Memorize

"Over 3 million Gold Points have accumulated? What on earth is going on?" 

At first, I had no idea what was being said, but then a memory of what Seraph had told me before I returned to the past flashed through my mind.

'Please don't misunderstand. Player Kim Su-Hyeon possesses a significant amount of points. It would be completely unreasonable to simply discard them.'

Could it be that there were still points left even after granting special benefits? I wondered if I really had that many points, but it wasn't something impossible to believe. Even though I hadn't paid much attention to Gold Points despite achieving numerous accomplishments in the later stages, I remembered receiving a massive amount of them when I obtained the final Zero Code. Regardless, it was an unexpected stroke of luck for me right now.

"That's great. Then, pull up the list for the player-exclusive shop. You can access it here, right?"

"Yes, I can. However, there are still rewards that remain to be distributed."

"More?"

Seraph nodded at my question.

"From the boss monster. I'll distribute it immediately. You can check the details in the message."

After finishing, Seraph snapped her fingers lightly. Instantly, numerous messages began appearing in front of me.

『Great Accomplishment! You have defeated the boss monster, the predator of the Rite of Passage, which has claimed countless potential players. One more achievement has been added.』

『You are awarded 2 free stat points.』

『You are awarded 50,000 player-exclusive Gold Points. These can be used in the summoning room or in player-exclusive shops within major cities.』

"Wow."

I could brush off the achievement count and the 50,000 points, but getting free stat points was pure bliss. In the early stages, the only way to get stat points right away, other than the initial mission rewards, was to graduate from the Player Academy, which gave just 4 points after three months.

Aside from that, the methods I knew were limited, and most took time. This was a jackpot. Considering that out of the 21 achievements I'd completed in the past, only one had granted stat points, this was a huge deal. With excitement all over my face, I looked at Seraph.

Still composed as ever, Seraph pulled up the player-exclusive shop list for me.

『Player-Exclusive Shop』 Only purchasable with player-exclusive Gold Points.

『Player Kim Su-Hyeon's Gold Points: 3,834,720GP』

Weapons (▽) Armor (▽) Accessories (▽) Other Equipment (▽) Potions (▽) Elixirs (▽) Scrolls (▽) Materials (▽) Wishes (Required GP: 1,000,000GP) Miscellaneous (▽)

I was about to pick something when I realized the item I was looking for wasn't there. Suddenly, it hit me, and I turned to Seraph.

"I'll pay 77,777 Gold Points to the shop. I've got the amount right, so reveal all the hidden items."

There had once been a player who accidentally spent exactly 77,777 GP and discovered a hidden secret in the shop. This "77,777 GP Hidden Piece" would reveal a special list of equipment for one time only. The funny part was that back then, the player had no points left to actually buy anything after unlocking it. Others who spent more than that also found themselves in the same predicament.

"…How did you even know about that?" 

"The boss monster begged for its life and told me."

"Don't lie. Executing the process is not an issue, but this time, please refrain from any strange behavior like with that Hwajung Incident."

I chuckled and nodded, but Seraph gave me a skeptical look, not convinced, and continued.

"…77,777 GP has been deducted. All hidden items will now be revealed, but for only once. Player Kim Su-Hyeon's remaining GP is 3,756,943 points."

Though Seraph frowned slightly while speaking, she waved her hand, and I saw the updated list of items. Without hesitation, I clicked on the elixirs section, hoping there might be one that could boost my health points.

As the page extended, I started browsing each item calmly.

"Oh, so this exists too? It wouldn't be bad to have an Elixir on hand… but the price is 300,000 points. Hmm, a potion that raises the rank of special or latent abilities by one... also nice. Price: 500,000 points. Looks like I can afford it."

While most players would be shocked at how expensive these items were, I was buying them without a second thought. GP isn't something to be saved—it's best to spend it as soon as possible, especially since opportunities like this are rare. My plan was to use up as much GP as I could, though I had no intention of buying a wish. Using a wish went against my principles, and besides, it was practically useless for anything other than saving a player's life.

"Huh, an elixir that gives 6 stat points for 900,000 points? Seraph, I want to buy three of these."

"That's not possible. Hidden items disappear from the list once purchased, meaning you can only buy one of each item. For potions, you may buy more than one, but for other items, purchasing more than one is not allowed."

So, if I bought the stat-boosting elixir, no other player would be able to get it. It was a bit disappointing, but the fact that only I could use it made it easier to accept. After thoroughly browsing the items from sections 1 to 11, I finalized my shopping list.

|Shopping List:|

|Tear of an Angel (x1)|: Grants 6 new stat points. These can be used to increase any stat the player desires. (900,000 GP)

|Elixir (x2)|: Restores all status conditions, health, and mana. Can recover any person as long as they are not dead. (600,000 GP)

|Arcane Elixir (x1)|: Increases the rank of special or latent abilities by one, except for unique abilities. (700,000 GP)

|Vitality Boosting Elixir (x1)|: Increases health stat by 2 points. Cannot increase any other stat. (200,000 GP)

|Nil Sword (x1)|: An ancient invisible sword passed down through the ages. It is bound to the player and exists within the spirit realm, rendering it invisible. It can strike any being across dimensions, and under certain conditions, the sword spirit can be summoned to this world. The sword boasts excellent cutting power and durability, with self-repair capabilities. Additionally, it can absorb and neutralize 100% of magic attacks and defense of all elements. (1,200,000 GP)

|Hall Plain Gold Exchange (10 GP = 1 Gold)|: 10,000 GP → 1,000 Gold.

|Total Cost:| 3,610,000 GP. Refunds are not possible after purchase. Would you like to proceed?

"Yes."

|Purchase complete. Player Kim Su-Hyeon's remaining GP is 146,943. Items have been transferred to the player-exclusive storage. This storage can be accessed from any small town.|

After finishing my shopping spree, I lifted my head to find Seraph cradling her delicate face in her hands. I had never seen her so utterly defeated before, so I asked with a puzzled expression.

"Seraph. Are you in pain? Why are you crying?"

"…Player Kim Su-Hyeon."

"What?"

"Using so much at once… even if I could accept the rest… but of all things… the Nil Sword... sigh…"

Seraph sighed heavily, and I looked at her with confusion. The reason I had spent so much at once was simple—an opportunity like this might not come again. Besides, I could always earn more GP later. I had rightfully "earned" my GP, and I bought what I wanted. I couldn't understand why she looked so disappointed.

Sensing my gaze, Seraph composed herself and looked at me steadily.

"The Nil Sword… outwardly, it's such a plain weapon. There are countless others with flashy appearances and excellent functions, and their performance is top-notch. I'm curious why you chose the Nil Sword."

"Only fools care about a sword's appearance, so I'm not going to bother explaining. It's a shame it doesn't have any flashy features, but the fact that it's invisible gives me a huge advantage in battle. With this sword, I can fully defend against and attack with 100% magical accuracy across all attributes. Think about how it synergizes with my Fire Elemental abilities—there's no better sword for me. It's durable and self-repairing too. What? Worried about me now?"

Seraph let out a soft, melancholy laugh in response to my teasing and replied.

"To be honest, I am a bit worried now. Player Kim Su-Hyeon, you are strong. With all the equipment you purchased, you could be ranked above most of the top-tier players already inside. Perhaps even compared to those at the very pinnacle… But overconfidence is dangerous. I don't know if you're aware, but many of the players in the Hall Plain are fiercely protective of their status. There are also quite a few groups that resort to extreme measures. Alone, no one can survive."

The words alone, no one can survive, struck me deeply. Without realizing it, I found myself biting my lip.

"I understand what you're saying. The nail that sticks out will get hammered down. Don't worry about me."

"I'm glad you know."

I watched Seraph's face for a moment, my expression indifferent, and then spoke again.

"What's the time left right now?" I asked.

"It's been just over two hours since you completed the initiation trial. If you'd like, I can explain more about the Hall Plain."

"…No need." I replied.

I decided to meditate. Meditation is typically done for self-discipline, but it also helps pass the time without noticing. Just as I was about to sit in the lotus position and dive into my inner thoughts, a soft voice interrupted me, right before I could close my eyes.

"Player Kim Su-Hyeon."

"What?"

"I have something I want to ask you."

"Then ask quickly."

Seraph, unfazed by my sharp tone, looked at me quietly for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Do you dislike me, Player Kim Su-Hyeon?"

What is she talking about now? I opened my eyes again and looked at her with an uncomfortable expression. I couldn't figure out why she would suddenly bring this up. Sensing my confusion, she continued speaking.

"I am here solely to guide and support you, Player Kim Su-Hyeon."

"From my perspective, you're just an annoying angel who interferes too much."

"In the rite of passage, you showed your companions a calm, reliable demeanor, that of an adult man. Is that the real Kim Su-Hyeon? Or is the way you behave with me your true self?"

For a moment, I just stared at her. If I had to choose, I'd say this—how I am with her—is closer to my real self. In the rite of passage, I needed to maintain a certain image, so it was like playing a role. I could guess what she was really curious about. 

"You want to know which one is the real me, right?"

"Humans are creatures with a thousand faces," I said, my tone softening just enough to make Seraph's eyes widen slightly in surprise.

"Could you explain that a bit more?" She asked.

"It means people change depending on who they're with. If someone likes me, I'll treat them well. But if someone dislikes me, why would I go out of my way to be nice to them?"

Seraph tilted her head, considering my words, then replied, "That seems like a very clear-cut way of thinking. In that case, I don't dislike you, Player Kim Su-Hyeon. But you've never looked at me with kindness, not even once."

"Don't draw such simple lines. Humans sometimes want people who dislike them to like them. So the opposite can be true, too, right?"

One thing I liked about talking to Seraph was how the conversation flowed easily. There was no need to explain every little detail; she accepted what I said and analyzed it logically. After a brief moment of thought, she nodded and responded.

"I see. I feel like I've learned something valuable today."

"Don't expect much from someone who was forcibly kidnapped and used as a test subject by your people. Anyway, stop talking to me now."

She looked like she had more to say but held her tongue. With that, I emptied my mind and started meditating.

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