Chapter 270
At that moment, I felt a shock, as if struck on the back of the head.
‘I can go there now?!’
Wasn’t my entry restricted because my body wasn’t free? [The Sublime General Store says that although it’s not originally possible, its true body will help.]
‘I want to go! I want to go right now! Please get me out of this prison without bars!’
Indeed, the grandmother deity did not speak empty words.
[
‘Yes! Absolutely yes! Even if it’s kidnapping, I’m fine with it!’
[The Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World scolds, saying that’s a dangerous thing to say.]
[The Sublime General Store chuckles, asking what insane deity would kidnap the first apostle of the Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World.]
Meanwhile, the system message updated.
[
At that moment, my senses returned.
My vision, where the black curtain had been lifted, was reconstructed. An occult shop, similar to one I had visited many times before, unfolded before my eyes.
However, there was one slight difference.
‘Black and white?’
The space I was currently in had no color.
“Dreams are originally colorless. You can think of it as having come here in the form of a lucid dream.”
The woman who emerged, drawing back the bamboo blind, was an exception. She was dressed in vivid colors.
“Of course, you and I are exceptions.”
I gazed at her as if enchanted, then barely managed to speak.
“Uh… Sublime General Store grandmother?”
“Yes, that’s right. Long time no see, cute possessor.”
“But you’re not a grandmother anymore?”
Her face was similar, but she had far fewer wrinkles. She looked like nothing more than a mature middle-aged woman in her 50s at most.
Then it came to me. -Oh dear, my precious vessel is damaged. I might have to see you in a different form next time. I remembered that right after ‘Strict Order and Goodness’ made the remark about botching the divine realm project, the grandmother’s body became transparent.
“You’ve rejuvenated. Should I call you ‘older sister’ now?” [The Scathing Critic of Balance marvels at your flattery skills.]
However, the Sublime General Store did not seem pleased.
“I’m so sad. All the wrinkles imbued with my experience are gone.”
“You have unique tastes…”
“What?”
“I also want to have such elegant wrinkles when I get old.”
“As expected, you have good taste. Hohoho.”
I first expressed my gratitude.
“Thank you so much for calling me. I thought I was going to die from boredom, but now I feel alive again.”
“You certainly looked it. Stay here until your time is up, then go.” [The Heavens’ Secret Overseer expresses displeasure at bypassing penalties through illicit means.]
“Thank you so much!”
“Hoho, since you’re here, would you like to browse some items?” [The Scathing Critic of Balance interprets this as a polite threat to buy at least one thing.]
At that moment, the Sublime General Store’s eyes, after taking a puff from her pipe, changed.
“Balance, be quiet?” [The Sublime General Store warns the Scathing Critic of Balance for fabricating pure goodwill.]
Crack!
The moment divine sparks flew from the pipe, I felt the hairs on my entire body stand on end.
It was an immense grade. [The Scathing Critic of Balance fears the +10 reinforced pipe.]
[The Eye that Oversees All Chaos urges them to quickly apologize.]
[The Scathing Critic of Balance apologizes.]
The pipe was an incredible item, after all.
Just then, I recalled a being who had been thoroughly beaten with that very pipe and chased out after fumbling through my satchel in the Library of All Creations.
Somehow, it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I shook off the stray thoughts.
“I was going to buy something anyway.”
“Hoho, you don’t have to mind what Balance says.”
“No, I really do need to buy something.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“A luxury wristwatch.”
A one-time regression artifact that allows for a second playthrough of a possessor’s life.
I felt the necessity to buy it, as future battles would become even more intense life-or-death struggles.
The Sublime General Store immediately took out the item but left a word of caution.
“It seems like it’s for insurance, but try not to use it unless absolutely necessary. You know, regression is the best way to drive someone mad. And if you use it, you’ll regress to the moment of possession.”
“That means I’d go back to being 10 years old. Ohh, this time I’ll challenge a parenting story…”
“…”
“Just kidding.”
I lived fiercely. I could only do it once; I wouldn’t be able to do it a second time.
In the VIP Point Shop, it was also possible to deposit and withdraw items from my inventory. I immediately put the luxury wristwatch away.
‘Ah, now that I think about it.’
Just then, I thought of a pastime to fill the time. I opened my inventory again and took out an artifact I already possessed.
An empty box with a question mark drawn on it.
It was none other than the ‘Synthesis Mystery Box’ I received as a reward for the 5th Cult Master Quest.
‘According to the gods, this artifact is supposed to be incredible.’
As I narrowed my eyes, the description appeared.
[
A mysterious box, beautifully wrapped like a gift, but actually completely empty. The large question mark drawn on its lid stimulates curiosity.
It would be problematic to think of it as an ordinary mystery box that only yields junk when opened. This artifact is a special holy relic jointly created by the Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World and the Creative Economy Manager, and it is a very special, tremendous, and magnificent artifact that only possessors who have met the achievement conditions of ‘World Possession of SS-rank difficulty or higher’, ‘Destined to Save the World’, and ‘Protagonist of the World’ are qualified to use… (See More)]
As I had resolved yesterday, I intended to properly read the lengthy description and praise the Voice-Spirit’s generosity.
So, I unfolded ‘See More’ to confirm the exact function and usage of the artifact, but then….
“No, this is!”
The Sublime General Store grandmother showed an intense reaction. It seemed I could save myself the trouble of reading the lengthy explanation.
“Isn’t this the Synthesis Mystery Box? It’s a truly rare limited artifact… Ah, now that I think about it, you are a possessor who meets all the acquisition requirements. Hoho.”
“All the gods react the same way. Is this really such a special item?”
“Of course! It’s disposable, but it synthesizes the artifact most needed by its current owner.”
“Oh? It gives me what I need most?”
I stroked my chin, lost in thought.
Currently, this world is in a situation where it wouldn’t be strange for Reed to unleash another Doomsday-level catastrophe at any moment. Feeling acutely that I must stop him, if it’s something I need…
“Hmm, will it give me something that will help me defeat Reed?”
To be precise, there were many things I needed.
I’d like a weapon that can overwhelm Reed, restraints to bind him, and medicine that can buy enough time to deal with him.
Since it said it was disposable, it would be just one of those. It was time to consider which one would help me the most.
The Sublime General Store, after taking a puff from her pipe, gave me a peculiar eye-smile.
“Really?”
“Huh?”
“What you need is determined by what you desire. Is what you truly desire to defeat Reed?”
“…”
No, it’s not.
The god’s eyes were saying so.
Having honestly shown a reaction that hit home, I let out a low sigh. Evasion would only be pathetic.
“Then, I can just ask this artifact what I want and need.”
“Good idea.”
The Sublime General Store, spreading a fragrant medicinal smoke, opened the lid of the mystery box.
“First, you need to put one artifact in as a synthesis material. Anything is fine, so a cheap one is good.”
“What’s the cheapest artifact here?”
“Replica of the Eye of Passion.”
“I’ll buy one.”
I immediately put the red-rimmed sunglasses into the mystery box and closed the lid.
‘For some reason, I feel a quest will pop up.’
It was correct.
[
What you need, who holds a difficult-to-achieve wish, is the ‘■■■■’ artifact. To synthesize it, the following artifacts must be placed as materials inside the Synthesis Mystery Box.
Artifacts worth over 50,000 points (0/3)
Regressor’s Wristwatch (0/1)
Save Point (0/1)
Holy Ground Construction (0/1)]
As expected, the name of the finished product was censored and unknown. No, more than that.
“What kind of synthesis box needs 7 materials to make one artifact? This is completely ‘creative economy’.” [The Creative Economy Manager beams, proud that their joint creation lived up to its divine reputation.]
[The Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World explains that something incredibly good comes out in return.]
The Sublime General Store had already laid out artifacts worth 50,000 points before me.
Her expression showed she had no doubt I would buy them.
Fortunately, Tesillid had earned a lot of money, and I had plenty of points from my exciting shopping spree yesterday.
After choosing three suitable ones, I fell into contemplation while looking at the quest window.
The next three required artifacts were the problem.
“…Why do the names of the specified materials all sound familiar?”
“Usually, they are artifacts held by someone related to your wish, or artifacts with related functions.”
“That’s a perfectly convincing reason.”
I was troubled.
Hadn’t it been said that Save Points were no longer obtainable because their production had ended?
That meant I’d have to take back the one I gave to Tesillid. How petty.
But the Save Point wasn’t the only problem. I asked if I could buy the other items to fulfill the requirements, but the Sublime General Store’s answer was negative.
“Holy Ground Construction can only be obtained in your world.”
“Then I have no choice but to take it from Reed.”
“And the luxury wristwatch can only be purchased once per iteration.”
“Haa, seriously.” [The Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World emphatically states that there will be no regression in your genre.]
Privilege for Possessors