Chapter 10
“What…? Huh?”
The visual I had expected was, naturally, a general store in a fantasy world.
But the scene spread out before me…
“No, seriously, what are you doing bringing out a PX…?”
Cup noodles, snacks, frozen foods, drinks… and all kinds of daily necessities.
It was nothing short of a Korean supermarket.
It was unsettling. It seemed to have been stocked according to my background.
…
I started wondering how the Demon King's Army had obtained all this, then shook my head.
I stepped past the display and began looking around inside the Golden Carriage in earnest.
“How much does everything cost…?”
I reached toward a cup of noodles.
Ding.
A small holographic price tag appeared in the air.
[Spicy Bowl Cup Noodles - 1G]
One cup of noodles cost 1 gold.
The prices weren't bad.
The people in the 300s, who seemed to make up the largest population, probably earned over 300 gold a month, so they could get by without much trouble.
‘So those guys really were just bored.’
[Soju - 23G]
There was alcohol among the items, but this was quite expensive.
It seemed to be classified as a luxury good.
Perhaps, despite being an army, they took the loss of combat power among the soldiers into consideration.
As I looked over more items, I saw a familiar-looking machine at the end of the display.
It was a kiosk.
‘Is this where I pay…?’
As I approached, my current information appeared on the screen.
[Gold on hand: 30025 G]
Looking at the bottom of the kiosk, I saw one more tab.
[Soldier-Customized PX]
[Switch to Military Supplies Mode]
It was currently set to Soldier-Customized PX.
I pressed [Switch to Military Supplies Mode].
Vrrr-
“Oh.”
The PX items disappeared, and new display shelves rose up in their place.
“Yeah. This is it…”
The air changed.
The Golden Carriage had become the typical fantasy-style shop I had expected.
The medieval melee weapons hanging in the center immediately caught my eye.
Various types of armor and shoes were placed beside them, while shelves were piled with parchments.
It seemed that there were two types of shops I could use.
“Good.”
What should I buy here?
I turned on the hologram and brought up the gallery.
Perhaps because it was the day the Golden Carriage arrived, the board was buzzing with related gossip in addition to the posts about me.
____
Title: Breaking News) My Oshi Figure Just Showed Up in the PX.
Author: ㅇㅇ(411F)
{An unidentifiable purple something}
This is fucking ridiculous lol
Who the fuck is the Demon King's Army PX clerk? How did they know and get this?
At this point I have no choice but to buy it…
I need to save money for gear, though, fuck fuck fuck
[Comments]
ㅇㅇ(341F) : How much do you need to save?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(411F)(Author) : I need to save about 20,000 more gold right now…
ㅇㅇ(618F) : With your salary, you'll have to save steadily for about five years. Hang in there.
ㅇㅇ(374F) : Do promotion matches and make up the difference. Go.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(411F)(Author) : Nope, I'm never doing promotion matches. You do it.
______
The photo had shocked me.
“That thing… is an oshi figure…? What kind of setting, what kind of monster is it supposed to be…?”
And if they weren't even going to do promotion matches, why did they want to save up money to buy gear?
It was a post I found difficult to understand in many ways.
In any case, my assumption that the Golden Carriage provided items from the worlds everyone had lived in before being possessed was correct.
I explored some other posts.
The one with the most views was a comprehensive information post.
[Title: This Month's Golden Carriage Military Supplies Ratings and Recommended Items]
‘Oh. Is that him?’
It was the registered user who supposedly only appeared on payday—the item expert.
______
Title: This Month's Golden Carriage Military Supplies Ratings and Recommended Items
Author: SSS-Rank Gearhead
Rating : 8.3
Overall:
Decent overall. The armor isn't bad, and the accessories are party-tier. The best item this time is a unique accessory that looks good for mages who lack mobility.
Maybe because they stocked it at the beginning of the year, but this feels like a generous haul for once?
But the beast-type gear and consumables are completely wiped out, so it couldn't reach the 9-point range.
Detailed review:
1. [Ishtar's Key Sword (Epic)] This thing came out sometime in June 53 years ago, but even though its stats are low, its active effect is completely broken …………
……
…
…
.
[Comments]
Knowing the Leisure of a Cup of Tea : Thank you as always.^^
ㅇㅇ(631F) : Wow, how do you even remember what month 53 years ago it came out? I can really feel the gap. Item otaku ㄷㄷ
ㅇㅇ(648F) : Six epic armors might be an all-time record?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(712F) : Noooooo, why is the best item an accessory? I already have all my accessories covered, fuck…
ㅇㅇ(354F) : I want to splurge on the Key Sword. Looking for someone who bought it @@@
______
I was amazed.
What incredible-quality information.
This registered user explained the stat efficiency and cost-effectiveness of every single item.
It impressed me even more because I had never received proper information before.
Nobody knew anything about the hero, and there was no information whatsoever on monsters below Floor 100.
I wrote a comment.
ㅇㅇ(25F) : Wow. But how do you know every item? The detailed information isn't displayed.
When I refreshed, a reply appeared immediately.
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : Oh, it's the newbie. I've read all your posts. You're seriously fucking amazing, and getting a circle in one hour was truly legendary bb
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(25F) : Thank you…
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : Oh! To answer your question, I managed an armory for a long time before I was possessed, so I know the items from various dimensions.
“What kind of armory had items from multiple dimensions…?”
This registered user seemed to have a background that made me feel utterly outclassed.
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : What should I tell you about? No, I'll just tell you everything from the beginning.
“Oh.”
And he was friendly toward me. Unlike certain other people, his tone was nice, too.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(731F) : Why is this guy being so nice to this person? He ignored me when I asked ㅛㅛ
When someone picked a fight, a lengthy answer came back.
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : Why should I answer you guys?
The temperature had changed in an instant.
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : And of course I can be nice to the newbie. You guys don't do promotion matches. It takes years to see how recommended items perform, so why would I think well of you? It pisses me off whenever I see people buy gear and raise it like orchids.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(351F) : Ugh… Egen discrimination…
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(432F) : My life! Is only one! What do you expect me to do!
So that was the background.
The gallery member who had posted about the figure earlier had also said they were going to buy gear despite not doing promotion matches.
Only now did I understand why.
The result of combining a spineless-man mentality with a collector's urge, I suppose.
That registered user seemed to have grown sick of the gallery's situation.
But only people with cautious tendencies had survived this long, so it couldn't be helped.
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : On the other hand, after reading your posts, newbie, it looks like you climbed to Floor 25 in almost a day.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(731F) : Did you actually read the post properly? The conclusion was that everything below Floor 100 is a pushover.
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : Either way, you're still fighting the whole time, you idiot.
Then he singled me out.
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : I'll write a customized analysis for you, newbie. Would you take a look?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(25F) : Of course. Thank you so much…
I waited for the registered user's post.
In the meantime, I decided to go shopping at the Soldier-Customized PX.
Whatever the case, I needed to buy the necessities to survive for the time being.
I bought a generous month's supply of food and water.
I bought various other daily necessities as well.
‘This suddenly feels like a different genre…’
I kept picking up items as if I were scavenging in an apocalypse setting, when…
My feet came to a sudden stop in front of certain items.
The moment I saw them, I fell into thought.
‘Should I buy these…?’
Feminine hygiene products.
I hesitated for a moment, but there was no way to know whether this Reaper's body did ‘that.’
“Ugh…”
In the end, I squeezed my eyes shut and picked up the one that looked the most ordinary.
[Total: 68G]
[Would you like to purchase?]
[Y/N]
[Y]
After completing the purchase, I poured water into a pot, turned on the portable gas stove I had bought, and boiled the water.
Five minutes later.
“Slurp!”
Hot, salty noodles slid down my esophagus.
…!
It was heavenly.
“Huh…? Why is this so delicious?”
The ramen was far more delicious than I had imagined.
I hadn't even been in the tower that long, yet how could it taste this good?
It was so delicious it clung to my mouth, as if I were eating ramen for the first time…
“Ah. I guess it really is my first time eating it.”
This Reaper's tongue had just awakened to MSG.
I drank the broth down to the last drop and pressed refresh on the hologram panel.
The post I had been waiting for had gone up.
______
Title: [For the Newbie] 30,000 Gold Custom Gear Setup (Long)
Author: SSS-Rank Gearhead
Newbie's budget: 30,025 G
Looking at your current situation, you need to invest in Intelligence and Magic Power because of black magic, but your weapon is a scythe, so you also need melee combat before learning the instant-death ability. You're in one hell of a messy mishmash situation, huh?
So I put together a gear setup perfectly suited to all of that…
I focused on the late game, but made the shopping list out of items that would also help in the early game and wouldn't be burdensome to replace later.
1. [Magitech Azure Earrings (Epic)] - 21,850 G
Every time you kill something, your Magic Power rises slightly and permanently depending on the target.
A stackable item!
Since you're currently on the lowest floors, it'll be the most efficient for you, right?
2. [Ring of Arcane Might (Rare)] - 6120 G
A buff ring that grants bonus Strength equal to 10% of your Magic Power.
It's normally a useless item, but in your current situation, newbie, it's a godsend!
With this, even if you go all-in on Intelligence and Magic Power, it'll cover the Strength you need on the lower floors.
3. [Obsidian Insight Ring (Common)] - 810 G
4. [Adventurer's Ring (Common)] - 720 G
These rings are for raising your base stats. I handpicked cost-effective ones. The Adventurer's Ring is a staple item. Fortunately, you invested in all the basic stats, so you can equip it!
And three Fatigue Recovery Potions - 360G
There are three in stock. Buy them all.
Grand total: 29,860 G!
You can use the remaining gold to buy food and daily necessities!
It's a shame no potions came out this time besides the Fatigue Recovery Potions. There aren't any useful scrolls, either.
And as an additional note, the best item in this month's Golden Carriage was a unique item called the Pitch-Black Knot Sash.
It increases dark-aspect magic affinity by 20%, raises flat Magic Power by 90, and comes with a short-range teleport on a 30-second cooldown, but…
Since it's a unique item, it's very expensive. 120,000 gold.
[Comments]
ㅇㅇ(352F) : With 30,000 gold, they get to start out decked in epics and rares. I'm fucking jealous…
ㅇㅇ(631F) : That means they'll earn even more from here on…
ㅇㅇ(271F) : Bro, can you set me up too ㅠㅠ
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : I told you I don't make setups for people who don't do promotion matches. Don't suck up to me. You're disgusting.
I was impressed.
It was a combination of growth-oriented items and items needed in the early game.
The setup had seen straight through my intended direction.
And it was amazing how precisely he had used up my money.
“I didn't expect it to leave me this little…”
The gear setup left 165 gold from my budget.
He had clearly arrived at this result after considering all sorts of things.
After subtracting what I had spent at the PX, I had 97 gold left.
“Good thing I bought moderately. I almost ran out of money.”
But.
“Hmm…”
Even though it was a perfect gear setup that spent all my money, I still felt a sense of regret.
It was because of the thing he had explained at the end—the Pitch-Black Knot Sash.
It looked far too appealing.
“The best item this month? Maybe I'll just take a look…”
I checked it directly in the Golden Carriage.
“You really live in a penthouse, don't you?”
A black knot was folded neatly inside a glass case at the very top.
It was displayed as if it were saying, ‘I'm the most expensive thing here.’
I also checked Gearhead's review post.
7. [Pitch-Black Knot Sash (Unique)] - 120,000 G.
The best item this month.
Base-stat Magic Power 90 and 20% dark-aspect affinity.
It's been a long time since I've seen an accessory with this much flat Magic Power.
And its active skill is practically essential if you don't have a mobility skill.
I think its name was Black Shift or something… If I remember correctly, it was a short-range teleport with a 30-second cooldown.
‘…No matter how I look at it, it's broken.’
The gamer's DNA was speaking.
A short-range teleport had a value that couldn't be converted into money for a footslogging melee mage.
I had planned to take a look and give up cleanly, but…
I simply couldn't turn away and leave that item behind.
I placed my hand on the holographic keyboard.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(25F) : Thank you so much for the consultation!!!
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : I'm glad you like it. Hurry up and pay for it, then try it on. You'll definitely feel the difference.
I asked a little cautiously.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(25F) : But I really want the Pitch-Black Knot Sash you mentioned. If I go up and come back down, will the Golden Carriage be gone?
Register.
At that moment, silence fell over the gallery.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(351F) : ???? What kind of strat is this now?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(418F) : They're short on money… so they're going to go hunting and earn it lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(361F) : …They're going to ‘earn’ money?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(741F) : That's seriously the first time I've heard of that idea. We get paid even if we just sit around lol
Then a comment from Floor 574 appeared.
ㄴㅇㅇ(574F) : The Demon King's Tower is one-way, so you can't go back down.
ㄴㅇㅇ(574F) : But you can still use the Golden Carriage. A long time ago, someone won a promotion match on the day the Golden Carriage came, and they said the carriage followed them up.
‘So it works.’
My fist clenched.
Then the registered user who had consulted me reacted intensely.
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : ????????????
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : Approved mindset lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : This is insane lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I always see people buy gear and put it on display, but this is seriously the first time I've seen someone decide on the spot to do a promotion match because they want to buy an item lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(218F) : This is practically being in heat…
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(351F) : Anyone who knows this registered user's usual personality: ㄱㅡ
It felt as though an excited breath was blowing through the hologram.
ㄴ SSS-Rank Gearhead(Author) : Do it! Absolutely do it!! That Knot Sash is genuinely a fucking broken item for you, newbie!!
Fenrir: This is a bit much. You're really going through with it? To save up more money?
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(710F) : No, man, encouraging them to do a promotion match is too much. They haven't even learned shield magic yet.
ㄴ ㅇㅇ(351F) : Exactly. I thought he might recommend some defensive gear, so now I'm a little suspicious…
SSS-Rank Gearhead seemed to be the type who didn't think much about the risks of promotion matches.
Perhaps because he was obsessed with item reviews.
With the registered user's passionate encouragement behind me, I stood up.
The timer floating above the Golden Carriage read two hours and thirty minutes.
It seemed like I had enough time.
It had taken less than an hour to climb sixteen floors.
Besides, I had Fatigue Recovery Potions now, so I wouldn't end up sprawled on the floor.
“How many floors do I need to climb to reach 120,000 gold…?”
I did the calculations after thinking for a moment.
But.
“No, no… let's increase our efficiency.”
A better method occurred to me.