章 114: Chapter 114
Just like how there was a grade of impossible-to-hunt monsters, there was a grade of impossible-to-fight NPC's, NPCs who could never be defeated through battle. The NPC in front of us was that kind of NPC.
The gray-haired old man's eyes were wreathed in wrinkles, and his white beard came down to his stomach. He was holding a worn-looking gnarled club in his right hand, but looks were deceiving. That was no simple wooden stick, but an extremely outstanding artifact.
'Noah.'
I intentionally avoided using Eye of Perception on him. Rashly trying to read an NPC of his level could actually cause a backlash.
"We…"
I watched Noah's face carefully. I had to pay close attention to his expression.
–After many attempts and failures, Players found the way to clear the U-Plex Dungeon. What you have to watch out for is Noah's expression. If one side of Noah's lips is curled up in a smile, then…
That was a provisional pass. Currently, Noah was scowling and stroking his beard.
–If he's frowning and stroking his beard, the Player must take the risk of incurring a big loss.
Noah's expressions could be divided into five expressions total. Many had died in the process of finding that out. The U-Plex Dungeon gave the people who cleared it a very useful item called 'Noah's Helm', and it was one of the oft-mentioned key dungeons. I had this place's strats memorized by heart.
"...are adventurers pursuing and contemplating the truth."
"Hooh?"
Noah's eyes gleamed. It was public knowledge that Noah was quite fond of the word 'adventurer'.
'Not that it'll change the clear method.'
Noah was going to try and extort us. And he would do it using the system called 'trade'.
"I do like adventurers," he said, nodding to himself. "Young'uns these days have no spirit or adventurousness. And they especially lack trailblazing spirit. When I was young, back on the Libron Continent…"
His rambling speech was one I'd heard many times before.
–Noah will lay out the tale of his heroism on the Libron Continent. Because the amount you will lose is directly tied to how you respond, it is best to give indicators that you are listening attentively.
Noah was in every way a swindling NPC. That was how he was set to be from the start. But his next action surprised me a little.
"Hrm?"
His expression changed. 'Set' NPC's rarely changed their expressions, but something was different this time. Why did his expression change?
"You, you're quite something. At such a young age and level, you've got both mettle and trailblazing spirit, don't you?"
His words seemed to mean that he had recognized that I had the ability 'Mettle' and the title 'First Pioneer'.
"Good, good, very good. Since you've come all this way, I'll give you a gift."
"Thank you."
I heard a notice.
[You have received a 'trade request' from 'Noah'.]
[Accept the 'trade request'?]
The fateful trade request came. I knew which items would satisfy Noah.
[A trade window has been generated.]
A 'trade window' only I could see popped up in front of me. I could put items from my Inventory in the window, and through it, we could complete a System-assisted trade. This was a function that Players could use from the mid-game onwards. I was just experiencing it in advance.
[Noah]
Isabel
Noah put an item called 'Isabel' in the trade window.
[Isabel - Growth-Type - Fully Sealed]
An artifact found in the tomb of Isabel, Queen of the Sword Forest. It is imbued with a special spirit ki that chooses its master.
Grade: Transcendent
Attack power: 40-61 (currently sealed)
Effects:
Disabled
Disabled
Disabled
Disabled
Disabled
Disabled
Disabled
30% offensive innate ability damage amplification
Special note:
In a fully sealed state. Not all of its strength can be drawn upon.
Its master has not been selected.
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. "Sir, surely this isn't the gift you mentioned?"
"It is, it is. I like young fellas who've got some adventurousness to them."
My plan changed a little. Noah was extremely fond of things that fell into the 'gem' category. So normally, you could just give him a gem-studded necklace or earring.
'But it's transcendent…'
I never in my wildest dreams thought that such an incredible item would make an appearance here.
'Of course he won't give it to me.'
It was naturally total BS. There was no way this conniving NPC would actually give me the sword. This 'trade' itself was a scam. That item would never come into my hands. If we traded using normal means, that is.
–Noah steals the items of Players by switching out the item right before the trade is completed. It has never been discovered why an NPC of his level stoops to pilfering from Players.
That much, I was prepared for.
–But if you do not offer an item that, at least in Noah's eyes, is not of similar or comparable value to the item he puts out, there is a very high chance he will become enraged.
It went without being said that if Noah became enraged, all of the Players here would be slaughtered.
'He's put out a transcendent item…'
That meant I had to offer an item of comparable value. The necklace I bought for just $5,000 was bound to incur his wrath.
'It's transcendent. What should I put in?'
In my last life, the transcendent grade was just a rumor to me, but in this life, the sword Isabel was already the second transcendent item I came in contact with. And in the beginner period, no less! There really was a 'World Above', a world for Rankers alone.
"It falls far short of Isabel, but is it alright if I put out the most valuable thing I have discovered during my adventuring?"
"A right proper lad you are. What is the item you mention?"
Noah grinned.
'His expression keeps changing.'
We were derailing completely from the strat.
'I still gotta do what I gotta do.'
In the special hidden field 'Forest of Unknowns', I obtained an item whose value could not even be measured right now. A 'mana crystal', the treasure the Thin Hobgoblin tried to protect with its life. An item that I barely managed to find with Darongi's ability in not just a regular hidden field, but a special hidden field.
[Offer Mana Crystal?]
The mana crystal was put in the trade window.
"This is the most valuable thing I own. Though I don't know if it will be to your liking, sir…"
No matter how precious a mana crystal might be, it couldn't beat a 'transcendent item'. Mana crystals would be sold for $10 million in three years, but transcendent items were so rare their existence alone was shrouded in mystery.
'But Noah goes wild for mana crystals.'
That was something Lily, a weirdo among weirdos, a person so eccentric even her nickname was 'Weirdo', confirmed multiple times. If a mana crystal was offered, the 'trade' would be accepted ten times out of ten… or so it was said, but this was a method only a billionaire could use. It was known that the Weirdo Lily actually carried out this method multiple times.
Noah gave me a smile of satisfaction. "Oh. It seems you truly have been diligent with your adventuring and exploration. To think that you have something so precious."
"I am relieved to hear it is to your liking."
"When the trade is complete, I'll send you out of here. Using my special authority."
"Thank you very much."
Notices came in.
[The trade will be completed when you press the Trade button.]
[When the trade is completed, the U-Plex Dungeon will be cleared.]
The item he was offering was still 'Isabel'.
'So now…'
If things went as they normally did, Noah would now pull a fast one over me.
'Stay calm.'
I couldn't show him that I was too worked up. I had to stay calm. If I messed up, we would all die.
'Even if it's a little risky…'
A transcendent item was worth such a risk three, four, five times over.
[Use the 'Forced Exchange Scroll'?]
That was the item the Merchant of Venice had gifted me.
[You have used the 'Forced Exchange Scroll'.]
[The 'Forced Exchange Scroll' is an object imbued with the authority of the 'Merchant of Venice'.]
[The authority is taking effect.]
[The trade has been completed.]
I heard a hearty laugh from Noah. "Hoho. Well then, have a good trip out."
[The U-Plex Dungeon has been cleared.]
[5 seconds remaining until you leave the U-Plex Dungeon.]
Five seconds. I was given five seconds. The next moment, Noah's face contorted in rage.
"YOUUU!!!"
The entire field trembled. Power billowed from Noah's body.
"YOU DARE—!"
Noah's wooden club moved. A magic circle was drawn in the air, shining with the color of aluminum. It almost looked like it was made of steel.
"YOU DARE TO TRICK ME!!!"
A dragon made of steel rushed out of the magic circle and opened its mouth wide.
ROAAAAAR–!
It felt like the entire place was turned into a vacuum.
Countless swords were formed at the dragon's mouth. It was a famous spell, a physical damage attack cast by magicians. It was magic that summoned the swords, but the damage done by those swords registered as physical damage. The spell's name was 'Sword Breath'.
One second left until we were ported out.
[1 second]
But that 'Sword Breath' reached me faster than one second.
'Gugh!'
My chest felt like it was on fire, and I felt my consciousness dimming. But I was ready for it.
'Now!'
The blazing agony felt as if it would melt my heart, but I pulled it off. At the precise time, within the half second window, I used my recently acquired special ability.
'Right now!'
[Absorption]
Absorbs all physical damage for 0.5 seconds. The absorbed damage is converted to HP.
Cooldown: 24 hours
Half a second. It was only a fleeting moment.
'Did I… do it?'
In the end, I saw a light.
[Distributing the U-Plex Dungeon clear rewards.]
My heart still throbbed in pain, but I survived.
['Noah's Helm' acquired.]
Noah's Helm, an item that was absolutely necessary to level up as fast as possible to level 40. I finally acquired it.
'I thought I was really gonna die.'
In any case, we found ourselves outside the U-Plex, where a swarm of reporters was waiting and the police had put up a no-entry line. Thankfully, the two civilians we met on the 1st floor seemed to have survived.
'There were Taeguk Shield personnel here too, so…'
I could just push most of the credit to Taeguk Shield and the Tutorial Ender, So Yoohyun, and just secure the actual profits in the back.
But just then, I heard a voice.
(Darn it. What the heck? You tricked me.)
I looked around.
'No. This isn't a physical voice.'
They were speaking, but it was definitely not a 'person'. That didn't mean it was Senia or an Intermediate Administrator, either.
(You know what I want?)
Somehow, I could feel an emotion. I could feel someone trembling.
(I wanted a strong male who could be my match.)
I couldn't tell where the sound was coming from.
(I thought I was picking up a touch of that from you, but you tricked me!)
I quickly realized where this voice was coming from.
(There was just a tiny hint of the smell of a strong male on you, but I know now. Tell me honestly. You've recently held something incredible, haven't you?)
This voice was coming from none other than my Inventory.
(Over there. That sword that woman over there is holding! I'm talking about that! I woke up because I smelled that strong male fragrance, so how'd I end up in the hands of a weak-ass male? This is a scam! A clear and simple scam marriage.)
The voice was coming from the transcendent item Isabel.
[Isabel's seal has been partially lifted.]
The item window popped up in front of me automatically.
____
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