NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18
Chapter 18
“Shop categories?”
A new window popped up in front of Zeke’s curious eyes.
―Shop Usage List―
1. Buy/Sell Items
2. Disassemble/Repair Items (Locked)
3. Enhance Items (Locked)
Looking at the Shop categories, Zeke began contemplating the nature of the system again.
―Tutorial Mission―
[Purchase an item from the Shop. (No time limit)]
“Buy an item?”
Setting aside his curiosity for now, Zeke followed the tutorial mission’s instructions and pressed the purchase option.
[Displaying items available for purchase by a Junior Administrator.]
As the message appeared, the screen changed, displaying a list of item images alongside their names and brief descriptions.
Zeke browsed through the list of items.
“Low-grade potion, mid-grade potion, full recovery potion, stamina enhancement potion, status recovery potion…”
Dozens of potions he had never seen before were listed.
Zeke’s jaw dropped as he took in the variety of potions.
“Unbelievable. These are all enhancement potions from ancient ruins. They’re rare and hard to obtain.”
Recovery potions had been mass-produced and popularized a century ago when the alchemist Zabir Ibn Hassan publicly released the patented formula for refining troll blood.
However, enhancement potions were a different story. Not only did they require rare ingredients, but each alchemist’s secret formula was crucial, making top-tier enhancement potions priceless.
Yet even modern enhancement potions paled in comparison to those of ancient times.
Zeke smiled broadly as he examined the ancient enhancement potions, which were almost impossible to purchase with money.
“Deep Breath of the Flame Giant? That used to go for nearly a hundred gold at auction back then.”
Zeke tapped on the Deep Breath of the Flame Giant potion.
―Potion Information―
A potion containing the hottest breath of the Flame Giant, capable of unleashing unquenchable flames. (20 points)
Zeke checked the price displayed next to the description.
“Twenty points for a single potion, huh.”
Points could be used to acquire other skills or unlock parts of the system, so he needed to choose carefully.
The Shop items available to a Junior Administrator included standard potions, enhancement potions, simple scrolls imbued with basic magic, and low-grade rune stones.
Though labeled “low-grade” in the Shop, all the items were treasures that could only be found in ancient ruins, making them extremely valuable.
Zeke decided to test the system by purchasing Wings of the Sky, an item available for a small number of points. The description stated it would enhance agility.
[The purchased item has been moved to your inventory.]
[5 points have been deducted.]
[You have completed the tutorial mission.]
[As a reward, a random low-grade scroll has been granted.]
“A low-grade scroll? So the rewards aren’t just points.”
Zeke opened the inventory window. Previously empty slots now held a potion and a scroll.
When he took out the potion, he found himself holding a vial of clear, sky-blue liquid. Checking the scroll, he saw it contained the Shield magic.
It occurred to him that buying items from the Shop and auctioning them off could yield enormous profits.
In the island republic of Dorta, there was a specialized auction market for ancient relics. It was a place frequented by Nirvana’s mages and the sorcerers of the Magic Tower, ensuring ancient items fetched high prices.
“If I start hunting monsters and accumulate Karma Points, I could buy items specifically to sell at auctions for hefty profits later.”
Zeke figured such a strategy would be useful when he left the Draker Household and established his own faction.
Curious, Zeke pressed the sell option instead of the purchase option this time.
[Place the item you wish to sell into the inventory window.]
He placed the claymore he had been holding into the inventory window.
However, a warning message popped up.
[The selected item cannot be sold.]
“Huh? Why not?”
Puzzled, Zeke tried putting one of the ancient items he had laid out on the training ground into the inventory.
[Would you like to sell Dagger Useful for Camping? / Sale price: 4 points]
It seemed only ancient items could be sold in the Shop. Since all the items available for purchase were ancient relics, it made sense that only such items could be sold.
“But the selling price is way too low. I could easily get at least 100 gold for this at an auction.”
Selling items through the Shop wasn’t cost-effective.
Deciding that selling was impractical, Zeke examined the other functions. The disassemble option allowed extraction of raw materials from ancient items for a certain number of points, while the repair option reShopd damaged items to their original state.
Both, however, seemed inefficient for the amount of points required.
Additionally, the disassemble, repair, and enhancement categories were locked and not yet available for use.
After thoroughly reviewing the Shop’s purchase and sale options, Zeke nodded in understanding.
“I think I’ve got a general idea of how to use this. When my rank as a Junior Administrator increases, the list of items I can purchase will probably expand too.”
Zeke resolved to earn Karma Points as quickly as possible by hunting monsters.
After organizing the newly acquired items, he moved the relics to a secure storage room. Planning to deposit them later in the vaults of the Northern Bank operated by the Dwarves, Zeke decided to call it a day.
* * *
The next morning, Zeke went straight to Professor Fainon.
He placed the highly compressed mana crystal he had brought in front of him.
Fainon was astonished to see the crystal.
“How… how did you get this?”
“I’m afraid I can’t go into detail. How soon can the operating formula be completed? I need it as quickly as possible.”
Fainon looked at Zeke and replied, “The calculations for the operating formula are already done.”
This time, it was Zeke who was surprised.
“What? Already?”
“The structure isn’t too complicated as long as you have a highly compressed mana crystal.”
Zeke realized Fainon’s skills were far from ordinary.
‘He’s quite the talent.’
He thought it was a shame for someone of Fainon’s caliber to be stuck teaching at an academy.
In any case, hearing that the operating formula was complete, Zeke shot to his feet.
“Professor, let’s go.”
“Huh? Go where?”
“Where else? To build the forge.”
* * *
With the highly compressed mana crystal and the operating formula prepared, the process of building a magic forge proceeded smoothly.
When Zeke called in workers to install the forge in one corner of the smithy, Gellion looked on in disbelief.
“Are you… really going to make me a magic forge?”
“I made a promise, didn’t I? But there’s a condition—you have to craft my sword. Not just any sword, but your masterpiece.”
Zeke couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious, worried that Gellion’s youthful inexperience might result in failure to produce Sun Blade Gram.
That was why he had emphasized the importance of the task. However, Gellion, unaware of Zeke’s thoughts, was moved to tears.
“My lord! You are the benefactor of my life!”
Gellion was more emotional than even when Zeke had saved his life in a previous timeline.
The installation of the forge only took a few days.
Fainon participated enthusiastically, personally overseeing the construction on-site. Holding blueprints in hand, he gave precise instructions to the workers, ensuring accuracy.
Thanks to this, the magic forge turned out to be far more efficient than Gellion had originally designed.
Whoosh!
When Fainon activated the magic operating formula, the forge roared to life.
Gellion shed tears of emotion as he watched the blue flames rising from the furnace.
“Ah! To think I managed to complete this furnace before I died!”
Fainon also looked at the completed furnace with satisfaction.
“With this level of efficiency, it should last at least a hundred years without issue.”
“Thank you, Professor! Thank you so much!”
After inspecting the furnace, Professor Fainon returned to the academy for a lecture, leaving Zeke and Gellion alone. Zeke turned to him and spoke in a hushed tone.
“Gellion, I have a favor to ask. Can you keep it a secret?”
Gellion, overwhelmed with excitement, pounded his chest with his fist.
“A request from my savior? Of course! I, Gellion, will take your secret to the grave!”
Knowing from his previous life how single-minded Gellion could be, Zeke wasn’t really worried about any leaks. He took out a box and revealed Bahamut’s fang in front of Gellion.
“My lord… is that?”
“It’s the hardest fang of a dragon. Have you seen anything like it before?”
At Zeke’s words, Gellion was startled out of his wits.
“A… a dragon’s fang?”
Gellion had never seen a dragon’s tooth intact in this manner. In fact, no blacksmith on the continent likely had either.
Zeke calmed the astonished Gellion and continued.
“Make me a sword with this.”
Gellion trembled from head to toe upon hearing those words.
“Are… are you entrusting such a priceless thing to me?”
“What? Are you saying you’re not up to the task?”
At this, Gellion leapt to his feet. Breathing heavily through his nose, he shouted.
“Of course not! I, Gellion, will stake my life on crafting your sword!”
“There’s no need to go as far as staking your life. That’s… a bit much.”
As always, this single-minded blacksmith didn’t understand the concept of moderation. Once he confirmed what he needed to do, Gellion excitedly examined Bahamut’s fang that Zeke had brought.
“Ha… this color, this texture.”
Running his palm over the fang, Gellion exhaled roughly, overcome with awe. Watching him, Zeke shook his head.
‘In my past life, he at least had a bit of a dignified, master craftsman aura. Well, as long as the sword turns out well, it doesn’t matter.’
Zeke slowly rose from his seat.
“Then I’ll leave it to you. Make me a sword that suits me perfectly.”
At that moment, Gellion stood and approached Zeke.
“My lord, may I make one small request?”
Zeke tilted his head at the sudden seriousness in Gellion’s voice and nodded.
“What is it?”
“May I look into your eyes for a moment?”
At those words, Zeke’s eyebrow twitched.
It was because Gellion’s words from his previous life came to mind.
‘Gellion, do you really read a person’s soul and craft a sword to match it?’
‘I’m not sure about reading souls, but when making a truly important sword, I always look into the user’s eyes.’
‘Eyes? Does that hold any special meaning?’
‘It’s hard to explain with words, but when I gaze into someone’s eyes, I feel… something. Perhaps it’s their emotions or their will? It’s difficult to describe exactly.’
The young blacksmith before him had the same intense gaze as the master craftsman he would become in the future—or perhaps an even more fervent one—as he looked at Zeke.
Zeke nodded.
“If that’s what you want, then go ahead.”
Gellion carefully gazed into Zeke’s eyes. He remained like that for quite some time before gently closing his own eyes. After standing still in silence for what felt like an eternity, he slowly opened them again.
“Thank you for granting my impertinent request, my lord.”
Without hesitation, he placed Bahamut’s fang into the magical furnace. Then, without saying another word, he focused on the fang and the flames within.
Watching Gellion, Zeke quietly left the forge to avoid disturbing him.
‘It seems my worries were unfounded.’
Anticipating the kind of sword that would be crafted, Zeke headed back to the academy.
* * *
When Zeke returned to the academy and reached the Platinum Floor, someone was sitting in the lounge.
“Elder?”
To his surprise, Duke Draker was sprawled out on a sofa, pouring high-quality liquor into his mouth. His face was flushed with drunkenness as he shouted at Zeke.
“You brat! Where have you been, showing up only now!”
“What brings you here? No, more importantly, how did you even get into the Platinum Floor, where outsiders are strictly prohibited?”
At this, the Duke burst into boisterous laughter, throwing his head back.
“Puhaha! You little punk! Do you even know who you’re talking to? There isn’t a single place built by the Drakers where I can’t go!”
Knowing his identity, Zeke understood what Duke meant but pretended not to and responded nonchalantly.
“You seem quite drunk. Why don’t you head back and rest?”
At this, Duke suddenly sprang to his feet and shouted at Zeke.
“You brat! I left you a message—why didn’t you come back?”
“I haven’t felt the urge to try again yet.”
“You arrogant punk! Just the number of people lining up to beg me to teach them could circle the central training grounds, you little brat!”
“Then why don’t you take those people and teach them instead of pestering someone who isn’t interested?”
At Zeke’s words, Duke ground his teeth inwardly.
He abruptly stood up and spoke to Zeke.
“Fine. Let me formally introduce myself.”
Whoooosh!
At that moment, the drunken haze surrounding Duke’s body dissipated like mist. The redness in his flushed face vanished instantly, returning to normal.
Looking down at Zeke with a serious expression, he said,
“My name is Duke Draker. I was once the Black Knight of the Drakers.”