Life Rebooted with Copy and Paste-Chapter 21. Flea Market

The term “flea market” originally referred to smaller local markets where anyone could set up a stall to sell registered items, but the Flea Market had long become its own beast.

A multinational corporation had adopted its namesake and expanded, opening up branches all across the globe. The Flea Market modeled itself around brokering the purchase and sale of items. As a pioneer and innovator, it was able to quickly leave its competitors in the dust and monopolize the practice.

One of the company's key innovations, created through heavy investment, was the virtual reality marketplace that hunters used to trade registered items. Kim Do-Joon had come to a capsule room to access it.

"Welcome!" greeted an employee.

After returning the greeting, Kim Do-Joon paid for an hour and proceeded to an unoccupied machine. Laying down in the capsule, he secured his hands and feet with bands and pulled on a pair of goggles bristling with wires.

As Kim Do-Joon loaded into the virtual reality network, scores of statues appeared before his eyes: a soldier with a gun, a dragon breathing fire, and a swordsman swinging a blade. They were icons guiding players to different games.

Proceeding past them, he approached an archway with a sign that read "Flea Market."

When Kim Do-Joon opened the door and stepped through, the scenery changed instantly.

[Verifying member information...]

[Username: PotionMaker — Member Level: Silver]

[Thank you for returning. Would you like to move to the plaza?]

The plaza was a shared space where only brands that were specifically allocated servers within the Flea Market could set up. Window shoppers were expected to wander the grounds browsing through their wares, but Kim Do-Joon had come with only one thing in mind.

"Take me to my personal page."

Blue lines arranged in the style of graph paper spread out before his eyes, expanding to form a new zone. A small log cabin filled the space, promptly followed by an unfolding yard, a tree, a shimmering lake, fences, and a bright sun.

Standing before Kim Do-Joon was his personal page. It was sparsely decorated, displaying one of the default interiors for Silver-level members.

Once the space was fully loaded in, a fairy riding a metallic stag beetle popped into being. "Hello, Master! Long time no see!"

Buzz—

The fairy, an NPC[1] smaller than the palm of his hand, was a guide created by the Flea Market's AI. Her name was Evi.

Enthusiastically, she continued, "Let's shop 'til we drop today! That's the quickest way to level up!"

Buzz—

The fluttering of the stag beetle's wings echoed Evi’s enthusiastic cheers. Perhaps it was intentionally coded into her, but she was always eager to encourage expensive transactions.

As a member's rank increased, their personal page expanded and the appearances of the NPCs assigned to them grew more extravagant. Consequently, Evi often pushed him toward high-value purchases or visits to premium brand stores.

It's all just advertising.

At the end of the day, money made the world go round. Evi, an AI, was just another cog in that machine.

"By the way! Would you like to participate in an auction?" Evi asked. "There are thirty-two auctions taking place at the moment!"

"I'm not interested in any auctions. I need the search function," Kim Do-Joon replied.

Evi's eyes gleamed. "What should I search for?"

"Weapons with a divine attribute."

"Got it!"

In the blink of an eye, a slew of weaponry meeting his criteria was downloaded into the yard.

Weapons with attributes were technically rare finds, but with the Flea Market's global reach, it was easy to find at least a couple to sift through.

Kim Do-Joon looked at the shambolic pile with a small frown. He had yet to include any additional filters.

"Show me the cheapest ones,” he said.

Evi pouted in disapproval. "The cheapest? Are you sure?"

Kim Do-Joon remained resolute. Having failed to change his mind, Evi brought over a one-handed mace.

[Kelium Crusader's Mace]

Description

- A mace used by crusaders who worship Kelium, the God of Oppression and Fear. Historically, this mace has shed more human blood than demon blood.

Rarity

- Rare

Classification

- Weapon

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Effects

- Attack Power + 21-54

- Strength Level + 5

- Vitality Level + 6

- Divine Element

Kim Do-Joon examined the weapon closely and checked the information window. Afterward, he swung it around to test its grip and balance. This was one of the reasons the Flea Market's virtual reality site outperformed all its competitors.

Their technology allowed items from the real world to be meticulously recreated in virtual reality. It could perfectly reproduce their fine details, weight distribution, and over ninety percent of their effects.

The mace was a perfect example. Its Strength and Vitality stats were standardized, though they'd normally vary with the wielder's own body conditions.

Inside the virtual Flea Market, users could experience over ninety percent of the item's original performance. The technology was unique to the corporation. It was rumored that the US government had offered a buyout, only to be flatly denied. Perhaps deals were made under the table in the aftermath, but the technology itself remained in the sole possession of the Flea Market.

Regardless, the mace was in great condition. Its heavy head did pull the balance point forward, but that was not an issue for Kim Do-Joon, who was currently using an axe as his main weapon. Satisfied, he looked at the price tag.

[$98,000]

Unfortunately, the price posed an issue. Kim Do-Joon frowned, turning the mace over.

"Hey, Master, what do you think about this one?" Evi called out in a sweet voice.

Kim Do-Joon turned around to see her holding a massive white spear that was nearly two meters long.

[Belfoss' Divine Spear]

[$2,100,000]

Needless to say, the price was absurd.

"This was discovered inside the Saint Dungeon a few months ago. That jog your memory? It was a famous A-rank dungeon in the US! It had just been cleared, and..." Evi chattered excitedly.

Kim Do-Joon couldn't quite share her enthusiasm, especially when he had specifically asked for the cheapest. The wrinkles on his forehead deepened. It felt reminiscent of being subjected to a thirty-second ad forcibly inserted into a mobile game's loading screen.

"Mute," Kim Do-Joon finally said, having had enough. Evi’s mouth immediately shut.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

In panic and surprise, she loosened her grip and raised her hands to her lips, dropping the two-million-dollar divine spear to the ground with a loud clang!!

"Mmph!" she cried. After hurriedly retrieving it, she dusted and wiped it clean with a handkerchief.

Though she seemed to be handling a high-value item, the spear was a mere imitation created through data. The real deal was likely kept under lock and key somewhere within the American guild that found it.

Now, back to business. It seems like the cheapest weapon is still almost a hundred thousand dollars.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Paying Evi's silent pleas no heed, Kim Do-Joon mulled it over. Ninety-eight thousand dollars was no small amount, especially considering the exchange rate. Spending that much money needed careful consideration.

I could scrape together the money, but...

Kim Do-Joon had his savings combined with his share of the troll dungeon raid's winnings. That morning, the team leader had even promised him a little extra for breaking the shaman's shield to make way for their final assault.

The sum of his liquidated assets fell short, but he could make the difference by selling the Scaly Skin of the Glass Snake to the Black Maiden Guild.

Kim Do-Joon shook his head.

No. I should always have emergency funds.

His own living expenses were of little concern. Rather, he feared Kim So-Eun's condition would suddenly worsen and require more medication to stabilize. Her health had undoubtedly improved thanks to her additional stats, but her illness was yet to be cured.

His opponent was a rare disease with little research behind it. He could not let his guard down.

Then that means...

Kim Do-Joon was at a crossroads. He could look for a way to squeeze out more money, or simply find a cheaper item. The latter choice seemed simpler, considering his single search term.

"Search for the cheapest item with the divine element," Kim Do-Joon told Evi.

"Mmph!"

She shot him a pitiful look, wordlessly pleading for freedom, but Kim Do-Joon ignored her. If he gave in, she would immediately resume advertising.

He instead focused on the small necklace adorned with a gold crescent moon that was the result of his search.

[Novice Priest's Necklace]

[$4,000]

At last, he had found an item with the divine attribute at a satisfactory price.

Pleased, he said, "I'll take this one."

He decided to extend his shopping trip, purchasing a variety of goods including a Superior Healing Potion, various Greater Potions, and a ten-thousand-dollar weapon whose only effect was a boost to attack power. They were, of course, all doomed to become fodder for his copy-pasting.

Done for the day, Kim Do-Joon logged out. The screen faded quickly.

Strangely, he felt a nagging sensation at the back of his mind.

It feels like I forgot something...

Unable to recall anything, he dismissed it as unimportant.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Buzz—

[Logout completed.]

None the wiser, he opened his eyes and stepped out of the capsule.

***

Kim Do-Joon's purchases arrived together three days later.

Calculations ran through his mind.

If I manage to copy-paste everything...

The weapon would add another twelve to twenty-three points to his attack power, while the buffs from the higher-level potions—the Superior Regeneration Potion, Greater Stamina Boost Potion, and Greater Vision Boost Potion—would enhance his abilities further.

The only downside was that Kim Do-Joon was limited to pasting a single effect per target per day.

He picked up the necklace. The crescent moon-shaped pendant jingled softly, catching the light with a delicate shimmer.

Let's see if this works.

Kim Do-Joon brought the necklace closer to him.

[The item effect of the Novice Priest's Necklace can be copy-pasted onto Kim Do-Joon.]

[Item effects available for copy-pasting:]

1. —

*Note: Elements cannot be duplicated.

No item effects appeared. Kim Do-Joon nodded, expecting as much; a second element would conflict with his Mana Core, after all.

It was a bit disappointing, but there was no helping it. Items and Hunters alike could only possess a single element at a time. Sure, there were rare exceptions of individuals who could manage multiple elements, but that required being naturally elementless and relying on a skill to convert elements.

Essentially, they were just starting with a "null" element that allowed for transformation.

Looks like I'll have to embed the effect into a weapon.

Kim Do-Joon reached into his inventory and pulled out his axe. Having stuck with him through thick and thin, it had become well-worn and familiar, bearing the marks of extensive use.

[The item effect has been successfully copy-pasted.]

[The Novice Priest's Necklace has been destroyed.]

[The transferred ability will be adjusted according to the recipient's classification.]

[Young Kujika Tribesmen's Broadaxe]

Description

- A weapon used by the young Kujika Tribe who have not yet reached adulthood. By raising their young to wield weapons instead of toys, the Kujika tribe became one of the strongest warrior tribes.

Rarity

- Common

Classification

- Weapon

Effect

- Attack Power + 5-15

- Strength Level + 1

[Additional Effect]

- Attacks grant the user a Greater Regeneration effect for 30 seconds.

- Attacks grant the user a Minor Stamina Boost effect for 30 seconds.

- Attacks grant the user a Minor Durability Boost effect for 30 seconds.

- Attacks grant the user a Minor Speed Boost effect for 30 seconds.

- Attacks grant the user a Minor Vision Boost effect for 30 seconds.

- Divine Element

"Perfect," Kim Do-Joon said.

He could feel a new energy emanating from the axe. It was warm, like the gentle rays of the spring sun.

With the upgrade, he was ready for a rematch against the ghouls of the Collapsed Temple.

He spent the next few days copying the effects of his potions onto himself, enhancing his buffs. Meanwhile, the cooldown for his return skill ended.

This time, things will be different.

Gripping his newly enchanted axe with a firm hand, he ventured back into the labyrinth.

***

Deep underground dwelled a vast cavern adorned with various statues and murals. A large platform stood at one end with an altar set upon it, looking the part of a place of worship.

The dim light of a series of lamps illuminated the otherwise dark space, revealing a grotesque figure standing at the center.

It wore tattered rags, and every stretch of its exposed skin was covered in burns and sores. Its hands and face were so horribly disfigured that it was hard to tell if it was even human. Its empty eye sockets were particularly macabre.

The genderless figure began placing objects on the altar.

Clatter— Clatter—

The eerie items were made of bone and stone, looking better suited to a graveyard. However, they were handled with a deep reverence that suggested they were sacred.

1. Non-Player Character ☜