I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 50

“So, what are you selling?” I asked, squatting in front of the mat. Nameless pointed to the items with her fingertips.

“It varies from time to time, but one thing is certain. They are rare items that you can’t find in the human world.”

Well, that’s probably true. This dungeon is undoubtedly a demonic realm beyond the human world.

It’s far removed from the human world in many ways.

But the items definitely look high-quality. At least, they’re things you can’t get in Crossroads [a common starting town in many fantasy settings].

‘There are some really good ones.’

I picked up a ring and examined it, groaning.

The items are all either purple or gold. That means they’re SR [Super Rare] to SSR [Super Super Rare] grade. And she’s just selling them in a shop like this.

‘Usually, merchant NPCs sell good stuff, but she’s on another level.’

Maybe Nameless is a really useful NPC [Non-Player Character, a character controlled by the game rather than a player]…?

As I started seriously examining each item, my party members also began to peek at the mat from behind.

As the number of onlookers increased, Nameless flicked the items with her fingertips.

“These are things I’ve collected while wandering around the Lake Kingdom. They shouldn’t be too bad compared to the outside world. Feel free to look around.”

“How do we pay?”

“Money from the outside world doesn’t mean much here.”

Nameless pulled out a glowing magic stone crystal from her pocket.

“Magic stones or magic cores. That’s how you’ll pay.”

I figured it would be something like that.

Magic stones are a kind of settlement item. They’re for exchanging.

You can exchange them for imperial currency, or use them to trade with merchant NPCs you randomly encounter in dungeons.

The problem is the current situation. I’ve been selling off magic stones as soon as I get them for imperial money, so I don’t have any saved up.

‘How was I supposed to know I’d meet a merchant NPC so early on…’

It looks like all the expensive items in front of me are just out of reach.

I gathered all the magic stones and magic cores I’d collected during this dungeon run and held them out.

“How much can I get for this?”

“Hmm, let’s see…”

Nameless took the three R-grade [Rare] magic cores and the pouch full of magic stones and weighed them for a moment.

“To be honest, it’s not much.”

Then, she tucked them into her pocket and nodded.

“It’s our first transaction. And I can see that you’re serious about clearing this place… So, as a show of support, I’ll let you choose one item.”

“Are you an angel?!”

I almost bowed down and prostrated myself.

She’s letting me choose an SR to SSR grade item for just this many magic stones? She’s practically running a charity!

“No take-backs! I said you can choose from the items here! You know the rule, if you go back on your word, you get three hits!”

“I don’t break promises. Just hurry up and choose.”

I swallowed hard and scanned the mat with hawk eyes. What should I choose to make it look like I chose well!

Meanwhile, the party members who had been watching the negotiation process from behind began to appeal for the items they wanted.

“Your Highness, this old woman doesn’t ask for much. But if I eat just one of these hundred-year-old ginseng, I feel like I’ll be ten years younger…”

Seriously, not even equipment that helps in battle. This old lady is choosing a health-boosting material item?

“Go buy it with your own money.”

“Tch.”

Jupiter grumbled and stepped back. This time, Lucas carefully held out an item to me.

“My lord, how about these feather boots?”

They were white boots. After a quick appraisal, I saw that they had an ‘explosive movement speed increase’ option. Hmm.

“Lucas, you want to secure mobility?”

“No. It’s not for me. I thought it would be good for you to wear these boots, so you can escape in an emergency.”

“Lucas…”

Sniff, this guy. Even in this situation, he thinks of me first. You’re the only one, really.

But there’s no need to consider my equipment right now, since I’m not even the main combatant. This is also rejected.

Next was Damian. Damian hesitated and held out what he had chosen.

“This seems to be a potion generator…”

“Oh?”

It looked like a portable water purifier. After appraising it, it really was an item that refilled potions at regular intervals. There’s all sorts of things.

“If we put this in the temple, it would be a great help in treating the injured.”

That’s true. Even if the refill cycle is a bit long, if potions keep being generated, it would be a great help in managing the injured.

But it’s not like this is an irreplaceable item that we can only get now.

After all, potions themselves can be obtained from the outside. It’s a waste to use this one-time exchange chance now.

After explaining this well and patting Damian on the back, I looked at Evangeline, the last party member.

She was a few steps away from the mat, glancing at it. I gestured with my chin.

“Aren’t you going to choose anything?”

“I’m just temporarily joining this party.”

Evangeline shrugged.

“And I’m not really interested in equipment. The headmaster gave me a top-of-the-line cavalry spear and shield when I graduated.”

“…Ah.”

“You said they’re being repaired at the smithy, right? That’s enough for me.”

I froze with my mouth open.

‘That’s right! She broke her spear and shield, and that’s why we came here to farm magic cores to pay for them!’

I was so blinded by the desire for items that I forgot. Damn it.

I swallowed hard and whispered to Nameless.

“Hey, Nameless. Do you happen to have… a cavalry spear or a shield…?”

“Oh. I happen to have a set.”

Nameless pulled a cavalry spear and shield from the other side of the mat and placed them in front of me.

They were a brilliant gold! SSR grade!

[Demon Spear (SSR) Lv.35]

– Category: Cavalry Spear

– Attack Power: 35-40

– Durability: 20/20

– Increases damage by 30 percent when accurately attacking an enemy’s weak point.

[Giant Shield (SSR) Lv.35]

– Category: Shield

– Defense Power: 35-40

– Durability: 20/20

– Reduces damage taken by 30 percent when accurately defending against an enemy’s attack.

> Set Effect: Demon and Giant (2/2)

– When both items are equipped, the special ability coefficient increases by 50 percent.

《”The monster’s energy… disappeared…?” – A certain lancer’s companion》

“Ssssuuuup!”

I made a strange noise without realizing it.

Good. Very good. The spear with a snake or dragon engraved on it is cool, and the shield that looks like a giant fist is also cool. The performance is amazing too. Everything is good, but…

‘It’s a set item!’

If one is missing, it won’t perform at its full potential.

I have to get both to get the full effect… but she said she’d only give me one.

As I looked back and forth between the spear and shield, Nameless smiled faintly.

“I told you at the beginning. It’s a buy-one-get-one-free event. Remember?”

“Oh, yeah?”

“I’ll give you a service. Take both. It’s a set item anyway.”

My eyes widened. This strange woman in front of me was starting to look like light itself, not just an angel.

“R-really…?”

“Yeah. Hurry up and take them. They’re useless to me anyway.”

Nameless nodded, holding out the spear and shield to me.

“Instead, keep exploring this place diligently, and if you see me again, do some trading.”

Is this like a high-level player giving a newbie a boost so they don’t quit the game?

Anyway, there’s no reason to refuse free items. I eagerly accepted the spear and shield.

When I turned around, Evangeline had a confused look on her face.

I handed her the two pieces of equipment and confessed what had happened yesterday.

“Actually, last night…”

When I told her that her equipment had been completely destroyed by my fist, and that this was compensation, Evangeline’s expression became even stranger.

“I don’t understand.”

“Huh? What?”

“I started the fight yesterday. If anything, you were just retaliating against me.”

“Well, we did gang up on you 2-on-1…”

“Why does the number matter when you were attacked?”

Evangeline pushed the spear and shield away without taking them.

“I lost, and my equipment was damaged in the process. The damage is my responsibility. You don’t need to take care of me like this.”

But I had no intention of backing down. I grinned.

“Then think of this not as compensation, but as a gift from the Third Prince, Ash.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a graduation gift from the prince himself to Evangeline Cross, an academy junior. Surely you wouldn’t refuse a gift from a royal, would you?”

And it’s also for Count Cross of the Borderlands, who has dedicated himself to the city.

If I don’t at least do this, after breaking her daughter’s equipment, I’ll feel guilty.

Of course, I wouldn’t say these things out loud…

“Anyway, just take it! What, huh?! When an adult gives you something, you should just say thank you and take it, geez!”

“…”

Evangeline, who had no choice but to accept it as I stubbornly pushed it on her, looked up at me quietly, then bowed deeply.

“Thank you, senior. I’ll use them well.”

“Yeah, yeah. Use them well.”

I watched Evangeline equip her new gear with a chuckle. I feel much better now.

Then, Jupiter, who was standing next to me, pointed at herself.

“What about me, Your Highness? Don’t I get a gift?”

“I give you a salary.”

I’ll get you mage items when they come out, so just stay put.

This time, Lucas pointed at himself.

“What about me, my lord?”

“I made you armor…”

I’ve even made a separate plan for your equipment farming, so don’t worry and wait.

Finally, Damian smiled sheepishly.

“I’m okay, Your Highness!”

Of course you should be okay. I just gave you a magic gun. And I’ll give you a few more in the future. They’re super expensive too.

“Hey, merchant lady. Then give me just that one.”

After Jupiter secretly bought the hundred-year-old ginseng with the magic stones she had saved up, the shopping was over.

“Hehehe, huhehehe… If I just boil this and eat it…”

Jupiter hugged the hundred-year-old ginseng tightly and smiled slyly.

Hey old lady, don’t get your hopes up too much, you won’t be able to rejuvenate by eating that.

When the business was over, Nameless began to clean up the mat. I hesitated and spoke to Nameless.

“Nameless. Is it okay if I ask you one question?”

“Huh? Of course. If it’s something I can answer.”

Nameless nodded readily, and I asked carefully.

“Do you know the ‘Pied Piper’?”

“Pied Piper? Who’s that?”

“A man in a minstrel’s outfit wearing a black pointed hat. He controls monsters by playing the flute. He seems to be from around here.”

“Ah…”

Nameless thought for a moment and then nodded slowly.

“That man, you mean.”

“Do you know him?”

“There are quite a few eccentrics wandering around the bottom of this lake, but that man is especially… famous. I know him well.”

I thought of the minstrel who had invaded the last stage and almost ruined the game.

He wasn’t a very prominent NPC in the game. But he’s a celebrity here?

“If you keep going forward, there’s a fairly large safe zone between Area 3 and Area 4.”

Nameless pointed to the path ahead.

“It’s a place where many of those who are still sane in this dungeon under the lake gather. The people here often call it ‘Base Camp’.”

Base Camp.

I know that place too. It’s a safe haven that opens up after clearing Area 3.

It’s a place where the NPCs here gather and prepare, with various facilities and merchants.

It’s also a large space and a bridgehead for clearing the dungeon later.

“The man you’re looking for is likely to stop by there. Even if he’s not there, you can get information from others. Of course, there’s still a bit of a way to go before you get there…”

Nameless looked at us and nodded.

“I think you’ll be able to get there without any problems.”

Nameless, who had packed up her things, gave us a quick nod.

“Then, see you next time. Let’s try to stay alive.”

And then she disappeared into the darkness.

“A merchant in a place like this… She’s an interesting person.”

Damian murmured in an innocent voice.

But the rest of the party members were clearly wary. Lucas murmured, not taking his sharp gaze away.

“That woman… I can’t trust her.”

“Why?”

“She’s too strong.”

Lucas turned his gaze to where Nameless had been.

Five completely destroyed steam golems. No, six.

The sword marks left on the fragments were definitely from one person. Most likely, Nameless had taken them all down.

“To handle this alone and still be so relaxed… She’s not just strong.”

Well, you could do this easily if you were a 3-year veteran with a full set of exclusive equipment, max level, and maxed out traits. But it’s natural to see her as a monster at this point.

But I secretly classified Nameless as a ‘friendly’ NPC.

‘There’s no way someone who gives away SSR set items for free is a bad guy.’

Even if she’s a bad guy, if she gives me good items, she’s a good bad guy. Whatever.

I dusted off my hands and stood up, looking at the large stone building across the plaza.

“Okay, let’s go catch the boss monster now.”

The next area was the boss room.

‘I need to catch the boss and farm the boss treasure chest!’

It goes without saying, but getting items is the best!