Chapter 55 – Black Market Sixth Shopping (2)

Sungjin touched the star’s whirlpool design . The Operator opened up the information screen .

Paranova – Star of the Nameless
Legendary Amulet

Active
Rename(I)
Change the Title . Cooldown 10 minutes

For some, Name is everything
For some, Name is nothing

“How much is this?”

The man raised **** up .

“Twenty Thousand . ”

Sungjin stared at the star for a moment . Even though the star was held in place, the whirl design seemed to spin on its own, as if Sungjin was hypnotized .

‘20,000…’

Considering that Legendary items could be bought for just ten thousand, it was an item of immense value . Even Sungjin’s most expensive item, ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’, was worth 15,000 coins in component costs . But here was an item being sold for 20,000 . The item effects were unbelievably useful .

‘Every 10 minutes I can change my title to use the full effects of each title… If I were to change my title according to situation…’

Sungjin kept the item in the back of his mind . Even if he were to receive a generous amount of raid rewards, it would still take two more chapters until he could gather enough coins to purchase this item . The man knew that as well .

“Well, you won’t be able to get it now but… Just know that this kind of thing exists . ”

The man returned the star shaped item back into his suit . Sungjin stared at the man for a second . This man was on a completely different level compared to other vendors and merchants . Sungjin got an idea .

“Well then… Is there any way for me to be able to stay in contact with other hunters?”

The man fell silent for a moment to consider Sungjin’s words . He then replied,

“Tell me more about what it is that you want to do . ”

“For example… I met someone in a previous chapter, and I have become good friends with them . I would like to be able to meet them or at least be able to send and receive messages with them . ”

“Hmm… That’s difficult to accomplish . Especially in ‘this world’… You probably know this already…”

The man turned to look at the Cube behind Sungjin as if to indicate the Operator .

“Communication between hunters is strictly forbidden unless you happen to meet each other during the raid…”

“So, is it impossible?”

The man raised his pointer finger and shook his head .

“No, there’s no such thing as impossible . It’s just… in order to overcome the structure of this world, you are in need of the ‘Power of God’ .

“Power of God?”

“Yes . The Power of God . ”

Sungjin tilted his head at the words of the man . The merchant continued to explain .

“Well, Power of God isn’t anything as fancy as it sounds . The Power of God just refers to the holy ability to create something out of nothing . The Power of creation . ”

He continued with his out of the world explanation . Then

“For example…”

He took out something from within his pocket .

“Something like this?”

It was a glass bottle . It was cut into a precise shape . There was some sort of fluid contained within .

“What is it?”

Sungjin asked . He answered

“Touch it . As you already know, touching is free in the Black Market . ”

Sungjin placed his hand on the bottle .

Jasepit – Holy Water of Baptism
Mythological

Active Skill
Baptism(I)
Imbue the title of ‘The Chosen One’’ to the target .

I am the grape tree . You are the branch .

‘Myth…?’

Even though Sungjin had been the longest surviving human in the previous raid, this was the first time he had come across a Mythological tier item . And the active skill was shocking to say the least .

‘Forcefully change the other person’s title to The Chosen One…’

The bizarre active skill was something Sungjin couldn’t even imagine to have existed . So he touched the Glass bottle again . It looked like an ordinary glass bottle, but it gave this strange sensation that his skin was sticking to it .

“How much is this?”

To his question, the merchant gave another question rather than an answer .

“How much do you think it is?”

When Sungjin couldn’t answer, he laughed and said

“Just one . ”

*

“2000 to Strength, 2000 to Dex, 1000 Endurance, 500 to Magic Power and rest to Mind Power . Apply . ”

[Applied . ]

“And… equip title Adjudicator . ”

[Equipped . ]

Finally, Sungjin picked up the black spellbook in front of him .

Spellbook – Illusion
7th Class Black Magic

Create perfectly identical mimics .
The number of illusions is based on the magic power .

Soldamyr gave a tip from the side .

“It is a spell that is heavily influenced by Magic Power . Most mages would use this spell as a way to buy time to shout incantations . But you, who are proficient with the blade, should be able to utilize it offensively . ”

Sungjin nodded .

“Memorize . ”

The spellbook burned up in black flames . Next item to check after the spellbook was the ‘information sheet’ .

“Information on Tahrathan Plateau”

Sungjin picked up the sheet and the toast sitting next to it and walked out of the Ninety Nine Nights . He sat on the rocking chair placed in front of the door and watched the sunrise .

He held the bread in his mouth, toasted with egg on top, for over a minute without moving . Finally, Soldamyr spoke up .

“Are you… uncomfortable? Master?”

“Ah? Mmm…”

Sungjin finally bit off the first piece before responding .

“No… I was just lost in thought . ”

“Then I’ll be returning to the lamp . Please call for me if you need my assistance . ”

Soldamyr returned to his lamp, and only Cain remained by his side . As if understanding what Sungjin was going through, Cain sat next to him motionlessly .

Sungjin petted his head as he continued to think .

‘Darker than Black… it was even crazier than I imagined…’

‘Definitely…’

Someone else’s thought interrupted Sungjin inside his own head . It was Besgoro’s voice . Sungjin asked him

“What? Did you see it too, grandpa?”

‘I am not your grandpa . I am a Knight . Call me Sir Besgoro . ’

‘Geez, you’re just a ghost, why are you so uptight?’

“Okay, Sir Besgoro . Were you able to watch the whole thing?”

‘Anything you can see, I can see . Anything you can hear, I can hear . ’

It was an unwelcome revelation .

‘I should keep it off of me when I don’t need it then . ’

Sungjin thought to himself as he replied .

“What do you think it is? That place? That man?”

‘I’m not sure… even I, a ghost, finds him very peculiar . Actually, is he even a man? Is he even human? Or ghost? But not the same . He was closer to something like… closer to the Devil or God . ”

The man was definitely a mystery, in many ways .

“Well, whether or not he is a Devil or God… he does seem to have the items I need . ”

‘But why did you feel those items are necessary? I can see the argument for the star, but what about that Holy water? Where are you going to use that for?’

“… It’s for marking the people I need . ”

‘People you need?’

“Yes . Strong, but also trustworthy . ”

The ghost began to laugh at his words .

‘Heh ha ha ha ha ha~’

It was a ghastly laughter which echoed in Sungjin’s head . He decided to ask

“Why are you laughing?”

‘Such thing does not exist . ’

Sungjin closed his mouth; he also knew what Besgoro was telling him . After all, he had experienced it first hand . Besgoro continued to speak .

‘Well… Kind people, those who are eager to help others, that’s all good and all . But power does not gather around them . It is far more likely for them to have their power taken away . He who is strong has sapped much strength from those around him .

Sungjin paused and remembered for a moment .

‘Serin Han, Igor, Mahadas . ’

And then he answered

“No . That is not always the case . ”

‘Of course not . There are always exceptions . But the majority will be like that . Trust me . I have roamed the battlefields for 40 years . I have met countless allies, and watched most of them die . ’

Sungjin silently listened . Besgoro’s 40 years of combat experience was something he could relate to .

‘But in the end, the ones who survive are those who are strong, who became strong by ruthlessly and mercilessly taking and stealing from everyone around them . Those who monopolize every resource they can take . ’

Sungjin refuted him .

“You must believe so because you only lived on the battlefield your whole life . The place I’ve come from is a little different . ”

To him, Besgoro gave a short reply .

‘It’s the same anywhere . ’

And with that said, Besgoro finally went silent . Sungjin shook his head briefly, trying to shake loose the negativity the ghost had been trying fill his head with .

He had a flashback . To Serin Han, Igor, Mahadas, people he met in the previous life, the final ten members .

‘Araujo, Ryushin, Nada, Umkhuba, Ilich, Hildebrandt, Shunsuke, Mustafa, and… Edward . ’

Each and every one of those members were incredibly powerful people . Master among masters . In luck and in skill . Rightfully described as ‘Those Chosen by the Gods’ .

Sungjin was the best swordsman of them all, but in terms of his overall strength, it wasn’t very high compared to the other nine members . The only problem with the nine masters was the pride befitting of their enormous talent .

‘I will do the next one . ’

‘No, it will be me’

‘If you’re fighting over contribution level, cut it out . ’

‘Shut up . Do you have any idea what happened in the last raid when he tried to solo the boss?’

In the end, they were wiped out . Truth be told, the reason why the team got wiped out was not due to lack of status points or ability; each of the members overflowed with power .

The party was wiped out due to inability to cooperate . Sungjin lowered his gaze down to the ground . He could see his two swords, ‘Blood Vengeance’ and ‘Moon Specter’ . He then had a thought

‘I am probably the strongest in this timeline . After all, I’ve done a 100% clear on every raid . ’

Of the nine others who were in the final parties, he had some who he could get along with, and others he could not . And of the final few, there were those who ‘let their team get wiped out’ .

Sungjin stood up .

‘Star of the nameless and Holy Water of Baptism; I’ll buy them both and create a brand new final ten members of my choosing . And with these new teammates, I will see to the end of the ‘Final Raid’ .

After he made up his mind, he took out something from within his jacket . It was a Ring . It was a simple ring, made of an ordinary metal .

Only, that it looked peculiar . It was made to look like two wires were twisted around as it created the bend . Sungjin lifted up the ring and inspected the status window .

Ring of Helrick – Ring of the Warlord
Heroic Ring

Passive
Reign(I)
Receive 1 White Coin from those who, knowingly and of their own free will, kisses the ring .
Those who kisses the ring receive a permanent 10% loss to all future Raid coin rewards .
Can only be used 1 per person .

Between the two stairs, he lay and sang freely
Holding the crown, the new King has returned .

It was an item he paid 3000 Black Coins to purchase . Sungjin recalled the conversation from earlier .

‘Just… one?’

‘Yes, just one . But, it’s a different type of currency . ’

He’s never heard of a white coin . At least, not from his memories of the previous life .

‘I don’t know what it does yet but…’

Sungjin made a fist and stood up .

‘I will obtain these things and rise as the new power and establish my rule over the Raids . ’

Thinking of what he was going to do next, Sungjin returned to Ninety Nine Nights . The Sun gradually rose higher and higher into the morning sky behind him .