"I'm really fine, so let's go. If more people gather, it'll only make buying weapons more difficult, won't it?"
"Yeah… Since Seo Chaeyoon's weapon exhibition starts at 6 PM, let's check out our weapons first, hyung."
"I don't need to look at mine. Let's just buy yours, Hunter Soo Jaehee."
"No way. I told you, the guild master hyung said he'd give me the coupon only if I got yours too."
"I don't need it."
"I said no."
Too tired to argue, Yoon Seo frowned. At that moment, Kwon Jihan spoke.
"Forcing him to buy something he doesn't want won't help in battle. I'll talk to Juncheol hyung, so just focus on getting your own."
Yoon Seo glanced at Kwon Jihan, surprised by the unexpected help. He was about to thank him when Kwon Jihan raised an eyebrow and shrugged smugly, making him swallow his words.
"If Seokyoung's real power, Jihan hyung, says so, then…."
"Use both coupons for yourself."
"For real?"
Soo Jaehee's eyes widened.
"I'm the real power in Seokyoung. Who's going to stop me? Now, let's get going. I hate crowds."
Kwon Jihan patted Soo Jaehee's head as if he were an annoying little brother. Soo Jaehee's eyes sparkled.
"Jihan hyung, do you realize how insanely cool you are right now? Damn, you're shining so much I can't even keep my eyes open. Ah, so dazzling."
"In exchange, if you get a good item, fight me once. Your demons and cats hit pretty well, so they make for a satisfying spar."
"..."
Soo Jaehee crumbled on the spot, laughing bitterly like he had seen it coming.
"I'll just use one coupon…."
***
Technically speaking, the Yangpyeong Item Market wasn't a market anymore. It had started as one, but over time, it had become a must-visit landmark for all Awakened.
The market covered the entire Munyong-myeon area of Yangpyeong County, with the tallest building reaching 100 floors and the deepest underground level extending to the 9th floor. Items below C-rank were usually sold in open-air stalls, fitting the traditional market vibe, but anything B-rank or higher had to be taken inside a building for security reasons.
Among them, the Alentrin Shopping Mall, located at the heart of Munyong-myeon, exclusively dealt with A-rank and S-rank items. It operated on a membership basis, and the annual membership fee alone was a staggering 50 million won.
Large guilds like Seokyoung had their own item crafting divisions, so their affiliated hunters rarely visited the market. However, Alentrin's auctions occasionally featured rare, high-quality items that couldn't be crafted by humans. Because of this, Seokyoung maintained its membership at the guild level.
"Ah, Seokyoung Hunters! Welcome."
As soon as Yoon Seo, Kwon Jihan, and Soo Jaehee showed the U-Pad displaying Seokyoung's membership, the manager rushed over. He couldn't tell exactly who they were, but if they were here, it meant they were A-rank or higher, making his warm welcome a given.
"What kind of item are you looking for?"
"Weapons and armor, S-rank."
"S-rank… I see. Please wait a moment."
The manager, experienced enough to know that not everyone looking for S-rank items was actually S-rank themselves, remained composed. In fact, if they were truly S-rank, he had even more reason to remain calm. Unlike abroad, where flashy, attention-seeking S-rank hunters were common, Korea's S-ranks, except for Rainbow's vice guild master, preferred to keep a low profile.
A moment later, he led Yoon Seo's group to a private room furnished with plush sofas and refreshments. Kwon Jihan sat down first, followed by Soo Jaehee, with Yoon Seo taking the seat next to him.
Soon, the assigned staff member entered, offered a brief greeting, and asked,
"Are you looking for a specific job category?"
"I'm a summoner, so I'm looking for items that synergize well with my summons or a convenient melee weapon."
"…Understood. That brings up a total of ten options."
If a hunter from Seokyoung was searching for S-rank items and was a summoner, then their identity was obvious.
Soo Jaehee, the famous Haechi summoner.
The staff member maintained a neutral expression as they projected the catalog into the air.
['I Will Be Your Companion Until the End'
Rank: S
If you're a summoner, these shoes will be of great help. How long do you plan to keep riding your summons? Walk through life at the same pace as them.
Durability 60/100]
['Heavenly S'
Rank: S
Feed this sweet fruit to your summon, and it will be able to fly for a short period.
Quantity 1/5]
['Charred Branch'
Rank: S
Don't underestimate it based on its appearance. This sword will inflict an irreparable burn on your opponent.
Durability 15/100]
Yoon Seo glanced through the list as well. The effects were all impressive, but the durability was a mess. Seokyoung's items were always at 100/100, which once again reminded him of how superior Seokyoung was as a guild.
"Wow, these effects are all insane. Since I'm here for a weapon, I'm drawn to 'Charred Branch.' What do you think, hyungs?"
"Isn't the durability too low?"
"Durability can be restored. If it breaks, it can't be helped. As long as I can use it well even once, that's enough."
With the exception of a few, most items could be repaired using a combination of human technology and dungeon byproducts known as 'Recovery Technology.' However, it required multiple rounds of restoration spells, and the recovery process was slow, most items broke before they could be fully restored.
The price of the item was 5 billion won, and even with a discount, it was absurdly expensive. Yet Soo Jaehee was saying it was fine as long as he could use it well even once.
"Well… if Soo Jaehee Hunter likes it, then he should buy it."
"What's with that vague response? Jihan hyung, what do you think?"
"You're buying an item just by looking at this catalog?"
Kwon Jihan said indifferently.
Leaning back against the sofa with his legs crossed and arms stretched out along the backrest, he exuded a relaxed demeanor as he looked at the staff member.
"I want to see the real thing."
"Ah, of course. Which ones should I bring? You can check up to three at a time."
Soo Jaehee selected 'I Will Be Your Companion Until the End,' 'Heavenly S,' and 'Charred Branch.'
Moments later, the staff member returned with three employees, each carrying a transparent storage case. Carefully, they placed the items on the table in front of them.
'I Will Be Your Companion Until the End' was a sturdy-looking pair of leather shoes. 'Heavenly Sea' was a small, red fruit hanging from a twig. 'Charred Branch' was a black longsword.
"Wow, this sword looks way cooler than I expected. I don't even want to store it in my inventory, I just want to carry it around."
While Soo Jaehee was immediately drawn to the weapon, Yoon Seo's eyes were locked onto 'Heavenly Sea.'
At first, the branch had borne five fruits, but now only one small, red fruit remained. It looked like a plum, but redder, so vividly colored it was as if paint had been poured over it. But more than anything, the reason Yoon Seo couldn't take his eyes off the fruit was because of the message that had appeared before him.
[The Gaia System's hidden secret has appeared. The
[
['Heavenly S'
Rank: S
Feed this sweet fruit to your summon, and it will be able to fly for a short period. And one more trait of this rare plant, once the fruit is consumed, the branch can be processed into a weapon. That weapon is so incredibly powerful that it could greatly aid in clearing the final gate. However, only one person can possess it.
Quantity 1/5]
It was extremely rare for
The only skill gifted to him by the Guardian God known as the Watcher,
There were two main occasions when Yoon Seo used this skill. First, when crafting a sword to use as a weapon. Second, when he wanted to receive notifications about others' skill usage.
He had only ever used
[The Gaia System's hidden secret has appeared. The
[
[
[The path to peace will never be easy.
An endless road of thorns,
Poisoned rain will fall upon your head,
Hunger and cold will wear you down,
You will not even have time to help your fallen comrades.
But until the final gate is passed
And a new world is opened,
Gaia shall be with you,
So do not be afraid…]
It ended with "do not be afraid," yet the grandeur of the message only made it more terrifying.
And then, a pitch-black portal appeared, absorbing all light around it.
Anyone could tell, it was not an exit. It was a dungeon portal.
'W-what is this? A dungeon…?'
'Another dungeon just appeared…?'
The survivors fell into an even deeper despair than when they had faced the thirteenth boss.
A dungeon within a dungeon.
And not just any portal, one so black, so ominous, it felt like gazing into the abyss itself.
How were they supposed to enter that place when they were already battered and broken?
As everyone cried out in despair, the black portal began to close.
Even though no one had entered.
'W-wait… the portal is disappearing.'
'I-it won't let us in even if we try!'
[The
[Gaia System's Final Dungeon
※ Entry denied – conditions not met]
[Gaia System's Final Dungeon is disappearing.]
The black portal wavered and faded away.
And in its place, a familiar one appeared, the exit portal.
Finally, the gateway back to the reality they had fought so hard to protect had opened.
But none of the survivors rushed toward it.
They hesitated, paralyzed by fear after witnessing the black portal vanish before their eyes.
Yoon Seo wanted to explain the message he had seen to the confused survivors.
He didn't know what the so-called conditions were, but the door had closed due to an unmet condition.
Yet, his mind was hazy, and all he could do was slightly part his lips.