Episode 15: Galaxy Agora (3)
"Handmade recovery potions for sale! From mid-grade to lowest grade!"
"Buying all kinds of miscellaneous items! We'll match the market prices from the last five days!"
"Various scrolls for sale! Crafted by Production Guild Association-certified players!"
The bustling scene could easily be mistaken for a traditional marketplace.
This was the spectacle unfolding in one corner of the 3rd floor's Free Plaza at Galaxy Agora.
Though such activity should have been concentrated on the 4th floor - the designated trading hub -
stalls displaced by auction houses and faction shops occupying over half the floors had spilled down to the 3rd floor.
And at the exit where these stalls ended...
"I said we're done."
"Come on, alchemists are always short on materials. Let's look a bit longer."
A strikingly handsome man and a pure-faced woman were locked in a silent battle of wills.
"This is more than enough. We bought way beyond my expectations already."
As Si-moon shook his head firmly, Lee Yoo-jeong pouted in disappointment.
"Then at least take this one more thing, Oppa."
Fearful of being dragged through the market again,
"I said enough. My inventory's about to burst."
Si-moon hastily waved his hands.
Fortunately,
"Don't be like that. There's something I really want to give you."
she didn't seem intent on further shopping. Watching Yoo-jeong open her inventory, Si-moon sighed in relief.
'Who knew shopping with others could be this terrifying?'
Even for materials of the same grade, down to differences in size and color,
the combat-class Yoo-jeong was abnormally meticulous in her selections.
While such care would be standard for an alchemist like her,
'I only care about matching grades - the rest doesn't matter.'
As a level 1 alchemist who survived Earth in his past life,
and now capable of synthesizing even Philosopher's Stones and mythical-grade equipment, such details meant little to Si-moon.
"Here, take this."
Yoo-jeong thrust something toward the preoccupied Si-moon.
"This is..."
His eyes widened at the 3D goggle-shaped device.
"An Arena terminal?"
"Right! The absolute newest model from SungSam! Not even released yet. Hehe."
Arena terminals - devices ranging from helmets to capsules to these goggles -
were surprisingly direct collaborations between Galaxy Arena and world governments.
Initially only producible by superpowers like America and China,
Galaxy Arena had intervened when their monopolistic practices emerged,
contacting every nation's government with an additional warning:
'We'll revoke all Chinese and American players' qualifications.'
The televised incident remained a national humiliation for both countries,
though it stayed a mere warning. Their global influence remained intact...
Until Earth's impending destruction.
"Unreleased tech? Should you really be giving this to me?"
"All SungSam's top players already use these. They're just not commercially available."
"That's not what I meant. I'm an outsider."
"So what? I'm giving it to you."
Her bright smile and shrug said it all.
"Ah! If SungSam bothers you about it, you must tell me immediately."
A dangerous glint flashed in Yoo-jeong's eyes.
"Understood, Oppa?"
Unfortunately,
Si-moon missed her murderous intent while examining the device.
"Still... Shouldn't I just buy a regular model from their store?"
"Ugh mumbled, "Si-hyuk kept bragging about! Using Arena without proper equipment could damage your body!"
Yoo-jeong's cheeks puffed out in frustration.
"If it bothers you, consider it compensation for the branch manager's rudeness earlier."
"Well... if you insist."
Noting her lightly bitten lower lip - a telltale sign of her stubbornness -
Si-moon quickly nodded. There was no winning against her bullheadedness.
Especially since...
'Perfect timing. I needed a terminal anyway.'
With his growing plans for Arena streaming, this was ideal.
Storing the goggles, Si-moon checked his player watch.
"Already this late? I should head out, Yoo-jeong."
"Yes! I need to visit Mother at the hospital too."
As Yoo-jeong nodded contentedly, Si-moon paused.
'Right - her mother has an Arena-related illness too.'
Conditions like the Mana Disability he once suffered from -
status effects appearing in Awakeneds' trait windows,
the so-called "Arena diseases".
'Though I don't know her exact diagnosis...'
As a former player chosen by the Constellation,
she must be enduring somehow.
'I need to grow faster and develop treatments.'
With the Philosopher's Stone and human transmutation knowledge,
his growth was inevitable. Healing would follow.
'And I owe Auntie so much.'
Memories surfaced of Yoo-jeong's mother,
who'd cared for him - a bastard child - with kindness since childhood.
"Then I'm off. Be safe going home."
"Yes. Oh! Oppa-"
Yoo-jeong grabbed his sleeve,
then hesitated before forcing out:
"You... you'll reply to me too, right?"
"Reply?"
When realization struck, Si-moon chuckled.
"Ah, messages?"
Yoo-jeong's lips jutted out.
"Si-hyuk wouldn't stop bragging about your replies!"
"Bragging? About something so trivial?"
"Exactly! It was insufferable!"
'And why are you annoyed?'
He swallowed the retort about their ages.
"Fine. I'll message when I get back."
"Really?! Promise?"
Her childhood smile returned.
"You brat."
Without thinking,
Si-moon ruffled her hair.
Yoo-jeong instantly froze.
'Oh right - girls hate that.'
This wasn't the Yoo-jeong of their youth.
Retracting his hand from her now-mussed hair,
"Ahem! Be safe then."
He hurried away before things turned awkward.
Left frozen in place, Yoo-jeong didn't notice
the woman in an H-line skirt approaching.
"Quite the mannerless man."
Kang Da-young arrived,
smoothly fixing Yoo-jeong's hair with practiced hands.
"Even if you're close, you don't just mess up someone's styled..."
She paused, blinking at Yoo-jeong's motionlessness.
'Why isn't she reacting? Did she snap?'
Though usually indifferent about appearances,
maybe even she had limits.
Kang's eyes darted around the player-filled area.
'Can't cause a scene here.'
"Miss, don't worry. I'll fix it..."
She froze upon seeing Yoo-jeong's face.
"Eun-Ah."
The transformed Yoo-jeong spoke coolly:
"Pretend you saw nothing."
"Y-yes, Miss."
As Yoo-jeong reverted instantly,
Kang stiffened to attention.
After watching Si-moon's departure direction,
Yoo-jeong asked in a subdued tone:
"Any progress on that matter?"
"What matter...?"
"Just us here. Speak freely."
Kang pulled out her phone.
"If you mean the decade-old incident... shockingly, zero leads remain."
"Your tone doesn't match the report's severity."
"There are some findings-"
"Now you're contradicting your own words."
Kang chuckled nervously before whispering:
"Literally nothing. Like someone erased it all."
Yoo-jeong's eyes turned frosty.
"Even after Korea's elite were targeted?"
"Exactly! Media that pounces on trivial scandals stayed silent."
"Remember the ST Group heir's troll stream? News outlets crucified him."
Yet for an attack on high society -
complete media blackout.
"Someone powerful is covering this up."
"Smart ones are easier to work with. Your move?"
Kang asked calmly.
"You know digging deeper will bring trouble."
Yoo-jeong's lips curled.
"Scared?"
"Checking if you're ready, brat. You've more to lose than me."
As SungSam's "Poison Princess" and rising star player,
Yoo-jeong simply responded:
"I've nothing left to lose."
Then, glancing where Si-moon vanished:
"Actually, I just gained something new. Hence, I need answers."
"Of course."
Kang dialed a number.
"Once we start, no turning back."
"Proceed. If you find intel... if Awakeneds are involved..."
Yoo-jeong's gaze turned glacial.
"Bring me their heads. I recently acquired some... interesting tools."
"Ugh, exhausted."
Was it the rare outing?
Dumping his coat, Si-moon collapsed onto bed.
"Home sweet home."
Though small with a cheap bed,
the familiar discomfort soothed him.
A vibration came from his chest -
[Oppa. That girl... you're close?]
"You mean Yoo-jeong?"
Si-moon nodded sleepily.
"Childhood friends. We drifted apart recently, but grew up together since five."
[Hmm... I see.]
The Stone's tone held hidden meaning.
"Something wrong?"
[Just... interesting.]
It swallowed further comments -
pointless warnings to someone who'd known her since youth.
[Let's make that elixir. It'll cure fatigue faster.]
"Right. Time to set up."
Pulling alchemy tools from inventory,
Si-moon eyed his sparse room.
"This should fit."
Summoning a thick log,
light as a toy after [Ogre's Flesh] enhancement,
he snapped his fingers.
Crack!
Alchemical energy reshaped the wood
into a perfect workstation.
"Satisfying."
[At least make your room look alchemical!]
"Not worth the achievement points."
Ignoring the Stone's complaints,
he arranged ingredients with practiced ease -
including the [Corrupted Hobgoblin's Blood Serum].
[You're not aiming for paralysis resistance?]
"Focusing on the 'Corrupted' aspect."
[You'll take in Miasma?!]
The Stone's shriek echoed.
[Without dark magic, it'll destroy you!]
"I know someone who tamed it."
[That's different!]
"Which is why..."
Si-moon eyed his 9,350 achievement points.
"Philosopher's Stone? Let's craft something new.”
