Demon-Hunting Genius Mage

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]

Chapter 82

"There are so many... fascinating things here."

At my words, the employee chuckled.

"Well, that's the charm of this place, isn't it? Hahaha."

"That's true."

Although I was a bit startled by the explosion, he was right.

This was the charm of the black market.

Even when I played the game, I liked this aspect of it and often visited the black market.

Well, I stopped coming once I passed the 5-year mark.

From then on, I knew everything, so nothing was surprising anymore.

However...

'That book, and the robe I just bought...'

Now, everything was fascinating.

Since it was an era 100 years later, it seemed like many new and bizarre items had been added.

"I heard you can enter from other sectors here... Is that right?"

"Ah, I see you're new here. Yes, that's correct. This is a mystical market connected to every sector. There should be guides for each sector who can direct you to the entrances."

'This is the same as before.'

Even though the location of the entrance had changed, the unique feature of being connected to all sectors remained the same.

This meant I would have to frequent the black market like it was a dining hall for a while.

'I need to plan my build.'

I needed to update my build to match the new items.

Such a spirit of inquiry was an essential virtue for a true veteran.

It was also a way to prepare for variables I didn't know about.

Anyway...

"Have you seen everything?"

As I continued to browse the shop, the employee asked.

He seemed to be hoping that I would buy something.

The problem was that they didn't have what I was looking for.

When I told him that, the employee kindly asked,

"Ah, may I ask what you're looking for?"

"I'm looking for [Anatak's Great Axe]."

Flinch

The employee, who had been listening quietly, asked in surprise,

"[Anatak's Great Axe]... you say?"

"Yes."

Then he suddenly bowed deeply.

"I apologize. I didn't realize you were such a VIP customer and treated you carelessly. I should have served you better..."

He seemed to regret his somewhat casual demeanor.

Considering the things VIP customers did in the black market, his worry was understandable.

I waved my hand to reassure him that it was okay.

"Oh... no, it's alright. You treated me well enough. I actually preferred it this way, without feeling pressured."

"Thank you for thinking so."

By the way, a VIP...

It seemed like the item I was trying to buy was quite expensive.

His attitude changed just from me saying I was looking for it.

Considering it was a luxury item worth about 50 million won in Korean currency, it wasn't surprising.

"So, do you have the item I'm looking for?"

"Ah, of course. Please follow me."

Click, clack.

The employee led the way, his polished shoes tapping against the floor.

He stopped in front of an iron door and pressed a button next to it.

This was the first time I'd seen an elevator in this world.

'They said this works with mana, right?'

Whatever the method, it was quite fascinating.

There were many things similar to where I used to live, like the magic communicator that resembled a smartphone, and now this elevator.

'People live the same way everywhere, I guess.'

With that thought, I boarded the elevator.

Ding.

The employee naturally pressed the button for the second floor.

"We're going up?"

"Ah, yes. The highest-grade items are kept separately on the second floor."

"I see."

This place was undoubtedly a top-tier luxury shop, even among the black market's offerings.

The first floor was already full of incredible items, but there were even more amazing things than those?

"...Wait a minute. Highest-grade items? You mean there are even better items than those on the first floor?"

"Yes? ...Ah, yes, that's right."

"Then that means the prices are even higher?"

"Yes, they usually exceed double the price. Is there some kind of problem...?"

The employee asked with a worried look, but I couldn't hear the rest of his words.

My mind was preoccupied with a single thought.

It was about the most expensive item I had seen on the first floor.

That ring cost a whopping 10,000 gold coins.

'Why was such an item on the first floor...?'

There were two possibilities that immediately came to mind.

Either the ring had a serious defect and was sent to the first floor, or...

The items on the second floor were all far more expensive than that ring.

Ding.

I would soon find out which was the correct answer.

"Let's get off."

When we arrived on the second floor and the elevator doors opened, the employee strode forward first.

I followed right behind him and quickly scanned the price tags of the items around me.

Accessories like rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and anklets.

Equipment such as armor, protectors, helmets, and weapons.

And even clothing like coats, cloaks, and scarves.

I checked them all, but...

'This is bad.'

The starting price was at least 20,000 gold coins.

An absurd amount for me, who currently only had around 5,000 gold coins.

"[Anatak's Great Axe] is this way."

Unaware of my suffocating feeling, the employee guided me with a friendly smile.

"...Ah, yes."

I followed him for now.

I couldn't just turn back after coming this far.

I needed to see it with my own eyes first.

And...

"Ha, hahaha..."

I ended up confirming it.

30,000 gold coins.

A price close to a staggering 300 million won.

Moreover, 30,000 gold coins was the most expensive price among the items I had seen on the second floor.

"Haha, isn't it wonderful? You're quite lucky, customer. We were planning to send it to the auction house next month."

"...Wa-wasn’t this originally 5,000 gold coins?"

Flustered, I stammered as I asked, and the employee replied,

"Ah, it was originally, but the price has gone up since it was recently upgraded to the highest grade."

"It was upgraded? How...?"

"Well, it's because a hidden ability was recently discovered. Ah, you didn't know?"

"...No."

I couldn't help but give a dejected reply.

It was understandable.

Who would have known that the price would suddenly increase when I had come here with such high hopes?

Or perhaps...

-Do you even know how much that is?

...Perhaps Barundel knew.

That might be why he was so angry.

"Sigh..."

Anyway, the situation had become very difficult.

I had come here to gift Barundel a new weapon, but now I was going to have to return empty-handed.

Moreover, there was no one to blame.

This was something I had thought of and done on my own.

It was purely my fault.

'Damn it. Who would have known that a 5,000 gold coin item would become 30,000 gold coins!'

Feeling a bit wronged, I asked the employee,

"What kind of effect is it that made the price go up so much? And how did it get the highest grade rating?"

"Oh dear... it seems you really didn't know anything."

Did he realize that he couldn't sell the item?

The employee shook his head regretfully and said,

"[Anatak's Great Axe]'s upgrade condition was recently discovered."

Upgrade condition.

That meant one thing.

"...You mean [Anatak's Great Axe] was a growth-type artifact?"

The fact that this was a growth-type artifact and could ultimately reach the mythic grade.

The employee nodded in agreement with that unbelievable story.

"Yes, that's right."

"...Huh."

If that was true, it made sense that the price had increased this much.

A mythic-grade artifact was something that was hard to obtain, no matter how much money you had.

The fact that such a weapon was currently priced at 30,000 gold coins meant...

"It hasn't grown yet, has it?"

"That's correct."

It meant that even though the condition had been discovered, no one had been able to make it grow.

If it had grown, it wouldn't be something that could be obtained for a mere 30,000 gold coins.

Naturally, my curiosity was piqued.

Just what kind of condition was it that no one had been able to fulfill?

The employee answered my question,

"It seems you need to kill 10,000 demons."

"Ah..."

Hunting a whopping 10,000 demons.

After hearing the condition, I could understand why no one had succeeded.

'10,000... that would take forever.'

The number of demons we had managed to kill in the past two weeks, sweating blood and tears, was only a few hundred.

And even that was the total number we had killed as a group of four.

Individually, it was probably less than 100.

So 10,000?

It was likely that no one would even attempt it.

That's why it was currently being sold here.

However...

'...It's tempting.'

The fact that no one had attempted it felt like an opportunity to me.

An opportunity to give Barundel an end-game level weapon.

The growth condition of 10,000 demons wasn't something to worry too much about.

It was a condition that would eventually be met if we hunted diligently.

Besides, even now, the basic stats and effects were usable.

It wasn't a legendary-grade artifact for nothing.

However...

'30,000 gold coins... that's just absurd.'

The problem was the price.

30,000 gold coins wasn't chump change.

Without the support of some wealthy noble, it was close to impossible.

'Maybe fighting Baal would be faster...'

I wasn't just saying that. I was serious.

Even when I was raising the rank 1 zombie swordsman, the most I had ever gathered was less than 10,000 gold coins.

Of course, I had to consider the soaring inflation...

Still, 30,000 gold coins was an absurd amount.

It would be one thing if I only had to equip one person.

But considering the equipment for the other party members as well as Barundel's weapon, there was a mountain of things to get.

"Is it possible to pay in installments?"

"Excuse me?"

"You know, 120 months interest-free..."

"..."

The employee looked at me as if I were crazy.

So it wasn't possible.

"Then how about renting it...?"

"...Sir, how can we rent out such an item? And how would we even determine the rental fee?"

"..."

He wasn't wrong.

Renting itself was a problem, but determining the rental fee was an even bigger problem.

Even if it was just 1,000 gold coins a month, that would amount to 12,000 gold coins a year.

Moreover, if it got damaged during use... the cost would outweigh the benefits.

"Honestly, we'd like to lend it to you if we could. It's not selling, so we're having trouble getting rid of it."

"Oh, is that so?"

Come to think of it, he did say he would put it up for auction next month.

Since it was a difficult artifact to grow, its value might drop significantly at the auction compared to 30,000 gold coins.

Seeing as they were putting it up for auction despite that, it seemed like the shop wanted to get rid of it quickly.

Just then...

"Wait a minute, how about this?"

A decent idea suddenly came to mind.

"You lend it to me long-term without a monthly rental fee. For about 5 years?"

"What are you talking about? Why would we make such a deal...?"

"In return, when I return it, I'll return it after raising it to mythic grade."

"Excuse me?"

An idea to borrow [Anatak's Great Axe] for free.

And with a very plausible condition at that.

[Translator - Prøks]

[Proofreader - Prøks]