“Oh, I’m terribly sorry. Today’s the grand opening, and we aren’t open until two o’clock,” Eleanor said quickly, setting her plate aside and putting on her most polite demeanor.

No. That’s not someone you treat like a customer.

I studied the woman again.

Her long, wavy lavender hair nearly covered her eyes, though the back was cut short, just reaching her neck.

She wore a white dress and carried a leather handbag. At first glance, she looked like a normal woman out shopping.

But the bandages wrapped around her right arm, visible at her sleeve’s edge, drew my attention.

Just like in the game. That has to be the Arms Collector, Persilla.

“Oh, I see. I just felt like dropping by because I had a good feeling… I guess I came a little too early.”

Eleanor’s face lit up at those words.

“In that case, if you don’t mind, would you like to take a look around anyway?”

No! Send her away!

I screamed inside, but my rational mind knew it was useless.

Even if she were turned away now, she’d just come back right after opening.

If Persilla had arrived, then the event had already begun.

“Oh my, thank you.”

As she smiled, I scrambled to think.

Persilla—the Arms Collector.

Her nickname said it all: a weapon fanatic.

She wandered the world, and whenever she found a weapon she liked, she would demand the craftsman make her the greatest weapon they could, offering endless sums of money.

If the weapon didn’t meet her expectations, she would cut off the craftsman’s arm with her own weapon, declaring that someone unworthy shouldn’t be allowed to forge.

And if the weapon did please her, she would cut off the craftsman’s arm anyway—so that the weapon she had received would remain their greatest and final masterpiece.

If a craftsman refused her request, she would go so far as to kidnap their family or torture them until they complied.

To craftsmen, she was nothing less than Death itself—disaster, demon, executioner.

In Latesai’s lore, by the time the player first encounters Persilla, she had already wounded or killed more than twenty people and was a wanted criminal across the land.

Though her appearance shifted often, one thing never changed: her right arm was always wrapped entirely in bandages.

“Hm hm hm~.”

Persilla hummed a tune as she walked straight to the center of the shop, where my Rare items were displayed.

She’s looking for a weapon equal to her level. These are all low-level Rares. Maybe she’ll leave disappointed… Please, just be disappointed and go.

“Hmm. Are these all the Rare items this shop carries?”

“Yes, they are,” Lee Donghyuk answered, stepping closer.

I wished he hadn’t. One wrong word and he’d be dead.

“Too bad. I don’t see anything useful for me.”

Wait… is she leaving? Really?

I held my breath, watching her turn away.

But then—

“Oh? But this… this craftsmanship… The level’s low, yet this is… ah… haaa… hnngh…”

Her fingers caressed the weapon. Then she twisted her body, moaning as though in ecstasy.

Everyone in the shop stiffened, their faces twitching.

Shit.

Now she was going to ask who made it.

My mind raced.

I didn’t want to lose an arm. I didn’t want to die. I needed to survive and return to my own world.

Maybe I could claim the craftsman was already dead, and these were the last of their works?

No, that wouldn’t work. Then I could never sell items again.

What if I said I wasn’t capable of making weapons at her level yet, just to buy time?

No. That would end in disaster. Persilla would kidnap me, force me to grind my ability until I could make what she wanted, and once satisfied—cut off my arm.

“Huuhhh… haaahh… Excuse me. These items aren’t inscribed with a maker’s mark. Could you tell me who crafted them?”

As expected.

Eleanor and Lee Donghyuk froze on the spot.

No good. If this went on, they would be tortured for keeping the secret.

Not even Iris, not even the Crystal clan could protect them from Persilla.

Rachel and Sally had been sweating buckets since the moment she entered. They could sense it instinctively—

Persilla’s level was 84.

A maniac and a psychopath, but nearly in the realm of the Seven Pioneers themselves, who alone had reached the 90s.

Think. Think faster, before it’s too late.

My brain burned.

“I’m afraid the identity of the craftsman—”

“I can tell you,” I cut in, stopping Lee Donghyuk.

Persilla turned sharply toward me. Eleanor and Lee both looked at me in shock.

“The craftsman who supplies this shop is someone I know personally.”

“Oooh…!”

Persilla strode over and gripped both my shoulders.

That simple act sent sweat running down my back.

“Is that true?”

“Yes. By chance, I met the craftsman who made these. But he hates trouble. He refuses to reveal himself, only providing to this shop and never engraving his name. Even deliveries are made anonymously, dropping items in an inventory chest at a designated spot without ever showing his face. I don’t even know where he lives.”

“How… fascinating.”

She smiled broadly, and goosebumps broke out all over me.

“A hidden master craftsman. Like something out of a novel.”

“Exactly. I don’t even know his real name. He only gave me his initials: HC.”

“HC… never heard of him.” Persilla licked her lips.

“And that’s all you know?”

“Yes.”

“Then can you tell me where and when he delivers the inventory chests?”

To me, it sounded like she was asking for a stalking route.

“There’s a better way,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm.

“Oh? And what would that be?”

“You want him to make you something, don’t you?”

“Mmhm.”

“Then prepare a letter explaining why you need the item, and include enough money to prove your sincerity.”

“A letter and money?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “Once, he told me he accepted a request that way. It was a one-time thing, but he agreed. He said he got about ten billion won for it.”

“…I see. Alright. Wait here.”

Persilla vanished from the shop like a gust of wind.

Rachel and Sally both exhaled audibly at the same time.

“Nam Yein.”

Eleanor marched up to me, her face pale and hard.

“We need to talk. Alone.”

She grabbed my wrist and pulled.

“W-wait—”

“You stay here, sis.” Eleanor’s voice was icy as Iris tried to follow.

“If you come, you’ll never set foot in this shop again.”

“Ugh…” Iris stopped dead, stricken.

Once we entered a back room, Eleanor locked the door and stepped right up to me, glaring.

“What the hell was that? You were the one who asked us to keep the craftsman’s identity secret! And now this? Who the hell is HC? Don’t tell me these items aren’t actually your work?”

HC… well, I knew a guy named Hee-cheol who loved games, but this was hardly the time to bring that up.

“Eleanor, have you ever heard the name Persilla?”

“Persilla?”

“The Arms Collector. Weapon fanatic. Craftsman killer.”

I listed off her nicknames one by one.

Eleanor’s expression instantly shifted.

“Don’t tell me… that woman who just came in was the Arms Collector?”

I nodded.

“What on earth were you thinking?!”

Eleanor seized both my arms and shook me.

“In that case, you should’ve hidden the truth even more! Why would you lie like that?!”

“If I’d kept hiding it, your life and the manager’s life would’ve been at risk.”

“!!”

Her eyes widened.

“Persilla doesn’t care about the means. I’ve even read reports of her killing people close to craftsmen just to get what she wanted.”

“…This is no good. I need to call the police right now—” Eleanor fumbled for her phone.

I pressed lightly on her wrist and shook my head.

“Neither the police nor the Hunter Security Corps can catch Persilla. Maybe Mayor Chun Jiwon himself could step in, but Persilla isn’t stupid—if someone like him moves, she’ll just go into hiding. And if she finds out we reported her, she’ll retaliate. Things would only get worse.”

“Then what are you going to do?! At this rate, you’re the one in danger!”

“Don’t worry. I have a way to deal with her.”

“R-really?!”

That was a lie.

I hadn’t thought of anything yet.

But I couldn’t afford to lose this business partner.

“Yes. Just trust me and don’t give anything away. Pretend you don’t know who she is. Later, explain this to the manager, but don’t tell Iris. If she acts on her own, my plan will fall apart.”

“…Alright.”

Eleanor finally nodded.

We left the room.

Iris glared daggers at me, but I didn’t have the luxury to care.

“Nam Yein.”

Seo Yui came over.

“Are you alright?”

“…What?”

“Your face looked bad from the moment that woman walked in.”

…So much for hiding it. She’d noticed anyway.

“I’m fine. I’ll explain later.”

“Okay. I’ll wait.”

Seo Yui stayed close to me, as though guarding me.

A little while later, Persilla returned.

“Here.”

She handed me a sealed envelope that crinkled with paper inside, along with a pouch full of glittering Rare gems.

“I couldn’t prepare cash right away, so I brought Rare materials instead. That should be worth well over ten billion.”

She wasn’t lying.

Rare jewels between Levels 71 and 80 really did carry that much value—probably closer to fifteen billion in total.

“Understood. I’ll deliver these and the letter to the craftsman. But since he only checks the deposit chest on delivery days, you’ll need to wait about two weeks.”

“Two weeks. That’s too long.”

Her face hardened.

“…But fine. I’ll endure it.”

I nearly let out a huge sigh of relief.

“Though before that…”

Suddenly, Persilla grabbed my hand.

Both Eleanor and Seo Yui flinched at once. Their shocked expressions told me how bad this was.

Then I grimaced.

Persilla had stuck my finger into her mouth and licked it.

“Wha—!”

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Lumina and Meiling shouted behind me.

“…You lied.”

Persilla pulled my finger from her mouth but kept hold of my wrist.

“I have a special ability. When someone lies, I can taste iron in their fingers. And right now, your finger tastes metallic.”

Behind her, Eleanor’s face had gone pale.

“…Hmm.”

I tilted my head slowly.

“That’s strange. I haven’t lied at all. Besides, I just washed my hands earlier. Are you sure you’re not the one lying?”

Persilla stared at me intently for several seconds.

Then suddenly, the corner of her mouth curled up.

“You caught me. There’s no such ability. I just wanted to test you because your story sounded made-up.”

She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped my finger clean.

“Now, give me your contact information.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t give out my number to people I’ve only met once. Instead, if you come back here in two weeks on Saturday, I’ll have HC’s reply for you.”

“…Hmm. Fine. But tell me your name, at least.”

“Nam Yein.”

“Nam Yein. Alright. I’ll see you in two weeks.”

Humming, Persilla strode out of the store.

“What the hell is wrong with that crazy woman?” Meiling muttered, crossing her arms.

I couldn’t agree more. She was insane.

“Eleanor, I’ll go for now. I’ll be in touch.”

“Yeah… alright.”

“‘In touch’? No! If you’ve got something to say, say it here and now!” Iris snapped.

“Shut it, sis.”

“…Sorry.”

I led my squadmates out of Platinum Wings.

…

On the street, I glanced around.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that somewhere, somehow, Persilla was still watching me.

(End of Chapter)

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