2.

The Gold Shop alone would have been enough for Kim Buja. But the Gold Maker Class was dedicated to exceeding customer expectations.

[VIP Level]

▶ Grade: Legendary

▶ Classification: Passive

▶ Level: 3

▷ VIP3 skill benefits are currently active.

▷ You can use 5,000 Gold to level up.

▷ Next Level Benefits: VIP4 Skill, Tower of Trials activation.

While the VIP 3 skill was now consolidated under the Gold Shop, his experience with VIP 1 and 2 suggested that another growth-oriented skill would likely appear alongside the Tower of Trials. And the Tower of Trials itself… the name promised a formidable challenge, which meant the rewards would be equally spectacular. He was filled with anticipation. A single number changed, and a cascade of evolutions followed.

[Gifts Galore Every Day!]

▶ Grade: Legendary

▶ Classification: VIP1 Skill

▶ Level: 3

▷ Creates a 'VIP3 Attendance Box' daily at midnight.

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

▷ You can spend 100 Gold to unlock the 'Level 2 Trait'.

▷ You can spend 500 Gold to unlock the 'Level 3 Trait'.

Even his daily gift box had been upgraded to a VIP3 version.

He hadn't opened it yet, but considering the VIP2 box had been a solid upgrade with items genuinely useful in dungeons, he could no longer dismiss the daily delivery from VIP3 as trash. More importantly, a sliver of hope flickered within him as he prepared to open it. 'Isn't it about time I got something like an intermediate-grade dagger?' he mused.

He'd once received two pieces of beginner's armor at the same time, and he was still getting good use out of the set bonus. Between the stat boosts and the exclusive Gold Maker options, they were still viable, but it was only human nature to crave something better. 'I should unlock my traits, too.' His eyes drifted to the still-locked 'Level-2 Trait' and 'Level-3 Trait'. Given the cost, it seemed wise to see what was inside the VIP3 box before investing.

With his review complete, he focused on the new skill.

[Today's Mission!]

▶ Grade: Legendary

▶ Classification: VIP2 Skill

▶ Level: 2

▷ Generates a Normal to Epic-grade 'Today's Mission!' daily at midnight.

▷ The generated mission is influenced by Gold Power.

▷ 'Gold Mission Chapter 1' is activated.

"Huh?"

He'd just discovered another hidden feature.

* * *

Kim Buja was thoroughly satisfied, making excellent use of all his Gold Maker skills. He'd even grown fond of Hwangdo, the freeloading pet on his shoulder who contributed absolutely nothing.

"Hey, get out of there, you little punk. Show some respect."

"I thought you said Hwangdo was a girl."

"I'm not sure. There's no way to check. I thought it was a girl based on its behavior, but seeing it today, it might be a he."

"Maybe it wants to see what you're so envious of," Seora teased.

"Clever little thing."

While pretending to scold Hwangdo, he let his gaze linger on the creature as it burrowed between the buttons of his open shirt, nuzzling its head against his chest. He didn't read too much into it, of course. It was just a bit of harmless banter meant to get closer to Jeong Seora. What truly satisfied him was using Hwangdo as an excuse to see her more often.

Every aspect of the Gold Maker class was proving useful; there was nothing to discard. If there was one feature he tended to overlook, it was 'Today's Mission.' The rewards from a Rare-grade mission were a decent day's haul, so he usually completed them. However, he'd started neglecting the Normal-grade missions, and even the Rare ones that were too difficult to clear in a single day, seeing them as a waste of time.

It was the same now. With the Gold Shop at his disposal, he'd only opened the 'Today's Mission' screen out of idle curiosity.

"What's a Gold Mission?"

He felt a familiar thrill, the same one he'd felt when the VIP1 box unexpectedly yielded two pieces of beginner's equipment. New content, especially with the word 'Gold' in the title, piqued his interest. He quickly tapped the notification to see the details.

[Gold Mission]

▶ Chapter 1

# 1-1: Rescue the princess

With only one mission active, the hologram was stark and simple. Below the chapter heading, next to 1-1, was the mission title.

"A princess?"

What kind of mission was this? Would it be difficult? He didn't have to wonder for long.

[Rescue the princess]

▶ Grade: Chapter 1-1

▶ Content: Rescue the princess!

▶ Reward: Level 1

The system was designed to resolve any and all questions with a single press.

"Huh?"

After devouring every last word, his curiosity was sated, but his jaw hung open.

"Level?"

It was a familiar, yet foreign word. A word he had yearned for since his awakening but had never seen appear. Now, it had suddenly materialized in the most unexpected way, from the most unexpected place.

"Holy shit."

In that moment, he realized what the single most important reward for reaching VIP Level 3 truly was.

3.

One question burned in the minds of everyone following Kim Buja's career, from his longtime fans to the newly curious: what was his level? In 1-star dungeons, a player's level was paramount, so everyone assumed he had to be close to level 10. It was the only logical explanation. No matter how incredible his gear was, its stats were finite. The cumulative power from the three stat points gained per level would inevitably have a much greater impact.

Believing he was a high-level player was the only way they could begin to rationalize his extraordinary performance. That was the consensus people had reached about his bizarre success: a combination of level, class, and items. But as he cleared more dungeons, and more difficult ones at that, the questions only multiplied. Why isn't his level increasing? He must be over level 10 by now, so why is he still running 1-star dungeons? It wasn't just the public, either.

"Buja, what's your level?" Jeong Seora had asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her. He'd kept it a secret from everyone else, but he didn't hide it from her.

"One."

"Excuse me?"

He had already implied his class was Legendary. He knew she wasn't the type to dig up personal secrets and splash them across social media for clout, so there was no point in keeping things from her.

"It's a class trait. I have plenty of ways to raise my stats, but my level doesn't go up."

"Ah!"

Besides, it was tied to the absolute secrecy surrounding Legendary classes—a fact Seora would find perfectly plausible. He didn't need to elaborate.

"A Legendary class really is on another level."

"Yeah. I don't know about the others, but it looks like I have to clear some kind of strange quest to level up."

"A quest? You haven't cleared it yet?"

"No, it just popped up. I want to get a handle on what it entails before I dive in."

"Seeing as you're still level 1, Buja, your class must have its pros and cons."

From those few clues, Seora pieced together her own assessment of the Gold Maker class. It touched upon a concern that had been nagging at Buja as well. It wasn't a pressing issue now, but it was a problem he would have to confront in the future. 'I won't be level 1 forever, will I?' He was boosting his stats through various means, but as other players reached levels 10, 20, and eventually 30, the statistical gap from his inability to level up would become a chasm.

Even with Gold Power as an alternative, it might not be enough. But he pushed the worry aside. A different method of gaining stats simply meant a different path of growth. He just had to focus on his own journey. And he was confident he could make his character stronger than anyone else's. That was why he would take on the challenge.

"I just need to farm some gold first. I'll be going into seclusion to train for a while."

The fierce ambition of a true player! The allure of a man dedicated to his craft! Shoulders puffed with pride, Kim Buja shot a sidelong glance at Jeong Seora. Money was great, levels were great, and Legendary items were great, but for a man living in the real world, what could be more important than an intelligent, beautiful woman?

"Pfft."

Seeing Buja preening on the sofa, Seora gently set Hwangdo down from her lap and rose to her feet. She walked toward him.

"Legendary Crystal Necklace."

"Yes?"

One step, then two. The distance between them shrank, and she showed no sign of stopping. Buja's once-confident shoulders slumped as he instinctively leaned back, his body pressing into the sofa cushions. He had nowhere left to retreat, but still, she came closer. She climbed onto the sofa and settled onto his lap, so close their breaths mingled.

"Well, this is… a bit sudden."

His gaze darted away, but her slender hand gently cupped his chin, turning his face back to meet her eyes.

"At first, it was just for the guild," she began, her voice soft as she shared thoughts she had kept hidden until now. "And I was a fan, of course." Her eyes held his. "I grew fond of you, and I thought the way you tried to keep a respectable distance was… cute."

They were her true feelings, unburdened by any ulterior motive.

"When I learned how you felt about me, my own affection grew beyond its original intention. The only reason I kept teasing you was because I didn't want to waste time on dating." She was telling him this because she saw him as more than just an asset. "Can you promise you'll only look at me? That this isn't just a fleeting feeling, but something that will last?"

He swallowed hard at her directness, his mind racing. How did he feel about her? How had he been treating her? His perspective was necessarily different from hers. He had met her for the first time after emerging from the game, and his feelings had grown as she drew closer to him. When had it started? He searched for the catalyst, and the answer came with startling clarity. 'The moment I first saw her.'

He was no different from any other man. Who wouldn't fall for Jeong Seora's beauty, her confidence, her status? Seeing her every day, he had grown attached. He'd even caught himself imagining a future with her, encouraged by how well she received his advances. And now, that same woman was before him, their skin touching, their breaths mingling, asking if his feelings were real. Asking if he could commit to her for a lifetime.

At that, Kim Buja nodded, his confidence returning in a rush. "In a game, if a character's stats start to tank, I'd drop them in a heartbeat. But you, Seora… you're my main for life. I'm never switching you out."

"Pffft."

A smile bloomed on Seora's lips, charmed by his gamer analogy even in such a serious moment. She knew as well as he did that nothing in a relationship was certain. But she, who had never cared for romance, was now ready to follow her heart without hesitation. The tiny, insurmountable wall between them…

"Mmph."

…crumbled.

'I'm yours for life, Seora,' he thought, his mind reeling. He hadn't dated much, but he was certain of one thing. "There's no woman more beautiful than you, and even if there were, I'd see her as nothing more than a rock."

"You might regret that, you know," she whispered, her eyes sparkling. "I don't let go easily."

"Never!"

Regret was for the afterlife.

"So… how about some ramen for dessert?"

He choked back a laugh. The dizzying thought that he might actually die from sheer bliss crossed his mind.

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