Boss Monster. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over three million gold points?
For a moment, I couldn’t quite grasp what was being said, but then a memory of what Seraph had told me before I returned to the past flashed through my mind.
“Please don’t misunderstand. User Kim Su-hyun currently holds a significant amount of points. It would be completely irrational to simply erase them.”
Could it be that there were leftover points even after granting the special privileges? It seemed hard to believe, but not entirely impossible. Despite achieving numerous accomplishments in the later stages, I hadn’t paid much attention to gold points. I remembered receiving a massive amount of gold points when I obtained the final Zero Code. In any case, this was an unexpected stroke of luck.
“Great. Then, can you pull up the user-exclusive shop list? We can access it from here, right?”
“Yes, of course. However, there are still some rewards left to be given.”
“More?”
Seraph nodded in response to my question.
“It’s about the boss monster. I’ll grant it to you right away. You can check the details in the message.”
With that, Seraph snapped her fingers lightly, and a flurry of messages appeared before me.
『Great Achievement! You have defeated the boss monster, the predator of the rite of passage that claimed the lives of many potential users. An additional achievement has been added.』
『You have been awarded 2 free attribute points.』
『You have been awarded 50,000 user-exclusive gold points. These points can be used in the summoning room or in user-exclusive shops within major cities.』
Wow.
The number of achievements or the 50,000 points were one thing, but receiving free attribute points was a real boon. In the early stages, the only way to earn attribute points as a reward was to graduate from the user academy facilities after three months, earning just 4 points.
Other methods I knew of were few and time-consuming, so this was a jackpot. Considering that out of the 21 achievements I had accomplished in the past, only one had awarded attribute points, this was a big deal. I looked at Seraph with an excited expression.
Seraph, still composed, displayed the user-exclusive shop list in front of me.
『User-Exclusive Shop』* Purchases can only be made with user-exclusive gold points.
『User Kim Su-hyun’s Gold Points: 3,834,720GP』
I was about to start selecting items, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for. Then, I remembered something and turned to Seraph.
“I’ll pay 77,777 gold points to the shop for free. I’ve matched the amount, so reveal all the hidden items.”
There was a user who once spent exactly 77,777 GP and discovered a hidden secret. Known as the 77,777GP Hidden Piece, it reveals the hidden equipment list in the user shop, but only once. The funny thing is, that user didn’t have enough GP left to make a purchase. And those who had already exceeded the amount were in the same boat.
”…How did you know about that?”
“The boss monster begged for its life and told me.”
“Don’t lie. Executing it is not a problem. But please refrain from any strange actions like last time.”
I chuckled and nodded. Seraph gave me a skeptical look but continued.
“…77,777GP has been deducted. The hidden list will be fully revealed, but only once. User Kim Su-hyun’s remaining GP is 3,756,943 points.”
Even as she spoke, Seraph’s face showed a slight grimace, but she waved her hand lightly. I could see the updated active list. Without hesitation, I clicked on the elixirs. There might be an elixir to boost my health points.
As the page lengthened, I began to search through it calmly.
Oh, there’s something like this? Having an elixir on hand wouldn’t be a bad idea… But it’s priced at 300,000 points. Hmm. An elixir that can raise the rank of special or latent abilities… That’s good too. Priced at 500,000 points. Worth buying.
To other users, the GP I was spending might seem exorbitant, but I was purchasing without a second thought. If you’re not saving GP, it’s best to use it immediately. Opportunities like this don’t come often, so I planned to spend as much GP as possible. However, I had no intention of buying a wish. Using a wish went against my principles, and besides, it was useless unless it was to save a user.
“Ha. An elixir that grants 6 attribute points. Priced at 900,000 points. Seraph, I want to buy three of these.”
“That’s not possible. Once purchased, hidden items disappear from the list. You can only buy one of each item, except for potions.”
That meant if I bought the elixir to increase attribute points, other buyers would never be able to purchase it again. It was a bit disappointing, but since I was the only one who could use it, I decided to let it go. After carefully reviewing items 1 through 11, I finalized my purchase list as follows:
Angel’s Tear (x 1): Grants 6 new attribute points. The added points can be used to increase any attribute of the user’s choice. (900,000GP)
Elixir (x 2): Cures all status ailments. Restores all health and mana. Can revive anyone as long as they are not dead. (600,000GP)
Vision Elixir (x 1) - Skill Point Increase: Raises the rank of special or latent abilities by one level. Does not apply to unique abilities. (700,000GP)
Health Boost Elixir (x 1): Increases health attribute points by 2. Cannot increase other attribute points. (200,000GP)
Invisible Sword (x 1): An invisible sword passed down from ancient times. It binds to the user. Its essence exists in the spirit realm, making it invisible. Can strike beings in all dimensions and summon the sword’s form under certain conditions. Highly durable and boasts excellent cutting power. Has self-repair capabilities. Can absorb 100% of magical attacks and defenses of all attributes. (1,200,000GP)
Whole Plane Gold Exchange (10 GP per 1 gold): 10,000GP → 1,000 gold
『Total purchase cost is 3,610,000GP. Refunds are not possible after purchase. Would you like to proceed?』
“Yes.”
『Purchase complete. User Kim Su-hyun’s remaining GP is 146,943GP. Items have been transferred to the user-exclusive storage. The storage can be accessed from any small town.』
Phew. After a delightful shopping spree, I looked up to see Seraph cradling her beautiful face in her hands. It was the first time I’d seen Seraph so dejected, so I spoke with a puzzled expression.
“Seraph, are you okay? Why are you crying?”
”…User Kim Su-hyun.”
“What?”
“Using so much at once… Even if the others are fine… But the invisible sword… Sigh…”
I looked at Seraph, who was sighing deeply, with a curious gaze. The reason I used so much at once was simple: opportunities like this don’t come often. GP can be earned again. I had rightfully earned and inherited my GP, so I bought what I wanted. I couldn’t understand why she was making that face.
Noticing my gaze, Seraph adjusted her expression and looked at me calmly.
“The invisible sword… It appears to be a plain sword. There are plenty of weapons with flashy appearances and good functions, and excellent performance. I’m curious why you chose the invisible sword.”
“Only fools obsess over a sword’s appearance, so I won’t explain that. It’s a shame it lacks special functions, but the fact that it’s invisible gives me a significant advantage in battle. Especially with this sword, I can achieve 100% magical attack and defense against all attributes. It’s perfect when you think about it in relation to my abilities. It’s sturdy and self-repairing. Why? Are you worried now?”
Seraph gave a wistful smile at my taunt and replied.
“To be honest, I am a bit concerned now. User Kim Su-hyun is strong. With all the equipment purchased with GP, you could be evaluated as superior even compared to the top-tier users who entered first. Perhaps even among the users at the pinnacle… But complacency is dangerous. You may not know, but users in the Whole Plane have a strong tendency to maintain and protect their vested interests. There are quite a few groups that resort to extreme measures. You can’t do anything alone.”
The words “You can’t do anything alone” struck a chord in my heart. Unconsciously, I bit my lip.
“I understand what you mean. A protruding nail is bound to become a target. Don’t worry.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
I looked at Seraph’s face with a nonchalant expression and continued.
“By the way, how much time do we have left?”
“It’s been just over two hours since you passed the rite of passage. If you wish, I can provide a comprehensive explanation of the Whole Plane.”
”…No need.”
I decided to meditate. Meditation is meant for self-training, but once you start observing your inner self, you lose track of time. Just as I was about to sit cross-legged and delve inward, Seraph’s beautiful voice reached my ears.
“User Kim Su-hyun.”
“What?”
“I have something to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
Seraph gazed at me quietly, then slowly began to speak.
“User Kim Soo-hyun, do you dislike me?”
What on earth is she talking about now? I opened my eyes again and looked at Seraph with a puzzled expression. I couldn’t fathom why she was suddenly spouting such nonsense. Sensing my confusion, Seraph quickly added, “I am here solely to guide and support you, User Kim Soo-hyun.”
“From where I’m standing, you’re just an annoying angel who meddles too much.”
“During the initiation, you appeared to your companions as a reliable and composed adult male. Is that the real you, or is the person I’m speaking with now the real you?”
I stared at her for a moment. If I had to choose, I’d say this is closer to the real me. During the initiation, I had to play a role. I could guess what she was really curious about.
“Humans are creatures with many faces.”
Perhaps expecting another sharp retort, Seraph widened her eyes when I spoke in a slightly softer tone.
“Could you elaborate?”
“It means it depends on the person. I treat those who like me well. But why should I bother with those who don’t?”
Seraph tilted her head slightly, pondering my words before responding, “That seems like a clear-cut way of thinking. In that case, I do not dislike you, User Kim Soo-hyun. Yet, you have never looked at me with kindness.”
“Don’t draw lines so easily. Sometimes, people who dislike you might hope you like them back. So, the opposite can be true too, right?”
The convenient thing about talking to Seraph was how immediate the conversation was. She took my words at face value and made her own logical deductions. Seraph nodded and continued, “I understand. I feel like I’ve learned something valuable today.”
“Honestly, what do you expect from someone you kidnapped and used as a lab rat? Anyway, stop talking to me.”
Seraph seemed like she had more to say but eventually closed her mouth. I cleared my mind and immediately began to meditate.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=