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Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Open Door (2)

“Ex… Extraterrestrial? Are you saying he’s an alien? Is that what a merchant is, an alien?”

In the moving car, Myeongho asked this.

Soon after, he realized he had asked a foolish question.

It was only natural for a being descending from a column of light beyond the sky to be an extraterrestrial.

“Yes. Strictly speaking, he is an extraterrestrial, but…”

Yeongwoo, who received Myeongho’s question, mumbled unclear words.

While the merchants are indeed extraterrestrial, they feel different from what people commonly refer to as ‘aliens.’

If you had to find a different term, ‘otherworldly beings’ would be more fitting in terms of expression than aliens.

Moreover, through conversations with orcs, who were thought to be mere monsters until now, it was revealed that they, too, were beings from a different world with their own homeland and a sense of purpose.

Then, aren’t all monsters, including orcs, also aliens?

‘What’s the difference between those who come as merchants and those who are monsters? Why is someone a merchant and someone else a monster?’

It was also puzzling that so far, only extraterrestrials playing the role of monsters were familiar to humans in appearance.

Why are only monsters like goblins and orcs extraterrestrial beings?

“…”

His mind became murky.

But he knew that pondering about it now would be futile.

‘I’ll probably find out something if I keep on living.’

Soon, the merchant appearance timer that had been in view disappeared, and the black column of light on the other side flashed with thunder.

Kururung!

Finally, a merchant arrived in Mungyeong City.

At the sound, Myeongae, who had been unconscious all this time, opened her eyes wide.

“Yoo, Yoonho!”

Calling out the name of her deceased second son, she woke up with a look as if she had been having a nightmarish dream even in her sleep.

But the reality was just as harsh.

“Aah…!”

Realizing that she was still in a nightmare, Myeongae burst into a pitiful cry.

Kururung!

Another timely flash of black light, beating against the body.

Yeongwoo grabbed the front passenger door handle upon seeing it.

“Stop the car.”

“What?”

“I’ll go first. Bring your mother along and follow me.”

“I-Is it… okay?”

The subject of Myeongho’s mentioned ‘okay’ was naturally himself and her mother.

“Yes. The distance is not far, and there are no monsters around. If anything happens, honk your horn.”

With these words, Yeongwoo opened the front passenger door and rushed out.

Since trading with the merchant is on a first-come-first-served basis, he made a decision.

As a city where the Strongest Sword and the mutant collaborated to organize the monsters, there wouldn’t be many survivors.

Of course, among them, how many would dare to come to him through the familiar column of light?

‘Still, it’s unknown. There can be as many variables as possible.’

Yeongwoo crossed the city at high speed, heading straight towards the direction of the column of light.

Then, not long after, people running frantically from the opposite side came into view.

Survivors in the area were on the move, avoiding the merchant symbol.

‘Ah, people are quite…’

Perhaps because recently he had conversations with orcs and engaged in unrealistic dialogue, Yeongwoo felt a warm feeling swelling up when he saw people.

However, the people on the opposite side.

“Huh?”

“What’s going on here again…”

Just like when the Jeong family first saw Yeongwoo, he felt discomfort from them.

This time, he wasn’t carrying a bundle on his back, but anyway, the fact that he was stepping on the ground barefoot and wearing strange equipment looked very strange.

The unnaturalness of his movements also contributed to it being unbelievably non-human.

Even people who had built up enough stats to confront monsters couldn’t imitate such movements.

However, it took a few more seconds for everyone to realize after he had passed.

“Huh… wait a moment.”

The man who had just passed like a fleeting arrow had a face exactly like the one engraved on the coin that had fallen from the sky earlier.

Sswoaeeat!

Ignoring the gazes that regarded him like a monster, Yeongwoo entered the spot where the merchant had landed.

Unlike the crowded main street where people were running in a line, there were few people near the column of light.

But there were definitely people.

“Oh, what’s that?”

“Hey, who’s that coming?”

“Damn… startled me.”

A fairly hostile reaction from the three individuals.

They were a small group of humans and the only ones lingering around the merchant.

It seemed they were debating whether to approach the merchant or not.

In response, Yeongwoo positioned himself stealthily between the black column of light and the trio, and casually asked.

“It hasn’t started yet, right?”

“…Started?”

The one who gave a reflexive and blunt response was the man in the lead among the trio, wearing accessories.

Whether by position or the early bird in his left hand, this man was the leader of the trio.

“…”

As Yeongwoo stared at him, the end of the early bird, which had been aimed at him at a threatening angle, subtly lowered.

Feeling uncomfortable due to the sudden intrusion of an unwelcome guest, he didn’t realize he had involuntarily recoiled because Yeongwoo’s movements a moment ago were so unusual.

“If it hasn’t started, let me use it first.”

Without stepping back or picking a fight, Yeongwoo headed toward the black column of light, leaving the three individuals behind, who couldn’t do anything.

“Hey! Look at this!”

The man, who belatedly twisted his expression, tried to chase after Yeongwoo, but the other two urgently restrained him.

“Are you crazy?”

“Quick, look at this.”

Swish.

What the two colleagues thrust in front of the man’s eyes was…

“…Oh.”

A golden coin.

* * *

Meanwhile, Yeongwoo, having previously experienced trading with extraterrestrial merchants, was not particularly afraid of the column of light or merchants from outer space.

No, he was rather impatient.

“Where did Kubu go? I thought I would see him again in the next trade!”

Kubu, the chief mediator of Gyeongbuk’s Strongest Sword Yeongwoo07.

According to his promise, Yeongwoo could pay only half the commission from the second trade onwards and see all the top bidders in the trade.

So, taking the risk, he dealt with the mutants in Mungyeong City in the first place…

‘What if the merchant has already arrived? What will happen?’

In the meantime, the distance between Yeongwoo and the black column of light had shortened to around 10 meters, and by this time, the silhouette of the merchant inside the column of light began to be faintly visible.

‘I don’t know what it is, but it’s incredibly huge.’

Just as Yeongwoo was about to narrow the distance with the merchant, he suddenly heard a tearing sound between him and the black column of light, and the mediator in question, Kubu, appeared.

—Greetings again, Earth’s human, the strongest in Gyeongbuk, Lord Jung Yeongwoo07!

Black eye sockets, white pupils.

Blinking eyelids to manipulate the air.

It was definitely him.

—I am Kubu, the owner of Tenta, who is mediating this trade and the guardian of Darrow.

Kubu introduced himself with great pride, just as he did during the first trade.

Then, next.

—The mediation fee for this trade is 10%, included in the product price. A total of four top bidders have bid on this trade.

—Would you like to see the list of top bidders and proposal details?

He presented the special treatment promised during the last trade.

“Yes, please show me.”

As Yeongwoo nodded his head in response, Kubu blinked his eyes widely and added some kind of warning.

—Except for the Mir Union that has already arrived here, you will directly communicate with the remaining three top bidders, so it might be a bit inconvenient for you.

“Inconvenient…?”

As Yeongwoo questioned this, the color of the black column of light suddenly changed to red, emitting an incredible noise.

-Keiiiiiiiiin!

“This is insane…!”

Not only Yeongwoo but also the trio who were at a distance covered their ears and screamed at the sound, reminiscent of scratching a blackboard.

“Aaah!”

“What on earth are you doing now?”

“Turn that off quickly!”

However, could the request of an ordinary human be heard?

The cacophony continued, and Yeongwoo, even at a distance, had to cover his ears until it became unbearable.

Within these mentally grating sounds, there was some meaning hidden.

It felt like reading an advertisement board inside a fast-moving subway, but there were definitely several meanings being conveyed at regular intervals.

「Life… concealment… peace.」

Despite the threatening sound, the actual meaning contained within was quite friendly.

‘Life, concealment, peace…? What exactly does this mean?’

While Yeongwoo was pondering this, he looked at Kubu, but this time, there was no particular reaction.

Perhaps it meant that he could only provide assistance up to this point.

If he had intended to provide assistance, he wouldn’t have allowed direct communication with extraterrestrial top bidders in the first place.

Life, concealment, peace.

After confirming that there were no hidden meanings, Yeongwoo spoke to Kubu.

“Okay, that’s enough. Please connect with the next top bidder.”

Upon hearing this, Kubu blinked his eyes without saying anything, and this time, the color of the column of light turned purple, pushing the surrounding air away.

Hwaaaat!

“Ugh…!”

Although Yeongwoo recoiled at the discomfort, it was not as agonizing as before, but rather sent shivers down his spine.

‘What is this? This time, it seems like there’s no meaning at all.’

Hwaaaat!

The air was pushed away once again.

And this time, too, no discernible meaning could be detected.

‘What is this trying to achieve…?’

Ultimately, as Yeongwoo was about to move on to the next top bidder while rubbing his temples.

Hwaaaat!

At the same timing as before, the air was pushed out with the same intensity.

“…”

Thanks to this, for the first time, Yeongwoo felt something familiar from the extraterrestrial top bidder.

The reason was none other than…

‘This is breathing.’

Hwaaaat!

Yeongwoo finally realized.

The opponent was appealing that they, too, were beings that breathed like humans.

Hwaaaat!

The anonymous opponent continued to push out air as if only the sound of breathing was being transmitted.

It could be considered a very delicate marketing strategy, couldn’t it?

“Can we also check the remaining merchants and decide?”

When Yeongwoo asked this, Kubu moved his white pupils to look at him.

—If you wish, it is possible.

“Yes. Then please proceed to the next one for now.”

—Understood.

Upon Yeongwoo’s request, Kubu blinked his eyes widely once again.

Hwaaar!

Yeongwoo’s order was received by Kubu, who blinked his eyes again.

Hwarrrk!

The third merchant seemed suspicious from the start.

The column of light burned instantly, emitting tremendous heat.

‘These crazy bastards… did they really come for a trade?’

Yeongwoo closed his eyes, gasping for breath.

The heat was so intense that it felt like his eyeballs would melt.

Hwaaaat!

However, just like the intense heat, the meaning within was also clearly discernible.

What the unknown opponent sent was more of a sense of pride than a message.

Ferocious nature, desire for power.

Although it was unknown which race they belonged to, it was evident that they were highly combative individuals.

Therefore, most of what they offered for sale was likely related to combat.

“Ugh! N-next!”

After barely understanding the basics, Yeongwoo hurriedly called the next merchant.

Hwarat!

At that moment, the heat sweeping through the area vanished, and the column of light changed back to black.

“Ah…”

It was because the last merchant present was none other than the Mir Union.

-Geugeuk.

Finally, a faint sound, like rolling stones, emanated from the black column of light.

And then this.

-The last trader is from the Mir Union. They waited for quite a long time but do not find it unpleasant.

Kubu provided direct interpretation.

It was probably a special privilege for the initial winner.

If it hadn’t been Yeongwoo in this position, wouldn’t the Mir Union have been the only top bidder for this trade?

“Ah… I apologize sincerely.”

Yeongwoo sent a genuinely apologetic look inside the column of light.

Then the gigantic silhouette of the Mir Union’s merchant, or perhaps not just a silhouette but an actual shadow, writhed.

-Geugeuk, geugeuk.

Maybe it wasn’t just visible as a silhouette, but rather, its appearance was a shadow, Yeongwoo thought for a moment.

-The Mir Union has been engaged in interdimensional trade for a tradition spanning 800 million years from Earth’s time, they are distinct from petty traders dealing with loot obtained by chance and miscellaneous items for sale. They offer low prices and high quality.

Kubu began an elaborate interpretation.

‘No, what I actually heard was two words like rolling stones, and it’s interpreted like this…?’

However, the Mir Union’s message did not end there.

=The Mir Union mainly handles goods useful for offsetting consumables and special situations. Prices are low, and the quality is good.

“Can’t you just show me a list of items? Since you’re here.”

Yeongwoo asked, but Kubu promptly refused.

-This trade has already begun with a re-bid. Therefore, directly disclosing the trade contents is prohibited by law.

Whatever it was, it was not allowed.

Yeongwoo, with a puzzled expression, gazed at the silhouette inside the black column of light, but eventually averted his eyes.

“Then, too bad, but that person will have to go back empty-handed. Please call the merchant who only let us hear their breathing earlier.”

-Are you sure?

“Yes.”

As Yeongwoo nodded again, Kubu blinked his eyes.

-As per the request of Jung Yeongwoo 07, the Mir Union will return, and we will call the wandering merchant of Voltak.

As Kubu finished speaking, a loud noise suddenly erupted from inside the black column of light.

-Geugeuk! Geuk……!

Even without listening to the interpretation, it was easy to guess the meaning from the tone.

Perhaps that’s why Kubu didn’t bother conveying it and proceeded with the merchant change.

Paeaeaeang!

With a refreshing departure sound, the Mir Union’s merchant was sucked up above the column of light, and then…

Gaaaah…!

With a very imposing sound, the column of light was dyed violet.