Chapter 67: You're Not Quitting After All? (2)

The automatic translation function is active in the trade chat window.

PassingPorter: Hello, I’m the one who posted about item restoration on Phil Damrok. Could you give me an estimate for restoring an item?

A reply arrived almost instantly with a ding.

Dwarf Village Chief: Ah, you’ve come. Show me the item you want restored.

…Hmm.

Perhaps it’s because he’s a dwarf, but the translator is rendering his speech with a remarkably folksy tone.

I immediately scanned the rusty knuckles and sent the information to the chat window.

A moment later…

Dwarf Village Chief: It’s possible, but not a complete restoration.

You can’t fully restore it?

Dwarf Village Chief: The maximum I can restore is about 70% of its original performance.

70% of its original performance.

Even with Otherworld technology, it seems impossible to perfectly restore something that’s been completely destroyed.

Dwarf Village Chief: Those haughty magicians could probably restore it perfectly.

Magicians?

Dwarf Village Chief: Restoring an item’s durability isn’t just about fixing its appearance. It’s about infusing it with mana to revive its broken functions. That’s where magicians excel, far more than blacksmiths like me.

So, it’s not as simple as just hammering it back together.

Now I understand why restorers casually charge exorbitant fees, upwards of 20,000 coins.

Just as I was processing this, the chat window popped up again.

Dwarf Village Chief: But entrusting it to magicians will cost you at least 50,000 coins. And you’re more likely to run into scammers.

There are scammers too?

Dwarf Village Chief: There are plenty of people who run off with their restored items without paying.

I definitely remember seeing posts on Parsley’s Scribbled Records complaining about restorers who did just that.

So, most of those rogue restorers are magicians?

Dwarf Village Chief: Well, because I’m a dwarf, I’ll restore an S-Class Item up to 70 for just 20,000 Coins.

Thinking about it, entrusting it to this dwarf seems like the safest option.

And definitely the most cost-effective.

I’ll look around a bit more first.

Dwarf Village Chief: Suit yourself. But I doubt you’ll find anyone cheaper than me.

I closed the chat window with a bitter expression.

Even if I wanted to entrust it to him, I don’t have enough Coins right now.

“Hmm, guess I’ll have to grind dungeons like crazy to earn them.”

Securing essence stones worth 13,000 Coins in just 14 days would be a tight squeeze.

I scratched the back of my head, about to reassess my plans, when—

Ding!

A new notification popped up on my screen:

+1 comment on your Parsley’s Scribbled Records post.

A new comment?

The lowest price currently listed was 20,000 Coins, so at best, this would be 19,000 or maybe 18,000.

Without much expectation, I checked the comment.

“Huh?”

My eyes widened.

I’ll do it for 5,000 Coins. Contact me through my sale post.

5,000 Coins.

But that wasn’t the only reason I was surprised.

In fact, I was even more astonished by the commenter’s identity.

I quickly checked the user’s sale post:

10th Circle Archmage Personally Restores Items

Item Restoration Request · First posted 3 days ago

GeniusArkMage1004 (Status Window Temperature: 6°C)

This is my first time restoring an item, but I am a Tenth-Circle Magician.

Just leave it to me.

I’ll do it for 5,000 Coins, regardless of the item’s grade.

I look forward to receiving many commissions.

Genius Archmage.

Wait, this old geezer.

”…Didn’t he say he was quitting?”

Now that I’d confirmed the familiar ID, there was no reason to hesitate. I immediately sent a chat message.

The trade chat window’s automatic translation function is now active.

PassingPorter: Welcome back, Archmage! Do you remember me?

GeniusArkMage1004: I remember you.

Just like last time, I received an immediate reply.

But unlike my enthusiastic greeting, Ellikroid’s tone was rather stiff.

I soon understood why.

After a brief pause, the Archmage added, “Just in case you’re thinking about it, it’s too late to request a refund of 1,000 Coins now.”

“A refund?”

“Yes, the Fireball Scroll you purchased. You’re not planning to ask for a refund because it didn’t work properly, are you?”

Ah.

It seemed he had received quite a few refund requests like this since recovering his Parsley Market account.

A smile played on my lips as I typed into the chat:

“About the Fireball Scroll you sold, Archmage…”

“I can say with certainty,” GeniusArkMage1004 replied, “the one I sold you was definitely a properly functioning scroll.”

“Thanks to that scroll, I was able to learn the Fireball spell imbued with your essence, Archmage. Thank you.”

The chat abruptly cut off.

After a brief silence, GeniusArkMage1004 typed: “You learned Fireball? From a scroll I created?”

Even through mere text, the Archmage’s astonishment was palpable.

“Yes, I’m finding your Fireball exceptionally useful.”

GeniusArkMage1004: ”…I can’t believe it. Don’t misunderstand—no one has ever learned a spell from a scroll I created before.”

Well, repeating the same motion five million times without stopping is physically impossible for a human. Even I couldn’t have achieved it without the relaxed conditions for Remarkable Growth.

Of course, I had no intention of revealing such unnecessary details, so I quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, I thought our last transaction meant you were leaving the Market. It’s a pleasant surprise to see you back.”

GeniusArkMage1004: ”…Ahem. When people were calling me a scammer and saying I had no parents, I thought, ‘Alright, that’s enough.’ But after a few days away, I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”

Huh, this reminds me of those poor souls addicted to that one game that’s been number one in Korea for a decade straight.

As I nodded, my expression softening with understanding, the Archmage opened the chat window again.

GeniusArkMage1004: So, you contacted me simply to express your gratitude?

Ah.

I was so pleased to talk to him that I’d forgotten my original purpose.

You commented on my post requesting the restoration of the Phil Damrok, right? That’s why I reached out.

GeniusArkMage1004: The post I just commented on? You’re the one who wrote it?

Yes.

GeniusArkMage1004: Hmph… What a coincidence.

Indeed. Would you like to take a look at it?

GeniusArkMage1004: Very well. Show me the item.

I immediately posted the information about the Dragon Spirit Iron Wire in the chat window.

About five minutes later, Ellikroid sent a message.

GeniusArkMage1004: This Artifact appears to be of a rather high grade.

I’d prefer to restore it to its original state if possible. Can you manage that?

GeniusArkMage1004: I’ll have to try. I’ve only mastered the theory to some extent.

The Archmage boldly admitted his amateur status. Come to think of it, he had openly stated in his original post that he had never personally restored an Item before.

Perhaps he sensed my plummeting trust. The Tenth-Circle Archmage hastily added:

GeniusArkMage1004: I still think it’s possible. I’ve seen a close friend of mine, who’s about the same level, perfectly restore items of similar caliber.

Your friend must be an incredible magician.

GeniusArkMage1004: He’s a scrub. Barely an 8th Circle magician.

”…”

So, 8th Circle is considered scrub-level worthy of derision?

…Uh, an 8th Circle magician would have combat power equivalent to an S-Rank Hunter on Earth. The average magician in dimensions where the Status Window is distributed is only between the 4th and 5th Circles.

Manager Mi explained awkwardly.

I see.

So if an 8th Circle magician can fully restore an S-Class Artifact…

Even Ellikroid, the 10th-Circle Archmage, should be capable of this, despite his lack of restoration experience.

Without hesitation, I asked, “Then, would you accept the restoration request?”

GeniusArkMage1004: Agreed. I’ll only take a 10% down payment of 500 Coins for now.

“So, can I send you the down payment and the item right away?”

Ellikroid paused for a moment, as if contemplating something, before suddenly sending an unexpected message:

GeniusArkMage1004: How about we meet in person for the transaction?

“In person?”

“Ehh?”

Manager Mi and I exclaimed in unison.

Except for special cases like real estate sales, Parsley Market strictly prohibited face-to-face transactions.

I glanced up at Manager Mi, who was hovering by my bedside, with a puzzled expression.

Come to think of it, I remember hearing about cases of users exploiting loopholes for direct transactions back when I was a Q&A representative.

“Direct transactions through loopholes?”

Yes. Some magicians who have reached the Out-of-Standard Realm are capable of dimensional travel. I’ve heard of cases where these magicians travel to the dimension where the buyer is located—or one adjacent to it—to conduct trades directly.

That certainly sounds like a loophole.

“But Parsley Market doesn’t specifically penalize that, right?”

Well, it’s not exactly abusing Parsley Market’s system itself. Besides, users capable of such direct transactions are exceedingly rare.

After finishing her explanation, Manager Mi continued with a thoughtful expression.

Still, it’s strange. It doesn’t seem like it would be profitable.

“Profitable?”

“Even the most accomplished magicians can’t simply teleport to another dimension at will. Dimensional travel requires incredibly rare materials and a massive quantity of essence stones.”

Judging by Manager Mi’s tone, a direct transaction would barely break even at 5,000 Coins.

Why would anyone go to such lengths just to break even?

The Archmage’s subsequent chat message quickly revealed the reason:

GeniusArkMage1004: I wish to witness firsthand the Fireball spell you learned from my scroll.

To Ellikroid, I was the first disciple across all dimensions to master magic using his infamous scroll—the very one ridiculed by every being in existence.

That’s why he wanted to meet me in person.

If that’s the reason, there’s no reason to refuse.

Who knows? Meeting the Archmage might yield more than just item restoration—there could be other perks.

Direct trade sounds good. I’m all for it.

GeniusArkMage1004: Excellent. So, what’s the name of the dimension you reside in? Your profile indicates it’s set to private.

Earth.

GeniusArkMage1004: Earth? I’ve never heard of that dimension before. Could you provide its Dimension Code?

“Dimension Code…”

The dimensions that distribute Status Windows all have Dimension Codes. They’re like dimensional addresses. It’s extremely rare for Status Window users to know them… This Archmage must have quite a bit of experience with dimensional travel.

“So, what’s the code?”

Manager Mi displayed a pondering emoji accompanied by the text “Hmm…”