TLTS~43

Chapter 43

A nationwide announcement in Korea. Although Chari had expected it, the feeling was still fresh.

She felt as if she had become the protagonist. The emotion of thinking, “I thought I was a side character, but maybe I’m actually the main character?” made her young heart race.

Thump! Thump!

With the pounding of drums, the sound of brass instruments followed.

Gwanghwamun opened wide, and people dressed in Joseon-era costumes came out, playing all sorts of instruments.

And someone came running out, panting.

Above her head, letters floated in the air. She was wearing a colorful, pretty hanbok, and honestly, Chari couldn’t help but admire it.

[Joseon Lady, Jo Seong-hee]

“Please forgive me for visiting such humble surroundings. I am Jo Seong-hee.”

Chari didn’t reply.

Joseon Lady Jo Seong-hee was a Korea-customized NPC who appeared in multiple top civilizations of Korea.

She could only recite preset lines; actual conversation was impossible.

“May I serve the noble girl?”

[YES]

[NO]

A prompt appeared.

“Y-Yes.”

She selected YES.

“Please accept this first.”

It was a small badge.

A badge showing the level in the marketplace, where the level indicated wealth and trust.

[Carrot Market Badge]

Indicates your level in the Carrot Market.

Level: SVIP

All theft-type skills below this level are nullified.
Customization is possible.

Chari immediately thought of the yellow duck. It just naturally came to mind.

At that moment, the Carrot Market badge turned into a yellow duck.

“Truly, an excellent eye you have,”

Joseon Lady Jo Seong-hee pinned the duck badge to the right side of Chari’s chest.

Chari’s confidence soared.

“In accordance with market rules, I shall grant you infinite virtual diamonds.”

[First Visit Bonus!]
[Unlimited virtual diamonds exclusive to the Carrot Market granted.]

Virtual diamonds. They could be used freely to bid in the Carrot Market (oil market). Of course, the bids weren’t actual transactions, but the system was designed to help users get familiar with it.

“Shall I guide you through the marketplace?”

Again, a YES/NO prompt appeared.

Chari imagined holding the hand of this pretty woman in a hanbok and strolling through the market.

It was a very tempting thought, but she shook her head.

If she drew too much attention, she might worry Davis.

“I’ll purchase an avatar.”

A selection window appeared before Chari.

For reference, avatars were modeled after rulers of each city.

[Purchase Avatar]
[Selected: Seoul Ruler]

From the outside, it looked like Choi Deok-gyu.

For some reason, it made her feel powerful.

“Next time, I shall serve you. I hope this will be a pleasant experience. I shall take my leave now.”

[Move to Carrot Market]

In the square, many Choi Deok-gyus and Lee Cheong-has walked around.

Gwanghwamun Avenue

Even at this moment, countless people appeared and disappeared, flashing light repeatedly.

“Did you see the announcement?”

“Yes, I did.”

“If you clear 10 floors consecutively at L-rank… is that… S-VIDA?”

“Wow, where’s the S-VIDA here?”

Chari had to hold back a laugh.

This was the true feeling of a power-hiding, L-rank power-hiding child. It warmed her inner self.

I need to buy what I need quickly.

Chari went to individuals’ personal stores and purchased various items.

[Purchased: Seven-mi fruit]
[Purchased: Black ginseng]
…
[Purchased: Red angelica]
[Purchased: One-year licorice]

The ingredients themselves were quite easy to obtain.

I’ll protect Teacher Kim Myung-ja.

Chari smiled at the thought of gifting youth and health to Kim Myung-ja.

If she could produce more of it… she could make the burden of the breadwinner (Davis) a little lighter.

She felt good, thinking that even if she wasn’t a filial daughter, she could at least be a Hyo-card owner (a kind of dutiful helper).

[5 minutes later, the oil market opens]

Huh?

The auction, which occurred once every five days, was about to start.

At this time, more people started entering the Carrot Market.

They all seemed eager to participate in the auction.

Judging by their badges, they had at least gold-level wealth.

“Oh.”

Truly the entry of the wealthy—like organic carrots appearing among ordinary ones.

“Hey, you’re new, right?”

“…Y-Yes?”

Choi Deok-gyu1 approached Chari.

“I’m not new!”

“You look new.”

Chari felt slightly guilty. Apparently, her appearance gave her away.

“If you just wander around, you’ll get scammed. There are many thieves here. Well, except me, everyone’s a fraud or a thief.”

He seemed like the biggest fraud of all, though.

“You’re just bronze anyway.”

“I’m not!”

“See, just by looking at your badge, it’s obvious.”

Even silver-level required spending over 100 million.

Thus, people rarely changed their badge’s appearance.

Bronze-levels often decorated their badges extravagantly.

“Look at that tacky duck. You’re basically saying, ‘I’m new, come rob me.’”

“It’s not tacky!”

Because she was speaking to someone wearing Choi Deok-gyu’s avatar, her speech became a strange mix of casual and formal.

“Got anything good?”

With a slightly lisping accent, her opponent flinched.

“Quite the concept enthusiast,”

A yellow duck badge with a lisping Choi Deok-gyu avatar.

“…Huh?”

“No, anyway. Remember, everyone here is a thief… Aaah!”

[SVIP badge nullifies the skill.]

Choi Deok-gyu1, who had tried to approach Chari, was forcefully repelled.

He had failed his attempted theft.

Chari’s anger, however, was a bit unique.

How dare they ignore the yellow duck?

She couldn’t let it slide.

[You can use your diamonds to set a player’s entry restriction.]
[1 day – 100,000 diamonds]

This included virtual diamonds.

The SVIP privilege.

“Five million years.”

For ignoring the yellow duck, the punishment was permanent expulsion.

A notification appeared.

[You cannot enter the Carrot Market for 5,000,000 years.]

Chari, who had defeated the legendary villain who ignored the yellow duck, looked around.

Among the wealthy, someone stood out.

Is that flashing light?

It was a Platinum badge holder.

He wore the Incheon ruler Kim Kang avatar.

For reference, Kim Kang of Incheon was a very unpopular avatar.

A Platinum badge on Kim Kang meant he was the real Kim Kang… or so people said.

“Is that really Lord Kim Kang?”

“Oh! Incheon Ruler appeared!”

People gathered.

He had come to participate in the auction personally.

Kim Kang?

The one who placed a bounty on Davis.

Chari clenched her fist.

An unforgivable enemy had appeared.

[Oil Market Opens]

[Use 1,000,000 diamonds to enter the oil market.]

People gradually disappeared, using 1 million diamonds to move into the auction hall.

Chari also entered the auction hall.

Here, it was truly survival of the fittest.

[SVIP badge nullifies skill.]

Skills flew around like a silent war.

[You can set a player’s entry restriction using your diamonds.]
[1 day / 100,000 diamonds]

100 years.

She had set the rules.

Ignoring the yellow duck: 5 million years.
Simple theft: 100 years.

By this standard, Chari, the L-rank child, was remarkably kind.

Meanwhile, Joseon Lady Jo Seong-hee began the auction.

“I am honored to have so many distinguished guests. Now, the first item…”

The auction began.

Incheon Ruler Kim Kang placed a bid.

[Nervaum Tail]

The tail of a monster. Soft as cashmere, excellent warmth—used by the wealthy for scarves.

“1 billion.”

“1 billion. Any higher?”

Apparently, Kim Kang really wanted this item.

Chari said,

“500 trillion.”

All eyes turned to her.

Seeing her yellow duck badge, people laughed in disbelief.

“Hey, you can’t play around here.”

“You’ll lose your entire fortune if you mess with it.”

“There are crazy people who went bankrupt by joking around here, you fool.”

In auctions, the bid must be paid, otherwise the terrifying Joseon Lady Jo Seong-hee would come to collect.

A single mistake could ruin a life.

But Chari, as always, was firm.

“Five hundred trillion.”

Incheon Ruler Kim Kang—

The villain who put a bounty on Davis.

The L-rank child showed no mercy.