Chapter 031 – Giant’s Canyon (9)

Sungjin gazed up at the Ratman hanging from the ceiling .

‘Another Demi-Human? Are all the Vendors like that…?’

Even ‘Wandering Merchant Aindell’ was a Demihuman . Half human, half Wolf . Sungjin approached the Ratman . The Ratman shouted at him from his **** position .

“Hey, Human! Help me! If you give me a hand, I’ll make it worth your while!”

Serin entered the cave from behind .

“Wow… I didn’t know there was such a place here . ”

The Ratman also yelled at Serin .

“Hey, Human girl! Help me!”

“What’s up with him?”

Before Sungjin had a chance to reply to her question, the Ratman interrupted by shouting

“I said help!”

Sungjin used his fingers to plug up his ears .

“I got it, I got it . Please stop . Stop it . ”

He looked over to Serin .

“Serin, please shoot him down . I’ll catch him . ”

“Ok . ”

She immediately let loose an arrow .

‘Ping~’

The rope which held him was cut with a snap and Sungjin easily caught the falling Ratman .

‘Ugh…’

For one reason or another, the stench on the Ratman was terrible . Sungjin immediately threw the Ratman away .

‘The Giants really planned to eat this thing…?’

The Ratman finally got to his feet and took a breather .

“Haa… I thought I was going to die . You have my thanks, Humans!”

The Ratman smiled at them, exposing his yellow teeth . Sungjin felt no desire to become friendly with him; Skipping all the small talk he asked,

“So, how are you going to make it worth our while?”

The Ratman made a curious smile and replied,

“Ah, that… I can’t do it now . Later on…”

Sungjin raised his eyebrows .

“What?”

The Ratman didn’t catch on to the mood and continued while shaking his head

“I said I will make it worthwhile; I never said it was going to be right…”

‘Woosh’

Sungjin pulled out ‘Moon Specter’ and brought it up to the Ratman’s neck .

“So, you’re going to go back on your word, is it?”

Once he saw the naked blade pressed against his neck, his demeanor changed instantly .

“No, I mean… listen… “

Sungjin waited patiently for him to continue . He was the ‘Hidden Vendor’ after all; he must have something special with him .

“My treasure… I had hidden it before I was caught . I have to go find it first . ”

Sungjin replied to him frankly .

“Tell me where it is then, and I will go find it myself . ”

“The Treasure is hidden beyond the ‘Boundary’ . You know that right? You’ll die if you leave the boundary for more than 10 seconds! Bada Boom!”

Sungjin considered his words . The Merchant’s words had no credibility, but there was no way to disprove him either .

There were sometimes merchants who valued their goods over their own lives; ones that would never spill a secret no matter the cost .

‘What should I do…?’

Sungjin continued to hold the ‘Moon Specter’ against his head and thought of his options . It was then the Ratman changed his mind .

“Instead… Instead, let me… Let me give you something I do have on me . ”

Sungjin used the sword to raise the Ratman’s chin and asked

“What is it exactly?”

If it was something ordinary, he planned to reject it . But he didn’t expect ‘Ruff Han’ to say the following .

“Wandering Merchant’s Mystery Pouch”

“What?”

Sungjin was shocked . It was the same item that gave Sungjin ‘Ancient Stories of the East – Part 1’ .

Ratman ‘Ruff Han’ took out a pouch from his vest and handed it to Sungjin .

“Here, Take it! And let me go! I don’t want to lose another second until I go searching for my stash!”

Sungjin quickly took the pouch and asked the Operator .

“Operator, explanation, quick”

The Operator quickly brought up the information screen at his request .

Mystery Pouch – Wandering Merchant’s secret stash
Heroic Treasure

Unique Skill – Roulette (IV)

Roulette (IV) – receive one ‘Legendary’ class crafting material .
Pouch Disappears after use .

It’s definitely the same item as before .

‘This…is totally acceptable . ’

Sungjin returned the ‘Moon Specter’ to its sheath . Now free from the threat of violence, the Ratman reached into his pocket and took out another pouch and tossed it over to Serin as well .

“Thank you very much as well, pretty lady!”

He threw her a wink . Sungjin couldn’t see her face, but he couldn’t imagine her looking very happy .

“I have settled my debt with this, Humans!”

The Ratman fell on all fours and dashed away towards an exit on the other side of the cave; an exit too small for a human being to fit through .

“And I’m not a liar! I’ll see you again in a future Raid! If you’re able, that is!”

‘If you’re able…’ probably meant ‘you’ll most likely die and so we might not see each other’… It wasn’t exactly a positive farewell .

Once the Hidden Merchant Ruff Han left, Sungjin took a look at the pouch .

‘If ‘Ancient Stories of the East’ Part 2 or 3 comes out of here…’

“Roulette…”

Serin was staring at the screen for the pouch as well . It was most likely her first time seeing this type of item .

“This is an extremely good item; It gives a Legendary Crafting material . ”

“Ooh…”

“Well, there’s no point hoarding it for later… so I’ll go first . ”

“Please go ahead . ”

Sungjin breathed in deeply to prepare himself and then shouted

“Roulette!”

The ribbon tying up the pouch released automatically and the content revealed itself; Although he had no creed, he still prayed .

‘Please!’

The appearance of the treasure was

‘A Book!’

Sungjin quickly picked it up to check the screen . Now as long as it was not Part 1, he was golden . However

Ancient Stories of the Middle East – Part 2
Legendary Crafting Material

Omnibus of ancient stories of the Middle East .
Once parts 1, 2 and 3 are gathered, it can be made into a complete volume .

‘Middle East?!’

It was an entirely wrong line of books . With the component cost of 5000 coins per book, an item you could only equip one at a time, there was no reason or need to craft multiple books of this kind .

‘…Damn…’

Sungjin massaged his forehead wallowing in regret . But then,

“Roulette . ”

Serin also used her Roulette . Once the pouch unveiled itself, the item that appeared was

‘Another book!’

Serin lifted up her item .

“Operator… What is this item?”

The Operator opened up an information screen for her . And on it displayed the item Sungjin had been wanting; ‘Ancient Stories of the East – Part 2’ . Sungjin forgot himself and immediately grabbed her arm .

“Wah!”

Serin jumped up slightly in surprise; She had never seen Kei react to anything before like that .

“Why? Is it a good thing?”

Sungjin held onto her hands and said

“Miss Serin, Please, let’s trade these two books . ”

“Excuse me?”

Serin’s cheeks turned slightly rosy .

‘Oh, right…’

Noticing the change in her behavior, Sungjin continued after letting go of her hands .

“This book is one of the materials required to complete a single item; An ancient Omnibus . This Omnibus grants enormous power . ”

Serin understood quickly .

“Yes, and?”

“And so… I already have ‘Ancient Stories of the East – Part 1’ . So… I need the Part 2 of the same series . ”

Serin nodded .

“…Okay then . I’ll just give you this, as thanks for protecting me this Raid . ”

“Ah, wait, that’s…”

Sungjin hesitated . But within moments, he made up his mind; Only one person could own a single book at a time .

Of course, if he accepted the book now and sold it on the Black market later, he could get 500 Coins, but it was far too inefficient to do so .

Trade was the right course of action . Especially if she had the potential to become one of the Final Five ‘last companions to the end’ . So Sungjin told her

“No . We should trade these; My ‘Ancient Stories of the Middle East – Part 2’ to your ‘Ancient Stories of the East – Part 2’ . I suggest that you collect all three parts to the ‘Ancient Stories of the Middle East’ and craft the complete book . If you manage to do so, it should be enough to keep you alive for at least several chapters . ”

The Operator gave an announcement .

[Returning to the Black Market in 10 Minutes]

Time was running out . Serin nodded .

“I understand Kei . ”

Sungjin and Serin put their Cubes together to trade . Once it was done, Sungjin had finally obtained Part 2 of the book he wanted .

‘Now all I have to do is buy the final part from the bookstore . ’

While Sungjin was thinking so, Serin took a look at her new item .

“Ancient stores…”

Sungjin decided to ask

“Miss Serin, how many Black Coins do you have right now?”

“Black Coins? Including what I just got from this raid, around 5000 . ”

She didn’t spend too much; With the exception of her bow, she probably didn’t spend her coins elsewhere . Sungjin told her

“When you go back to the Black Market this time, please go to ‘Gourmet’s Bookstore’ . Ask about the book… and if you are able, make the complete item . ”

Serin nodded . Sungjin continued,

“And… I don’t know the name, but please visit the mask shop run by a Raccoon Merchant . Okay?”

“Okay . ”

Once Sungjin was done, he placed the book ‘materials’ into the Cube . Not too long after, the Operator announced

[You will return to the Black Market in 1 minute . ]

Serin, who kept quiet until now asked Sungjin

“Kei… Will we be able to see each other again?”

Sungjin answered

“Raids are designed in such a way that survivors will meet each other again . And as you can tell, I am very strong . I will survive until the very end . So… If you can keep yourself safe and survive chapter to chapter, we will eventually be able to see each other again . I promise . ”

At his words, Serin nodded bravely .

“Um… Before we go our separate ways… Can you please tell me your real name?”

Sungjin hesitated .

[You will return to the Black Market in 10 seconds . 10]

Once the Operator’s countdown began, Sungjin told her

“If we meet each other again, I promise I will tell you my real name . ”

[9, 8, 7]

Serin nodded helplessly .

“…Ok, it’s a promise . ”

[6, 5, 4]

Sungjin couldn’t help but tell her one more time out of his concern for her .

“Mask shop, bookstore . You got it, right?”

Serin nodded . She was intelligent . She would not forget .

[3, 2 . 1]

In the last moments, she bid him goodbye .

“Let’s meet again, Kei . ”

Sungjin wanted to reply to her . But

[0]

The countdown finished, and the hunters were teleported away from the Canyon .