Episode 185

3.

He had assumed it was just a simple gemstone.

A treasure didn't have to be an item usable in a dungeon; a jewel with enough aesthetic value could fetch a price comparable to a decent piece of gear.

But this one even came with a special effect.

[Gem of Purification]

▶ Grade: Epic

▶ Purifies the air within a 100-foot radius and releases a purifying fragrance.

It wasn't an effect that would be particularly helpful in a dungeon. Bringing a gemstone this large into a dungeon in the first place was inefficient, and combat-related options wouldn't really fit it anyway. For that very reason, however, its value soared.

'People with money to burn are going to love this.'

Just hanging it up at home would make guests gasp in admiration, and other wealthy people would be green with envy, asking where they'd gotten it. And on top of all that, it had a built-in air purifier that ran 24/7 without needing to be charged?

Even at a rough estimate, it had to be worth at least as much as a decent Special-grade item, maybe more.

"What do you think?"

"Wow, it's so pretty! Where did you get this?"

"This little guy gave it to me."

When he met with Seora to check its value, she reacted more intensely than he had expected, her eyes sparkling. Even she couldn't escape the allure of beautiful things.

Of course, her curiosity as a player was even stronger than any feminine instinct.

"It spits out treasures when you feed it gold? That's insane. Can I try it too?"

"I'm not sure if it eats other kinds of gold. Do you want to test it?"

"I'll bring some from the vault next time."

A fist-sized diamond. A red diamond at that, with a mesmerizing beauty that made you feel like you were being drawn into it just by looking. The faint fragrance wafting from it was a sweet scent that tickled the tip of your nose.

"I don't think this is a normal gemstone. It feels like something that comes out of a dungeon."

After a brief moment of admiration, Seora shifted into a deeper analysis. This was why he had brought it to her instead of a professional appraiser. She might not be a perfect expert, but she had studied countless gemstones and could at least make this level of judgment.

"Either way, we'll only know the exact price if we put it up for auction."

The answer came quickly. Both she and Buja reached the same conclusion without much trouble. Once you saw the Gem of Purification, its purpose was obvious.

"Would you like me to list it for you?"

"No."

He answered firmly when she asked, her eyes full of curiosity and anticipation about how much the gem would sell for.

"I brought it to give to your mother, Seora."

"Huh?"

She blinked in surprise, then let out a small laugh.

"That's... pretty original."

"I feel like I'm a little short on allies. I doubt I can win over the guild master easily, so I figured I'd start by attacking from another angle."

If he had said otherwise, anyone could have guessed what was coming next: that he had prepared it for her. She wasn't the type to be moved or excited by such a cliché, predictable line, but the completely unexpected answer was enough to make her smile.

And when she realized he wasn't just trying to be funny, but actually meant it, she smiled again.

"Dad's just being difficult. From what I've seen lately, I think he's really starting to acknowledge you, Buja."

"It's not over till it's over."

He had never seriously considered anything as big as marriage. Setting aside the excuse that, as players, they could die at any time, both of them were so focused on growth that they barely had time for a simple date, let alone shackling each other with the burden of a serious relationship.

But that was a separate issue.

"Please tell your mother that the Guildmaster glares at me so much I'm scared to even walk with my arm linked in yours, and I'd really appreciate it if she could go easy on me."

She snorted.

"Pfft, sure. Mom's going to love this. Thank you."

Whatever the case, the gem, which he judged to be worth more than a single Special-grade item, went into her hands without a shred of regret on his part.

He felt no particular attachment to it. It wasn't a reward he'd earned by clearing a dungeon at the risk of his life; it was just a rock he'd gotten for tossing 100 gold at a new toy.

If he could take care of the few people around him for a mere 100 gold, wasn't that a better use for it than buying a Special-grade item he didn't even have a slot for?

"I love you."

On top of that, he got to see his beautiful girlfriend genuinely moved.

The Gold Mimic's first exchange had been a resounding success.

* * *

When he got home, Buja carefully lifted the Gold Mimic off Hwangdo's back and placed it reverently on the coffee table in the center of the living room, where it would be most visible.

Then, he bowed deeply, putting his whole heart into it.

"Kyu?"

Seeing this, Hwangdo followed his master's lead and sprawled flat on the floor.

"I apologize for not recognizing your greatness."

He offered a sincere apology with the bow.

"From now on, I will do my utmost to serve you."

Honestly, the mimic deserved it. If the Gold Mimic had been a person, it would have had every right to be offended. At their very first meeting, this new family member had been judged and dismissed based on its appearance.

The Gold Mimic seemed to accept his heartfelt apology, sticking its tongue out just a little.

What a heartwarming scene.

The master had boldly corrected his poor first impression with a decisive choice. Though it was late, the new pet's place in the pecking order had been more or less established.

And the moment he judged the matter settled, Buja pulled something out.

"Here, try eating this."

He took out several dozen gold coins from his pocket, his eyes gleaming with greed.

4.

Seora took the gem straight home.

"Mom!"

As a woman, it wasn't as if she didn't want to keep the jewel for herself. It was enormous and beautiful, something that looked like it might be one of a kind—of course her eyes were drawn to it. But she felt no resentment that he hadn't given it to her.

If she hadn't been a player, maybe she would have. But as a dyed-in-the-wool player, she craved items that were useful in dungeons far more than luxury goods like this. Besides, Buja had already given her items far better than this gem.

On top of that, it wasn't like he was asking her to pass it on to some other woman; it was for her own mother.

Even if one were to coldly call it a relationship he had no real obligation to care about, there was no arguing with the fact that he was giving her mother a jewel—not some cute $10 cubic zirconia from a street stall, but something that could probably buy a decent building.

How could she possibly be jealous or complain?

She happily delivered it, making sure to brag and take a little credit while she was at it.

"Buja gave this to me. He told me to give it to you, Mom."

"Oh my, would you look at that!"

In this moment, she wasn't just her mother's daughter; she was Buja's girlfriend.

"He said it's a gemstone that's hard to find even in dungeons. And it's not just any jewel—if you keep it at home, it purifies the air and gives off a fragrance. Smell it."

"Mmm. I was wondering where that floral scent was coming from. So it was this!"

"If we put it up for auction, something this big would go for at least $20 million, so keep it somewhere safe."

"You little... I get it, stop trying to show off!"

Even as she scolded her, the corners of her mother's mouth refused to come down.

Although she lived an ordinary life as a housewife in a normal apartment, her husband was the master of Korea's number one guild, and their daughter played a key role in it as well. They never had to worry about money.

She had experienced her fair share of luxury, but she had never received a jewel this expensive before. And when would she ever again receive something like this as a pure gift, with no strings attached?

"Please tell my son-in-law how grateful I am."

"...He's your son-in-law now?"

"They've been seeing each other for quite a while, and if they're exchanging gifts like this, he's basically our future son-in-law! Hehe."

Watching her mother carefully place the jewel in a place of honor, right in the center of the living room display cabinet, a satisfied smile spread across Jeong Seora's face.

Her mother wasn't the type to react this way just because of a gift.

She had seen the news reports and videos of Kim Buja's exploits. More importantly, she had seen how her daughter, already passionate, had become even more vibrant after meeting him. It was clear she had already given him her stamp of approval.

In any case, it was a heartwarming conclusion. As they were basking in their satisfaction, Jeong Cheol arrived home from work.

"Hm? What's that smell?"

The apartment was fairly spacious, but the moment he opened the front door, a faint fragrance tickled his nose. Seora was about to brag again.

However, her mother beat her to it.

"Dear. Come over here."

Jeong Cheol was silent.

Seora didn't even get a chance to brag about her boyfriend.

"This is what our son-in-law Buja sent us today through Seora..."

The most baffled person of all was Jeong Cheol himself.

"Since when did that punk become our son-in-law?"

"Oh, honestly. How long are you going to be like this? They've been together for a while now, and if he treats Seora so well—he's practically family! You're always hovering over her, nitpicking every guy she meets. That's why she hasn't been able to get married, or even have a proper relationship!"

Jeong Cheol had no response.

"Hey, Mom, I've dated before..."

Of course, at home, her protests were useless.

Caught in the crossfire, Seora protested in frustration, but her mother was already humming a tune, rendering her complaints little more than meaningless whining.

It wasn't as if her mother was wrong.

The gift had a much bigger impact than she'd expected.

Jeong Cheol was the only one left feeling gloomy.

He could only shake his head as his wife and daughter's excitement grew throughout the day.

* * *

Unfortunately, the Gold Mimic could not swallow all of Kim Buja's greed.

"Why won't you eat when I'm feeding you?"

Gold coins, each worth 100 gold, were scattered across the floor.

He hadn't expected it to spit out incredible treasure every single time.

Still, he'd wanted to experiment, figuring that if he kept feeding it, there was a small chance it might cough up something even better than the Jewel of Purification.

But the Gold Mimic was a pet, after all.

It might not have eyes, a nose, or a mouth, and it might not have arms or legs, but it was still a living creature, and it had conditions for converting treasure.

'Once a day, huh.'

After converting a treasure, it refused to eat any more coins, no matter how many he offered.

When it showed no intention of eating, Buja decided to make it. He pried open its lid and shoved coins inside, but its thick tongue simply spat the gold back out.

There was nothing else he could do.

He tried feeding it again every five, ten, and then thirty minutes. Finally, after a full twenty-four hours had passed, the Gold Mimic swallowed the gold and spat out another treasure.

This time, however, it wasn't another Jewel of Purification. It was just a single scrap of paper with no discernible purpose.

For a moment, he wondered if it was some kind of hidden treasure map.

[Someone's Note]

▶ Grade: Rare

▶ A note containing someone's plea for help.

It looked like it should be something important.

But the note was promptly tossed into the trash.

"What a piece of crap."

The writing was illegible. Whether from the Gold Mimic's saliva or something else, the note was soaked through, and more than half the text had washed away.

If this were a game, he might have gotten fired up and started researching it.

But this was reality.

He ruthlessly dismissed any thoughts of a secret note from a dungeon or a hidden quest.

'Better to spend that time grinding gold.'

He'd expected as much, and seeing it for himself confirmed it.

Rustle.

He picked the gold coins off the floor and returned them to the hologram.

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