217 – The returner is too strong (4) (Edited)
“What should I do?”
It is too late to try to stop it now. You can’t stop those people unless you attack them in the back.
“First of all… “Let’s go to the exchange.”
“I guess so… “
In any case, they were running towards the possibility, and we were holding a guaranteed reward in our hands.
Of course, it wasn’t enough to take my time, so I walked a little faster and returned to the village. The sun had already set and night had fallen, but the lights in the exchange building were still brightly lit. Since the game is fundamental, these convenience facilities seem to be operated rationally.
“Welcome!”
“Here.”
“Is this a submission? Please wait for a moment!”
An exchange employee receiving the ‘essence of the mountain’ with a bright smile. When she put her glass bottle into the strange-looking machine, it disappeared along with her sparkling effect.
“Please wait a moment!”
“Yes… “
The sound of a snare ringing in my ears. I wasn’t impressed because it was a situation I had experienced the last time I returned, but Choi Ji-won was shaking next to me.
Anyway, after waiting for about 10 seconds, the exchange employee took out a rolled up paper roll. Last time I submitted a tree branch, there was a big letter F written on it.
“Oh… ?”
But this time, even the color of the paper was different. The colors of the paper are rainbow-colored. If you consider that gold is usually just below the highest rank in gacha games, and rainbow is the highest rank…
“Rarity is SS grade! Congratulations!”
As the female employee spoke and smiled brightly, the sound of pancakes and firecrackers exploded around her. The word [Congratulations!] Appeared in front of her eyes.
“Wow.”
Choi Ji-won opens his mouth and says, “Heh,” In pure admiration.
It’s SS grade. Although it doesn’t reach the SSS level that people were talking about before, it doesn’t change the fact that they picked almost the best card. At this level, it is safe to say that you have successfully beaten the 22nd floor in a short period of time. I’m glad I cleared it faster than expected.
“But!”
“… But?”
What I thought did not last even 5 seconds.
“Since there are two submissions… The rarity has dropped to S+ rank! “SS grade is one-and-only, it’s the standard for one!”
“Yes? What does that mean all of a sudden?”
“So, it’s the law of supply and demand! All submissions are sent to the auction house and sold, and even if it is the only item, if there are two of them, the value is bound to drop. SS grade is a rarity assigned in an undiscovered and unknown state.”
“… “
If you think about it, excluding the game error that rarity is assigned to items that have not yet been discovered, this is not wrong. It’s not wrong… I feel bad that my grade was lowered just because I submitted two. Still, if it’s S+ grade, you can just skip it.
“Wait a minute.”
No, it may not be something to just ignore.
“That… “Employee?”
“Speak comfortably. “What’s going on?”
“What if…” Really what if… What happens if about 20 more ‘essences of the mountains’ are submitted? ? “What we paid is just before it goes up for auction.”
Submission and confirmation of compensation do not occur immediately.
‘You can find various things outside the village! You might find animal skins, useful herbs, someone’s lost bag, or, if you’re really lucky, a legendary mineral! If you bring it back to the village and submit it to the ‘Exchange’, its value will be determined through an auction after 12 hours.’
According to what the village chief said, and from what I experienced myself… The graded auction will be held 12 hours after submission. Only after 12 hours have passed, a portal to return to reality is created, and rewards are given on the first floor.
But what if… If the rewards I brought are released in large quantities before 12 hours have passed… ?
“Then, of course, the rarity drops even further!”
Exchange employees smiling brightly and speaking.
“As the number of items increases, the lowered rarity gradually recovers over time… ‘Rare’ items are an exception!”
“… Why?”
“Because that’s the rule!”
“… “
“If there are 20 more… It could probably fall to S- grade, maybe even A+ grade. Well, how could that be possible?”
I’m asking because I think it might be happening now… The words came up to the tip of my chin. I feel defeated. While I understand why the people I saw earlier ran away, my anger and frustration surge.
So, A grade is the limit to what you can get as a general reward? Then, even if it were me, I would have run to get an A+ grade. Perhaps the reason they were lying around in the village square was waiting for someone to find the hidden piece.
“Mr… “
I may suddenly spit out curses, but I am a calm and rational regressor. Here, we need to figure out ‘why’ this situation occurred.
How did they know our location? There is a place where I can roughly guess.
“Where are you going?”
“Village store.”
I headed straight to the village store while holding Jiwon’s wrist. Perhaps there was a systematic correction here as well, and it was still open in the middle of the night.
“Did you come to buy an item? However… “I don’t have any money?”
The store owner narrows his eyes and looks at us. In fact, the village chief said, ‘You can purchase items with the rewards you get from helping villagers with their work,’ but it’s true that we don’t have money.
“I don’t have any money, but can I look around?”
“Well, there’s nothing that can’t be done. “Please feel free to look around.”
I left the yawning store owner behind and took a closer look at the products on the shelf.
Most of the items were helpful in the adventure, and they seemed quite useful at first glance. So, I guess it allows even weaker players to explore.
But this is not the item I am looking for. I want an item that can ‘know the opponent’s location’.
“Hey, man.”
“Why are you calling me?”
“Are there any items that can be used on other players?”
“Well, it’s not like it doesn’t exist. “It’s over there.”
The owner points to the corner of the store. As I carefully looked at the place he pointed to, I finally saw the items I was looking for.
-Talisman of the weak
– If you tear this amulet, you will be able to determine for an hour whether your opponent is weaker or stronger than you.
-Guardian angel
-When attacked with HP reaching 0, the attack is nullified and the attacker is trapped in a bubble for a while.
– Glasses for understanding value
-You can see the total value of the opponent’s ‘submissions’.
“Oh.”
Perhaps the ‘Talisman of the Weak’ was also used by players. The reason they looked at me closely when they first saw me was probably because I seemed like a pretty strong person. When Choi Ji-won appeared later, he was buried by Choi Ji-won. However, the item that I am looking for, which ‘knows the location’, is not visible yet.
“Junho, isn’t this it?”
While I was thinking, Jiwon Choi, who was rummaging through things next to me, tapped my shoulder.
“What is it? “Take a look.”
“This.”
-Friend registration right.
-You can register one other player as a ‘friend’. Come join us with your friends!
“… “What is this?”
“There are many benefits to registering as a friend. First of all, cooperative gathering efficiency increases, bonuses are given when camping together, and most of all, you can know the opponent’s location and status. “If you have a friend who plays with you, why not register them as friends first?”
A store owner reciting a prepared line.
This is it. This is 100%. I couldn’t see anything other than this that could determine the location of other players, and when I saw the impure name ‘registration ticket’, I felt uncomfortable.
“No, but are you registering me as a friend without even asking my opinion? “Mister, don’t you have the right to delete friends?”
“There is no such thing. The more friends you have, the better. If you have a fight with a friend, how about going on an adventure to resolve the issue?”
“… “
The store owner recited a prepared line again. It’s a line that fits well in a bright, adventurous atmosphere, but from the perspective of the person being stalked, it felt like the police were saying there was nothing they could do.
“Uhm… “
As long as the other side can unilaterally register you as a ‘friend’… It is correct to say that there are no secrets. Since they’ve already seen Choi Ji-won’s face, it’s fair to say that they’ve decided on a target, and wherever we go, they’ll follow us until the end and seek compensation. It is correct to say that those who are on the 22nd floor at this point are quite powerful… But as long as such powerful people are spending their time and staying, they will definitely want to produce satisfactory results.
“What should I do?”
It is true that I am trying to clear the tower in the most kind way possible, but I am not trying to break through the floors like a philanthropist. It’s not like I want to share the reward because I’m recognized as a strong person, and I have no intention of just watching them come in and try to grab the money.
But what should I do? Think about it. It’s definitely a good plan…
“Junho, I was thinking about it.”
Choi Ji-won slightly tilts her head and cracks her knuckles.
“It takes about 10 hours for a round trip from the village here to that mountain, and if you add the time to collect purified water and other things, it takes about 12 hours, right? That’s how long it took us.”
“Right?”
“But those people left a little early, so they’ll be back here in the village in about 8 hours from now. Right?”
“That’s right.”
“So… If we don’t want to be affected by our rarity, all we have to do is delay them releasing ‘Mountain Essence’ for four hours?”
“…Will that happen?”
“Wouldn’t it be possible if we put it in words? This is the compensation we were originally looking for, and if those people submit it early, we will all be at a loss.”
From Noble mtl dot com
It is certainly persuasive. If they had any conscience left, they might give up the order to us who found the hidden piece first. If this happens, things will turn out well.
“Hmm…”
But what if things don’t work out well? What if conflict arises?
“Then, what?”
Choi Ji-won smiles.
“Maybe we should find another solution?”
-Wow.
The buzzer attached to her waist vibrates insidiously. I really hoped that the sword would never be pulled out.
Four hours later.
“No, that’s a bit too much for us.”
“Yes?”
Things don’t always go as planned.