1.

Once someone gets a taste of games optimized for pay-to-win mechanics, like most mobile and web games, they can never truly escape. It's all about blatant, unapologetic competition. Your level costs money. Your EXP costs money. Your gear, your wings, even your pets—everything gets better and flashier the more you pay.

It's a bizarre ecosystem, but once you're the one leveraging the ranking system, you realize just how intoxicatingly effective it is. Unlike balanced games that cater to free-to-play players, these systems let a single person dominate an entire server. And a staple of such games? The daily login reward.

'This is a dead ringer for one of those systems,' he thought.

It was undeniable. He'd suspected as much from the moment he saw the gold currency, the daily allowance skill, and the locked VIP levels. Opening the box only confirmed it. But it changed nothing.

"This is going to be fun."

It only deepened his fascination. This was a game with a player base of one, wasn't it? The system seemed to be asking him: 'In a world where you alone are subject to these rules, just how far can you go?'

Buja had a confident answer.

"Competing with other players is just the beginning."

For now, of course, there were tens of millions of them. At level one, he was effectively dead last. But that would change. He would climb past the existing players, past the rankers who had dominated for five years, and reach his ultimate goal.

"The world's first solo clear of a nine-star dungeon… that should do it."

He'd always done it this way. In every game, he'd appear like a comet, blow past the top rankers, solo the final boss, and vanish without a trace. He never got attached. Dungeons would be no different.

"I can't delete this character, but after I clear the final dungeon, I'll have enough money to live the rest of my life in comfort without ever setting foot in one again."

When he first awakened, he hadn't known what to aim for. He had no information on the Gold Maker class and no real certainty as to why it was Legendary. But now, after clearing two Epic dungeons and using gold to unlock his VIP level, he could state his goal with conviction.

"As long as I don't die, it's possible."

Aim for the top.

[You have used 'VIP1 Attendance Box (1)'.]

He immediately used the box he'd received along with his three gold.

[You have acquired 'Lesser Healing Potion (5)'.]

[You have acquired 'EXP 2x Coupon (3)'.]

"Damn it."

The box spat out rewards that perfectly befitted its name: 'Attendance Box.'

* * *

The next day, Buja met Seora, who was dressed in a combat robe that ended daringly high on her thighs.

"Heading into a dungeon?" he asked.

"Yes, I'll be gone for a few days," she said. "If you need anything, I've already made arrangements. Just let them know at the guild house."

The robe, designed with arms and legs exposed for maximum mobility, did little to conceal her stunning figure. With flawless, translucent skin and an old wooden staff in hand, she looked every bit the part of a beautiful mage. A practical question popped into his head.

"If you go into a jungle dressed like that, won't your arms and legs get all scratched up?"

It was a sensible design if a longer robe would hinder her movement, but protecting one's body was as crucial as mobility. Limbs were essential for combat; they deserved two or even three layers of defense.

"They're skin-toned stockings, so don't worry," she replied with a bright, practiced smile.

'Ah, I see.'

They looked so much like real skin that an impulse to ask if he could touch them surfaced for a moment, but he swallowed it down and changed the subject.

"By any chance, do items like EXP 2x Coupons exist?"

"Pardon?" she asked, taken aback.

Potions were common enough to be bought at the Dungeon Store. They weren't dirt cheap like in games, but they dropped often enough that a Lesser Healing Potion could be had for a few hundred thousand won. An EXP 2x Coupon, however, was unheard of. He'd browsed player communities for five years and had never seen one mentioned, which likely meant they didn't exist. He'd even asked casually at the Dungeon Store, and they'd had no idea what he was talking about. He was asking her as a final confirmation, just in case they were traded exclusively on the black market or at secret auctions.

"No, is there such a thing?" she responded, genuinely intrigued. "An EXP 2x Coupon… as much as this world feels like a game, I've never heard of an item like that dropping."

"Right?" he said, feigning disappointment.

A woman of her standing would have attended numerous VIP-only auctions, yet she seemed completely clueless. That could only mean one thing: it was an item exclusive to the VIP1 Attendance Box. A satisfied smile crept onto his face.

"Why? Did you find one in a dungeon?" she asked, noticing his expression.

"No," he lied smoothly, not foolish enough to broadcast his advantage. "My level's just low, and I was hoping to find a way to level up faster and earn more money. I just thought it would be nice if something like that existed."

Seora didn't press him. "Ah, so is your next dungeon going to be an Epic one too?" she asked, changing the subject to one of her own curiosities.

Having gotten the information he wanted, Buja answered readily. "Yep. One or two more, then I'm heading straight for a Unique."

The guild had offered to sponsor three dungeon runs before he had to decide on joining.

"If all goes well, I might even try for a Special. But for now, Unique is the goal."

"If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask," Seora insisted. "Both the Guild Master and I are following your progress with great interest."

He didn't need to be bound by only three. He was already leaning heavily toward joining the Jeong Cheol's Guild. He was just being exceptionally cautious.

"I can also lend you items," she offered. "It's difficult with guild-owned equipment, but I have some personal gear I'm not using."

Buja just smiled and shook his head. "It's okay now."

It was an unsolicited kindness, one he knew stemmed from her admiration for him as a fan. Yesterday, he might have accepted, even knowing it would indebt him. But he no longer needed to.

[Gold Enhancement]

▶ Grade: Legendary

▶ Classification: Passive

▶ Level: 1

▶ Enhancement Stage Level: 0

▷ No effects at Enhancement Stage Level 0.

▷ Currently enhanceable slots: 'Weapon', 'Head', 'Chest', 'Legs', 'Gloves', 'Feet'.

▷ Can be leveled up with 300 gold upon reaching VIP3.

[VIP Level]

▶ Grade: Legendary

▶ Classification: Passive

▶ Level: 1

▷ VIP1 Skill benefits are active.

▷ Can be leveled up with 200 gold.

▷ Next Level Benefits: VIP2 Skill, Pet System Activation.

[A Cornucopia of Daily Gifts!]

▶ Grade: Legendary

▶ Classification: VIP Skill

▶ Level: 1

▷ Creates one 'VIP1 Attendance Box' daily at 24:00.

▷ The number of boxes created is affected by Gold Power.

He now had the foundation to grow on his own terms. After parting ways with Seora, he went home.

* * *

▶ Enhancement Stage Level: 0

1. Weapon Level: 0

2. Head Level: 0

3. Chest Level: 0

4. Legs Level: 0

5. Gloves Level: 0

6. Feet Level: 0

When he checked his enhancement status, this is what he saw. It was expected, since he hadn't tried anything yet, but the screen full of zeros still elicited an involuntary sigh.

"How am I ever going to upgrade all of this?"

Truthfully, Buja had never played many games like this, for one simple reason: he was broke. In games where money was content, a player without it was severely limited. The best he could do was watch rich warriors succeed at enhancements and gacha pulls, living vicariously through them before inevitably meeting them in a hunting ground, getting one-shotted, and uninstalling the game.

He knew all too well that enhancing this many slots would cost a fortune. And he didn't have a fortune.

"With thirty five gold…"

How far could that possibly get him? He decided to start with his weapon, the highest priority.

[Enhance Weapon?]

▶ Current Level: 0 → 1

▶ Gold Required: 10

▶ Success Rate: 99%

▶ Failure Rate: 1%

▶ Destruction Rate: 0%

▶ On Success:

1. Attack Power +0 → Attack Power +3

The process was straightforward. The enhancement window appeared without him needing to specify which of his two beginner's daggers to upgrade. This implied he wasn't enhancing the weapon itself but rather the Weapon slot; the bonus would apply to any weapon he equipped.

"Nice."

It was such a simple yet satisfying system that he could almost overlook the outrageous cost of 10 gold for a single +1 enhancement.

'Still, it would be nice if enhancing individual weapons was an option', he thought, already calculating possible profits. But for now, strengthening himself took priority.

"The success rate seems fair, too."

The outcomes were standard—success, failure, or destruction. He didn't know how the odds would shift at higher levels, but spending ten gold for a guaranteed +3 attack power felt like a solid trade. As he stacked enhancements from +2 to +3 and beyond, he would grow into a formidable player whose power wasn't tied to a single weapon. Pleased with his decision to upgrade his VIP status, he checked the other slots.

Chest and Leg armor gained +2 defense at +1, while Head, Gloves, and Feet had no effect. Odd, but not alarming.

They probably unlock other stats at higher levels.

The system wasn't faulty. Running a quick calculation, he muttered, "One for the weapon, and one each for the chest and legs. That should be enough."

For a solo player, defense was as critical as attack power. An extra 4 defense would make preparing for a Unique dungeon far easier.

"Enhance weapon."

Enhance, clear a dungeon, repeat—that was the formula. As he committed to it, a brilliant, five-colored light shimmered before his eyes, the enhancement animation visible only to him. He frowned, unimpressed.

"All this for a +1? Is there a skip button?"

He wanted to finish enhancing quickly and return to dungeoneering. With his thoughts already on the next step, he barely paid attention to the outcome as the Gold Enhancement system rendered its verdict.

[10 gold has been used.]

[Enhancement has failed.]

[Achievement Unlocked: A Lucky Day! (S)]

[You have acquired 1 Stat Point.]

[(L) Class effect has converted 'Stat Point (1)' to 'Special Stat Point (1)'.]

"…What?"

And that was the nature of miracles.

* * *

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