ouch.
Akleo: Haha, the cover is saved on my computer. I’ll upload it with the story settings later!
Pakasari: Hmm. Given the time frame, I think we’ll be able to cover a lot. There are many things to handle and new characters to introduce.
SanIkerJIN: I’m so sorry, but I love you. My apologies. ㅜ.ㅠ
Misoochensa: I’m most looking forward to the popularity poll when Hanbyeol appears. I wonder who will be number one. Hehe.
MT Bear: Bear? Bear bear bear? Bear bear bear bear bear! (This is bear language. I trust you understand.)
Dandek: Oh no! Here’s a remedy for your dizziness! Please read on! Hahaha.
Castle in the Sky: Right? I was surprised by the cover too. It’s really well made. :)
Ashen Wings: Oops. Oopsie. Suhyeon’s identity has been revealed! Wow!
Lancelot du Lac: Yes. That will never, ever happen. :)
Your recommendations and comments are the driving force behind extra chapters. (This is the truth.)
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