Chapter 6
I touched "Yes."
Immediately, as the name "Market" suggested, a list of recommended items popped up.
Hunter Awakening (20,000C)
1 Billion Won in Cash (5,000C)
Guaranteed Pass (3,000C)
Strength Enhancement Level 1 (300C)
Ideal Body Level 1 (300C)
Beautiful Face Level 1 (300C)
Clear and Transparent Skin Level 1 (200C)
Height Increase 1cm (200C)
Weight Loss 1kg (100C)
Fatigue Relief (50C)
…….
1 billion won in cash, and even a Hunter Awakening.
“……?”
The items were so surreal that I was left dumbfounded.
I didn't know who made this, but I could feel the intense desires of modern people seeping from every single item.
It even included a Hunter Awakening in the list.
‘What is all this? A new capitalist-style Hunter Awakening?’
According to information floating around the internet, a standard Hunter Awakening begins with a friendly congratulatory message announcing the awakening.
Even if it’s based on luck, it’s obviously free.
‘Why does this one cost money?’
Furthermore, even though this was a world where Hunters practically performed magic, I had never heard of anything called a Coin Market.
Searching…….
I hadn't entered anything specific, but the Coin Market’s system window had automatically searched for something.
<If only my legs were fine> search complete.
“……!”
Suddenly, my heart dropped and began to race uncontrollably.
The list disappeared, and a new item appeared.
Panacea (50,000C)
Description: Can perfectly restore all physical illnesses and disabilities to a normal state. However, it cannot be applied to a body whose heart has already stopped.
Desire flared up inside me like fire.
‘It can fix every disability?’
Even the various healing skills of healing-type Hunters generally stopped at the level of making wounds heal faster.
I placed my hand over the item as if possessed.
‘If this is real…….’
My fingertips trembled.
Would you like to purchase ‘Panacea (50,000C)’? The amount of coins displayed will be deducted.
Yes
And.
Purchase failed!
Insufficient coins.
Purchase failed!
Insufficient coins.
Purchase failed!
Insufficient coins.
I felt like I was going to explode at the obvious result.
“You son of a…….”
I bit my lip, and every curse word I could think of swirled inside my tightly shut mouth.
* * *
According to the notification message that popped up earlier, that mysterious Coin Market had opened because of the coins I possessed.
And I had received those coins exactly when I chased Ggol-Ggap away.
[Calling Constellation <Bwaek-Gwaem-Gwaet>.]
[…….]
There was no response no matter how much I called.
As soon as I arrived home and logged into the game, I called Ggol-Ggap, but as expected, the brat remained silent.
I had already anticipated that the brat would be sulking, but I was on edge.
After a few attempts, I gave up on calling and started sending voice messages to Ggol-Ggap through the Constellation chat window.
“Come out. I have something to say.”
“Are you not fighting today? If you don’t come quickly, I’m calling someone else.”
“Hey Ggol-Ggap. Park Ggol-Ggap!”
“What is the identity of that Coin Market? It was your doing, right? Come out and explain. What are these coins, and how do I get them?”
“Is that even for real?”
Still no response.
I had heard that some Constellations often displayed an "Away" status, but the Ggol-Ggap I knew was never that kind of guy.
This brat was so obsessed with fighting that there was no such thing as "Away"; if I called, he would come running like the wind.
So, this was definitely intentional.
It was certain that he was doing this on purpose to get back at me, wanting to see me squirm.
*Grind.*
“Damn it! If a person calls you this much, just come out nicely! Park Ggol-Ggap, are you going to come out right now?! If you don’t come out…….”
How should I threaten him?
I had already used the line about calling another Constellation, and it hadn't worked.
An idea flashed through my mind.
“I’m quitting the game.”
However, Ggol-Ggap still didn't pop out and remained unmoved.
But after saying that, my tension suddenly dissipated, and the thoughts I’d been having lately spilled out.
“Ha, yeah. Why keep playing a game that doesn't even make money even if you reach the rankings? I might as well sell the account for a high price and use that money to buy some meat.”
To be good at this game, the luck of pulling a good Constellation in the gacha is important, but obviously, the player’s real skill is the most important.
That’s why people say there’s no point in buying someone else’s GOF account.
And they say that if the player changes, the Diamond-grade Constellations cut off contact.
However, since this game was notoriously difficult with these temperamental Constellation brats, countless players were desperate to buy good accounts even while knowing that fact.
My account held the title of 12th in the GOF world rankings, and the list of Constellations I had added as friends was impressive, so it would definitely sell very well.
I heard that Hunters just starting the game, in particular, were looking for such accounts for a high price…….
‘Oh?’
As my thoughts reached that point, I became intrigued by my own words.
It was a good idea.
‘Not bad, huh?’
If I made an account, raised it, and sold it to Hunters, it seemed like I could make some decent money.
Even though the Panacea I saw in the Coin Market weighed heavily on my mind, was it even logical that I could fix my legs by paying with something called coins that I didn't even know what they were?
‘I must have seen things, or it’s a fake.’
Just as I was thinking that, the blue star, Ggol-Ggap, finally appeared.
*Pop!*
【You damn human! I told you not to call me like that! How dare you, to this noble body!】
The way he started throwing a tantrum the moment he appeared was both pathetic and endearing.
“You’re here.”
【You don’t even know what kind of opportunity you’ve grasped, and what? Quit? Are you crazy? Ha. Yeah, a normal human wouldn't be able to have that kind of skill. Damn it. I was going to stay away for at least three days, but this body’s dignity…….】
Not that he had any of that to begin with.
I habitually tried to mock him, but remembering my main point, I shut my mouth, which was about to twist into a smirk.
That I was a freak and that I had freak-like skills was a fact I was well aware of, but the comment about not recognizing a good opportunity bothered me slightly.
‘Is he talking about the Coin Market?’
Right.
Asking this guy about the Coin Market was the priority.
“The Coin Market, what is that?”
【What do you mean what is it? A Coin Market is a Coin Market.】
“Don’t play word games. It’s because of the coins you gave me that the market opened, right? What are these coins? A hidden system of GOF?”
Of course, I knew that a game system couldn't possibly pop out into reality.
It wasn't like I had awakened as a Hunter.
【You’re always like that. How many times do I have to tell you that I am not some mere game system?】
Shut up.
I swallowed the words I wanted to say and listened to what followed.
【It was just translated into the appropriate word "coin," but those are the currency of gods that humans wouldn't dare to even glimpse. And the Coin Market is where Constellations nurture humans……. Never mind that. What wish did you make?】
“A wish?”
【Coins read your desires, and the market grants what you want. The market opened because you spoke of what you wanted.】
So that’s how it was.
I hadn't made a formal wish, but I had muttered to myself because of what happened at the convenience store.
“I asked to have my legs fixed.”
【What?】
“My legs are crippled. They were fine before, but I got a permanent injury from an accident when I was a college student.”
【…….】
Ggol-Ggap stared at me intently.
Suddenly, he slowly circled around me and muttered.
【So that’s why it turned out like that. To have such a problem in your physical body in reality, that is certainly serious.】
“What?”
I was about to unleash a barrage of curses with my eyes blazing at his words touching a sore spot.
But I hesitated at what followed.
【Fixing legs is nothing.】
My breath hitched for a moment.
Too many thoughts and questions were jumbled up in my head, and I couldn't say a word.
After a brief pause, I asked, almost squeezing the words out.
“……Is that, for real?”
【Yes. It’s not just your legs that can be fixed. You can achieve anything you want through the Coin Market. If you pay the coins properly, you really can achieve almost anything.】
My face and body leaned forward as if pulled by something.
What I wanted.
The moment I heard those words, along with desperate emotions, what came to mind was my legs, perfectly restored to how they were before the accident.
Then, money, a house, and weight loss reflexively came to mind as well.
“How do I get coins?”
【A tournament will be held soon. I’ve mentioned it before, but the true reality of this game is a gambling den for Constellations, fought over by humans chosen by them. The coins I gave you are placed as stakes every time a match is played.】
“…….”
Wow, as expected of a high-performance AI, he writes fiction quite well.
My voice from a day in the past, when I had mocked and teased Ggol-Ggap for saying the exact same thing, echoed in my head.
But this time, I couldn't mock him at all.
Because I had seen it with my own eyes.
The Coin Market that appeared with a message window in reality, and the item called Panacea that appeared in that market.
A temptation like a devil’s whisper seeped sweetly into my heart.
【Participate in the tournament with me. And win the game. Then you can have everything you want in reality.】
I let out a sigh that sounded like a gasp without realizing it.
“……Ha.”
It all fit together perfectly.
The reason Ggol-Ggap stuck by my side despite his foul temper, and his incomprehensible obsession with holding onto me with coins.
The insane reality that the tournament was actually a gambling den where I could win coins as stakes, and that I could buy items I wanted if I paid those coins.
But for some reason, I hesitated.
It was because the rewards I could obtain through the Coin Market felt too overpowered and suspicious.
But I wanted those rewards desperately, truly desperately.
“…….”
The hesitation didn't last long.
For now, let’s just try to gather those so-called coins.
Participating in the gambling den—no, the tournament—that was scheduled to open soon in God of Fighters, and winning that tournament.
Even if it weren't for the coins, it was a challenge well worth taking on.
0 Comments