TDWAD 23

Chapter 23

World’s highest rate of anomalies per capita.
Due to the frequent anomalies, the gate suppression rate doesn’t even reach the Northeast Asia average.
Contrary to the country’s size, the report card looks terrible, and the stock market keeps sliding.
Now that he had deduced that the opponent was Japan’s Guardian Deity Tsukuyomi, the anxious party was them, not Doyoon.
The capabilities of all of Japan were on the edge of a test.
As a Guardian Deity, there was no way Tsukuyomi wouldn’t use every possible means to aid his descendants.
‘I would have done the same.’

[Transaction Completed.]
[Transaction Results]
-Transferred: ‘Black Ghost Gloves (Hero)’
-Received: 280,000P

-Player Wolin: Korea’s current… Do… Yoon……!
-Player Wolin: I’ve engraved your name three times over.
-Player Hyun Doyoon: An honor. Let’s make another good trade next time.
-Player Wolin: ???
-Player Wolin: Do you think I meant that!!
-Player Wolin: The price of your audacity in crossing me!
-Player Wolin: Soon you will writhe in blood and tears…!
-Player Hyun Doyoon: Wait, then why did we even trade?
-Player Hyun Doyoon: Someone might think I held a knife to your stomach.
-Player Wolin: What did you say?
-Player Hyun Doyoon: I’ll clean up my own tears if they come. I’m busy, so I’m off.
-Player Wolin: You’re leaving?! I’m not done talking…

[Chat Ended.]

It was as clear as day that Tsukuyomi would gnash teeth and curse him.
A Guardian Deity’s pride had been scratched by a player—of course, Tsukuyomi would be hopping mad rather than silent.
If Doyoon wasn’t confident in ignoring it, he wouldn’t have even started the conversation.
Thus, the target for his full attention now was:

[Points Held: 761,144P]

With a light gesture, he pushed away the status window.
The shop window reappeared in front of him.
Doyoon’s index finger hovered over the subcategory <Random Box>.

[Intermediate Player’s Advanced Box]
[Purchase Quantity: (-) 0 (+)]

Pressing and holding for a few seconds, the quantity rolled upward with acceleration.
Doyoon set the purchase quantity to 100 and:

[Intermediate Player’s Advanced Box (100 boxes): 100,000P]
[Purchase? Y/N]

‘Pay.’
Then:
‘…Open all.’

The status window vanished.
In its place appeared a wooden chest adorned with intricate patterns and metal fittings.
‘Luxurious.’

He tried to touch it, but his hand passed through.
Vibrate.
Vibrate.
The lid trembled slightly and slowly lifted.

[Opening ‘Intermediate Player’s Advanced Box’]
[Number to Open: 100]

Flash!
Light burst forth, forming a status window.
Inside were 100 box icons arranged in a grid, each glowing a different color.

From the first row, boxes 1–5.
Colorless light drifted across the boxes.
Doyoon touched the first box and swiped while holding contact.

[Lowest-Grade Mana Potion (Normal)]
[Basic Vitality Drink (Normal)]
[Sharp Greatsword (Normal)]
[Heavy Sledgehammer (Normal)]
[Light Combat Suit (Normal)]

‘Sorry, all trash.’
Consumables could be stored in the inventory.
Equipment could be equipped instantly with commands.
Convenience aside, normal items were essentially factory-grade weapons and armor—no real value.

Doyoon moved to the green boxes.

[Island Battle Bow (Advanced)]
[Crafted Silver Helmet (Advanced)]
[Enhanced Health Booster (Advanced)]

‘Useful before the Day of Awakening, but not now.’

Scrolling through rows 2 and 3, his finger paused at a cobalt-colored box.

[Regeneration Cloak (Rare)]

‘Now that’s somewhat useful.’
Armor adding +3 to regeneration.
Stat-boosting equipment always had value.
After checking all the boxes, only the colorless and green items were added to his inventory.

[Random Box Opening Complete]
-Normal: 66
-Advanced: 33
-Rare: 1
-Hero: 0
-Epic: 0

‘Seriously…’
Doyoon chuckled.
It was laughable.
No Epic or Hero cards were expected, but only one Rare from a 3% chance?

‘200 points for starter boxes, 1,000 for advanced… five times the price, but Rare/Advanced probability increased only threefold.’

Ultimately, no Hero or higher appeared, wasting 100,000 points he’d painstakingly earned.
‘This is the kind of miserable luck you could scream about and get away with.’

-‘This configuration is garbage! And the luck is abysmal!’

Even accepting such a frustrating result, Doyoon remained calm like a lake.
‘Emotional investment in probability games is amateurish.’

It was already done.
Even the rarest possibilities occasionally became the event’s main outcome.
‘Twelve consecutive destructions… this is fine. I’m used to being unlucky.’

But should he just humbly accept misfortune?
Anger or resignation didn’t help solve problems.
What was needed was calmness to smile in the face of the worst and a dice roll to reverse the stagnant flow.
Visions of a six-sided die rolling across his view flickered in his mind.

[Stat ‘Luck -25’ Applied]
[Rare Probability +0.3%]
[Hero Probability +0.1%]
[Epic Probability +0.01%]
[Bonuses Accumulated]
[Probability Info: Normal 26.7%, Advanced 36%, Rare 25.2%, Hero 11%, Epic 1.1%]

Tenfold increase in Hero-or-higher probability after 100 trials.
Rare items almost on par with Normal and Advanced in appearance rate.
-System probability corrections accumulate if low-grade or failed results appear.
-Accumulated bonuses gradually increase chances in subsequent trials.

The only way to remove uncertainty.
This was why Doyoon poured 29,000 points into it.
Luck was classified as a Tier 1 stat.
‘Probability.’

[Intermediate Player’s Advanced Box (20 boxes): 20,000P]
[Purchase? Y/N]

‘…Raises it to the realm of certainty.’
Purchased and opened all.

[Opening ‘Intermediate Player’s Advanced Box’]
[Number to Open: 20]

Flash!
This time it appeared:

[Random Box Opening Complete]
-Normal: 10
-Advanced: 8
-Rare: 1
-Hero: 1
-Epic: 0

A brilliant indigo glow.

[‘Frost Crystal Armor (Hero)’]
-Armor with scattered white frost particles. The emanating chill appears as a protective shield around the wearer.
-‘Unique Skill’ [Frost Crystal Shield]: When hit, creates a shield of cold that slows enemies and has a small chance to freeze them.
-Stat Bonus: Physical Resistance +2, Cold Resistance +4

‘Oh?’
Physical resistance was universally useful.
Cold resistance seemed added for flair.
A decent Hero-grade armor with defensive unique skill.

He continued buying and opening.

[Random Box Opening Complete]
-Normal: 65
-Advanced: 32
-Rare: 3
-Hero: 0
-Epic: 0

Better than last time, closer to expectations.
Still disappointing compared to starter boxes.
‘Without the bonus, I would’ve gone insane.’

[Opening ‘Intermediate Player’s Advanced Box’]
[Number to Open: 20]

Flash!

[Random Box Opening Complete]
-Normal: 10
-Advanced: 9
-Rare: 0
-Hero: 1
-Epic: 0

This time…?

[‘Inner Core of the Spider with Human Face (Hero)’]
-Heroic elixir extracted from a spider with a human face. Condensed life energy increases internal power upon consumption.

‘Not bad. Actually, great.’
If it had been armor or a consumable boosting mana instead of internal power, it’d be useless.
‘But now comes the crossroads.’
Hero items were just the warm-up.
Doyoon took a deep breath.

[Epic Probability +0.01%] … repeated …
[Bonuses Accumulated]
[Probability Info: … Epic 2.5%]

From a 0.1% extremely low probability, it steadily climbed the ladder.
Now comparable to Rare.
Number of attempts needed:

[Opening ‘Intermediate Player’s Advanced Box’]
[Number to Open: 100]

Flash─!

[Random Box Opening Complete]
-Normal: 57
-Advanced: 37
-Rare: 4
-Hero: 1
-Epic: 1

[Rare items]: Enhanced Mentality Booster, Precision Pendant, Holy Cross Sword, Black Iron Armor
[Hero items]: Wave Axe

He only fixed his gaze on the orange box.

[‘Forgotten Alchemist’s Ring (Epic)’]
-Silver ring set with opal, swirling mysterious multicolored energy.
-‘Unique Skill’ [Five Elements Master]: Change the ring’s element to gain:
•Fire: +20% Fire Damage
•Water: +15% Healing Skill Effect
•Wood: +15% Mana Regen
•Metal: +15% Ore Refining Speed
•Earth: +20% Earth Constructs Enhancement

Doyoon’s mouth tightened.
‘It’s done.’
Alchemy-exclusive accessory.
Though expressionless, he was internally exhilarated.
Remaining points:

[Points Held: 401,144P]

One last chance remained.
Should he retry?
‘Of course.’
If he had stopped halfway, two Hero items would’ve been enough.
The probabilities were now clear.
No need to draw 100 at a time anymore.

[Intermediate Player’s Advanced Box (250 boxes): 250,000P]
[Purchase? …]

Predicting the confirmation window, he tapped rapidly.
‘Open all.’

[Random Box Opening Complete]
-Normal: 141
-Advanced: 97
-Rare: 8
-Hero: 4
-Epic: 0

[Hero items]: Darkness Mask, Earth Kite Shield, Spell Scroll: Fire Blast, Thunder God Secret Technique

‘Finally, some decent hits.’
One mine in four is acceptable.

[Stat ‘Luck -25’ Applied]
[Probability Info: Epic 2.6%]

Doyoon’s fingers moved swiftly.

[Opening ‘Intermediate Player’s Advanced Box’]
[Number to Open: 100]

When the chest opened:

Flash─!

[Random Box Opening Complete]
-Normal: 60
-Advanced: 34
-Rare: 3
-Hero: 2
-Epic: 1

His heart raced uncontrollably.
‘Did it… appear?’

[Hero items]: Blue Moon Grass, Chronosa Vision Helmet
[Epic item]: Celestial Harmony Technique

He swallowed hard.

[‘Celestial Harmony Technique (Epic)’]
-A harmonious internal energy method embodying the principles of heaven. Maximizes internal power circulation and accumulation.

“Yes…! Finally??! This is it…!”
Doyoon pumped his fists, body trembling.

Screech. Han Yeonha braked sharply and twisted.
“What… happened?”
“Haam… accident? Did it hit from behind?”
Half-asleep, Siren blinked at Doyoon.
“Nope… but kind of eerie, look at him grinning.”
“Doyoon, are you okay? Those evil spirits earlier?”
“Feels a bit like Satan possessed me.”
Left unchecked, imagination could run wild.
“I’m fine.”
“Then why the scream? And you’re still smiling.”

After the second Epic attempt, he finally got the exact item.
Already a cause for celebration.
But the greater thrill was:

[VVIP Special!]
[Use Name Change Ticket]
[‘Hyun Doyoon’ → ‘Global Merchant D’]

Effectively spent someone else’s points boldly!

[For Sale] Warehouse Clearance! Advanced, Rare, Hero equipment on special!! – Global Merchant D

-Hero (2): Wave Axe (200,000P), Spell Scroll: Fire Blast (150,000P)
-Rare (19): Regeneration Cloak (50,000P), Enhanced Mentality Booster (6,000P), Precision Pendant (20,000P)…
-Advanced (249): Island Battle Bow, Crafted Silver Helmet, Enhanced Health Booster…

•Advanced uniform price 1,000P
•No negotiation on any item
•Inquiries – Message for trade request

‘Is this what they call irresponsible indulgence?’

Taking Tsukuyomi trade as a reference point:
When Guardian Deities were desperate, if he could purchase urgently needed combat gear or items for descendants at slightly high prices?

Doyoon pressed [Create Post].
Suddenly, a barrage of notifications bombarded the status window.

[Messages Received.] x 1077