Escape - Chapter 34.2
Chapter 34.2
Desire, anticipation, a touch of audacity. Emotions one might feel after making a deal with a devil swirled within her.
Ding.
The now-familiar notification sound rang out, and a system window appeared in the air.
A gift (1) has arrived in your inbox. Would you like to check it now?
The maximum amount of 10,000 Gold has been received due to the one-time transfer limit.
10,000 Gold received from: WooYoon_e. Accept / Decline
“Oh my god.”
Startled, Adeline abruptly sat up. For a moment, she even forgot her persistent fever.
“…10,000 Gold?”
These were her first words, disbelief evident in her tone. She stared blankly at the air.
She felt Damian’s gaze, questioning her reaction, but she was just as confused.
“Wait a minute. Something suddenly popped up. Just give me a second.”
Unable to immediately grasp the situation, she reread the notification. Before she could properly react to the unexpected gift, the message that accompanied it automatically opened.
Unnie! It’s Yoone! Surprised, right? I actually wanted to contact you sooner, but I was late. I’ve been thinking a lot about whether I should do this. The Gold I just sent you…
In the video, Yoone, with her hands on her hips, beamed and leaned closer. Her close-up face whispered as if sharing a secret.
…is the money I earned from that broadcast. Hehe. I just got my advertising revenue, and I felt guilty, so I’m sending you half.
At the mention of a broadcast, Adeline searched her recent memories. Come to think of it, Yoone had been constantly talking to someone, mentioning a live broadcast. Later, Eric had told her that her video had become a hot topic. Apparently, it was a way to earn money. The message continued.
I don’t know why, but I keep remembering you gathering those potions. This much Gold, not Bronze or Silver, is enough to buy new clothes and weapons, so go on a shopping spree at the shop.
‘Shop? Where’s that?’
Oh! Sis, you’re going to say you don’t know how to use the shop, aren’t you? Just think ‘Shop!’ and the shop window will open. FYI.
Feeling like her thoughts had been read, Adeline gave an awkward smile. Despite their short time together, Yoone seemed to understand her well.
Oh, and if you want to appear on the broadcast again, feel free to contact me anytime! Thanks for taking care of me last time! I’ll be in touch!
The video ended with a bright wink after her final words. It was a short and to-the-point message.
Adeline clicked “Accept,” feeling a strange mix of emotions. Money from her video. Now that she thought about it, she had never given Yoone permission to film her. But she couldn’t complain. She suddenly remembered where this money could be useful.
Although she wasn’t familiar with the currency values, she understood from the context that Gold was the primary unit. Bronze and Silver were likely smaller denominations. And given the one-time transfer limit, 10,000 Gold must be a substantial amount.
How could she quibble about the video when she was so grateful? Adeline pushed aside her complex feelings.
‘If it’s available in the shop, this should be enough to not only treat the fever but also restore my lost energy.’
Focusing her dizzy mind, Adeline silently repeated the word as Yoone had instructed.
‘Shop.’
As soon as she finished the word, a new window appeared before her eyes. Adeline keenly felt the convenience of this game-like world. Being able to buy things without going to a physical store was a revelation.
The shop was organized into categories: Food, Clothes, Weapons, Various Potions, Other Items.
Adeline immediately clicked on Food. But no matter how long she scrolled through the extensive list, she couldn’t find the red liquid Yoone had given her. Checking the other categories just in case, she finally found it under Various Potions.
Health Recovery Potion D
Restores 1,000 HP upon use. Cannot be used when HP is full.
Price: 3 Gold
Quantity: 1
She noticed there were better potions available. Potion C restored 10,000 HP for 40 Gold, and Potion B restored 100,000 HP for 500 Gold.
After a moment of consideration, Adeline purchased Potion C, a reasonable middle ground.
As soon as she purchased it and visualized it in her mind, a large glass bottle filled with red liquid appeared in her hand. By now, she was getting used to these magical occurrences. Adeline unhesitatingly opened the bottle and gulped down the liquid.
The effect was remarkable. The splitting headache vanished instantly, and her mind cleared. While she didn’t feel the surge of energy she had experienced before, at least the pain was gone. Adeline shivered and let out a sigh of relief.
‘I finally feel alive.’
Just in case, she purchased ten more Potion C’s.
Remaining Gold: 9,560
With ample funds, her thoughts immediately turned to clothes. Unlike District 13, this place was windy and cold. She longed for warmer clothing that would protect her from the elements.
Clicking on the Clothes category, a cascade of squares displaying pictures and descriptions of clothing appeared, the list extending to 100 items.
‘100? Do I have to look through 100 items?’
A quick glance revealed a wide range of prices. Some clothes cost a mere 5 Gold, while others had prices so high it took a while just to count the zeros. As she scrolled endlessly, one item caught her eye.
Black Uniform Top (Limited Edition)
A practical uniform designed by user Kyle. Protects the wearer from extreme heat and cold, maintaining a constant temperature. Comfortable and practical, feels like wearing nothing.
(2-Set Effect)
When worn with Black Uniform Bottoms (Limited Edition), all stats +50
Non-tradable
All classes can equip
It was a two-piece uniform that resembled the Guard uniforms, which drew her attention. Even the emblem on the left side of the top was the same: a white emblem of a serpent coiled around a cross, emblazoned on the left b****t. Struck by the unexpected similarity, Adeline instinctively checked the price.
“The price… 3,000 Gold for the set.”
The budget was perfect. Buying both pieces would cost 6,000 Gold, leaving her with roughly 3,500 Gold as an emergency fund.
Quantity: 2
After a moment’s hesitation, Adeline adjusted the quantity and clicked the Purchase button.
A notification popped up confirming the purchase, and a neatly folded set of clothes landed softly in her hands. She had a distinct feeling that the mission to rescue Luce might take longer than expected.
Perhaps because premonitions, when too clear, dull the sense of reality, Adeline, while aware of Luce’s distant peril, remained completely oblivious to the danger posed by the man beside her.
