Chapter 55
A month had passed.
Deep within a shadowy corner of Beginner City, a hidden cave entrance had become the center of quiet whispers and long lines.
People gathered—some desperate, others hopeful—all drawn by one name that now echoed in hush tones through the streets:
The Merchant Beneath the World.
"Hey, brother," one man whispered to another as they stood in line, "it's my first time here… are the rumors true?"
The other grinned, clearly a frequent visitor. "Brother, you wouldn't believe it even if I told you. This man—this being—can grant any wish. Any. But there's always a price. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes… not. But it's always fair."
"You've been here before?"
"I was one of the first," he said proudly. "Back then, I didn't even pay anything. I just asked for one million platinum coins to clear my debts. He gave me two million—for being the first."
He gestured to his fine clothes, a smug smile on his face. "Look at me now."
The other man's envy was clear, but excitement burned brighter.
The Merchant, they said, rarely asked for material wealth. His prices were… different.
Inside the cave, cloaked in layers of enchantments and shadow, Ethan sat in silence.
His Veil of Silence talent was active.
No one who entered saw Ethan Yagami. They saw only a formless silhouette—faceless, genderless—a presence shaped from living shadow. His eyes, twin voids, stared lazily, calmly. Even his voice became a memory that faded the moment one stepped away.
He had become truly unknowable.
A woman now sat before him.
Old. Hunched. Her face marred by age, acne, and something deeper.
Ethan didn't flinch. He didn't judge. His expression—if anyone could even see it—remained unchanged. He didn't care about appearances.
"What do you wish for, my lady?" he asked, his voice smooth, respectful, even kind.
That was part of his growing reputation. The Merchant Beneath the World was always polite. Always fair.
The woman didn't hesitate.
"I wish to marry… and have children. But I've always been ugly. Since I was born. No one's ever even looked at me twice." Her voice trembled.
Ethan didn't blink. He'd heard countless wishes by now.
He activated Eyes of Judgment, peering into her soul.
She was good.
It didn't matter too much—he had systems in place. Anything he gave, he could take back. If someone misused his gifts, he'd know instantly. And he would reclaim them—no matter where, no matter when.
That was the nature of his path: balance. Give and take.
'System, do I have a potion that can improve her beauty?'
[You do. But she is cursed. The potion alone won't suffice. The curse is powerful—it must be lifted. Once done, her true form will return.]
A curse?
That explained a lot.
'How many karmic points do I have?'
[1 trillion.]
'What's the cost of removing the curse?'
[5 billion.]
'Do it.'
A moment passed.
[You have received: Curse Removal Potion (Stage-1 God Grade).]
Ethan held the shimmering vial, then turned to the woman.
"You have been cursed. That is the reason your appearance has always been this way."
The woman's eyes widened in shock. "Cursed? But… who would curse me?"
"I do not know," Ethan replied evenly. "But if you wish to learn, I can find the answer."
He paused.
"However… judging by the strength of the curse, the consequences will be heavy. You may not like what you learn."
The woman hesitated—then slowly shook her head. "Not yet. I'll come back… when I'm ready."
"Now, for the cost of your wish…"
Ethan now has the authority to determine the cost of the wishes.
Most of the time he is lenient. But sometimes he can't even if he wanted to.
And for lifting a curse at the stage 1 god level it's no easy matter.
So,
"The cost will be your beauty. Your beauty will be too exceptional. And because of that you will live in constant trouble. Men will do all to claim you."
The woman trembled. Her expression hesitant.
But she does not back down. She had lived in this state for too long. As a woman she wanted to beauty and to be loved.
So she accepted the burden. The cost.
"I accept it."
Immediately when she did, a coin appeared in her palm. Cold. Impossibly smooth. Black and white—like dusk and dawn trapped in metal.
One side bore a perfect scale.
The other, the faint etching of a veiled figure—faceless, watching, unknowable.
"This is my mark," Ethan said. "All who strike a deal with me carry one. With it, you may call upon me, wherever you are, whenever you wish."
He paused, voice soft as a falling blade.
"I might answer. Or I might not."
She nodded.
She took the potion and left, her heart full of gratitude—and something new. Hope.
But even as she walked away, her mind fumbled to remember what his voice sounded like. It left no echo. No tone. Just… silence.
Ethan exhaled softly.
One more soul helped. One more balance struck.
Then the final visitor of the day stepped forward.
A man. Plain. Ordinary. Unremarkable in every way.
But Ethan's instincts screamed otherwise.
There was something off. Something hidden.
The man bowed slightly. "Greetings, Merchant Beneath the World. I come with a request."
"Speak." Ethan was calm. Unworried. He had enough Stage-2 and Stage-3 artifacts, barriers, poisons, and explosives on hand to wipe out armies if needed. Any fool who tried to strike him would be erased before drawing a second breath.
But this man wasn't a fool.
He felt the pressure, the chill in the air, the weight of legends.
"I am the last prince of this kingdom," the man said. "I was sent here on an assignment by my royal father. And by chance—or fate—I heard of you."
Ethan tilted his head slightly, intrigued.
"The kingdom plans to declare war against the Kingdom of Castria. The king has decreed that whoever contributes most to the war effort shall be named his successor."
"I… am the weakest of his children. The least talented. But I want to be king."
His eyes burned with resolve and determination.
"I know I am worthy. So I ask of you, Merchant Beneath the World… grant me this wish."
Ethan sat in silence.
A smirk played on his lips, hidden behind the veil of shadows.
Now this… was interesting.
—End Of Chapter 55—