Chapter 43

Chapter 6.

Until just a short while ago, I was struggling with debt, living a life at the bottom of society, but in the past week, I became rich.

The profit from the Malakthus raid alone was over 40 million won in cash.

The amount I received for making the Gale Blade was 960 million won.

In addition, I earned about 10 million won by appraising and repairing items for guild members in my spare time.

In total, I earned over 1 billion won, but it didn't end there; unexpected income came in again.

[You have obtained 300,000 gold.]

"Huh?"

It came from the money pouch I received from Jishuka.

When I opened the pouch, which was sitting in a corner of my inventory, a huge sum of money, equivalent to 360 million won, poured out.

"Whoa... What is this?"

At the time I received the money pouch from Jishuka, I was in shock from the wound Ayoung inflicted on me. So, I didn't even bother to check the amount and just put it in my inventory. I never dreamed that such a large sum of money would be in this small pouch.

"Is the price of that orb 600,000 gold?"

The orb dropped by Malakthus was only a unique item, and its performance was not as good as the unique items I made.

Considering that the Legendary item I made, the Sword of No Mind, sold for 220,000 gold, it's quite funny that the unique Gale Blade sold for 800,000 gold and the Malakthus orb is priced at 600,000 gold. It seems that many Satisfy users enjoy spending money frivolously.

"Damn! Phone wasn't the only fool! It was a world of fools!! I sold a Legendary item for 220,000 gold, and there are fools buying mere unique items for 600,000 and 800,000 gold!! Hahaha!! ...What a joke! Cough!"

Shock.

My legs gave out, and I collapsed. My heart felt like it was going to stop, and my vision spun. I couldn't pull myself together.

Tears streamed down my face, and my nose ran.

"Ahahaha!!"

No matter how frightening, let's not turn away from the truth.

It's time to admit it.

Selling the Sword of No Mind to the administrator Vlad for 220,000 gold was a crazy, foolish act!

"I was the fool...! Selling a Legendary item to an NPC for a pittance! Damn!! Damn!! Damn!! Ahhhhh!!"

Considering the market price of unique items, a Legendary item is estimated to be worth at least 1.5 million gold. No need to draw a line at 1.5 million; just put it up for auction, and it will sell for a high price. It wouldn't be strange for it to sell for 2 million or 3 million gold. But I, without knowing, fell for the NPC's trick and sold it for 220,000 gold. Is there anyone more foolish than me in this world?

I am the fool of fools.

The King of Fools.

"Should I commit suicide?"

The 1.4 billion I earned this time feels insignificant. Although it's a great achievement to pay off my debts and earn 1.4 billion, I can't shake the feeling of loss.

"Phew."

I took a deep breath and calmed myself. I tried to think positively.

In exchange for selling the Sword of No Mind to the administrator, I became a noble of Winshton and was exempt from all taxes. I also obtained the recipe for the Shield of Holiness and could craft a Legendary Shield of Holiness. Then, after being robbed and eventually defeating Malakthus and rescuing Lady Irene, I maxed out my favor with her and formed a connection with the Chedaka guild. So, selling the Sword of No Mind to the administrator might have been a good thing.

"Right! So far, it's not bad! In fact, it's good! It's getting better! Don't dwell on the past! If you can't control your anger, just wait for a chance to teach that damn administrator a lesson! Good! Everything is going well!"

Repeating this to myself like a mantra, my desolate heart gradually regained its calm.

'In the first place, I don't have the luxury to dwell on the past.'

I have to complete Evelyn's crafting request, so I'm busy.

Two days ago.

Evelyn only managed to gather enough materials to make one Thorn.

Among the materials needed to craft the Thorn was Nabu's Diaphragm, which was so rare that Evelyn could only obtain one.

Moreover, the difficulty of crafting the Thorn was the highest among all the items I've made so far. I was tense, knowing I only had one chance, and focused more than usual to craft it with the best possible attitude.

But then, the Giant guild members interrupted me.

I was carefully forging a pure metal ingot with Nabu's Diaphragm on top, and suddenly, a blood-stained iron lump flew at me.

The timing was perfect; just as I struck the metal with my hammer, the iron lump mixed with the metal.

Losing my composure, I hunted down the Giant guild members, and during that time, the metal, which had been left unattended, was deemed unusable. I discarded it in a corner of the forge.

'If I complete the item with contaminated materials, it will end up as a trashy normal item, so there's no need to waste time.'

The agreed time was approaching. Evelyn came to the forge.

"Finally, I've gathered them!"

Evelyn, with a bright smile, handed over the new materials for the Thorn, including Nabu's Diaphragm, which she had worked hard to obtain over the past two days.

"Good... I'll definitely make it an Epic or better. I'll have it ready by tomorrow morning, so come as soon as I contact you."

"Yes!"

Evelyn has been looking at me with admiration since two days ago. She said that the way I dealt with the Giant guild members was very cool.

'This guy has a good eye for people, despite his appearance. I thought all pretty boys were bad, but this one is an exception.'

However, the public's reaction is completely opposite to Evelyn's.

I've seen the battle video between me and the Giant guild members multiple times on TV and the internet. My performance with Pagma's Sword Dance, cutting down enemies smoothly, was undeniably cool. It was a thrilling and spectacular battle. However, people's reactions were surprisingly cold.

They found it too cruel and scary, treating me like a villain in a horror movie.

Some TV programs even labeled me as a psychopath.

Since guild rivalries are common, or perhaps because people are not interested, they didn't care about the cause or reason for the fight. They only focused on the sensational aspect, which was me.

As a result, I ended up with ridiculous and childish nicknames like 'Butcher,' 'Masked Murderer,' and 'Cruel Psychopath.'

'Did I look cruel because I used a greatsword, which often cuts enemies in half or crushes them? No, it's probably not the weapon but the helmet of the Frost Orc Chieftain that's the problem. The helmet looks so grotesque...'

I finally became famous, but it's in a negative way, which is quite uncomfortable. If I can become famous with a positive image, I could be invited to TV programs and earn a decent appearance fee.

'I should make a good-quality helmet to replace the Frost Orc Chieftain's helmet when I have the time. A helmet that looks heroic and cool, so people will admire me instead of being afraid. Haha... Although I'm not good-looking, I have a manly appearance, so if I can project a macho image like an action movie hero, I could become a top star. Haha!'

"Um... Mr. Grid? Are you in pain?"

While thinking about becoming famous and appearing on TV, making more money than celebrities, and becoming popular with women, I smiled, and Evelyn looked at me with a worried expression.

'Another such reaction.'

For some reason, many people react negatively when I smile. I decided to ask her seriously.

"Evelyn, you said you admire me, right? Then, be honest. Did my smile just now look like the smile of a person in pain? Was it not cool?"

Evelyn's face turned pale.

"Y-You were smiling? I thought you were suffering from a stomachache..."

"Shut up! Get out of here!"

"Mr. Grid?"

"Get out!"

"..."

I'm not chasing her away because I'm upset with her answer. I'm doing it without any personal feelings, just to focus on the crafting.

"Sniff... Good luck..."

After confirming that Evelyn, with a sad face, left the forge, I finally picked up the crafting hammer.

"Only one chance..."

Damn, the incompetent Evelyn only managed to gather enough materials to make one Thorn this time too.

I need to complete an Epic or better Thorn and receive at least 100,000 gold. Only then can I give my father 700 million to pay off his remaining debt and buy an 800 million car.

The new mid-size sedan from Company B, released in the second half of the year!

It's a visually appealing sedan that is neither old-fashioned nor gaudy, and it's very popular among young wealthy people.

I've always admired Company B's cars since childhood and had a dream of driving one when I succeed. I'm one step away from achieving that dream.

'If I buy that car and drive it, everyone will be shocked...'

The people who used to look down on me won't treat me casually anymore but will shrink back in envy. And Ayoung, who toyed with me cruelly, will regret it and try to hold onto me.

Life