Chapter 30

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Phantom

The list that appeared in the Golden Rule Shop.

Each item was so astonishing that it could make one's eyes widen.

Even after topping the main quest rankings four times in a row, there were still things that couldn't be bought.

Of course, they were items of such value that anyone would covet.

The first line alone was mind-blowing.

A Mythical Species' Egg.

Even Dramut, the Guardian of the Stars, is a type of Mythical Species.

Mythical Species were so extraordinary that they could be treated as at least Elite Raid Boss Monsters.

But I was flustered for a different reason.

‘The Fang of the White King, Eldrich's Cursed Black Magic Book, Dragon's Heart.’

These names were familiar.

It couldn't be helped.

‘...These were the main materials I used to craft Unique-grade items.’

The stiffness I felt at that moment made me clutch the back of my neck.

If not for the Heart of the Iron-Blooded Overlord, I might have been spewing curses right now.

Unique. Items that can only exist as a single instance, of the Divine grade. The materials that were central to crafting such Unique-grade items were now listed in the Golden Rule Shop.

It could be a coincidence that the same materials appeared, but no matter how I thought about it, it didn't make sense.

‘The White King wouldn't pull out two of his fangs.’

The White King, or the Lord of the North, also known as Baekje.

That massive White Tiger is a semi-divine Mythical Species.

When I played as Wilhelm, I struggled for a month to obtain one of his fangs. He was so swift and adept at ambushes that I nearly died several times.

‘Even Wilhelm gave up on killing him.’

In the end, we came to an agreement and went our separate ways.

In exchange for never setting foot in the North again, the White King handed over one of his fangs.

So unless someone had killed the White King, there was no way his fang could be in the Golden Rule Shop.

The only possibility was...

‘...After Wilhelm died.’

That would mean the Golden Rule Shop was somehow related to the whereabouts of the Unique-grade items Wilhelm possessed after his death.

Wilhelm had eight Unique-grade items.

There were fifteen Unique-grade items in Pangea, and Wilhelm had more than half of them.

But in this game, when a character dies, everything disintegrates.

The same goes for the items they possess.

When Wilhelm died, the eight Unique-grade items vanished.

But they didn't completely disappear.

“This is ridiculous...”

It was absurd.

The goddess, who was supposed to be just and fair, was collecting items from corpses, breaking them down, and reselling them.

While it might be better to reuse them rather than have them disappear completely...

Of course, the owner of the Golden Rule Shop might not be the goddess. There was no way to know the criteria or basis for items appearing in the shop.

Still, the back of my neck tingled.

It felt as if someone was dancing on my corpse, taking everything I had.

‘It was strange that the goddess's blessing was invoked when I recited the prayer of veneration.’

Was she trying to help a little, out of a guilty conscience?

Thinking about it, the one who killed Wilhelm was the goddess.

While he would have been taken over by the Demon King even if he had done nothing, I couldn't believe the goddess was purely good.

‘Not just Wilhelm. It's related to the deaths of all characters.’

Moreover, this wasn't just about Wilhelm.

For example, the Chalice of the Earth Deity was something I had never seen before.

But I knew who had it.

‘The Chalice of the Earth Deity. The chalice possessed by the Saint of the Earth, Albricht.’

There were rumors that he had died.

The Earth Deity Church suddenly started searching for the chalice.

It was hard to believe, but seeing the Chalice of the Earth Deity here confirmed that Albricht had indeed died.

If that was the case, there was information to be gleaned from the Golden Rule Shop.

‘By looking at the items on the list, I could figure out who had died.’

For the same reason, many people knew about Wilhelm's death.

After confirming his death from the Golden Rule Shop, the news about the Eight Dragons and so on spread quickly.

‘Since they haven't been sold yet, it's safe to assume that almost no one has accumulated 1,000 hours of Golden Rule.’

The materials central to crafting Unique-grade items.

If I could buy them, I would have to buy them. If I had the time, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase them.

‘...Or maybe everything that could be sold has already been sold.’

I frowned.

If they were sold, who bought them?

Naturally, it would be the top players who consistently dominate the Hall of Fame.

Currently, the top players are Gracia, Mintchoco, Black Obsidian, Master, Carnage, Dark Star, and Baramus.

‘I can't underestimate the top players.’

I had to be cautious.

The Unique-grade items Wilhelm wore were now out in the world. Even if I don't know how many, the people who obtained them would have a different level of power.

It's not just about having the materials; the top players might be even stronger than I expected.

‘What should I do?’

I had to think about it.

Should I gather or use?

But my contemplation didn't last long.

‘The more main quests I complete, the more fragments of the Broken Golden Rule I can obtain.’

I was confident about this.

Only a select few could buy them, but I wasn't worried about the quest rankings.

No one understands and plays this game better than I do.

‘There are five items that can be bought with 140 hours.’

Blessed Supreme Elixir (30h), Universal Core (50h), Cataclysm Talisman (60h), Moonlight Butterfly Talisman (40h), Golden Branch (100h).

The Blessed Supreme Elixir regenerates a lost body.

The Universal Core allows for enhancement regardless of the type of material or soul.

The Cataclysm Talisman changes all special options on equipment.

The Moonlight Butterfly Talisman adds the Moonlight Butterfly option.

The Golden Branch is a material for the legendary sword Durendal.

Each of these items is almost impossible to obtain.

《You have purchased the ‘Blessed Supreme Elixir’.》

《You have purchased the ‘Cataclysm Talisman’.》

《You have purchased the ‘Moonlight Butterfly Talisman’.》

After purchasing three of them, I smiled in satisfaction.

Especially the Cataclysm and Moonlight Butterfly Talismans were as rare as the Tears of the Fairy Queen.

‘Excellent.’

I nodded lightly.

My level has increased, and I've obtained two excellent talismans and an elixir.

I now know the purpose of the Golden Rule Shop, so the next step is to charge forward without hesitation.

After all, I have to be the one to complete the next main quest.

However,

‘...How thoroughly I can crush them.’

That's the only difference.

*

Hudson's eyes began to tremble violently.

The lower half of Serengeti's body, which had been lost, was gradually regenerating.

“Blessed Supreme Elixir...!”

Even a single drop caused flesh to grow and bones to form.

The Blessed Supreme Elixir is an extremely rare item, with fewer than ten produced by the Goddess Church in a year. It's a treasure that only those with the right can see.

‘Players can obtain it from the Golden Rule Shop, but...’

It requires 30 hours of the Broken Golden Rule.

30 hours of the Golden Rule.

It's called 30 hours, but almost no one has that much time unless they are a top player.

Naturally, a question arose.

‘Is the Holy Paladin a player...?’

Hudson doesn't know the Holy Paladin's name.

He has never heard it or seen him speak.

But he wasn't particularly curious.

The Holy Paladin was a name and a title in itself.

However, here, the Holy Paladin became the successor to the Knight King.

He met Serengeti and generously gave her the elixir, which only top players could obtain.

So, is he a player?

‘...Does it matter now?’

Whether he is a player or not, the fact that he is someone to follow remains unchanged.

The only savior who could save Serengeti.

If it weren't for him, Hudson would never have met Serengeti again.

So, it doesn't matter.

If he is a player, he could repay the favor received in Pangea in the real world.

It might be difficult here, but it could be possible in the real world.

“Drop one drop every two hours. It will take a full month to completely regenerate.”

“Then I'll have to stay by her side for a month.”

“I'll tell Duke Wiser. The Blessed Elixir works best when applied by someone who doesn't have a rejection reaction.”

“...Thank you, Holy Paladin!”

A proposal Duke Wiser couldn't refuse.

Even if Serengeti's curse is lifted, her future would be bleak without her lower body. This would ensure Hudson couldn't be separated from her.

Indeed, he is a savior.

I will never forget this favor, even in death.

“Randolph.”

“Huh?!”

Hudson suddenly started coughing uncontrollably.

“Cough! Cough!”

He couldn't calm down.

He couldn't believe the name he had just heard.

Randolph!

The hottest topic among players recently.

Randolph is currently the most likely candidate for ‘Phantom (Phantom)’.

Phantom's top character is, of course, the Knight King Wilhelm...

‘Ah!’

When he thought about it, Hudson was struck by a bolt of lightning.

‘Unbelievable!’

The greatest and most secretive figure. Phantom was a legendary character to everyone who played Pangea.

The achievements of the characters believed to be Phantom are countless.

Just hearing about them made his heart race.

So, he must have heard wrong.

‘It can't be.’

Logically.

Surely it can't be that Randolph, that Phantom, is right in front of him.

A legend revealing his true identity to him?

It's laughable.

“Serengeti called your name as soon as she opened her eyes.”

“...”

“If the White Knight believes it, I can believe it too.”

“...”

...I must have heard wrong.

“Ah...”

Tears streamed down Hudson's eyes.

Was it because he revealed his name? No, it wasn't that simple.

He didn't know, but...

‘Phantom was a ray of light to me.’

Phantom was a light to Hudson.

To Hudson, who loved the character in the game more than the real world, Phantom's existence brought vitality to Pangea.

At first, everyone thought this place was fake.

Pangea was just a world in a game.

Everything happening to them was just a god's prank.

But Phantom explored this world seriously, more deeply than reality.

He showed everyone that this place was not just a game, but another reality.

The most brilliant light illuminating Pangea.

That's how Hudson saw Phantom.

“Is it so moving to know my name?”

“Yes.”

“...”

“It's so moving that I regret not recognizing you sooner.”

Why didn't