Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

There are five main ways for adventurers in the labyrinth city to obtain items with mysterious effects.

First, by exploring the labyrinth themselves and farming each layer.

This is the most fundamental and high-risk, high-return choice.

As most adventurers know,

It’s common for unknown items to drop from the corpses of higher-ranked, mutated, or special species.

Or they may learn about the entrance method, occurrence conditions, and appearance timing of the cracks⋯

Second, by obtaining items through the skills of skilled blacksmiths, craftsmen, alchemists, and magicians like Hutton.

My ‘Silver Radiance’ and ‘Mendel’s Space Bag’ are examples of this.

Usually, to obtain rare items of a certain grade or higher, they need strong connections or a lot of money.

Or they need to obtain special materials or complete personal requests.

Therefore, the quality is guaranteed, the low point is moderate, and the high point is very high, but it’s a difficult choice to obtain.

Whether they commission a request or purchase directly from the person, they can almost always get the item they want.

For example, the high-level elf, Rashion, offered platinum coins and rare metal ingots for a commission, so it’s a difficult but advantageous choice.

Third, theft and murder.

Not only professional thieves and murderers but also adventurers who see others as weaker than themselves may turn into thieves and murderers.

In exchange for giving up their humanity and conscience, they can easily take the fruits of others’ adventures, so⋯

This choice is more efficient and rewarding than the first two methods.

However, there’s a reason why only a few people choose this path.

‘If you’re caught, you’ll be killed, and even if you’re not caught, you’ll have to hide in Zone 8 in fear.’

Although it’s difficult to deal with murder in the labyrinth, there’s no absolute in the world.

If their tails get too long or they choose the wrong target, they’re as good as dead.

In conclusion, just as drug addicts can’t quit drugs because they can’t forget the euphoric experience, only bottom-dwellers who are addicted to murder and theft would consider this method, so it’s not worth considering.

So, let’s move on to the fourth method.

The Sung-Hwi Auction House.

I don’t know much about this either.

The information I’ve heard is that⋯

High-ranking officials, noble-born aristocrats, or high-level adventurers participate in the auction, and extremely rare items are auctioned.

I didn’t even know if the auction house was in Zone 1 or Zone 2 at my level.

But even if I knew, it wouldn’t make a difference because I couldn’t go there.

Finally, the Integrated Exchange in Zone 4.

[Rubenheim Integrated Exchange]

This is a place where adventurers who have made some money from exploring the labyrinth use to buy and sell items.

As the name suggests, the exchange is very large and has a well-established and thorough system.

The number of employees is also large, so the commission for registering items for sale or purchasing desired items is not small.

However, even considering this, the exchange is very convenient and accessible, so it’s used by everyone from mid-level adventurers to wealthy commoners and nobles.

Yes. Right now.

“There’s nothing for sale this month. Sigh, I wonder when it will be completed.”

“Wow! It sold for twice the price from three months ago! Rare items are worth what you pay.”

“Damn dwarf bastards! Please stop monopolizing the ore!”

As I approached the entrance of the building, I heard a mixture of joy, lament, anger, and resignation, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Ugh, how can you work in such a noisy place?”

“Don’t worry. There’s a silence magic tool installed inside the building. It will be quiet as soon as you enter.”

Thud─

Indeed, as soon as I entered the first floor, the noise stopped, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Veronica gestured for me to follow her.

“Do you see the reception desks in front and the numbers floating above them?”

Yes, I see. It’s like a scoreboard.

“You don’t have to wait in line; just take a number and wait, and the number will appear on the board. It’s a valuable product of magic.”

As we talked more, it seemed that there was no separate counter for registration and purchase.

“I just need to search for items, but your process is more complicated, so it’s better to move separately.”

“Yes. When you’re done, don’t go anywhere, just sit quietly, okay?”

“⋯I’m not that kind of person.”

Veronica pouted and walked ahead of me.

I followed her and took a number.

What’s this? There’s a form here.

I took a piece of paper from the pile on the table and started filling it out.

Ah. It’s not mandatory, but if you fill it out in detail, you can reduce the necessary procedures.

So, I’ll do it right away.

I picked up a pen from the same container as the paper and started writing.

It felt a bit strange, like I was in a modern government office or bank.

‘Let’s see.’

I wanted to purchase C-grade or higher shoes, cloaks, and items related to exploration, such as living tools or similar items.

I set a budget of 20 gold coins as the limit.

I added a special condition that I preferred options with penalties related to magic power and mental strength.

I thought that I might be able to find a cursed item with excessive penalties, which would be cheaper than its performance.

Now I know.

The magic power regeneration item and the fixed EX grade.

I know that these items won’t be affected by a few levels of magic power reduction options.

The EX, which stands for out of specification, is not just for fun.

As for the mental side, Chaos would take care of it, so I didn’t need to worry.

On the sales side, I listed everything from the D-grade gauntlet I obtained in the cave to the C-grade item I received as a treatment fee with gold coins at the crossroads.

I also listed the unique equipment I received from Martin’s party on the fourth floor, which had a low grade but unique features.

“It’s my turn. Let’s go.”

After checking the number on the board, I gathered the documents and headed to the reception desk.

“Welcome. How can I help you? If you have a written document, please submit it here.”

“Is it possible to complete both the purchase and sale processes at once without having to go back and forth?”

“Of course. In the case of consignment sales registration, if you have a large number of items, it may take quite some time. Is that okay with you?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

I submitted the documents to the employee without hesitation.

The employee carefully reviewed the documents and nodded.

“Since you’ve filled out each item in detail, the process won’t be complicated. Please wait a moment.”

The employee manipulated a flat magic tool the size of my face and spoke in a blunt tone.

“There are too many items that meet your criteria. I’ll have to narrow down the options for living tools. Do you agree?”

I wanted to find a rare magic pot that could cook anywhere or a lantern magic tool that could be used as a torch, but I had no choice.

“Okay, then narrow it down to water-related items.”

“Confirmed. There are 23 items that meet the criteria. Please note that a confirmation fee will be charged for each item, which is equivalent to the cost of a 5-day stay at a 4-zone inn.”

The fee was one silver coin per item.

In other words, checking one item would cost the same as a 5-day stay at a 4-zone inn.

‘Searching costs 23 silver coins⋯ It’s expensive. I knew it was expensive, but it’s still expensive.’

Damn. No wonder low-level adventurers can’t afford to visit the Exchange.

I felt a pain in my stomach, but I didn’t show it to the employee.

“Here you go. After confirmation, please return the confirmation slip to one of the employees wearing a blue hat and tell them which item you want.”

The employee took out a few documents and handed them to me, saying,

“If the confirmation slip is leaked outside the building, you will be strictly punished and permanently banned from the Exchange. Please be careful.”

“I understand. I want to move on to the sales process now.”

“Sorry, after you confirm the purchase, tell the staff, and we’ll move on to the quality check and registration process.”

“Does that mean I’m done at the reception desk?”

“Yes. You can handle everything at the item storage, so you don’t need to come back.”

Unlike Veronica’s worries, the process was straightforward and efficient.

I thanked the employee for their help and returned to the empty table to check the 23 items one by one.

I had already seen many unique items and equipment, so I was able to quickly scan through the items despite their large number.

Yes. The confirmation didn’t take long, but⋯

⋯The condition of the items was not good.