Chapter 23. Appraising an Item

The great black dragon Eileen Fritanni was in a very good mood these days. The human who had entered by her mistake turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

'I want to boast, but I have to hold back.'

She couldn't let her mistake be known.

"Krum. Krum. Krum."

Singing a little tune, Eileen went to the collection warehouse where the Fritanni family had stored items passed down through generations. The collection warehouse was enchanted with a permanent preservation spell, so the items inside always remained in their original condition.

Click.

Eileen opened the door to the warehouse. On the shelves inside were items that would easily fetch hundreds of billions of dollars if released on Earth.

Eileen passed by the displayed items and stopped in front of an empty shelf.

Rustle. Rustle.

She carefully placed her item on the shelf, making sure it didn't break, and looked at it proudly.

The newly added collection item was labeled in Korean as "Budget Cleaning Apple."

It was the cleaning apple bag that Sejun had used to store the sweet potato chips. The budget cleaning apple bag earned the honor of occupying a spot in the Fritanni family's collection, which boasted a history of millions of years.

"Hehe. I need to check what other delicious things the human is making."

Eileen left the warehouse and sat in front of the crystal ball, watching Sejun's cave.

"Oh! The cat merchant is back. You little thing, try to trick our human again!"

The great black dragon Eileen Fritanni stared intently at the crystal ball, worried that Theo might trick Sejun.

***

Buzz. Buzz.

Theo, announcing his arrival, jumped down from a hole in the cave ceiling. As soon as he heard the sound of the venomous bees' wings,

"It's an ally, meow!"

He shouted and ran into Sejun's clothes, then poked his head out of the collar.

"What? Your neck is getting longer."

"The venomous bees are scary, meow."

"Don't worry. They won't come."

The adult venomous bees had already informed the baby bees that Theo was on their side, so it was fine.

"Phew, thank goodness, meow."

Theo came out of Sejun's clothes only after confirming that the venomous bees hadn't drawn their stingers.

"Did you do what I asked well?"

"Of course, meow! I completed all the tasks and sold everything, meow!"

Theo answered loudly.

"Then, did the contract to send news to my family go well?"

"It will, meow. Here's the contract, meow."

Theo handed the contract to Sejun.

As Sejun held the contract,

Whoosh.

The contract began to burn with blue flames, indicating that the contract had been fulfilled and that news of Sejun's safety and 50 million won had been successfully delivered to his family.

"Good job. Let's settle the accounts now."

"Here it is, meow! I used 50 Tower Coins as a deposit and 14.2 Tower Coins for the errand, meow."

Theo reported the amount he had spent while handing it to Sejun.

"208.8 Tower Coins?!"

Sejun was surprised by the amount, which was twice what he had expected.

"I met a sucker this time and sold it for a high price, meow!"

What? How much of a sucker must you be to be called a sucker by a sucker?

Sejun, not knowing the details of the transaction, was unsure whether to believe Theo.

"Here's your bonus. It's originally 10.92 Tower Coins, but I'll give you a little more."

Sejun handed 15 Tower Coins to Theo, trying to show his appreciation.

"Thank you, Sejun, meow! And here's something else, meow!"

Theo, eager for more praise, quickly got up and shook out his bag.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Spices, churu, and items Sejun had asked him to buy spilled out of the bag.

"What is this?!"

Rustle.

Sejun carefully tasted the powder in the transparent bag.

'Salty!'

A wave of saltiness flooded his mouth.

'With this...I can make grilled fish...'

While running simulations in his head about where to use the salt,

"How is it, meow?"

Theo asked, confidently climbing onto Sejun's lap.

"Huh?!"

"Am I the T-rep now, meow?"

Sejun, finally regaining his composure, stroked Theo's head and examined the items Theo had brought.

The spices were only salt and pepper. There were also 15 coffee mixes. It looked like he could get about 20 one-hour T-rep coupons.

"Good. I'll appoint you as T-rep for 24 hours."

Sejun decided to give Theo a bit more time since he had handled the task without any issues.

"Great, meow!"

"T-rep, good job."

Sejun picked up a tuna-flavored churu that had fallen and tore off the perforated end, offering it to Theo.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

While Theo ate the churu, Sejun examined the items Theo had bought.

A pot, a ladle, bowls, spoons, and a dagger. These were items he had bought for cooking and eating.

Sejun first picked up the pot to examine it.

[Iron Pot]

Made of iron, it is sturdy.

The handle is wrapped in wood for easy use.

Usage Limit: None

Manufacturer: Unknown

"Unknown?"

Sejun then picked up the ladle to examine it.

[Iron Ladle]

Made of iron, it is sturdy.

The handle is wrapped in wood for easy use.

Usage Limit: None

Manufacturer: Unknown

The bowls and spoons were the same. All were listed as unknown.

"That's strange."

Squish. Squish. Squish.

Theo's churu-eating speed slowed down significantly as he watched Sejun's reaction.

Sejun picked up the dagger last, intending to ask Theo about why the manufacturer was unknown.

The dagger was heavier than Sejun had expected.

[Dagger]

???

Usage Limit: Level 10 or higher, Strength 5 or higher

Manufacturer: Unknown

Grade: E

"Huh? Why are there question marks?"

There were three question marks where the item description should have been.

Click.

Since the usage limit was met, Sejun picked up the dagger and tried cutting the dry leek leaves he had laid out for bedding.

Swoosh.

The dry leek leaves, which became as hard as wood when dried, were cut easily. It seemed suitable for cooking.

"T-rep, where did you get this?"

"Huh?! I bought it from the forge's lottery corner, meow."

Theo, expecting Sejun to question the unknown manufacturer, was surprised by the different question.

"Lottery corner?"

"Yes, meow. The forge sells them as clearance items, so I bought it there, meow."

The forge owner, thinking Theo just wanted a dagger for cooking, told him to choose one from the lottery corner where they kept items they couldn't appraise.

"Sharpen it, meow!"

Following what Sejun had taught him, Theo tried sharpening three times at the lottery corner, and after negotiating the price from 20 Tower Coins to 13 Tower Coins, he brought back the dagger.

"Good job."

It didn't matter what kind of dagger it was. It was cheap, and that was enough.

It was heavy, but as long as it cut well, that was all that mattered.

At that moment,

[The Tower Manager says that using an unappraised item could cause problems and offers to appraise it for you.]

"Okay, then do it."

[A quest has been triggered.]

[Quest: Send the unappraised dagger to the Tower Manager.]

Reward: None.

If refused: Cannot be appraised.

[An additional quest has been triggered.]

[Quest: Gift sweet potato chips to the Tower Manager.]

Reward: Appraised dagger.

If refused: Cannot receive the dagger.

"Do I really have to do this?"

[The Tower Manager says that quests are necessary to move items in and out.]

[The Tower Manager strongly denies wanting the sweet potato chips.]

They say strong denial is actually an affirmation?

[The Tower Manager wipes his lips.]

[...!!!]

I knew it.

[The Tower Manager admits that he wants the sweet potato chips a little but also needs the quest.]

"Alright."

Sejun decided to have the dagger appraised. After hearing the Tower Manager, he felt uneasy using an item with unknown information, and giving a few sweet potato chips wasn't a big deal.

'I was planning to give more soon, but this will do.'

"Take it."

The dagger disappeared from Sejun's hand.

[Quest completed.]

[The Tower Manager uses the appraisal skill on the dagger.]

[The Tower Manager says it's not a harmful item, fortunately.]

"Really?"

Sejun took a handful of sweet potato chips from the leather bag where he had stored the sweet potato chips and the seed potatoes.

"Here you go."

The sweet potato chips disappeared from Sejun's hand, and the dagger reappeared.

[Quest completed.]

[As a reward for completing the quest, you have obtained the appraised dagger - Cain's Training Dagger.]

"Cain's Training Dagger?!"

The equipment now had a name. This meant it was a named item!

Named items typically started at tens of millions of won when sold outside. Sejun quickly checked the dagger.

[Cain's Training Dagger]

This is a dagger that the ranger Cain used for training in his youth.

It is made of black iron to add weight, making it heavier than a typical dagger.

A small amount of mithril was mixed in during the manufacturing process, allowing the edge to be maintained for a long time after a single sharpening.

Usage Limit: Level 10 or higher, Strength 5 or higher

Manufacturer: Blacksmith Reven (Black Hammer Clan Dwarf)

Grade: B

Skill: [Skill Proficiency Increase Lv. 1]

[Skill Proficiency Increase Lv. 1]

Using this dagger increases the proficiency of all skills by 5% faster.

Thanks to the powerful appraisal skill used by the Tower Manager, all information, including the manufacturer, which the itinerant merchant guild had restricted, was revealed.

As a result, Sejun's plan to ask Theo about the manufacturer was completely abandoned.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Theo's churu-eating speed increased again, sensing Sejun's good mood.

Then,

"Sejun, scratch my back, meow."

Theo confidently demanded.

"Sure."

Scratch. Scratch.

Sejun, who had been staring at Cain's Training Dagger in a trance, scratched Theo's back and looked at him anew.

What? I thought this guy was just a sucker...but Theo had other talents.

He had golden paws, not just golden hands...the world is indeed fair.

Suddenly, Theo's paws looked incredibly cute.

"T-rep, do you want more churu?"

Sejun asked, touching Theo's plump paws.

"Of course, meow! Give it to me quickly, meow!"

Theo said arrogantly. He had been saving his paws as a secret weapon, but Sejun had touched them first. Then came the affectionate voice.

'Hehe. I knew you would, Sejun. You're human, after all, meow.'

He had fallen into my trap. Humans always kneel before my paws, meow.

What? This annoying attitude?

Sejun felt uncomfortable with Theo's arrogant attitude.

His intention to reappoint Theo as T-rep also faded.

Theo thus missed the opportunity to become T-rep right in front of him.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Unaware that the opportunity to become T-rep had just passed, Theo continued to lick the churu enthusiastically.

At that moment, an entity that found Theo on Sejun's lap uncomfortable approached.

Snap!

The black rabbit glared at Theo and shouted. That's my spot!

"What are you talking about, meow? This is the T-rep's spot, meow!"

Snap!

The black rabbit pulled out its hammer and replied. I don't care! Get out now!

A battle of nerves between Theo and the black rabbit, who had climbed onto Sejun's lap, began.

"Hehe. So cute."

While it was entertaining to watch their battle, it was time to sleep.

Thump.

"Let's all sleep now."

Sejun hugged Theo and the black rabbit tightly to prevent them from escaping and lay down.

"What, meow?!"

Snap?!

At first, they struggled to get out of Sejun's chest, but soon they fell into a deep sleep listening to his heartbeat.

Day 161 of the ordeal. Sejun, Theo, and the black rabbit shared each other's warmth and had a sweet sleep.