Chapter 63: Zero-Grade Merchant – Gold Ring (3)
It was an obvious provocation.
It seemed like he wanted to trap me in a trial to kill me or, perhaps, just humiliate me to dampen my spirit.
‘Judging by the lack of murderous intent in his gaze, it’s probably the latter….’
I found it offensive.
But there was no turning back now.
Gold Ring let out a hearty laugh, loud enough to echo through the territory, and pulled out an item from his subspace, encased in a transparent box.
It was a scale.
It was small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, but contrary to its size, it emanated a tremendous power.
“Here! Try clearing it! No one has ever passed this trial! Not even those so-called Primordial Gods who walk around with their shoulders puffed out could overcome this trial—they knelt and surrendered!
I figured the Lord was an arrogant one, but arrogance is a poison too potent for a leader.
Unless, of course, the Lord is something like that monster Lucifer, who bore the sin of Arrogance!
Even Lucifer was ultimately consumed and killed by his own arrogance!
So fail once and learn something from the despair!”
What was this? Did he mean this as a lesson rather than with malicious intent?
But learning from failure?
I couldn’t help but smirk at his words.
It was absurd.
He said that without knowing a single thing about me.
And so arrogantly.
How dare a subordinate try to test their sovereign?
“This is a life that has already started after learning from failure once.”
Failure is a worthless concept that only makes one miserable and weak.
In this life, there’s no room for failure.
Only victory and conquest should lie ahead of me.
Yes, I must be arrogant.
I must stand undefeated, with everything beneath my feet.
A faint chuckle echoed somewhere, but I ignored it.
More important was the scale I was now holding.
〚Item: Scales Containing Half an Origin [Origin-EX+] is preparing a trial for you!〛
A sacred and mysterious energy flowed from the small yet immense scale, wrapping itself around me.
“Fine, go ahead and experience it. I’ll prepare better items for the Lord in the meantime.”
Gold Ring waved his hand, and the trial began to envelop me…!
………?
Huh?
Where was the trial?
I tilted my head in confusion and tapped the scale in my hand, wondering if it was defective.
“What the…?”
Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who didn’t understand.
Gold Ring, too, looked puzzled, glancing between the scale and me.
At that moment, the scale began to emit a radiant, divine light and merged into my body.
“W-What the hell!!!”
How many times had Gold Ring gasped, yelled, and panicked in just a short moment?
Watching his over-the-top reaction, I clicked my tongue and started analyzing the situation.
And the answer to this mystery soon appeared before my eyes.
〚Item: Scales Containing Half an Origin [Origin-EX+] has found its other half within you!〛
“Huh? There’s another half inside me?”
Did I have something like that?
〚Unique Ability: Equivalent Exchange [Origin] has merged with its counterpart, the Scales!〛
Equivalent Exchange! You were the other half all along!
A grin stretched across my face, reaching the sky.
What kind of luck was this?
It felt too good to be mere luck.
Destiny, perhaps?
“Was this the work of Heavenly Fortune?”
There was no system message, so probably not.
Maybe that sleepy power was just ignoring me again.
Or maybe it didn’t matter.
For someone as unlucky as me to stumble upon such a miraculous coincidence for free was unbelievable.
The latter explanation seemed more plausible.
Either way, the excitement of acquiring a new power filled me.
How would this evolve?
〚Unique Ability: Equivalent Exchange has fused with the item Scales Containing Half an Origin!〛
〚Authority: Equivalent Exchange [Origin] LV 3 has been created!〛
Another Authority was engraved within me.
It felt as though Equivalent Exchange, finally finding its true self, had broken free of constraints to reveal its full form.
The entity roared, surging past the other consciousnesses to ascend to the highest point where the Golden Tower resided.
The Golden Tower, so proud and lofty, looked upon Equivalent Exchange as an equal and did not react otherwise.
Now I understood why Equivalent Exchange, despite being a Unique Ability, had its own will.
Equivalent Exchange was originally an Authority.
Its rank and power had been halved, binding it to the constraints of a Unique Ability.
“I’m very satisfied.”
Even though its level had risen just recently, it had ascended once more.
I swallowed nervously and opened my Status Window to check my Authorities.
〚Authorities〛
〚Golden Tower LV 2〛
〚Heavenly Fortune LV 1〛
〚Midday Sun LV 2〛
〚Equivalent Exchange LV 3〛
〚Authority: Equivalent Exchange LV 3〛
Rank: Origin
Grade: Origin
Description: One of the oldest laws predating the beginning of time itself.
Its existence embodies the concept of Origin, and its potential is limitless.
-Summons the Scales of Equivalent Exchange to trade desires and compensation on equal terms. (Cooldown: 6 hours)
-The range of exchange expands to include stats, ability levels, and skill creation. (Applies to both the user and one other person—simultaneously two individuals.)
-In specific conditions, permanent exchanges can be achieved through Equivalent Exchange.
-In general conditions, remnants of exchanges linger after the trade duration ends, with small permanent effects.
-Level 5 Unlock〛
The most notable change was clear: the scope of exchange now included not only stats but also raising ability levels and even creating skills!
Moreover, it could now be applied not only to myself but also to others.
‘So for others, I can lower stats, reduce ability levels, or even erase skills?’
It was a satisfying development. Truly deserving of being called a power evolved from an Origin-grade ability.
‘The permanent application ratio has also increased slightly, the special conditions have been somewhat relaxed, and the cooldown has been reduced.’
It was worth consuming an Origin-grade item.
And this was not the end. As it grew, its capabilities would continue to expand, making it immensely valuable in the long term.
When I closed my Status Window with a smile, Gold Ring was rubbing his eyes repeatedly, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“What a pity. I really wanted to experience that trial. But it seems the other half of the Origin was within me all along.”
“You had an Origin-grade ability? A mere mortal? I mean, I already knew you were absurdly exceptional compared to other mortals, but… how?”
“How should I know? How can I explain having such an innate talent that it resulted in a Unique Ability?”
Gold Ring sighed in disbelief, amazed as though witnessing a miracle, yet simultaneously lamenting that he had lost his most valuable item.
Despite that, he also seemed glad that the item had finally found its rightful owner.
His behavior screamed mood swings, so I chose to ignore him and smirked.
Thanks to the Brilliant Nectar, the potential blooming within my Origin had connected to this Authority.
‘Even if I try to chalk this up to destiny, it’s hard to believe. Heavenly Fortune, this was your doing, wasn’t it?’
As always, there was no response from it.
Still, I was certain.
Heavenly Fortune had intervened.
And in return, it had been dormant for far longer than it should have been.
‘It fell asleep before Misfortune did. By now, it should have already awakened.’
This meant that for the upcoming assault by Misfortune, I would have to break through without relying on Heavenly Fortune.
It would be grueling, but I didn’t think it would be impossible.
Misfortune always brought trials beyond my capabilities or caused excruciating predicaments.
It would probably do the same this time.
However, I was used to it by now.
Life itself had always been a spectacle of extreme challenges, so being surprised every time was exhausting.
I would simply prepare more thoroughly, judge more carefully, and overcome with greater determination.
And so, it was time to purchase an excellent item from my cheeky subordinate to assist my survival.
“I have 10,001 coins left. What should I buy with them?”
Gold Ring, seemingly fed up with my happy deliberation, handed over the list and resigned himself to being Golden One’s plaything.
After much deliberation, I finally chose an item.
“Gold Ring, I’ll buy this.”
Grumbling about how I was stripping him to his roots, he handed over the item after accepting the coins.
***
Swoosh—
Deep underground in Teraium City, there lay a waterway as vast as the city itself.
A long time ago, when the Primordial City was absorbed into the Abyss, the first settlers had commissioned great mages and master-grade magical engineers to construct this crucial facility.
The waterway was divided into two sections.
One section pumped groundwater, amplified and purified it for drinking, and distributed a fixed amount to every household.
The other section processed and eliminated waste from the village.
However, at some point, the grand facility became completely sealed under the orders of the Captain of the Guard, turning into a forbidden labyrinth.
Some whispered that the Captain of the Guard had gone mad.
Why else would he shut down such a vital facility for the village?
What would happen if an issue arose with the waterway? How would he take responsibility?
Others firmly believed that the Captain of the Guard had encountered an uncontrollable monster in the waterway.
Otherwise, someone so dedicated to the village wouldn’t have sealed the waterway without reason.
Both assumptions and the truth were correct.
The Captain of the Guard could never forget the rainy evening when he descended into the waterway to check for issues.
The mere thought of that moment sent chills down his spine, filled him with terror, and paralyzed his reason.
Those who whispered he was mad?
Yes, he had gone mad.
Who could witness such a thing and remain sane?
It was something that existed and didn’t exist simultaneously.
A ghost? No, it was far beyond that.
It was pure malice.
A soul that had consumed all negativity in the world.
His clenched fist trembled.
On a night when deep darkness descended upon the village, the Captain of the Guard let out a sigh.
“Can he do it?”
Since witnessing that being, he had secretly requested countless players to exterminate it.
Players known for their overwhelming strength, gathered through almost desperate means.
Yet the results were abysmal.
Not a single player had returned alive from the waterway.
“A…! Because of me!”
Guilt gnawed at him, but a greater fear consumed him.
What if that malice came for him again?
For a time, he couldn’t even sleep, haunted by its image whenever he closed his eyes.
And so, he set criteria.
Strength alone wouldn’t suffice anymore.
‘Malice can only be countered by goodness.’
Only those acknowledged as virtuous and kind by the villagers could challenge this monster.
Only players deemed good-hearted and selfless by the villagers could accept this quest.
But the world was far from kind.
None met the criteria.
Instead, players greedily sought rewards or hidden quests, driven solely by selfishness and greed.
Just as he was about to give up and disclose the truth to the villagers to recruit stronger, more capable players, he appeared.
A man who completed the villagers’ quests while carrying his daughter with him.
Shin Juha.
To Braimoon, he was the final hope and the savior who could rescue this village.
—
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