ACT 2 A Heartless City
“Huh? Nothing?”
“Yes, so ca in a month ago but it was sold out imdiately.”
“Then when will they co in again?”
The shabby looking rchant asked in a desperate tone. The specialty store owner just shrugged and shook his head.
“I don’t know either. Sotis it might be a couple of months and other tis it is six months. But it usually takes 4 months. Aside from the delivery date, the quantity might be very low so we would see out imdiately. Well, it can’t be helped with rare items.”
“T-that can’t be…..”
When the rchant whimpered, the shop owner smiled and raised his finger.
“Although you’re quite lucky.”
“Huh?”
“Our store has a sale for guests visiting from distant places every year. All of the items on display will be sold for a 15% discount. Only until the end of this week. How about it? You’ve travelled all this way so why don’t you buy sothing? This place is small but there are many rare specialty items around. You’ll get a much better price than in other provinces.”
The shop owner made noises about a sale and slashed prices. If a stranger heard such talk then of course they would be tempted.But the rchant looked at the shelves and shook his head.
“……No, thank you.”
There was a difference between a general user and specialty rchants.When trading with NPCs, the general users didn’t have to worry about the price. The prices at stores such as general or weapon stores varied in different villages. There was no reason for the users to pay a big price.On the other hand, specialty rchants were different. The prices between areas were significantly large and the price would often soar or slump depending on different circumstances.Not only that, but NPCs at specialty stores would often deceive them and sell it for the previous slump price. And they didn’t hesitate to push forward unpopular stock in a sale like now.The rchants who naively believed in the NPCs words would beco bankrupt overnight.Transactions between an shop owner and rchant was like a sword match.
“Just think about it. It is difficult to get such quality stuff elsewhere. And isn’t there a sale? Okay, if you buy items worth 100 gold even with the 15% discount then I will give you a special gift.”
If the shop owner went this far then his inventory was 100% unable to be sold.
“That’s okay. I’ll co back.”
“Hmm, too bad. I might’ve even given you 2 special gifts…. If you change your mind then co anyti.”
The shop owner was truly persistent.The rchant shook his head and waved before exiting the store.
“Bah, who is he trying to scam? I can tell just by looking at the half price inventory. Anyway, even a remote country place doesn’t have any.”
The user grumbling was none other than the hobbit rchant, Sid.If it was the past then he probably would’ve been fooled by that sale. But now Sid was different from his old self.After tasting the bitterness and sweetness of Ark’s friendly care (?), he had grown quite experiences as a rchant.No, Sid had also obtain a large amount of fa in Nagaran as a rchant. His hard work played a role in building that fa, but it was also because of Nagaran’s complicated situation.
“Two months has passed since Ark-nim left Silvana……”
Sid muttered and recalled the past.In the anti, there had been a lot of changes among the 12 estates.Thanks to the guild sieges, the Lords changes so many tis that it was hard to keep track.But a ti of stability ca after all the confusion. Among the many guilds challenging the Lord’s seat, many could not survive the war of consumption and several successful alliances appeared. And once the alliance captured the seat, they firmly held it.There were 5 alliances in Nagaran!Once the 5 alliances occupied a seat, the area completely changed.The majority of guilds were not satisfied with one castle.
The first target of a user was to occupy a castle and beco a lord. Once they beca a lord, they could earn an honorary title of Viscount. And that was just the starting point.If they used their forces to occupy 3 castles then they could earn the honorary title of Earl. The dividends from the castles would also increase.If they managed to obtain 6 estates then they would be promoted to Marquis. And if they managed to get all 12 estates in Nagaran then they would receive the honorary title of ‘Public King.’Although the information about ‘Public King’ was unknown, it was clearly the best title available. The revenue obtained would be unimaginable!It was a place where money and fa was obtained from blood.So obviously Nagaran would be plunged into the era of ‘War of Conquest.’
However, the forces of the 5 alliances were almost equal.None of them had the strength to capture another castle. No, there couldn’t afford to show their ambitions even if they had reserve forces.If they revealed things too soon then the remaining forces would strike at them first. So the 5 alliances held each other in check while the lesser guilds engaged in a war of consumption for the other castles.In human history, the larger powers would be plunged into a cold war while the minor powers fought against each other.The necessary requirent to survive in this cold war period was economic power.The 5 alliances had already seen this and poured money into their estate and focused on developnt.They would then invest in military forces when the rating of the manor increased and they received more inco.
So after one month…..one of the five alliances rose to prominence.It was the Hers Alliance which occupied Silvana directly.In the past, Alan and Ark had recognized the geographical advantage of Silvana.Once the Hers Alliance firmly grasped Silvana, they invested a lot of money into it and beca the first estate to be promoted to a C class estate. And the most significant contribution to their developnt was the trading post that Ark had the foresight to build.Once the lord changed, the trading post was renad to ‘Continental Comrce Firm’ and received the tax from it, keeping them one step ahead of the other estates.
“Huhuhuhu, behind them is the Kerobon Sid.”
Sid smiled with satisfaction.Sid got a job in the Continental Comrce Firm thanks to Ark.The chairman of the firm was the NPC with a fanatic belief in Ark, Wolkosu. Thanks to the escalator promotion, Sid was now the business manager.He handled the purchase of all good for the Continental Firm and oversaw the sales.In one week, Sid had already moved through 10,000 gold. Thanks to these enormous transactions, Sid’s various skills went up like crazy.Thanks to the experience from each transaction, Sid had long passed level 200. And not too long ago, he received the title of Kerobon that every rchant fantasized about.
“Oh, that person…..Sid!”
“He’s the legendary rchant who moved thousands of gold in one week!”
“In just two months he was promoted to the foreign departnt of the Continental Comrce Firm”
“Weren’t his results recognized a short ti ago and he received the title of Kerobon from the Midus rchants guild?”
“That’s right, the decoration on his chest is only provided to rchants who have received the title of Kerobon.”
“Amazing, how many people have received the title of Kerobon?”
“But that’s not all. A Kerobon rchant is able to receive VIP treatnt from guilds and can get deluxe information. It is incredibly obvious what would happen with the deluxe information. His funds are probably sufficient to create 1~2 guilds.”
Whenever Sid appeared at a trading place or the rchants guild, he was the source of envy for all rchants.
‘Huhuhu, respect. More respect!’
Sid puffed up every ti.But occasionally people in the street were puzzled.
“But why would soone with so much money dress like that?”
“Yeah. Doesn’t he sll like poverty?”
Sid was wearing low level clothes. Moreover, he was so busy that he had no ti to wash them properly.
“I guess rich people don’t care about their attire.”
The rchants nodded and continued speculating. But Sid’s thoughts flared up at those words.
‘Are your eyes bad? How dare you take such a pretentious air when talking about ? Damn, I have no money to eat let alone buy clothes!’
Yes, he was the foreign business manager of the Continental Firm!The rchant who moved 10,000 gold in one week!The Kerobon recognized by the rchant guild….. These facts painted him in an amazing light.But the reality was that he only earned as much as a salary man in the firm.Of course, he now had a monthly salary consisting of his wage and bonuses. It was enough for other rchants to eat and even beco rich if careful. However, most of those earnings were seized by Ark.
‘Huk…..that’s why I shouldn’t fall into debt.’
At first, Ark seized 50% of Sid’s revenue.But once his earnings beca better, Sid was sent this ssage through Roco.
-I heard your salary climbed a lot? Shouldn’t you pay of your debt first before earning money? Tell Wolkosu to send 90% of Sid-nim’s monthly salary to .
……A devilish human.
Thanks to that, his increased monthly salary withered and he beca even more destitute. But was that all? He also often made Sid run errands.The reason Sid left Nagaran and ca to this remote village was because of Ark.Not long ago, Ark once again delivered a ssage through Roco.
“Ark-oppa needs ‘Unicorn Horns’ for Lancel Village.”
“Huh? How many?” The rehabilitation brothers can only prepare 4,000 gold.”
‘Dammit, does he want to lose my hair? My hands? Not once has he given an expense fee!’
The reason Sid couldn’t lose his temper?He still needed to pay Ark back 3,600 gold….
“…..I understand. Give the money.”
Sid sighed and replied.Then Roco asked him in a puzzled voice.
“What money?”
“I need the money to buy the items.”
“Oh, that? In fact, the rehabilitation brothers don’t have the money yet.”
“Then how do you want to buy it?”
“I don’t know……Ark oppa said that Sid-nim is a Kerobon? Isn’t a Kerobon allowed to borrow 4,000 gold from the rchants guild? Just bring it to Lancel Village and we’ll settle the bill.”
“Eh?”
Sid was outraged.How could he accept that?Of course, as a Kerobon Sid was eligible to apply for a loan from the rchants Guild. However, the loan was literally a debt. The procedure to apply was quite complicated and he needed to pay interest as well.But was that all? Once he applied for a loan, his credit rating was significantly slashed. First he had to pay back Ark…….and now he was being sent on an errand without being given once penny and would end up in further debt?
But Sid soon changed his mind.The purchase requester was Ark. He wasn’t evil, but he would always pay people back.So he wasn’t worried about that if he received a loan.
The loan sche administered by the rchants Guild had rules.The rchants guild’s loan wasn’t exactly borrowing gold. If they used the rchants Guild’s na as a guarantor, they could purchase items without gold.That is……when applying for a loan from the rchants guild, they offered an credit note. The rchant would be able to purchase items from the NPCs with the credit limit on the credit note.However, there was one limitation.The person issued the credit not must have the equivalent amount in their possession, whether it be gold or goods.
In order words, the items had to be worth 4,000 gold.In this case, if the trader only had goods worth 1,000 gold then they needed another 3,000. If their remaining belongings and goods didn’t equal 4,000 gold then they would beco bankrupt until the guild could reclaim the loan.It was a situation to prevent selling the borrowed gold outside of the ga.If he happened to sell at a loss (e.g. eting a thief during the determined trading period) and wasn’t able to pay off the loan, the rchant would beco bankrupt.It was a bad reminder of the old days when Sid owed a debt to the rchants Guild.Anyway, thanks to this rule he could afford to buy Ark’s items at reasonable prices.
‘The person I can believe in the most in this world is Ark-nim. If I get a bad credit rating from the loan then surely he’ll rescue ? Yes, it should be safe to go on.’
So Sid went to Selebrid where he was issued a credit not and had his credit rating cut. Then he went to the auction in Giran to find the Unicorn Horns.Forgotten mories flashed through his head.
“Wait, it was Unicorn Horns? I think I’ve seen that sowhere before? Oh, that’s right!’
rchants often visited the NPCs in poultry stores or the rchants guild to obtain information on specific items.
‘It’s just a rumour so it is up to you to believe it or not.’ Those words were 100% associated with information to make money. Among them, Sid had heard soone ntion Unicorn Horns a while ago.
“Aren’t the prices of Unicorn Horns rising these days? So I did a little digging. In a mountain village not far from Giran, there is a specialty store that sotis sells Unicorn Horns.”
The NPC whispered as he ca close.
“There isn’t a lot of them, but you can buy it for a relatively cheaper price than the market price. Well, it’s still very expensive but you can likely afford it. If you’re near Giran then you should stop by once.”
He had registered the information and then forgot about it. But it was a great opportunity if true.
“The money Ark-nim allowed to purchase the Unicorn Horns is 4,000 gold. The present market price is 1,000 gold so he intended to get 4. But if I can get it for cheaper than market price……wouldn’t I be able to get the remaining money? Even if I buy it for 50 gold cheaper, that is still 400 gold!”
Sid’s eyes glead at the thought of gold.While purchasing items for the Continental Firm, everything was recorded down. Isn’t this a chance to get around those records?He wouldn’t feel remorse, even if the opponent was Ark.Sid imdiately turned around and headed towards the village selling Unicorn Horns. However, the result was a total failure! Other rchants had been told about the speciality store and already bought it. Sid had been brought to reality from his land of dreams and sighed.
“Che, I thought I could pay off a lot of my debt……”
He owed Ark 3,600 gold.He beca gloomy when he thought about it.Sid sighed and took out a big piggy bank from his bag.
“I can only believe in one thing.”
It was an item he had obtained by chance on one of his rchant quests.
Lucky Pig of Good Fortune
Item type: Piggy Bank
User restriction: rchant
A nice piggy bank surrounded by gold light.
An old item that had been gathering dust on top of a mountain. If you’re aiming to beco rich as a rchant, you can’t forget the importance of small money. This piggy bank is important for people who cherish small money and the money won’t be able to be withdrawn until it is full.
1 gold every day was 100 gold.
After 100 days, he could receive a bonus 10~30 gold. The only pleasure Sid received while under this debt will filling the piggy bank.
“Huhuhu, it is half full. Yes, it’s best to make money safely. If I can sneak one or two gold away from Ark-nim then soday I’ll earn my independence.”
The hobbit’s grand dream of becoming the best rchant on the continent suddenly turned into gaining independence from Ark.
Clink, clink.
Sid felt better after hearing the sound of coins in the pig’s stomach. Even though Sid was a Kerobon, he had lost his vigour.
“Now is now the ti to be doing this. I have to hurry. If I’m late then I might suffer so criticism.”
“Haaayaahh!”
Sid heard it as he was about to leave the village.All of a sudden, a loud cry was heard from one side.Sid automatically turned his head and saw the person exercising in the moonlight.
“Hat, hat, hat, hat! The 5,000 yelling regi is over! Next is kicks!”
“What the? That man?”
Sid asked with a puzzled look.No matter how much he looked the user was clearly a rchant covered in bags. But sohow the shape was different.What sane rchant would yell and kick on a vacant lot?
In addition, what was that?
“Kuaaak…..damn, it broke again. Ugh!”
The rchant frantically kicking the tree groaned and grabbed his swollen ankle.In order to maintain a sense of realism in New World, users who received an injury would receive a shock. However, that shock was at a similar level to static electricity. It wasn’t to the extent that it would be painful. But the rchant was really moaning like a person who broke his leg.Sid couldn’t understand.The person suffering in front of him was really experiencing the pain of a broken leg…..
Yes, it was the only user in New World who suffered realistic pain!The rchant was Lee Myung-ryong, no Isyuram.Sid had visited the village was Isyuram was modifying his body.Thus Sid and Isyuram had a fateful encounter…..
“There really are strange people.”
…….It hadn’t even begun yet.
Sid jumped and quietly avoided that area.It wouldn’t be good for a crazy person to notice him. So he once again rushed to the road that headed towards Giran. He had left the village for 10 minutes.
Grrrrrrr.
The village was so remote that there was no path for Sid to walk along. So he was walking in the woods when a low cry was audible from a distant place.
‘Huk, gnoll!’
Sid panicked and jumped behind so bushes to hide his body.Soon enough, four monsters with a dog’s head approached.
‘Grrrrrr, strange. I thought it was in this area…..”
“No, I heard it too.”
“Maybe it’s that crazy rchant?”
At those words, the gnoll flinched and looked around with anxious faces. However, one gnoll shook his head and muttered.
“No, I would be able to sll him from a distance. Hold still. Kung kung kung, this is a different person. I think sowhere in the vicinity? It’s faint but obviously near.”
The gnoll sniffed and approached the bush.
‘Ugh, why is it coming here? Huk, don’t tell …..?’
Sid quickly checked the information window frantically. After confirming that there was no lasting effects, his heart fell.
‘Oh my god, has the effect of the [Safe Travel] scroll worn off?’
Even if they were highly ranked, a rchant had no combat abilities. Even a level 300 rchant wouldn’t be able to beat a gnoll. That’s why rchants always needed rcenaries when travelling a long distance.However, hiring rcenaries for a low level area didn’t fit. He would obtain a loss instead of a profit if he hired rcenaries. That’s why the rchants Guild developed the special scroll [Safe Travel].The effect lasted 2 hours and there was a low probability of being attacked by monsters. Even if they were right around the corner, a monster with a keen sense of sll wouldn’t be able to notice him.Because of that, rchants only hired rcenaries when going to high levelled areas and just used the [Safe Travel] scroll in low areas.Sid was level 200. When he used the scroll, it was impossible for him to be discovered by level 100 gnolls. However, the duration was 2 hours so he had used it once and forgot about it.
‘I need to quickly use the scroll before being discovered!’
Sid hurriedly opened his bag.But he couldn’t see the scroll no matter how much he looked.
‘T-this is….I was so busy applying for a loan in Selebrid that I forgot to buy a scroll!’
“Grrrrr, hiding in a place like this!”
“Ohh, how long has it been since we saw a hobbit?”
“Hehe, you’ve done excellently.”
The eerie voices surrounded the hobbit who looked up fearfully.Sid got up, scread and tried to run away.
“Grrrrrr, do you think we will miss?”
“Take this!”
One of the gnolls threw his club.Pakak, the club collided with Sid’s back with a heavy sound.
-You have received a critical hit to your head. 400 damage!
Kung kung kung kung!
The rchant beca caught in a stunned state.He couldn’t see the approaching monsters but it was obvious. The gnoll sward around the stunned Sid and was about to beat him up. The stun lasted 10 seconds but Sid wouldn’t even last 10 seconds against the gnolls.
‘Damn…..my resurrection place is Selebrid…..’
Sid swallowed his bitterness. It was incredibly difficult for a rchant to reach level 200 and of course he didn’t want to die.
‘There’s nothing good about selecting a rchant. First I get treated like a bag by Ark-nim, then exploited because of my debt and now I’m about to beco a dog’s food…..’
He was so miserable that he couldn’t even cry anymore.It was at that ti. Just as he was in a critical condition, a voice singing ridiculous lyrics was unexpectedly heard in his ears.
“Where do you stand~ soone~ when anything happens.”
“…..?”
Sid turned his head puzzled.One man was slowly approaching with crossed arms.
‘Eh? That man is…..?’
The gnoll and Sid all gaped at that person. Sid had seen him before.It was Isyuram who had been exercising in the moonlight.Sid looked dismayed and sighed with disappointnt.
‘Damn, I thought it was a warrior passing by…..but it’s just that strange man? I’m going crazy. That rchant just ca here to be eaten……’
Yes, there should be two bowls of dog food. However, Isyuram was still humming and didn’t grasp the mood.
“This, this, this, this, Isyuram~ trendous energy~.”
In this situation, singing a 70s the song……he was indeed insane.But the gnolls’ reaction was surprising.The gnolls winced and retreated from the rchant.
“Grrrrrrr. T-that guy…..?”
“The Mad rchant! The Crazy rchant!”
“Dammit, we didn’t see him for a few days so I had hoped he went sowhere else…..”
“He is still a rchant. Kill him!”
Kung kung kung kung!
Sid wasn’t in a shape where he could run away so he just watched. The gnolls flocked to Isyuram and swung their clubs.Isyuram just curled his lips and said.
“Heh, these guys aren’t going to run away. Okay, then I’ll show you the results of my training!”
Then……Sid witnessed an incredible scene.
“Haaayaahh, Shoryuken! Adododo, jumping kick! Sorsault kick!”
rchant. No matter how much Sid looked, he saw a rchant.Nevertheless, he was almost equal to the gnolls! No, he was overwhelming.He was a rchant so he lacked defense and attack, but he avoided their attacks with amazing timing and counterattacked which had a high probability of being a critical hit. It was also surprising that he was able to use techniques such as shoryuken and jumping kick.
“Take that, Pile driver (wrestling technique)!”
Kueeeeeek!
He even grabbed the gnoll, jumped and drove it into the ground upside down.After 3 minutes, Isyuram had taken care of all 4 gnolls. Then Isyuram approached Sid who was making a ridiculous expression.
“Boy, are you okay?”
“Huh? Ah, yes…..”
Sid looked at him stunned before asking.
“But aren’t you a rchant?”
“Well, unfortunately I have such a shape.”
“But a rchant against gnolls…..and four of them…..?”
“Huhuhu, Ryu and Ken, Chun Li and Zangief are all my teachers so of course the gnolls can’t compare to .”
Isyuram rattled on in a smug voice. But after a mont, Isyuram’s body stiffened and he paled. Then he flopped onto the ground as sweat dripped down his face.
“Ugh, d-damn…..indeed….this pain….can’t get used to it……”
“W-what’s wrong?”
“I-I’m okay…..this much….. I’ll be fine after a little bit……”
Isyuram clenched his teeth and shook his head.No matter how he looked at the situation, it clearly wasn’t normal. He appeared suddenly humming a 70s the song, said that Ryu and Ken were his masters and then suddenly he looked like he was having a seizure?Sid didn’t want to hang out with these sorts of people, but he couldn’t just ignore him after being helped.Sid hesitated before sitting in front of him and waiting for the attack to end.Fortunately, Isyuram returned to normal after 10 minutes.
“Phew…..I’ve survived. Aye, you shouldn’t have seen that in our first eting.”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Sid shook his head and asked with uneasy eyes.
“But what was that just then?”
“Heh, a hero’s ordeal.”
Isyuram replied with a smile.He couldn’t understand as expected.But Sid didn’t question it anymore. He was scared of what insane answer he would receive. And he had other questions.
“Then how was ajusshi able to defeat them while playing as a rchant?”
“I told you. Ken and Ryu, Chun Li and Zangief are my ntors…..”
“Then who are they?”
“Eh? You don’t know those nas?”
Sid shook his head and Isyuram sighed while scratching his head.
“Hah, kids these days don’t know about them? Hyu…..I really am old. To put it simply, they were people who burned martial arts into my soul in my childhood.”
“…..?”
“The gnolls were defeated after holding the images of my teachers in my heart. But it isn’t easy using those skills. My bones have really suffered because I’m a rchant.”
Isyuram recalled his mories of the past fortnight.Yes, he couldn’t forget the fortnight of humiliation and suffering every day.As soon as Isyuram beca dog food, he was imrsed in his training. However, Isyuram was a rchant.His limbs couldn’t keep up with his training and kept on breaking. That wasn’t all. Sotis he would fight against the gnolls to confirm his training and really felt the pain of dying. Since the police’s training unit was set to ‘Reality,’ he felt 100% of the pain inflicted on his character.
‘Ugh…..it really is horrible. Why would anyone play the ga while suffering such pain? No matter how fun the ga is, isn’t it too much? They would surely be hit in battles……maybe everybody is a pervert?’
Isyuram couldn’t understand it.
‘Anyway, I can’t just give up. Damn, this is a matter of pride. When will this body be able to defeat the gnolls?’
Of course, this problem would be solved if he just asked soone.However, who was Isyuram? In the ga he was a rchant, but in reality he had been the captain of the number 1 SWAT team. How could he give up a ga because of the pain when even a school kid could play it? It was a matter of pride now.
‘I don’t know anything about a rchant! I just have to try until I die!’
Every ti he was hit by the gnolls, a cloud ford over his eyes.And he clung even more insanely to the ga.One day a miracle happened. Once again he was fighting the gnolls with a broken wrist and ankle. Isyuram’s pride had been injured so much that he just persisted and clung to their legs, biting.
“Kuaaak! This vicious child, stop biting!”
“Hik, is he infected with rabies?”
Was this a joke?The dogs were talking nonsense so he continued biting.Then a ssage window flashed in front of Isyuram.
-You have learned a new skill.
Self Defense : You have built up your body using basic training thods.
Self Defense is a skill that only non-combat professions can learn and it allows the user to show a minimal combat ability. It is possible to reduce the risk of injury using Self Defense
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