"Wow… this is fascinating."
I wandered around the city, acting like a country bumpkin who had just arrived.
Most of the buildings in the village were made of wood.
Places like the Zephyrum Hotel were built with stone and looked quite grand, but most of the structures resembled the village where Viola used to live.
However, the interiors were completely different.
As I wandered around and visited various shops, I noticed that the insides were clean and the items sold were intriguing.
There were items spanning from the past to the present, all neatly displayed.
"…There's even cola."
Most items were placed one by one on the display shelves.
And below them were price tags.
Cola - 10 points.
The way items were purchased was also fascinating.
I had assumed you'd pick up the cola and take it to the counter, but it was a completely different system.
You simply pressed the price tag on the spot to purchase the item, and it would be added to your inventory.
"Wow… this is insane. It's like a perfect blend of online and offline shopping."
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: LOL, stop acting like a country bumpkin!
"Hey, it's not being a bumpkin… I'm just fascinated."
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: That's exactly what a bumpkin would say LOL.
I chatted with the GGLD as I bought the cola and headed to the potion shop.
"First… let's see what's most useful… maybe some potions."
I stopped by the potion shop I visited on the first day and looked around.
Then, something caught my eye.
"Beginner's Artemis Potion?"
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Ohhh…
I was shocked when I saw the price tag on the display.
"Wow, 5,000 points? That's expensive!"
But the effect was worth it.
========
[Beginner's Artemis Potion]
When consumed, increases archery level by 10 for 10 minutes.
Price: 5,000 points
========
"Ah, this must be exclusive to this region…. But given its effect, it's definitely worth the price."
Boosting archery skill level by 10 for 10 minutes was an incredible effect.
It seemed like it was made specifically for boss fights, not for everyday use.
'Well… my party members probably never thought about this since they don't visit potion shops.'
[Even if all party members use stat-boosting potions, we'll still need another solution for the paralysis waves.]
'Hmm… maybe there's a related potion? Ah, here it is.'
While looking around for other items, I found a potion related to magic resistance.
Unlike the other items, it was placed on a fancy shelf in the center, making it easy to spot.
'Jackpot! But damn, it's expensive!!!'
=========
[Beginner's Magic Resistance Potion]
When consumed, increases magic resistance level by 5 for 1 hour.
Price: 20,000 points
=========
20,000 points might be achievable if I save up.
But who would buy this…?
However, the high price was justified by its long duration.
'Wow, the duration is pretty long for the price. It seems like it's meant for boss fights here.'
[But since no one knows the boss's identity, no one will buy it, which is the trap.]
'Exactly, it's funny. Without this, meeting those guys is a guaranteed death. Since no one has survived, no one knows what potions are needed for the boss fight.'
Moreover, the residents of Zephyrum were kind enough to share basic information, but they seemed clueless about the monsters.
They only knew that there was a boss monster…
After looking around the potion shop, I muttered quietly.
"Alright, let's head back."
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: ...??? What? Didn't you come here to buy something?
"I've seen everything. That's enough."
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: ???
I smiled at the confused GGLD and said.
"An alchemist doesn't need to buy potions."
***
By the time I reached the inn, the sun had completely set, and it was dark.
I immediately rented a room for 500 points, sat on a chair, and activated a skill.
It was the [Alchemy Encyclopedia].
A list of things I could create through alchemy appeared before my eyes.
There were categories and even a search function.
I immediately searched for the Beginner's Artemis Potion.
====
[Beginner's Artemis Potion]
[Zephyrum Moonflower] + [Empty Vial]
====
'It's pretty simple. I guess it's because it's exclusive to this region. Armonia.'
[Yes.]
'How many Enels do I need to buy one Zephyrum Moonflower?'
[200 Enels per flower.]
'That's much cheaper than buying it directly. I'll take 10.'
As soon as I finished speaking, 10 [Zephyrum Moonflower] appeared on the desk.
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: ...??? What's this? Why do you have so many?
"Ah. I've been collecting them bit by bit."
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Even if you get one a day, that's a jackpot…
I explained that [Zephyrum Moonflower] was a rare item that only bloomed in the Zephyrum region.
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: …Weird. I've been watching you this whole time, and I've never seen you collect moonflowers.
"Well, maybe it was when I was eating or going to the bathroom."
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: LOL, are you using some kind of bug?
"Come on, don't say things like that…."
I just used the Enels I've been diligently collecting…
After a while of grilling me with questions, the GGLD seemed to give up, though the doubts remained.
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Well… Yggdrasil isn't that sloppy.
The GGLD seemed to trust Yggdrasil, where it was sealed, quite a bit.
I immediately placed the 10 [Zephyrum Moonflower] and 10 empty vials on the desk and activated alchemy.
Pop!
10 Beginner's Artemis Potions were created.
And at that moment.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
'…Perfect timing.'
I thought to myself as I opened the door.
As expected, Min Ha-yeon with her long brown hair was standing there.
However, she was still showing signs of having a bad day.
She spoke to me with a serious expression.
"I came to 'return' your points for today."
She emphasized one word.
It seemed like she wanted to make sure I didn't get the wrong idea.
"You didn't have to…."
"Just give me your arm."
"Hmm… Hold on."
"…?"
I handed her the 10 bottles of 10mL potions I had prepared.
She seemed to want to ask what they were, with a puzzled expression.
"These are Beginner's Artemis Potions. I happened to make them, so here you go."
"…Huh!? This effect…."
Even Min Ha-yeon, who usually maintained a calm expression, was surprised when she saw the potion's effect.
She asked me, flustered.
"…This looks expensive."
"I'm not sure."
At my blunt response, the Guardian of the Gay Dick laughed in the chat.
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Liar LOL.
"…?"
Hearing my words, Min Ha-yeon tilted her head in confusion, and I explained.
"I made them while practicing alchemy, so I don't know the exact price. The materials were also created through transmutation, so I don't know the exact cost."
Min Ha-yeon made an awkward expression and pondered.
She knew better than anyone how useful such potions would be in a place where survival was at stake.
I extended my arm to her and said.
"I don't have archery skills anyway, and you're an archery genius. I'm giving them to you for my own survival."
"…? Do you know me? How do you know my name?"
Min Ha-yeon quickly turned her head and looked at me with uneasy eyes.
It seemed unsettling to her that someone who had never properly introduced themselves in the party would casually call her by name.
"…It's impossible for a Korean not to know Min Ha-yeon."
"Ah…"
Min Ha-yeon and I formally introduced ourselves for the first time in three days.
She apologized, realizing that I was Korean.
Since people were summoned from all over the universe, there were more people who didn't know her than she thought.
Even those with Korean names might be from different worlds.
I briefly introduced myself.
Unless you were as famous as Min Ha-yeon, there was no way to have a long introduction.
But I made sure to impress her with my unique background.
"…? You've been to other worlds? Are you really Korean?"
"Yes, for some reason, I was forcibly summoned to other worlds, traveled around, and now I'm here."
"No wonder…"
"…?"
"I thought it was strange how calm and cautious you were compared to others."
"Haha…"
After exchanging introductions, Min Ha-yeon gave me a bitter smile and said.
"…Yeo-reum is immature. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. After traveling around, I've met all kinds of people. Don't worry too much about it."
"Sigh… I'll use this well. Well then…"
Min Ha-yeon slightly bowed her head and turned to head back to her hotel.
Her attitude had softened considerably, as if she had judged me to be a decent companion.
And that decent companion, me…
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Stalker bastard… LOL.
"No! I'm just following her to ensure her safe return."
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Isn't that what a stalker does?
I carefully followed Min Ha-yeon while reading the GGLD's chat.
***
As Min Ha-yeon headed back to the hotel, she thought about Seong Suho.
"…He seems like a good person."
└Ha-yeon, he seems to like you.
└Damn, I've never seen someone give away 10 bottles like that.
└Wow, alchemists are amazing.
└XXX: I'll win her over with potions.
Min Ha-yeon looked at the chat in her channel and asked.
"Is this potion expensive?"
└Super expensive.
└I think it was 5,000 points.
└You should treat him for that.
"Sigh… 30-minute ban."
└Damn!
└(Fresh Seafood's chat has been banned for 30 minutes.)
└LOL.
└Anyway, the girl's room is a bit picky… It's fun. I like it.
└But seriously, you could dump your boyfriend for that.
"That's…"
Min Ha-yeon hesitated to answer, even as she read the chat.
She wasn't obligated to answer, but she couldn't completely ignore them since they were her supporters.
└Honestly, I thought your boyfriend was great at first, but now I've completely changed my mind.
└Agreed. He's a total idiot.
"Please don't use such language."
Then, a mission appeared for Min Ha-yeon.
└LOL.
└LOL.
└LOL.
Min Ha-yeon bowed her head to the mission.
She chuckled and opened her mouth.
"Han Yeo-reum, you bastard…"
└LOLOLOL.
└Easy points, right? LOLOLOL.
└Cursing and earning points. It's possible here. LOLOLOL.
Min Ha-yeon felt a sense of relief as she read the chat.
She didn't feel even a hint of guilt for her actions.
Her affection for him had long since cooled, and this act of rebellion actually lifted her spirits.
For Min Ha-yeon, who had devoted her life to archery, this experience was uncomfortable at first but was gradually becoming enjoyable.
Although the occasional sexual harassment made her uncomfortable, it wasn't a big deal for someone who had lived in the sports world.
She had seen far worse from people making dirty comments online.
The chat continued non-stop until Min Ha-yeon reached the hotel lobby.
└Well, it's your choice, but if you hang out with the alchemist…
└Huh? It's your boyfriend.
└LOL, where's that bastard crawling off to now?
"Sigh…"
The relief she had felt was replaced by a dark cloud.
Perhaps because of the spacious lobby, Han Yeo-reum didn't see Min Ha-yeon and headed to another room.
He muttered something, but Min Ha-yeon couldn't hear it.
The chat started to heat up.
└Want me to guess what he's saying?
Min Ha-yeon carefully muttered after reading the chat.
"…Tell me."
The chat immediately responded.
└Heh~ I slept with Hye-eun yesterday, so today I'll sleep with Jin-hee~ LOLOLOL.
└LOL, you're a mind reader.
└LOLOLOL.
"…."
Amidst the chaos in the chat, Min Ha-yeon was the only one who remained silent.
She sat alone on a chair in the hotel lobby, trembling as she tried to calm herself.
└…Is this a quiet moment?
└Seems like it.
└Ha-yeon, ban that guy.
└Even the mod is laughing LOL.
└Calm down, Ha-yeon. Maybe he's going to sleep with Sun-hee again, not Jin-hee.
└LOL, you're such a devil LOLOLOL.
└LOLOLOL.
Then, a mission popped up amidst the chaotic chat.
"…."
The chat went wild.
└Holy crap, do you have points left?
└Wow, the title got picked.
└Swearer
└LOLOLOL, stop it, you crazy bastards LOLOLOL.
└LOLOLOL.
As she read the chat, Min Ha-yeon let out a deep sigh and gritted her teeth.
"Han… Yeo-reum… you… bastard…."
Min Ha-yeon's expression turned demonic for a moment.
The atmosphere grew heavy as the beautiful demonic expression settled in, and everyone quietly started typing.
└…This is serious.
└Chills. Even when I got struck by lightning from Najéus, it wasn't this bad.
└I'm feeling a thrill for the first time in a while. It reminds me of when Uriel stabbed my heart with a sword, and I'm actually excited.
└Are you crazy?
└LOL.
└LOL, there's no sane person here LOL.
Even after cursing sincerely, Min Ha-yeon couldn't calm her mind.
She never expected to see such a scene just because she came out to give points.
'Kids…'
Even as she cursed Han Yeo-reum, Min Ha-yeon hated herself for thinking of his siblings.
Slapping Han Yeo-reum and breaking up with him wasn't hard.
But she imagined how the kids would treat her coldly afterward.
Min Ha-yeon ran her hands through her hair and stood up.
"Sigh… Let's just sleep."
She knew how bad it was to sleep in such a mood.
Through archery, she had learned the importance of calmness and composure.
One thing she had learned was that you shouldn't drink alone or go straight to sleep after something bad happens.
If you sleep right after something bad happens, your body feels worse throughout the night.
And that would greatly affect her training the next day.
But right now, there was nothing she could do.
'…If only the kids were here, I could've talked to them.'
As she thought of Han Yeo-reum's siblings and was about to head to her room.
"Huh? You're here?"
"…Seong Suho?"
Standing next to her was Seong Suho, whom she had just parted ways with.
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹